COMPARING LEAGUES AND TRACKING DOWN PLAYERS THIS THANKSGIVING DAY

I am always interested in how players compare one Independent league against another. Josh Lowey, featured in the most recent Independent Baseball Insider column, had some interesting thoughts since he was in the American Association in 2012 and the Atlantic League this past season.

He believes Atlantic League “hitters are slightly more patient”, with the belief that is primarily based on the league, overall, having players with more experience. I asked if pitchers throw harder in the Atlantic, as I have heard some say. “I couldn’t say they throw harder,” the veteran of six Independent seasons (he was in the Frontier League for four years) told me.

Lowey, who has built a 58-21 record but still is looking for his first chance with a major league organization, was confident in one respect: “The level of play has gone up every year.”

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO THIS GROUP

The turkey should taste better to this dozen former Independent players, all of whom have been assigned by their major league organization to Triple-A teams and at least one level higher than their most recent team for the offseason:

By ARIZONA: RHP Eddie McKiernan (Lincoln, NE, American Association), OF David Peralta (Amarillo, TX, and Wichita, KS, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, United League), RHP Mark Serrano (Laredo, TX, American Association), RHP Blayne Weller (Windy City, Frontier League). Peralta started his pro career in an Independent league.

By ATLANTA: RHP Mitch Atkins (Somerset, NJ, Atlantic League), RHP Brandon Cunniff (Southern Illinois and River City, Frontier).

By CHICAGO WHITE SOX: LHP Ryan Bollinger (Windy City), 3B Chris Curley (Florence, KY, Frontier), RHP Mike Recchia (Windy City), OF Josh Richmond (Florence).

By NEW YORK METS: RHP Cody Satterwhite (Sioux City, IA, American Association).

By OAKLAND: C-DH Ryan Delgado (Fargo, ND, American Association).

NEW CONTRACTS FOR THIS TRIO:

C Jose Yepez (Pensacola, FL, American Association, and Gary, IN, Northern League) was given a new contract to stay in the Atlanta chain although he is now on a Double-A roster. OF Kalian Sams (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) got a new contract from Texas while RHP Daniel Stange (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic) joined Washington’s farm system. He was in the majors briefly this past season with the Los Angeles Angels.

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