PETERSON GOES YARD FOR NATS, ROBERTSON RETURNS 'HOME' AND ARIZONA MAKES SOME EARLY CUTS

No sooner had I finished the weekly Independent Baseball Insider (subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com) in which I noted that first baseman Brock Peterson had not yet homered despite the fact the onetime Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish (Atlantic League) slugger was having a good spring with the Washington Nationals when, boom, he hit a three-run shot Thursday. Peterson, who got to the major leagues for the first time last year with St. Louis, continued to get at-bats today (Friday) although he went 0-for-2 this time and his spring average dipped to .350.

In another note involving the Atlantic League, I mentioned in the Insider that 2011 Road Warriors Manager Roy Howell has just been named to lead Seattle’s top farm club in Tacoma, WA following an unexpected shuffle of some personnel. I was reminded today that the 11-year major leaguer’s first professional manager was none other than Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein at Pittsfield, MA.

NATE ROBERTSON BACK WHERE HE STARTED

Southpaw Nate Robertson finally got a job, and it is back with the organization where he first set foot on a major league mound. The Detroit Tigers have inked Robertson to a Triple-A contract 11 years after he broke in with the parent club at age 25. Robertson, in the Texas farm system last year, is part owner and pitched briefly for the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts of the American Association.

D-BACKS START MAKING CUTS

It is no secret Arizona has been the busiest major league organization in signing Independent players in the last year or so. While it is a bit early for the heaviest run on player releases out of minor league spring training camps, the Diamondbacks, perhaps top-heavy in the number of players taken to camp, have lopped off a number of players, including some from the Indy ranks.

Among those who have felt the sting of being released are RHP Bradley Blanks (Laredo, TX, American Association, and Evansville, IN, Frontier League), RHP Tom Brendel (Sonora, AZ, Freedom League), OF Joash Brodin (Long Island, NY, 2013, after four previous Frontier League stops), OF Michael Lang (Sioux City, IA, American Association), RHP Seth Lintz (Laredo and El Paso, TX, American Association), LHP-OF Sean Mahley (Schaumburg, IL, Frontier) and LHP Eric Perrault (Windy City, Frontier).

Brodin, who turns 27 in a few days, cannot feel too happy about things. After playing part or all of five Independent seasons and hitting .307 in 106 games for Long Island last season, he finally got his first affiliated opportunity. It only lasted for eight games (5-for-29, .172) in the California League and for a time in spring training.

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