IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE JOSE YEPEZ MAKE HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT THIS WEEKEND

It is my hope we will see 30-year-old rookie catcher Jose Yepez's name in a Seattle Mariners box score this weekend.

Indications were the three-season Independent Baseball backstop might only be with the M's a short time while starter Miguel Olivo overcomes hamstring issues, and it always seems such a heart tug when a first-time major leaguer does not get into a game before being returned to the minor leagues. One never knows if or when the next big-league call will come.

I know of three previous times this has happened, including earlier this season when Cincinnati elevated lefty Tom Cochran, a veteran of the Can-Am (Worcester), Atlantic (Lancaster) and Frontier (Ohio Valley and Washington) Leagues, from Louisville for two days without using him in a game. In the previous two cases, the pitcher never did get another major league opportunity. Those victims were Tim Bausher (Berkshire, Northeast League) with Boston and southpaw Brian Mazone (Zion, Western League, and Joliet, Northern League) with Philadelphia.

"I think he's (Olivo) going to be okay," Seattle Manager Eric Wedge told MLB.com. "He feels pretty good, but we wanted to get Yepez up here to make sure we were covered in case something happens."

Yepez, a Venezuelan native, played with Gary of the Northern League in both 2005 and 2007 and was with Pensacola of the American Association in '06. The 11-year pro was hitting .276 in 28 games for Triple-A Tacoma. Veteran Josh Bard, who also joined Seattle Wednesday, was listed as the starting catcher for Friday's game against the San Diego Padres. The regular backup, Chris Gimenez, is on the disabled list.

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D-BACKS COULD BE ADDING PENA WHILE CORDERO CALLS IT QUITS AND GULIN IS RELEASED

Speculation has been running high that Arizona would add the potent bat of Wily Mo Pena today (Tuesday) as the Diamondbacks begin a stretch in which nine of 12 interleague games will be played in American League stadiums where the designated will be used. Nothing seemed to have been announced, however, by mid-afternoon.

Pena, who played a good chunk of last season (155 at-bats) with Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League, has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League all year. He has 21 home runs, 40 extra-base hits and 63 runs batted in for 63 games. The big right-handed hitter is at .363 with a .439 on-base percentage.

RETIREMENT AND A RELEASE TAKES TWO GOOD PITCHING NAMES

Former major league closing standout Chad Cordero has called it quits at the age of 29 after getting roughed up in the American Association. Pitching for the St. Paul (MN)Saints, Cordero struggled to a 13.50 ERA for seven outings.

Cordero's career was highlighted by the 2005 season when he saved a National League-leading 47 games for Washington, made the All-Star team and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He was not the same after shoulder surgery in 2008.

Southpaw Lindsay Gulin also could be nearing the end of the road after being released Monday by the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs. Gulin, 34, did it all except reach the major leagues, compiling a 119-74 record and winning the American Association's Star of Stars award in 2006 when he won 13 games for Lincoln. He earned Pacific Coast League All-Star honors two years later, and reach Triple-A with two organizations.

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HERE IS A SUGGESTION: TRY TO VISIT THE STUNNING NEW CAN-AM BALLPARK

It was just as pre-game ceremonies were starting when I asked Miles Wolff how many of these events he had been a part of in his 19 years as commissioner of an Independent league.

With little more than a shake of the head and a grin, it was obvious the Can-Am League boss had no idea of the answer.

One thing is certain: Not many could match the magnificence of the first-year Rockland Boulders stadium an hour north of New York City in Ramapo, NY.

Provident Bank Park, rushed all winter and spring to get near completion, attracted what was called a standing-room-only crowd of 6,317 (there were some open seats in both outfield sections) and the Boulders obliged with a sparkling 3-1 win over Brockton, MA. Dave LaPoint's team had to be happy to be home since its first 16 games (5-11) were on foreign soil, including eight defeats in a row.

But this game was much more about the new $38 million playpen tucked in the Ramapo Mountains. The plan to build the stadium had been disputed by many, as often is the case with such projects, but city fathers plus President Ken Lehner and his partners had their say.

The stadium seems to have everything: It has spaciousness for watching, chatting and eating, a lush, green playing surface and multitudes of fascinating touches. Want to see a handsome bridge. Got it. Need a kid's zone. Rightfield corner. Picnic area with a grand view of the diamond. Check. Crystal clear high-definition scoreboard complete with replays from the crew of at least 10. You bet.

My suggestion is that anyone within reach check it out for themselves because I have not included many of the amenities.

Oh, I did come upon a couple of blips. One concession stand was out of pizza by the fourth inning, and closer Adrian Martin, who got to nail down the first game win, admitted with a wry smile as he was waiting for his pre-game introduction that the 313-foot sign in front of the picnic area in the rightfield corner might be just a tad short to give pitchers comfort.

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SOME ODD 'N ENDS STARTING WITH HOT SEATTLE MINOR LEAGUE HURLER

I would mark Steve Delabar down as a former Independent player possibly on a fast track toward the major leagues.

While the 27-year-old righty has been pitching professionally since 2004, he was only signed by Seattle in the third week of April and now the Mariners have promoted the 6-foot-5 hurler from Class A High Desert in the California League to Double-A Jackson, MS.

We wrote about Delabar earlier this season in the Independent Baseball Insider because he is coming back after what appeared to be a career-ending broken right elbow. He worked at Florence, KY of the Frontier League and for quite a while with Brockton, MA in the Can-Am League before Seattle bought his contract.

Delabar has struck out 29 hitters in 20.1 minor league innings so far with five saves, a 2-1 record and a 2.66 earned run average. He has been virtually perfect in the Southern League, and we will keep a lookout for more progress.

ODDS 'N ENDS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND: The New York Mets have sent lefty Mike O'Connor (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League) back to Triple-A Buffalo even though he had a 2.70 ERA for nine appearances. He took one loss, but also fanned eight in 6.2 innings and gave up only five hits...Milwaukee has Erick Almonte (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League) out on a rehab assignment at Nashville. He was perhaps the major surprise among former Indy players during spring training when he came from nowhere to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster as a utilityman and pinch hitter...It may not be the end, but Detroit has released former major league hurler Chris Oxspring, whose Indy time was at Cook County (Crestwood, IL) of the Frontier League...Corey Smith (Newark, NJ, Atlantic) is back at Double-A Chattanooga, TN after the Dodgers had moved the hot-hitting third baseman up to Albuquerque for a time. It still would not surprise this corner if he got a major league opportunity because of his bat...the pace of player sales from Indy teams to major league organizations has really picked up in recent days.

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TOM COCHRAN GETS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE OPPORTUNITY; CANCEL BACK UP WITH ASTROS

Another longtime Independent Baseball pitching fixture can finally add his name to those who have made the climb to the major leagues.

Left-hander Tom Cochran, who needed a re-start on his professional career in 2005 after two undistinguished years as a Boston Red Sox farmhand, got the call from Triple-A Louisville in time to join the parent Cincinnati Reds in Atlanta Sunday.

Cochran spent three seasons in the Frontier League (Washington, PA and the road team known as Ohio Valley), then had a breakout season in 2008 in the Can-Am League (Worcester, MA) when Baseball America selected him as the top southpaw on its all-Independent team. He had just finished a 13-3, 2.79 season with the Tornadoes.

Now about to turn 28 (June 5), Cochran was at Lancaster, PA (Atlantic League) long enough to make seven appearances (3-2, 4.67) the next season before his contract was purchased by the Reds. That ran his Independent Baseball record to 37-24. The Wilmington, DE product was a Southern League all-star as well as the Cincinnati organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season(8-5, 2.69 at Carolina) and had started this season by going 5-1, 4.08 in eight appearances at Louisville before getting the call. He has not yet pitched for the Reds.

We expect to have more on Cochran in this week's Independent Baseball Insider, which gets to subscribers on Thursday.

ROBINSON CANCEL BACK IN MAJORS

Catcher Robinson Cancel, who was hitting a blistering .457 in his last 10 games at Oklahoma City, is back in the majors with Houston and is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday night for the major league debut of the Astros' top prospect, Jordan Lyles, against the Chicago Cubs. Cancel has minor league experience catching Lyles.

Cancel, 35, was in the Atlantic League one year ago at this time, on his way to hitting .304 with 14 homers and 81 RBI over 105 games with the Long Island (NY) Ducks. He hit .324 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in in 30 appearances for Oklahoma City this season. He has 43 games of major league experience (.213-1-10), most recently with the New York Mets in 2009.

Cancel's Independent experience includes the 2003 season with Somerset, NJ and the traveling Road Warriors in the Atlantic League, a brief time with Somerset the next year and '06 with Edinburg, TX, then in the United League and now playing in the North American League.

THE UPS AND DOWNS FOR MIKE RIVERA AND BOBBY CRAMER

Southpaw Bobby Cramer (Orange County, Golden League) spent part of the weekend back in an Oakland Athletics uniform although he did not pitch this time before being optioned back to Sacramento. And catcher Mike Rivera (Atlantic City, NJ, Atlantic League) is back in the minor leagues (Huntsville, AL) after spending several days with Milwaukee. He appeared in only one game, going 2-for-6 May 20 against Colorado.

In all, 23 former Independent players have been on active major league rosters already this season. This compares to 30 for all of 2010.

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