NO, TV ANNOUNCERS, MILWAUKEE CLOSER DID NOT PITCH IN AN INDY LEAGUE

A comment during one of the telecasts of a National League Division Series game involving Milwaukee sent me scrambling to various sources. I take pride in being able to identify the former Atlantic League (or other Independent league) players who are anywhere on the major league landscape, as regular readers here or with my subscription-only Independent Baseball Insider column can attest.

The TV voice said Brewers closer John Axford had played in an Independent league. (I also get somewhat annoyed when commentators or writers say "Independent league" instead of saying Atlantic League--or identifying another specific league--but that is a different story.)

Alas, Axford did not pitch in one of the recognized Indy leagues. Back in 2006 before being drafted and signed by the New York Yankees, he pitched for a team called the Melville Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League. This is a collegiate league in Canada.

The Atlantic League does not have any former players active for the first round of major league playoffs although southpaw reliever Alberto Castillo is on site with Arizona and is on standby for possible inclusion in the League Championship Series or World Series if the D-Backs advance.

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