TALKING FREE AGENTS AND FEELING FOR DANE DE LA ROSA

Even without any of the players released during spring training, we come up with a list of 13 onetime Atlantic Leaguers who were in a major league organization at the end of last season who have not signed with anyone for 2012. The group includes two (identified by a #) who got some major league time last season.

We would welcome any corrections to this list be sent to RWirz@aol.com.

The free agents, some of whom may have decided to call it a career:

PITCHERS (9): Nick Bierbrodt, #Mark DiFelice, Lenny DiNardo, Justin Hampson, B.J. LaMura, Chris Mobley, Sam Narron, Brian Stokes, Andy Van Hekken.
CATCHER (1): #Robinson Cancel.
INFIELDERS (3): 3B Pedro Feliz, 1B-3B Mike Lamb, Anderson Machado.
OUTFIELDERS (0)

DANE DE LA ROSA BACK IN MAJORS FOR A DAY

Well-traveled Independent veteran Dane DeLaRosa came out of spring training with a pretty good feeling even though he did not open the season with the parent Tampa Bay Rays for whom he got into his first seven major league games in two separate call-ups last season.

The Rays summoned the 6-foot-7 right-hander to the majors late Friday after their bullpen took a beating from the Boston Red Sox. Joe Maddon put the 29-year-old into the Saturday game, but he surrendered five runs in an inning of relief, and promptly was sent back to Triple-A Durham, NC. One can hope there will be another opportunity for this baseball-dedicated hurler who got his chance with the Rays after a brilliant run for Southern Maryland in 2009. DeLaRosa, 29, allowed only three earned runs in spread over 18 relief appearances with the Blue Crabs. He had a 1.11 earned run average, split his two decisions, picked up three saves and struck out 32 hitters in 24.1 innings of work.

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