Friday, August 26, 2011

THREE TEAMS, BUT ONLY ONE PLAYOFF SPOT

It continues to look like three teams have a realistic shot at the playoffs and the opportunity to join Long Island, Lancaster and (most likely) York in battling for the Atlantic League championship.

The second half Liberty Division standings would make it appear Camden is in the driver's seat because the RiverSharks are only two games (one in the loss column) behind Long Island, which won the first half and is in the lead once again.

But Camden really needs to win the second half because Bridgeport holds a seven-game lead over Von Hayes's club in the wild card race and Southern Maryland is just one game behind the Bluefish.

York has not officially qualified but even if Lancaster wins both halves in the Freedom Division the Revolution would have to lose their three-game bulge on Bridgeport and their four-game lead on Southern Maryland to miss out.

Stay tuned.

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Friday, August 19, 2011

EXAMINING THE PLAYOFF POSSIBILITIES AS THE DUCKS CONTINUE WINNING

Long Island's exceptional second half, including its current nine-game winning streak, is making it very likely the Ducks will win both halves in the Liberty Division and at least one wild card will get into the playoffs. Two wild cards will make it if Lancaster, which trails York by percentage points in the second half of the Freedom Division race, wins both halves.

York is in the No. 1 wild card position if the Ducks and Barnstormers both win two half-season titles, but the Revolution only lead Bridgeport by one game. York is 53-42 for the year, the Bluefish are 52-43.

Southern Maryland is the Liberty Division's last place team in the second half, but the Blue Crabs are within two and a half games of Bridgeport for the full year while Camden is seven games behind the Bluefish.

Camden has been a solid 19-12 in the second half, but the Riversharks' best shot at reaching postseason is to make up the six-game deficit against Long Island and win the second half crown.

SCOTT SPIEZIO GETS A NICE MOMENT

It has been well documented that Scott Spiezio had various personal battles about the time his lengthy major league career ended in 2007 so it is great seeing the Los Angeles Angels have invited their 2002 World Series hero back for a ceremonial first pitch on Sunday as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebration.

His father Ed, also a major league player, will be Scott's catcher and the younger Spiezio's sons, 11 and nine, also will be on the field.

Scott Spiezio, who also helped St. Louis to its World Series title in 2006, last played one year ago when he was in 52 contests with Newark, hitting .279 with three homers and 35 runs batted in.


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Friday, August 12, 2011

SUGAR LAND GRABS A BIG NAME IN GARY GAETTI AS MANAGER

Another big baseball name is giving Independent Baseball a try after admitting he once looked down at it.

The Houston suburb of Sugar Land, which will have a new stadium (Star Tex Power Field) when it begins play in the Atlantic League next season, has landed longtime major league third baseman Gary Gaetti as field manager.

"I had no idea what it (Independent Baseball) was about--none," The Houston Chronicle quoted Gaetti, after the press conference introducing him. "I hadn't really heard a lot of good things about it, but that's just ignorance is what it was."

Gaetti admitted getting a different outlook after his son Joe played for Lancaster last season. The elder Gaetti called the quality of play comparable to what he saw while a coach for Triple-A Durham, NC in 2007-08. "I was shocked at the quality of the stadium, and I was shocked at the attendance. I've been at a lot of minor league stadiums, and it wasn't as nice or upbeat or positive," the Skeeters' new manager told The Chronicle.

Gaetti, 52, ranks 50th in major league history with 2,507 games played, and is one of six third basemen to collect at least 350 home runs, 1,300 RBI and 2,200 hits. He helped Minnesota to its first World Series title in 1987, and was hitting coach for the Houston Astros for their trip to the World Series in 2005.

A RARE HOMER

Norris Hopper had played in 1,353 professional games and hit a grand total of four home runs. That was until this week when Hopper had one of those memorable games, a three-run homer and a run-scoring bunt single to give Somerset a 4-3 victory at Lancaster.

Hopper's most recent home run had been struck on September 22, 2006 for the Cincinnati Reds.

PLAYER MOVES

A trio of former Atlantic League players have dropped down one level in affiliated baseball.

Long Island southpaw Lenny DiNardo and Camden third baseman Mike Costanzo are now in Class AA, DiNardo for Oakland and Costanzo for Cincinnati. Another third baseman, Corey Smith, also was sent back to Double-A by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he has been on a AA-AAA shuttle for much of the season. Right-hander Robert Romero, who once played for Camden, was released by the Dodgers.

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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUER BREAKS ALL-TIME INDY HOME RUN RECORD

Independent Baseball has a new home run king (based on present research), and he is well known around the Atlantic League. Jesse Hoorelbeke, who played three seasons in Bridgeport, is the record-breaker with his milestone homer coming Tuesday night for his current team, Fargo-Moorhead of the American Association.

We will be breaking down all the details in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider, our weekly subscription publication. Details on subscriptions are elsewhere on this blog.

FELIZ AMONG LATEST TO HAVE HIS CONTRACT SOLD

Camden third baseman Pedro Feliz is back within one step of the major leagues after San Diego purchased his contract. After starting slow for the Riversharks, the 2008 World Series star with Philadelphia picked up the pace, eventually leading Camden in hitting (.298) and on-base percentage (.366). Feliz takes his exceptional glove to Reno, where he will once again be a teammate of outfielder Drew Macias, who the Padres also purchased this week.

LONG ISLAND LIKELY TO MISS YOUMAN AT PLAYOFF TIME

Shane Youman has left the Long Island Ducks after his contract was purchased by a team in Taiwan. This could be a major loss once playoff time arrives next month since Youman, who also has been with four other Atlantic League teams in his career, was 7-1 with a brilliant 0.66 ERA in 13 appearances, including seven starts, for the Ducks.

MILESTONES FOR LOPEZ AND NETTLES

We would be remiss not to congratulate two of the league's best at third base, Luis Lopez of Bridgeport and Jeff Nettles of Somerset. Lopez recently recorded minor league hit No. 2,000 while Nettles became only the second player in league history to record 900 hits.

It has been a record-breaking season for Nettles although we would guess the joy has been somewhat diminished by the Patriots' off season. He will soon become the all-time hits leader since Rolando Avila holds that title at 933. Nettles already owns the league marks for RBI and doubles.

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