Friday, July 6, 2012

ATLANTIC LEAGUE COVERAGE CONTINUES ON THE 'INSIDER' AND AT WWW.INDYBASEBALLCHATTER.COM

We are delighted you came to this site to check out recent developments with the Atlantic League and its former players, and we will continue to offer these stories but they now will appear in two other locations. The Atlantic League will always be represented in our weekly subscription publication, the Independent Baseball Insider column, and we will write additional stories at www.IndyBaseballChatter.com Please pay a visit.

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Friday, June 29, 2012

COREY SMITH, BEN COPELAND CUT FROM AFFILIATED JOBS; SUGAR LAND'S DREW LOCKE COOLS OFF

Does anyone need a strong bat?

The Chicago White Sox released third baseman (and sometimes first baseman) Corey Smith from their Double-A team in Birmingham, AL, even though the 13-year veteran minor leaguer is only 30 and hit .341 (14-for-41) in his last 10 games in the Southern League.

Smith, a right-handed hitter, was at .286 overall for 65 games this season with 19 doubles, a triple, eight homers and 39 runs batted in. He had a solid .359 on-base percentage.

The New Jersey native helped the Newark Bears capture the Atlantic League title in '07 when he drove in 72 runs in 119 games while collecting 58 extra-base hits and batting .274. He has been largely in Double-A since 2003 with some AAA experience and major league spring training time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

LOCKE COOLS OFF FROM BACK-TO-BACK SLAMS

Outfielder Drew Locke made a huge early impact after Houston purchased his contract from neighboring Sugar Land and placed the 29-year-old with their Texas League franchise in Corpus Christi.

Locke, who signed out of Boston College and played in the Dodgers and Astros systems for seven seasons before joining Sugar Land this year, hit grand slam home runs in back-to-back games and batted .381 with three homers and 12 RBI in his first five games with Corpus Christi, but he has tailed off to .219-4-15 for a 17-game run so far.

FORMER LANCASTER OUTFIELDER CUT LOOSE

Another former Atlantic Leaguer who was released recently is outfielder Ben Copeland. Cleveland cut Copeland out of Class AA. He had been signed away from Lancaster where he hit .319 in 139 at-bats early in 2011.


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Friday, June 22, 2012

NOTHING OFFICIAL SO FAR ABOUT SCOTT KAZMIR JOINING SUGAR LAND

The heavily rumored story that onetime major league all-star Scott Kazmir would be signing to play with Sugar Land still was without confirmation late Friday afternoon from either the Atlantic League or on the Skeeters' website.

The left-hander won at least 10 games for Tampa Bay every season from 2005-08 before his power pitches started falling off. The Los Angeles Angels released Kazmir last season, and if he intends to try getting his career back on track Sugar Land would be an ideal location since it is right next to his Houston home. He is only 28 or prime time for many players.

The Skeeters, struggling at 22-31 and in last place in the Freedom Division, recently added two-time Atlantic League all-star outfielder Steve Moss, but he is off to a dreadfully slow start (0-for-10, seven strikeouts) even though he had been playing in Mexico. Moss was an all-star the last two seasons with Bridgeport.

CARDINALS RELEASE MITCH CANHAM

Early in training camp, it appeared Mitch Canham, a member of two Oregon State College World Series championship teams, might be catching for Long Island. Then he was signed by St. Louis and the 27-year-old went to Triple-A Memphis. He hit only .125 (6-for-48) and did not drive in any runs in his 18 appearances before being released.

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Monday, June 18, 2012

LANCASTER'S MATT WRIGHT, YORK'S RYAN FEIERABEND DOING WELL IN TRIPLE-A

Justin Christian (Giants by way of Southern Maryland) is the most recent Atlantic League graduate to return to the major leagues, but still other players are making minor league headlines on virtually an every day basis.

Consider the case of Matt Wright, a 30-year-old pitcher still trying for his first major league opportunity in his 13th professional season.

Wright, whose contract was purchased by Philadelphia for its Triple-A Lehigh Valley, PA farm club recently from the Lancaster Barnstormers, has made two starts for the Iron Pigs so far. He does not not have any wins, primarily for a lack of offensive support, but the big (6-4, 270) right-hander has given up only six hits and three runs in 12.2 innings (0-1, 2.13).

Wright has earned praise from his manager, Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, and from re-habbing Evan Longoria (partially torn hamstring), Tampa Bay's all-star third baseman.

"I thought Wright threw the ball pretty well for them tonight," Longoria told TheMorningCall.com after he had fanned against the hurler's 95-mile per hour fastball, fouled out to the catcher and skied to right as Durham handed Lehigh Valley a 3-0 loss. "He had some good stuff, and that's good for me to see some good pitching and start to feel comfortable at the plate." Wright gave up only one run and three hits in 6.2 innings.

"It was a good start for him," Sandberg told the online publication. "I think the hitters had a hard time gearing up on his fastball with the variations of his speeds--91 to 95 miles-an-hour--and he threw some change-ups and enough breaking pitches."

YORK'S FEIERABEND ALSO STARTING IN TRIPLE-A

Ryan Feierabend does have major league experience, but not since 2008, so the southpaw knows what he has to do now that he is with Cincinnati's top farm club in Louisville.

"I felt better than my first outing," Feierabend told Courier-Journal.com of his no-decision start in which he gave up two runs. "In my first outing (a 7-3 loss), I hadn't thrown in 10 days. It was definitely a step forward. The ball was coming out a lot better. I was throwing strikes. It was only four and two-third innings, but in the fourth and fifth I felt like I was able to command the fastball a little better." He had gone 3-2, 3.24 while at York.


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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

HOT-HITTING DE LOME LOST FOR YEAR; CAMDEN GETS ITS CATCHERS BACK

Talk about tough breaks.

Collin DeLome, a 26-year-old lefty-swinging outfielder, seemed to be coming into his own, then, in a flash, he tore his ACL and his season is over.

Houston gave up on its fifth round draft choice from 2007 early this season even though the former Lamar University star had hit 72 home runs in less than six years. He joined the Bridgeport Bluefish, and in short order was tearing up the Atlantic League with a .368 average, five homers, 14 extra base hits and 22 RBI in only 23 games when Atlanta purchased his contract and sent him to its top farm club in Gwinnett, GA. Six games into his fresh start--really, four significant appearances--and he has to wait until 2013 to prove himself to Braves brass. DeLome's 2-for-16 start with four runs scored were barely a chance to show his skills which Bridgeport Manager Willie Upshaw describes as the ultimate: "Five tools".

"He's a good player" and "a very respectful kid" praised Upshaw. He should know. The respected manager/hitting guru had watched as DeLome went 9-for-16 in his last four Bluefish games. Three of those were victories, which have not come as easily since the 6-foot-2 Texan departed.

CAMDEN GETS BOOST WITH VISA ISSUE FINALLY RESOLVED

RiverSharks Manager Jeff Scott was all smiles despite a rainy day Tuesday when he was able to talk about activating regular catchers Alvin Colina and Raul Padron.

The duo, who combined for 21 home runs and 79 runs batted in last year in addition to their defensive duties, had been delayed all season because of visa problems back home in Venezuela.


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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

SIGNINGS BY MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONS TAKING A TOLL

As nice as it is to see Atlantic League players getting fresh opportunities with major league organizations, the sale of these players has at least one team struggling because it is playing shorthanded.

Bridgeport was down to nine position players until it signed league Elliott Ayala, who spent all or part of six seasons with Somerset, Monday.

The Bluefish had outfielders Joey Gathright and Collin DeLome depart within a few days last week when they signed Triple-A deals with Cincinnati and Atlanta, respectively, and veteran major league infielder Ramon Vazquez went on the inactive list. "It (Vazquez) was partly a financial decision," Bridgeport General Manager Bob Goughan told The Connecticut Post."He's not getting paid a lot. He wants to ge ready for winter ball" and he did not want to be a distrction, Goughan told beat writer Rich Elliott.

While we are speculating, it also is possible a thin roster led to Southern Maryland Manager Patrick Osborn activating himself. At 31, former All-Star third baseman Osborn certainly is capable between the white lines, but he had seemed totally content to be a fulltime manager ever since starting that job last year. Osborn has not played to this point.

A DAILY SIGNING

The sale of players has been virtually a daily occurrence of late with Camden losing fleet centerfielder Billy Rice to the Chicago White Sox farm system and Sugar Land third baseman Jimmy VanOstrand joining the Washington Nationals organization.

DeLome and VanOstrand could be on a fast track to the major leagues if their robust hitting continues. Both were hitting .368. DeLome, who started the season with Texas's top farm club in Oklahoma City, drove in 22 runs in 23 games for the Bluefish while VanOstrand had 20 RBI in 27 contests. Rice, who joined Class A Kannapolis, NC, hit .300 in 17 games and shared the Atlantic League lead with three triples.

DOBIES RELEASED, ALDRIDGE SIGNS

Left-hander Andrew Dobies, signed last season from Somerset, has been released by Kansas City while onetime Newark outfielder Cory Aldridge has signed with the Los Angeles Angels and been assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake City. He was in major league spring training with Baltimore.


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Saturday, May 19, 2012

ATLANTIC LEAGUE CAN BE PROUD OF NEWEST MAJOR LEAGUER AND ITS GREAT ATTENDANCE

What fun it had to be for onetime Atlantic League (Camden, 2010) infielder Mike Costanzo to get his first major league hit this afternoon (Saturday), and to do it at Yankee Stadium during a 6-5 victory for his Cincinnati Reds because he predicted ahead of the series he was likely to hear a great deal of razzing through the similarity of his name and that of Seinfeld television character George Costanza.

Costanzo benefitted from interleague play because it allowed him to get his first major league start as the designated hitter. The 28-year-old, primarily a third baseman and first baseman, went 1-for-3 with his second sacrifice fly since joining the Reds. He is now 1-for-7 at the plate with the other appearances in pinch-hitting roles.

Of the expectation of being called 'Lord of the Idiots' as the sitcom star sometimes was known, Costanzo told FoxSportsOhio.com in advance of a five-game invasion of New York City (Cincinnati played two games against the Mets before moving to Yankee Stadium) "I hear it all the time and I know I'll hear it a lot in New York".

It certainly helps that he now has a major league batting average, even if it is only .143.

DAZZLING ATTENDANCE

The American Association has gotten off to a terrific start at the gate, but it will take a long run if it expects to keep pace with the Atlantic League.

El Paso, TX and Kansas City, KS have both had a 7,000 gate in the first two days of play with the Diablos drawing 7,823 Friday night for a two-day total of 12,042. The T-Bones had 7,026 fans show up for their opener, which also started interleague play with the Can-Am League. Amarillo, TX drew 6,518 for its opener Friday, and Laredo, TX, debuted in the league and opened a new ballpark with crowds of 5,923 and 5,116 in successive games. The league drew 62,992 the first two nights, according to figures compiled by Pointstreak, the American Association's official statistical house.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic League has already drawn 356,262 fans, an average of 4,345 for 82 openings with the new Sugar Land Skeeters leading the way with an average of 6,921 for 10 home games.


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Sunday, May 13, 2012

ONETIME CAMDEN THIRD BASEMAN MIKE COSTANZO NEWEST MAJOR LEAGUER

Atlantic League fans have a brand new reason to check out the daily box scores of the Cincinnati Reds.

Third baseman Mike Costanzo, who played at Camden two years ago, was given his first call to the major leagues Saturday when veteran third base standout Scott Rolen went on the disabled list.

While Costanzo was a second round draft choice by Philadelphia (2005), he topped out at Class AAA with both the Phillies and Baltimore, and needed a fresh start in the Atlantic League before Cincinnati signed him. He hit .278 in 16 games with the 2010 RiverSharks with four homers and 10 RBI. Now 28, the onetime Coastal Carolina University slugger was at 6-24-.303 in 34 games for Louisville, KY when Reds added him to the parent club's roster.

It has been quite a week overall for former Independent players in the major leagues starting with Stu Pomeranz's call-up and two shutout appearances for Baltimore, then followed quickly by another impressive Daniel Nava start with Boston, lefty reliever Raul Valdes joining the Phillies and Costanzo.

The action lifts the current total of onetime Indy players in the major to 17, including three who are disabled. The Atlantic League also has Jerome Williams in the starting rotation with the Los Angeles Angels one season after he was in a similar role with Lancaster plus shortstop Stephen Drew (Camden), who has been on Arizona's disabled list but likely will soon be reinstated. Angels ace Jered Weaver worked out with Camden before signing his bonus contract.

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Monday, May 7, 2012

JAY GIBBONS HELPING OUT AT HUNTSVILLE, KEVIN HOWARD AT LAS VEGAS

Jay Gibbons has been doing a nice job of getting the Milwaukee Brewers to notice him since his recent re-signing and joining Double-A Huntsville, AL.

The former Long Island and Newark outfielder is hitting .308 (8-26) with a .379 on-base percentage for his first eight appearances. The lefty-swinging outfielder, now 35, has three doubles and has driven in two runs.

KEVIN HOWARD NOW IN TRIPLE-A

Last season's Lancaster shortstop, Kevin Howard, is one step closer to the major leagues now that Toronto has promoted him to Triple-A Las Vegas. The Blue Jays list him (MiLB.com) as a first baseman and he was at third base for his last appearance so perhaps the versatility will help. Howard has gone 2-for-13 with a run batted in for his four games with his new team after hitting .279 (12-43) with a homer and eight RBI for Class AA New Hampshire.

CAN STANGE START LIKE MARTIN?

Bridgeport lost righty Dan Stange after only four innings of work to the San Diego organization Monday. The Bluefish lost outfielder Dustin Martin to Triple-A Buffalo (New York Mets) before the season started, and he helped out with a home run in the first game he started (second appearance). Martin is now at .208 (5-24) with two doubles and five batted in in seven games.


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Thursday, April 26, 2012

OPENING DAY PARTNERS HAS QUITE A WEEK EVEN BEFORE OPENING AT SUGAR LAND

Today's Independent Baseball Insider column will treat subscribers to the emerging long range planning of the Atlantic League, which ushers in the Independent season tonight.

Opening Day Partners (ODP), which already has Atlantic League teams in Lancaster, York and Southern Maryland, is officially opening its news showpiece in Sugar Land, TX tonight (Thursday), but that is only one point in showing how this organization is being steered far into the future by Peter Kirk and his large group of experienced staffers.

Kirk talked extensively about Atlantic League expansion thoughts that extend well into the future in our subscriber publication, the Independent Baseball Insider column, which also comes out today. Kirk and the league are thinking very big.

ODP also announced the hiring of 50-year plus baseball executive Tal Smith for a key role, as will be discussed in the Insider, as well as Lisa Riggs as the new president of the Lancaster Barnstormers. I do not know Ms. Riggs, who lives in East Hempfield Township with her husband and two children, but she has been running something called James Street Improvement District, which is Lancaster's community and economic development organization. That normally signifies the person in that role (President) is among a community's most important movers and shakers. Her involvement with the Barnstormers goes back nearly a decade when JSID played a key role in the development of Clipper Magazine Stadium.

UPSHAW LIKES BRIDGEPORT'S PITCHING

It is always difficult getting a good reading on the teams in the Atlantic League because of the short spring training, but I can tell you veteran Bridgeport Manager Willie Upshaw is high on the pitching staff he and General Manager Bob Goughan have assembled for the Bluefish.

"I love our pitching staff", Upshaw exuded during a media conference Wednesday. "I believe our bullpen will be really really good".

The Bluefish do not expect to have as much power as in the past, but "we've got some speed", the manager continued. He also said "not a lot of balls will drop out there" in an outfield anchored by veteran major leaguer Joey Gathright.

BRAVES DROP OZZIE CHAVEZ

While major league teams have spirited away at least four Atlantic League players before the first pitch of the regular season (two each from Bridgeport and Long Island) infielder Ozzie Chavez is the latest player from last season to lose his affiliated job. Atlanta released Chavez, who had 114 at-bats at Lancaster last year. He hit only .175 for the Barnstormers.

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Friday, April 20, 2012

WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO BE ON OPENING NIGHT?

Some odds and ends on the day after this week's Independent Baseball Insider... Nelson Figueroa is getting another opportunity after barely taking the mound and eventually getting released out of the Toronto Blue Jays' major league camp this spring. He signed with the New York Yankees and is going to work for the time being at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. The right-hander, who once threw two games for the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks and turns 38 next month, has made his way into 145 major league games through the years (20-35 record) while pitching for six teams (Philadelphia twice). ORIOLES LET JOSH JOHNSON GO, DUCKS STEP IN Catcher Josh Johnson, with the league's traveling Road Warriors last season, was released after a brief time in the Baltimore organization, but it did not take much time for him to find a new job. With two catchers signed away by major league organizations, Long Island stepped forward and inked him. WHERE TO GO ON OPENING NIGHT It is time, thankfully, to greet another season starting Thursday (April 26). The major attention likely will be on Sugar Land, TX since the new Skeeters will inaugurate their fancy stadium against two-time defending champion York, but fans also should be thinking about these matchups: Long Island at Somerset, Camden at Bridgeport and Lancaster at Southern Maryland. All four games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. local time, with Sugar Land in the central time zone.

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Monday, April 16, 2012

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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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

WHO HAS BEEN RELEASED AND WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WE HAVE SOME OF THE DETAILS

While the start of another Atlantic League season (April 26) always brings excitement for both players and fans, getting to that point can be very difficult for a great many players. They have tried to make major league rosters (only two did this season and both are on the disabled list), stick with an affiliated minor league team or find a renewed opportunity in the AL.

Among those who had to give up major league or affiliated jobs during the offseason and turn to the Atlantic League are outfielder Joey Gathright at Bridgeport, infielder Raul Padron with Camden, catcher Travis Scott with York, and pitchers Paul Phillips with Somerset and Les Walrond with Lancaster.

Then there was another group that started spring training with a major league organization only to get a pink slip and need to find a new opportunity if they want to continue their career. The list that follows includes the major league organization the players were with this spring and those with an asterisk (*) played in some major league exhibitions:

Pitchers Nate Bump (Philadelphia), *Alberto Castillo (Los Angeles Angels), *Nelson Figueroa (Toronto), Emerson Frostad (Houston), Brad Furnish (Chicago White Sox) and John VanBenschoten (San Diego), catchers Salomon Manriquez (Los Angeles Dodgers) and *Mike Rivera (Milwaukee), infielders Yunesky Sanchez (Pittsburgh) and *Terry Tiffee (Miami) and outfielders *Cory Aldridge (Baltimore), *Jay Gibbons (Milwaukee), Sean Henry (Atlanta) and Drew Macias (Los Angeles Angels).

It is almost a certainty some of this group will end up back in the Atlantic League.

BOULTON RECEIVES TOP VILLANOVA ALUMNI AWARD

What a nice day Thursday will be for Atlantic League Founder Frank Boulton.

He will receive the 2012 St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal, the highest annual award handed out by the Villanova University Alumni Association. Boulton is to be honored at an awards dinner Thursday night.

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Friday, March 30, 2012

VAL MAJEWSKI FINALLY GETS A MAJOR LEAGUE AT BAT AS DOES BEN COPELAND. BOTH GET HITS, TOO

It may not seem like much since Val Majewski perennially is one of the Atlantic League's best hitters. Still, it had to feel pretty good when the 31-year-old outfielder got what we believe was his first major league spring training at-bat since he appeared in 22 games for Baltimore in 2006-07.

He got a hit, of course, for the Texas Rangers against the Los Angeles Angels.

Majewski, whose only regular season major league duty was for nine games with Baltimore way back in 2004, has been in a pattern the last four seasons. Start in the Atlantic League (Newark in '08, Camden the next year and York each of the last two seasons), then a major league organization comes along because of his career .331average in Independent Baseball and gives him a look in its minor league system for the rest of the season.

The Rangers at least kept the former Rutgers University product this winter, which is somewhat encouraging that they feel he might help the American League team at some juncture.

LANCASTER'S BEN COPELAND APPEARS WITH CLEVELAND

Another of the bevy of players taken off the Lancaster roster during the 2011 season got into a Cactus League exhibition with Cleveland Thursday. Outfielder Ben Copeland singled in his only time at bat in a 5-4 loss to Arizona.

The most prominent of the Barnstormers who went to major league organizations is veteran pitcher Jerome Williams, who finally appears back on track in his bid to lock up the No. 5 starter job with the Los Angeles Angels, as we reported in Thursday's subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider column. He had been sidelined about three and a half weeks with a hamstring strain. Williams, 6-0 at Lancaster before being plucked away by the Angels, is due for another start Saturday.

MIKE RIVERA RELEASED BY BREWERS

Catcher Mike Rivera, who got some big league time with Milwaukee most every year for the last several seasons, has been released by the Brew Crew. Rivera played his Independent Baseball in Atlantic City.

ALMONTE GOT LITTLE CHANCE

Who can forget the brilliant spring Erick Almonte had with Milwaukee one year ago which earned the onetime Atlantic League infielder (Long Island) a spot on the opening day roster? The veteran Triple-A utilityman never really got a chance to repeat the showing this spring. Almonte was only used in three spring training games, going 1-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

OH, THOSE RELEASES

This is the time of spring training when major league organizations trim a lot of players who do not seem to fit. Those cut out of minor league camps in recent days include two southpaws, York's Chris Cody by Atlanta and Bridgeport's Brad Furnish by the Chicago White Sox.


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Saturday, March 24, 2012

TWO INDY SOUTHPAWS AUDITION FOR YANKEES; FORMER BARNSTORMER GOES YARD FOR MARLINS

I overlooked one of last year's Independent players still in a major league spring training camp in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column when I said three of them remained.

How could I forget lefty Juan Cedeno, who jumped all the way from Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen, TX) of the North American League to an audition as a non-roster invitee with the New York Yankees?

Cedeno continued that audition on national television Thursday night, getting a key strikeout to get the Yankees out of a jam against the rival Boston Red Sox. His numbers do not look so good (9.64 earned run average over 4.2 innings in six games), but then the Yankees only need someone who can get certain left-handed hitters out. Cedeno's ERA was not a lot better in the NAL, where he was a strikeout machine.

He may be getting extra looks because another southpaw who came into spring training with some legitimacy to his hopes, Mike O'Connor, has an identical ERA. O'Connor had some time with the New York Mets last season after coming out of the Atlantic League (Southern Maryland).

TIFFEE STRIKES

Former Lancaster Barnstormer Terry Tiffee has been talked about in this space more than once this spring because of all the playing time the Atlantic Leaguer has gotten, primarily at first base, with the Miami Marlins.

This onetime Minnesota Twins prospect got his first two extra-base-hits Thursday to help the Marlins tie Atlanta 5-5. He had a solo home run and a double, and has his spring average up to .147 (5-for-34) in 13 games.


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Saturday, March 17, 2012

SOUTHERN MARYLAND HURLER MAKING STRONG SHOWING WITH TAMPA BAY

Tampa Bay reliever Dane DeLaRosa, who spent about half of the 2009 season at Southern Maryland, seems to be improving his fortunes with a great spring.

DeLaRosa, who is on the 40-man roster and got into seven games last season (0-0, 9.82), has had a terrific first five appearances. He has not been scored on, but it is the 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings (six hits, three walks) that should be making some impact.

RECENT CUTS

Atlantic League grads sent to minor league camps in recent days include first baseman Valentino Pascucci (Camden) by the New York Mets and pitchers Mike DeMark (York) and Jason Lane (Southern Maryland) by Arizona and Bridgeport's Logan Kensing by Pittsburgh.

We plan to post a roster of all former Independent players still in major league camps in this Thursday's subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider column.

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

ATLANTIC LEAGUER WINS 'IDOL' COMPETITION WHILE BIDDING FOR FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE JOB

While three-time Atlantic League lefty Scott Rice continues to hope this is the year he breaks into the major leagues, the 30-year-old out of Simi Valley, CA has already claimed one honor in the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training camp.

The Dodgers routinely hold a "Dodgers (American) Idol" competition, a fraternity-hazing type event required for first timers in the big league camp.

Rice, a non-roster invitee after signing out of York during the 2011 season, performed an original song about teammate Kenley Jansen. Guess what? The judges, including Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda, declared Rice the champion.

Rice told The Los Angeles Daily News he can't carry a tune, but the guitar he bought to pass time while playing in Lakeland, FL some time back helps. "I'm not a singer," the 6-foot-6 Rice told the newspaper. "I play the guitar really loud so I don't have to sing in tune."

Rice has made three Atlantic League stops--Long Island in 2008, Newark a year later and York last summer when he went 1-0, 2.45 in 15 appearances for the eventual champion Revolution. Now in his 14th professional season and after overcoming flexor tendon surgery, the southpaw is hoping to continue winning accolades, this time in a major league uniform.

He is off to a solid start, allowing only one hit and striking out four (no walks) in three scoreless innings spread over the same number of appearances.


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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

LONGTIME ATLANTIC LEAGUE STAR VAL MAJEWSKI STARTS 2012 WELL AHEAD OF RECENT SEASONS

Longtime Atlantic League star Val Majewski has not yet gotten back to the major leagues, but the hard-hitting outfielder is well ahead of recent years.

There has been a pattern to Majewski's career every year since 2008, his first after five campaigns--and a brief major league experience--as a third round draft choice out of Rutgers with Baltimore. The New Brunswick, NJ native would start the season pounding the baseball in the Atlantic League, then have his contract purchased by a major league organization.

It was Newark (.368 for 50 games) in 2008, then Classes AA and AAA with Houston. The next season it was 28 games in Camden (.310), followed by Double-A play for the Los Angeles Angels. In 2010, it was 31 games in York (.328) followed by AA for Oakland. He had a longer stint, 71 games (.317) for York last season, and finished in a flourish with 33 runs batted in in only 35 games for Texas's top farm club in Round Rock, TX.

The Rangers could not help but like the .333 batting average and Majewski's .413 on-base percentage so they have signed him to a new contract for this season. If he keeps anything close to that pace in the American League champion's farm system it will almost certainly spell the end of the right-handed hitter's Atlantic League days and perhaps earn the opportunity to play for Texas.

Majewski, whose only major league experience was for nine games in 2004 (2-for-13), turns 31 on March 12, but what a billboard he will be should he turn his four seasons of Atlantic League play with a combined .331 average, .410 on-base percentage and 131 RBI in 180 games into a major league job.

MIKE O'CONNOR MAY HAVE GOTTEN AN EARLY BREAK

Since Mike O'Connor has become exclusively a left-handed specialist the last two seasons, it is entirely possible this onetime Southern Maryland Blue Crabs starter (2009) was handed an early break in his initial season as a non-roster invitee with the New York Yankees.

Veteran major league southpaw specialist Hideki Okajima was released after failing his physical so O'Connor, 31, has one less competitor as he bids to join Boone Logan as the lefties in the Yankees' bullpen. O'Connor was 0-1, 2.70 in nine games with the New York Mets last season and 5-5, 5.22 with Triple-A Buffalo.

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Friday, February 17, 2012

'THE KID' ALSO LEFT A MARK IN THE ATLANTIC LEAGUE

With all of the wonderful tributes to Gary Carter, the Hall of Fame catcher who passed away yesterday, it should not be overlooked that 'The Kid' also left a mark in the Atlantic League.

He managed the Long Island Ducks in 2009, and also was an Independent Baseball skipper the previous season when he led the Orange County Flyers in his hometown of Fullerton, CA in the Golden League.

He will be missed throughout baseball for a very long time.

GREG BURKE NOW WITH O'S

Atlantic City was Greg Burke's initial stepping stone (2005) when he came out of Duke and started to climb to the major leagues and 48 bullpen appearances for the San Diego Padres in '09. The 29-year-old righty finally changed organizations recently, signing as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.

He is on the Triple-A Norfolk, VA roster, but it would not surprise at all to see him get a look from the parent Orioles during spring training.

MANAGERIAL, COACHING MOVES

Jeff Scott always seems to have a key position within the Atlantic League so it could hardly be a shock when he replaced Von Hayes as manager in Camden this week. He had been the Riversharks' pitching coach.

In another significant move, veteran major league and Atlantic League pitcher Bill Pulsipher has become pitching coach for Winnipeg (American Association). Pulsipher ended his 18-year professional career last summer with Somerset.


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Thursday, February 9, 2012

KEEPING UP WITH HOORELBEKE, CHRISTIAN AND YANKEES HOPEFUL MIKE O'CONNOR

A few notes from the world of baseball transactions today since this is an off week for the Independent Baseball Insider which returns next week with a complete rundown of the unusually large contingent of Atlantic League (and Independent) players headed to major league spring training camps.

Power-hitting Jesse Hoorelbeke is on the move.

Veteran Atlantic League fans cannot help but remember Hoorelbeke's three seasons in Bridgeport (2007-09) when the big first baseman hit 33, 28 and 23 home runs for the Bluefish and averaged just under 100 runs batted in per year.

He has been in the Independent ranks in Fargo, ND the last two summers, hitting another 44 round-trippers in a much shorter season. The homer total dropped to 15 one year ago, and now he has been dealt to a new team in the same league (American Association), going to Laredo, TX in a swap for pitching.

"It's never easy to move players who have been major contributors to our success," said Fargo Manaager Doug Simunic. "Jesse ws a great player for us and a great guy, but we felt we needed to upgrade our pitching" and "to get talent you have to give up talent." Hoorelbeke will be 34 throughout this season.

LEFTY MIKE O'CONNOR GETS LOOK FROM YANKEES

Veteran Mike O'Connor is the most recent pitcher to join the impressive list of Atlantic League grads with major league spring training invitations. O'Connor, 31, will try to grab one of the left-handed relief jobs in the New York Yankees bullpen.

He went 0-1, 2.70 in nine appearances for the New York Mets last season. O'Connor's Atlantic League time was with Southern Maryland. He also has been in the majors with Washington, logging some time in both '06 and '08.

PREDICTING THE FUTURE FOR BLUE CRABS' JUSTIN CHRISTIAN

Another onetime Blue Crabs player, Justin Christian, could not be blamed if he has a long face today.

Only days before spring training, San Francisco designated the 31-year-old outfielder for assignment when it signed major league vets Ryan Theriot and Guillermo Mota and needed 40-man roster space.

Christian, who played briefly at Southern Maryland at the start of 2010, is getting some nice support from certain Bay Area media because of the way he played the outfield and hit .255 in 18 games for the parent Giants late last season.

What could happen is that some other team will claim Christian (although 40-man space is pretty sparse right now) or the Giants could re-sign him if he clears waivers and bring him right back as a non-roster player. This would give the speedster, who pilfered 54 bases in 137 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season (and three more with the Giants), a renewed opportunity to be a spare outfielder in San Francisco. Christian also has had 24 games with the New York Yankees during his career.


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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

IN CASE ANYONE HAS WONDERED, EDGARDO ALFONZO STILL SWINGING THE BAT

The biggest surprise among all players with at least 10 at-bats in the recently-completed Caribbean Series had to be veteran infielder Edgardo Alfonzo.

Playing for his native Venezuela, the longtime star major league infielder and later an Atlantic Leaguer, he had the fourth best average of .364 (4-for-11) in the pitching-dominated series.

Listed at 38, Alfonzo is not believed to have played baseball in the United States in the summer since 2008 except for 26 games and a .154 average (12-for-78) for Newark in 2010. After his major league days, he played briefly at Bridgeport in '06 and was in a combined 164 games for the Long Island Ducks in '07-08. Alfonzo hit.329with a surprising eight homers and 27 RBI in 59 games in that second season and played briefly in Japan the next year.

FORMER NEWARK OUTFIELDER HITS .421

Another significant tie to the Atlantic League in the Caribbean Series was that of Dominican outfielder Pablo Ozuna, who led all hitters in the six-game set with a .421average (8-for-19). He hit .294 in 119 at-bats for Newark in 2010, the Bears' last season in the league.

Venezula's Cesar Suarez, an outfielder who played for Lancaster in '09 and Camden the next season, hit .360 (9-for-25).

We identified 29 players with Independent playing time, much of it in the Atlantic League, on the four Caribbean Series rosters.


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Friday, February 3, 2012

AT LEAST 18 ATLANTIC LEAGUERS GIVE LEAGUE HEAVY IDENTITY IN CARIBBEAN SERIES

What a busy day, especially for the day after subscribers got this week's Independent Baseball Insider column, but that is the way it goes in this business. Take the news when it comes your way.

Anyone who cares about the Atlantic League will want to follow the Caribbean Series for the next few days (especially if they can see the games on ESPN Deportes or ESPN3)because we have counted 18 players so far who are on the four teams.

Pitchers Cesar Carillo of Lancaster, Randy Keisler of Southern Maryland and Long Island, Dan Serafini of Bridgeport, Yorman Bazardo of Camden and Jon Hunton of Lancaster, Somerset and Long Island all are part of the Mexican League pitching staff. Hurler Brian Sweeney of Somerset and Southern Maryland (see more on him below), infielder Edgardo Alfonzo of Long Island and Bridgeport and outfielders Jonel Pacheco of Camden and Cesar Suarez of Lancaster and Camden are part of the Venezuelan team.

Puerto Rico has pitchers Matt DeSalvo of Southern Maryland and York, Nelson Figueroa of Long Island (more below), Ben Grezlovski of Somerset, Long Island and Atlantic City, Juan Padilla of York and Bridgeport, Eddy Ramos of the Road Warriors, Newark and Bridgeport and Saul Rivera of the Road Warriors. Catcher Rene Rivera of Camden and infielder Danny Gonzalez of Lancaster and the Road Warriors are part of the same team.

Infielder Erick Almonte of Long Island is with the Dominican Republic.

THREE OF FOUR OPENING DAY STARTERS HAVE HAD INDEPENDENT TIES

In fact, three of the four opening day starting pitchers in what turned out to be pitching-dominated games have Indy ties. The latest after the Insider
was put to bed last night was southpaw Kris Johnson, who limited Mexico to three hits and an unearned run in five innings to get the host Dominicans off to a good start in a 2-1 win. Johnson pitched for the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones (American Association) much of last season after being released out of Triple-A with Boston. The 27-year-old has since signed with Pittsburgh, an organization that certainly can benefit from better pitching.

Nelson Figueroa, whose latest bid for fulltime major league duty will come with Toronto this spring, continued his exceptional work in the afternoon, winning for Puerto Rico at the expense of another former Indy hurler, Seth Etherton, who started for Venezuela. Figueroa spent a little Indy time with the Long Island Ducks while Etherton was with Long Beach, CA in what was then the Golden League.

I do not pretend to understand all of the roster qualifications, but Figueroa had pitched in the Dominican championship series for Escogido, that country's Caribbean Series representative. Figueroa has now won series games for three of the four countries. He had pitched for both the Dominican and Mexico in past years.

"I'm back here because I want the chance to keep pitching in the big leagues," the right-hander told MLB.com. "I could be sitting somewhere in an office and dealing with rush hour traffic, but instead the stadium is my office and I come to work and get to play and have fun."

NON-ROSTER COUNT UP TO 34

The Continental League is a thing of the past, but it cannot be forgotten because the latest Independent player to get a major league spring training invitation is left-hander Brandon Sisk, who started his pro career with Bay Area (Houston region) in that Texas-Louisiana-based circuit.

Sisk will be with Kansas City after the 26-year-old put up a combined 7-3 record and 2.52 ERA for 41 relief outings in Classes AA and AAA last season. He is the 22nd pitcher to get a non-roster invitation from a major league club. Twelve position players bring the overall count to an impressive 34.

PASCUCCI GETS METS INVITE

Valentino Pascucci, a power-hitting first baseman-designated hitter who got his first major league exposure in several years last September, will be back in major league camp with the New York Mets. Pascucci's Indy time was spent with Camden.

SWEENEY RE-JOINS SEATTLE SYSTEM

Veteran right-hander Brian Sweeney has signed as a free agent with one of his former teams, the Seattle Mariners. It does not appear he will be an official non-roster invitee although it is a pretty good guess he will get some major league exposure this spring.

Sweeney, 37, started his pro career in 1996 with Layayette, IN (Heartland League). He more recently trained with Southern Maryland and pitched one official game for Somerset, both times then signing with major league organizations. He has pitched in the majors for San Diego and Seattle


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Friday, January 27, 2012

IT IS TIME TO GO, BUT YORK'S STIDFOLE DOES IT WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE

It is so refreshing when a player decides to move on with his life outside of baseball, and leaves with a warm feeling about his playing days even though he did not quite make it to that universal goal of playing in the major leagues.

The latest example is reliever Sean Stidfole, only 27, who helped the York Revolution win back-to-back Atlantic League titles.

"I would play baseball until I die, I really would," Stidfole told Jim Seip in a story for the Revs' Inside Pitch. Stidfole knew he should not pass up an offer outside the game. "I got a pretty good job offer and I just figured it was about time," the 6-foot-3 right-hander said. "The last two years have been so great...and I want to remember (my career) like that."

After a 13-8 record with three consecutive under-4.00 earned run averages with Penn State, the Pennsylvania native spent five seasons in the Toronto farm system. Much of the last two of those years were in Triple-A, only one notch below the American League. He was one of the last cuts by the Blue Jays during spring training just two springs ago, then became a workhorse in the York bullpen where he got into 128 games in two seasons, every one of them in relief.

CORY ALDRIDGE BACK IN USA, SIGNS WITH ORIOLES

Baltimore has made an interesting signing, inking outfielder Cory Aldridge, who played in Korea last year.

It would not be a shock to see the 32-year-old Aldridge get some time in the Birds' major league camp even though he was placed on the Double-A Bowie, MD roster. The lefty hitter spent most of 2008 with Newark, and two years later he won a brief promotion to the Los Angeles Angels, playing in five games. Aldridge had made a big impression when he hit .395 (15-for-38) in 26 spring training games for the Angels. He also played a few major league games with Atlanta in 2001.

ODDS 'N ENDS

It was disappointing to learn that longtime major league first baseman-outfielder Daryle Ward was handed a 50-game suspension for use of banned amphetamines. Now 36, Ward played at Newark in 2009-10-11. He also was in the White Sox and Arizona farm systems last year. Ward is a free agent, but would have to sit out 50 games if he signs with a major league organization...The rumor mill is mentioning former Newark and Long Island outfielder Jay Gibbons, a free agent, as a possible candidate to get a look from the New York Mets. Gibbons hit .255 in 55 at-bats for the Los Angeles Dodgers early last season after shaking off eye issues which cut into his spring training and may have cost him an opportunity to platoon in leftfield...The non-roster count for onetime Independent players is up to 32 with 15 of them having experience in the Atlantic League.


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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

TIFFEE, FIGUEROA ADD TO ATLANTIC LEAGUE CONTINGENT IN MAJOR LEAGUE CAMPS; NOAH HALL TURNS TO COACHING

York has chosen a nice way to start building its roster toward what the Revolution hope will be a third consecutive Atlantic League championship.

Ramon Castro, a .341 hitter for parts of five seasons in the league and a four-time All-Star (he did not have enough at-bats to qualify the other year), is returning. Manager Andy Etchebarren even indicates the versatile infielder will be on hand when the season starts April 26 against league newcomer Sugar Land, TX instead of coming on board after the Mexican League season, as has been his pattern.

It also appears the Revs may have added a nice piece to their mound staff by purchasing Triple-A-experienced reliever Santo Luis from Lincoln, NE of the American Association (0.83 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 21.2 innings).

NOAH HALL, FROM ATLANTIC AS PLAYER TO COACHING

Anyone who follows this writer's work with the Independent Baseball Insider column or my blogs knows how much I like to see those who spend time in Independent Baseball get opportunities to work their way through major league organizations.

So, I was delighted when I learned that Noah Hall will be coaching with the Boston Red Sox's team in the Gulf Coast League this summer. Hall played for 16 seasons, including 116 games last season with Camden, where he sneaked above his career batting average of .281 to .285 along with 15 homers and 64 runs batted in.

But at 34 and with only 74 games higher than Double-A even though he played in seven different organizations, the handwriting was getting pretty solid he would not likely go any higher. Surprisingly, this California product never played in the Boston organization. His first Indy season was with St. Paul, MN when the Saints still were in the Northern League in 2001. He also has had three stints at Somerset, including 124 games in 2010.

FIFTH PLAYER FROM LAST SUMMER GETS MAJOR LEAGUE INVITATION

With still one more invitation to major league spring training camps--five, in all--to players who were in the Atlantic League as recently as last season, founding fathers can pick up their level of bragging rights about producing major league-ready talen.

The latest addition from the 2011 ranks is onetime prime Minnesota third base prospect Terry Tiffee, who will be in spring training with the Miami Marlins. The switch-hitting 32-year-old swatted 13 home runs in only 52 games with Butch Hobson's Lancaster Barnstormers last season. Tiffee hit .293 and drove in 46 runs and also hit .345 in 110 at-bats with the New York Yankees' top farm club in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. He has 97 major league games to his credit with Minnesota and briefly in 2008 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A veteran right-hander also has a new minor league contract and a spring training invitation. Nelson Figueroa (Long Island), who has gotten a lot of major league time in recent years, will be with Toronto.


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Thursday, January 19, 2012

OH, YEA, PLAYER SIGNINGS HELP US GET THROUGH WINTER

The first signs of spring?

Okay, it will be a few weeks yet, but when we start getting Atlantic League player signings it gets my attention.

Perennial all-star Josh Pressley's departure from Somerset for the new Sugar Land Skeeters is interesting. His numbers may have slipped a little last year but .297-16-75 still are pretty good, and everyone has to remember that the Patriots were really suffering through a down year. Since Pressley wanted the trade because he has family in the Sugar Land area, it is easy to predict he will be putting everything he has in that big bat out there to make an impression.

WINTER BASEBALL PRODUCTION

Not only did former Long Island Ducks mound ace Mike Loree turn in a strong performance in the Puerto Rican League championship series, as we noted in today's
Independent Baseball Insider column (five innings with one run and seven hits), but that performance followed by a few days a strong showing by another who starred on Long Island.

Randy Keisler, still a free agent (to the best of our knowledge), gave up just one hit and struck out seven in seven shutout innings in the Mexican Pacific League playoffs. Keisler, who also has pitched for Southern Maryland, was bouncing back from an earlier start in which he did not get out of the first inning.

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

29 FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUERS STILL FREE AGENTS AFTER MACIAS AND BUMP SIGN

Strike two more onetime Atlantic Leaguers who have been minor league free agents.

Camden outfielder Drew Macias, who was in the San Diego organization last season and has some major league time, has signed with the Los Angeles Angels and been assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake City. Right-handed pitcher Nate Bump, also a Camden product, has once again signed with Philadelphia and is on their Lehigh Valley (AAA) roster. It would not be a surprise to see either one get some major league exposure during spring training.

This still leaves 29 former Atlantic Leaguers, according to the records maintained by the Independent Baseball Insider , who played for major league organizations last season and are free agents. Some may retire while others still are likely to get major league organizational offers or return to the Atlantic League. The unsigned, with players who saw major league action last season denoted with an #:

PITCHERS (17): Nick Bierbrodt (Bridgeport, Somerset), #Greg Burke (Atlantic City), Tom Cochran (Lancaster), #Mark DiFelice (Somerset, Camden), Lenny DiNardo (Long Island), Joe Esposito (Long Island), #Nelson Figueroa (Long Island), Justin Hampson (York, Long Island), Eric Junge (Lancaster, Bridgeport), Randy Keisler (Long Island, Southern Maryland), B.J. LaMura (Long Island), Chris Mobley (Southern Maryland), Sam Narron (Camden), Brian Stokes (Camden), Brian Sweeney (Somerset), Andy Van Hekken (Somerset), Les Walrond (Lancaster).
CATCHERS (1): #Robinson Cancel (Long Island, Somerset, Road Warriors).
INFIELDERS (9): SS Angel Berroa (Bridgeport), Ozzie Chavez (Lancaster), Matt Cusick (Southern Maryland), 3B Pedro Feliz (Camden), SS Andy Gonzalez (York, DNP), 1B-3B Mike Lamb (Camden), Anderson Machado (Lancaster), Raul Padron (Camden), SS Ed Rogers (Bridgeport).
OUTFIELDERS (2): #Joey Gathright (Long Island), #Jay Gibbons (Newark, Long Island).

DNP: Indicates signed or trained with team but did not play in any games


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Monday, January 9, 2012

THIRD, FOURTH 2011 ATLANTIC LEAGUE HURLERS TO BE IN MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING CAMPS

How impressive is this?

Two more players who were in the Atlantic League this past season have been invited to major league spring training camps.

Southpaw Scott Rice will be in Arizona with the Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Logan Kensing will join Pittsburgh in Florida, both as non-roster invitees.

Kensing, who was with Washington for much of '09 then out for all of 2010 as he recovered from elbow surgery, signed as a free agent with the Pirates after splitting last summer with Bridgeport and the New York Yankees' Triple-A club in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. Kensing, 29, had worked in 134 major league games before the elbow issue with an 8-9 record and 5.81 earned run average with Florida and the Nationals. He struck out 16 Atlantic League hitters in 11.1 innings early last season while posting a 1.59 ERA in nine relief appearances for Bridgeport. The Bluefish sold his contract to the Yankees June 29. The Texas A&M product was 1-1 with four saves and a 4.28 ERA in 21 outings in the Yankees system.

Rice, 30, has not pitched in the major leagues during the regular season, but he had 15 appearances for York early last season (1-0, one save, 2.45), then joined the Dodgers' organization and went 4-4 (1 save) and a 1.95 ERA at Double-A Chattanooga. He was with Long Island for a time in '08 and with Newark part of '09.

Two other pitchers, Jerome Williams and Mike DeMark, also started last year in the Atlantic League. Williams, who was at Lancaster, is expected to bid for a starting job with the Los Angeles Angels this season. DeMark started at York and will be in camp with Arizona.

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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

SANDY MADERA SITS ATOP MEXICAN LEAGUE BATTING RACE

Sandy Madera obviously loves Mexican League pitching.

The 31-year-old catcher-first baseman-DH, who was with the Newark Bears when they still played in the Atlantic League in 2009-10, hit 18 homers while splitting time with two Mexican League teams one winter ago. He is the league's top hitter at .366 this season (213 at-bats) and has 13 homers and 44 runs batted in.

Madera, now on the roster of the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) of the Can-Am League where he played in '05, '07 and for a brief time last season, is one of a number of current or former Independent players doing well in winter leagues. We will trace more of those successes in our next Independent Baseball Insider
column which goes out to subscribers on Thursday.

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