Independent Professional Baseball

If you want a resource to keep up to date with the managers in the independent professional baseball leagues then be sure to visit and bookmark this site: http://www.independentbaseball.net/managers/ The link for each team also will tell you the names of any hitting coaches, pitching coaches, and other independent baseball team coaching staff members. - 2 days ago

Baseball America has two awards relating to the professional independent minor leagues.  Here are the links to the 2009 awards: 1)  End-of-year awards:  http://www.independentbaseball.net/statistics/review-2009-allindependent-baseball-team/ 2)  Top prospects:  http://www.independentbaseball.net/independent-baseball-leagues/questions-baseball-americas-independent-baseball-editor/ - 7 days ago

The Las Cruces Vaqueros will be a new independent minor league baseball team in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  They will begin play in 2010 and are a franchise in the Continental Baseball League. Here is some more information including a link to the TV news clip: http://www.independentbaseball.net/independent-baseball-teams/independent-baseball-team-las-cruces-mexico/ - 2 weeks ago

Here is a news article about an independent minor league player having to live at an assisted care/seniors facility as his “host family” for the summer in the Frontier League: http://www.independentbaseball.net/independent-baseball-teams/independent-baseball-player-has-assisted-living-facility-as-his-host-family/ - 2 weeks ago

Here is the final list of the 2009 independent baseball league champions: American Association:  Lincoln Saltdogs Atlantic League:  Somerset Patriots Can-Am League:  Quebec Capitales Continental League:  Alexandria Aces Frontier League:  Lake Erie Crushers Golden League:  Calgary Vipers Northern League:  Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks United League:  Amarillo Dillas For a list of all historical independent baseball league champions since 1993 then be sure to visit:  http://www.independentbaseball.net/champions/ - 5 weeks ago

Have I ever been negligent. Sorry. Now that this week's Independent Baseball Insider has gone out I can find more time. There certainly is not a lack of subjects to touch on in this space. For example: **While it was disappointing to see Houston take Chris Coste off its 40-man roster and move him to Triple-A Round Rock, I cannot imagine that this Independent one-of-a-kind is finished in the major leagues. There is too much need for a competent catcher, even if it is in a backup role. It helps that Coste can play first base; maybe even third, and can pinch hit. He has done mighty well for someone who did not break into the majors until he was 33, playing in 299 regular season games so far with a .272 batting average. Being with the Phillies during their World Championship run one year ago had to be the opportunity of a lifetime. The BA did slip to .224 this year with only two home runs in 205 at-bats. His Independent days were spent with two in Minneapolis followed by a sterling career with hometown Fargo, ND of the Northern League. **It seems a safe prediction that young women will want to gather near the first base stands at Sioux Falls Canaries games next season now that Patrick Reilly has been named South Dakota's hottest bachelor by Cosmopolitan magazine. He is remembered in Sioux Falls for one other reason, too. The onetime University of Arizona lefty drove in the winning run in the 2008 American Association championship game. **I have been trying to confirm that onetime pitching star Bobby Madritsch, who came up to Seattle with longtime Indy teammate George Sherrill, has turned to boxing. Madritsch's baseball career went south because of injuries, but I recall well when I interviewed him before a Long Island (NY) Ducks (Atlantic League) game that he had the type of physique frequently found in the ring. **Fans itching to follow Independent players this winter should check out the new Florida Winter League (www.FWBL.com). More than 30 Indy players are on the four rosters. **Two sluggers this typist has been hoping might get a major league shot for some time now are in the Mexican-Pacific League this offseason. John Lindsey is with Mazatlan and Sandy Madera with Mochis. Both played Independent Baseball in Little Falls for the New Jersey Jackals (Can-Am League). Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

It was intriguing checking out Baseball America's list of what it considers the top 10 prospects in Independent Baseball (among all players not signed by a major league organization by August 13) today, and learning that Colombian first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez ranked No. 1 Timing is very imperfect in these instances, and we had just written in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider that the Red Sox have purchased the 23-year-old's contract after his summer at Yuma, AZ of the Golden League where he hit .335. BB-A's J.J. Cooper suggests Rodriguez probably projects best as a corner outfielder in affiliated baseball since he likely does not have the power to be an ideal major league first baseman. While these veteran eyes see a number of Independent players getting an affiliated opportunity at a much more advanced age and even a big league look if they continue to progress, it is easy to see that Baseball America really concentrated on younger players in making its selections. No one on the team is more than 24, and only two of the 10 have reached that birthday. That also explains why the Atlantic League, which does not have many of the under-25 crowd on its rosters, did not land anyone on the list. MAJOR LEAGUERS IN MINORITY It was surprising that with so many former major leaguers in the Atlantic League only four of the 14 players on the circuit's postseason All-Star team have even one game at the highest level. Carl Everett of Newark, NJ was the only major name tabbed, with his role as DH. Closer Bill Simas and southpaw starter Troy Cate of Long Island, NY both have major league time as does outfielder Charlton Jimerson, one of Everett's teammates. HOMETOWN SUPPORT Sure we have prejudice as a life-long baseball enthusiast, but Amarillo, TX may have the smartest people around. They have selected the hometown Amarillo Dillas the "Best Local Sports Team" for the fourth consecutive year in the Amarillo Globe-News's annual poll of the Best of Amarillo, which covers a variety of categories. What a shame it is when some communities hardly know they have a professional baseball team even though the competition as well as the entertainment and the cost run fairly similar from ballpark to ballpark. If only these towns paid more attention. FALL WORKOUT OCTOBER 24-25 It is not the normal tryout camp, but the Frontier League has a fall workout for college-eligible players as well as others looking for exposure scheduled October 24-25 at the Gateway Grizzlies' GCS Ballpark in Sauget, IL, near St. Louis. The indication is all of the league's managers will be on hand. Details can be found at www.FrontierLeague.com. Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

Sadly, those of us who live and breathe baseball do not have any more Independent games until next season. The Somerset (NJ) Patroits hoisted the final postseason championship flag when they won their record fifth Atlantic League title, and became the first team in the league's 12-year history to triumph in back-to-back seasons. New York Yankees fans might see an omen as the major league postseason gets under way in that onetime bullpen ace Sparky Lyle manages the Patriots and Jeff Nettles, the son of longtime third base standout Graig Nettles, was the championship series MVP. Time will tell. While the games always are the enjoyable part, the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of the eight Indy leagues carry serious impact. Which teams are solid, and unquestionably safe for 2010? Which ones need a new infusion of investor money or a better stadium lease? Which teams will not see a new season? All indications are this is going to be an uneasy offseason in too many locations. American Association ownership was meeting on this very day and again Wednesday, with one question certain to be the fate of the Fort Worth Cats, a success at the gate but with top-heavy costs because of the acreage surrounding LaGrave Field which owner Carl Bell must resolve. Reports that the United League covets the territory seem to be true, but that is not a solution. Besides, the American Association does not want to give up on Fort Worth. Can-Am League owners will huddle next week, and while we expect they will find Brockton, MA once again in safe territory, this circuit still needs a replacement for the American Defenders of New Hampshire (Nashua) to maintain is six-team operational base. Don't be shocked if new ownership is introduced in two other existing cities, although that could come somewhat later. These are just a few of the headaches to key leagues where we feel confident of understand some of the big issues. The three-year-old Continental League still is in need of solidifying itself, and it bears watching to see whether the United League, which almost did not survive league-wide ownership issues one year ago, can progress with what the league has been saying is a major new facility in the busy Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Enter the four-team Florida Winter League. Hit or miss? We will see. Independent Baseball provided some great entertainment and missed a third consecutive eight million fan season by a whisker, and it probably will do the same or even better next summer when the economy may be more stable. But that is many headlines--and headaches--down the road. Stay tuned. Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

The ups and downs in baseball are something we are never going to figure out. The last time these fingers discussed former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne's comeback effort in the Can-Am League it definitely looked like a downhill story. Then Thursday night, right after we had finished our weekly Independent Baseball Insider column, all Gagne did was lift the Quebec Capitales to within one victory of the league championship. Gagne obviously was at the top of his game, thrilling 5,011 of his French-speaking fans with a complete-game six-hitter in which he walked only one and struck out eight as Quebec dispatched Worcester, MA, 5-1. The Capitales were to take a 2-1 series advantage into Game 4 before their home fans Friday night. PROUD DAY FOR THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Since Miles Wolff is commissioner of both the Can-Am League and the American Association, it is difficult to imagine he could have had a better day all-around than Thursday. That postseason crowd of 5,011 in Quebec had to put a little extra gingle in his walk, doubly so since he is the owner of the team. Then two pitchers who started their pro career in the American Association early this summer signed with major league organizations for what is believed to be well over a combined $4 million. Aaron Crow, who had pitched at Fort Worth, TX, got what MLB.com scribe Dick Kaegel estimated was a guaranteed $3 million plus incentives for a three-year major league deal with Kansas City. Tanner Scheppers, who worked for St. Paul, MN, got a reported $1.25 million for his deal with Texas, and may be invited to major league spring training. Not bad. Subscribe now to 2009 Independent Baseball Insider columns REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER