Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Nine of the 20 former American Association players who started spring training in major league camps are still there with less than a week until Opening Day.  That is easily the highest total for any Independent league.  They are: Pitchers (7) Aaron Crow, Miami (Fort Worth 2008-09) Luke...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The American Association seems to have eight of its graduates pretty well assured of major league jobs come Opening Day (barring the need to go on the disabled list), but the next wave of a half dozen hopefuls is what makes the last two weeks of spring training...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz If anyone thinks it is easy to stay in the major leagues even after an amazing jump in 2014 from Independent Baseball (Sioux City 2013, Amarillo 2013-14) all the way to the playoff-bound Pittsburgh bullpen and a good ’15 spring training they might look at the situation surrounding...Read More

The Houston Astros are the latest major league organization to dip into the deep Independent Baseball talent pool for a minor league manager. The rookie-level Greeneville Astros have tabbed Lamarr Rogers, who has been a coach with the St. Paul Saints for the last 16 seasons, to lead Houston’s Appalachian League team. Rogers was a...Read More

RHP Chris Martin (pictured),  who started his professional career in Grand Prairie, has struck out ten in six innings covering four outings with his new team, the New York Yankees.  Martin has a save against Tampa Bay, has given up seven hits and has a 3.00 ERA. The offseason certainly has not dulled the effectiveness of reliever John Holdzkom, who...Read More

It has taken a few years including efforts in three other major league organizations, serving a 50-game suspension and spending the 2013 season with St. Paul, but Mark Hamburger‘s career continues to look up after a two-inning scoreless stint that earned a save for his original major league organization, Minnesota, on Sunday. The 28-year-old right-hander...Read More

Adelaide, Australia – Gary SouthShore RailCats RHP Morgan Coombs was named the Australian Baseball League’s Pitcher of the Year on Saturday after a dominant season with the Adelaide Bite. Coombs went 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA, second-best in the league, in 16 appearances for the Bite. His seven wins and 65 strikeouts were also second-most in the...Read More