I’ve always said that there are just too many baseball leagues going today. The demand is not keeping up with supply, so we’re seeing some of the college baseball summer leagues (like the Cape Cod League or the League where the Madison Mallards play) absorb some of the struggling franchises from Indy ball.
College Leagues Grabbing Struggling Franchises
One fact is more obvious than ever for struggling Independent teams. College leagues, where player salaries and costly workman’s comp are not issues for operators, are more than willing to offer a less expensive option. Both Shreveport-Bossier, LA (American Association) and Pittsfield, MA (Can-Am League) have gone the collegiate route for 2012 with Brockton, MA (Can-Am) likely to follow although the city council has put off a decision until early March.
In all of these situations, established Independent operators will be involved in running the new teams, which will play only about half the number of games as in the Indy leagues.
It is apparent to this typist this is not the last of these moves in years to come.
Standout Mound Performances in Winter Playoffs
Philadelphia spring training invitee Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH, Can-Am League) led a trio of outstanding pitching performances by former Independent players in winter league playoffs this week. The southpaw hurled a complete-game five-hitter (one run) in the Dominican Republic.
Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Victoria, Golden League), signed recently by Washington, allowed only one hit in seven shutout innings in Venezuela and Mike Loree (Long Island, NY, and Newark, NJ, Atlantic League) surrendered only one run in five innings to even the Puerto Rican League championship series. Loree is in the Pittsburgh farm system.
(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball. Fans may subscribe for 2012 at WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy his blogs, AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and IndyBaseballChatter.com, or comment to RWirz@aol.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.
You may also like -
