http://www.canamleague.com/ News from the Can-Am League en-us Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:23:02 -0500 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:23:02 -0500 info@canamleague.com info@canamleague.com http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1329499684 If fans would like to adopt a major league team for spring training Seattle would seem to be a good choice since the Mariners have seven hurlers from the Independent ranks among the 35 hopefuls Manager Eric Wedge and Pitching Coach Carl Willis will look at before the early start to their season in Japan on March 28.<br><br>Veteran lefty specialist George Sherrill (32 strikeouts and one walk in 78 at-bats vs. lefty hitters in '11) seems assured of a job, and all indications are Tom Wilhelmsen, a major surprise last spring, is expected to be a setup man. Both James Paxton (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) and Steve Delabar (primarily Brockton, MA, Can-Am League - Pictured), the latter debuting last season with six relief outings (1-1, 2.57), are highly regarded. info@canamleague.com 1329499684 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:28:04 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1329342277 The Can-Am League announced today its roster for the first annual Independent League Prospect Tournament. It will be held from February 24 - March 4 at Al Lang Stadium (pictured) in St. Petersburg, Fla. <br><br>The tournament will consist of four teams each playing eight to ten games, with doubleheaders each day at 1pm. The Semi-finals will be held on March 3rd at 1pm and 5pm. Championship Game is March 4th at 1pm.<br> info@canamleague.com 1329342277 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:44:37 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1329249095 We just discovered while pouring over some transactions that Stuart Pomeranz, who spent 2009 with the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) in the Can-Am League, has been signed to a minor league deal by Baltimore.<br><br>While his Jackals numbers did not stand out (5-6, 6.50, mainly as a starter), he had 18 saves (1-6, 3.67 with 53 strikeouts in 49 innings over 51 relief appearances in Double-A in the Colorado organization two summers ago. The 6-foot-7 right-hander, only 27, got into three major league spring training games for the Los Angeles Dodgers one year ago (0-0, 3.86), but only worked in two games (at Class AA Chattanooga) during the regular season. One would have to guess he was injured.<br> info@canamleague.com 1329249095 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:51:35 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1328816330 Sandy Madera obviously loves Mexican League pitching.<br><br>Madera (pictured), now on the roster of the New Jersey Jackals 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.<br><br>He is the league's top hitter at .366 this season (213 at-bats) and has 13 homers and 44 runs batted in.<br><br> info@canamleague.com 1328816330 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:38:50 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1328735054 The men that make up Leones de Escogido's rich history are among the most familiar figures in Latin American baseball.<br><br>There is a new man making a name for himself with Escogido: former Major Leaguer and current manager Ken Oberkfell (pictured). The locals refer to Oberkfell as "El Mago de los Leones," Spanish for "The Leones' magician" because of his mystifying success since taking over the club for the 2009-2010 season.<br> info@canamleague.com 1328735054 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:04:14 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1328302005 The Can-Am League announced that the contract of Worcester Tornadoes INF Chris Colabello (pictured) has been sold to the Minnesota Twins. The 2011 Player of the Year has been invited to the Twins spring training. <br><br>Colabello batted .348 with 20 home runs, 79 RBI and 127 hits (including 52 for extra bases). info@canamleague.com 1328302005 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:46:45 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1328296625 What a busy start to the day, especially for the morning after subscribers got this week's Independent Baseball Insider column, but that is the way it goes with breaking news.<br><br>Anyone who cares about Independent Baseball will want to follow the Caribbean Series for the next few days (especially if they can see the games on ESPN Deportes or ESPN3)since about 25 per cent of the players on the four teams are current or former Indy players. New Newark, NJ (Can-Am League) coach Ken Oberkfell (pictured) is even managing the Dominican Republic entry. info@canamleague.com 1328296625 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:17:05 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1328283157 Add Barry Moss to the parade of Independent Baseball instructional people moving to the Miami Marlins.<br><br>Although some will know him as one of the scouts debating with Billy Beane (I know, it was Brad Pitt portraying Beane) in the award-winning movie Moneyball, Moss (pictured) has been putting together Indy teams for the last decade, first in St. Paul, MN and since 2003 for Brockton, MA (Can-Am) and Fort Worth, TX (American Association). info@canamleague.com 1328283157 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:32:37 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1327596358 The Can-Am League had 32 current or former players that participated in winter league baseball. The league was represented in seven different countries including Australia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. All of the winter leagues have concluded their season.<br><br>Daniel Schmidt (Brockton Rox) - 6-2, 4.08 ERA, 57 1/3 Innings Pitched [Perth Heat - Pictured]<br> info@canamleague.com 1327596358 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:45:58 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1327346489 The Worcester Tornadoes announced that they have promoted their former manager, Ed Riley, to the front office as Special Advisor to the General Manager and promoted last season's bench coach, Chip Plante (pictured), to field manager. In his first stint as a manager, Riley, compiled a 48-44 record.<br><br>"Chip is the consummate baseball professional and is deserving of this opportunity. He brings a passion for the game, a tremendous work ethic and our player's truly connected with him last season," added Bassiacos.<br> info@canamleague.com 1327346489 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:21:29 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1326998757 Philadelphia spring training invitee Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH, Can-Am League - pictured) 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.<br><br>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. info@canamleague.com 1326998757 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:45:57 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1326488603 The Can-Am League announced that the contract of Newark Bears INF/OF Peter Fatse has been sold to the Baltimore Orioles. He becomes the first player from the league sold to a major league organization in 2012. <br><br>Fatse (pictured) was selected by the Bears in the Pittsfield dispersal draft on October 14. With the Colonials in 2011, Fatse batted .279 with five home runs and 41 RBI. info@canamleague.com 1326488603 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:03:23 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1326213471 Independent League baseball recently had six former players sign with major league organizations. <br><br>The list includes: 3B Corey Smith (Newark, NJ, then in the Atlantic League) moved from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization to the Chicago White Sox, OF Leonard Davis (New Jersey Jackals, Can-Am League - Pictured) switched from Washington to Colorado and LHP Derrick Loop (Camden, NJ, Atlantic, and Chico, CA, Golden League) transferred from Philadelphia to the Dodgers info@canamleague.com 1326213471 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:37:51 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1326144584 Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting 86.4 percent of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.<br><br>Other than Larkin, the player who received the best news today is probably (Newark Bears manager) Tim Raines (pictured). He jumped from 38 percent to just shy of 49 percent. info@canamleague.com 1326144584 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:29:44 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1325861942 Unlike many previous seasons when prominent current or former Independent players had a difficult time finding any significant playing time in the winter leagues, a bevy of these players are prospering this winter. Many of them, as best we can tell, are free agents so this can be a very good showcase.<br><br>Free agent hitters among the winter league standouts include Cesar Suarez in Venezuela and Sandy Madera and Kraig Binick (pictured) in Mexico. info@canamleague.com 1325861942 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:59:02 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1325620641 The rumor mill had long been grinding that Bill Buckner would not be back as the manager at Brockton, MA long before the Rox exited from the Can-Am League, and the longtime major league hit machine's next job is now known. He will be hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs' Northwest League farm club in Boise, which is only fitting since Buckner (pictured) lives in the Idaho community.<br> info@canamleague.com 1325620641 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:57:21 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1324395288 Four former Can-Am League players were selected to play in the 2011 Australian Baseball League All-Star Game at Barbagallo Ballpark in Perth on December 21. The inaugural all-star game will feature Australia's National Baseball Team in a single nine inning game against the best import players from the US, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, India and Italy. info@canamleague.com 1324395288 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:34:48 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1324064969 Can-Am League commissioner Miles Wolff (pictured) announced the league's roster of teams for the 2012 season on Friday. The Newark Bears, New Jersey Jackals, Quebec Capitales, Rockland Boulders and Worcester Tornadoes will take the field for the upcoming campaign, which includes interleague games with the American Association. The Brockton Rox will not play in 2012. <br><br> info@canamleague.com 1324064969 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:49:29 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1324049471 Winter baseball opportunities seem pretty plentiful for Independent players these days. The major attention falls to the Caribbean and Mexico, but Australia also is a player.<br><br>We have tracked down three Indy vets who are doing well in Aussieland, starting with Mike McGuire, who played for Sussex (Augusta, NJ) in the Can-Am League in 2010 and now is part of the Philadelphia Phillies farm system. McGuire (pictured) sports a 2-1 record and nifty 1.11 ERA after 32.1 innings down under.<br> info@canamleague.com 1324049471 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:31:11 -0600 http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1323463342 San Diego also re-signed and promoted to Tucson free agent outfielder Carlos Sosa, a veteran of three Indy leagues.<br><br>The 30-year-old Dominican hit .312 (two homers, 13 RBI) in 28 games in Class AA after a powerhouse start with the Atlantic League's travel team, the Road Warriors, where he was hitting .330 with 17 homers and 55 RBI. Sosa had a .314-15-69 season with Worcester, MA of the Can-Am League in 2009 and also has played for New Jersey (Little Falls) of the Can-Am and St. George, UT of the Golden League. info@canamleague.com 1323463342 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:42:22 -0600