Bierbrodt Puts Fire-Fighting on Hold to Pitch; Pulsipher, Padilla Have Double Roles

It is easy tracking Atlantic Leagueplayers when they have their contract picked up directly by a major league organization.  But what happens to everyone else who was in the league a year or two or three ago and is neither with an organization nor still in the league?  Sure, some give up playing and go to school or coach or get a job in the real world.

There also are any number of Atlantic Leaguers who continue their journey in one of the other seven Independent leagues.  Occasionally, someone even gives the game up for a year or so, then tries again.

Big lefthander Nick Bierbrodtfalls into the latter category, and his story carries intrigue.

Bierbrodt was in the Atlantic League for three seasons, 2005-07, first with Somerset; later with Bridgeport.  Results were spotty with a 7-7 record during the entire time.

The Tarzana, CAproduct, who turned 32 two days ago, was a first-round draft choice with Arizonaway back in 1996.  He was held in such high regard that he made 16 major league starts with the D-Backsand Tampa Baywhen he was only 23 in 2001.  While Bierbrodt does not go around talking about it, he could have lost his life months later when he was going through a Hardees Restaurantdrive-thru in Charleston , SCand had a nasty exchange from the back of a taxi with a biker.

“I didn’t like what he had to say; he didn’t like what I had to say,” Bierbrodt told The Colorado Springs Gazette this week.  “And he shot me”, leaving a bullet in the hurler’s liver and another floating in his side.

The 6-foot-5 pitcher spent time in recovery and missed the 2002 season.  Doctors said it might be more harmful to remove the bullets, so they left them in,” according to The Gazette. Bierbrodt was in and out of the majors in 2003 and 2004 before landing in the Atlantic League.  He also pitched Indy baseball in Long Beach , CA (Golden League)two years ago, then he quit the game to become a California fireman.

“I want to do that (firefighter) eventually, but not if I can make more money in baseball,” he told The Gazette , so when the Colorado Rockiescalled he once again became a baseball hopeful.  Bierbrodt was solid (0-1, 2.20) in 14 relief appearances in the Double-A Texas Leagueearlier this season, and the Rockies promoted him to Colorado Springsin recent days, just one step from getting back to the majors.

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Promotions and Demotions

In player moves within the affiliated ranks, Torontopromoted 2009 Long Islandstarter B. J. LaMura(10-10, 4.95) from Class A to Class AA, and Floridareleased pitcher Matt DeSalvo,who was in one game for Southern Marylandlast season.  Right-hander Jason Anderson (Somerset),infielder Keoni DeRenne (York)and lefty Daryl Harang (York)all were dropped one level.

Statistically Speaking

Former Long Islandhurler Ed (Bubbie) Buzacherois having a difficult time of it with Toronto ’sDouble-A club except in the won-lost column where he is 3-0.  His ERA is 8.10.  Nate Bump (Camden)continues to roll for Philadelphia’stop farm club at Lehigh Valleyat 4-1, 2.51 and Jon Hunton (Somersetand Lancaster)is 2-0, 2.18 in 14 relief appearances for Sacramento (Oakland).Among hitters, Jay Gibbons (Newarkand Long Island)is at .379-6-27 for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Albuquerquefarm while another outfielder, Cory Aldridge (Newark),is at .325-6-33 for Salt Lake City ,the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’stop club.  Michael Ryan (Somerset)has slipped to .167 (2-for-12) for the parent club.

( Subscriptions to the Atlantic League Notebook are available on a monthly or full season basis via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com .  Bob Wirz also writes a weekly column, the Independent Baseball Insider, as well as a blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT. )