What Fabulous Match-Ups in Major League Games

The influx of Independent Baseball players into the majors this month has been exciting, and it is much more than a pure numbers game.  Think about these feats, which should have every non-affiliated player, executive and fan jumping for joy:

When Bobby Cramermade his debut in a start for Oaklandhis mound opponent was none other than Luke Hochevar,who started in an Independent league.

• Jay Gibbons’latest headline-grabber in a series of events that has him playing virtually every day for the Los Angeles Dodgerswas a monster home run off a pitcher (Nelson Figueroa, Houston)who had played for one of the same Independent teams (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League.
• No fewer than five Indy graduates played significant roles in a single series between the Dodgersand Houston Astros.
• John Lindseygot his first hit, and everyone seemed to be cheering.

In other words, Christmascame early and no less than seven Independent leagues could show pride for the role they played.

The series at Minute Maid Parkwhen Jay Gibbons homered off Nelson Figueroa was important on the Independent Baseball scale for a few other reasons.  First baseman John Lindsey (New Jersey Jackals, Can-Am League)made the first start of his 16-year professional career, and collected his first hit—a line drive single to left—the next day.  He is 1-for-7 in six appearances so far.  And, the Dodgers and Astros paraded no less than five Indy players with reliever George Sherrill (Evansville, IN, Frontier League, Sioux Falls, SD, now in the American Association, and Winnipeg, Northern League)for LA and another southpaw, Tim Byrdak (Joliet, ILand Gary, IN,both Northern League), for Houston.

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Shreveport Triumphs, Pittsfield, Maui in Finals

While four Independent leagues are in their championship finals and the Atlantic Leagueis about to start its playoffs, underdog Shreveport-Bossier, LAis the latest team to enjoy a title run.  Ricky Van Asselbergadded to the managerial resume he built with United Leaguetitles at Alexandria, LAin ’06 and ’07 by leading the Captainsto a three-game sweep of powerful Sioux Falls, SDto take the American Associationtitle.

Two first-year teams are in the finals, Pittsfield, MA, led by Manager of the Year Brian Daubach, is in the Can-Am Leaguechampionship round and Cory Snyderhas Mauiin a similar situation in the Golden League.A complete rundown of the remaining playoffs:

American Association:  Shreveport-Bossier, LAswept Sioux Falls, SD,in three straight to win its first championship.

Atlantic League:Defending champion Somerset, NJwill be at York, PAand Bridgeport, CTwill open at Southern Maryland (Waldorf)when the best-of-five division finals begin Wednesday.

Can-Am League:2009 winner Quebecand league newcomer Pittsfield, MAare 1-1 with the balance of the five-game series starting Thursday night in Canada.

Frontier League:  Traverse City, MI,leads River City (O’Fallon, MO), 1-0, in best-of-five finals.

Golden League:  Chico, CAleads Maui, HA, 2-0, in best-of-five finals with the rest of the games in Hawaiistarting Saturday.

Northern League:Defending champion Fargo, NDhas a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five championship series with Game 2 at Kansas City, KSThursday night.

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.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.)