Old Injury Costs Job in Washington Nationals Chain

     Ryan Quigleyof the Joliet (IL) Slammersis enjoying what could easily be consider a dream season in the Frontier League, except that for most practical purposes the 25-year-old closer with only Independent Baseball experience on his professional resume could easily be getting batters out in the Washington Nationals’minor league system.

      The right-hander had six saves, a 1.08 earned run average and was averaging well over a strikeout per inning when the Nationals purchased his contract and assigned him to Auburn, NY. Quigley passed his New York-Penn Leaguephysical with no problem.  But when the information was sent along to the major league team doctor he gave a resounding ‘no’, concerned for the future about “the arthritis in my knees was too bad”, the pitcher told The Chicago Sun-Times.  “I had both knees scoped that summer (2003),” Quigley said, prior to starting his collegiate career at Chicago’s St. Xavier University.  “There were no ligament problems, just some cartilage.  I have had no problems with the knees, nothing that caused me to miss a start, miss a game or miss a practice since then.

      “I hope other teams know I am back here (Joliet) and I get a shot with someone else.”  One can only imagine it will happen since Quigley has added five more save since his return June 17 to give him a share of the league lead (11) along with 19 strikeouts in 14.2 innings and a 2.46 ERA.

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Pena’s Walk-Off Homer Helps Another Newly-Promoted Indy Hurler

       Independent Baseball has had a really good few days in getting three more players to the major leagues, including first-timer Jose Yepez,who played at Pensacola, FL,in the American Association,and Gary, IN, now in the same league but part of the Northern Leaguewhen the new Seattlecatcher was with the Southshore RailCatsin ’05 and ’07.  

      Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackalsand Nashua, NH,  Can-Am League)joined St. Louisand another left-handed reliever, Alberto Castillo  (Atlantic Leaguestops with New Jerseyfranchises in Camdenand Newarkplus the traveling Road Warriorsand Schaumburg, IL, Northern League)was called up by Arizona.

      Castillo’s major league record improved to 3-0 for 64 lifetime appearances (62 with Baltimore)when another former Indy player, Wily Mo Pena, pinch hit for him Tuesday night and clubbed a two-run walk-off home run for a 6-4 D-Backs’win against Cleveland.

     It is quite possible the third round-tripper in Pena’s nine games with Arizona helped the designated hitter’s chances of staying in the National Leaguewhen inter-league play ends because each of the home runs helped win a game, and it was his second consecutive successful pinch hit appearance.  Pena is hitting .231 (6-for-26) with five RBI.

      “He (Pena) was opening his front side too early” when he reported to Bridgeport, CTlast season, BluefishManager Willie Upshawtold us this week.  The longtime major league player and hitting guru  said Pena still had more work to accomplish when his contract was sold to San Diegoin mid-season.  “We were trying to take some muscle out of his swing.”  It must have helped because Pena already had 21 home runs at Triple-A Reno, NVwhen the Diamondbacks promoted him to the parent club.

               (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Fans may subscribe at newly reduced rates 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.)