Former Atlantic Leaguer Nearly Perfect in Class AA Game While Raben, Fox Continue Huge Displays of Power

Independent Baseball’s player contributions to Major League Baseball never cease to amaze.  Sometimes, it seems almost impossible to study a minor league box score without the names of one or more players popping up because they have spent time improving their skills in a non-affiliated league.

One such event in recent days was nothing short of remarkable itself because Virgil Vasquez, who had a couple of trials in the major leagues back in 2007 and 2009 before turning to two complete seasons at Southern Maryland (Waldorf) of the Atlantic League in ’11-12 in order to get another major league organization to give him an opportunity, had a brilliant outing for the Minnesota Twins’ Class AA franchise in New Britain, CT.

The 32-year-old Vasquez, who has shuttled between AA and AAA for the Twins in the two seasons since leaving the Atlantic League, did his part in what should have been a seven-inning perfect game.  The right-hander settled for a 9-0, no-hit victory because of an infield error which allowed Harrisburg, PA (Washington) its only runner.

“He (Vasquez) was lights-out from the first inning on,” New Britain Manager Jeff Smith told MiLB.com. “He went out there, and one thing Virgil always does no matter when he pitches is attack the strike zone and attack hitters.”

Exceptional Power From Raben and Fox

I continue to think Philadelphia has to be keeping an eye on Jake Fox because of his 36-home run season, although another former Independent first baseman may actually be hotter.

Dennis Raben, who spent much of last season at Lincoln, NE (American Association) and played two games this spring with Somerset, NJ (Atlantic League) before the Los Angeles Angels spirited him away, has California League insiders wondering how long before the 27-year-old is promoted out of the Class A league.

This is what the left-handed hitter did in his first 15 games of August for Inland Empire (San Bernardino, CA):  How about 29 runs batted in–nearly two per game–plus 10 homers and a .458 batting average (27-for-59) that actually has cooled off a bit from the first few days.

Meanwhile, Fox, last season’s Atlantic League Player of the Year while at Somerset, has his season’s home run count up to 36 along with 111 RBI.  The 32-year-old has hit 20 dingers for the Phils’ Class AA farm club at Reading, PA after hitting 16 in the Class AAA Mexican League. 

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Can-Am’s 2015 Team in Ottawa Shows Plenty of Optimism

While the Can-Am League most likely will crown its first regular-season champion since 2009 that does not go by the name of the Quebec Capitales and has to be happy about some record crowds turning out at Rockland County (Pomona, NY), the best news of all for this expansion-minded league is what is being said in Ottawa, Canada, which will re-join the league next season.

“We’re talking to (the city) to get on the same page about improvements to the ballpark,” team president and minority owner David Gourlay told The Ottawa Sun recently.  The city is due to put $1.2 million into refurbishing Ottawa Stadium, improvements that could include better fan amenities both inside and outside of the stadium and possibly a new scoreboard.

“I want this ballpark to be a community centre much like the minor league ballparks across the United States are,” said Gourlay, who is interviewing general manager candidates with hopes of having that position filled by the end of summer.

While Gourlay says he is hoping the newly-named Champions will draw in the range of 3,500-4,000 fans per game, the Rockland Boulders drew a record 6,329 fans one night last weekend to boost their league-leading average to 3,088.

A Wee Bit of Humor as Eddie Gaedel Is Remembered

It was hush-hush 63 years ago Tuesday (August 19, 1951) when the St. Louis Browns signed 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel for a one-game pinch-hitting stunt.  The Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish re-created the event on the anniversary by bringing 4-foot-1 actor Colin Buckingham to bat in the leadoff spot against the Atlantic League rival Long Island (NY) Ducks.  Gaedel walked, but this time Independent league vet Bobby Blevins struck out Buckingham on four pitches.

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes on Independent Baseball.  Thirty-six columns are planned during 2014.  Fans may subscribe at newly-reduced rates at www.WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com, or comment to RWirz@aol.com.  The authorhas 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)