Stints in Atlantic and Northern Leagues Lead to New Affiliated Opportunities for Halama and West

Until a few days ago, the pace of Independent Baseball players getting either first or second opportunities with major league organizations had seemed unusually slow for several weeks. But at least four signings sandwiched around Thanksgiving—and others may be slow in getting announced—could have the trend going up once again.

The most interesting deal was Milwaukee’s signing of soon-to-be 38-year-old southpaw John Halama, because the veteran major leaguer got his first invitation to a big league camp since he was with Baltimore in 2006. He stands to make a reported $450,000 next season if he makes the parent team out of spring training, and the world knows the Brewers need pitching.

Halama and his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame have been doing plenty of moving around since his earned run average ballooned to 6.14 with the Orioles in ’06, with much of that time in the Atlantic League where he put together a 20-12 record. Brooklyn, NY born, Halama was only 8-10 as a fulltime starter in his home state for the Long Island Ducks two summers ago. He was a much more impressive 12-2 with stints at Southern Maryland (Waldorf) the last two seasons, with his ERA under 2.00 both times. Cleveland (2008) and Atlanta (2009) gave him Triple-A looks, but neither team promoted him.

“The way it was explained to me (by Milwaukee) was that I would come into camp with an opportunity to win a big league job”, Halama told the MLB.com blog Brew Beat. “That’s all I’ve ever asked, let me have an opportunity to open up some eyes. I’m really excited to get back in the (major league) game. I’ve had some personal things go on in my life that affected me…but now I’m clear-minded and I’m ready to go.”

Power-Hitting West Becomes Winnipeg’s 58th Signee

Kevin West has pounded 164 minor league home runs, including 37 the last two seasons for Winnipeg of the Northern League, without ever getting a major league opportunity, but the first baseman-outfielder will at least get another Triple-A shot next spring. Cincinnati is giving West, who turns 30 on New Year’s Day, a look. The right-handed hitter has not hurt himself this winter, hitting .339 with four homers and 26 RBI covering 121 at-bats in Colombia.

A number as imposing as West’s 164 round-trippers is that the Goldeyes have had 58 players ink affiliated deals since they joined the Northern League in 1994, with six of them making it all the way to the majors.

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Long Island Sells 60,000 Tickets in Six Hours

If anyone needs an inspiration, it is worth looking at the always popular Long Island (NY) Ducks. The Atlantic League team, which perennially leads Independent Baseball in total attendance, reports it sold “more than 60,000 (group) tickets” in the first six hours after they were made available Wednesday.

Female Japanese Teen Hurler Coming to U.S.

This corner also likes the story out of Japan where more than 30,000 baseball fans turned out at Mazda Stadium during the Hiroshima Carp fan festival with many of them wanting to see diminutive sidearm knuckleball pitcher Eri Yoshida pitch to the best the Central League team could offer.

In case the name is not recognized, teenager Eri, is the young lady—yes, a woman—who pitched in the Independent Kansai League last summer. Miss Yoshida openly admits she wants to move up the professional ladder in her home country, but her next stop is the United States for the Arizona Winter League, the pay-to-play creation of the Golden League which opens January 24 in Yuma.

Might the 2010 Golden League be another option? “Who knows,” Commissioner Kevin Outcalt coyly told us.

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