{"id":18974,"date":"2011-12-16T15:43:08","date_gmt":"2011-12-16T23:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seamheads.com\/?p=18974"},"modified":"2011-12-16T15:43:08","modified_gmt":"2011-12-16T23:43:08","slug":"grube-savage-new-names-to-watch-in-spring-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2011\/12\/16\/grube-savage-new-names-to-watch-in-spring-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Grube, Savage New Names to Watch in Spring Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since this is the final column before the calendar turns to 2012, I cannot help but wonder if Independent Baseball can top this season when a record 40 of its former players wore a major league uniform?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>While admittedly early in forecasting success stories for the new year much beyond the previous accolades for possible rookie pitcher James Paxton (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) <\/strong>with Seattle <\/strong>and Chicago White Sox <\/strong>starter Dylan Axelrod (Windy City, Frontier League), <\/strong>two new names to the major league scene are another pair of right-handers, Jarrett Grube <\/strong>of Southern Maryland (Atlantic League) <\/strong>and Will Savage<\/strong>, who had a full season at Wichita, KS <\/strong>(American Association) in ’09 followed by at brief stint at Lancaster, PA <\/strong>(Atlantic).<\/p>\n

Grube and Savage are among 10 Independent products we have spotted as early non-roster invitees with the Mariners <\/strong>and Los Angeles Dodgers, <\/strong>respectively.  Both put up some nice numbers this past summer.  Grube was a combined 9-6 with Seattle’s top two farm clubs while Savage was 12-6 with Chattanooga<\/strong>, TN<\/strong> <\/strong>in Double-A.<\/p>\n

Many among non-roster invitees should be taken seriously Seattle General Manager Jack Zduriencik<\/strong> pointed out to MLB.com.  <\/em>“Guys can get a non-roster invite and still make the club,” he said.  “We’ll be fair.  That’s been our stance all along: Let the best guys in camp make the club.”  This should be sweet music to Grube as well as to the Mariners’ other non-40-man roster guys, including relievers Scott Patterson <\/strong>(Lancaster and Gateway, <\/strong>Frontier League) and Josh Kinney (River City, <\/strong>Frontier).<\/p>\n

* * * *<\/p>\n

FOR ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT BASEBALL COVERAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com<\/a> ADDED TO www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/p>\n

Marlins Dip Into American Association for Trio of Players<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Miami Marlins <\/strong>are not limiting their signings to those expensive major league free agents.  They have inked three players out of the American Association <\/strong>in recent days, which is not entirely surprising since the team’s new VP of Player Development, Marty Scott<\/strong>, managed in Lincoln<\/strong>, NE<\/strong> <\/strong>this summer.<\/p>\n

Scott had both versatile Curt Smith <\/strong>and right-handed pitcher Garrett Sherrill <\/strong>with the Saltdogs<\/strong> while infielder German Duran <\/strong>was a late-season standout who helped Grand Prairie<\/strong>, TX<\/strong> <\/strong>take the league title.  Smith hit .335 with nine homers and 48 RBI for Lincoln, then led the Netherlands<\/strong> <\/strong>to a surprise championship in the World Cup<\/strong>, where he was awarded Most Valuable Player honors.<\/p>\n

Sherrill went 2-1, 3.52 in 30 games, and Duran hit .536, drove in five runs and scored 10 even though a rib injury limited the 27-year-old to playing in six of nine postseason games.  All three players have previous affiliated experience.<\/p>\n

Indy Trio Shines in Australia<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Winter baseball opportunities seem pretty plentiful for Independent players these days.  The major attention falls to the Caribbean <\/strong>and Mexico<\/strong>, but Australia<\/strong> <\/strong>also is a player.<\/p>\n

We have tracked down three Indy vets who are doing well in Aussieland, starting with Mike McGuire<\/strong>, who played for Sussex<\/strong> (Augusta, NJ) <\/strong>in the Can-Am League <\/strong>in 2010 and now is part of the Philadelphia Phillies <\/strong>farm system.  McGuire sports a 2-1 record and nifty 1.11 ERA after 32.1 innings down under.<\/p>\n

Atlantic League <\/strong>vet infielder-outfielder Brian Burgamy, <\/strong>who had three double-digit home run seasons for Camden, NJ <\/strong>and also played for Newark, NJ,<\/strong> is hitting .359 with three homers, 14 RBI and a .462 on-base percentage after 78 at-bats while infielder Dominic Ramos<\/strong>, who was in the Can-Am at Worcester <\/strong>and Brockton, MA<\/strong>, is at .295 after the same number of at-bats.<\/p>\n

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Fans may subscribe for 2012 at www.WirzandAssociates.com<\/a>, enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com<\/a> and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/a>, or comment to RWirz@aol.com<\/a>.  The author <\/strong>has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.<\/em>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since this is the final column before the calendar turns to 2012, I cannot help but wonder if Independent Baseball can top this season when a record 40 of its former players wore a major league uniform? While admittedly early in forecasting success stories for the new year much beyond the previous accolades for possible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":452,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,4746,78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","category-indy-baseball-insider","category-minors"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t