The roster the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish <\/b>are using to dominate the early going in the Liberty Division <\/b>of the Atlantic League <\/b>has a rare twist to it. Nearly one-fourth of the team—six of the 26 players—were virtually nowhere to be seen one year ago.<\/p>\n
Such former Independent players as Seattle <\/b>closer Tom Wilhelmsen <\/b>and newly-prized Los Angeles Angels <\/b>reliever Dane DeLaRosa<\/b>, both of whom missed at least one full season, are living proof a player can step aside for a time and come back, maybe even playing better than ever. But six on one team. That seems pretty unusual. The number actually was seven until a couple of days ago when moundsman Wardell Starling <\/b>walked away.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the entire starting outfield that boosted Bridgeport to its eighth win in 12 games and a four game divisional bulge was out last season, as were three of Willie Upshaw’s <\/b>relievers. And the smiles adorning their faces leave little doubt they are delighted to be back on the diamond.<\/p>\n
Closer Jeff Fulchino <\/b>has returned after shoulder surgery, fellow right-hander Edward Rodriguez<\/b> had elbow surgery and rightfielder Alexis Gomez <\/b>admits he is just lucky to be alive after being the third party in an accident that took the lives of two motorcyclists. Gold Glove leftfielder Austin Krum<\/b> and reliever Travis Minix <\/b>found themselves without a team to play for last year and heavily-publicized centerfielder Adam Greenberg <\/b>admits he took virtually the entire 2012 season off “to get my life in order” even though much of the effort was to get his nutritional business (LuRong Living)<\/b> on solid footing.<\/p>\n
Fulchino, at 33-year-old with 163 games of major league relief (9-10, 4.84), and Krum have jumped out to league leadership although except for Rodriguez, who probably needs more time to fully recover from the Tommy John <\/b>surgery, everyone in the group is putting up solid numbers. Fulchino leads the Atlantic League in saves (five) and has a 1.50 ERA with eight strikeouts for six innings of work. Krum, 27, vaulted to the top of the league hitting chart (16-for-40, .400) with a 4-for-4 day as Bridgeport topped Southern Maryland (Waldorf)<\/b> 8-4 in a School Day game on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“I feel close to being back to where it (93-96 MPH) was,” said the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Fulchino, whose most extensive major league time has been with Houston<\/b>.<\/b> “I just need repetition; I need the innings.”<\/p>\n
“I think my skills are better (now); my focus is different,” said Krum, released the last day of spring training one year ago from the New York Yankees’ <\/b>Triple-A team despite having won a Gold Glove as the top leftfielder in all of minor league baseball.<\/p>\n
* * * *<\/p>\n
ANXIOUS FOR MORE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL COVERAGE?<\/b><\/p>\n
We Have It Regularly at <\/span><\/b>www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n * * * *<\/p>\n In Minors, Chavez, Minicozzi Have Been Hot<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n <\/b>Thinking about catchers, Zane Chavez<\/b> reeled off seven hits in 13 at-bats over a four-game stretch until he took an 0-for-4 today (Thursday), but his first try at affiliated baseball still sees him hitting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage and playing regularly for Frederick, MD <\/b>in the Baltimore <\/b>system. He started out in the Can-Am League (New Hampshire, Pittsfield, MA, New Jersey Jackals) <\/b>and moved on to the Texas <\/b>cities of Grand Prairie <\/b>and El Paso <\/b>in the American Association <\/b>the last two seasons.<\/p>\n Another Can-Am (<\/b>Worcester<\/b>, <\/b>MA<\/b>) <\/b>and Atlantic League (<\/b>Camden<\/b>, <\/b>NJ<\/b>) <\/b>player along with time at Winnipeg<\/b> <\/b>and Kansas City<\/b>, <\/b>KS<\/b> <\/b>when the current American Association cities were in the Northern League, <\/b>infielder Mark Minicozzi <\/b>also went hitless today after four games in which he went 7-for-16 for San Francisco<\/b>‘s <\/b>Double-A farm in Richmond<\/b>, <\/b>VA.<\/b> <\/b>He is at .247 for 25 games with eight doubles and 11 runs batted in.<\/p>\n Cheering for This Air Force Vet<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Frontier League <\/b>players, with rare exceptions, must be no older than 27, but the league has a new rule exempting military veterans. This gives a fresh opportunity to 28-year-old Blake Helm<\/b>, whose college career at Lincoln<\/b> <\/b>Land<\/b> <\/b>Community College<\/b> (<\/b>Springfield<\/b>, <\/b>IL<\/b>) <\/b>and Murray (KY) State<\/b> was plaqued by issues such as a tumor at the top of his femur, two surgeries for a torn tendon in his hand, still another hand injury and a separated shoulder. He was in the Air Force from 2009 until January, and only recently signed on to try making it with the Schaumburg<\/b> (IL) Boomers.<\/b><\/p>\n “I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream here in Schaumburg”, he said. Young Mr. Helm, a 6-foot outfielder, should have plenty of emotional support.<\/p>\n By BOB DUTTON The Kansas City Star<\/p>\n Updated: 2013-03-26T05:37:57Z<\/p>\n (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball. Forty columns are planned during 2013. Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com<\/span>, enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/span>, or comment to RWirz@aol.com<\/span>. The author <\/b>has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)<\/a><\/p>\n