{"id":5302,"date":"2010-05-21T14:49:57","date_gmt":"2010-05-21T21:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seamheads.com\/?p=5302"},"modified":"2010-05-21T14:49:57","modified_gmt":"2010-05-21T21:49:57","slug":"atlantic-league-on-brink-of-adding-texas-team-can-am-tries-exhibitions-in-maine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2010\/05\/21\/atlantic-league-on-brink-of-adding-texas-team-can-am-tries-exhibitions-in-maine\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlantic League on Brink of Adding Texas Team; Can-Am Tries Exhibitions in Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"

It appears much more likely the Eastern-based Atlantic League <\/strong>will tilt more to the west after what the City of Sugar Land, TX <\/strong>called the approval of a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153historic agreement\u00e2\u20ac\u009d earlier this week with Peter Kirk\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Opening Day Partners<\/strong> to place a team in the Houston<\/strong> <\/strong>area community, probably starting in 2012.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kirk, who already owns three of the eight Atlantic League teams and is part of a fourth, brought in heavy artillery in the form of associate and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson <\/strong>for the passage of a Letter of Intent for a public-private partnership to fund a $30 million stadium.\u00c2\u00a0 The city web site says Opening Day Partners will contribute $5 million plus a similar amount for the baseball franchise and startup costs.<\/p>\n

Checking Out Old Orchard Beach<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>The Can-Am <\/strong>and United Leagues<\/strong> are the last of the eight Independent circuits to open, both starting in one week, although the Can-Am has an interesting showcase this weekend with two exhibition games at Old<\/strong> Orchard Beach<\/strong> in Maine<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Quebec <\/strong>and Brockton<\/strong>, MA<\/strong> <\/strong>will be the opponents in the coastal village that had an International League <\/strong>team from 1984-88.<\/p>\n

Brockton Manager Chris Carminucci\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <\/strong>management company organized the games, which are among the first to be played since major improvements were poured into Old Orchard Ballpark<\/strong>, which was heavily damaged by fire two years ago. <\/strong><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/p>\n

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

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

* * * *<\/p>\n

Hochevar Gets to 4-2, Millar So-So<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kevin Millar, Alberto Castillo <\/strong>and Max Scherzer<\/strong> were the Independent names most prominently related to major league news in recent days, but they were overshadowed Thursday afternoon when onetime American Association (Fort Worth Cats)<\/strong> starting pitcher Luke Hochevar<\/strong> hurled a four-hit complete-game 9-3 win for Kansas City <\/strong>at Cleveland<\/strong>, improving his 2010 record to 4-2.<\/p>\n

Millar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153thank you\u00e2\u20ac\u009d tour with the St. Paul Saints <\/strong>has no doubt been a hit with fans, but any major league teams interested in the 38-year-old probably would need to consider his value in the clubhouse since he has only produced five singles (5-for-24, .208) with two runs batted in for six American Association contests.<\/p>\n

Castillo, whose Independent stints have been in the Atlantic League (Camden <\/strong>and Newark<\/strong>, <\/strong>both in New Jersey<\/strong> <\/strong>plus an all-road team) and the Northern League (Schaumburg, IL)<\/strong>, is once again with the parent Baltimore Orioles<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 Scherzer, somewhat surprisingly since he had been starting for Detroit<\/strong>, is trying to get on track with Toledo<\/strong>, OH<\/strong>. <\/strong>Another former Fort Worth hurler, he was only 1-4, 7.29 in eight starts for the Tigers.\u00c2\u00a0 He has not yet worked for Toledo.<\/p>\n

Nate Bumps Lowers ERA to 2.29<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nate Bump <\/strong>continues to get better in his quest to return to the major leagues.<\/p>\n

The right-hander, who started last season with an 8-2, 2.49 run in a dozen starts for Camden, NJ<\/strong> in the Atlantic League<\/strong>, turned in his best performance in a series of strong starts for Philadelphia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <\/strong>Triple-A club in Allentown, PA <\/strong>this week when he limited Louisville <\/strong>to three hits and one run in his first eight-inning appearance.\u00c2\u00a0 The 34-year-old could not improve upon his 4-1 record for Lehigh Valley <\/strong>because <\/strong>it took 16 innings for the IronPigs <\/strong>to earn a 2-1 victory.\u00c2\u00a0 Bump did lower his ERA to 2.29 (fourth best in the International League)<\/strong> during his 100-pitch game.<\/p>\n

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes on Independent Baseball.\u00c2\u00a0 Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com<\/a> and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/a>, or comment<\/strong> to RWirz@aol.com<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 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":"

It appears much more likely the Eastern-based Atlantic League will tilt more to the west after what the City of Sugar Land, TX called the approval of a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153historic agreement\u00e2\u20ac\u009d earlier this week with Peter Kirk\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Opening Day Partners to place a team in the Houston area community, probably starting in 2012. Kirk, who already […]<\/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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","category-indy-baseball-insider"],"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