Independent Baseball Insider By Bob Wirz Vol. 11, No. 18, June 6, 2013
Caleb Thielbar (St. Paul, MN, American Association), still with a perfect earned run average after eight major league innings spread over seven appearances for听惭颈苍苍别蝉辞迟补,听admitted he had a number of friends on hand when he picked up his first听American League听victory when the听罢飞颈苍蝉听rallied for a walk-off win.听 What about family?听 Not so much.听 鈥淚 think they had things to do today,鈥� he deadpanned to听The St. Paul Pioneer Press.听听鈥�It was somewhat surprising to seeDane DeLaRosa (El Paso, TX,听American Association)听sent back to听Salt Lake City听Thursday.听 He had been so strong in the听Los Angeles Angels鈥櫶�bullpen (1-1, one save, 4.05, 27 appearances) and was not charged with an earned run in his last six outings.听 鈥�听Tom Boleska, Relief Pitcher of the Year last season in the American Association (Fargo), announced his retirement after playing this season for听Baltimore鈥檚听Double-A听Bowie, MD听team.
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Can-Am and a Little Philosophy听
I did not even have to ask.听 Veteran听St. Paul, MN听Manager听George Tsamis听took it upon himself to praise the听Can-Am League, which is in the second season of interleague play with the听American Association, which the听Saints听call home.
鈥淭his league is just as good as our league鈥�, Tsamis said this week near the end of a grueling road trip to the听Canadian听cities of听Quebec听and听Trois Rivieres听plus听Rockland, NY.听 鈥淨uebec鈥檚 pitching is as good as any in our league.鈥�
Tsamis, who has a championship and three other narrow championship series defeats since joining the听Saints听11 years ago after guiding the听New Jersey Jackals听to two league titles, proved he still has plenty of fire in his belly when he offered, without prompting, during our conversation, 鈥渨ho wants to be mediocre.鈥澨� The key to winning:听 鈥淭his game is about who hits with runners on base鈥�. 听Enough said.
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鈥楽crappy鈥� Describes 14-6 Laredo听
What better authority to find out something on the听American Association鈥檚听hottest team, the听Laredo (TX) Lemurs, than the team鈥檚 player personnel boss (and听Arizona听scout)听Chris Carminucci.听听The Lemurs have won 14 of their first 20 games and lead the听South Division听by a hefty 5.5 games.
鈥淪crappy鈥� was Carminucci鈥檚 basic description, 鈥渒ind of like (Manager)听Pete (Incaviglia)听was.鈥澨� Laredo has a .292 team batting average, and Carminucci believes听Brian Peterson, who has carried a load while playing in all but one game so far, 鈥渋s the best catcher in Independent Baseball.鈥澨� Peterson, 34, also is hitting .296 in his 14th听professional season, which has topped out at Triple-A.
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(Bob Wirz also writes about Independent Baseball on听.听 Fans may subscribe to this听Independent Baseball Insider听column, which will be published 40 times in 2013, at听听or comment to听RWirz@aol.com.听 The author has 16 years of major league baseball experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners, and lives in Stratford, CT.)
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Photo courtesy of Kare11.com
