On the Blue Crabs offer, major league possibilities:

– For me, this is a win win situation. I can still be signed by a MLB team, or I can go play ball with a fantastic coaching staff and the best group of guys I’ve ever played ball with. The Atlantic League is known for its caliber of play, so there are bound to be scouts there.

On whether keeping a positive attitude gets difficult:

– Honestly, no. What you see is what you get. I pride myself in being authentic. Sure, I’ll have times where I’m down, but I have such an amazing wife, family, and friends that are there for me. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. You’ve got to enjoy the journey!

On what he enjoys about the team and the league:

– The style of play that our manager Patrick Osborn demands is nothing short of intense. We are there to win. Sure, it’s fun. The group of guys on that team make it that way. But, when it’s time to work, we work. The league is notorious for having big name players come through and for its high level of play. Last year, I faced some of the best competition of my career in the Atlantic League.

On the power of social media/the brand of being well-known:

– I feel like social media has helped show that professional baseball players are normal dudes with cool opportunities. Personally, what you see is what you get. Ask anyone who knows me, the Twitter/Facebook me = real me. Being a pro athlete, you’re already a brand. Marketing is key, especially throughout free agency. So yes, I believe social media has helped me!

If he focuses on the indy leagues being a bride to the majors:

– I play the game because I love it. My ultimate goal is the big leagues. However, I’m enjoying every second of having the opportunity to wear a uniform. I work as hard as I can every single day. I’m confident that if I don’t make it, I can say I explored every avenue and gave it everything I had.

On the challenges ahead:

– The #1 challenge for me is proving my health. Shoulder surgery has a way of black listing guys sometimes, and I want to show everyone that I’m stronger than ever. Going through that surgery and rehab process actually made me stronger mentally and physically. All I can ask for is an opportunity!

On doing more long toss this off-season:

– My arm has been feeling fantastic so far this off-season. I have pitching conversations with CJ Wilson fairly often, and we talk a lot about building arm strength before getting on the mound. I decided to put that into play this off-season, and so far it’s been great. I’ll still get plenty of bullpens in before the season, but taking that extra few weeks to really make sure my arm is strong will be key!

On who the comedian of the team is:

–I have played with some awesome guys over the years. The comedians of my most recent crew are definitely Richard Giannotti and Christian Lopez. Those guys cracks me up daily. I could really go down last year’s roster of Blue Crabs and tell you why each guy is deserving of a mention for this question. That’s the great part about our team. We’re all like brothers. I’ve never seen such camaraderie like we have in that Blue Crab clubhouse.

In 2011 Schlact went 6-4  with a 4.31 ERA for the Crabs. You can follow him on Twitter @michael_schlact and read his blog The Schlact Stories 

Consistency – Like their game on the field, this was of the highest importance. Consistent, fairly frequent content…

Content – Sharing updates and engaging with followers is what baseball fans are looking for from their team’s rising stars.

Humor – All the guys chosen get high marks in that area.

Finally, Personable – Sounds silly, but I see plenty of guys completely ignore compliments, recommendations, and questions. That’s not good Twitter etiquette.

These ten players utilize the social media tool to reach baseball fans, relating their unique experiences, and making even more of a name for themselves off the baseball field.

I also decided to include independent baseball players, despite not being affiliated with the major leagues, indy league has become more important to major league teams. And certainly more popular. And had I not allowed them, I would’ve had to omit the number one pick. And that would’ve been impossible.

1. Michael Schlact @michael_schlact Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (Atlantic League)

2. Ryan Westmoreland @RWesty25 Boston Red Sox

3. Deck McGuire @deckmcguire Toronto Blue Jays

4. Jiwan James @jiwan23 Philadelphia Phillies

5. Justin Jackson @JaxChillinONE Toronto Blue Jays

6. Richard Giannotti @JustMeGee Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

7. Brandon Douglas @BrandonDouglas5 Detroit Tigers

8. Ian Kadish @BearJew36 Toronto Blue Jays

9. Zack Wheeler @WheelerPro45 New York Mets

10. Kevin Rath @KRath702 Chicago White Sox

Twitter has been a source of controversy and debate in connection with athletes, but those ten players have successfully reached baseball fans on social media. It’s an interesting concept. Athletes, particularly young ones, are hotly protected by their teams and agents. But there’s a way to be themselves and socialize, as well as increasing their visibility, without embarrassing themselves or those invested in them.

In the future, more minor league players will surely join with the hope of creating a following before they’ve made it to the majors. They can look to these ten to know exactly how it’s done and the value of the experience.

All players were listed with team they were with in 2011. Free agency wasn’t taken into account.

The twenty-eight-year-old is also a successful businessman, with a popular urban clothing line, Bubucheek, that he started with friends.

He spoke with Baseball Digest about the Atlantic League, the importance of his defense, and playing pranks with Michael Schlact.

Jessica Quiroli, Baseball Digest: Since being drafted in 2001, do you think it’s gotten harder for guys to make it to the majors?

Richard Giannotti: Back in 2001, I remember being told the percentages for a high school signee vs. a college signee of making it to the majors and the numbers were astounding.  I’m sure ten years later it has gotten harder due to advanced scouting in foreign countries.

BD.com: Major League teams are increasingly tapping into independent leagues. What has your experience been?

Giannotti: It has been an eye-opening one for sure.  Playing Independent baseball wasn’t the path I saw myself being on in 2004 when I was drafted out of college, but the talent level is extremely competitive.  It is a great opportunity for guys to continue their careers as well as learn from coaches that have had an imprint on the game at the Major League level.  The Atlantic League does a great job of providing the players with a reasonable travel schedule as well as supplying top notch coaching (Butch Hobson, Sparky Lyle, Willie Upshaw and Andy Etchebarren to name a few).  These managers genuinely care about their players and work hard to develop and get them signed back with an affiliated organization.

BD.com: What have you learned in indy ball and what has been the most difficult part?

Giannotti: I have learned a lot about what it takes to keep my body in shape and healthy as well as hone my approach at the plate.  The biggest part of this game is to be discipline and consistent in everything that you do – whether it is hitting, fielding or off the field training.  I feel like the most difficult part of this game is to remain confident in your abilities.  Baseball is a game of failure and learning how to deal with that failure in order to turn it in to a positive is something that is paramount to a player’s development.  I always use the analogy that “If a baseball player (hitter) fails 7 out of 10 times – people revere him because he is a .300 hitter.  But if that same player fails 8 out of 10 times he doesn’t have a job”.  And that’s the main reason why I say learning how to deal with failure is important because there is such a minimal window between success and failure.

BD.com: A little bit about last season. What went well and what do you think you could’ve improved?

Giannotti: I’ll start with the positives because that is what I prefer to focus on.  Defense has always been a strong part of my game and I had a good year defensively.  I believe to become a successful outfielder, you need to have a good game plan on where you’re going to position yourself for each hitter as well as work hard during batting practice to sharpen your reads and jumps on batted balls.  In game adjustments, depending on the pitcher and the way the hitter swings that night, is equally important too.  I would like to say that I was discipline in my approach at the plate this past year, but I still see room for improvement.  As I have gotten older, I’ve noticed a change in my game or what I need to alter to remain successful.  I’m 28 years old now and not what I used to be known as a “burner” on the bases.  Years ago, I was more of a lead-off type hitter that’s job was to get on base, steal, score runs and play great defense.  Now that I’m older and a step slower, getting on base is still important but I don’t steal as much as I used to and have to rely on hitting more doubles and driving in runs now.  This is a perfect example of knowing what you need to do to remain relevant and successful in this game if you want to stick around – and also something the Atlantic League has taught me from playing with Major League veterans like Michael Tucker, John Halama and Ken Harvey.  As for what I could have done better, STAYING HEALTHY has always been my Achilles heel (pun completely intended).  I believe this is important for any player and there is an old baseball cliché that is absolutely true, “You can’t make the club in the tub”, when referring to a player that is always in the ice tub (training room) instead of being on the field getting better.

BD.com: Looking ahead. Would you re-sign with the Blue Crabs in 2012?

Giannotti: I would definitely like to return to the Blue Crabs if I don’t get an opportunity with an affiliated organization.

BD.com: Finally, I’d like to ask you about teammate and Twitter favorite Michael Schlact. What’s it like playing with him? Any memorable story you can share?

Giannotti: Michael Schlact = Calm..Cool..Collected.  On the field, Schlact was playing in his first season since having his shoulder operated on and was extremely impressive as he built his workload up.  As a hitter, I can tell you how deceptive and difficult it is to face a guy his height (6’8”) that throws a hard sinker.  As far as off the field, he has a little prankster side to him which I immediately exploited right away as I’d like to think of myself as the guy that likes to keep everybody loose throughout the season.  Schlact helped me scheme numerous pranks.  Whether it was dressing up somebody’s locker, setting up the new guy with the “devil dance” complements of relief pitcher Bryan Dumesnil (often replicated, never duplicated) or a water bomb via the roof on the dugout – I always got a big laugh out of Michael Schlact.  I still would have to say that my fondest memory with Schlact was when we were having breakfast in York one morning at the restaurant in the hotel and I happened to throw out another one of my “one-liners” and he laugh so hard that he spit his food across the table all over me.

You can follow Richard Giannotti on Twitter @JustMeGee
You can also purchase merchandise at the official Bubucheek website.

Snyder is used to recovering, used to picking himself up, and making the best of difficult situations.

“It’s still baseball. I just love playing.”

Snyder is hitting .297, collecting 12 RBI and 12 walks over 23 games.

The space between the time the Yankees released him and signing with the Saints was long enough to make him rusty. It was a matter of getting back in the swing of things to be productive.

“The first few games were tough after sitting around for a month. Then once I started playing everyday it got easier. At the plate the adjustments have pretty much been the same as anywhere else I’ve played.”

What he’s been able to do that he wasn’t able to in 2010 with the Thunder is see more pitches. A fact he is solidly certain matters in order for him to be successful.

“Yeah, definitely. The game is tough enough already. When you’re in Double-A and Triple-A if you’re not playing everyday against guys that good, you’re not going to be at your best. I tried to embrace it, but I’m definitely a guy who needs to play everyday.It makes it more difficult to make adjustments. If you’re getting six at-bats a week, as opposed to 30 at-bats a week, you have that much more opportunity to adjust and you can make adjustments daily.”

Adjusting, however, has not been a huge challenge.  He faced plenty of good pitching in the minors.

“It’s not exactly Double-A pitching. But a lot of guys got released after almost making the squad just like me. Our pitching staff is pretty good from what I’ve seen. But as far as guys I’ve faced, no one has really impressed me on the hill.

The travel isn’t always as brutal as the last road trip, there are easier journeys, not so different from the affiliated bus leagues.

“Travel hasn’t been so bad. In Trenton, there were six hour trips to Portland and Akron. I don’t have a problem with those. But after tonight’s game we get right on the bus for an eighteen hour trip. That might test my patience.

His sense of humor is intact, as always. So too is the baseball intelligence he needs to stay on a productive pace.

“The daily goal is to get better everywhere. There’s not one glaring thing, but there’s not one thing I can’t get better at.”

Leyritz, who hit 90 home runs in 11 Major League seasons with six teams, is probably best known for his three-run homer off Mark Wohlers of the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, a blast that turned the World Series around for the Yankees and enabled New York to win the title in six games.  He also hit the decisive walk-off two-run home run in the 15th inning of Game 2 of the 1995 AL Division Series against Seattle.  Leyritz played six different positions in his career, most prominently catcher, first base and third base.

“We’re pleased to welcome Jim Leyritz back to the Newark Bears as the pitching coach,” said Bears part-owner and CEO Thomas Cetnar. “We’re confident that he will have a positive impact, both on and off the field. General Manager Mike Torrez, manager Tim Raines and myself all have a long history with Jim and we’re looking forward to him doing positive things for us, both with the ball club and throughout the community.”

The hiring of Leyritz completes the Bears’ 2011 coaching staff, joining returning manager Raines and returning coach Ron Karkovice.

“To me, it’s a great opportunity and it’s all about second chances in a league of second chances,” said Leyritz, who was acquitted last year of all charges involving a fatal car accident in 2007. “I’m fortunate to get the chance to get back on the field. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. I’m looking forward to getting the same break as a lot of the players in independent baseball, getting one more chance. I’ve had a good relationship with Tom and the Bears. Tim Raines and I were teammates and I played against Ron Karkovice. I think we’re going to put together a great team.

“The last three years have been very frustrating for me,” Leyritz said. “But I’ve now put everything behind me and I’m moving forward with my career in baseball. It’s an exciting new beginning for me and I’m doing what I love to do.”

The announcement came immediately after a change in management of the team’s day-to-day operations.  Assuming control of the team is Thomas Cetnar who was part of the ownership that bought the Bears after the 2008 season.  Cetnar was once the General Manager of the Bears in 2001 and subsequently as a Senior Vice President before taking over operations.

A move to the Can-Am League would require approval from both leagues and could create an interesting situation.  As it stands right now the Can-Am League is comprised of six teams while the Atlantic League has eight.  A move would create an imbalance since the Can-Am and Atlantic Leagues would now have seven teams each.

There are other possibilities such as the Bears moving to the Can-Am League as replacement for another team in the league or there could be a double-switch.  It is also possible that to fix the imbalance the league could form a travelling team as they have done so in the past.  These teams do not have a home stadium and only play road games as the Atlantic League had the Road Warriors and the Can-Am League had The Grays.

The benefits of the league switch are in the lighter schedule.  The Can-Am League plays only a 94-game schedule while the Atlantic League favors a much longer schedule of 140 games.  A lighter schedule means less operating costs as there is approximately month and half less of player, travel and stadium operation expenses.  This theoretically leaves the team open to doing more work in the community of Newark.

The move to the Canadian American Association from the Atlantic League is not unprecedented as previously the Atlantic City Surf and Nashua Pride have made the switch.  However it proved to be unsuccessful as both teams eventually folded.  The Pride was bought by group headed by Dan Duquette but failed to make rent and moved to Pittsfield, Mass. for the 2010 season.

The Bears are faced with an uphill battle as they are in an area that is seemingly over saturated with professional baseball teams.  They face competition from the New York Yankees and New York Mets as well as their minor league affiliates in Brooklyn and Staten Island.  In addition the professional baseball landscape of the state of New Jersey is filled with other alternatives such as affiliated teams like the Lakewood Blue Claws and Trenton Thunder in addition to other independent teams like the New Jersey Jackals and Sussex Skyhawks who play in the Can-Am League and the Somerset Patriots and Camden River Sharks of the Atlantic League.

Next week the Can-Am League will be holding a league meeting where the board will vote on whether they would allow the Newark Bears to join the league, however even if they approve the move it still requires the Atlantic League to approve it for it to become official.

The independent league had a lease for the Dilla Villa that called for a base rent of $100,000 but the league failed to make any payments during the season.  Reunion Sports Group, the owners of the league, was given a second chance by Potter County to pay the owed rent.  They were given a payment plan that consisted of two payments of $25,000 that were due on  September 17and September 24 with one $50,000 payment that was due on September 30.  The league sent in the first payment, however it bounced and the league had to wire funds to make good.  After the second payment bounced no funds were wired and the league then missed the final $50,000 payment.

On Friday, October 1 Potter County commissioners voted unanimously to cancel Reunion Sports Group’s lease to Dilla Villa and put the lease to the ballpark up for bids again.  In attendance at the meeting last Friday was Scott Berry who is the president of Southern Independent Baseball which owns the Shreveport-Bossier Captains of the American Association.  Berry is interested in put a team in Amarillo which has done well as an independent baseball market.

The Dilla Villa opened in 1949 as Potter County Stadium but underwent some renovations in 2005 that replaced missing seats, rotting grandstands and other major problems the stadium had.  The Dillas have had success at the ballpark leading the United League in attendance in 2010 with 2,912 fans stepping through the turnstiles per game.  This was an 11% decrease from the 2009 season.  Presently the stadium has a capacity of over 8,000 spectators which is sizable compared to other independent stadiums.  It was the largest in the United League by over 3,000 spectators and would rank second in the American Association behind only the El Paso Diablos.

Amarillo is an attractive market for an independent baseball team.  The city itself has a population of 200,000 people with another 26,000 in the surround metropolitan area and a median income is $34,940 which is around the same as other markets in the American Association.  Bidding for the lease is expected to start this week.

Yankees and Mandalay Hold off on Purchase

SWB Yankees, LLC (a company jointly owned by the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball Properties) opted not to exercise their purchase option for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Triple-A franchise for $13 million on Friday.  The option for the company to buy the team is still available but the price has increased to $14.6 million.  The price will remain there until October 2014 where it will increase to $16.4 million.  Right now $20 million in state aid is in jeopardy if Lackawanna and Luzerne County fail to reach an agreement on proceeds from the inevitable sale.

Christopher out as Valley Cats Assistant GM

Mayor Harry Tutunjian of Troy, NY has named Vic Christopher the city’s economic development coordinator after he left his job as the Assistant General Manager of the Tri-City Valley Cats.

Showdown in Scranton

Opposition from the community and a pending lawsuit from neighboring Luzerne County could mean that the inevitable purchase of the Triple-A Scranton franchise by SWB Yankees, LLC – a company co-owned by the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball Properties – could be delayed.  If the Yankees opts to purchase the team today the price will be at a below market price of $13 million, however if they decided to hold off the price goes up to $14.6 million which is still way below the average price of a Triple-A franchise.  Opponents to the deal see the deal as a means for the Yankees to move out of the area that has seen attendance drop and a two-decade old stadium that is in need of major renovations.

Luzerne County is also in the process of suing Lackawanna County for half of the profits of the inevitable sale of the team since they put up $1 million of the $2 million to bring the team (then known as the Red Barons) to PNC Field in Moosic, PA.  However Lackawanna County is drafting a countersuit that claims its neighbor owes them over $14 million in operational expenses from the first year of the franchise (1986) to present.  The pending legal battle has put in jeopardy $20 million in funds from the state for renovations to PNC Field.  In order for them to receive the $20 million the county must match the contribution.

As far as the franchise goes they are coming off one of their worst seasons in regards to attendance which saw an average of just 4,981 fans a game, the third lowest in the league.  Several of those in the city have accused the Yankees of running the attendance into the ground with the intent of buying the team cheap and moving them.  However many people believe the lackluster attendance was because fans still have not gotten over problems from the 2009 season that saw 19 games canceled because of field conditions with four home games relocated to other stadiums.  Whatever the reason the fall in attendance is not something that came out of nowhere as since the inaugural season of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees that saw a record attendance of 8,802 fans a game in 2007 down to 6,188 fans a game in 2009 and 4,981 in 2010.

Fox and Cablevision Could Leave Fans in the Dark

From the looks of things fans in New York City and in Philadelphia might be missing out on some of the 2010 playoffs and the World Series due to an on-going dispute between Cablevision and FOX.  As of press time the two sides have not reached an agreement on a deal for Cablevision to carry many of the FOX channels including those local stations that could be seen using a good old fashioned antenna.  In the end the real losers of any eventual agreement will be that of the consumer who will be forced to pay more per month for the service.

Rays Free Ticket Promotion a Public Relations Success

After two of the teams most prominent players criticized the fan base for not supporting the team the Tampa Bay Rays made a radical and unprecedented public relations move for a playoff contending team.  That move was the giving away of 20,000 tickets to the Rays final home game of the season against the Baltimore Orioles.  The result of that move was a packed house of 36,973 fans at Tropicana Field.  Tickets began being handed out at the main gate at 4:45 and within the hour none were left. Fans who had bought tickets to the game were eligible for a free upgrade to better seats on the field level.  Throughout the stands fans held up signs saying “Thank You Rays” but the fan support did not help the team on the field as they fell to the Orioles 2-0.

Hagerstown Suns Officially Sold

Its Official, the Hagerstown Suns now have a local ownership group.  After months of negotiations and approvals Mandalay Baseball Properties have officially sold the team to a group of investors for $6.7 million.  The deal marks the first time the Suns have had local ownership since 1992 when the Suns were a Double-A team in the Eastern League.  It has been assumed that Mandalay is using the funds to partially finance their purchase of the Triple-A Oklahoma City Red Hawks.

United League Losing Amarillo?

After a second bounced rent payment it looks like the United Baseball League will not be playing in Amarillo in 2011.  The Amarillo Dillas was the leading franchise in the league, attendance wise, but failed to pay rent during the season.  After the county gave the league a payment schedule to make up the deficit the first payment that was due on September 17 for $25,000 bounced, however the league quickly wired funds to make up the difference.  However last Friday another $25,000 payment was due and that payment bounced again.  This time there was no funds wired and no response from the league office.  With the American Association rumored to be interested in Amarillo market it would be a great loss for the league if a competing Independent League was to come in.

Hawaii Independent Team Seeks Investors

It is no secret that owning a baseball team could be an expensive endeavor and Michael Cummings admits this as he is searching for new investors to help finance the Na Koa Ikaika Maui baseball team and cover the losses he sustained in 2010.  But do not be scared as he already announced the Golden Baseball League team will return in 2011 after a successful inaugural season that saw over 50,000 fans step through the gates at Maehara Stadium.  Running a team in Hawaii can be more expensive, even with eight game series, the travel costs back and forth between the islands and the continental United States alone is a major expense.

Robert joined Gotham Sports Media in July 2009 after spending six years at the helm of Baby-Bombers.com and brought with him his comprehensive coverage of the Staten Island Yankees and the New York Yankees Minor Leagues to Gotham Baseball Magazine.  In addition to his duties as a writer he is responsible for many website features and graphics seen on GothamBaseball.com and BaseballDigest.comas well as a photographer.  You may e-mail him with any suggestions or feedback at rpimpsner@baseballdigest.com.  You can follow him on twitter at @BD_RPimpsner.  He is a member of the National Space Society and The Planetary Society in support of the exploration of outer space as well as a strong supporter of the United States Armed Services.

The Hounds were introduced at a press event featuring Hall of Famer and former Washington Senator slugger Harmon Killebrew and area dignitaries.

According to organizers of VIP Baseball, the partnership bringing professional baseball to the region, the team name and logo reflect the equestrian traditions intrinsic in the history of Loudoun County and the wider region.

“The Loudoun Hounds is a fantastic name for this professional baseball team,” said Killebrew.  “It is a fun, energetic name and it connects the team to the region in a very meaningful way.”

Officials added that the Hounds’ name was one of three candidates culled from nearly one thousand original submissions, and received over 60% of the public’s vote in a “Name Your Team” contest.

“Today is the next step in this amazing nine-year journey to bring professional baseball to Loudoun County and Northern Virginia,” added Bob Farren, President and CEO of VIP Baseball.  “The excitement building in the area for the unleashing of the Hounds has been phenomenal and awe-inspiring from my perspective.  The Hounds will be a quality, professional organization that will make the community proud.”

The Atlantic League currently has eight franchises, in Bridgeport Conn., Camden, N.J., Lancaster, Pa., Central Islip (Long Island), N.Y., Newark, N.J., Somerset, N.J., Waldorf, Md., and York, Pa.  Sugar Land, Texas, is also expected to join in 2012.  The league has been in operation since 1998.

Youth between the ages of 8 and 16 will have a first-come, first-served chance to experience shooting bows and arrows. Those interested in this opportunity should report to the Game Commission information booth, starting at 5 p.m. through 5:25 p.m., in the concourse behind home plate to be escorted to the archery range that will be set up in the outfield. Also, thanks to a donation from Mathews Inc., one right-handed bow will be awarded to one participant.  Doors open at 5 p.m. for those wanting to participate in these activities.

Throughout the game, kids of all ages are invited to use the Game Commission’s Laser Shot and BeamHit Systems, which are shooting simulators designed to teach safe and effective shot selection and basic marksmanship fundamentals.

After the game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, special camouflaged autographed jerseys worn by the Barnstormer players during the game will be auctioned off, and many Game Commission fine art prints and other items will be given away as well.

Proceeds from the special ticket sales and auction will go to the Lancaster Federated Sportsmen to support the club’s Youth Field Day and Conservation Camp. To learn more about this promotion, and to get tickets, visit the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on the Lancaster Barnstormer’s logo, and then follow the directions, using “hunter” as the promotion code.

To take advantage of this promotion, field box seat tickets, which cost $10, are available through the Game Commission website, and a limited number of deluxe tickets are available for $44. The price of the deluxe ticket covers seating in a luxury suite with many Game Commission representatives, dinner and non-alcoholic beverages.

The game on Aug. 31 also is “Dollar Dog Night,” when hot dogs are only $1.

If you use the social network of Twitter to find out the latest news and stories coming out of minor league baseball, Jessica Quiroli is a must-follow.  Her Twitter account, Heels On The Field, is a shortened name of her blog, High Heels On The Field.

On Twitter and through her own blog, Jessica has become a valuable source for news and tidbits throughout MiLB.  You can find her re-tweeting interesting news items such as Koby Clemens(son of long time MLB pitcher Roger Clemens) cranking two home runs in a game, or writing up an article on the talented young player in a way to bring him out from beneath his father’s legacy.

While she focuses some of her articles on the Trenton Thunder, there are many articles featuring players and teams from throughout the minor leagues.  She provides a blend of writing that isn’t tied to just providing player updates.  In some articles, she showcases players moving from one level to the next, like Matt Rizzoti of the Reading Phillies.  In another she reviews the latest book to hit the newsstands that focuses on life in the minors, current Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Dirk Haywurst’s “The Bullpen Gospels”.

Jessica Quiroli’s strong daily twitter presence and in depth coverage through her blog are a must-read for any fan of the game.  Jessica took some time last week to answer a few questions for the Minor League Spotlight.

Baseball Digest.com: How did you end up covering MiLB, and what path led you to write about baseball?

Jessica Quiroli: I started covering MiLB from the start of my career. I started writing for Scout.com at the same time I was writing a screenplay. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just felt an immediate passion for it. After I visited Scranton (Phillies affiliate at the time), I did a couple of assignments at Reading and I was hooked.

My interest in baseball was always there, but I never thought I could be a baseball writer. I just knew I loved writing and baseball. My heart led me down that path. It wasn’t something I knew from childhood. I was just always very creative and always received attention for my writing. At a certain point, I realized writing about baseball was like an extension of myself. It was so natural, I couldn’t believe it took me as long to figure it out. It’s why I never discourage anyone from pursuing that or anything else they get an idea to try.

BD.com: Covering minor league ball, you’ve interviewed a number of ballplayers on their way to the big leagues. Have you had a chance to interview any players before and after they’ve reached the big leagues?

JQ: I don’t cover MLB often. Mainly I interview MLB players for Junior Baseball and that’s just a few times a season. The only thing that comes to mind is getting to know Twins reliever Alex Burnett last season and watching him get better and better at the Double-A level. Then when I covered Twins spring training, he was at big league camp. He’d received an invite. I found him to be the exact same guy and so focused. That’s what you want to see: young players who remain the same, even as their opportunity is happening. I’ve dealt with guys who’ve gotten sent up and back and some of them can’t handle it. Mike Zagurski is a guy who has such vitality and a  working-class attitude that no matter how many times the Phillies bring him up and send him back, he keeps the same focus and determination. And he’s the nicest guy on earth. He doesn’t seem to get down on himself or feel put out by the process.

BD.com:  You also cover affiliated baseball and independent league baseball, what would you say is the greatest difference between these levels?

JQ: The difference between independent league and affiliated is huge. I cannot overstate that. I spent a full season with the Atlantic City Surf and also did some coverage of the Worcester Tornadoes. Money is the obvious difference. But the mood is also different. You see their sadness sometimes. I remember after a game I was out with a few of the players having dinner. They had just lost a tough game, it was a blown save. The closer looks at me and says, “You know, sometimes I hate baseball.” I’ll never forget that. I realized that a lot of them were caught in confusion about their futures. They expected to play baseball for a living, they thought they could and it’s all they’ve ever really been good at. But as one coach at the independent level told me, good isn’t good enough for them. And if they can’t be better than good, it’s going to be extremely difficult. At the MiLB level there’s a ton of hope and promise. There’s more of a feeling that something bigger is possible.

BD.com: Baseball Digest.com has had a number of features this season that highlight women working in baseball, in particular Norm Coleman’s “Woman In Baseball” series.   Though we live in 2010, would you say there remains a huge difference dealing with players and members of the media based on gender?

JQ: There are always going to be players and men in the industry who don’t take women seriously. I know when I walk into a MILB clubhouse, I’m likely going to be the only woman and that’s usually the case in the press box as well. I expect it with players a bit more. But when it’s a colleague that’s disrespectful to me, it’s more disappointing. When I’ve dealt with that, I’ve gotten very angry and I won’t tolerate it. Women in this industry can tend to be worse. They aren’t particularly supportive and encouraging of each other. There’s a lot of jealousy and judging. I really wish women in the industry would see the value of having one another’s backs, but if I could tell young women anything who want to do this for a living, it’s to have a great sense of humor and also put your emotional armor on. Be tough or you won’t make it. Don’t expect them to respect you when you walk in the clubhouse. Just do your job to the best of your ability and that’s all you need to know at the end of the day. And Have. Fun.

BD.com: Eri Yoshida’s pitching with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League, the first woman in nearly a decade to play professionally.  Do you think we’ll see a woman reach the major leagues?

JQ: I don’t have the highest expectations of women playing at the Major League level. In many ways, I like that women have their own sport. I wish it got more attention and interest. But I think softball has gotten more exposure and respect in the last decade, due to Cat Osterman and Jennie Finch. Those girls have so much physical power and I am thrilled little girls see young women that could give any boy a run for the money.

BD.com: You’re a force on Twitter, with more than 1,600 followers and nearly 18,000 tweets.  How has the social network helped you in reaching a new audience and has it helped at all with reaching out to players and teams that use the social networks?

JQ: I was a reluctant Twitter participant. I thought it was just people wasting time. Then I realized how useful a tool it is in receiving and sharing baseball information. It has helped me professionally and I never feel out of the loop. Getting accurate information is the most important thing, so there has to be caution. I’ve reached a lot of new readers who see what I have to say on Twitter and decide to read my blog. I think it’s a trust builder. If people get an idea of how knowledgeable and interesting you are as a writer on Twitter, they’re going to look at other things you do and take your opinion seriously.

A big thank you to Jessica for taking time to answer a few questions for the Minor League Spotlight!

With the dog days of summer upon us, we will undoubtedly turn to “Heels On The Field” for the latest news coming out of minor league baseball.

Previous Spotlights:

• Bus Leagues Baseball
• Birmingham Barons
• Pittsfield Colonials
• Rochester Red Wings
• 49th State Hardball
• Golden Baseball League
• Newark Bears
• Northwest Arkansas Naturals
• The Veeck Connection

Stay Tuned: Keep an eye on Baseball Digest.com for an all-new Minor League Spotlight next week featuring the Mets Single A affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones! The article will feature a few photos from a recent trip made to MCU Park in Coney Island!

Is there a player or team in the minor leagues that you think should be featured in the Minor League Spotlight? Let us know in the Bleachers Forum!

Michael Maher can be reached at MinorLeagueSpotlight@Gmail.com.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

Looking at baseball in a unique way and introducing new, innovative ideas has been a signature part of the Veeck family for generations.    It all started nearly a hundred years ago with William Veeck, Sr.  He was a baseball writer who got his break into the business when the owner of the Chicago Cubs brought him on board following a series of articles suggesting how he would improve the team. As vice-president and later president of the club, the team won three pennants under the guide of the senior Veeck between 1919 and 1932. Though he passed away in 1933, the impact of William Veeck, Sr. was just beginning.

By 1937 the son of the former Cubs president, Bill Veeck, had joined the Chicago Cubs as the team treasurer.  Though the younger Veeck departed the Chicago Cubs by 1941 to purchase the Milwaukee Brewers, there are two key ideas that he carried out before moving on.  He was the person who planted the ivy that adorns the outfield wall of Wrigley Field, and he was responsible for the construction of the manually operated scoreboard.  More than 70 years later, the ivy is still growing strong, the manual scoreboard remains and the Veeck connection to baseball continues as well.

Bill Veeck bought into the Cleveland Indians and instantly made an impact.  In addition to signing the oldest rookie in history, Satchel Paige at 42 years of age, he may be most remembered for having a role in breaking the color barrier of the American League following Jackie Robinson’s debut in the Natiional League in 1947.  Just eleven weeks after Robinson debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Veeck signed future Hall of Famer Larry Doby to the Cleveland Indians, following several seasons playing with the Newark Bears of the Negro Leagues. Doby went on to become the first African American to homer in a World Series, helping the Indians clinch the second, and last, World Series title. Doby’s career is not the only famous player connection for Bill Veeck.

A few years after Doby helped the Indians to a world title, Veeck sold his share of the team and bought into the St. Louis Browns. Due to differences between other owners and the front office of Major League Baseball, Veeck’s reign with the Browns came to end just two years after it began in 1951.  However, he made the best of his time, and history records retain his fingerprints of creativity. In just his first season as owner of the Browns, Veeck secretly signed Eddie Gaedel and he debuted as a pinch hitter on Sunday, August 19th, 1951 during the second game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.  The man wearing “1/8″ as a number set the record for shortest player in Major League history at just 3 feet, 7 inches in height.  Though the stunt thrilled baseball fans, the secret signing of Gaedel ushered in new rulings by MLB that required teams to provide a contract to the league before suiting up with the team.

When Bill Veeck was pushed out from the Browns, he resurfaced a few years later in 1959 as head of the new ownership of the Chicago White Sox.  He made an immediate impact on the franchise when he installed an exploding scoreboard that celebrated every White Sox home run at Comisky Park.  The addition  coincided with the White Sox first pennant in 40 years.  By 1961, Veeck was out again as owner, and during that time wrote an autobiography entitle “Veeck As In Wreck”.  The book ruffled the feathers of some of the old time baseball owners, and Veeck wasn’t heard from  until 1975 when he again bought into the team.  Over two decades that included two separate stints as owner, Veeck ushered in a number of promotions that have been praised as some of the greatest of all time.  Perhaps the most famous stint during his time with the White Sox was the two times Minnie Minosa was activated and played in games in 1975 and again in 1980 to set the record of playing in five different decades.  In addition to Minosa, Veeck fielded a White Sox team wearing shorts, conducted trades in public, and was the first to have announcer Harry Carey sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.

In one of his finals stunts as owner, Bill Veeck brought in the next generation of Veecks to help make it happen. His son, Mike Veeck, was working in the White Sox marketing department at the time of the infamous Disco Demolition Night on July 12th, 1979. In an event held between a twi-night doubleheader between the White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, the promotion was to destroy disco records between the games.  Over 90,000 people showed up and quickly overtook the stadium and the field during the promotion. The White Sox were forced to forfeit the second game of the doubleheader due to the condition of the field and the unruliness of the crowd.

With the advent of free agency and growing costs of running an organization, Bill Veeck sold his share of ownership in 1981, and retired from baseball.  He passed away in 1986 following a battle with emphysema, but baseball never forgot the legend.  He was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to many teams, and the memories that generations of fans have come to learn about.

“Fun Is Good” is a motto of third generation baseball man Mike Veeck and for a name synonymous with promotional excitement, he continues to live up to the expectations of new ways to attract a fanbase for teams.  As the son of Bill Veeck, perhaps the most famous baseball promoter in history, Mike Veeck’s own accomplishments are evidence that the eye for excitement extends to mutiple generations.

Like his father before him, Mike Veeck has found promotions for baseball in unusual places. Minnie Minosa playing professional baseball in his fourth and fifth decade seemed like an incredible feat at the time.  Since then, Minosa once held the record for being the oldest person to play the game at 80 years old.  In 2006, the youngest Veeck was approached by then 83 year old Jim Eriotes with an interest in playing ball.  With a little help, he ended up debuting with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the independent Northern League(since moved to the American Association and known as the Sioux Falls Pheasants).  While his reign as oldest person to bat in a game was supplanted by the late Buck O’Neil a week later when he played in the Northern League All-Star Game, the promotional genius wasn’t forgotten, as it caught the attention of ESPN.com.

A number of promotions involving teams Veeck has worked with have little to do with the actual game itself.  The St. Paul Saints, for example, have held numerous bobblehead promotions that are slightly different than your typical bobblehead you might receive at a Major League Baseball stadium.  Instead of celebrating players, the Saints celebrate events.  In 2009, the team held a bobblehead event for a “Count Von Re-Count”, a spoof on Sesame Street’s Count Von Count, and more importantly a spoof on the 2008 election for United States Senator in Minnesota.  Five years before then, the held a similar event during the 2004 presidential race, featuring bobbleheads with the faces of George Bush and Al Gore on either side.  The stunt included a donkey and a donkey dressed as an elephant on the field.

While his father and grandfather dedicated their energy to one team at a time, Mike Veeck has turned his promoting skills into an empire of baseball teams.  Working with a diverse group of people(including Jimmy Buffett and Bill Murray!), and with a group of baseball teams at a few levels of play, you never know when you may be offered a massage by a nun while sitting in the stands.  You might just as easily find yourself locked out of a baseball game in an effort by the team to reach the all-time record for lowest attendance at a game! These are just a few of many promotions that have proved successful for Mike Veeck in the minor leagues of baseball.

Mike Veeck has a hand in seven baseball team promotions.   As baseball season heats up, there are great options for attending a game featuring a Veeck Connection.  Here is the list of teams included:

• River City Rascals and Normal Corn Belters of the Frontier League
• Saint Paul Saints and El Paso Diablos of the American Association
• Fort Myers Miracle, the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Minnesota Twins
• Hudson Valley Renegades, the Short Season Single A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays
• Charleston Riverdogs, the Class A Affiliate of the New York Yankees

Looking Ahead: In the coming weeks, Baseball Digest.com may feature an update on the Veeck Connection which may include a person very close to the history of the family, and their involvement in baseball.

Previous Spotlights:

• Bus Leagues Baseball
• Birmingham Barons
• Pittsfield Colonials
• Rochester Red Wings
• 49th State Hardball
• Golden Baseball League
• Newark Bears
• Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Stay Tuned: Keep an eye on Baseball Digest.com for an all-new Minor League Spotlight next week!

Is there a player or team in the minor leagues that you think should be featured in the Minor League Spotlight? Let us know in the Bleachers Forum!

A big thank you to Angela Weinhold for her help with research for this article! You can find her insight into St. Louis Cardinals Baseball here on Baseball Digest!

Michael Maher can be reached at MinorLeagueSpotlight@Gmail.com.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

Director’s Commentary #2: Where’s Wally? And How Did He Get There?

As a member of the 1986 World Series Champion Mets, South Georgia Peanuts skipper Wally Backman was the most recognizable manager in the South Coast League. The second most notable manager was Macon Music skipper – and former MLB outfielder – Phil Plantier. It is worth noting that former MLB slugger Cecil Fielder started the season as the league’s roving hitting instructor. Cecil’s role with the league would eventually change, but I’m getting ahead of myself…

Wally Backman had been one of the most promising young managers in minor league baseball. In 2004, he managed the Lancaster JetHawks (Class A – Arizona Diamondbacks) to an 86-54 record, good enough for second place in the California League and enough for The Sporting News to name him Minor League Manager of the Year.

Backman was promoted by the Diamondbacks on November 1. 2004. Within a week, the Diamondbacks fired their new manager, citing Backman’s legal problems. The story of those few days is an ugly mess and it’s not easy to explain exactly what happened, so I focused instead on the few facts that were indisputable and the aftermath of the Diamondbacks fiasco – the shambles of Wally Backman’s life and career. You saw that in the first installment of this series (click here if you missed it).

Author Jeff Pearlman was a huge help in sorting through the wreckage of Backman’s career. Jeff has written extensively on Backman and the Diamondbacks for Sports Illustrated. His basic thoughts on Backman were simple – Backman is a great “old-school” manager in the mold of Billy Martin, but a Major League organization would never take another chance on him.

Here is the raw footage of Jeff Pearlman’s interview for the show.

You can scroll through these clips to hear Jeff’s thoughts on Wally Backman, the 1986 Mets and the sterilization of Major League Baseball:

Commentary

Hindsight has proven half of Jeff’s theory wrong – Backman is now the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones (Class A – New York Mets), but it took five years for it to happen.

You’ll notice that you can see the blue screen behind Jeff. In the actual TV show, you can see the blue screen is replaced by a blue background (not my most creative decision, but it works).

Similar interview footage exists of Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey. Unfortunately, it is still on my computer’s hard drive. I plan to re-encode it for web release, probably sometime this summer.

If you like what you see, you can purchase the 3-DVD set for $24.99 + shipping. The DVDs include all 10 episodes plus over an hour of bonus interviews, deleted scenes, Instructional Minute segments with Wally Backman and several Prank School segments, wherein Peanuts players demonstrate how to execute perfect pranks in the clubhouse and the dugout.

Note: BaseballDigest.com will receive a $5 commission for each order place through this link.

You can also see more clips at the Playing for Peanuts YouTube page. I will be posting and commenting on many of these clips in the near future. Please share your comments, subscribe and share. Thanks!

Many thanks to Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey for giving me the chance to share “Playing for Peanuts” with the Baseball Digest community.

Here is a quick snapshot “profile” of Ms. Edwards.

Born on: October 18th   City: Detroit

Favorite TV show: I shouldn’t be Alive (amazing stories of people who survived deadly situations)

What’s in my Ipod: Every genre known to man.

My heroes: My parents

My greatest love: Writing

What I drive: SUV

What I’m reading: The Bible

Baseball Uniform I like the best: KC Royals the baby blue is so nostalgic

My favorite Stadium (outside of my own): US Cellular (Chicago) it has a bar that is “in” the bullpen.

Things I do in the off-season: Travel.

Hitters I love to watch: Albert Puljols and Alex Rodriguez

Pitchers I love to watch: Pedro Martinez

Favorite team as a kid: Detroit Tigers

Favorite magazine: Glamour

Favorite American city: Orlando, FL

My first job: Shoe Store Clerk

Talent I’d most like to have: Singing.

For dinner I love: Seafood

Favorite value in others: Honesty

Dream date: A funny guy

Love to trade places with: Mariah Carey

My motto: Ignorance maybe Bliss but the Truth shall set you free.

Norm Coleman, BaseballDigest.com: What does your job consist of? What are your responsibilities?

JaMay Edwards: I am the Manager of Promotions and am responsible for game day entertainment. My duties include everything from the anthem singer to post-game before fireworks.

BD.com: When and how did you get interested in working in baseball?

Edwards: I was a fan first, and had a former job that required me to travel to markets that happen to host Minor League Baseball.  I started going to games on a regular basis for entertainment in the evenings.

BD.com: When did you get interested in baseball?  Who influenced you?

Edwards: I had an uncle who played professionally but I didn’t become interested until I was an adult. There is something magical and soothing about minor league baseball games.  It was a good way to unwind after a long day.

BD.com: Did you play sports in High School?

Edwards: Not at all, I was in drama club but played intramural softball in college.

BD.com: Where were you raised?

Edwards: I was raised in Detroit, Michigan and went to Cass Technical High School.

BD.com: Did you attend college?

Edwards: Yes, I went to Wayne State University in Detroit. I majored in Broadcast Communications and Journalism.

BD.com: What do you love the most about your job?

Edwards: The reaction from fans when they’re being entertained!

BD.com: What is the most difficult part of your job?

Edwards: The long hours and hectic schedule. You sacrifice a great deal of your personal life.

BD.com: Which woman in baseball do you admire the most?  If you could ask her one question, what would that be?

Edwards: Wendy Lewis of Major League Baseball and Luchy Guerra (Formerly of the Dodgers)–She created her own job description to help foreign born players. (I asked her everything when I met her in January!)

BD.com: What is the most outstanding memory you have working for the Mud Hens?

Edwards: In 2005, we won the Governor’s Cup championship. Our General Manager, Joe Napoli let everyone into the locker room to celebrate. Women are never allowed inside the clubhouse but an exception was made so that we could be a part of the celebration. It was amazing. Our entire staff and players were having a champagne celebration and it was something I will never ever forget.

BD.com: What advice would you give a young woman considering a career in baseball?

Edwards: I would tell her that she should be prepared to work harder than most.

BD.com: What makes you successful at your job?

Edwards: That I so love and enjoy it! Most people who put in the amount of hours I do can’t always say that.

BD.com: What is your favorite baseball movie?  Have a favorite baseball book?

Edwards: A tie between movies: “Sugar” and “Bull Durham”. Book: “The Bullpen Gospels”

BD.com: What is the most unusual promotion you have seen with your team?

Edwards: Scranton Yankees Night. We cheered for the opposing team, because it was a league mandated “home game” for them.

BD.com: What is the funniest thing you have seen with your team?

Edwards: Players sliding across the tarp, I expect that in single A but the triple-A guys tend to be not as rambunctious.

BD.com: Do you follow other sports?

Edwards: I love hockey. We recently acquired an ECHL (previously known as East Coast Hockey League) team that I worked for during our baseball’s off-season…it’s fun!

BD.com: What is the most creative part of yourself?

Edwards: My expression. I can express myself in so many ways–through art, speech, song, dance, ideas, concepts, etc.

BD.com: Are you married?  Do you have any children?

Edwards: No and No.

BD.com: What do you do for relaxation after work?

Edwards: I spend time with friends, family and people who have nothing to do with baseball. You know the REAL world.

BD.com: How did you wind up working for the Mud Hens?

Edwards: I heard about the position when I was working with my former job trying to cross promote in sports.

BD.com: Do you have a favorite quote?

Edwards: Yes, Siempre Hay Esperanza. (There is Hope Always.)

BD.com: If you were commissioner of baseball, what one change would you make?

Edwards: I would make the season shorter. I think the time off would do us all some good.

BD.com: What kind of music do you like?

Edwards: I like it all. My favorite is R & B.

BD.com: Do you have a nickname?

Edwards: Jamazing…one of my interns called me that and it stuck.

BD.com: What is your biggest pet peeve?

Edwards: Fans who complain about free stuff.

BD.com: Do you travel?

Edwards: Yes, all the time, the Caribbean is my favorite vacation spot.

BD.com: What woman do you admire the most?

Edwards: Mariah Carey. She is the definition of a survivor who used her raw talent to make it. (And Michelle Obama!)

BD.com: What are your long-term goals?

Edwards: I would love to be a GM for a minor league team some day, and help better the experience of the foreign born players in helping baseball embrace diversity.

BD.com: What do you do during the off-season?

Edwards: I work in Hockey!

BD.com: In concluding, any comments you wish to make?

Edwards: I am very passionate about baseball. It saddens me to think that I won’t make any historical stats for pitching a perfect game or hitting for the cycle. I think legacy is something that embodies this sport. It’s based on so much legend that as someone who isn’t part of the actual game, there is a need to be able to create your own. Making my mark and changing the game (off the field) for the better is something that I am still working on.

Norm Coleman is an actor, writer and professional photographer living in Half Moon Bay, California.

However, the web offers me the opportunity to post hundreds of unreleased clips that wouldn’t fit on a DVD, along with my commentary. Most importantly, the web offers something that DVDs can’t – a conversation. That’s why I’ve decided to use the Baseball Digest platform to comment on my latest baseball project – “Playing for Peanuts.” Feel free to share in the discussion.

Director’s Commentary #1: The Origins of Playing for Peanuts

Back in 2006, I released my first baseball documentary, “The Emerald Diamond.” It was a low-budget, 90-minute film about the brief (yet quirky and uplifting) history of baseball in Ireland.

By January 2007, I was ready to start another project. This time, I wanted to focus on baseball in America, so I contacted every independent minor league front office in the country, hoping to find a league that was open to being the subject of a documentary.

My search ultimately led to the South Coast League of Professional Baseball – an upstart independent league that was set to begin play in 2007. The league had its headquarters in Conyers, GA and six franchises in the Southeastern US – Aiken, SC, Anderson, SC, Macon, GA, Albany, GA, Port Charlotte, FL and Bradenton, FL.

After several discussions with league CEO Jamie Toole, I decided to follow one team with my cameras – the South Georgia Peanuts. The Peanuts were based out of Albany, GA and they would be managed by former Mets second baseman and current Brooklyn Cyclones manager, Wally Backman.

While I followed the Peanuts, I would also pick up interviews with league officials, fans and opposing players, to give viewers an inside look at the Peanuts, in addition to the challenges involved with starting a new professional league.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting more clips from the show, along with deleted scenes and footage of life with the Peanuts. For now, I leave you with the first segment of Episode 1 of Playing for Peanuts:

Commentary

I had to familiarize viewers with Wally Backman’s past before we dove into the day-to-day existence of his team. Backman’s past wound up influencing many events during the season, so I felt comfortable devoting an entire segment to it.

To condense Backman’s past into approximately 8-minutes, I called upon two New York sportswriters – Jeff Pearlman (author of “The Bad Guys Won”) and Mark Healey (Online Editor of Baseball Digest). Along with some narration and interviews with Backman, I think this segment answers the question, “Who is Wally Backman and how the heck did he wind up in an upstart independent league in Albany, GA?”

If you like what you see, you can purchase the 3-DVD set for $24.99 + shipping. The DVDs include all 10 episodes plus over an hour of bonus interviews, deleted scenes, Instructional Minute segments with Wally Backman and several Prank School segments, wherein Peanuts players demonstrate how to execute perfect pranks in the clubhouse and the dugout.

Note: BaseballDigest.com will receive a $5 commission for each order place through this link.

You can also see more clips at the Playing for Peanuts YouTube page. I will be posting and commenting on many of these clips in the near future. Please share your comments, subscribe and share. Thanks!

Many thanks to Baseball Digest Online Editor Mark Healey for giving me the chance to share “Playing for Peanuts” with the Baseball Digest community.

Since then, Eri has caught on with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League, a league that was recently featured in our Minor League Spotlight series in an article you can read here.

Eri is quickly breaking down the gender barriers of American baseball and garnering much respect along the way.  So much respect, in fact, that news broke today that she has drawn the attention of a certain institution in Cooperstown, New York.

That’s right, the folks at the Baseball Hall Of Fame have requested the jersey and bat that the “Knuckle Princess” used in her debut game on May 29, 2010.  During that game, she pitched three innings and drove in a run with an RBI single.  The Outlaws and Yoshida will honor the Hall Of Fame’s request before their home game on June 12, Yoshida’s next scheduled appearance.  Her appearance in the May game marked the first time since 2000 that a woman has appeared in a professional baseball game, last being accomplished by Ila Borders.

Just a 20 minute train ride from Penn Station in midtown Manhattan lies Bears & Eagles Stadium, home to the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.  Since the early 1900′s, baseball has reigned just west of New York City and the Bears are the latest to draw crowds to their talented squad of baseball players.

The Bears put a great emphasis on baseball’s past in Newark, New Jersey and that is clear in every facet of their game.  In addition to having the Bear and Eagle on their uniforms, the Bears & Eagles Stadium is named as a nod to the Newark Eagles of the second Negro National League that played in Newark from 1936-1948. The mascots, Ruppert and Effa, are also named in recognition of the past.

Ruppert is named after the stadium that was home to the minor league Newark Bears of the International League from 1926-1949 as well as home to the Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues from 1936-1948. Ruppert Stadium was also home to the short lived Newark Bears of the American Football League in 1926. Effa is named after the wife of the owner of the Brooklyn Eagles who purchased the Newark Dodgers, merging the teams in the Negro League. The team was left to her, and she became the first woman to own and operate a professional team.

While the team and their stadium recognizes the area’s past in baseball, the team they field every day represents the present and future talent that you may recognize from big league clubs recently and will undoubtedly see in the future.  The Bears have been led by future Hall of Famer Tim Raines, with 23 years of MLB experience himself, and former Chicago White Sox catcher Ron Karkovice  on the coaching staff.  Helping lead the offense for the current Bears is two time World Series champion Scott Spiezio. A postseason hero with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the St. Louis Cardinals, Spiezio is hitting .315 and currently has more walks(14) than strikeouts(13) on the season.  A hitter with a good eye, the last time he finished a season with more walks than strikeouts was during his breakout year in 2002.

Long time New York Met and All-Star infielder Edgardo Alfonzo joined the 2010 Bears after spending last season with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan.  The 12 year veteran marked his return to the United States with a two run home run against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  Fellow former Met Armando Benitez joined the Bears pitching staff in 2009 and has remained one of the top relievers in the Atlantic League since.  He currently boasts a 0.90 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 10 innings of work.  Before heading to Newark, the 15 year MLB veteran with 2 All-Star appearances last played with Toronto Blue Jays in 2008.  Another former big leaguer playing in Newark is Daryle Ward. Spending parts of eleven seasons with six clubs, the versatile infielder has been with the Bears since last season.  Currently, Ward is leading the Newark Bears in home runs and runs batted in and ranks among the best hitters in the entire Atlantic League.

With just over 30 games played, there have already been eight players in the Atlantic League that have had their contracts purchased by major league organizations.  With such talent playing for the Bears, you never know what you might see when you visit Bears & Eagles Stadium.  When I attended a game on May 22nd, James “Bubba” O’Donnell flirted with perfection when he retired the first 16 batters he faced against the Long Island Ducks.  O’Donnell is in his first season with the Newark Bears, after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2008 and sporting a 3.97 ERA over 25 appearances with their short season Single A affiliate, the Boise Hawks.  In eight games with the Bears, O’Donnell has a 3.27 ERA over 33 innings, half of which have come as a part of the Bears rotation.

Like many other teams, the Newark Bears have a strong presence in social networking, utilizing both Facebook and Twitter to reach their fans and offer special deals for “liking” the team and following them on Twitter.  These websites are also great to follow the team and the players that have reached the majors and those that quite possibly could be wearing major league uniforms in the near future.

Keep an eye on the Baseball Digest Facebook Page over the next few days for an collection of photos from the May 22nd game against the Long Island Ducks that featured the near flawless pitching of James “Bubba” O’Donnell.

Previous Spotlights:

• Bus Leagues Baseball
• Birmingham Barons
• Pittsfield Colonials
• Rochester Red Wings
• 49th State Hardball
• Golden Baseball League

Next Week: The Minor League Spotlight returns to affiliated baseball when it focuses on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals!

Is there a player or team in the minor leagues that you think should be featured in the Minor League Spotlight? Let us know in the Bleachers Forum!

Michael Maher can be reached at MinorLeagueSpotlight@Gmail.com.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

This past week, the Golden Baseball League kicked off its  season with a matchup between the Edmonton Capitals and Tucson Toros, and it ended up being a Walk Off win for the Tucson Toros. In a game that featured several former big leaguers, it showcased exactly the kind of exciting talent to be expected in the Golden Baseball League.

On May 22nd, the league made history when they featured games being played in three different countries on the same day.  The league played games in Canada, the United States and Mexico.  Having teams representing several countries is nothing new to the league.  In the inaugural season, the Japan Samurai Bears were a traveling team comprised of mostly Japanese born ballplayers. For the 2010 season the Na Koa Ikaika Maui, which means ”Strong Warriors of Maui”, are the first professional baseball team to play in the state of Hawaii since the Hawaii Winter Baseball League folded in 2008.

The historic season of firsts for the GBL will continue, as Japanese sensation Eri Yoshida is expected to make her debut for the Chico Outlaws on May 29th. The 5’1 18 year old knuckleballer will be the first woman to play professional ball for the Golden Baseball League, and the first woman since Ila Borders pitched with the Zion Pioneerzz of the Western Baseball League in 2000.  Yoshida was signed by the Outlaws after her stint in the Arizona Fall League where she had a 1-1 record with a 4.79 Earned Run Average over a 10 game span.

Throughout its history, the Golden Baseball League has blended their rosters with legitimate major league talent, and those who are dedicated to showcasing their talent in a competitive league in hopes of catching their big break.  Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson may be the most famous of all former GBL players, but along with Yoshida there is a growing number of former MLBers and those working towards reaching The Show who are choosing to bring their game to the west coast.

Former All-Star closer Byung-Hyun Kim recently signed a contract with the Orange County Flyers after being released by the San Francisco Giants during spring training.  The two-time world series champion’s first appearance of the season was a scoreless inning against the St. Georges Roadrunners on May 22nd.  Also playing against the Roadrunners was Keith Ginter, a six year Major League veteran who has spent the last few years with several organizations playing at the Triple A level in the International League.

A former Chicago White Sox first round draft pick made an impressive GBL debut for the Chico Outlaws on May 23rd when he threw a no hitter in the first game of a double header against the Tijuana Cimarrones. Kris Honel struck out 10 over 7 innings in his no-hitter to start his season. Honel’s no-hitter is just the second in league history, and he got more support than he needed as the Outlaws offense clobbered the Cimarrones 20-0.  He received support from J.J. Sherrill, Mitch Einertson, and John Urick among others. Those three players have worn the uniform of several minor league affiliates.

There are many stories of players who have worn MLB uniforms, and many still who will one day don the uniform of a major league team.  The players referenced above are just a snapshot of what the Golden Baseball League offers its fans. To help follow these teams and the players of the GBL, there are websites linked below for each of the teams and their various social networking sites.

Northern Division

• Calgary Vipers - Twitter – Facebook
• Chico Outlaws – Twitter -Facebook
• Edmonton Capitals – Twitter(unofficial) – Facebook
• St. Georges Roadrunners – Facebook
• Victoria Seals – Twitter – Facebook

Southern Division

• Na Koa Ikaika Maui – Facebook
• Orange County Flyers – Twitter – Facebook
• Tijuana Cimarrones – Twitter – Facebook
• Tucson Toros -  Twitter – Facebook
• Yuma Scorpions – Facebook

During the GBL season, the Minor League Spotlight will follow along and report some news coming out of the league. If the first week is any indication, the 2010 season of the Golden Baseball League is going to be unforgettable.

Previous Spotlights:

• Bus Leagues Baseball
• Birmingham Barons
• Pittsfield Colonials
• Rochester Red Wings
• 49th State Hardball

Ask The Clubbie!

During the 2010 season, the Minor League Spotlight occasionally features a Q&A with Jeff Perro, the Clubhouse Manager for the Birmingham Barons, the Double A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

BaseballDigest.com:  How is Opening Day for you as a clubbie? Are there certain things you need to prepare that might differ from the daily job?

Jeff Perro: Getting ready for Opening Day is a huge challenge! Working an off-season job leading up to the start of the season meant working nights at the stadium.  The Hoover High School football team plays its home games at Regions Park after our season concludes and they use our clubhouse as their locker room, which means that all of our equipment has to be locked away. With the help of a few friends, it took an entire day of moving couches, trainer’s tables, stair steppers, tables, bats, balls, and probably over 3000lbs of free weights back to where they are set up for the season.  That was quite a task.  There is also the duty of wiping down each of the lockers, vacuuming, scrubbing toilets and bathroom floors, rewashing towels, and just getting the clubhouse clean.  It took four trips to Wal-Mart to stock up on the supplies a clubbie needs to run a clubhouse. It was all worth it though! Opening Day was very exciting!

Next Week: New York City is home to two of the most celebrated baseball teams in Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.  The next Minor League Spotlight takes a short trip west of New York City to examine the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.  A team stacked with talent that include some that have played for and against both of the powerhouses to the east, the Newark Bears have provided a great source of entertainment and a glimpse of players trying to make their way to MLB, just minutes from the bustle of New York City.

Is there a player or team in the minor leagues that you think should be featured in the Minor League Spotlight? Let us know in the Bleachers Forum!

Michael Maher can be reached at MinorLeagueSpotlight@Gmail.com.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

While this league has flown below the radar for some fans, there are a few websites dedicated entirely to the teams, players, and long history that make up the Alaska Baseball League.  49th State Hardball is an incredible resource that keeps tabs on players that are currently on Alaskan rosters, and former players that have gone on to have recent success. One such example is the New York Mets’ own Ike Davis, who had a strong debut when he went two for four with a run batted in.  Davis played with the Anchorage Bucs in 2006, and continues the trend that has been long established in the north.

Since the 1960′s, Alaska has quietly been home to the earliest careers of many players that have gone on to have success in the big leagues. Before Dave Winfield’s Hall of Fame career started when he was drafted by four teams in three different sports, he played two seasons with the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks, Alaska. Several years after Winfield left Alaska for the big leagues, Barry Bonds took the field as a member of the same team. The current all-time leader in home runs is another in a long line of talent that have traveled far and long to join Alaskan baseball teams. Jesse Jack of 49th State Hardball took a look at the roster of the Goldpanners last week, and noted a few players to keep an eye on when the season gets underway early next month.

Alaska is the only state in the entire country that experiences a sun that never fully sets during the summer months.  For more than 100 years, there has been a Midnight Sun baseball game played in the northernmost reaching state on June 21st, the Summer Solstice.  Since 1960, the Alaska Goldpanners have hosted the annual Midnight Sun baseball game traditionally held long before the ABL even existed.

This year’s Midnight Sun game may include a first hand account of the festivities surrounding the celebrated event by a long time Alaskan baseball fan who doubles as a prolific writer at 49th State Hardball.  We asked Jesse if he would take a few minutes to tell us about his website and the ABL, and he was happy to oblige!

Baseball Digest.com: Can you tell us a little about how you were drawn to baseball, and which MLB team you follow?

Jesse Jack: I grew up in Alaska, and like a lot of kids I was always playing ball, starting in Little League and continuing up through high school. Baseball’s just always been part of my life. Growing up in Alaska, which is pretty much off the map — sometimes literally — you really get a sense of pride when your state does something to make the rest of the world take notice. Naturally I became really enthusiastic about the league when I learned about the superstars and Hall of Fame players who came north to start their careers.  There isn’t as much of a buzz online, especially from a fan perspective, so that’s how I was inspired to start paying more attention and writing about the league.

As far as MLB teams that I follow, I’ve always been into the Atlanta Braves. I grew up on an island, really isolated even by Alaskan standards, but I remember having cable TV as a kid and having the Braves piped into our living room several nights a week. Our family kind of adopted the Braves as our “home team”, despite the fact that we were about as far away geographically as possible. Other than that, I keep track of teams that have a lot of former ABL players in their organizations, particularly high-level prospects who are right on the verge of making the jump to the major leagues. This season I’m keeping an eye on teams like Kansas City, Oakland, and the Mets. But I also check in with all the MLB teams, a few dozen college teams that are sending up players this year, and even the independent league teams. Basically everywhere baseball is played!

BD.com: There are six teams in the Alaska Baseball League. How do you spread out your coverage?

JJ: My priorities for choosing games to attend will shift as the season goes on. For the first couple weeks of the season my goal is to see every team at least once, and get as many photos and first impressions as possible. This really sets the stage for the rest of the summer. I’m fortunate to live within an hour’s drive of three teams, so I always have options and on any given night there is probably at least one road team in town. I can get a look at everyone within a week or two if I plan my schedule carefully.

My next task is to see every team’s home game. The rush to catch every team as quickly as possible means that I may end up at one stadium three times in a week and never set food inside another, just because that’s how the schedule falls out during the first couple weeks.   I try to make sure I’ve been to all the parks within a reasonable amount of time. This does include traveling to Kenai and Fairbanks. I can’t make this happen as often as I would like, so I try to make it out for days when I can cover something special (for example, the Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks) or catch a doubleheader. At that point I feel like I’ve got all the major things covered, and then I can focus on matchups, getting another look at a draft prospect, etc.

BD.com: How would you compare the Alaska Baseball League to other well known leagues such as the Cape Cod Baseball  League?

JJ: Compared to other amateur summer leagues, I feel confident in saying that the Alaska League offers something unique that the others don’t. To their credit, the Cape is consistently stacked with the biggest amateur prospects in the country. Along with some of the other solid summer leagues that have come up over the past decade or so, it also seems like they are a little more upscale than the ABL. But whether or not the Cape or other leagues are better because of this is a matter of perspective.

BD.com: If a baseball fan visits Alaska, what level of talent should they expect if they attend an ABL game?

JJ: When you go to an ABL game, you’re going to see guys who will be drafted very early in the MLB draft, probably even a few first-rounders. In the past we’ve had guys like Boston Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew, players who get drafted early and command huge signing bonuses. In the 2010 draft class we’ll have a couple alumni who go very early as well. But the the teams in Alaska also have hard-working staff who know how to dig a little deeper and find some seriously talented prospects who, for whatever reason, don’t have the same hype about them.

It results in an interesting mix, and it’s really nice to me as a writer because I get to cover some players that the mainstream prospect-watching crowd might have missed. I have the opportunity to write about players who have tons of potential but haven’t already been smothered in media attention, and it’s rewarding to me to “get in on the ground floor” so to speak.

BD.com: Are there advantages for ballplayers who have the opportunity to play in the Alaska Baseball League that they may not otherwise have at their level of talent?

JJ:  Life in the low minors is not glamorous and the Alaska League helps players get acclimated to the minor league lifestyle because it has a unique Alaskan ruggedness about it. The bus rides are long, the schedule is grueling, and the facilities aren’t scaled-down version of big-league parks. Players are housed out with local families, bunked in the back of bingo halls, and sheltered in mobile construction camps leftover from when they built the pipeline in the 70′s. It sounds pretty wild up here, and maybe it is. But on the other hand, I think a lot of players who do four years in Division 1 and maybe a summer or two in the Cape might be in for a shock when they get drafted and end up somewhere like the Pioneer League, especially the ones who don’t have a seven-figure signing bonus to take to the bank. The players I’ve talked to tell me that a season in Alaska really puts a player ahead of the curve as far as making the adjustment to pro ball, both on and off the field.

…

Though the ABL season is another month off, Jesse is busy monitoring roster moves and player news for 49th State Hardball.  In addition to checking out his website, you can follow Jesse and 49th State Hardball on twitter and facebook.

Each of the six teams that make up the ABL have made efforts to reach their fans using the internet and social networks.  The folllowing are links for each of the teams:

• Anchorage Bucs – website – facebook
• Peninsula Oilers-  website – facebook
• Alaska Goldpanners – website – facebook
• Glacier Pilots – website – facebook
• Matsu Miners – website – facebook
• Athletes In Action – website

A big thank you to Jesse Jack of 49th State Hardball for providing a great resource for baseball in Alaska, and for contributing to the Minor League Spotlight article.  We will check in with Jesse throughout the ABL season and keep fans informed of any new MLB/ABL connections that arrive on the scene in 2010!

Previous Spotlights:

Bus Leagues Baseball

Birmingham Barons

Pittsfield Colonials

Rochester Red Wings

Next Week: Fielding teams from Canada to Mexico and even in Hawaii, the Minor League Spotlight will feature the Golden Baseball League.  The league is primed for their upcoming fifth season in existence and though relatively young, this league is full of a rich history that encompasses all the great things about the minor and independent leagues!

Is there a player or team in the minor leagues that you think should be featured in the Minor League Spotlight? Let us know in the Bleachers Forum!

Michael Maher can be reached at Happybirthdayredsox@gmail.com.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

The American Defenders are one of the two oldest collegiate baseball teams, but during the winter of 2009 the team moved back to its original state of Connecticut.  However, it wasn’t long before there was a return of professional baseball to the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

Another team with the same name as the previous club, the American Defenders of the Can-Am League, had recently vacated their home in Nashua, New Hampshire after 11 seasons that included a pair of league championship titles, changing leagues once and a franchise name change. An original member of the Atlantic League that was formed in 1998, the franchise joined the Can-Am League at the beginning of the 2006 season. The arrival of the Pittsfield Colonials is the first independent league ballclub to play at Wahconah Park since the Berkshire Black Bears in 2003.

The team from Nashua bring their own lineage of history to Pittsfield, with several former and current major league players that played with the club in their former location.  Several notable players from the Boston Red Sox including Rich Garces, Paxton Crawford, Curtis Pride and Sam Horn donned the hometown uniform just north of Boston. Current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brendan Donnelly played with the franchise in 1999.  Colonials skipper, Brian Daubach, comes full circle as he played minor league ball with the Pittsfield Mets during the 1992 season.

As the team prepares for their opening season at one of the oldest ballparks in the United States, the general manager of the Pittsfield Colonials took some time to answer a few questions about his team and their new home.

Baseball Digest: Wahconah Park has had a long history of affiliations with major league baseball, and has seen more than a few players who bacame or will eventually be future Hall of Famers play at the 91 year old ballpark. More recently, the independent Berkshire Black Bears and Dan Duquette’s Pittsfield Dukes have called the park home.  Can you tell us a little bit about the transitioning of the team that moves from New Hampshire to western Massachusetts? Aside from the name change, what else can we expect with the new location?

Greg Martin: There will be a greater focus on Pittsfield baseball history and Wahconah Park history with an approach that blends the past and modern ball.  Home and road uniforms will reflect early 1900′s, which will be a pro-ball first, outfitting a club in vintage uniforms since the early 1900′s.  There will be a strong effort to create a ballpark experience that is more back to the basics, letting the game sell itself and not excessive in-game events or special effects.
BD: Wahconah Park has undergone a few upgrades over the years, most recently while Dan Duquette’s Pittsfield Dukes played there. Are there any plans for additional renovations?

GM: The city of Pittsfield just completed $750,000 of renovationas which included a new infield, irrigation system, public restrooms, ballpark painting and a repaved parking lot.  An additional $750,000 renovation is planned, and may include a makeover for the front facade of the ballpark to better reflect the historic interior.

BD: After serving as the hitting coach of the Nashua Pride in 2008, Brian Daubach was named the manager of the American Defenders in 2009. Will Daubach be returning for the inaugural season with the Colonials? To piggyback that question, are the Colonials expected to have any major changes to their coaching staff?

GM: Brian Daubach will return as the skipper of the Pittsfield Colonials, though the rest of the coaching staff has not yet been named.

BD: The Can-Am League has always had a few former and future major leaguers throughout the league rosters, are there any signings by the Colonials on the horizon that fans might want to keep an eye out for?

GM: Daubach is currently assembling the roster through free agent signings and local, regional and national upcoming tryout camps.  Typically, independent rosters contain a few namesakes and with Brian’s MLB connection, could include a couple of surprises.

The Pittsfield Colonials website is constantly being updated as their inaugural season at Wahconah Park nears, but you can find great information about the season there as well as on their Facebook Fan Page, which is loaded with tidbits about the players that make up their roster and promotions that the team will offer during the season.

The Colonials open Wahconah Park on May 23rd, 2010 with an exhibition game against Worcester, with all proceeds of the game(tickets at $1) going to benefit the Berkshire Medical Center. They open their season at home the following Monday, May 31st, against the New Jersey Jackals.  The Minor League Spotlight will follow the Colonials during their first season in Pittsfield, and provide an update as their season gets underway.

A big thanks to Greg Martin for taking time to answer a few questions for Baseball Digest during the busy weeks leading up to opening day.

Previous Spotlights:

Bus Leagues Baseball

Birmingham Barons

Next Week:  As a two-part series, the Minor League Spotlight will showcase one of the oldest minor league teams in history, the Rochester Red Wings.  Later in the week, there will be a preview of a newly released book that chronicles the historic club that famously took part in the longest professional baseball game in history(at 33 innings!).

Is there a player or team in the minor leagues that you think should be featured in the Minor League Spotlight? Let us know in the Bleachers Forum!

Michael Maher can be reached at Happybirthdayredsox@gmail.com.

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!