Newark Bears Indy League Team Looks To Reality TV To Keep The Franchise Afloat

A must read piece by Amy Brittain of the New Jersey Star Ledger provides an in-depth look at the storied Newark Bears independent league franchise that is trying to be taken off of life support by it’s new owners Doug Spiel and Danielle Dronet who hope to turn the franchise and their own family lives into a reality show. The article also looks into the behind the scenes turmoil the organization has faced in the last couple of years which looks like a reality show in and of itself. Like I said it is a must read piece.

Newark Bears: A tale of a sidetracked baseball franchise — NJ.com

This Is What A Minor League Baseball Fireworks Show Looks Like

Fireworks night is a staple of all minor league baseball teams. The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds do a great job with theirs given the the fact that they have to shoot them off from the field itself due to city ordinances. This is what you would have seen if you were one of the 12,000 plus to attend their game against the Round Rock Express last night at Autozone Park.

Sunday’s Notable Minor League Starting Pitchers

List compiled by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. Follow JP on twitter @Jaypers413

Kyle Lobstein – Tampa Bay Rays – High-A
Manny Banuelos – New York Yankees – Double-A
Garrett Gould – Los Angeles Dodgers – Low-A
Patrick Corbin – Arizona Diamondbacks – Double-A
Allen Webster – Los Angeles Dodgers – Double-A
Brody Colvin – Philadelphia Phillies – High-A
Matt Moore – Tampa Bay Rays – Double-A
Adam Warren – New York Yankees – Triple-A
Andy Oliver – Detroit Tigers – Triple-A
Trey McNutt – Chicago Cubs – Double-A
Stetson Allie – Pittsburgh Pirates – Short-A
John Gast – St Louis Cardinals – Double-A
Jake Odorizzi – Kansas City Royals – Double-A
Trevor Reckling – Los Angeles Angels – Double-A
Zach Stewart – Toronto Blue Jays – Double-A
Juan Oramas – San Diego Padres – Double-A

Note: List is gathered at MILB.com, is tentative, and all of the day’s starting pitchers may not have been revealed at post time.

Bowman Chrome Autograph Prospecting Penny Stock Edition: 10 Prospects Under $5.00 To Buy

Bowman Chrome Autographs have long been the king of the baseball card prospecting world. Many buy and sell these cards as if they were stock, buying low and selling high, and turning a nice profit to do it all over again with the next wave of prospects, upon each subsequent Bowman Chrome release. In this article, I have found 10 players, whose Bowman Chrome autographs recently ended for $5.00 delivered or less on Ebay, who I believe are great low risk buys for the Bowman Chrome prospector. The list is below is in no particular order.

Ryan Wheeler Arizona Diamondbacks: Lost in the shuffle of the Diamondbacks group of hitting prospects that includes Paul Goldschmidt, Marc Krauss, Bobby Borchering, Matt Davidson and a host of others, Wheeler is having a career year at Double-A Mobile. The third baseman is hitting .302 with 20(2B), 11HR, and 63RBI through 89 games. The 11 Home Runs are one off the 22 year old’s career high.
Ryan Wheeler 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jonathan Villar Houston Astros: The 20 year old was recently promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi and is one of the youngest players in the Texas League. While he is hitting just .233 combined (.201 in AA) and striking out in nearly a third of his at-bats, Villar has 13(2B), 5(3B), 7HR, and 35RBI as well as 26 stolen bases on the season. If he can get his strikeouts down and his average up over the next couple of years, this card could see some great growth.
Jonathan Villar 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Adron Chambers St. Louis Cardinals: At 24 Chambers is one of the oldest players you will see on this list, however being on the St Louis Cardinals, a team that tends to do well in the hobby, could allow this bargain basement prospect to see a nice spike immediately after his big league debut. An against all odds player, Chambers was 38th round pick back in 2007. Since then he’s hit under .270 just once in the minors. This year for Triple-A Memphis, Chambers is hitting .274, 9(2B), 2(3B), 9HR, and 32RBI. He also has 11 stolen bases on the year. Not a long term hold by any means, but he should be a very nice buy low, flip high player this September.
Adron Chambers 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Allen Webster Los Angeles Dodgers: The 20 year old right hander is following up a solid Low-A campaign in 2010 with nearly as good numbers at the higher levels. He earned a promotion to Double-A in late May after going 5-2 with a 2.33ERA in the hitters friendly California League. Since arriving in the Southern League, Webster has gone 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in 46 innings. Opposing batters are hitting a combined .226 off of him. Dodger Stadium could come calling for a spot start or two should anyone get hurt down the stretch. Webster has both a 2010 Bowman Platinum Autograph as well as a 2011 Bowman Chrome Autograph which both sell under $5.00.
Allen Webster 2010 Bowman Platinum and 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jeurys Familia New York Mets: Durability issues are a bit of a question, he just got put on the DL with a right shoulder impingement this morning, but when he is healthy, Familia has been pretty dominant. This year he is a combined 3-3 with a 2.63ERA and 100 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched between High-A and Double-A. Opposing hitters are batting just .214 on the year. If his arm holds up, Familia could compete for a starting job with the Mets next season.
Jeurys Familia 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Corban Joseph New York Yankees: Like Adron Chambers, Joseph makes the list as a buy low, sell high flip. With Robinson Cano blocking his path to the bigs, there is not a high likelihood that Jospeh ends up doing much longterm, at least in the Yankee organization. However the the 22 year old is putting up solid numbers at Double-A Trenton, batting .282, 27(2B), 7(3B), 4HR, and 36RBI, and the Yankees usually reward young players like this with September call ups or as injury replacements. One big hit in the Bronx will send Joseph’s chrome autographs into the $15-$20 range overnight.
Corban Joseph 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jefry Marte New York Mets: The 20 year old third baseman has done a respectable job in his first go-around in the Florida State League hitting .270 with 18(2B), 5HR, and 41RBI. He has 11 stolen bases and only been caught once, and struck out just 55 times in 318 at-bats thus far, which is not bad for being one of the younger players in the league. His numbers this season are nearly identical to fellow Mets prospect Wilmer Flores who has been the recipient of loads of hobby love in the past.
Jefry Marte 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Scooter Gennett Milwaukee Brewers: There aren’t a whole ton of prospects left in the Brewers organization and there are likely to be fewer as the big league club continues it’s now or never run at the post season in what is likely Prince Fielder’s final year with the club. That being said, Gennett may be a little overvalued as a top 10 organizational prospect in a barren farm system, however Gennett is holding his own in the Florida State League batting .281 with 11(2B), 3(3B), 5HR, and 32RBI. He’s struck out just 42 times in 359 at-bats this season. If he can develop 12-15 Home Run power at his second base position over the next couple of years as he climbs the ladder, Gennett could find himself being a Danny Espinosa (who is 3 years older than Gennett) type by the time he reaches the big leagues.
Scooter Gennett 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox: Thompson is the ultimate all or nothing guy in this group. He’s in his second year of Low-A ball as a 20 year old after his first season at Kannapolis was cut short by injury. He’s hitting just .224 this year and has yet to finish a year above .229 as a pro. However Thompson can hit a ball very far. This year his power continues to develop and he has 20(2B), 15HR’s and has drove in 50 runs thus far. He has also struck out 114 times in 340 at-bats. If he can get his plate discipline under control he could be scary good as he progresses through the White Sox system. If he cannot, he will be the latest version of former Braves all or nothing prospect Cody Johnson.
Trayce Thompson 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Adrian Cardenas Oakland Athletics: I will probably get flack for this, but I am still a buyer on Adrian Cardenas. Yes he’s been around forever, but he’s still only 23 years old. He’s never hit below .295 in a season in six years as a pro. In his first full season in Triple-A Cardenas is hitting .305 with 17(2B), 2(3B), 3HR, and 30RBI. He’s walked 35 times and struck out just 28 times in 308 at-bats. Chicks dig the long ball and so do prospectors, but I say at some point in the next year or two, Cardenas chrome autographs are selling for well above the $.99 level he is at right now.
Adrian Cardenas 2006 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Trenton Thunder Fans Continue To Hit The Rehab Assignment Jackpot As Shane Victorino & Brad Lidge Visit

Fresh off a Derek Jeter appearance at shortstop and a Phil Hughes appearance on the mound, Trenton Thunder fans welcomed Shane Victorino and Brad Lidge who were rehabbing with the visiting Reading Phillies. With Trenton being less than an hour from Philly and about an hour and a couple hours from New York, the team has welcomed droves of Yankees and Phillies fans looking to see their stars up close and personal. In the story below Lidge and Victorino talk about what it’s like to play in the minors in front of the rabid fans.

Rehabbing Phillies Lidge, Victorino thrill fans in Trenton — Press Of Atlantic City

Harrisburg Pennsylvania Residents Share Deep Bonds With Double-A Harrisburg Senators Ballclub

Found this story about some of the baseball lifers who have been fans & employees of their hometown Harrisburg Senators for the last couple of decades. If you’ve been going to watch your hometown minor league baseball team for any length of time, I’m sure you can relate to those profiled in the story. I know I sure can.

Harrisburg Senators baseball team has become part of the community — PennLive.com

Buffalo Bisons Prepare 365 Days In Advance To Host The 2012 Triple-A All Star Game

Look at the task of Buffalo Bisons’ general manager Mike Buczkowski and his staff as they prepare to host the 2012 Triple-A All Star game, the 25th anniversary of the event. Buczkowski was at this year’s event and talks about what he learned and how his staff is preparing to host the 2012 version of the Triple-A All Star week.

Now the real work begins for Bisons’ Buczkowski — BuffaloNews.com

Saturday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA
Lars Anderson Boston Red Sox – Home Run #8

Ryan Lavarnway Boston Red Sox – Home Run #9

Ryan Strieby Detroit Tigers – Home Run #14

Jordy Mercer Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #3

Bryan LaHair Chicago Cubs – Home Run #27

Chris Carter Oakland Athletics – Home Run #6

Brett Pill San Francisco Giants – Home Run #17

Michael Saunders Seattle Mariners – Home Run #2

AA
Tyler Moore Washington Nationals – Home Run #19

Roger Kieschnick San Francisco Giants – Home Run #10

Tony Sanchez Pittsburgh Pirates – Home Run #4

Matt Rizzotti Philadelphia Phillies – Home Run #18

A.J. Pollock Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #4

Tim Wheeler Colorado Rockies – Home Run #25 & #26

Michael Bianucci Texas Rangers – Home Run #20

Gabe Jacobo Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #8

High-A
Michael Choice Oakland Athletics – Home Run #25

Justin Bour Chicago Cubs – Home Run #18

Destin Hood Washington Nationals – Home Run #8

Ryan Bolden Texas Rangers – Home Run #5

Tommy Joseph San Francisco Giants – Home Run #11

Brodie Greene Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #6 & #7

Bobby Borchering Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #17

Alfredo Marte Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #2 & #3

Jeudy Valdez San Diego Padres – Home Run #7

Angelo Songco Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #17

Low-A
Kyle Parker Colorado Rockies – Home Run #11 & #12

Brandon Jacobs Boston Red Sox – Home Run #12

Bryce Lane Houston Astros – Home Run #1 & #2

David Freitas Washington Nationals – Home Run #10

Yazy Arbelo Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #23

Marcus Knecht Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #10

Stefen Romo Seattle Mariners – Home Run #10

Venezuelan Prospects In The Toronto Blue Jays System Adjust To Life In The United States

This is an article from 2009, but a pretty cool read when you see that it focuses on current Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Henderson Alvarez and Seattle Mariners prospect Johermyn Chavez and their struggles with the language barrier during their first taste of pro ball. The in depth article follows Alvarez, Chavez, and then Lansing Lugnuts teammates Jonas Cuotto and Balbino Fuenmayor as they go through the Toronto Blue Jays mandatory language classes, live with host families, and work to apply the lessons learned to real world experiences. It’s a fascinating look at the social challenges faced by many Latin prospects as they begin their journey to the major leagues.

Venezuelans practice twice as hard off field — Lansing State Journal

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