Independent League news

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Here is part 1 of a video with a tour around the new stadium of the Skeeters

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Here is part 2

[astrosfanatic]

good stuff YBF...no i didnt take pictures! i will try to next time. That video was okay, but the guy was off on a few things.....they are not going to turn the park area into a town square, as the city of Sugar Land has already invested many millions of dollars into a town center just down the highway. But the idea of shops cropping up around it might be possible. Sugar Land is overly saturated with shopping centers as it is. It is a very affluent part of the Houston area, which is why i suspect this team will do very well attendance-wise. Come August we might not see as many people in the stands, but there will still be a pretty solid following.

One thing i was very disappointed with (probably the only thing), and it may be common in minor league teams, but the gates opened an hour before the first pitch which meant that we werent able to go see any batting practice for either team. That is always one of my favorite things to do at Astros games. I go to right field and catch home runs and just enjoy the calmness of the park. However, with only 1 hour before the first pitch, i was not able to do that at Constellation Field.

Maybe someone else can let me know how things work at their minor league team's parks?? Do you get in early to see BP?

[yankeebiscuitfan]

The Atlantic League is up and running for about two weeks now.

So far the 2010 and 2011 champion York Revolution isn't doing great with a 4-10 record.

Here are the standings after last night's game

Freedom Division	W	L	PCT	GB	STREAK
Somerset Patriots	9	6	0.600	-	1L
Lancaster Barnstormers	8	7	0.533	1	1W
Sugar Land Skeeters	5	10	0.333	4	1W
York Revolution	4	10	0.286	4.5	1W

Liberty Division	W	L	PCT	GB	STREAK
Bridgeport Bluefish	11	5	0.688	-	1W
Long Island Ducks	9	5	0.643	1	1L
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs	7	8	0.467	3.5	2L
Camden Riversharks	7	9	0.438	4	1L

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Coming Thursday the 2012 season will start in the three other serious independent leagues, the CanAm League, the Frontier League and the American Association.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

As announced, all other (serious) independent leagues next to the Atlantic League have started yesterday. I say serious, because I do not consider the North American Baseball League a serious league. This league starts in June btw.

Here is an overview of yesterday's results.

American Association:

Fargo Moorehead - El Paso 3-1
Sioux City - Sioux Falls 7-3
New Jersey - Kansas City 17-7
Lincoln - Witchita 6-8
Gary South Shore - St. Paul 5-4
Grand Prairie - Laredo 1-5

CanAm League:

Worcester - Newark 2 - 9
Rockland- Quebec 3 - 7

Frontier League:

Traverse City Beach Bums - Florence Freedom 8 - 1
Joliet Slammers - Windy City ThunderBolts 2 - 4

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Here are the standings of the Atlantic League:

The current champion York Revolution is still dead last.

Freedom Division	W	L	PCT	GB	STREAK	LAST 10
Somerset Patriots	12	8	0.600	-	3W	7-3
Lancaster Barnstormers	12	8	0.600	-	1W	7-3
Sugar Land Skeeters	7	13	0.350	5	2W	3-7
York Revolution	6	13	0.316	5.5	3L	4-6
Liberty Division	W	L	PCT	GB	STREAK	LAST 10
Long Island Ducks	12	7	0.632	-	2L	7-3
Bridgeport Bluefish	12	8	0.600	.5	3L	5-5
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs	10	10	0.500	2.5	3W	4-6
Camden Riversharks	8	12	0.400	4.5	1L	4-6

Some other Atlantic League news:

The two-time defending Atlantic League Champion York Revolution has announced the contract of left-handed relief pitcher Ian Thomas has been purchased by the Atlanta Braves. With the transaction, Thomas becomes the first Revolution player this season to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization.

Thomas, 25, is one of the younger Revolution players in history, and joined the club for his first Atlantic League experience after three seasons with the Winnipeg Goldeyes. In 82 professional appearances prior to 2012 with Winnipeg, Thomas was 11-5 with a 2.03 ERA, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, allowing just 6.6 hits over nine innings. He was the Northern League’s Rookie of The Year in 2010 after going 5-1 with four saves and a 1.64 ERA that season.

Thomas was a good as advertised once a Rev, dominant out of the York bullpen. In seven appearances and 9.1 innings pitched, the southpaw allowed just one run, while striking out 12. His ERA during his brief stay in York was 0.96.

The Braves acquisition of Thomas will be his first regular season experience with an MLB organization. The Norfolk, VA native and Virginia Beach resident pitched collegiately in his home state at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, graduating in 2009.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

The Atlantic League's new team, the Sugarland Skeeters has signed Roger Clemens for the remainder of the season. It is not clear wether Clemens is contemplating a comeback.

Here is the article: http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.UDKG5aPpWi0

[RickD]

Roger Clemens....

I feel sad for the rest of the players. Stuck with an old man who could not play without PEDs!

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Roger Clemens....

I feel sad for the rest of the players. Stuck with an old man who could not play without PEDs!

Look at it this way. Clemens is a Texan who is popular in the Houston area. To the Skeeters this is a lot of extra attention and probably a lot of extra cash in revenue.

How much I loathe the guy, I can't blame the Skeeters for doing this.