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So I totally just realized that there are independent minor league teams and now I'm completely enthralled. It's like a fringe players wet dream. Guys who are too old or lack enough skill and are trying to stick around are playing on independent teams in A and rookie ball in the hopes of resurrecting their careers and putting up some amazing statistical seasons. These teams are winning and winning and winning and it's such an oddity.
Here's just one example. In the Carolina League, an A level division, exists a new independent team called the Kingston Eagles. The Eagles just finished their first season with a record of 111-29. They lead the league in runs scored 872 to the 2nd place team's 771. Lead the league in runs allowed, 448 to the 2nd place teams 635. Hit .284 as a team 19 points higher than the Durham Bulls and hit 144 HR's 18 more than 2nd place and 54 more than 3rd.
Leading the team with a 7.4 WAR and 276 TB's is young Scott Lusader. The team's CF, Lusader is only 22. He was drafted in 1984 by the Phillies in the 3rd round, with the 89th overall pick. He signed for 71K , then was released after training camp. He was picked up by another independent team, the Gastonia Jets where he lead the team to a title, won series MVP honors, and finished 2nd for the league MVP. He signed for Kingston in the offseason. Once again, lead Kingston to a title, won a Gold Glove, and finished 2nd in league MVP voting. His slash line this season was .327/.416/.498. He hit 14 HR's and had 85 RBI's. He stole 25 bases and scored 125 runs.
The muscle on the team was Paul Klimas. Klimas, 30, was a White Sox farmhand from 1976 when he was 20. He worked his way up the league and got a cup of coffee in '83 and '84. He batted .255 in 50 career plate appearances, with 1 career HR. He became a free agent and went to play for another top level independent, the San Jose Bees, before coming to Kingston. This season he batted .281/.388/.491, hit 25 HR's and had 103 RBI's. He was able to parlay that success back into a contract with the Oakland A's, who brought him up to the ML roster a couple weeks ago, but he hasn't gotten into a game yet.
The Kingston ace is 31yr old, long time Oakland A's starter, Matt Keough. Keough was last in the majors last season with the O's. His career record of 56-87 go with his 4.38 ERA. He put 4 straight negative WAR seasons together to see his exit from ML baseball. He signed on with Kingston in February last year and went on to win both the minor league Cy Young, and MVP. This season, in 29 starts, Keough went 21-1, with a 2.43 ERA. He struck out 202 guys in 233.2 innings pitched and posted a 5.7 WAR. So far no new team has come calling, so we may see him in Kingston for another season.
There are a few teams like these, the Bees are also very interesting. They have scored 1231 runs this year while allowing 616. How they lost 39 games (won 123) I have no idea. Here are some of the freaks from this season. Billy Sample hit .403. Bob Boone batted .390. Chris Welsh went 29-5, with a 2.62 ERA and threw 20 complete games! Ron Romanick went 28-2 with a 2.49 ERA, and 20 complete games! He was involved in a deal that sent Dave Stewart from the Mets to California. He was traded along with Rick Aguilera. Aguilera is in the majors and Romanick is toiling in the minors. Even former Dodger, Ray Burris is here, but he lead the team in losses going 12-8 with a 3.38 ERA. Other recognizable names on this team: Rodney Scott (former Expos IF), Dave Bergman, Kevin Elster, and Bobby Castillo.
Makes for some interesting side stories to the big names playing in the big parks at the very least.
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He's just like if Snow White was competitive, horny, and capable of beating the shit out of anyone that called her Pops.
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