If you are a fan of independent professional baseball, then here is a list of the proposed teams which will take the field in 2009. In one glance you can determine if there are independent teams in your area or where you will be when you travel for work or vacation.
All of these teams and leagues were taken from the league websites the day this article was written. Of course, no guarantee is made as the individual teams and leagues may change names, cities, or even fold. They also may add teams or merge with other leagues at their discretion.
List of independent baseball leagues and independent baseball teams:
American Association:
* El Paso Diablos
* Fort Worth Cats
* Grand Prairie AirHogs
* Lincoln Saltdogs
* Pensacola Pelicans
* Shreveport Sports
* Sioux City Explorers
* Sioux Falls Canaries
* Wichita Wingnuts
* St. Paul Saints
Atlantic League:
* Bridgeport Bluefish
* Camden Riversharks
* Lancaster Barnstormers
* Long Island Ducks
* Newark Bears
* Somerset Patriots
* Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
* York Revolution
CanAm League:
* Atlantic City Surf
* Brockton Rox
* American Defenders
* New Jersey Jackals
* Sussex Skyhawks
* Quebec Capitales
* Worcester Tornadoes
Continental Baseball League:
* Bay Area Toros
* Coastal Bend Beach Dawgs
* Dallas
* Texarkana Gunslingers
Frontier League:
* Evansville Otters
* Florence Freedom
* Gateway Grizzlies
* Kalamazoo Kings
* River City Rascals
* Rockford RiverHawks
* Southern Illinois Miners
* Traverse City Beach Bums
* Washington Wild Things
* Windy City ThunderBolts
* Avon Professional Baseball
* Midwest Sliders
Golden Baseball League:
* Calgary Vipers
* Chico Outlaws
* Edmonton Cracker Cats
* Long Beach Armada
* Orange County Flyers
* St. George Roadrunners
* Victoria Seals
* Tuscon Toros
* Yuma Scorpions
Northern League:
* Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
* Gary SouthShore RailCats
* Joliet JackHammers
* Kansas City T-Bones
* Schaumburg Flyers
* Winnipeg Goldeyes
United League Baseball:
* Alexandria Aces
* Amarillo Dillas
* Edinburg Coyotes
* Laredo Broncos
* Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
* San Angelo Colts
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Mc_Dermott
Friday, January 30, 2009
What Has Happened to the Big Boppers?
You Know... The Sultans of Swat, the Kings of clout, the Big Bashers, OR, in days gone past" The Colossus of Clout, Hammerin Hank, The Rajah, The Bash Brothers, Big Mac, Mr October, the Big Hurt and Slammin Sammy.
Let's start in 1927: Babe Ruth hit 60 homeruns in a 154 game season. A record that stood for 34 years. The Babe hit 714 Homeruns in his career. In 1961 in a 162 game season, an unknown, at the time, Roger Maris, came on the scene to belt 61 home runs and break the Babes long standing record. Mr Maris ended his career with 275 taters to his credit. The 1960's were a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit most of his 755 career homeruns to take the all time record. Mr consistency never hit more than 47 Dingers in a season.
In the 1990's and early 2000s we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64, & 66 Homeruns in separate seasons and now sits with 609 lifetime. Is he done? wait and see. During this period of long balls Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 homeruns and left the game with a total of 583 fly aways.
Most recently, Most baseball fans are aware of Barry Bonds hitting 73 Home runs in a single season and taking the all time record with 762 round trippers.* Of course with an asterisk.
So where does that leave todays followers of the power play? In 2007 A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Pena 46 and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008 Ryan Howard hit 48 homeruns. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn again hit 40 giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod had 40, giving him 553, and at his young age, he has the best shot at reaching for763 big Blasts.
The top Homerun Kings as of today, including three active players looks like this; Barry Bonds 762*, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken GRIFFEY Jr 611, Sammy Sosa 609, Frank Robinson 586, Mark McGwire 583, A-ROD 553, and Jim Thome 541. Some other long ball threats that pitchers FEAR today include Vladimir Guererro, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and David Ortiz.
So Why have only six players ever hit 60 or more homeruns in a season?? And no one in the past few years?? Let's just say it takes a combination of talent, focus and an eye for the right pitch coupled with the right swing, at the right moment, day after day, throughout a 162 game schedule. Probably a Homerun out of every 10 at bats. And then we have the 'S' factor. Three of the players in this category have been suspected of using steroids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashi_Mittal
Let's start in 1927: Babe Ruth hit 60 homeruns in a 154 game season. A record that stood for 34 years. The Babe hit 714 Homeruns in his career. In 1961 in a 162 game season, an unknown, at the time, Roger Maris, came on the scene to belt 61 home runs and break the Babes long standing record. Mr Maris ended his career with 275 taters to his credit. The 1960's were a great time for great baseball players, during this era Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit most of his 755 career homeruns to take the all time record. Mr consistency never hit more than 47 Dingers in a season.
In the 1990's and early 2000s we witnessed Slammin Sammy Sosa hit 63, 64, & 66 Homeruns in separate seasons and now sits with 609 lifetime. Is he done? wait and see. During this period of long balls Mark McGwire hit 65 and 70 homeruns and left the game with a total of 583 fly aways.
Most recently, Most baseball fans are aware of Barry Bonds hitting 73 Home runs in a single season and taking the all time record with 762 round trippers.* Of course with an asterisk.
So where does that leave todays followers of the power play? In 2007 A-Rod hit 54, Prince Fielder 50, Ryan Howard 47, Carlos Pena 46 and Adam Dunn 40. In 2008 Ryan Howard hit 48 homeruns. He has 177 in 5 seasons. Adam Dunn again hit 40 giving him 278 in 8 seasons. A-Rod had 40, giving him 553, and at his young age, he has the best shot at reaching for763 big Blasts.
The top Homerun Kings as of today, including three active players looks like this; Barry Bonds 762*, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken GRIFFEY Jr 611, Sammy Sosa 609, Frank Robinson 586, Mark McGwire 583, A-ROD 553, and Jim Thome 541. Some other long ball threats that pitchers FEAR today include Vladimir Guererro, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and David Ortiz.
So Why have only six players ever hit 60 or more homeruns in a season?? And no one in the past few years?? Let's just say it takes a combination of talent, focus and an eye for the right pitch coupled with the right swing, at the right moment, day after day, throughout a 162 game schedule. Probably a Homerun out of every 10 at bats. And then we have the 'S' factor. Three of the players in this category have been suspected of using steroids.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashi_Mittal
Keeping Track of Baseball - Baseball Scorebook Options For You
A baseball scorebook is used by team managers or coaches in keeping track of their team's numbers and record each of the player's history, tournament play, and team placement. Depending on what needs tracking, a baseball scorebook may feature different headings and subheadings for easy organization.
Types of baseball scorebooks
In as much as each scorebook may be customized to suit the needs of each team, there are two general types of baseball scorebooks that are available in the market today, the manual and electronic baseball scorebooks. Mostly spiral bound, manual scorebooks are portable notebooks in form, complete with the required stat sheets. Stat sheets included in manual scorebooks can contain those needed for batting positions, game-by-game records for each player, games and innings, pictorial scoring, and prefigured batting averages. Continuous batting and slo-pitch scorebooks are also available. An electronic baseball scorebook, on the other hand, is a software program designed for tracking down a team's game-by-game and season-to-date statistics. Since an electronic baseball scorebook features more extensive space for information compared to a manual scorebook, schedules, biographical information, and statistical report for certain opponents, may be recorded, on top of the normal team and game history.
How to choose: some buying tips
If you're going to use a manual scorebook, go for one that comes with hard covers so you won't need to put the scorebook down on a solid surface before you can write on it. The hard cover will give you the kind of support you need.
If you're opting for an electronic baseball scorebook, make sure that the software you choose is compatible with the kind of operating system your current computer has.
Since it's possible to run into trouble with electronic scorebooks, look for one that offers free technical assistance and support through toll-free numbers you can call at any time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilse_Hagen
Types of baseball scorebooks
In as much as each scorebook may be customized to suit the needs of each team, there are two general types of baseball scorebooks that are available in the market today, the manual and electronic baseball scorebooks. Mostly spiral bound, manual scorebooks are portable notebooks in form, complete with the required stat sheets. Stat sheets included in manual scorebooks can contain those needed for batting positions, game-by-game records for each player, games and innings, pictorial scoring, and prefigured batting averages. Continuous batting and slo-pitch scorebooks are also available. An electronic baseball scorebook, on the other hand, is a software program designed for tracking down a team's game-by-game and season-to-date statistics. Since an electronic baseball scorebook features more extensive space for information compared to a manual scorebook, schedules, biographical information, and statistical report for certain opponents, may be recorded, on top of the normal team and game history.
How to choose: some buying tips
If you're going to use a manual scorebook, go for one that comes with hard covers so you won't need to put the scorebook down on a solid surface before you can write on it. The hard cover will give you the kind of support you need.
If you're opting for an electronic baseball scorebook, make sure that the software you choose is compatible with the kind of operating system your current computer has.
Since it's possible to run into trouble with electronic scorebooks, look for one that offers free technical assistance and support through toll-free numbers you can call at any time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilse_Hagen
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Why Goofy Pitchers Win
Every team has a couple goofy pitchers, and if you watch closely it doesn't take a long time to figure out which ones. I haven't solved the mystery as to why there are more goofy pitchers compared to hitters, must have to do with all of the emotional stress pitching can cause or something. I've seen some jump over the third and first base lines every time they enter or exit the field as well as brush their teeth between every inning. But it's not just the superstitions, a lot of ball players are superstitious. It has to do with a certain amount of carefreeness combined with a dosage of competitiveness that has a way to produce success on the mound.
We always hear that pitching is such a mental sport. So why do many "goofy" pitchers have success? The reason is they simply don't think! It is not meant to be a negative in this context. Pitchers who don't allow negative results to affect how they go about their business tend to last longer, remain more in control of their emotions, and can bounce back from failures quickly.
If you haven't been blessed with the "goofy" gene, it's ok. Here are some things you other hurlers can learn from these guys.
3 Ways to Increase your "Goofiness" Factor
It's alright to take breaks while performing
Baseball is a sport that depends greatly on momentum and rhythm. There are brief periods of high focus and intensity followed by mental vacations that sometimes last quite a while. The key is to learn how to balance the two. Do you know any athletes who play on one speed, FAST? They all suffer from system failure at some point during the season and perform inconsistently. A baseball game is like a good movie, there is plot development early, build up, and then an apex. Keep your attitude right with the flow of the game and you'll find yourself mentally invested when you need to be.
Learn to fail, learn, and forget
Everyone fails in this sport. Get over it, you're not immune. Instead learn from your mistakes, work hard at changing, and then move on. I know this sounds simplistic, and it is. It's emotionally freeing to never be wrapped up in past performances.
Find your outlet
This last point is directed to those of you who have a hard time letting down after a tough performance. If you can't let go of a game an hour after the performance, this is for you. Discover what takes you out of reality for a bit. Watch a movie, play some video games, listen to music, or hang around some friends who have nothing to do with baseball. Once you find what takes your mind off of your situation and frustrations, use it as a tool to help you achieve relaxation and freshness of mind so you can perform free of baggage next time.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching drills, pitching mechanics, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
We always hear that pitching is such a mental sport. So why do many "goofy" pitchers have success? The reason is they simply don't think! It is not meant to be a negative in this context. Pitchers who don't allow negative results to affect how they go about their business tend to last longer, remain more in control of their emotions, and can bounce back from failures quickly.
If you haven't been blessed with the "goofy" gene, it's ok. Here are some things you other hurlers can learn from these guys.
3 Ways to Increase your "Goofiness" Factor
It's alright to take breaks while performing
Baseball is a sport that depends greatly on momentum and rhythm. There are brief periods of high focus and intensity followed by mental vacations that sometimes last quite a while. The key is to learn how to balance the two. Do you know any athletes who play on one speed, FAST? They all suffer from system failure at some point during the season and perform inconsistently. A baseball game is like a good movie, there is plot development early, build up, and then an apex. Keep your attitude right with the flow of the game and you'll find yourself mentally invested when you need to be.
Learn to fail, learn, and forget
Everyone fails in this sport. Get over it, you're not immune. Instead learn from your mistakes, work hard at changing, and then move on. I know this sounds simplistic, and it is. It's emotionally freeing to never be wrapped up in past performances.
Find your outlet
This last point is directed to those of you who have a hard time letting down after a tough performance. If you can't let go of a game an hour after the performance, this is for you. Discover what takes you out of reality for a bit. Watch a movie, play some video games, listen to music, or hang around some friends who have nothing to do with baseball. Once you find what takes your mind off of your situation and frustrations, use it as a tool to help you achieve relaxation and freshness of mind so you can perform free of baggage next time.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching drills, pitching mechanics, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
Becoming a Mound Magician
I remember being a twelve year old pitcher and trying to strike every hitter out by throwing hard fastballs by everyone. I carried this same mentality into high school with some success. But, it wasn't until I pitched in college that it was clearly communicated to me why throwing a good change up as well as changing the speeds of my fastball was so important. At first, I was quite nervous with the prospect of throwing a slower pitch. I had a tough time with the fact that I would be taking speed off of pitches to produce positive results. Once I began to change velocities, however, pitching got much more fun.
So what makes Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Mariano Rivera so effective as pitchers? They change speeds, angles, and create movement on most all of their pitches. The goal of a pitcher should always be to mess with the balance and timing of a hitter by changing speeds. This doesn't mean that pitchers should be less aggressive while throwing a fastball; it simply means that all fastballs thrown should not be at 100% effort. There are a lot of pitchers who throw with great velocity. But, few have mastered the ability to change speeds like Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer have.
You don't need a blistering fastball to compete as a pitcher. You do, however, need to create the illusion of a blistering fastball by keeping hitters off balance. Learn a good change up; it will be one of the best investments of time you make as a pitcher.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching workouts, pitching mechanics, different baseball pitching grips, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
So what makes Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, and Mariano Rivera so effective as pitchers? They change speeds, angles, and create movement on most all of their pitches. The goal of a pitcher should always be to mess with the balance and timing of a hitter by changing speeds. This doesn't mean that pitchers should be less aggressive while throwing a fastball; it simply means that all fastballs thrown should not be at 100% effort. There are a lot of pitchers who throw with great velocity. But, few have mastered the ability to change speeds like Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer have.
You don't need a blistering fastball to compete as a pitcher. You do, however, need to create the illusion of a blistering fastball by keeping hitters off balance. Learn a good change up; it will be one of the best investments of time you make as a pitcher.
Nate Barnett is owner of the The Pitching Academy, a pitching information website designed to improve your on the mound performance as a pitcher. Download a FREE copy of the pitching workouts ebook The Pitching Academy contains information, products, training, free articles, and more on pitching, pitching workouts, pitching mechanics, different baseball pitching grips, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
When a Thrower Becomes a Pitcher
I'm sure you've heard before about the best pitch a pitcher can throw. You know, the pitch all coaches love to see out of their starters and relievers.
A strike.
I'm sure I don't need to explain all of the advantages of throwing strikes. But, I would like to help clarify the difference between a thrower and a pitcher, since I see too many of the latter.
A pitcher is an athlete who has command of his pitches to a large extent. In the younger age groups, there may be some slack given on command of pitches, but as you approach junior high school and into high school, there are some musts.
MUST #1 - To call yourself a pitcher, you must be able to throw all of your pitches for a strike (in any count) 50% of the time or better. In college, 60%. Why? For two main reasons. Getting ahead and staying ahead of hitters, and saving your valuable "bullets" in your arm. You don't want to end up in the 4th inning (as a starter) and have used 80% of your pitch count.
MUST #2 - As a pitcher you must, must, must learn to change speeds. I don't care if your only pitch is a fastball, you can win games. Keep the same arm speed and shorten your landing stride six inches would help with that. Throwing hard is nice, but if that's all you do, hitters will figure it out.
So what is the difference between a pitcher and a thrower? You're a thrower until you have become proficient with the above. Keep working on it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
A strike.
I'm sure I don't need to explain all of the advantages of throwing strikes. But, I would like to help clarify the difference between a thrower and a pitcher, since I see too many of the latter.
A pitcher is an athlete who has command of his pitches to a large extent. In the younger age groups, there may be some slack given on command of pitches, but as you approach junior high school and into high school, there are some musts.
MUST #1 - To call yourself a pitcher, you must be able to throw all of your pitches for a strike (in any count) 50% of the time or better. In college, 60%. Why? For two main reasons. Getting ahead and staying ahead of hitters, and saving your valuable "bullets" in your arm. You don't want to end up in the 4th inning (as a starter) and have used 80% of your pitch count.
MUST #2 - As a pitcher you must, must, must learn to change speeds. I don't care if your only pitch is a fastball, you can win games. Keep the same arm speed and shorten your landing stride six inches would help with that. Throwing hard is nice, but if that's all you do, hitters will figure it out.
So what is the difference between a pitcher and a thrower? You're a thrower until you have become proficient with the above. Keep working on it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
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