Ever Wonder What Happened to Hideki Irabu? Look no Further than Independent League Baseball

Have you ever sat down watching a baseball game and wondered, “Whatever happened to <insert name>? “  Everyone’s done this from time to time, especially with former players on their favorite team.  As a Tigers fan, I frequently wonder what Ugueth Urbina encountered on that particular day… in jail.  Some guys, however, are much more productive.  These guys are still playing baseball, but in the independent leagues.  We present to you… the Angry T Independent Has-Been All-Star Team.
 
C- Robert Fick
 
This former Detroit Tiger played 10 major league seasons.  He is now playing with the Orange County Flyers.  With a decent bat (for a catcher), Fick could easily be a backup in the MLB still today. 
 
1B- Carl Everett
 
This converted outfielder (for our team’s purposes) won a World Series with the White Sox in 2005.  He should be big enough to handle first base, and he’s a heck of a power hitter.  Just make sure there aren’t any gays (or umpires for that matter) on the team, or there might be trouble.  
 
2B- Junior Spivey
 
Ernest Lee “Junior” Spivey made a name for himself as a good defensive, solid hitting second basemen with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Now, he plays for the Camden Riversharks.  It’s okay Junior, take solace in knowing you share a nickname with one of the all-time greats—Junior Griffey.
 

SS- Damian Jackson
 
In his rookie year with the Padres, Jackson led the league in stolen bases.  Eight years later, he was eventually released by the Dodgers after playing for seven teams in nine years.  He now plays for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, and will provide this team with great base stealing ability.
 
3B- Preston Wilson
 
Another top 500 home run hitter of all-time and converted infielder (again, for our team’s purposes), Wilson provides this team with some serious pop.  In fact, we’re struggling to figure out how Wilson has been relegated to the Independent leagues.  Playing 10 years and totaling 189 home runs, Wilson is the All-Star of All-Stars in the field.

 
OF- Lew Ford, Tike Redman, Jacques Jones
 
More familiar names make this outfield a solid group.  Jones played ten years in the majors, and showed a lot of promise as a young player in Minnesota.  Lew Ford was supposed to be the new Jacques Jones when he came up with Minnesota in 2003, but he just never produced at the major league level.  Tike Redman played six seasons sparingly with the Pirates, but was never given the opportunity to show what he could do.  At the Independent League, however, this is a star studded group. 
 
Starting Pitchers- Jose Lima, Hideki Irabu, Kenny Baugh
 
Anchoring the rotation is Jose Lima.  If nothing else, you know that his starts will be entertaining.  Lima was notorious for his poor choice of music in the clubhouse on the days when he would start.  Lima holds the distinction as perhaps the worst 20 win starter in MLB history.  He should be a force in this league.  Hideki Irabu couldn’t handle the pressure in New York, but he should more than capable of doing so on this team, despite the huge attendance that Independent League teams inevitably draw.  Kenny Baugh is 6’4 and was a minor league phenom who never quite made it to the majors.  Tigers fans will remember him as the guy who was always “this close” to being called up. 

 
Bullpen- Antonio Alfonseca, Armando Benitez, Keith Foulke, Eric Gagne
 
All four of these closers led their respective leagues in saves in a season at one point.  They certainly aren’t what they once were, but these four should provide plenty of help to close out games.

My how Eric Gagne has fallen…

 

The Angry T

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