Tag Archives: Independent baseball news

Independent Ball

Équipe Québec Gets To Go HOME!

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Over the last few weeks, there have been talks about Équipe Québec, currently a travel team in the Frontier League, being able to play home in Canada this season.

With the MLB announcing the Blue Jays return to Toronto, it began to look more and more promising that Québec would be able to return home as well.

On July 15th, Le Soleil – a newspaper based out of Québec – reported that July 30th was the intended date but was still pending some final clearances.

“We are going to play on July 30, in Quebec, all that remains is to ensure that the protocol is put in place to do so and meet the requirements that will be asked of us. It would surprise me enormously if it did not work ”, confided the president of the Capitales Michel Laplante.

Last night, Le Soleil again reported that Québec and Trois-Rivières were preparing to bring baseball to their home stadiums.

Finally today, the Frontier League made the announcement official. After a season of straight road games, long bus rides, hotel stays and not being able to return home… Équipe Québec will be able to return home and play games in Canada starting on July 30th.

FRONTIER LEAGUE TO BEGIN PLAY IN CANADA ON JULY 30

Opening of Canadian Border Enables Return Home for Équipe Québec

(July 21, 2021, Illinois) The Frontier League of Professional Baseball, along with member teams Québec Capitales and Trois-Rivières Aigles, has announced the start of Frontier League play in Québec Province beginning Friday, July 30th.

The two Québec teams, which for the 2021 baseball season have merged their players onto one team playing as Équipe Québec, along with their United States-based opponents, will be strictly following Canadian protocols and guidelines for travel in and out of the country and for hosting games in the cities of Québec and Trois-Rivières.  Until then, the team will continue its eleven consecutive weeks on the road in the US which began on May 27th.

“We are overjoyed to finally be playing games in Québec and to be doing so in a safe and responsible manner as required by the various Canadian governmental agencies” said Jon Danos, Frontier League CEO.  “Since the Frontier League’s merger with the Can Am League prior to the pandemic, we have envisioned this as a signature day celebrating the Frontier League’s unique footprint combining the two countries’ love of baseball and commitment to family friendly entertainment.”

The team will play 21 home games, shared between the cities of Québec and Trois-Rivières, from July 30th to September 12th.  Québec City will host three games vs. the New York Boulders at Stade Canac beginning Friday, July 30th and Trois Rivières will host the Tri-City ValleyCats at Stade Quillorama for three games beginning Tuesday, August 3rd.

Team officials with the Québec Capitales and Trois-Rivières Aigles will continue their collaboration with governmental agencies to ensure full compliance with evolving safety and sanitation protocols.

Independent Ball

2021 The Summer of Signings

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Major League Baseball organizations are signing independent players at an alarming rate this summer.

Baseball America has reported that 150 players have been signed from the MLB Partner Leagues (Atlantic League, American Association, Frontier League, and Pioneer League) as of their article on June 25th.

With the reduction in minor league affiliated teams, it makes sense for the MLB Partner Leagues to act as true feeder leagues to major league organizations. On top of that, the summer off for most players last year also has to be attributing to the injury-riddled rosters.

And while the number of contracts purchased gives indy ball players hope, it is starting to affect the level of play (especially pitching) for those still within the partner leagues.

If you’ve watched any game from a Partner League this season, you may have noticed that the level of play is down from years past. That was evident in the beginning of the season, but even more so now that their rosters have all been poached for talent to fill spots. Specifically, there is a huge drop in the level of pitching. Teams are really just trying to find arms to fill spots and eat up innings. Throwing strikes with some sort of velocity is a plus, but even that is getting harder and harder to find.

So if the major league organizations find players in the partner leagues, where do the partner leagues go to fill their depleted rosters?

Of course, the normal college grads are always an option but…

There are various true independent leagues running around the country that each have a goal to get players the game reps they need to be seen and hopefully move up to a partner league.

Right now, the Yinzer League (based in the Frontier League Washington Wildthing’s ballpark in Pennsylvania) are playing games every day. This league, ran by Joe Torre and the Black Sox (you may be familiar with them if you’re a reader of this site), has worked hard to get guys seen and signed this summer. Players have gone to each partner league in the month that they have been playing.

The USPBL (which also runs out of a single stadium in Utica, MI) is another option for players who need a spot to play.

Likewise, the Pecos League in the southwest and the Empire League in the northeast are giving players opportunities to play, gain stats, and hopefully move up to a team that is looking for a player who is already game ready.

If you’re sitting at home but want to get back in the game… there ARE spots available. A LOT of spots. It may not be easy finding them. It may be a true grind once you get there. But teams are looking.