Chris Salberg won his first nine decisions for the Sioux Falls Pheasants this season (Photo courtesy Sioux Falls Pheasants).
Winning not enough
Chris Salberg has shut down opposing American Association bats for most of the season, yet no major league organization has chosen to sign him.
Originally published on
8/13/2010
by
Chuck King
When Baltimore released pitcher Chris Salberg from its minor league roster in the spring, he figured a good performance in an independent league should earn him a trip back to affiliated ball.
Salberg has delivered on the field, but so far that hasn’t translated into the contract he’s hoped for.
Entering the final month of the American Association season, Salberg hadn’t lost a game, posting a 9-0 record. Even a selection to the league’s all-star game hasn’t helped.
“You just have to plug away and see what happens,” Salberg said. “If it happens, it happens. I just keep my fingers crossed.”
Displeased with a 2009 season that saw him post a 4-6 record with a 5.30 ERA between Class A Delmarva and high Class A Frederick, Salberg spent much of the off-season refining his throwing motion.
The biggest change, Salberg said, involved an adjusted leg kick that allowed him to stay over his back leg longer.
“I thought I was going to do well this year after I made all those changes with my mechanics,” Salberg said.
He was pleased with the progress in spring training, but apparently the Orioles weren’t. Baltimore released Salberg, telling him there wouldn’t be enough innings within the organization.
“I was definitely surprised,” said Salberg, who finally lost his first game of the season on Aug. 6..
Salberg’s 3.31 ERA over 17 starts this season suggest he could help many organizations. The nightly competition in the American Association is about the equivalent of high Class A to Class AA.
Timing, however, is not in Salberg’s favor. With only a few weeks remaining in affiliated minor league seasons, most clubs would prefer to fill holes by promoting from within rather than signing players from independent teams.
That means Salberg’s best chance of hooking on with a major league organization will likely come in the spring.
“I try not to really worry about it,” Salberg said. “I just go out there and play and what happens, happens.”
Stepping up: After a rough stretch in July, Mickey Storey has certainly settled down. The reliever has allowed a total of one earned run in his last nine appearances, winning three of those games and saving three others for the Class AA Midland Rockhounds.
Low and sway: Class AA Bowie Baysox pitcher Brandon Cooney suffered his first loss of the season on Thursday. He’s now 4-1 with a 3.14 ERA on the year. …The Class A Augusta GreenJackets placed Daniel Cook on the 7 day disabled list. …The Class A Savannah Sand Gnats placed Travis Ozga on the 7 day disabled list with a strained back muscle.
Indie ins and outs: Danny Bomback made his pitching debut for the Can-Am League’s Pittsfield Colonials on Thursday, allowing one earned run while striking out a batter in an inning of work in a 15-2 loss to Brockton. Bomback is hitting .312 for the season with 54 RBI.