ValleyCats manager says phone has stopped ringing - Times Union

TROY — Tri-City ValleyCats manager Pete Incaviglia said he has several players on his independent-league roster that could or should be in affiliated baseball.

But he hasn't been getting any calls from Major League Baseball teams since the draft happened two weeks ago.

"I'm a little surprised that the phone's gone dead," Incaviglia said. "Where that thing was ringing every other day, and then after the draft, it just seems like things have kind of stopped."

While that's good news on the field for the first-place ValleyCats (27-27), who swept the New York Boulders 8-7 and 6-5 in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, it's a disappointing silence for players who want to get another crack at the big leagues.

The ValleyCats have sold eight contracts to MLB teams, most recently pitchers Troy Cruz and Eddy Tavarez to the Marlins on July 12, the second day of the three-day draft.

However, the 20-round draft infused the 30 MLB teams with more young talent. Also, there are 40 fewer minor league teams than there used to be because of the contraction that sent the ValleyCats to the Frontier League.

"They (MLB teams) have more bodies and are probably filling with maybe not as capable guys," Incaviglia said. "I think there's still quite a few guys in indy ball that should have Double-A jobs and Triple-A jobs. They're maybe sending guys up and down and filling from within instead of spending the money to pay a buyout and buy a player. Maybe. I don't know."

Typically, it costs just $5,000 for an MLB team to buy a Frontier League player's contract.

Incaviglia rattled off several of his players he felt should get another shot after being released by MLB teams.

"It's been kind of odd because you know how I feel about (first baseman Brad) Zunica," he said. "He's a big-leaguer in indy ball. You know how I feel about (closer Trey) Cochran-Gill. I think really highly of both of those guys. So yeah, I am in essence a little surprised and I think (starting pitchers Parker) Kelly and (Josh) Hiatt have been throwing the ball extremely well. We've got a lot of guys doing a lot of good things. (Third baseman) Juan Silverio is hitting .330 and playing well. Phippsy (outfielder Denis Phipps) is playing well, (outfielder) Willy (Garcia) is playing well."

"I think (shortstop Nelson) Molina is doing a really good job and I think the world of him, too," Incaviglia continued. "I'm sure I'm missing some guys, but you know we've got a lot of guys playing really well that can play at the next level."

Though players have agents, Incaviglia said he'll put in a good word for them with MLB teams if asked. ValleyCats players have repeatedly said this season they signed with Tri-City partly because of Incaviglia's reputation for putting players back into affiliated ball. 

"Any time scouts call me and ask me what's going on, I tell them and promote our guys," Incaviglia said. "I tell all of them the truth. If I feel like a guy can't play, I tell them they can't play. If I feel a guy can play, I tell them he can play. Then the rest is up to them."

In Tuesday's first game, Tri-City's Oscar Campos hit a three-run homer and No. 8 and No. 9 hitters Zach Biermann and Chris Kwitzer combined to go 6-for-6 with four runs scored and five RBIs.

ValleyCats starting pitcher Turner Larkins went five innings and Cochran-Gill pitched the final two. Despite giving up a three-run homer in the seventh, Cochran-Gill nailed down his 15th save to break the franchise record set by Blake Ford in 2012, when the ValleyCats were still an Astros affiliate.

In Game 2, Juan Silverio lined an RBI single to right in the bottom of the seventh to score Willy Garcia in the walk-off victory.

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