An online portal in Parma is reporting on Monday that the Italian Baseball League club CARIPARMA reinforces the pitching staff with Robert Cramer. The 29-year-old left-hander, who was born in Anaheim, California is coming from the ORANGE COUNTY FLYERS, the former clubof his new teammate Michael Jared Natale.
Cramer is a former minor leaguer in the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS and OAKLAND ATHLETICS organizations. An elbow injury led to Tommy John surgery in 2002 hurt his career and even led to a retirement stint after his release by TAMPA BAY following the 2004 season. He got another chance with the A’s in 2007, pitching at High A and Double A. He then moved on to independent league ball with the FLYERS. In three minor league seasons between 2003 and 2007 he managed a 15-7 record with an ERA of 2.95. He struck out 155 (38 walks) in 183 1/3 innings. In 2008 he had a 7-4 record with an ERA of 3.93 for ORANGE COUNTY. He picked up 92 strikeouts in 91.2 innings pitched, walking 16.
PARMA, which finished fifth in the 2008 Italian Championship, would be in the market for another foreign pitcher, if Adolfo Gomez (.358/.467/.430) isn’t returning. And according to the article the signs are showing into this direction.
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December 30, 2008 | 7:59 pm
[...] Natale will stay at the top of the pitching staff for 2009 and brought in another pitcher from the ORANGE COUNTY FLYERS with Bob Cramer. They also acquired the Dutch Hoofdklasse veteran Johnny Balentina and Johnny Carvajal of the [...]