The reigning champion of the Italian Baseball League T&A SAN MARINO signed the former Major Leaguer Mike Crudale for the upcoming season. He is expected to take over the closer role. The 32-year-old Californian, who was born in San Diego, made 71 appearances in the big leagues in 2002 and 2003 for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers, after being drafted by the Cards in 1999. He has a career ERA of 2.09 with 60 strikeouts (32 walks) in 73 1/3 MLB innings.
In March 2004 he was released by Milwaukee and split time with Minor League teams of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants organizations in the following season. From 2005 on Crudale pitched for Independent League teams and travelled the world, playing for DE ANGELIS GODO in 2007 and Dmedia T-Rex in Taiwan last year. In his first stint in Italy two years ago, he had an ERA of 3.24 in eleven games, striking out eleven (seven walks) in 16 2/3 innings.
In addition SAN MARINO brings back catcher Vincent Parisi. The 30-year-old returns from DANESI NETTUNO, where he played the past two seasons. In 2008 he batted .311 (OBP .419/SLG .418) with 15 runs scored and 33 RBI. He already played for T&A in 2003 and between 2005 and 2006. He will arrive in May. NETTUNO has signed catchers Dewis Navarro and Manuel Gasparri this offseason as replacement for Parisi.
