The men in charge

It's almost like a riddle: What does independent baseball, specifically the Golden Baseball League, offer that affiliated ball can't?

According to many of the coaches, the answer is, fittingly, independence - the freedom to play players based on ability, not who was drafted high or who the organization has sunk the most money into.

And that's why the GBL has attracted so many high-profile managers.

From former All-Star Mike Marshall in Yuma to Olympic gold medalist Cory Snyder in St. George, the league is stocked with high-profile former big leaguers -including Hall of Famer Gary Carter in Orange County, two-time All-Star Jeffery Leonard with Reno and World Series co-MVP Steve Yeager in Long Beach.

All of these managers have something in common - aside from all playing at least one game with the Dodgers. They all are fully in charge of their teams, with no one making the calls on playing time from the Major League team's headquarters.

And while Carter, Leonard and Yeager did not return repeated phone calls and e-mails, Snyder - who helped the U.S. Olympic baseball team to gold in 1984 - said calling the shots with little outside interference is a big plus.

"The good thing about it, in my opinion, is there's no one above you saying 'This guy is good, he's a first-rounder, a second-rounder, we paid him good money, so you have to play him,' " Snyder said. "In independent ball you play the best player that is out there, and they give it everything they have."

Marshall, who like Snyder is beginning his second year with his current team, said that was a big drawing point for him as well.

"In independent league baseball, I pick the team, I scout players, I negotiate contracts," Marshall said. "You have a lot more control. And to be honest, there's more money in independent ball because of that."

GBL commissioner Kevin Outcalt echoed the sentiments of the managers, saying the big draw of independent ball is that freedom.

"If you're managing the A's, Billy Beane is making your personnel decisions," Outcalt said. "You make the gameday decisions, but a lot of your roster is set by your GM. In independent baseball, the managers have the responsibility of day-to-day operations. So they're building that, which is an exciting part."

Snyder said he ended up in the league after talking to a number of "good friends" who were already managing in the league, including former Scorpions manager Benny Castillo.

"I've had the chance the past couple years to get back into pro ball and go to spring training with the Indians," Snyder said. "But I had some good friends of mine that were managing here and said 'You know what, it's a great time,' so I went out and saw what the GBL was all about."

And what he saw was that the league is about developing players and trying to get them back to affiliated ball.

"It really attracted me because I enjoy working with players and making them the best they can be," Snyder said. "For a lot of these kids, it's their last chance or their first chance to make it. There are so many kids out there - they are good kids, they have good ability - but they just didn't get seen or they got hurt or pushed out of affiliated ball."

Marshall said dealing with affiliated ball can also be baffling at times.

"I can't tell you how many letters I've gotten back saying I'm not qualified," Marshall said. "I've been a GM, a president, a scout all over the world. I've played baseball at the highest level. It can cause a great deal of frustration."

In all, it creates an interesting choice for big leaguers.

"Managing in the independent leagues is more of a full manager job than anywhere in baseball, including the Major Leagues," Outcalt said. "You build your own team. You recruit, you sign, you release, you make your own personnel decisions."

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Mike Marshall, Yuma Scorpions
Major League All-Star: 1984
Teams: Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, Angels
Career Achievements: Won World Series with Dodgers in 1988; Top 10 in home runs in NL twice

Gary Carter, Orange County Flyers
Major League All-Star: 1975, 1979-88
Teams: Expos, Mets, Giants, Dodgers
Career Achievements: Hall of Famer won World Series with New York in 1986; singled and scored the first run in the Mets' three-run, 10th-inning comeback in Game 6 against the Red Sox; twice named All-Star Game MVP; led NL in RBI in 1984

Steve Yeager, Long Beach Armada
Major League All-Star: No
Teams: Dodgers, Mariners
Career Achievements: A .228 career batting average in 1981 World Series to share MVP award; Yeager introduced the flap attached to the catcher's mask, first donning it after he was hit with the jagged end of a broken bat while in the on-deck circle, and had nine splinters removed from his neck

Jeffrey Leonard, Reno Silver Sox
Major League All-Star: 1987, 1989
Teams: Dodgers, Astros, Giants, Brewers, Mariners
Career Achievements: Rookie of the Year runner-up to Rick Sutcliffe in 1979; hit .370 for his career in the postseason, although his team never won a series; was the NLCS MVP in 1987 despite his Giants losing to the Cardinals, blasting four home runs in the seven-game series

Cory Snyder, St. George Roadrunners
Major League All-Star: No
Teams: Indians, White Sox, Blue Jays, Giants, Dodgers
Career Achievements: Won Olympic gold medal in 1984; hit 33 home runs in 1987; led the National League in strikeouts in 1993; like the other four managers, played at one point for the Dodgers