Dusty Bergman and Les Lancaster are taking their act on the road.
The Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers of the independent American Association professional baseball league has purchased Bergman's contract from the Reno Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League. A big reason why the Explorers, also known as the X's, bought the contract of Bergman, a 1996 Carson High graduate, was Lancaster who became the manager of the club.
Lancaster managed the Silver Sox for the past two seasons and last season Bergman served as Lancaster's pitching coach along with being his No. 1 starter in Reno.
"I'd like to have you come out and pitch for me and I said OK," said Bergman about the conversation he had with Lancaster.
Last year with the Silver Sox, Bergman posted a 6-4 record in 15 starts with a 3.13 earned run average in 100.2 innings. He finished third in the GBL in innings pitched and E.R.A.
After the GBL season ended while still under contract with the Silver Sox, the club allowed Bergman to join the independent Atlantic League's Newark Bears to help them with their pennant run. Bergman pitched at Newark, going 1-0 with a 1.00 E.R.A. in three starts through 18 innings.
Bergman will again be a starting pitcher for the X's, but he's giving up his pitching coach duties. "I'm just going to pitch," he said.
He admitted that trying to serve in both roles as pitching coach and staff ace last year affected his performance in both areas. "I feel like I didn't give everything I wanted to the staff when I was trying to take care of my stuff," Bergman said.
Bergman said he gained a great deal of respect for teammate Mike Done last year. Bergman said Done had an ever harder dual role as a player and hitting coach. "He was in the cage all the time," Bergman said.
Without having to worry about coaching, Bergman said he expects his performance to improve. "I can just concentrate on pitching," he said.
Bergman is also looking forward to pitching for Lancaster. "I always knew what he expected," he said. "I sat next to him and wanted to listen to what he had to say.
"I liked his passion for the game. We got along pretty well. It's going to be a good opportunity for me."
And Lancaster is looking forward to having Bergman. With Bergman and Rolando Valles, Lancaster has two veteran left-handed starters.
"Being able to bring Bergman over with me gives us two quality veteran leftys in our starting rotation," Lancaster said. "The experience he brings to the field is what a pitching staff needs. The younger pitchers will learn a lot from him. I know he can help out any AAA team right now and that is where he belongs. We are definitely glad he will be with us."
Bergman said comments like that is why he wants to pitch for Lancaster. "He respects me as a pitcher," Bergman said. "That's why I'm gonig to pitch for him this year."
And Bergman agrees with Lancaster's assessment that he should at least be at Triple A. Bergman continues to hope to be picked up by a Major League organization, which is why he still pitches.
"That's why you still play," Bergman said. "I'm not making enough money to get by. I probably should go back to school.
"I still think I have it in me to go up to the Big Leagues and contribute up there. You've go to keep working hard. I'm not ready to give up the dream."
Even though time is running out for him. Bergman turns 30 in February. But Bergman noted that Brendan Donnelly, who became an effective Big League relief pitcher, didn't make it to the Big Leagues until he was 32.
Bergman said he doesn't know how long he's going to pitch. "You never know," he said. "It's pretty much going on how your arm feels. If you quit while you can still pitch you might be kicking yourself."