HAVE PITY FOR POOR JOHN ODOM.  A struggling minor-league baseball player, Odom was recently traded from the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League in Canada to the Laredo (Texas) Broncos in the Class A United League.

In exchange for this budding young pitcher, Calgary received 10 baseball bats, worth approx. $655 for the lot.  Odom might have to look around and see if he’s taken seriously as a player after this.

But as you might expect, there’s more to the story.  The 26-yr.-old right-hander was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants organization 5 yrs. ago, but after failing to develop as much as they’d hoped, he was released this spring.  Odom was able to sign a contract with Calgary recently and started driving up to Canada.

John Odom in Oregon in 2006 (AP)

 Unfortunately, he was stopped at the border because his passport scan kicked out a conviction he got in Atlanta 9 years ago for a fight that he’d gotten into.  Stuck in Montana and unable to report for work, the Vipers worked out a trade with Laredo where they would send Odom down there in exchange for a hitter.

Laredo’s player said “No way,” when it comes to moving up to the land of 10-month winters.  So there was a stalemate.  It was finally settled when Laredo found out that Calgary wanted some realllllly good bats.  And the deal was made:  10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black, 34-inch, C243 style for a career minor-leaguer who can pitch pretty well.

Odom looks at it philosophically, though.  “I don’t really care,” he said Friday. “It’ll make a better story if I make it to the big leagues.”

The Associated Press has the STORY.

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