Remembering Jose Lima

Jose Lima didn't have a huge impact on the overall DMBL landscape - he only pitched in 3 seasons. Lima was signed as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 1998 by Carolina, but only lasted three months and was released in July. But Lima's mother called Mudcats owner Chris Pucci at home and made him feel bad about cutting the pitcher and in August, the Mudcats signed him back. While the contract specifically prohibited the Mudcats from cutting Lima, it didn't say anything about trading him. So the next year, the Cats sent Lima off to the New York Amazins (who would become the Hawaii Volcanoes later that year) in a deal for Kenny Rogers. The Amazins didn't hold onto him for too long and shipped him off to Jerusalem in a massive trade for, among others, legendary catcher Mike Piazza.

Lima was welcomed with open arms and a fresh bowl of matzoh ball soup. He soon got his chance to pitch, earning a prized spot in the Rabbis rotation and finishing with a very solid 12-10 with a 4.20 ERA. The Rabbis finished second in the Hanover Division that year with 98 wins, but were eliminated in the first round by Lima's arch enemy Carolina Mudcats.

2000 would be Lima Time as the Rabbis won the Hanover Division with 103 wins and continued on to win their first ever World Series championship. Lima regressed a bit, going 15-7, but with a 4.96 ERA. It was the last full season Lima would pitch.

Fresh off the championship season, Lima's contract had expired and the Rabbis elected not to resign him. He was drafted by the Golden Falcons in the 6th round of the Supplemental Round. There apparently wasn't much demand for Lima. He was released during spring training and did not pitch at all that season. In 2002, there were no offers, so Lima signed up with the independent Newark Bears (not affiliated with the Sugar Bears). In 2003, Vancouver signed him to a minor league deal and he pitched for their Triple A team in Tacoma. He was drafted in 2004 again in the Supplemental Round by Newark. But Newark cut him before the season began. Lima's mother again got on the phone and pleaded with Newark's owner Craig Garretson. "I know he sucks, but please give him a chance" Garretson recalls she told him. So the Sugar Bears signed Lima again in June. Lima pitched in 7 games and was disastrous (2-3, 7.04) and Newark released Lima in August.

Lima was again drafted in the Supplemental Round by Hoboken in 2005 (round 9), then cut during spring training. And that was it for Lima. For his career, Lima finished 29-20 with a 4.79 ERA in 72 games. Lima passed away over the weekend at the age of 37 of a heart attack. Hopefully for him, there's a Supplemental Round in the afterlife.