As we mentioned a few posts back, the Calgary Vipers have left the Northern League and joined the Golden Baseball League. 

Now, I’m not going to say they’re a rinky-dink organization, but…

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — During three years in the low minors, John Odom never really made a name for himself. That sure changed this week — he’s the guy who was traded for a bunch of bats.

"I don’t really care," he said Friday. "It’ll make a better story if I make it to the big leagues."

For now, Odom is headed to the Laredo Broncos of the United League. They got him Tuesday from the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League for a most unlikely price: 10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black, 34-inch, C243 style.

"They just wanted some bats, good bats — maple bats," Broncos general manager Jose Melendez said.

You may recall John Odom from a few seasons spent with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, where he sucked in 2004 (2-4, 5.01) and didn’t suck so much in 2006 (6-3, 3.18). 

You might also remember that the Witch Kings that season were a giant pack of douchebags all year long, Odom included. Who seriously puts ‘Greatest Team Ever’ on their championship ring? In love with yourselves much?

So anyway, the Vipes acquired Odom about a month ago after the SF Giants cut him from their Single-A squad, but a criminal record problem had kept the kid from being able to join his Alberta teammates.

That’s when Laredo stepped in with an offer for their best hitter in return for Odom’s contract.

Only problem with that? Laredo’s guy had no interest in moving to Calgary.

So Laredo offered cash, but the Vipers had other ideas.

The bat trade wasn’t the first time Calgary came up with some creative dealmaking. The Vipers once tried to acquire a pitcher for 1,500 blue seats when they were renovating their stadium, Young said.

Oh lord.

So let’s have some fun with this. May I suggest to the powers that be in the C’s front office that we schedule a ‘bat day’ for the next time Vancouver plays Salem-Keizer?

We could call it the ‘John Odom Bat Day’, the team could offer bats to parents in return for having their children work the concession stands, there could be a series of between-innings auctions where the fans offer trades of things they have in their handbags/pockets in return for Salem-Keizer players (I offer 16 post-it notes and a roll of breath-mints for their catcher!).

And we could rub it in the Volcanoes’ faces - All. Freakin’. Night.

Make it so, people. 

In other GBL news, 2005 Vancouver Canadians pitcher Joe Newby tells me he’s looking to try out for one of the Canadian Golden League teams.

"Right now I’m still 4 months away from being back to full-game speed," he says.

"The velocity is coming back and I’ve been working my butt off in the gym. If I’m not 95+, I won’t even try after 18 months, but I got a really good feeling that I’m going to have that and more. Only time will tell, just wanted to let you know a former “C” might be playing in that league for at least a little bit until I can turn some heads and get into affiliated ball again."

Go, Newby, go!