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Perhaps the best example of what a stint with an independent team can do to resurrect a career is that of Jose Lima. Playing off-off-Broadway worked beautifully for Lima, who signed with the Newark Bears in 2003 at age 31 after three miserable seasons with Detroit and Houston. Lima shot out of the gate with a 6-1 record in the Atlantic League, then signed with the Royals and was back in the majors by mid-June. Though he's taken his lumps so far this year, Lima pitched pretty well in 2003 (adjusted ERA 100) and 2004 (AERA 102). Most important, "Lima time" is still running in prime time.

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