Johnson latest signing for Revs

The Revs are definitely not ailing, playing some of their best baseball of late — winning five of their last seven. But the York lineup has seen plenty of new faces added as several players continue to nurse nagging injuries and the Revs attempt to replace three players lost to major league organizations.

Revs manager Mark Mason began a four-game series against Lancaster with just two bench players. One — Eric Patterson (quad) — has not been healthy since suffering a strain in early May, and the other reserve has been backup catcher Patrick Arlis. The Revs needed to acquire some players.

The latest acquisition has been designated hitter/outfielder Cody Johnson, a first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2006. Just 24, Johnson has big-time power, and a habit for striking out (he hit 21 homers but struck out 194 times in 113 games in 2011). But Johnson could be a key signing for York. The Revs really never replaced the power of Chris Nowak (Revs 2011-2012). After Nowak announced his retirement in the offseason, the Revs opted to sign Johan Limonta and Brian Burgamy to share time at first base — Nowak’s former position. But neither are big-time home run hitters. Limonta is more of a doubles hitter and Burgamy does a bit of everything — most notably being the hardest out in the league (he has a league-high .453 OBP). Continue reading

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Tomko back to full strength

After struggling with a stomach bug earlier this month, Brett Tomko looked like himself once again in earning his first win of the season Friday. Tomko (1-3, 3.32 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Tomko lost the no-hitter in the sixth inning when No. 9 hitter Gustavo Molina hit an opposite-field single on a fastball low and away. Tomko swung his right hand after allowing the single, a reaction he said had a lot to do with what was going through his mind right after the single.

“That was a good pitch he hit, but he missed two breaking balls by a lot so I felt I should have went back to that,” Tomko said. “But I mean that was a good piece of hitting. … It was was more like, ‘Gosh I should have thrown (the breaking) pitch.’ …

“I think I’m more upset with the (eighth-inning) walk than anything. Hits are going to happen, home runs are going to happen. I kind of hung a cutter on a (Molina) home run. … I’m more upset on the walk before that.” Continue reading

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Repko “happy” and “content” to call it a career

Jason Repko lost something in the offseason. He knew it. He felt it.

An outfielder for 14 seasons in professional baseball, including seven seasons spent in the majors, he lost the desire to be on the field every single day.

But he still wanted to feel that way. That’s the thing. He tried. He wanted to feel that fire. So even when no organization offered him an invitation to spring training, he felt like he needed to try the Atlantic League. A friend, Brett Tomko, phoned in the offseason, and they decided to play together for York. Repko thought that would help. Continue reading

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Fox signed by Mets

Most of Matt Fox‘s early life in baseball had been spent with him playing infield. One appearance in a high school showcase as a pitcher changed all that as many scouts and college recruiters only thought of him as a pitcher after he stepped on the mound. He survived the switch, but about one month into his pro career he needed shoulder surgery.

Fox has overcome shoulder issues and hoped to show he was healthy as he made his independent baseball debut with York this season.  It worked.

Signed Tuesday morning by the New York Mets organization, Fox becomes the sixth player signed in the Atlantic League this season — and half of those signings have come from the York Revolution roster. (Reliever Josh Judy went to the Angels; first baseman Johan Limonta went to the Padres). Fox had a 1.59 ERA in five games — including four starts — with York.

Update: Fox is headed to Triple-A Las Vegas in the Mets system, and his agent has told him there is a possibility he will start for the 51s. (Former Revs starter Shawn Hill pitched for Las Vegas last season when the club was still a Blue Jays affiliate. Hill went from Las Vegas to World Baseball Classic qualifying games with Canada to the big leagues, pitching against the Yankees in September.)

“That would be cool if I could slide into the rotation, it wouldn’t be a hard transition,” Fox said.

A former big leaguer, Fox learned of his signing on the Revolution team bus en route to Long Island. Continue reading

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Repko retires, Gonzalez leaves team

Jason Repko retired after York’s victory Sunday in Lancaster.

I was able to talk to Repko Monday evening, and I’ll post a column for Wednesday’s edition of the YDR on this site later this evening. He noted he lost the desire to be on the field everyday, and he had come to the conclusion he was content with his career. He leaves baseball after 14 pro seasons, including seven spent in the majors. He has no post-career plans, except for a three-week vacation that will include trips to see family members and some time at Disney.

Revs manager Mark Mason knew of Repko’s plans for about a week, and noted several teammates tried to talk him out of it. Repko agreed to stay with the Revs for about a week, allowing the coaches to bring in some outfielders. A team guy, right to the end.

York also will be without shortstop Andy Gonzalez, the former big leaguer has left the team for personal reasons — acording to Mason. This should not be confused with leaving the team to play abroad. Mason said there is a possibility Gonzalez could return to play for the Mets this season. Until then he’s been placed on the inactive/suspended list — meaning no other team in the league has the right to sign him. Mason expects Eric Patterson to see increased time at shortstop.

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What’s happening here?

Fans may have noticed York outfielder Jason Repko pausing and calling for time after he slides into second base. The former big leaguer can often be seen bending over to adjust his pants leg and what might appear to be his sock. But it’s actually a sliding pad.

“Every time I slide it actually catches and slides down, but it’s better than chewing up my leg,” Repko said earlier this month. “I have to pull it back up so the next time I slide it’s in the right spot.”

A man who wears a sliding pad, obviously slides a lot. He’s crashed into the Green Monster and injured his shoulder. He’s flipped over a wall at Triple-A to make a catch to rob an opponent of a grand slam. And Repko has brought his all-out style of play to York. Earlier this month he managed to advance two bases on a double-steal with Tyler Graham, moving from first to third on one pitch when Graham took home on a delayed steal.

“Honestly, like a lot of things, it took me a lot longer than it should have to wear some of the things I wear now, because you think ‘I’m too tough, I’m not going to wear that,’” Repko said. “Next thing you know though, you’re nursing a lot of little cuts all over your leg from the road rash you get from sliding. I’ve probably worn it for the last five years, consistently for every game. I wear hamstring pads in my compression shorts, to keep my legs warm. Just little things to help (my body) out.”

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Injuries hit Revs all at once

Not only did the Revs lose two players to major league affiliates earlier this month, the team has been hit with a series of injuries. Fortunately for the Revs, they have avoided placing any players on the disabled list. Continue reading

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Limonta headed to Double-A San Antonio

Here’s a version of the story about Johan Limonta signing with the San Diego Padres Tuesday. 

Met by one disappointment after another last season, Johan Limonta decided to listen to the two women closest to him: his mother and his girlfriend. Even after a disappointing season in Venezuela and York in 2012, they told him he needed to believe in himself: He could earn another job in affiliated baseball. Continue reading

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Notes on Limonta’s signing

Revs first baseman/outfielder Johan Limonta is the second York player signed this season and the fourth Atlantic League player to earn a contract from a major league organization. … York relief pitcher Josh Judy earned a Double-A deal from the Angels earlier this month. … Limonta is the first Atlantic League player without major league experience to earn a contract from affiliated baseball this season. … York and Lancaster are the only two teams to have players signed this season. … Revs manager Mark Mason said the Revs are already at work to bring in a replacement for Limonta and hope a new position player could join York as soon as Friday. … Hit by injuries of late, York’s Eric Patterson has been attempting to work his way back into the lineup after experiencing discomfort in his quad last week while running out a bunt in the ninth inning of a one-run loss to Camden Wednesday. … More bad news for the Revs: outfielder Tyler Graham left Tuesday’s game. The Revs will need to finish the game with no healthy position players.

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Scouts difficult job: Predict the future

Peter Bergeron was the first player in Revs franchise history to sign with York A scouting report filed during his high school career can now be viewed online. (YDR file)

The Baseball Hall of Fame added a scouting exhibit this month at Cooperstown. One of the interesting aspects of the exhibit, at least for those not headed to upstate New York in the next few weeks, is the online tool now available to view past scouting reports.

We took a look at some of the names, past and present, that had links to the Atlantic League or York County.

* Revs starting pitcher Brett Tomko had four scouting reports from the 1995 season, and every one mentioned the possibility of him becoming a power arm in the bullpen or a power closer. (That didn’t happen, with Tomko registering two saves during a 14-year major league career.)

* Former outfielder Gene Clines had the potential to be “one of the best outfielders in the National League” in a couple years. That report was filed in 1970, a year after he helped the York Pirates win the Eastern League title. A report from 1972 noted he suffered an arm injury.

* The first player in Revs history, Peter Bergeron (pictured above), was viewed by the White Sox as a suspect sign since his family had “$”, he had committed to Clemson and his uncle told a scout Bergeron’s real desire was to be a medical student. He signed after being drafted in the fourth round by the Dodgers.

* It should come as no surprise that the scouting reports for former York manager Andy Etchebarren for the most part only list flaws in physical tools. Late in his career, several reports note he is at best a third-string catcher but great in the clubhouse — especially with younger players. Before he was drafted, one scout noted he had the strongest pair of hands they had seen on a boy. He also played third base while his older brother caught.

* Camden Riversharks manager Ron Karkovice had several reports, including a glowing one from the Rangers’ Joe Branzel after watching him in just one game. Rated as a “big Sundberg” (a reference to Rangers catcher Jim Sundberg). The report included the phrase that Karkovice “looked like an oldtime country ball gamer.” And, oh yeah, his high school coach was a former organ player for the Montreal Expos.

* Butch Wynegar would one day become an American League All-Star. Wynegar was scouted at Red Lion High School in 1974, Brewers scout Brad Kohler wrote: “He is a country kid who loves baseball.”

* Fans can find a scouting report by Joe Branzel on former Somerset manager Sparky Lyle from his 1977 Cy Young season. It should come as no shock the Rangers respected Lyle, ranking him excellent in almost every category. (He landed in Texas about two years later following the release of the “Bronx Zoo” and the arrival of another closer in Yankee Stadium by the name of Goose Gossage.) Continue reading

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