Outfield an issue with Revs

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Jim Seip

The release of Tyler Graham Thursday should not come as a surprise. Revs manager Mark Mason voiced his frustration with players being unable or unwilling to play at maximum effort after another one-run loss Wednesday.

Graham could prove to be a good player in this league still, but he’s been slowed by a groin strain. And perhaps because of the injury, he never really proved to be the speedy, leadoff type of player York expected to have at the top of its order.

For one, he struggled to get on base. He has a .290 OBP. He started the season in a slump, going 2-for-27. Once he was on base, he didn’t look comfortable — or at least did not appear to be the type of player who has stolen 60 bases in a season. He stole just two bases in three attempts in 24 games, and one of those steals came on a delayed steal of home as part of a double-steal. By comparison, 31-year-old Brian Burgamy — never mentioned as a one of the league’s elite speed threats — has also stolen two bases despite battling through a calf strain.

Then there was an issue with getting on the field. So far this month, Graham has missed nine games.

Entering the season with one of the best outfields in the league on paper — major league vets Jeff Fiorentino, Jason Repko and Graham started the season with York — the production from York’s outfielders has been a huge disappointment. Repko retired and Fiorentino is nursing a foot injury that Mason expects could sideline him at least a couple more days. At the end of May, it appears York will need to rebuild its outfield a third time this season. Continue reading →

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Red Lion Area School District’s ‘Community Night’ York Revolution ticket sales extended

Posted on May 22, 2013 by william hanlon

revslogoThe deadline to order tickets for the Red Lion Area School District’s “Community Night” on Friday, May 31, has been extended to 4 p.m. Thursday. To purchase tickets to watch the York Revolution battle the Long Island Ducks, contact Don Dimoff of the Red Lion Area School District, at 717-244-2419 or dimoffd@rlasd.net . All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit York Habitat for Humanity’s Red Lion House. Continue reading →

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Mason wants two lefties in his rotation

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Jim Seip

When York left-hander Kris Regas managed just 62 pitches in his second start of the season Monday, fans may have been wondering why Pedro Liriano — who lasted 3 2/3 innings in relief — didn’t earn the start in place of Regas. York manager Mark Mason wants two left-handers in his rotation for a reason.

Regas might be that second left-hander, joining Chris Cody in the rotation. The reason for wanting two lefties is simple. Just like a pitcher is constantly trying to change the way a hitter is looking at the ball, by brushing him back or throwing outside and then inside, Mason wants two left-handers so that during a three-game series he doesn’t have to worry about the opposition seeing three right-handed starters on three straight days.

“When you’re playing teams three games (in a row in a series), they’re going to see a left-hander somewhere,” Mason said. “So they don’t get locked into seeing the ball coming out of one side. … So they’re not constantly locking into the same arm slot. It changes things for a hitter. And left-handers historically do pretty well in this league.” Continue reading →

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Sugar Land’s bullpen near perfect

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Jim Seip

The Sugar Land Skeeters own the league’s best record, and they have one of the best setup men and closers in the league in Gary Majewski and Jason Bergmann. Majewski hadn’t allowed a run in his first 13 appearances, before allowing three runs to York Tuesday. And Bergmann increased his scoreless streak to 13 games in closing out his seventh save of the season in Sugar Land’s 6-5 victory Tuesday in York.

“They’re lights out, obviously,” Revs manager Mark Mason said. “That shortens the game. We got to Majewski tonight, but that’s more the exception than the norm. It’s almost like a seven-inning game for them. … That’s two quality back-end guys for sure.”

Bergmann was hitting mid-90s consistently in the ninth, and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Continue reading →

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Savage pitches after stressful day

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Jim Seip

Lancaster Barnstormers starting pitcher Will Savage learned that a massive tornado had touched down in the Oklahoma City suburbs while watching television in the Barnstormers clubhouse. A resident of Oklahoma City, he scrambled to reach his wife on the phone to learn if she and their 1-year-old son were safe.

“I found out probably about 15 minutes before I went out to stretch that my wife and son were OK,” Savage said. “It was about 20 minutes south of where we live, so they saw it coming and went to my mother-in-law’s house. So I knew they were OK.

“It was pretty stressful for awhile because the cellphone service wasn’t working, and finally they got a hold of me once they got out to my mother-in-laws house. But I do have some friends that live in Moore (Okla.) so I haven’t heard from (them) yet. My wife said she saw my best friend running around helping look for survivors on the news. It hits pretty close to home. … It was pretty stressful because the coverage they were showing was pretty intense.”

Savage is a transplant from Southern California and admitted he hasn’t grown accustomed to the type of severe weather common in Oklahoma.

“It still really bothers me … because (the storms) can come out of nowhere,” Savage said. “It’s pretty scary.” Continue reading →

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Johnson latest signing for Revs

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Jim Seip

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

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Jim Seip

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

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jim Seip

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

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jim Seip

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

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jim Seip

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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