York manager Andy Etchebarren held a closed-door meeting after the Revs blew a six-run lead during a 16-10 loss to Long Island Tuesday. One of the reasons for the meeting was to address the bullpen.
"I'll tell you what I told the players," Etchebarren said. "Right now there are five guys in the bullpen that are on the (postseason) roster.
"I'm taking nine bullpen guys and four starters. The guys that want to make it that are here better step up. I'm not taking with 6.00, 7.00 or 8.00 ERAs to the playoffs."
The Revolution pitching staff ranks seventh in the eight-team Atlantic League in ERA (5.01), walks (482) and homers (132). Only Newark has a higher ERA (5.55), more walks (502) and more homers surrendered (149) than York.
Atlantic League teams are limited to three signings from other leagues after Sept. 3. So if the Revolution hope to overhaul their pitching staff and find a utility player to take Victor Rodriguez's spot on the roster -- York will need to make a move in the next 48 hours.
* Why did York starter Tim Harikkala get ejected Tuesday night after nine pitches and 1/3 innings?
"That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen an umpire do," Etchebarren said about Mayhue Edwards actions in the first inning. "All (Harikkala) said was, 'You cost us a run.' And he threw him out. How can you do that?"
* What is the state of the bullpen after using seven pitchers Tuesday?
"We were probably going to have to mix in position players," Etchebarren said.
But York starter Matt DeSalvo offered to pitch Tuesday night, the day after he pitched into the seventh inning.
"I've got a rested arm," DeSalvo told Etchebarren, explaining that he only pitched in an amateur league all summer.
The Revs turned to DeSalvo in the fifth, when Jeremy Lewis left after throwing 87 pitches through the first five innings.
* RHP Corey Thurman threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Wednesday.
"Doc turned him loose to Mase (pitching coach Mark Mason) for baseball activity," Etchebarren said. "If everything goes good, we talked about him maybe starting the seventh-inning game (against Lancaster) Sept. 11."
* 1B Ian Bladergroen left Tuesday's game with a sore neck. And he did not play Wednesday.
* 3B Ramon Castro left the game in the bottom of the first inning, holding his back after taking a swing.
Thanks for the info. I appreciate the work. I've gotta think that the short porch in York and Newark account for high ERAs and walk totals. I like ODP parks, like York and Lancaster and SoMD, but I also like a good pitchers' duel. You have a lot of cheap homeruns in the Atlantic League. I hope some of these new parks in Sugar Land and Loudoun are more spacious.
This is an overworked 'pen. Get a knuckleballer. Someone that can eat innings. I heard Canseco is tooling around Texas pitching with a knuckler. Somerset is playing really good baseball with a stable pitching situation