Atlantic League: September 2008 Archives

The first time I met Revs' outfielder Matt Esquivel was at the preseason Media Day hosted by the team at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

The idea was, we would ask for players who would join us in the dugout for interviews, when a rather large guy didn't wait to be called. He entered the dugout and introduced himself.

It was a refreshing change. Some of the guys in the Atlantic League come to their new teams with an understandable chip on their shoulders.

Many have been recently released from Major League organizations and while they are glad to be still playing some kind of professional ball, they aren't always happy to be in York or Lancaster or Camden or Long Island.

Some feel talking to local press in a place they don't want to be is a drag. Hey, I can somewhat understand that. Yet, that wasn't the case with Esquivel. Far from it.

With the campaign ending after a 6-4 loss at Somerset in the Freedom Division playoff series, here is a quick look back at the second season of the York Revolution.

Baseball operations chief Adam Gladstone made several key moves that spurred a run to the second-half title and the franchise's first playoff berth.

Veteran Chris Ashby came in and started hitting the cover off the ball. Although, the 33-year-old tailed off a bit towards the end of the season, he finished with a .321 batting average and 16 home runs in 104 games, most of which were York wins.

Perhaps the biggest spark was the acquisition of Kennard Jones, who was quite possibly the team's first true five-tool player.

Here some photos taken before the Revs' final game of 2008.

-----Steve Navaroli

York outfielder Jason Aspito was candid after the Rev's season-ending 6-4 loss at Somerset in the Atlantic League Freedom Division playoffs.

When the team MVP was asked if he would like to be back in York in he doesn't get an affiliated contract, his response was clear.

"If (manager) Chris Hoiles is back, I would love to come back," Aspito said. "I couldn't imagine coming back without playing for Chris."

It was once a forgone conclusion that Hoiles would return, but the skipper has yet to receive a contract offer for 2009.

Just the thought of Aspito's return should help expedite resigning Hoiles.

The Atlantic League finals will feature an all-New Jersey series in the best-of-five that will determine the league crown.

Somerset, which knocked off the Revolution two games to none in the Freedom Division playoff series, will face Newark in the finals.

Newark swept Long Island in the Liberty Division and will host Games 1 and 2, Friday and Saturday with the remaining games being at Somerset.

The York Revolution had their chances, but three more errors and two unearned runs were too much to overcome and the Patriots emerged victorious.

Sandel's error in the seventh gave Somerset an opportunity to extend the inning and they took full advantage of the extra at-bats. That's what winning teams do...they take advantage of the mistakes their opponents make.

Give them credit though: the Revs have come along way since that horrible start to the 2008 season. York now has playoff experience, a Community Cup, and a positive outlook for next year.

--Doug Walters

This is it. Rally time. Time for one or two more things to go York's way. The Revs have been inches short all night...a few inches shy of a home run, a few inches off the plate, a few inches under the ball, a few inches past the glove.

Teuris Olivares has made his presence known again tonight, scoring Somerset's first run and their last. Still, York isn't completely out of this game.

--Doug Walters

Again, York came through with a clutch seventh inning.

Chris Ashby started the inning off with a base hit, the Revs' fourth of the night. Bouknight had been throwing a great game but Jason Aspito evened up the score with a two-run bomb that sent every Revolution fan in the stadium into a frenzy. Then Matt Esquivel reached second on a swinging bunt and a throwing error and he was brought home on a fielder's choice double play.

Unfortunately the Patriots plated two more in their half of the seventh. George Sandel made an error on a routine grounder by throwing the ball into the Somerset dugout, allowing a runner to score, and then Elliott Ayala doubled to bring in the go-ahead run.

York has three errors tonight and six in the series.

Finally, the Revolution got a break.

Kennard Jones drove a two-out pitch from Somerset's Kip Bouknight to straightaway center field and cut the Patriots' lead to two in the top of the sixth inning. On an evening where nothing seems to be going York's way the Revolution are oh-so-close to evening up this crucial playoff game.

Dan Foli got the job done and was replaced by Juan Padilla in the sixth. Then Wayne Franklin, York's winningest starter, came in and retired hard-hitting Brandon Larson to get out of a tight situation with runners on first and second.

The seventh inning has been friendly to York all year. The Revs have scored 104 runs in the seventh inning this season, making it their second most productive frame. That's exactly what they need tonight to force a decisive game three in Somerset.

--Doug Walters

The score hasn't changed since the third inning and the Revs are keeping this game just close enough that another come-from-behind victory isn't out of the question yet.

York's starter, Rolando Viera, left the game in the fourth inning after giving up 9 hits, 4 walks and 3 runs. Reliever Dan Foli came in and the Revolution notched their third double play of the game to escape a bases-loaded jam. In the fifth inning Foli struck out two and didn't allow a single baserunner.

Kip Bouknight, Somerset's starter, is still in the game. He has retired York's last eight batters and has three strikeouts on the night.

--Doug Walters

Rolando Viera has thrown over 60 pitches through three innings tonight and seems to be missing the control that he had in his previous two starts against the Patriots this year.

Somerset plated their second run of the evening on a base hit by Elliott Ayala, then took a 3-0 lead when Brandon Larson launched his first home run of the playoffs after hitting 30 in the regular season.

The Revolution were in need of a momentum-changing play and they may have gotten it in the form of a line drive to center field that Kennard Jones flung back to home plate for a beautiful outfield assist to get the third out in the bottom of the third inning.

--Doug Walters

The Revolution players won't feel quite as far away from home tonight thanks to some of their biggest fans.

A number of fans made the trek out to Somerset to see their team, including York's youngest fan, Isabella Aracena.

Photos by Steve Navaroli.

He may be the one pitcher the Somerset Patriots don't want to face.

Revolution starter Rolando Viera beat the Patriots twice this season in New Jersey. And he was just as tough on the Pats last year when he tossed eight innings of two-hit ball for the Camden Riversharks in Game 2 of the Atlantic League South Division Series. Somerset managed to avoid elimination, scoring a 3-2 victory in the 10th inning.

--Jim Seip

York went down 1-2-3 in the first inning against Kip Bouknight with two fly balls and a ground out.

Somerset came out of the gate quickly as Brandon Larson hit a one out single into right field that brought home Teuris Olivares. Olivares has scored all four of the Patriots' runs in this series...if York can keep him off the base paths they'll be in a much better position to win the game.

York's Matt Esquivel led off the top of the second inning with a single. He was 3-4 in the opening game of the series.

Keep an eye out for more updates from the dynamic duo of Jim Seip and Steve Navaroli as the night continues.

--Doug Walters

York Revolution outfielder Matt Esquivel said his team is ready, despite having its back against the wall.

"It's win or go home," he said.

The Revs are on the road set to take on Somerset in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division playoff series after losing the first contest, 3-2 Tuesday night in York.

The Patriots can wrap up the series with a win in Wednesday night's game that pits York's Rolando Viera against Somerset's Kip Bouknight.

Revolution infielder Matt Dryer took batting practice Wednesday before Game 2 of the Freedom Division Series, but he remains out of the lineup with what the team is calling a deep bone bruise. A right-handed power hitter, Dryer fouled a ball off his left shin during the Revolution's victory against Lancaster on Saturday afternoon.

In order to protect his leg, Dryer wore a shin guard similar to what catcher Luis Taveras will wear tonight. Dryer's leg is swollen and features a multi-colored look.

Scoring Summary

Somerset Patriots 3, York Revolution 2
(Final)

Game 2: York vs. Somerset, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in Bridgewater, N.J.

York starting pitcher: Aaron Rakers 7.1 innings (123 pitches thrown); 9 Ks, 2 BB, 6 hits, 3 R, 1 ER
Somerset starting pitcher: Joel Kirsten 7 innings (107 pitches thrown); 6 Ks, 0 BB, 7 hits, 2 R, 2 ER

Top of the first:
Somerset: Sean Smith strike out; Teuris Olivares single to left, fielding error by left fielder Matt Esquivel allows Olivares to reach second; wild pitch allows Olivares to advance to third; Josh Pressley fielder's choice to short scores Olivares; Brandon Larson strikes out.

The Revolution open the postseason at home against the Somerset Patriots, hosting Game 1 of the Freedom Division Series at 7:07 p.m. Tuesday.

Game 2 and 3 -- if needed -- will be played at Somerset's Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J.

Here's a look ahead at the series:

Blogger's note: All photos are courtesy of John Zeedick.

For the first time since the York Pirates won the Eastern League title in 1969, a minor league baseball team from York is headed to the playoffs. The York Revolution defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers 14-5 at Sovereign Bank Stadium to clinch the Atlantic League's Freedom Division second-half title Thursday. Enrique Cruz (pictured above) scored two runs and knocked in a run.

Outfielder Jason Aspito, however, earned hero status when he bashed a grand slam in the sixth inning Thursday to help York complete a comeback from a 5-1 deficit.

York shortstop George Sandel joked around with Aspito (pictured above) after the game, holding an empty Gatorade bucket over his head when he faced the television camera crews.

Late-season acquisition Saul Solveson closed out the game. The former Somerset Patriots reliever will face his former team in the Freedom Division Series that starts Tuesday in York.

Even beloved clubhouse manager Chris Seitz got involved in the celebration. Thursday may have been the only time during the Seitz Era when a player wasn't heard shouting, "SEITZ! Do some laundry!"

York pitching coach Tippy Martinez watced as the Revolution players celebrated their Atlantic League Freedom Division second-half title.

Martinez got a beer shower himself after the Revs secured a playoff berth with a 14-5 win over Lancaster at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Champagne and beer-soaked baseball players was a familar sight for Martinez, who was a member of the 1983 world champion Baltimore Orioles.

Celebrations never get old.

"This is so much fun," Martinez said. "It brings back a lot of memories."

---Steve Navaroli

Revs' director of player development Adam Gladstone likens the Freedom Division second-half champs to other clubs he has been with.

He said he saw the potential in the players early in the season.

"I have been lucky enough to be a part of championships in this league and I see the similarities in this club. The team chemistry here is wonderful," he said after a champagne and beer shower in the celebratory York clubhouse.

Gladstone recalled a rough first half of the season in which the Revs finished 10 games below the .500 mark, but the team rallied he said because of manager Chris Hoiles.

"That is a tribute to Chris Hoiles (pictured above with Jason Aspito)," he said. "No matter how low it got, he kept this group together."

--Steve Navaroli

Visibly frustrated after another loss against the Newark Bears Monday night, York manager Chris Hoiles held a short but important meeting before Tuesday's game at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

According to veteran first baseman Chris Ashby, Hoiles kept his message short but to the point.

"I think there were some guys feeling (pressure)," Ashby said. "Chris (Hoiles) called a meeting ... and had a talk about having fun again, because we are in first and we have the players we need to win. I think that loosened us up."

A laid-back manager who has had few closed-door meetings during his two-year tenure, Hoiles' talk appeared to alter a road trip in which his team had lost three of its first four games.

The Revolution appeared to be a different team after the meeting, cranking out two straight 5-3 victories to win its first series against Newark. The victory moved York within one win of clinching its first playoff spot, and the club returns to Sovereign Bank Stadium to play Lancaster tonight.

Benches have cleared before at Sovereign Bank Stadium, but never like Wednesday night.

Bridgeport pitcher Jeff Tam hit Enrique Cruz with a pitch in the middle of the back in the bottom of the eighth with the two outs. On the next pitch, Tam threw a pitch over the head of Kennard Jones.

Tam then approached home plate and began jawing with Jones. Tam shoved Jones in the face, and then threw a punch at Jones' face. Jones tossed his helmet. And then it got messy.

It's been a weird stretch. One day York looks like a playoff team, the next day a pretender. After Tuesday night, that all changed.

Just one game separated York and Newark, the one team York has struggled to beat during its two-year existence. Making the last few games even more tense is the schedule. York and Newark are scheduled to play a three-game series starting Monday.

And then something happened that no one expected.

Less than two years after building a minor league baseball stadium in York, and less than a year after building a ballpark in Waldorf, Md., minor league developer Peter Kirk has submitted plans to build a $40-million stadium in Richmond, Va.

One plan calls for the Atlantic League to plant an expansion franchise in Richmond next season, and play in the city's aging ballpark -- The Diamond -- until construction is completed on a new 8,500-seat stadium. The Diamond is an antiquated stadium built on a 60-acre parcel in the city's Boulevard area near the Interstate 95 corridor. The site has featured a minor league ballpark since 1954, and The Diamond has hosted the Richmond Braves - a Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves since 1985.

The Atlantic League schedule for 2009 has been placed on hold, Kirk said, because the league has several options for next year -- including adding two new teams.

"The league is prepared to bring back (the all-travel Road Warriors), but there are a couple other communities getting close (to building stadiums)," said Kirk, the chairman of the ownership group Opening Day Partners that operates teams in York, Lancaster, Southern Maryland and Camden, N.J. "Another team could play in a temporary location next year."

York's ownership group Opening Day Partners suddenly appears to be the leading candidate to move into the Richmond market.

ODP chairman Peter Kirk released plans for a new 8,500-seat, $40-million ballpark in Richmond to Ballpark Digest. Kirk told the Web site an Atlantic League team could play at the city's out-dated stadium -- The Diamond -- as soon as next year while the franchise waits for a new park to be constructed.

The Atlanta Braves Triple-A club will leave Richmond at the end of the season and move into a new ballpark in suburban Atlanta. The Diamond was built in 1985, but a minor league stadium has been at that Richmond location since 1954.

The re-acquisition of infielder Kenny Perez had been in the works for almost a month, but the move didn't become official until Perez walked through the York Revolution clubhouse door a few minutes after batting practice ended Friday.

Hitting coach Sam Snyder and pitching coach Tippy Martinez walked out of their office to welcome back the former Revs infielder -- all smiles and handshakes.

"And Kenny," Snyder said, "be sure to check the lineup. You're in it."

Perez hit two singles, knocked in a run and scored a run during the first five innings.

The Atlantic League has officially entered the rotisserie phase of its schedule. Every team in the league is looking for help. The contenders need one more arm or bat, and all the other teams are looking for healthy bodies to fill in for injured players. It's that time of year, player procurement directors are dialing up the phone numbers of every independent league in the country.

That's the nice aspect about playing a 140-game schedule. Most short-season indy leagues have completed their season.

Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone reached out to two of his Somerset connections, acquiring outfielder Edgard Clemente from the Nashua Pride and shortstop George Sandel (pictured above) from the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

York acquired both players for future considerations.

In order to make room for the two new players, York sent infielder Sam Rosario back to the Pride to complete a trade from earlier this season -- when York acquired Rosario for future considerations.

The Liberty Division-leading Long Island Ducks make their final trip to Sovereign Bank Stadium this season.

The Ducks will be looking for their first win in York this season.

If one team can pull off a sweep this weekend, the league could have a change in a division leader.

Newark is two games behind York; Southern Maryland is 1 1/2 games behind Long Island.