Major leagues: April 2009 Archives

Former major league shortstop Danny Sandoval is expected to arrive in York Wednesday, and he will join the Revolution -- at the earliest -- Friday for the home opener against the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The Revolution have a maximum 27 players on their roster, so barring an injury or a player leaving to sign with another club York will be forced to make a roster move before activating Sandoval.

"We have to evaluate him," Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone said. "Once we evaluate him and see if he's ready to play we have to determine when we will activate him."

The Revs have 13 pitchers, seven infielders (not counting Sandoval), five outfielders and two catchers on their active roster.

York left-hander Daryl Harang told WSBA 910-AM broadcaster Darrell Henry during the pregame show that he talked to his older brother Aaron Harang after the two notched victories on Thursday.

Harang (pictured above with York pitching coach Tippy Martinez) worked out of a bases-loaded jam to earn the win in the Revs' season opener, while Aaron earned a victory for the Cincinnati Reds. Harang said it was only the second time in their careers that the two brothers have earned victories on the same day.

A former reliever in the Blue Jays system, Harang is in his first year in the Atlantic League. After the first week of the season, York manager Chris Hoiles expects Harang to become his No. 5 starter.

Author Todd Gallagher responded to several questions about the Revolution's experiment with Dave Flood (pictured above) this spring. He admits the experiment turned into more of a publicity stunt than he wanted. And he explained how the experiment failed to generate the amount of data he needed.

The following is from an e-mail I received this morning. It's my first e-mail of the day to reference Enrico Pallazzo, but oddly enough not the first Pallazzo reference I've heard this week.

Weird, huh?

How 'bout that decision to go forward with spring training in York in April? That one's working out grand. Eh?

Ah, nothing like going into the first spring scrimmage without a real practice. Some Revolution pitchers actually attempted to take fielding practice on a YMCA basketball court today. Now that was creative. Nothing prepares professional baseball players for the regular season quite like fielding a grounder on a hardwood floor. Picture it now, Jason Kershner fields a worm-burner in the season opener. Game on the line, needs an out. He turns to first ... and shoots a jumper. Now you know why.

OK, enough negativity. Let's just agree on one thing. Spring training in York is great for the fans and newspaper reporters. It's lousy for baseball. Ryan Goleski (pictured above) and the rest of the Revs practiced inside all day Wednesday.

The Revs team bus leaves for Somerset at 8 a.m. Thursday. Check out some links from a rainy second day of spring ... .

Rainy. Cold. Windy.

It didn't feel like spring. Well, maybe spring in Pennsylvania. But it didn't feel like baseball weather for most of the pros in town, attempting to make the starting lineup for the Revolution. The Revolution took the field at Sovereign Bank Stadium with some players wearing knit winter caps.

Here is one Steve Navaroli story from the Daily Record, and here is a notebook -- detailing the Phillies signing of right-hander Steve Green. Green returns to the franchise where he spent 2008. The Revolution still have nine pitchers signed with major league experience.

For those interested in the Revolution's "experiment" here is the Daily Record story on Dave Flood's first day in the batting cage. The 3-foot-2 radio personality did not swing the bat, and actually watched a couple strikes go through the zone. This might not work after all, considering both Corey Thurman and Dave Gassner located pitches in -- what Flood estimates -- a 6-inch strike zone.

The York Revolution completed their preseason roster, announcing seven player signings Monday - less than 24 hours before the team starts spring training at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The team increased its number of major league pitchers to 10 (jeesh, thanks for the catch Adam ... I lost the ability to count before camp even started) signing former Orioles reliever Rick Bauer.

Bauer appeared in four games for the Cleveland Indians last season. The 31-year-old California native played for the Orioles from 2001-05, but has bounced around since his release from Baltimore -- pitching for five organizations in three seasons.

Former Revolution outfielder Matt Esquivel and relief pitcher Travis Phelps have also returned to York after spending March in minor league camp with major league organizations.

Esquivel and Phelps were among the final players released at the end of camp. During the winter, the Indians signed Esquivel, the Tigers signed Phelps to free agent minor league deals.

York also received official contracts from catcher Josh Johnson, infielder George Sandel, infielder Brandon Pinckney and catcher Kevin Kotch.

Todd Gallagher (pictured above while conducting a playground challenge for ESPN) is the reason Dave Flood, also known as "Dave the Dwarf," will suit up for the York Revolution Tuesday.

He wants to respond to some of the questions readers and fans have regarding the experiment of bringing Flood to camp at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The York Daily Record is trying to set up a forum later this week, perhaps a live chat, where Gallagher can answer some questions and concerns from Revolution fans. While Gallagher knows some fans may be hesitant to accept the arrival of Flood because of his background as a radio personality, Gallagher points out that Flood isn't driving this experiment. Gallagher's extensive research is the reason for the experiment.

Gallagher sent me an e-mail detailing his research.

Dave Flood -- a Florida radio personality known as "Dave the Dwarf" who stands 3 feet, 2 inches -- will join the York Revolution Tuesday as a non-roster invitee to spring training.

Unlike the publicity stunt when maverick St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck hired Eddie Gaedel -- and his 1 1/2-inch strike zone -- to pinch-hit for one at-bat in 1951, Revolution officials insist the move is a legitimate baseball experiment.

Author Todd Gallagher believes a little person can be a valuable player for professional baseball teams. Even major league pitchers have their limits, and Gallagher believes it would be nearly impossible for them to strike out a little person. He contacted Revolution owner Peter Kirk with the hopes of allowing Flood to bat for the Revs.

The York Revolution signed their eighth pitcher with major league experience Thursday, agreeing to terms with right-hander Steve Green.

Green (pictured above) appeared for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic this spring. He has spent parts of eight seasons in Triple-A, including all of last season with the Phillies top-level affiliate -- the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. He appeared in one major league game, lasting six innings in an April start in 2001 for the Angels. It was one of only 11 games he appeared in that season, and he missed all of 2002 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Revolution also signed utility player Jeff Eure, left-handed reliever Daryl Harang and right-handed reliever Bob Zimmermann.

Eure (pronounced YOUR) is an interesting signing in that he has somewhat local ties.

Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone has contacted former Revolution players Matt Esquivel and Travis Phelps (pictured above left) about returning to York this season.

After helping York clinch the first playoff berth in franchise history Esquivel and Phelps earned minor league contracts with major league organizations during the offseason. The Indians released Esquivel; the Tigers released Phelps. Both moves came during the final days of spring training.

Gladstone is "in talks" with both players or their representatives. Esquivel batted .294 last season, his highest batting average during a seven-year professional career. Although his power numbers dipped (13 homers), he became a more balanced hitter. He went from an all-or-nothing slugger at the start of the season to a line drive hitter (35 doubles) at the end of the year. And even though his strikeout numbers remained the same from a year before (97 Ks), he appeared in almost 30 more games for York than he did in 2007.

Phelps, 31, helped solidify York's bullpen last season. He went 3-3 with a 3.82 ERA, and opponents batted just .194 against him.