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.

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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.

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Chris Hoiles wants to return to manage the York Revolution for a third season in 2009.

It remains to be seen if the Revolution front office and the ownership group Opening Day Partners will offer him a contract.

Hoiles (pictured above with pitching coach Tippy Martinez) has expressed an interest in returning, but it appears ODP will wait until his contract expires at the end of this season before it decides whether to offer him another one-year contract.

"In the offseason we'll review his effort on and off the field," Revolution General Manager Matt O'Brien said. "With us in first place now, his effort on the field is definitely paying dividends.

"His efforts off the field continue to grow."

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Chris Ashby needs a break.

And one of these days, he may earn a day off.

The MVP for the York Revolution has played in every second-half game, and it finally appears to have caught up with the 33-year-old. For the first time all season, Ashby has been held hitless for three consecutive games. After going 0-for-4 Wednesday, Ashby finds himself in his worst slump of the season, going 0-for-13 during his last three games.

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York third baseman Shea Hillenbrand has not returned to the Revolution clubhouse, and no one is certain if he will be back in York's lineup this season.

Hillenbrand left after York's victory on Aug. 13, when he injured a hamstring sliding head-first in to home with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The team hoped he would return, and he told teammate Keoni DeRenne he would be back.

But Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone said there has been "no change" in the situation since last week.

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Blogger's note: This is the third installment of a story examining Atlantic League players who have signed with major league organizations during the last two seasons.

After looking at the number of players signed during the last two seasons, it could be argued the Atlantic League has never been stronger.

Is that the case?

Probably. Thirty-three players, including York's Dave Gassner (above), returned to major league organizations.

Will the league continue to improve? Will more players be signed in 2009?

Maybe not.

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Blogger's note: This is the second installment of a story examining Atlantic League players who have signed with major league organizations during the last two years.

The Atlantic League had a few more checks to cash this summer.

The league has sold a record 33 players to major league organizations this season, and with two weeks left to play in August, that number could increase. Four players from the York Revolution, including Nick McCurdy (above), returned to affiliated baseball this summer.

According to Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein, the league only receives payment from major league organizations if a player is signed during the Atlantic League's regular season. Here's a look at some of the details surrounding the players signed by major league organizations this season.

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Blogger's note: This is the first installment of a story examining Atlantic League players who have signed with major league organizations during the last two years.

It almost seemed too easy last season.

The York Revolution watched Opening Day leadoff man Tike Redman go from the Atlantic League to the majors in a matter of weeks.

The league announced a record number of players returned to affiliated baseball. And six Revolution players returned to major league organizations.

Atlantic League Director Joe Klein confirmed that the league only receives payment from major league organizations if a player's contract is purchased during the Atlantic League's regular season. So here is a look back at the 27 players signed during the 2007 season.

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One night after sliding head first into home plate to score the winning run with two outs in the ninth, Shea Hillenbrand has returned to his home in Arizona to have his personal trainer treat a hamstring injury.

"He told me he's coming back," Revs shortstop Keoni DeRenne said after talking to him by phone Thursday.

DeRenne and Hillenbrand have worked out together in the offseason, and DeRenne said Hillenbrand has used a personal trainer to help him recover from muscle injuries before.

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Update: Shortly before the Friday midnight deadline, Alonso signed with the Reds for less than he'd wanted. He got a five-year major league deal that includes a $2 million signing bonus. In addition, Alonso gets a $50,000 salary for playing in the minors the rest of this season, $400,000 next year, $500,000 in 2010, $600,000 in 2011 and $1 million in 2012. If he is eligible for salary arbitration after 2011, he can void the 2012 salary.

The Long Island Ducks or Newark Bears could stand to pick up a big bat during the final weeks of the season. Miami slugger Yonder Alonso has said he is considering playing in the Atlantic League if he doesn't receive an acceptable contract offer from the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds drafted Alonso in the June amateur draft. He has one year of college eligibility remaining, but remarked that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has offered him a place to stay in New York if he wants to play for Long Island or Newark.

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