York Revolution: August 2007 Archives

The Revs released former major leaguer Ramon Nivar before Thursday's game, booting a .300 hitter in the midst of a division race.

Here's one opinion why.

The York Revolution released infielder Ramon Nivar before Thursday's game at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The former major leaguer batted .306 in 69 games for the Revs, hitting three homers and 14 doubles.

The move comes at an odd time, considering the Revs trail first-place Somerset by 3 1/2 games in the Atlantic League South and they host the Patriots for two more games this week.

Revs director of baseball operations Adam Gladstone refused to comment directly on the move.

A professional hitter who had seen time in the majors with the O's and Rangers, Nivar's game lacked in other areas.

York's big showdown with the Somerset Patriots couldn't have come at a more trying time for the Revs. York's pitching staff needs a week to regroup after the club dropped five of its last six games.

Here's a quick rundown of the Revs pitching concerns.

* Right-handed reliever Jason Olson is expected to miss the entire series to attend personal business ... .

Before the first Atlantic League scrimmage of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers organization already had a scout stationed behind the backstops in Lakeland, Fla.

And its interest in Revs closer Franklin Nunez never waned -- even after an early season arm injury.

The Brewers signed their first Atlantic League player of the season, purchasing the contract of Nunez Tuesday and assigning him to Triple-A Nashville.

The Revs expect to start left-hander Pete Hartmann for his Atlantic League season debut against Lancaster Sunday. Selected in the preseason expansion draft, Hartmann signed with the Revs last week after spending the first months of the season pitching in Italy.

York needs a quality start from Hartmann.

Right-handed reliever Jason Olson is unavailable after starting his third career game Saturday. Left-handed reliever Steve Smyth is day-to-day with a bruised knee. Left-handed reliever Victor Kleine left the team over the weekend so he could attend a wedding. And the rest of the staff has been shuffled around after the Revs endured three rainouts this week.

To make up their rained-out game Sunday, the York Revolution and Long Island Ducks will play at 7:05 p.m., Monday, Sept. 10 at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

Those with seating bowl tickets from the Sunday, Aug. 19 game may use those same tickets on Sept. 10. No exchange will be necessary. All skybox level ticket-holders will be re-issued a ticket dated Sept. 10.

Ticket holders may also choose to exchange their tickets for any regular season game, based on availability. All exchanges must take place in person at the Revolution Ticket Office at 216 N. George St. until 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., fans may exchange their tickets at the stadoum ticket office.

For tickets or more information about the York Revolution, please call 717-801-HITS or visit www.YorkRevolution.com.

Another new player showed up in York Tuesday.

LHP Pete Hartmann was listed on York's roster. The former Long Island Ducks starter was acquired by the Revs during the offseason expansion draft. Hartmann decided to play in Italy this season, but joined York after completing his season in Europe.

Hartmann went 10-6 with a 4.19 ERA last season in Long Island. He played in 40 games last season, working as an effective starter during the final two months of the season.

York blew it.

In one of York's rare matchups against a losing club during the final four weeks of the season, the Revs allowed the Road Warriors to walk away with a 7-0 victory.

After watching the game it's difficult to picture York making the playoffs.

Although the Revs may have the best team in the second half, they have a difficult final four weeks of the season. And "gimme" wins against the Road Warriors disappear after this week.

Sixteen of York's final 27 games will be against winning clubs, including nine games against Newark -- a club that has beaten York in eight of nine contests this season.

Second-place Somerset has an easier schedule, playing only six of its final 25 games against winners.

The spoiler in all of this could be the Barnstormers.

Tonight’s game between the York Revolution and the Road Warriors at Sovereign Bank Stadium is officially rained out. The game has been rescheduled as a doubleheader starting at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday.

Gates will open at 5:05. There will be a 20-minute break in between games.

Those who have tickets for tonight’s game may exchange those tickets for any remaining regular season York Revolution home game, based on availability.

Tickets dated for Tuesday will receive two games for the price of one.

Tickets are available for tomorrow by calling 717-801-HITS or by visiting www.YorkRevolution.com.

Attending a York Revolution game is quickly becoming the thing to do around here on Saturday nights. Overall, the Revs are averaging 3,551 fans per game at Sovereign Bank Stadium, through 40 home dates.

The average attendance on Saturdays, however, is a robust 4,712. And, over the past four Saturdays, the average crowd has been 5,433 — including a stadium-record crowd of 6,349 this past Saturday. (Maybe some of those fans wanted to see the visiting Long Island Ducks, whose lineup includes Pete Rose Jr., Carl Everett and Edgardo Alfonzo.)

Area fans are clearly savoring the return of professional baseball.

As reported by the Evening Sun's Patrick Abdalla on Sunday...

Mark Phillips never got to pitch on Sunday against the Lancaster Barnstormers.

That was tough for him. It could, however, benefit area fans who want to see the former Hanover High and Stoverstown hurler play as he takes the field for the Newark Bears.

Before Sunday’s rainout, Phillips’ spot in the rotation would have had him missing the series between the Bears and the York Revolution at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Sept. 4-6.

York 5, Somerset 0

York passed its first real test of the second half, knocking off the Somerset Patriots in the final two games of a three-game set between the Atlantic League South's top two teams.

York won the finale 5-0 behind left-hander Wayne Franklin.

The former major league reliever allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked two in 8 1/3 innings. Franklin Nunez retired the final two batters to seal the win.

The victory also moved the Revs two games ahead of Somerset atop the Atlantic League South.

But it doesn't get any easier for the Revs. The Long Island Ducks travel to Sovereign Bank Stadium for the start of a three-game series Friday.

The York Revolution have sent LHP Matt Ford to the Bridgeport Bluefish as expected, but will not immediately receive a player in return.

Catcher Sandy Aracena is expected to join the Revs, but only after Bridgeport can find a catcher to replace him.

The retirement of Greg Brown caused the York Revolution to shuffle their lineup once again.

And York appears to have made the most of the situation.

The team loses a veteran arm in lefty Matt Ford (2-4, 6.97 ERA), but it picked up an everyday catcher and right-handed bat capable of hitting .300 in Sandy Aracena.

It's the same old place he always stood after games signing autographs, but Tuesday night was different. Greg Brown had played his last game.

The York Revolution catcher had retired from playing to pursue a job opportunity with the Florida Marlins organization. Brown expects to interview with the Marlins for a scouting position later this month. York moved to fill the void created by Brown’s retirement by sending left-handed reliever Matt Ford to Bridgeport for catcher Sandy Aracena.

The York Revolution will be hosting two upcoming "Tribute Nights". Tuesday, August 14 will be the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" night and Thursday, August 16 will be Armed Forces night.

The Revs will re-unite those individuals who walked in the "Relay for Life" at West York High School on June 15. This event raised money and awareness for cancer research, families and survivors. Tuesday's pre-game cancer survivor parade will take place on the field of Sovereign Bank Stadium prior to the 7:05 p.m. start against the Somerset Patriots.

Tike Redman became the first player from the York Revolution to return to the majors.

The Baltimore Orioles promoted Redman from Triple-A Norfolk prior to Thursday's game against Seattle. Redman hit .300 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 79 games for the Norfolk Tides. Cut by the Boston Red Sox in spring training, Redman batted .464 in seven games for York before the Orioles purchased his contract on May 14.

Redman batted .277 in five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2000 and 2005.

The York Revolution have now played 32 games at home, including yesterday's game.

In those 32 games, they have drawn 108,682 fans, for an average of 3,396 fans per game.

Of the seven Atlantic League teams that have home stadiums, the Revolution rank fifth in average attendance (statistics are through all of Sunday's games).

1. Long Island = 6,060 average through 52 home games
2. Somerset = 5,352 average through 50 homes games
3. Lancaster = 4,937 average through 51 home games
4. Camden = 3,516 average through 48 home games
5. York = 3,396 average through 32 home games
6. Newark = 2,708 average through 47 home games
7. Bridgeport = 2,651 average through 43 home games

The York Revolution's remaining schedule includes 18 more home games in August and 9 home games in September.

York resident Brian Bailey writes in with this letter on an issue he sees at Sovereign Bank Stadium:

I recently attended a Revolution baseball game on a Sunday afternoon and had a relatively pleasant experience, but I was very concerned with a safety issue that didn't seem to be of importance to anyone else. The designer of Sovereign Bank Stadium did a great job, except for one glaring item. There isn't any protective netting in the outfield recreation area where the children play. This to me is inexcuseable!