York Revolution: March 2009 Archives

Born in nearby Beaver, Josh Sharpless grew up a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.

So he couldn't believe his luck in 2006. Drafted by his favorite team out of Allegheny College, he had advanced to the majors in his fourth professional season.

"It was just special," Sharpless said, "just to be able to fulfill my dream. To put on the jersey my favorite players wore and to play for the team I grew up cheering for -- it was overwhelming at times.

"I'm talking about the two weeks in '06. I was on Cloud Nine. It kind of felt like a storybook."

And it all changed the next season.

Matt Padgett spent the offseason doing the work of an agent. He called major league organizations. He checked in with former scouts and front office types he met on his way up the minor league ladder.

"I was surprised with the feedback I did get," Padgett said, "just the number of guys who took the time to call me back."

No organization had openings, but they did tell him they would keep him in mind for any openings they had this spring. So Padgett, 31, returned to York. He never really thought about retirement. He batted .303 last season, after all, and felt he could increase his power numbers if he came back to the Atlantic League.

One of the Atlantic League's original six teams in 1998, the Atlantic City Surf ceased operations according the Press of Atlantic City.

This is bad news for the Can-Am League, and bad news for independent baseball. The Surf last played in the Atlantic League in 2006, losing to eventual league champion Lancaster in the playoffs.

The York Revolution signed their seventh pitcher with major league experience, agreeing to terms with former Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Josh Sharpless, outfielder Matt Padgett, catcher Luis Taveras and infielder Rayner Bautista.

Sharpless has never started a game during his six-year professional career. He has a 1-1 major league record with a 4.41 ERA after pitching in a combined 20 big league games in 2006-07. He spent all of last season with Connecticut in the Eastern League, sporting a 1-1 record with a 3.51 ERA.

Taveras (.245, 11 HRs) returns with York for a third season, and Padgett (.303, 9 HRs) and Bautista (.299, 7 HRs in 2007) return for their second seasons with the Revolution. Bautista could be a nice fit for York, because even though he struggled defensively at short for periods in 2007 he is the type of player York could turn to if projected starter Danny Sandoval earns a promotion to affiliated baseball. Bautista spent last season in Italy, a retirement community of sorts for pro ballplayers. Veteran ballplayers can earn money in Italy, and only have to play about 40 games.

Former Revolution second baseman Enrique Cruz informed team officials last week he does not expect to play baseball this season. The son of former major leaguer Jose Cruz and younger brother of outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. has started working in the sports agency business for Beverly Hills Sports Council.

The sports council represented more than 100 major league players and more than 150 minor league players during the 2003 season according to the Sports Business Journal.

There are some perks when it comes to the sports agency field as detailed in this USA Today article from November.

Here is a link to a Daily Record/Sunday News article explaining why York has acquired so many major league veterans. At the bottom of the story, the York roster and the entire list of players signed throughout the league is detailed -- using press releases and published reports.

Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone is always reluctant to predict success or shortcomings for any of the teams he builds, but he did admit he likes the nucleus of this year's team. Players like Jason Aspito, Corey Thurman and Wayne Franklin can compete at a high level in the league, and clean up clubhouse issues before they become problems.

York has started to build a team that could win a first-half title, something York manager Chris Hoiles stressed that he wanted to do at the end of last season. He was sick of struggling through a second-half playoff push when players are more apt to leave the club because of injuries and replacements are difficult to find.

The Revolution expected to make the announcement in the next few days or hours. They had inked former Braves prospect Jake Stevens, a talented young left-hander who did not pitch last season after jumping from Class A to Triple-A in 2007.

The Orioles -- in desperate need of pitching -- signed Stevens to a minor league deal before the Revolution could make an announcement. The Revolution also revealed they had agreed to terms with catcher Josh Johnson this winter, only to watch him earn a contract with the Padres.

It's not unusual for players to earn contracts with major league organizations before playing a game for the Revolution. Reliever Steve Schmoll played for the Harrisburg Senators last season (3-5, 3.07 ERA) after being the property of York for about 24 hours. And pitcher John Ennis earned a minor league deal with the Phillies in March after being one of the first two players signed by the Barnstormers this winter.

Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein explained to me last season that the league does not receive money if an Atlantic League player earns a contract in affiliated baseball before actually playing a regular season game.

Most times, a player leaves the Atlantic League for not-so-green pastures.

Some kick around the smaller independent leagues, their batting averages dipping with each move. Some find work in Italy, one step out of professional baseball. Others retire and find a job in corporate America.

So it's always nice to see some of York's alumni putting up solid numbers in another independent league. Retired at the start of last season, former Revolution slugger Kelly Hunt (pictured above) resurfaced in the Frontier League last season. He signed with the Wichita Wingnuts in the American Association this season.

And yes, for all those Falcons fans out there -- and we have several -- Hunt starred in college for Bowling Green.

Former major league pitcher Wayne Franklin will start his third straight season with the York Revolution, one of four players signed Monday by the club.

Mike Smith, who also pitched in the majors, reliever Dan Foli and outfielder Ryan Goleski have also signed deals.

Smith has appeared in 15 major league games, and last pitched in the big leagues in 2006 with the Minnesota Twins. A back injury caused him to miss most of last season, but he recovered in time to pitch for the Brockton Rox, a member of the independent Can-Am League.

York's pitching staff consists of six players with major league experience.

The following is a column for the Daily Record/Sunday News. Former major league pitcher Jason Kershner (pictured above in a Reading Phillies courtesy photo) is one of four pitchers signed by the York Revolution this preseason.

Jason Kershner doesn't watch baseball anymore.

Not the made-for-television version of the game at least. He has his own back-row seat to the live version -- the no tape-delay needed, feel the raindrops on your back type. He sits somewhere near the foul line or beyond the outfield fence, whatever passed for a bullpen in the Eastern, Southern or Pacific Coast leagues the last few seasons. This year he's had to make a change. He couldn't find a job with a major league organization. So he inquired about a spot with the York Revolution. A pitcher with 89 career appearances (2002-04) in the big leagues, the 32-year-old hopes to rebuild his career at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

But Kershner -- at least the tween or teenage version of Kershner -- he must have been the Urkel of baseball dorks. Kershner can still tell the stories.

One of the bright spots for the Revolution -- maybe the only bright spot during York's 8-20 start last season -- came whenever Dave Gassner took the mound. (Gassner is pictured above during his days with Purdue University.)

He went 2-3 with a 3.06 ERA for York, and breathed life into an organization that had been handcuffed by the injuries to Pete Munro and Landon Jacobsen in spring training. Jacobsen and Munro never pitched for York, so the Revolution needed to find a starter and fast.

Gassner arrived, only because he had a miserable experience in Taiwan.

The economy has shown little sign of affecting the York Revolution's roster this season. The Revs signed four more players Wednesday, including three players with major league experience.

Former Phillie Danny Sandoval (31 major league games), pictured above left, could solve the Revolution's two-year struggle at shortstop, and left-handed pitchers Dave Gassner (two appearances with Twins) and Jason Kershner (89 appearances) bolster an already impressive pitching staff. All four of the pitchers signed this offseason have major league experience.

Another key for the Revolution will be the return of center fielder and leadoff man Kennard Jones.

The former Orioles prospect hit .333 in 88 games for York, hitting 8 doubles, five triples and eight homers. Jones led all York regulars with a .411 OBP and 17 stolen bases.

Revolution Director of Baseball Operations Adam Gladstone did not expect Jones to return to independent baseball this season.

Tom Collaro (pictured above in spring training in 2008) is coming off the worst season of his career. The outfielder spent time with four teams and three organizations.

In an interview last week he sounded anxious to prove people wrong. He thinks he deserves another shot in affiliated baseball. One of four players under contract with the Revolution, Collaro had tryouts scheduled with two major league organizations. And by the way, that's perfectly fine for Atlantic League players. (Atlantic League teams often want players to sign contracts in the spring, telling them there are no strings attached. The league wants these players back in affiliated baseball. And if an Atlantic League player earns a contract with a major league affiliate before they report to Atlantic League spring training, the league does not charge a transfer fee.)

But this brings up an interesting topic. Does a certain mindset or attitude help indy ball players survive?