Revs' Inside Pitch

Scenes from The Vault

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:29:42 -0500

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!"

A familiar scene for Tippy

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:17:45 -0500

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

Gladstone on division title

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:47:29 -0500

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

One win away

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:10:46 -0500

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.

Punches thrown at The Vault

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:59:06 -0500

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.

Wild turn of events

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:49:46 -0500

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.

Kirk: Richmond could join league in '09

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:59:09 -0500

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."

Kirk unveils Richmond plans

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:38:04 -0500

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.

Perez returns, brings bat

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:33:16 -0500

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.

Revs acquire two for stretch run

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:41:12 -0500

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.

Division leaders square off

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:50:09 -0500

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.

Hoiles' future still in doubt

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:01:43 -0500

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."

Rainout creates interesting doubleheader

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:15:12 -0500

Turns out a rainout could be good news for baseball fans in York and Lancaster. Instead of rescheduling the game as part of a doubleheader Saturday or Sunday, the teams have agreed to play a cross-river doubleheader in both York and Lancaster Saturday, Sept. 20.

It will be a true Route 30 Series.

The teams will play a noon game in York at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The teams will then pack up, drive across the Susquehanna River and play a 7:05 p.m. game in Lancaster at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Fans holding tickets for Friday's rainout can keep their tickets and use them for the noon game Sept. 20. Fans who are unable to attend the Sept. 20 game, can exchange their tickets for any of the 12 remaining opening dates.

Revs vs. Stormers

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:52:28 -0500

Opening Day Partners thought they finally had a dream scenario. York and Lancaster appeared to be in a playoff chase. That was before Lancaster fell apart by losing six of their last seven entering Thursday night.

York remains in first place, but the Newark Bears are poised to challenge the Revs for the second-half title. But Lancaster could spoil York's playoff hopes.

Here's a look at the upcoming three-game series in York:

Should York sit Ashby?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:55:58 -0500

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.