Posted on June 15th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
Having spent his fair share of time in independent baseball, Mark Mason knows the routine.
When June rolls around — and starting pitching becomes scarce — it’s time to hunker down and make due with what you have.
“No matter who you bring in at this point — unless you make a trade for somebody or somebody gets released from affiliated ball that’s been starting — you’re going to have to build anybody up,” the York Revolution pitching coach (pictured) said recently. “There’s no guy that’s sitting out there that’s built up to throw.”
This reality explains why the Revs have been patient with the newly-acquired Jacob Marceaux. Even though the former first-round pick of the Florida Marlins has failed to pitch more than four innings in any of his three starts, York has to be patient.
The Revs did get a gem from Derell McCall on Monday. The right-hander threw six shutout innings in a win over Camden. But York needs to see more consistency from its starting rotation.
Prior to McCall’s start — and six inning from Bob Zimmermann in Game 2 of a doubleheader Sunday — York’s starters had gone five innings or less in eight consecutive outings.
For the year, the Revolution starting rotation has compiled a 16-10 record with a 4.24 ERA. Entering Tuesday, York’s starters had thrown 240 innings.
Filed under: Roster Moves, York Revolution | No Comments »
Posted on May 20th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
Even before the York Revolution rebounded slightly and avoided a four-game series sweep Thursday afternoon, Andy Etchebarren remained steadfast on two of the most headline-grabbing roster moves of his offseason.
His decision to trade Matt Padgett (pictured right) to Long Island and to allow Matt Esquivel to walk? Etchebarren is still liking both moves just fine.
“Absolutely I made the right decision,” Etchebarren said after Wednesday night’s doubleheader. “Listen, they’re both pretty good players. I never said they weren’t good players.
“But Matt Esquivel, with what he hit last year, he had one good month. He had one good month. … I wasn’t going to put guys here just because the fans liked them. How good did that turn out last year? You got to tell the truth.”
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Filed under: Long Island Ducks, Roster Moves, Signings, York Revolution | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 19th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
For those of you out there with curious minds, former York Revolution outfielder Matt Esquivel did not go 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao prior to spring training this year.
Esquivel’s black eye (shown right in his Long Island mug shot) was the result of a rather bizarre accident in a batting cage.
Pitching soft toss to former Rev and current Long Island teammate Matt Padgett a few days before spring training, Padgett ripped a ball over an L-screen. That ball ricocheted off a pole and then fired back on a collision course toward Esquivel’s left eye.
Initially, Esquivel was worried his season — and perhaps his career — may be lost. But after consulting an eye specialist, he received assurance that he would be OK.
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Filed under: Alumni Report, Long Island Ducks, Signings, York Revolution | No Comments »
Posted on May 17th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
The York Revolution made two roster moves after the completion of Sunday’s 8-4 loss to Newark, releasing infielder/catcher Charlie Lisk and relief pitcher Frank Gracesqui.
Lisk entered spring training as the frontrunner to emerge as York’s starting third baseman, but the converted catcher struggled both in the field and at the plate.
He only managed a .158 batting average with 21 strikeouts in 57 at-bats and became expendable after the addtions of Ramon Castro and John Pachot.
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Posted on May 6th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
On a rather uneventful morning in spring training, Jamar Hill strolled to home plate in batting practice and hilarity ensued.
The entire York Revolution makeshift defense slid over to the left side of the diamond. Meaning four outfielders, three infielders and a couple of positions you’d see in beer league softball were all to the left of second base.
This approach, of course, was to mock Hill’s dead-pull approach at the plate. Although he didn’t mind the practical joke one bit.
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Posted on May 3rd, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
Lancaster’s Clipper Magazine Stadium, the ballpark York Revolution pitching coach Mark Mason referred to as “an airport,” can be both a blessing and a curse.
For every cheap homer to the 300-foot, right-field porch, there are several vicious, empty swings from home and away players. That’s just a way of life with the parameters installed at the Clip.
So one might find it interesting that this ballpark actually helped the York Revolution over the weekend — especially its right-handed hitters. According to manager Andy Etchebarren, his right-handed hitters stayed on the ball longer to take advantage of right field.
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Posted on April 28th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
The York Revolution cut its roster to 25 players on Wednesday, releasing pitcher Yosandy Ibanez.
Ibanez, 28, was expected to be a hard-throwing arm at the end of the Revs’ bullpen. Instead, he leaves York having pitched in only one game and surrendering two walks in an inning of work.
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Posted on April 27th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
Unable to contribute to the team the way he would like at the moment, Matt Riley turned his attention toward other matters that will help the York Revolution.
As in developing a third and fourth devastating pitch.
Riley, 30, said Sunday afternoon that he and Revolution pitching coach Mark Mason are experimenting with a split-finger fastball and a cutter.
Ideally, Riley will master the split because he already boasts the velocity necessary to make the pitch effective. That would be a nice complement to his mid-90s fastball and terrific curve ball.
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Filed under: Camden Riversharks, Player Profiles, York Revolution | No Comments »
Posted on April 25th, 2010 by Jeff Johnson
James Morrison does not throw a lights-out fastball by any means.
Instead, he relies on his control — and a sinker that he throws with a ton of movement down in the strike zone.
It’s this pitch that has kept his career going after surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2003. His control of it is also a big reason why Morrison, 29, made the York Revolution opening-day roster.
That appeared far from a lock at the beginning of camp. Considering the resume of Jerry Dunn, the terrific stuff of Steve MacFarland and the ties to the team of Brian Holliday, Morrison had an uphill battle.
Nonetheless, he landed a spot on the Revs. And he knows what will make him successful in the Atlantic League.
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Filed under: Player Profiles, Signings, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Spring Training, York Revolution | No Comments »
