Tuesday, June 29, 2010

ON BRINK OF TITLE, YORK CAN THANK JOHN PACHOT'S 22-5 RECORD WHEN STARTING

So many factors can be pinpointed when a team is on the brink of a championship as York is on this very evening (Tuesday), but the most striking is what all-star catcher John Pachot has meant to the Revolution.

York had whittled its magic number for clinching its initial Freedom Division first half title—and only its second of any kind—down to two entering Tuesday’s home game against Long Island with the enviable cushion of knowing five more home games remain if they are needed before the Revolution eliminate two-time defending champion Somerset.

Where would Andy Etchebarren’s club be if Pachot had not returned from Mexico early in the season and eventually taken over the fulltime catching duties once Salomon Manriquez was traded to Lancaster.

York is 22-5 in games he has caught, an unheard of .815 winning percentage. The Revolution is only 16-21 (.432) when anyone other than the Puerto Rican native is behind the plate.

The story above was one part of the Tuesday edition of the Atlantic League Notebook, which has been emailed to subscribers. Other features of the Notebook included:

--What Lancaster is doing to get ready for the season's second half

--With the All-Star Game in one week, who has the most players in the game plus what All-Star just returned from an affiliated league

--Who is the newest Atlantic League player to join the Angels' top farm club in Salt Lake City

--News of roster moves

The Notebook is published every Tuesday and Friday with subscriptions available for $29.95 for the season at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com.

Friday, June 25, 2010

NEW LEAGUE, MORE HOMERS FOR JESSE HOORELBEKE

The Brothers Hoorelbeke, Jesse and Casey, are having quite a summer in their new home, the independent Northern League.

Jesse, who was the Atlantic League’s all-star first baseman when he bombed 23 homers and drove in 88 runs for Bridgeport in ‘09, is setting the home run pace with 11 in his first 30 games in the Northern League, and he is second in batting at .343 and third in RBI at 28 for league-leading Fargo, ND. He had a three-home run game earlier this week. He played at Fargo in 2006 before coming to Bridgeport for three years, leading the Atlantic League in home runs (33) in 2007 and in RBI (106) the next season.

Meanwhile, Casey, who also played for the Bluefish one year ago, has the second best earned run average in the league at 1.39.

This story was only one of those in Friday's subscriber-only Atlantic League Notebook. Some of the other features of the Notebook include:

--If Bobby Valentine takes over the Florida Marlins, as suggested, could this recent Atlantic Leaguer be reunited with him?

--Two of the six players Oakland took out of the Atlantic League recently are gone. Who are they, and how are the remaining four doing?

--York turns to an established local businessman as its new president and general manager

--Which Atlantic League teams have the most players now in major league organizations? See the count for each team.

Subscriptions to the Atlantic League Notebook are $29.95 for the season, and are available by using the link elsewhere on this page.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

FOUR SPECIFIC SERIES MAY DECIDE THE TWO TIGHT RACES FOR FIRST-HALF TITLES

Are you on top of the crucial series which likely will decide both first half champions in the Atlantic League? We outlined them in today's (Tuesday) Atlantic League Notebook. Other highlights of this subscriber-driven publication include:

--What Long Island is considering to strengthen its pitching after losing two key starters. A former all-star may be at least part of the solution

--Dave LaPoint is impressed with the quality of bullpens in the Atlantic League this year. He singled out one "horse" who he especially likes

--This former Camden slugger has a three-home run game and No. 200 of his career

--Our odds and ends section has some juicy tidbits

The Atlantic League Notebook is published every Tuesday and Friday with subscriptions available for $29.95 at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

Friday, June 18, 2010

HOW ARE FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYERS DOING IN MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONS? THE NOTEBOOK HAS SOME ANSWERS

It is alumni day for the Atlantic League Notebook with most of the stories, which have gone to subscribers, featuring the fortunes of players now in major league organizations, including:

--What is next for the outfielder just dropped by an American League club?

--It is so much easier, this player says, to have a good attitude

--How did Sparky Lyle's predition work out?

--Could this hot pitcher be next to return to the majors?

Subscriptions for the season ($29.95) are available www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

THE TALK OF CRISTIAN GUERRERO'S RARE FEAT DOES NOT END

Today's Atlantic League Notebook is highlighted by a story, full of quotes, about the five consecutive home runs hit by former Atlantic League player Cristian Guerrero. It is believed only one other player has accomplished this feat in the history of professional baseball.

Other highlights of the Notebook, which has gone out to subsribers:

-What 2009 all-star won Player of the Week honors in another Independent league?

-An update on Somerset's walking wounded as the Patriots stay in contention

-The last three Atlantic League batting champions are making news

Subscriptions to the Notebook are available for the season for $29.95. Get the details and see a collection of videos at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

Monday, June 14, 2010

ONETIME CAMDEN OUTFIELDER CRISTIAN GUERRERO BLASTS FIVE HOMERS IN AN MANY TIMES AT BAT

What an unbelieavable feat was accomplished recently by longtime minor league outfielder Cristian Guerrero, who homered on five consecutive at-bats for the Gary (IN) RailCats in a Northern League doubleheader.

Guerrero, the first cousin of major leaguers Vladimer and Wilton Guerrero, homered in his last two trips to the plate in Game 1 of a doubleheader, then came back with round-trippers in his first three at-bats in the nightcap.

Guerrero, 29, is in his third season at Gary. He spent a good portion of 2007 at Camden where he homered seven times in 145 at-bats. The 6-foot-5 native of the Dominican Republic hit .290 with 23 RBI in 43 games for the Riversharks.

The right-handed hitter entered this season with 125 career homers, only one of which had come above the Class AA level.

Friday, June 11, 2010

PLAYERS ARE COMING AND GOING, AND WE CAN TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE

The Friday edition of the Atlantic League Notebook has been delivered to subscribers. Highlights include:

Among all players sold to major league organizations this year, which positions are most dominant?

This veteran walks away with a career .301 average

What player got back to a major league organization, then was only allowed 21 at-bats before being released?

One Atlantic League player gets more play with his major league team while another is let go

Duck Nate, Duck!

Subscriptions to the Notebook for the entire season run $29.95 and are available at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

SEVERAL MORE PLAYER CONTRACTS SOLD, BUT THIS VET IS SEEING RESULTS AT HIS NEW POSITION

The Tuesday version of the Atlantic League Notebook, delivered to subscribers earlier, includes details on the following subjects:

The encouraging signs in longtime catcher Ben Davis's conversion to pitching

One side gets immediate benefits from this trade

This York newcomer, producing now with the bat, considering med school in the future

Sales, sales and still more player sales to major league organizations

Can a walk-off home run be hit on the road? You bet

Fans may subscribe for the entire Atlantic League season for $29.95 (one month for $5.95)at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com.

Friday, June 4, 2010

BRIDGEPORT'S OFFENSE MAY TAKE OFF IF TWO RECENT ADDITIONS HIT

What is Bridgeport doing to bolster its chances? Could it be another York? Subscribers already have the details from Friday's Atlantic League Notebook.
Other Friday highlights include:

The explanation behind Somerset's recent struggles.

Did you know a recent Atlantic League player hit the only home run off phenom Stephen Strasburg? We have the details.

Which players who had their contracts purchased recently by major league organizations are thriving?

Subscriptions to the Notebook are only $29.95 for the season or $5.95 for a month. Details are covered at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

NEWARK CONTINUES ITS EFFORT TO IMPROVE AND FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUERS MAKE NEWS

Highlights of the Tuesday version of the Atlantic League Notebook, which has been sent to subscribers, include:

Who are some of the key new faces as Newark tries to rebound?

Details on Sam Narron's hot starts that have Camden in contention

How Michael Ryan may benefit from Kendry Morales's misfortune

What former Atlantic Leaguer is called the 'Glue' to his Triple-A team?

The Notebook is fresh every Tuesday and Friday. A subscription for the entire season is $29.95 ($5.95 monthly) and is available via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com.