IT IS PLAYOFF TIME WITH A GREAT PITCHING PAIRING WHEN BRIDGEPORT MEETS SOUTHERN MARYLAND

We tried to get everyone ready for the Atlantic League playoffs today with the Tuesday edition of the Atlantic League Notebook. Highlights included a marquee matchup in Waldorf, MD Wednesday night when Bridgeport's Esteban Yan opposes new league record-holder Dan Reichert (18 wins) of Southern Maryland. Somerset travels to York for the other series.

The Notebook also tracked another two million attendance year--down very slightly from '09--and traced some of the league's top statistical producers for the season.

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IT WAS A RARE MOMENT FOR THE ATLANTIC LEAGUE

The playoff lineup is finally established in the Atlantic League (Bridgeport at Southern Maryland, Somerset at York),but much of our attention in Tuesday's Atlantic League Notebook was on a rare--and neat--major league happening when two former players from the Independent league went head to head from pitcher's mound to home plate. The Notebook has all the details in addition to two stories about Atlantic Leaguers trying to re-build major league careers, and some potentially crucial last-minute roster additions for the playoffs.

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ATLANTIC LEAGUE STARS OF TODAY AND YESTERDAY WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN FRIDAY NOTEBOOK

Somerset's 5-foot-9 sparkplug is back in time for a playoff push and we track any number of former Atlantic League players, informing fans of their progress once they joined affiliated leagues. But Jacque Jones and Wily Mo Pena do not appear headed back to the major leagues, at least this season.

These are a few of the highlights of the Friday issue of the Atlantic League Notebook, which went out to subscribers earlier in the day. Check out how you can subscribe for the closing weeks of the season here on www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

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IT IS THE MEXICAN LEAGUE VS. THE ATLANTIC LEAGUE AND JEFF NETTLES VS. GRAIG NETTLES

Comparing the Atlantic and Mexican Leagues, Jeff Nettles's home run barrage vs. his Dad's exploits, and the glove-tight league home run race all were featured in Tuesday's Atlantic League Notebook, which has gone out to subscribers.

Jay Gibbons, Mike Rivera, Tom Cochran, Matt Watson, Melvin Falu, Gabe Suarez and numerous others also were part of the Notebook.

The season is running short, but subscriptions still are available here at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

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LONG ISLAND TAKES A BIG HIT WITH THE LOSS OF LAST SEASON'S TOP PLAYER

Long Island has taken a hit with the loss of 2009 Player of the Year Ray Navarrete. We offer the details, plus Navarrete's post playing-career plans in the Tuesday version of the Atlantic League Notebook. Other highlights of the Notebook Tuesday include:

--Attention to the Freedom Division race between Somerset and Lancaster, including players who are driving their success

--This player went from spring training with the Chicago Cubs to being a true believer in the quality of the Atlantic League

--Can you identify the former Atlantic Leaguers hitting numerous home runs in other Independent leagues? We can.

Subscriptions are available here at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

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FROM CLOSERS TO MEXICAN LEAGUE STARS TO JOSE CANSECO IN TODAY'S NOTEBOOK

Since closers almost always play a major role in important series, we took an extensive look at those who finish games for contending teams in the Atlantic League Notebook for Friday.

Subscribers also learned about various key acquisitions from the Mexican League for the stretch run, we talked about why York is not as consistent as earlier in the year, and we touched on what Jose Canseco is doing with the bat these days. It may surprise many fans that he is enjoying success at age 46.

Subscriptions are available elsewhere on this site.

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ILLNESS DOES NOT KEEP THIS PAIR FROM STANDOUT SEASONS

As the Atlantic League playoffs draw closer, the Tuesday Atlantic League Notebook zoomed in on two players having outstanding seasons who may well oppose each other. There is a sub-plot for the pair.

The Notebook also features, among other items:

--Two no-hit games which were overlooked earlier

--The newest player sale to a major league organization

--Who is the 2010 Mexican League batting champion playing with now?

Subscriptions to the twice-a-week Notebook are available at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com.

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