With 38 Players Used Already, Bears ‘Continuing to Build’; Perkins May Help

It is highly advisable for anyone going to a Newark Bearsgame to pick up a program.  This goes for regulars at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadiumas well as the casual fan or someone watching the Bears on the road.

Thirty-six games into the campaign or just past midway in the first half of the 140-game season, and Tim Raines’steam has already used 38 players.  The most astonishing number probably is in the fact Raines has called on 12 different pitchers to start games.

Paul Fagan, Matt Smithand James (Bubba) O’Donnellhave pretty well held their own in the rotation, compiling a combined 8-7 record, while everyone else—the other starters as well as the relievers—are only 6-15, which goes quite a distance in explaining why the Bears fell seven and a half  games off the pace of Freedom Divisionpacesetting Somersetafter a 9-5 defeat to Southern Marylandbefore 5,179 fans in Newark Tuesday morning.

“We are continuing to build a team here as the season goes on,” Raines said.

Among the most recent newcomers are catcher Isaiah Ka’aihue,who was with Yorkbriefly last season, infielder Shawn Williamsand a 6-foot-5 right-hander, Vince Perkins, who could add needed depth to the rotation.

* * * *WANT MOREINDEPENDENT BASEBALL COVERAGE?  Check out                  www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com * * * *

Michael Ryan Gets Time at First Base

Former Somerset outfielder Michael Ryanmay have caught at least a temporary break in the freak accident that cost Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimfirst baseman Kendry Moraleshis season.  Ryan was at first base Monday in the Angels’ 7-1 win at Kansas City with a single and run scored in three at-bats before he was removed for defense.  It was only Ryan’s fourth game with more than one at-bat since mid-May.  The ’08 Atlantic Leagueris 4-for-23 (.174) in 14 appearances since joining the American Leagueteam.

Meanwhile, Nelson Figueroahas hit another roadblock in the majors.  Philadelphia has designated the onetime Long Island Ducksrighty for assignment.  He was 1-1 with a save and a 4.82 ERA in 18.2 innings.

Ed Rogers Called the ‘Glue’ for His Triple-A Team

The praise could not get much better for former Bridgeport shortstop Ed Rogers, who is Mr. Versatility for the Arizona Diamondbacks’top farm club in Reno .

“He’s my glue,” praised onetime major league outfielder Brett Butler, his manager with the Aces,for an elaborate feature story for MLB.com. “He holds our club together.  Last year, we were 14-25 when we got Ed Rogers.  We ended up 15 games over .500.  He’s the leader in the clubhouse.  Everybody loves him.”

( These are excerpts from the Atlantic League Notebook. Subscriptions to the Notebook are available on a monthly or full season basis via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com .  Bob Wirz also writes a weekly column, the Independent Baseball Insider , as well as a blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)

?