Trade Paid Immediate Dividends for One Side; Player Sales to Major League Teams Keep Mounting

Best friends Butch Hobsonand Andy Etchebarrenmay have second thoughts the next time they consider making a trade right ahead of a series between Hobson’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabsand Etchebarren’s York Revolution.

They swapped outfielders hours before starting a three-game set in Southern Maryland last weekend, and Jamar Hillallowed the Crabs to come out smelling the fruits of the deal by cracking key home runs in each of the first two contests, both won by Hobson’s troops.  The right fielder had two doubles in addition to the homer in a 3-for-3 opener, and his sixth inning shot on Saturday not only broke a 1-1 tie but also ignited three consecutive homers.  Casey Benjaminand Travis Garciadid the rest of the damage in the back-to-back-to-back blasts.  Interestingly, Hobson had moaned right before the game “we’re just not hitting.”

York salvaged the Sunday finale and stopped former teammate Hill with a 0-for-5 day although he still was 5-for-12 in the series.  Brian McFall, the other half of the trade, only played in the middle game, going 0-for-3 in his Revolution debut.

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Haake Using Bat Now, ‘Mind’ Later

Indecision whether to continue on a path to become a doctor cost Steve Haakea sixth consecutive season in the Northern League(the league has a limit on veteran players per team) so the 29-year-old outfielder out of Northwesternis getting an opportunity to check out the Atlantic Leaguein his ninth professional season, all in Independent leagues.

The lefty hitter still is rounding into playing form, but Etchebarren is encouraged by Haake’s “good short swing” which drove in all four runs and included a three-run homer in that 4-3 win at Southern MarylandSunday.  Haake is 6-for-22 (.273) in his first five games.

As for his post playing days, Haake still is not certain of his path although he knows he wants to do “something using my mind.”  His history degree at Northwestern and pre-med study at Valparaiso would indicate his entire life will not be spent on a baseball diamond.

Narron’s Streak Ends at 20 Innings

Sam Narron’sscoreless streak, which stood at 20 innings when he left Camden ,ended in the very first inning of his maiden start in the Pacific Coast LeagueMonday.  Still, the southpaw allowed only three runs and seven hits in six innings while taking a 5-3 loss for Nashville (Milwaukee)at Round Rock, TX (Houston).

Narron was one of the steady stream of Atlantic Leagueplayers leaving for major league organizations in recent days.  Camden also lost catcher Dayton Bullerto Nashville, Lancaster got hit twice with catcher Salomon Manriquezgoing to the New York Metsorganization and closer Scott Pattersonto Seattle.  The Marinersalso signed Jarrett Grube(3-3, 2.06) from Southern Maryland . Newark lost infielders Fernando Cortezto the Chicago White Soxand Fernando Seguignolbecame the first Atlantic League player to go directly to Japan’smajor leagues.  Siguignol was hitting .337 with three homers, but the 35-year-old already ranks as the all-time home run leader in Japan among switch-hitters (44) for his six previous years of play.  Somerset sold the contract of right-hander Tom Mastny(3-2) to Florida .

( 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.)