Mexican Leaguers Give Major Boost to Already Potent Bluefish; York and Somerset Also Go Outside League for Pitching

It appears successful baseball managers such as Butch Hobson, Sparky Lyleand Andy Etchebarrenmay want to book a little time in Mexico before the next Atlantic Leagueseason.  At the least, they should brush up on their Spanish.

While the playoffs are far from over with the unpredictability of five-game series, one team has flexed its muscles in the first two games, and it is not one managed by the trio of former major leaguers mentioned above.

Willie Upshaw’s Bridgeport Bluefishhad a fiesta at the expense of Hobson’s host Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, romping 6-1 and 11-1 in the best-of-five series, and a quartet of bullfighters—players, that is—who spent much of the summer in the Triple-A Mexican Leaguedid a great deal of the damage.  The Bluefish could wrap up a spot in the championship series as early as Friday night when it is their turn to play at home.

The Freedom Divisionfinalist is much more up in the air with Lyle’s defending champion Somersetand Etchebarren’s York Revolutionowning one decisive victory apiece with the next two games at the Patriots’ TD Bank Ballparkwhere they are 14-7 all-time in their flashy playoff history.

It was no secret Bridgeport had some potent pieces in place as it waltzed through the second half in the Liberty Divisionwith a dominant 34-13 run from August 1 on, with the likes of outfielder Steve Mossand veteran major league first baseman Josh Phelpsmanning the 3-4 spots in the batting order and four starting pitchers at least four wins over .500.

Upshaw and General Manager Bob Goughanfirst dialed 1-800-Mexico June 15 for infielder-outfielder Hiram Bocachica, and they picked up the pace for outfielder Tike RedmanJuly 24, major league vet and staff ace Esteban YanAugust 17 and infielder Victor Mercedes10 days later.

Yan easily outpitched new league record-holder Dan Reichert(18 wins) with a four-hit complete game to open the playoffs while Mercedes hit a two-run home run and Redman had a two-run double in a five-run second inning.  Bocachica homered in the fifth, and was the pivot man on three double plays.  In Thursday’s romp, MVP candidate Moss hit a pair of two-run round-trippers and Phelps had a solo blast, but Bocachica and Mercedes combined to drive in five runs, with a homer apiece, and Redman had three hits and scored twice.

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

York Turns to the Outside for Game 3 Starter

While Bridgeport went the Mexican Leagueroute for late-season help, combatants Somerset and Yorkboth reached into the independent American Associationfor starting pitching help.  The Patriotsdid not get what they hoped from lefty Joel Kirstenin their first playoff game, now York hopes for better success when another southpaw, Chris Salberg, pitches Game 3 against 12-game winner Josh Miller.

Salberg had an 11-1 season for potent Sioux Falls , SD ,although the Pheasantswere swept in their championship series.  He was 0-1, 3.46 in two playoff appearances.  Salberg split two regular-season decisions for the Revolutionwith a 6.10 ERA because of a rocky start against Camden, but he came back to blank Southern Marylandon three hits (three walks, six strikeouts) in six innings six days ago.

Somerset got back into the series with a 9-2 triumph Thursday although the Patriots nursed a 3-2 lead into the eighth and might not have even had that advantage if not for some poor York base-running.

( These are excerpts from the Atlantic League Notebook, with more information found at www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.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. )