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York Revolution general manager Matt O'Brien can now breathe a sigh of relief.
His self-proclaimed "jinx" is over.
O'Brien, a management veteran of several minor league baseball organizations in three different leagues, figured he has not been with a playoff team in 11 years.
York's 14-5 win over the Lancaster Barnstormers on Thursday night at Sovereign Bank Stadium clinched the Freedom Division's second-half title, putting the team in the postseason in its second year of existence.
And O'Brien is back in the playoffs for the first time since he was with the West Michigan franchise in the Midwest League.
"I thought it was a curse," he said. "The streak is over. I am proud of the guys. They did an amazing job."
He also spent time with the Atlanta Braves' club in Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League, which he said always made the playoffs -- until he got there.
His previous Atlantic League stints included Somerset and three years in Long Island, where success came the year after he left.
O'Brien paid tribute to Revs director of player personnel Adam Gladstone.
"I give Adam a pat on the back for helping remove the monkey off my back," he said. "Coming in, I felt really good about our chances on the field. He has done a great job putting the team together."
Ironically, it happened exactly two years to the day that O'Brien was named York's general manager.
"Matt and his staff did a fantastic job," Gladstone said. "I have been lucky enough to be
O'Brien is also very happy for York fans, especially coming off the sometimes tumultuous 2007 season, when the stadium wasn't completed.
It has been a wild couple of years from a struggling first-year franchise to the playoffs, and now the fans have been rewarded, too.
"It has been fun to watch the emotional connection grow within York County to the Revolution," O'Brien said. "Not everybody is about the wins and losses, but a winning team has sparked more interest."
No matter what happens in the playoffs, Revs management is looking ahead to drawing more fans and quality players in the future.
"We were going to get momentum out of this year whether we went to the playoffs or not," O'Brien said. "But that picks up speed when you have the elements of a winning team.
"At the end of the year, we may be up as many as 100,000 fans from last year. That is something we are really proud of."
Surprisingly, O'Brien said that an independent loop like the Atlantic League can have a faithful following, even more than Major League Class A affiliates.
While players come and go during the season, a core will usually remain with the team, like veterans Matt Dryer, Luis Taveras and Jason Olson, to name a few.
Because of it, fans identify with the players more than they may in the low minors when guys either quickly move up or out of an organization.
O'Brien added that the playoffs can be better as well, because many of the players have more experience than in affiliated minor leagues.
The Atlantic League divisional series is a best-of-three affair, with first-half winner Somerset having its choice of hosting Game 1 or Games 2 and 3. The Patriots chose the latter option, leaving York with a Tuesday home date in the series opener at 7:07 p.m.
The championship series is a best-of-five, with the Freedom Division playoff winner hosting Games 3, 4 and 5.
Of course, reaching the finals would certainly boost the team's revenue stream.
"It's a game or two we have additional parking money going to the school," O'Brien said. "It's a game or two for downtown businesses get to see extra money. It is a win for lots of people."
snavaroli@ydr.com; 771-2060.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Freedom Division
Playoff Series
York vs. Somerset
(best of three)
Tuesday
Somerset at York, 7:07 p.m.
Wednesday
York at Somerset, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday
York at Somerset, 7:05 p.m.
Atlantic League
Championship Series
(best of five)
Friday, Sept. 26
York/Somerset winner at Liberty Division winner, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27
York/Somerset winner at Liberty Division winner, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 28
Liberty Division winner at York/Somerset winner, 7:05 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 29
Liberty Division winner at York/Somerset winner, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Liberty Division winner at York/Somerset winner, 7:05 p.m.
PLAYOFF TICKETS
Individual playoff tickets are now on sale for the York Revolution.
York will host Somerset in the first game of the best-of-three Freedom Division championship series at 7:07 p.m. Tuesday.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 717-801-HITS
or by going online to
www.YorkRevolution.com.
Fans may also purchase tickets in person at the ticket office at Sovereign Bank
Stadium.
Hours for the ticket office are 10 a.m. until the end of the fifth inning today and 9 a.m. until the end of the fifth inning on Saturday.
The ticket office will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.
ON THE BLOG
What does baseball mean to York? Read more on the York Town Square blog.
