Revs headed in different direction

It had been a tight group. The York Revolution leaned on a familiar core of players and coaches during their first three seasons, but all that seemed to unravel during the final weeks of the franchise's worst season.

During the final home game, even the most recognizable players did not know what type of future they had at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

"I've gotta definitely take some time to decide what I'm going to do (next year)," said Revs outfielder Jason Aspito, a York resident during the offseason and the driving force behind the team's playoff appearance last season.

"If it was my last game in York, you know I would have preferred to go out with a win," he said after York's loss to Long Island in the season's home finale Wednesday.

The changes seemed to come in quick succession after the Revs recorded a 24-46 mark during the first half. The team's winning percentage dipped under .300 in June, making it among the worst clubs in all of professional baseball. Even the acquisition of proven Atlantic League standout P.J. Rose failed to turn the team around.

The first manager in team history -- Chris Hoiles -- stepped down in August. His resignation surprised players, but he wanted to snap a last-place team back to life. It didn't work.

A handful of the longest tenured players on the squad earned unceremonious exits. The team released pitcher Wayne Franklin, reliever Jason Olson and catcher Luis Taveras after they struggled to match their past successes.

All three had been with the Revs since the club's inaugural season.

And the ownership group, Opening Day Partners, fired Adam Gladstone the day before it announced the hiring of new manager Andy Etchebarren. The move ended Gladstone's accomplished career in the Atlantic League, a career that dated back to the league's first season in 1998. He helped build two league championship teams with the Somerset Patriots and was instrumental in building the Lancaster Barnstormers squad that won the league title in 2006.

On the business side, attendance figures dipped after the club posted franchise highs in 2008. Overall attendance (276,446) and average attendance (4,126 in 67 games), as reported by the team and Atlantic League, dropped from the numbers posted a year ago (300,246 overall with a 4,351 average in 69 games).

Rather than suggest a dip in interest, ownership and the team's front office expressed relief that the numbers remained relatively high. (York has ranked fourth in league attendance in each of the last three seasons.)

The reason for the dropoff is not easy to pinpoint. The team spent the majority of the season in last place. The weather -- including eight home rainouts as

compared to 11 during the first two seasons combined -- kept some fans away from the park. And a recession may have kept even more fans away from the park.

"I'm happy with the overall number of fans we've had here," Revs GM Matt O'Brien said.

"We've had a lot of other events," he added, noting a pro boxing card, Harley-Davidson rally and exhibition baseball games that drew thousands.

Opening Day Partners CEO Peter Kirk believes the support for the Revs in York is commendable, considering he's heard from several owners in the Northeast who have suffered through one of the most challenging years he could remember.

"This is our 27th year and we've never had as many rainouts in one season as we've had this year," Kirk said. "And if

you look at the (average attendance), it's close ... to what we averaged last season. That's a credit to the staff and the community ... in the worst economy since the 1930s."

Fans can expect to see a shakeup in the team roster, as Etchebarren -- who took command on Aug. 14 -- has a different approach to player procurement than Gladstone. He has adopted the approach of Southern Maryland's Butch Hobson in signing players who may not have Double-A experience.

Rather than relying on former major leaguers -- as Gladstone had -- Hobson has said he prefers to sign pros who may not even have any experience in affiliated baseball because he feels they can be "hungrier."

The new philosophy and Etchebarren's direct approach has not been appreciated by every player on the Revs roster.

Etchebarren met with several members of the team to discuss future options. He welcomed back several players, including Keoni DeRenne and Matt Esquivel. He went on the record last week to say he wanted to keep left-handed pitchers Daryl Harang and Brian Holliday. And Corey Thurman has expressed an interest in returning after recovering from a blood clot in his pitching hand.

"You know, I'm one of the few guys who didn't have a meeting with (Etchebarren)," said All-Star Tom Collaro, who hopes to play next season but did not expect to be back in York.

So fans can expect to see some new faces.

"Everything I'm doing is aimed at next season," Etchebarren said. "I've been impressed with some of the guys I brought in. I liked (Aharon) Eggleston in center and (Liu) Rodriguez at shorstop. ... I'm looking at (catcher Josh) Arhart. It doesn't seem like he's getting a real good hold on the ball when he's throwing, but I think I can help his catching if we put in a lot of work in spring training. So I think we'll have a catcher who can hit 15 to 20 home runs next year. And I'm really happy with (Jamar) Hill. He can play left and right field, and he runs hard."

Etchebarren has a philosophy. He wants flexibility on the roster, players who can play multiple positions. And he's determined to stock his lineup with right-handed pull hitters, the type of athletes who can take advantage of the short dimensions in left field.

"We're going to put a winning team on this field next year," Etchebarren said.

He altered his comments slightly in the aftermath of the home finale. He wants to build a winner, yes. But he also wants a championship club.
jseip@ydr.com; 771-2025