Font ResizeBehind closed doors. Behind his desk at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Behind the wheel of his car returning to his home in Baltimore. These are the places that Adam Gladstone may allow himself to critique the minor league baseball team he has built this spring.
The York Revolution's head of baseball operations keeps those thoughts to himself. Silence is the only way in his business. It's best to wait and see what happens.
It looks so easy. Just pay the best players. But when the clubhouse gets crowded, personalities collide. And Gladstone's
Gladstone has one of the tougher tasks in front of him this spring. The independent Atlantic League relies on major league organizations for talent. Players released in spring training or left unsigned in winter can find work in places like York. And even though baseball continues a youth movement, leaving a high number of minor league free agents unsigned -- even baseball is affected by the economic downturn.
"I think players understand that everybody is affected," Gladstone said. "We've had players come back for less salary (than they earned in York last season) because they understand the ramifications ... these are the cards I'm dealt.
"There are guys out there with big-league experience, but they all understand ... they're not coming for the money."
The biggest selling point for attracting players to sign in the Atlantic League is the high number of scouts and major league organizations located in the Northeast. It's a place to be seen.
Part of the trick in building a team in the Atlantic League is understanding the system. A team built around recognizable players and former major leaguers doesn't guarantee titles. (Long Island's aging stars usually want a ticket home, not a championship in September.) Likewise a team with the best young talent doesn't last. (Camden had a league-high seven players signed last season, forcing the Sharks to rebuild in the middle of the season.) And young players, many of whom never played higher than Class A seem to lack when it matters most. (Southern Maryland contended for playoff spots last season but never clinched a spot.)
Every team has a philosophy. The Lancaster Barnstormers appear to have adopted Southern Maryland's approach. Seven of the first 14 players signed by Lancaster -- and seven of the 15 players signed by Southern Maryland -- never played above Class A. York by comparison has not signed a single player without Double-A experience. While Lancaster's young players may be able to compete, few attract the attention of scouts. For instance, the two players -- John Halama and Dan Reichert -- major league organizations plucked off Southern Maryland's roster last season didn't fall into the young and independent category. Both men had major league experience.
"The way I've built teams, and my philosophy of building hasn't changed," Gladstone said. "I'm going to go after guys that for the most part have an opportunity to go back to an organization. Now there's always going to be exceptions."
York's 12 signed players for 2009 include left-handed pitcher Wayne Franklin. At 35, he might not be an option for a major league organization, but he could help an Atlantic League team win a championship.
"The biggest positive about Wayne is his ability to do anything -- and his mindset of knowing how to do multiple things," York manager Chris Hoiles said. "He can pitch, really, anywhere. And the league is such that a player can be gone so quick -- an injury, a signing -- that you have to be able to improvise."
And while York has signed six former major league pitchers, most have spent the majority of their professional careers in the minors -- their major league careers derailed by injuries, tough luck or a flaw in their game. For the most part, the team has stayed away from big-name major leaguers -- opting for journeymen hungry to return to an organization.
"The good thing about (former big leaguers) is they want the ball," Hoiles said. And then he laughed. "The bad thing is they want the ball. We have to ask some to start and some to relieve at the start of the season, but we try to keep them all happy."
Gladstone expects to sign 24 players for spring training, and the next group of official signings could be released as soon as Monday. Yet he expects some of his April signings will include players who at this moment are in spring camp with major league organizations.
"I still need a couple pitchers, I still need a catcher, I still need first and third basemen," Gladstone said.
Former player Enrique Cruz called him last week. Now retired from playing and working in the agent-side of the business in California, the former infielder asked about this year's club.
"I started talking about core guys, and he said, 'Wow that's a great nucleus,'" Gladstone said.
Gladstone may not want to guess what type of team the Revolution will have this season, but he allows himself one small aside. He likes the type of players he's been able to sign so far.
jseip@ydr.com; 771-2025
REVS' ROSTER
Updated thru March 27, 2009
Player Pos.
Steve Andrade* RHP
Jason Aspito OF
Tom Collaro OF
Dan Foli RHP
Wayne Franklin* LHP
Dave Gassner* LHP
Ryan Goleski OF
Kennard Jones CF
Jason Kershner* LHP
Danny Sandoval* INF
Mike Smith* RHP
Corey Thurman* RHP
*denotes major league experience
Note: Catcher Kevin Kotch's rights have been acquired through a trade, but he has not signed with York at the time of publication.
ATLANTIC LEAGUE SIGNINGS
Updated through March 27
BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH
Shea Harris, C (March 11)
Franklin Perez, RHP (March 11)
Rick Asadoorian, RHP (March 19)
Ryan DiPietro, LHP (March 19)
Travis Ezi, CF (March 19)
Andrew Weimer, RHP (March 19)
CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS
Brett Bonvechio, INF (March 20)
Julio Guerrero, RHP (March 20)
Brian Lawrence*, RHP (March 20)
LANCASTER BARNSTORMERS
John Ennis*, RHP (Feb. 24, signed by Phillies March 3)
Bryan Sabatella, OF (Feb. 24)
Trey Hodges*, RHP (Feb. 26)
Lloyd Turner, INF (Feb. 26)
Ryan Cullen, LHP (March 3)
Ross Peeples, LHP (March 3)
Aaron Herr, 3B (March 5)
Adam Shorsher, C (rights acquired via trade/SoMd March 5, March 19)
Amadeo Zazueta, SS (March 11)
Danny Bravo, INF (March 11)
Derek Barrows, RHP (March 13)
Zach Parker, LHP (March 14)
L.J. Biernbaum, OF (March 18)
Rodney Medina, OF (March 18)
LONG ISLAND DUCKS
Johnny Hernandez, OF (Feb. 26)
Ray Navarrete, OF (Feb. 26)
John Pachot, C (rights acquired via trade/New. Feb. 23, signed March 23)
Jose Garcia, RHP (rights acquired via trade/New. Feb. 23, signed March 25)
Juan Francia, 2B (March 11)
Rob Sandora, C (March 11)
Randy Leek, LHP (March 15)
Bill Simas*, RHP (March 15)
Dennis Donovan, INF (March 17)
Preston Wilson*, OF (March 20)
Ed "Bubbie" Buzachero, RHP (March 23)
Troy Cate*, LHP (March 23)
Mike Hrynio, RHP (March 23)
Jason Norderum, LHP (March 23)
Gabe Suarez, INF (March 23)
NEWARK BEARS
Carl Everett*, OF (rights acquired via trade/LI Feb. 23, not signed)
Vic Darensbourg*, LHP (rights acquired via trade/LI Feb. 23, not signed)
Tony Batista*, INF (March 7)
Shane Komine*, RHP (March 7)
Ramon Castro, SS (March 10)
Jose Herrera*, OF (March 10)
SOMERSET PATRIOTS
Travis Anderson, C (Feb. 23)
Paul Bush, RHP (Feb. 27)
Casey Cahill, RHP (Feb. 27)
Travis Minix, RHP (March 4)
Bret Prinz*, RHP (March 4)
Matt Hagen, UT (March 6)
Jim Magrane, RHP (March 6)
Jason Belcher, C (March 16)
Sean Smith, OF (March 16)
Brian Henderson, LHP (March 18)
Casey Rogowski, 1B (March 18)
Brian Adams, LHP (March 23)
Noah Hall, OF (March 24)
Jon Nelson, OF (March 24)
Joe Burke, OF/1B/C (March 26)
Anthony Granato, INF (March 26)
Brant Colamarino, INF (March 27)
Brandon Johnson, INF (March 27)
SOUTHERN MARYLAND BLUE CRABS
Ryan Bicondoa, RHP (March 5)
Jason Blanton, RHP (March 5)
Mark Woodyard*, RHP (rights acquired via trade/G. Prairie March 5, not signed)
Jason Navarro, LHP (March 5)
Lance Burkhart, C (rights acquired via trade/Lanc. March 5, signed March 23)
Charles Jeroloman, INF (March 10)
Jeremy Owens, OF (March 10)
Enohel Polanco, INF: March 10)
James Shanks, OF (March 10)
Mike Conroy, OF (March 14)
Octavio Martinez, C: March 14)
Patrick Osborn, 3B (March 14)
Anthony Perry, C (March 14)
Steve Doetsch, OF (March 23)
Travis Garcia, INF (March 23)
Matt Schweitzer, LHP (March 23)
* (denotes major league experience)
