What’s going on « Barnstormin’

What’s going on

February 11, 2008 by Jason Guarente

Jason Bowers (Lancaster Newspapers photo0

As you can tell from the dearth of updates, news has been scarce lately. Still only two players officially under contract, although several members of last year’s team are expected to eventually re-sign. The contracts are in the mail, so to speak.

Here’s some minor news, some of which was brought up in the comments section of the previous post …

CHARLIE WEATHERBY: Weatherby is unsigned at the moment. He had a minor procedure done on his shoulder during the offseason and the Barnstormers invited him to Lancaster for a physical earlier this month. The team was pleased with the results. Weatherby could became an option at closer for the Barnstormers, although he is reportedly receiving interest from the Phillies as well.

JASON BOWERS: Bowers has re-signed with the Pirates. The shortstop batted .282 with eight homers and 51 RBIs in Double-A last season. If things don’t work out with the Pirates in spring training, both Bowers and the Barnstormers are interested in a reunion. Bowers, of course, hopes he sticks with his affiliated club.

JOSH STEVENS: As was speculated on here prior to the expansion draft, there’s a strong chance Stevens will be pitching for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs this season. He and manager Butch Hobson were together with the Nashua Pride in 2006. The Blue Crabs would have to give Lancaster some kind of compensation in order to acquire the pitcher.

FRANKLIN MENDIBLE: Mendible was the only player to impress the Barnstormers during the Atlantic League’s tryout in Florida earlier this month. He’s a native of Venezuela and his career stats are not-so-great. But he’s a possibility for a spring training invite.

STEVE VAN NOTE and TRAVIS HAKE are not in Lancaster’s plans for 2008. The Barnstormers hope to sign OF LLOYD TURNER as their primary utility guy.

Posted in Atlantic League, Lancaster Barnstormers, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Sports, baseball, minor leagues | 29 Comments

29 Responses to “What’s going on”

on February 12, 2008 at 11:26 am1 Stormin' In York

I sure hope Item #3 is not a “right pocket to left pocket” move by ODP or we could start off were we left off last year.

Not Good.
on February 12, 2008 at 1:34 pm2 Sydney Bristow

Nah Stormin, he really, really wants to pitch for Butch. That why I was pushing for Butch to come here. I knew that our top notch pitchers would be happy with him. I would love to see Charlie and Bowers come back but along with Parker they deserve a shot in spring training.
on February 12, 2008 at 1:45 pm3 Jason Guarente

This isn’t a BASA-type maneuver. The only starter the Barnstormers seem interested in bringing back is Parker. They’re going to build the rotation around him.
on February 12, 2008 at 1:51 pm4 Anonymous

Stormin…remember all the ODP teams have different player procurement people now….which is exactly what everyone on here wanted. All those guys want to win…I dont see this year being like last at all. I don’t think the player movement between those teams will be the same.
on February 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm5 Anonymous

And sydney…where do you get this information?
on February 12, 2008 at 2:26 pm6 Stormin' In York

Sorry, I could not help myself. I know that this year is going to be better. It was just a joke. Maybe a bad one.

Seriously, Stevens had a good beginning last year but it seemed at the end that he struggled. Maybe a change in scenery will help.
on February 12, 2008 at 2:45 pm7 mr. barnstormer

Sweet! I love BASA talk!

I will believe we will all see if BASA still exists in the shadows once we see where players start to go. We’ll especially know once the season starts and we start loosing good guys to the Crabs for “Players To Be Named Later”.
on February 12, 2008 at 3:01 pm8 Sydney Bristow

My lips are sealed !!!
on February 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm9 BASA Representative

I will enlighten you peasants with feeble knowledge as to stimulate your senses for a game I choose to play in which some can percieve as sadistic enjoyment, but to be frank, the only thing that has changed is my title.
on February 12, 2008 at 3:10 pm10 Jason Guarente

You could make a strong case for bringing back Stevens. If it was my call, I would re-sign him.

Keith Lupton is not a BASA guy. He wants to win badly. I know this because I sat next to him in the press box in 2005 when his team WASN’T winning.

AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com has some news today, including the new home of Road Warriors slugger Vito Chiaravalloti.
on February 12, 2008 at 3:20 pm11 Anonymous

Exactly Jason!
on February 12, 2008 at 3:40 pm12 mr. barnstormer

So what if the Crabs attendance is low, and then the Crabs loose their best pitcher. But hey look, the Barnstormers attendance is at it’s typical high level and they also just happen to have two surprise all star pitchers this year! Do you think we can keep the two good pitchers while the crabs go down the toilet?
on February 12, 2008 at 3:54 pm13 Jason Guarente

The difference is Butch Hobson could go out and find a pitcher. He’s a really good player procurement person. This isn’t the Adam Gladstone show any more.
on February 12, 2008 at 4:38 pm14 Stormin' In York

Mr. B. I opened a can of worms and I would like to put the lid back on it if I could. This is 2008 now, not 2005, not 2006, and definately not 2007.

I would resign Stevens too. When he is on, he is “untouchable”. I would rather play with him than against him.

Remember, we win the even year Championships. This is our year. I really feel it.
on February 12, 2008 at 4:58 pm15 mr. barnstormer

Regrettably Stormin, what you have started can not be undone. The downward spiral of no hope you created will most likely result in mass turmoil. BASA has ruined my life. The leaches have evolved into chameleons. Please just do one thing for me, tell my family I am sorry.
on February 12, 2008 at 10:08 pm16 Dawes

Hey guys!
I officially am getting my contract for seats for the next year…
Although, I will not be at Wednesday and Thursday night games due to Church conflicts…I am excited though…
Opening day needs to get here fast. Jason Bowers was definitely one of my favorite ‘Stormers. Here’s to hoping he comes back.
on February 12, 2008 at 11:47 pm17 packmule

So the Patriots get Vito……who will we bring back ???? Orestes Marrero. (I still laugh over remembering that the First Pitch had him listed as 6 foot tall.)

I hope this year is much better than last.
on February 13, 2008 at 9:11 am18 mr. barnstormer

I hope we get John Wolff back. At least then we can talk about his work with the secret service.
on February 13, 2008 at 1:26 pm19 Mike Ashmore

Jason, thanks for the plug on the Vito item. I think that’s a real nice pick-up for the Patriots…but I think they had somewhat of a hometown advantage considering his home’s proximity to the ballpark.

He works at the same baseball academy that Corey Smith does, and lives about 30 minutes away from the ballpark.

I spoke to Butch about Stevens today, and he pretty much confirmed what you were reporting in that he’s a strong possibility for the Blue Crabs roster. It’s hard to say whether that would be a big loss for Lancaster.

It depends on whether they’d get first half Josh Stevens or second half Josh Stevens.
on February 13, 2008 at 2:18 pm20 Jason Guarente

I just looked at Vito’s numbers a little more closely. He had quite a year. A .951 OPS with more walks than strikeouts while playing an all-road schedule is really impressive.

The Barnstormers have their hands full. They need a first baseman, shortstop and third baseman and at least one of them has to be a left-handed slugger.
on February 13, 2008 at 2:48 pm21 Stormin' In York

I was hoping that we would have had a shot a Vito since we lost Crozier.
on February 13, 2008 at 10:08 pm22 Manheim Schrute

How do you think that Ian Bladergroan would fit in Lancaster. He doesn’t appear to be a slugger,but with the short porch in right,it could be a fit,plus,he has a good glove at first. Of course,evereything depends on if he signs with an affiliated team.
on February 13, 2008 at 10:19 pm23 Jason Guarente

I thought Bladergroen signed with the Blue Crabs. Or maybe my memory is slipping. One possibility is Juan Melo. He’s an old Lupton favorite.
on February 13, 2008 at 10:26 pm24 Manheim Schrute

I haven’t looked,so maybe Bladergroen signed with MD.
on February 13, 2008 at 10:32 pm25 Manheim Schrute

I just checked the Crabs website,and there was a story that they intended to sign Doetsch and Bladergroen.Didn’t Doetsch sign with the Nats? I guess we will find out soon enough.
on February 13, 2008 at 10:41 pm26 dopeydawn

I do hope Parker comes back for the Barnstormers!!!
on February 14, 2008 at 5:10 am27 Mike Ashmore

Doetsch did sign with the Nationals, yes…
on February 16, 2008 at 9:30 am28 Booby

What’s going on?? This No News about Players is for the Birds…and I don’t Mean the Orioles.

There is roughly 2 Months before the 1st Pitch( thank Heavens) and we have Officially signed 2 Players??? It’s not a Season Ticket draw now is it??
on February 18, 2008 at 10:18 am29 Stormin' In York

I remember last year when we signed a whole bunch of players before the major’s spring training and had no room for players that did not make the cut. I would rather not repeat that mistake.

Also, there have been players sent contracts but until they sign them, no announcement can be made.