Etch a tough act to follow for Mason
Lefty Ryan Feierabend took the loss in Game Two of York’s double-header Sunday at Southern Maryland. Randy Flaum file photo.
Before we get to the column on Mark Mason, just wanted to point a couple things from over the weekend…
-Standings: York will finish up a four-game series at Southern Maryland on Monday night. The Revs won Game One on Friday night then split a double-header Sunday (Saturday’s game was rained out). Click here to read the full game details from Sunday’s double-header. York now has a seven-game lead on Somerset in the wildcard but still trails Lancaster by 4.5 games in the Freedom Division second-half race. The Revs have 14 games remaining in the regular season, with 10 of those coming on the road.
-Waters: Starting pitcher Chris Waters continued his up-and-down season with a bounce-back performance Friday night against the Blue Crabs, holding Southern Maryland to two runs in six innings of work. He had surrendered a combined 10 runs in his previous two starts (8.1 innings).
-Rotation problems? Revs’ starting pitchers Ryan Feierabend, Chris Cody and Corey Thurman haven’t looked good in their most recent starts. Thurman gave up five runs in five innings of work in a 7-6 win over Sugar Land on Thursday. Cody surrendered six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in a 9-6 win in Game One of Sunday’s double-header. Feierabend pitched well enough for York to win in Game Two on Sunday, but allowed four runs in six innings. Collectively, the trio has a combined 8.22 ERA (15.1 IP, 14 ER) over those three starts.
-Espinosa: Newly acquired infielder David Espinosa is still hitless in his first seven plate appearances for the Revs, although he has recorded three walks to go along with two strikeouts in the two games he played in over the weekend.
York Revolution manager Andy Etchebarren, right, and pitching coach Mark Mason at the start of the Rev’s game with Sugar Land last week. Randy Flaum file photo.
One reason Andy Etchebarren gained respect in York is that he turned the Revolution into a winner.
Sometimes that required making difficult roster decisions.
Just look at York’s current crop of players, which includes only four members from the Revs’ 2010 championship team.
But there was more to Etch than just winning. His competitiveness comes quickly to mind.
There was the time he had a shouting match with a fan in the stands, who turned out to be the father of an opposing player.
There were the many times he grabbed a base and carried it to the clubhouse after getting ejected.
Or the time he covered up home plate with dirt, upset with the umpire over the strike zone.
Or the time he buried Atlantic League umpiring with comments made to reporters, which earned him a four-game suspension this season.
