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Blue Crabs April 2015

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April 2015 Blue Crabs

n With offseasonmoves, baseball teameager to start 2015

By AJ MASONStaff writer

A new chapter will be unveiled asthe eighth season of the SouthernMaryland Blue Crabs will start April 24when they take on the Somerset Patri-ots in the first of a three-game series.

Since the franchise’s inauguralopening day April 25, 2008, BlueCrabs baseball has become a specialingredient to the SouthernMarylandcommunity.

In the past seven seasons, theBlue Crabs have had three manag-ers in Butch Hobson and PatrickOsborn, each lasting three seasons,and Lance Burkhart, who had justone season in 2014.

This yearwill start aneweraasnewmanagerStanCliburnof Jackson,Miss.,will be the team’s fourthmanager.

“It’s very exciting. I can’twait to getthe season started,” saidCliburn,whowashired in February. “There has beena lot of history here and there has beensomegreatmanagers andplayers.We

justwant to continue the success andwin a [Atlantic] League title.”

A plethora of players whowereeithermajor orminor league productshavemade a name for themselveswhile playing in the Atlantic Leaguefor the Blue Crabs.

The Blue Crabs have had somesuccess on the diamond throughoutthe history of the franchise, winningabout 52 percent of its regular sea-son games (502-468), and before lastseason held the league record of fivestraight playoff berths since 2009.

“I’ll tell youwhat, thatcoreofplayerstheyhadinthatsecondhalf lastyear,theygaveusarunfor themoney,”saidCliburn,whowasthehittingcoachforthe2014 leaguechampionLancasterBarnstormersunderHobson.“They fin-ished39-31 inthatsecondhalf. It’llbeanaggressiveplayer,aguywhoisdedicatedtohisgameandhiscommunityandlikesbeingapartofSouthernMaryland.A

guywhowill fitwith the fanbase, fitwithownershipandfit inwith the frontoffice.That’s theway itworks,andthat’s thewayyoubecomesuccessful.”

Blue Crabs returning outfielderCyle Hankerd, whowas league all-star in 2013, played for Yucatan in theMexican League and the Blue Crabslast season. He also was a former two-timeMajor League Baseball draftee,playing as high as Triple-A in the Ari-zonaDiamondbacks organization.

“Wehaveanewmanager inStanCli-burn, andhe’s stressinggettingourworkdoneeverydayandcomingouthavinga funsummerandbeinggood team-mates,”Hankerd said. “Hebelieves thatifwe reallybuy into that, itwill translateintogreat things forus in2015.”

Hankerdmentioned that the roster isfilledwith talent at variouspositionsandtonsof experience thatwill help themmoving forward.

“Webrought ina lotofpitchers this

year.They lookprettygoodout there inspringtraining,”hesaid. “Webrought inagroupofveteranguyssothatwecanbeteamleaders in theclubhouse,andthat issomethingthatwe lacked last season.”

Coming off a 68-72 overall recordlast season, the Blue Crabs are lookingto win their first league title as theymade strong offseasonmoves to theroster with Cliburn, hitting coach Jer-emyOwens and pitching coachDanReichert at the top.

“Last year underButch, havingmanaged a lot of years against Butchandplayed against Butch in themajorleagues back in the ’80s,we’re fromthe samemold,” Cliburn said. “I knewhowButchhowwas going towork, andhe gavemea lot of input about a lot ofsituations ... and that’swhat I believein. You’re only as good as your play-ers, and if youutilize the coaching staffunder you, it helps take thepressure offthemanager in key situations.”

Blue Crabs ready for year No. 8

Photo by BERT HINDMAN

Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn, foreground, outfielder Cyle Hankerd and pitching coachDan Reichert are ready to see what the 2015 season brings.

What’s insideColoring Page 4

Getting to know Stan 6

Hermit Crabs for a day 9

2015 roster 10

Cliburn finds his coaches 10

From Blue Crabs to TinCaps 10

Season schedule 12,13

The growing Crustacean Nation 14

Fmr. big leaguers all over roster 16

What’s in store in Atlantic Lge? 18

Speeding things up 19

Stadium guide 20

Fan guide 22

Blue Crabs Season 8 guideA special section previewing the2015 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Cover design: Brandon Young

Page design: Paul Watson

Photographer: Bert Hindman

Staff writers: Sean Marraffini,AJ Mason, Andy States

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n Blue Crabs managerbrings major experienceto clubhouse for 2015


Stan Cliburn hasmore champion-ship rings than fingers.

He has 14 of them to be exact.The formermajor leaguer

appeared in 54 games for the Cali-fornia Angels in 1980 with two homeruns, six RBIs and 10 hits.

The native of Jackson,Miss., hasbeen around the game of baseball for42 years andwill continue his journeyas the Blue Crabs’ newmanager forthe 2015 season.

Cliburn spent the 2014 season ashitting/bench coach for the AtlanticLeague champion Lancaster Barn-stormers under ButchHobson, theBlue Crabs’ inaugural skipper.

“In all my years of baseball, I’vewon eight championships as a playerand six as a coach,” said Cliburn, whotook over for Lance Burkhart asman-

ager in February. “I’ve always been asports-minded person, and growingup I liked football, basketball, hunt-ing and fishing. I’m just an outdoorsperson.”

Cliburnmentioned that coachingwithHobson last seasonwas some-thing hewill never forget.

“It was a beautiful experience, itwas a great year,” Cliburn said. “Thatwas probably one of the best years in40-plus years of pro experience thatI’ve had in a summer, andwinning achampionship was just icing on thecake.”

Before coming to Lancaster, Cli-burnwas in the American Associationfor three seasons, where hemanagedSioux City in Iowa.

Hemanaged nine seasons intheMinnesota Twins organization,including four at Triple-A Rochester.And he alsomanaged affiliates in thePittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangersorganizations.

Cliburn, the twin brother of formermajor league pitcher Stu Cliburn, is aformer catcher who has totaled 1,487wins as aminor leaguemanager.

“I havemanaged in the American

Association and I’vemanaged in theold Texas-Louisiana League, fiveyears back in the early ‘90s right whenindependent ball started. The gamehas changed a lot; the players aredifferent. I knowmy first experiencein independent ball; I kept the sameteam together for five years back inthemid-90s. It’s a little different now,”Cliburn said. “These kids put up bignumbers and look tomove to higherlevels, andwith the Atlantic League,that opportunity ismaybe getting togo Japan,Mexico or Korea.”

Cliburn is excited to be in SouthernMaryland, where it has ultimatelybeen a pipeline to affiliated ball formanagers over the past years.

“Any time you’remanaging a club,you’ve got a set of eyes on you all overthe nation.With the way themediais, the coverage is tremendous thesedays, so there’s always a set of eyes onyou.”

But yes, SouthernMaryland has agreat record of that over the past fewyears with losing [former Blue Crabsmanager and player] Pat Osborn tothe Yankees, whowas recommendedby ButchHobson, and the next guywho takes his spot is Lance Burkhart,whowas also recommended byButch. There’s a lot to be said for that,not only for Butch, but I’m grateful forhim for recommendingme.”

Cliburn, who brings a winningmentality to the Blue Crabs, notedthat it is all about the intangibles.

“If youdo the little things, it bringsthebestoutof youasaplayer and that’swhatwewant to focuson,”he said.

Cliburn is eager to get the seasongoing with opening day April 24 as theBlue Crabs will kick off a three-gameseries versus 2014 Liberty Divisionchampion Somerset.

Getting to know Stan


Stan Cliburn begins his first season as man-ager of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

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n Team will havedifferent name forseason’s first game

In response to a flood of onlinefeedback that greeted their announce-ment of an opening day giveawayof live hermit crabs, the SouthernMaryland Blue Crabs overhauled theApril 24 promotion to include activi-ties designed to honor the miniaturecrustaceans without handing themout as pets.

Following reaction to the give-away, which the team called “evenlysplit between pro-giveaway and no-giveaway sentiments,” the Blue Crabsannounced plans to cancel the livecrab giveaway and replace it with ahandout of 1,000 plastic hermit crabfigurines and an opening day renam-ing of the team as the “SouthernMaryland Hermit Crabs.”

In addition, Blue Crabs players willwear special Hermit Crabs jerseys thatwill be auctioned off after the game,with proceeds benefitting the Hermit

Crab Association, an online groupdedicated to increasing public aware-ness of the decapod crustaceans andthe care they require.

“We are left speechless by yourincredible generosity,” the HermitCrab Association’s Facebook postingread.

“Honestly, I’m shocked. This isabove and beyond what we wereexpecting,” Hermit Crab Associationadministrator Rachel Hamilla saidwhen first notified of the changesmade to the promotion. “Muchgratitude to the team for realizing thathermit crabs are living creatures. Ourmembers are going to be thrilled.”

The team also has invited the asso-ciation to throw out the game’s firstpitch, and will provide an opportunityfor “hermit crab activists” to speak tothe fans about the pros and cons ofowning the animals as pets.

“The last two days we’ve justlearned a tremendous amount aboutthe hermit crab,” Blue Crabs generalmanager Patrick Day said after thepromotion was announced. “Thelast two days we’ve really learned

that there’s a large group of hermitcrab enthusiasts out there who hap-pen to be some of the most passion-ate people we’ve ever come across,and we really appreciate their pas-sion.

“We really think we’re going tohighlight the hermit crab that night. Ithink what we’re doing will bring thehermit crab to light even more thanbefore.”

Rounding out the opening day fes-tivities, the team will host an all-you-can-eat crab feast in Regency Furni-ture Stadium’s picnic area. In additionto crabs, the feast will include hotdogs, macaroni salad, chips and soda.Fans can purchase feast tickets for$40 by calling 301-638-9788, or onthe team’s website at www.somd-bluecrabs.com.

The team also is offering dis-count $10 tickets to fans who declarethemselves “hermit crab advocates”while purchasing tickets at www.somdbluecrabs.com. Fans wishingto redeem the promotion must enterthe code “FREETHEHERMIT” at theonline checkout.

The team originally hadannounced it planned to give live her-mit crabs, complete with a terrarium,to the first 1,000 fans at its April 24season opener, prompting swift blow-back from animal rights activists, whofeared the promotion would result inthe animals being given to hundredsof baseball fans with no desire to carefor a new pet.

The team responded within daysby announcing on its Facebook pagethat the animals would only be givenaway upon request to “those fanswho feel prepared to take on theresponsibility of taking care of a her-mit crab.”

Hermit Crabs for a day


Pitchers (17) Height Weight B/T Born Birthplace Last team Highest level

30 Brian Baker 6-6 215 R/R 1/10/83 Brooklyn, N.Y. Southern Maryland (ALPB) AAA

32 Trey Barham 6-0 215 L/L 11/7/85 Norfolk, Va. Lincoln (Am. Assoc.) AAA

34 Justin Berg 6-3 225 R/R 6/7/84 Antigo, Wisc. Southern Maryland (ALPB) MLB

12 Brian Burres 6-2 190 L/L 4/8/81 Oregon City, Ore. Colorado Springs (PCL; AAA, Colo.) MLB

43 Casey Crosby 6-5 225 R/L 9/17/88 Maple Park, Ill. Toledo (IL; AAA, Detroit) MLB

27 Shaun Garceau 6-1 215 S/R 8/28/87 Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Long Island (ALPB) AA

19 Brian Grening 5-11 180 R/R 6/10/85 Colorado Springs, Colo. Southern Maryland (ALPB) AAA

28 Jake Hale 6-7 205 R/R 12/11/85 Albany, Ohio Southern Maryland (ALPB) A+

9 Erik Hamren 6-1 195 R/R 8/21/86 Newport Beach, Calif. Frisco (TL; AA, Texas) MLB

18 Gaby Hernandez 6-3 215 R/R 5/21/86 Miami, Fla. Southern Maryland (ALPB) AAA

11 Sean Keeler 6-1 205 R/R 7/24/87 Cazenovia, N.Y. Southern Maryland (ALPB) Ind.

14 Wade Korpi 6-0 185 R/L 3/10/86 Sneedville, Tenn. Southern Maryland (ALPB) AAA

20 Fernando Nieve 6-0 214 R/R 6/15/82 Carabobo, Venezuela Salt Lake (PCL; AAA, LAA) MLB

13 Barrett Phillips 6-0 185 R/L 6/25/90 Honea Path, S.C. Winnipeg (Am. Assoc.) RK

1 Orlando Santos 6-0 200 R/R 12/10/86 San JoseDel LosMatas, DO Evansville (Frontier) A+

21 D.J. Slaton 6-2 200 R/R 11/10/92 Monterey, Calif. Bowling Green (MWL; A, TB) A+

10 Nick Struck 6-0 205 R/R 10/7/89 Portland, Ore. Chattanooga (SL; AA, LAD) AAA

Catchers (3) Height Weight B/T Born Birthplace Last team Highest level

8 Craig Maddox 5-10 205 L/R 4/10/85 Locust Grove, Ga. Gary (Am. Assoc.) A

23 Gustavo Molina 6-1 245 R/R 2/24/82 Vargas, Venezuela Lancaster (ALPB) AAA

44 Tyler Wagner 6-3 245 S/R 9/12/88 Las Vegas, Nev. Brownsville (UNLB) IND

Infielders (7) Height Weight B/T Born Birthplace Last team Highest level

4 Casey Frawley 5-11 170 R/R 9/17/87 New Haven, Conn. Lancaster (ALPB) A+

2 Jake Opitz 6-0 190 L/R 7/28/86 Englewood, Colo. Southern Maryland (ALPB) AAA

Renny Osuna 6-0 172 R/R 4/24/85 Caracas, Venezuela Southern Maryland (ALPB) AA

7 Brandon Snyder 6-2 209 R/R 11/23/86 Las Vegas, Nev. Boston Red Sox (MLB) MLB

24 Casey Stevenson 6-3 200 L/R 5/18/88 Saugus, Calif. Trenton (EL; AA, NYY) AAA

42 Daryle Ward 6-2 260 L/L 5/27/75 Lynwood, Calif. Quintana Roo (Mexican) MLB

29 Zach Wilson 6-1 215 R/R 8/6/90 Long Beach, Calif. Trenton (EL; AA, NYY) AA

Outfielders (5) Height Weight B/T Born Birthplace Last team Highest level

3 Antone DeJesus 5-10 190 L/L 1/25/86 Amherst, Ohio Southern Maryland (ALPB) AA

15 Cyle Hankerd 6-3 225 R/R 1/24/85 Covina, Calif. Yucatan (Mexican) AAA

41 Fred Lewis 6-2 205 L/R 12/9/80 Wiggins, Miss. Bridgeport (ALPB) MLB

17Dominic San Felippo N/A N/A N/A 7/23/88 N/A Roswell (PECO) IND

6 Jamar Walton 6-4 220 L/R 1/5/88 Emporia, Va. Southern Maryland (ALPB) A+

Manager: Stan Cliburn (first season)

Hitting coach: Jeremy Owens (third season); Pitching coach: Dan Reichert (first season); Director of Clubhouse Operations: Gerald Morrison

Players signed for the 2015 season as of April 17

n Former Blue Crabspitcher Reichert joinsas pitching coach;Owens returns ashitting coach

By SEAN MARRAFFINIStaff writer

As the Southern Maryland BlueCrabs look to return to the postsea-son, they have not only appointednew manager Stan Cliburn. Theywelcome back former pitcherDan Reichert to be the team’snew pitching coach, while JeremyOwens returns as hitting coach.

Cliburn and Reichert, replacingthe departing Lance Burkhart andJoe Cannon, respectively.

Reichert brings major leagueexperience to the Blue Crabs, hav-ing been drafted by the Kansas CityRoyals in 1999. He spent four seasonsin the majors with the Royals andthe Toronto Blue Jays. Reichert alsospent multiple seasons in the minorleagues with various organizations.

“For me right now I have 16guys that I’m working to coordi-nate bullpens, when they need tothrow and when they need to lift.It’s a little more complex being acoach. But I enjoy the challenge; Ieat it up; I love it,” Reichert said.

Reichert returns to the BlueCrabs organization after spendingthe previous two seasons workingas the pitching coach for the inde-pendent Lincoln (Neb.) Saltdogs.

Cliburnfinds hiscoaches

n Former manager Burkhartadjusting to new position withSan Diego Padres organization


When the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs kickedoff spring training April 13, there was no surprisetheir former manager’s absence was felt on the field.

With two months having already passed sincethe decision, there was no doubt that when theteam came together for the first time, they wouldmiss the one-and-only Lance Burkhart.

Burkhart, who served as Blue Crabs managerfor the 2014 season, signed a contract with the San

Diego Padres organization to be a hitting coach forthe Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps, a Single-A affiliate inthe Midwest League, exactly two months before theBlue Crabs’ first day of workouts.

Burkhart replaced his older brother Morgan,who was the Fort Wayne hitting coach last seasonand now is with the Padres’ Double-A team in SanAntonio.

It was the second time a manager from the BlueCrabs had been signed by a minor league club intwo seasons. In 2013, former manager and player

From Blue Crabs to TinCaps

See BURKHART, Page 22

See COACHES, Page 22

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By SEAN MARRAFFINIStaff writer

Most baseball teams see new talententer the dugout every offseason, andthe SouthernMaryland Blue Crabs areno exception, adding new players tohelp for the upcoming season.

Among the new faces callingWal-dorf’s Regency Furniture Stadiumhome this season are catcher GustavoMolina, infielder Casey Frawley, and

pitchers Trey Barham and ShaunGarceau.

Molina who hails from LaGuaria,Venezuela, joins the Blue Crabs aftersitting out the 2014 seasonwith visa-related complications. He last playedwith fellow Atlantic League team Lan-caster in 2013.

“I’malwayshappytobeonthe fieldanddoingthebest formyteam,”Molinasaid. “Makingthatpushtowinasmanygamesaswecantomaketheplayoffs.”

Molina had six home runs and 30RBIs in 83 games with a .221 battingaverage in 2013.

Molina has spent timewithmul-tiplemajor league organizations,including the Toronto Blue Jays, Chi-cagoWhite Sox, Baltimore Orioles,New YorkMets, Boston Red Sox andtheNew York Yankees.

“It’s a lot about preparation, espe-cially coming from a different coun-try,”Molina said. “The game isn’t thesame andwatching a lot of it can helpprepare you.”

Frawley also comes over from theBarnstormers, yetmissed a portion oflast seasonwith a torn left labrumhesuffered while playing winter ball inAustralia. In 76 games in 2014, Fraw-ley had three home runs, 33 RBIs anda .188 batting average.

“So far everyone has been verywelcoming,” Frawley said. “We’veonly been here a couple of days, but Ifeel we aremeshing as a team so far,which is huge.”

Despitemissing the second halfof the season last year, Frawleyremainedwith the team.

“I decided onmy own to stay for

the second half, to sit back, watch theguys’ routines and pick theirminds,”Frawley said.

Frawley is looking to bounce backthis year with the Blue Crabs and towork again withmanager Stan Cli-burn, whowas the hitting coach inLancaster last season.

“My goal this year is to stayhealthy,” Frawley said. “I also justwant to help the teamwin, I’m a guywho can play all over the field andjump out to wherever they needme.”

Barham went to high school inVirginia and then headed to VirginiaMilitary Institute for college. Bar-ham returns to the East Coast afterspending last season with the inde-pendent Lincoln (Neb.) Saltdogs,where he went 3-1 with a 4.78 ERA in37 games.

“I’m really excited,” Barham said.“This is the first chance I’ve gotten toplay anywhere close to home.”

Garceau also has Atlantic Leagueexperience, having played for theYork Revolution and the Long IslandDucks. In 2014 with Long Island,Garceauwent 13-4 with a 4.99 ERA in28 games.

“Coming here, I felt comfort-able because I’ve been in this leaguebefore,” Garceau said. “I’m going tolove pitching here because I’ve alwaysloved pitching here.”

The growing Crustacean Nation

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n Team boasts numberof players who hadrun in major leagues

By ANDY STATESStaff writer

The goal of any professional base-ball player is to play at the highestlevel possible, and this year’s South-ernMaryland Blue Crabs roster fea-tures a slew of players who have donejust that.

With nine players on the rosterwho have appeared inMajor LeagueBaseball games as spring trainingcommenced, the Blue Crabs have awealth of former big league experi-ence. Some already have played inSouthernMaryland, with pitchersJustin Berg, Brian Burres and ErikHamren having previously suited upfor the Blue Crabs.

But this season begins with sixothers withMLB experience newto the Blue Crabs roster, includinglongtimemajor leaguers DaryleWardand Fred Lewis. Others on the roster

to have played inMLB are pitchersCasey Crosby and FernandoNieve, aswell as infielder Brandon Snyder andcatcher GustavoMolina.

Ward, who played primarily leftfield and first base during a big league

career that stretched from 1998 to2008, played in 948 games in stintswith six teams. He hit 90 home runs,drove in 379 runs and played in thepostseason four times.

Hewas amember of theHoustonAstros when they reached the playoffsin 1999 and 2001, andmade two post-season appearances with the ChicagoCubs in 2007 and 2008. In all, Wardplayed in 11 playoff games, hitting.286 with two home runs and six RBIs.

Since hisMLB career, Ward hasbecome a fixture in the AtlanticLeague. He first playedwith the New-ark Bears when that organizationwasstill a part of the league, andmorerecently playedwith Lancaster andSomerset, betweenwhich he split the2014 season.

“I’ve actually had a lot of fun herein the Atlantic League. I’ve almostbeen around to every teamnow,”Ward said with a smile following amorning workoutWednesday. “I wasexcited to play here. I saw some ofthe guys they had on the roster andjust figured this ballclub is going to bepretty good, so let’s give it a shot. Thisis probablymy last run in the AtlanticLeague, so why not play for a team Ifeel has a shot tomake it to the play-offs? That’s one of the reasons why Ichose this ballclub.”

Lewis, an outfielder, played in 535MLB games between 2006 and 2012with four different teams. He alsoplayed in Japan in 2013 before comingto the Atlantic League in 2014, wherehe playedwith both Lancaster andBridgeport.

Among the others new to SouthernMaryland this season, Crosby pitchedin three games for Detroit in 2012. Heworked 12 1/3 innings and logged a1-1 record. Last season, he pitchedwith the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate inToledo, Ohio.

Nieve pitched in parts of four dif-ferent seasons withHouston and theNew YorkMets.

He appeared in 99 games andstarted 19. In all, he went 8-11with a 4.61 ERA, pitching 185 2/3innings. The pitcher split 2014between Salt Lake (the Los Ange-les Angels Triple-A affiliate) andSacramento (the Oakland AthleticsTriple-A affiliate).

Snyder, a graduate ofWestfieldHigh School in Chantilly, Va., played83MLB games with three teamsbetween 2010 and 2013.

Primarily an infielder, Snyder hit.243 with five homers and 20 RBIs. In2014, he played for Boston’s Triple-Aaffiliate in Pawtucket.

Molina actually was signed to playfor the Blue Crabs a year ago, butnever suited up for the team. Between2007 and 2011, the catcher playedin 26MLB games with five differentteams. He did not play in 2014, butplayed 83 games with Lancaster in2013.

Of those returning to the BlueCrabs, Berg, who appeared in 60games for the Cubs between 2009and 2011, pitched in 26 games forthe Blue Crabs last year. He savedsix games, had a 2-2 record and a3.20 ERA. Hamren, who pitchedwith the San Diego Padres in 2011,pitched in 36 games for SouthernMaryland in 2014. He was 1-3 with a2.41 ERA.

Burres, who pitched in 106 gamesincluding 56 starts between 2006and 2011with the Baltimore Orioles,Toronto Blue Jays and PittsburghPirates, started the 2014 season inSouthernMaryland.

Through nine starts, he was 3-2with a 1.64 ERA before being signed topitch for the Colorado Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs.

Former big leaguers all over Blue Crabs roster


Blue Crabs first baseman Daryle Ward had abig league career that stretched from 1998to 2008 where he played in 948 games instints with six teams.

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Ask first-year SouthernMarylandBlue Crabsmanager Stan Cliburnabout the Atlantic League and itdoesn’t takemuch time for him tocome upwith an answer.

“Better and better every year,” hesaid regarding what to expect fromone season to the next. “I’ve lookedat the rosters and the signings, and Ilook at themanagers. I know [Ricky]VanAsselburg, the newmanager atBridgeport. I gave that youngman hisfirst opportunity to get in pro ball 20years ago, and I knowwhat kind ofcompetitor he is. He played forme asa catcher back in the old Texas-Loui-siana League. I knowwhat he’s donein his youngmanagerial career andthe intensity he brings to the game.

“I knowwhat to expect against[Lancastermanager Butch] Hobson,MarkMason in York, Brett Jodie inSomerset, who does a great job and

[Sugar Landmanager Gary] Gaetti,whowas a tremendous player and isa guy who is doing a great jobmanag-ing. All of those guys are competitiveguys and have connections to go outand get players.”

All of whichmeans winning andqualifying for the league playoffs is achallenging endeavor. A season ago,Cliburn, who enters the seasonwith1,487 wins in nearly 3,000 gamesmanaged in amanagerial career thatspans over two decades, worked in

Lancaster as the hitting/bench coachfor current BarnstormersmanagerButchHobson.

Hobsonwas the first Blue Crabsskipper andmanaged the team from2008 to 2010.

“When he askedme [to come toLancaster] I said ‘Absolutely,’” Cliburnsaid . “First of all, I wanted to not onlywork for Butch. I wanted to see whatthe Atlantic League was all about. I’dheard great things about it being thepremier league of the independents.They talk about it being aminorleague graveyard, but I don’t believethat. A lot of these guys go on tomajorleague affiliates and on to themajorleagues.

“I was excited about that. Going toLancaster andmaybe seeing the gamethrough different eyes last year. See-ing howButchworked as amanager.It not only openedmy eyes to whatI’ve done as amanager over the previ-ous 20-plus years, but how’s it work-ing for another guy?”

Things workedwell for Lancasterin 2014, as the Barnstormers tookhome the league championship. Theseason started with divisional realign-ment in the league, whichmoved theBlue Crabs to the FreedomDivision,which also includes Lancaster, SugarLand and York.

The Blue Crabs struggled in theseason’s first half but put together a39-31 second half. Unfortunately forthe team, that record just wasn’t goodenough.

It would have been good enough towin the Liberty Division’s second-halfcrown, whichwas earned by Somerset(38-32 in the second half). But in theFreedomDivision, in which all fourteams finished above the .500markin the second half, the Blue Crabs’record left them in third place, threegames out of first.

Division rivals Lancaster andSugar Land eventually played inthe league championship series,with Lancaster winning the titleafter sweeping the Skeeters. York,also of the FreedomDivision, alsoqualified for the four-team leagueplayoff field, meaning every team inthe division reached the postseasonexcept the Blue Crabs.

Having reached the playoffs eachseason since its inaugural year in 2008before last season, SouthernMarylandhopes to return to the party this year.

“I am looking for another champi-onship,” Cliburn said. “I’ve had eightas a player and six as amanager orcoach. They’re always hard to get, butthey’re funwhen you get them.”

What’s in store inthe Atlantic League?

Atlantic League teamsFreedom division

Lancaster Barnstormers,Southern Maryland Blue Crabs,Sugar Land Skeeters, York Revolution

Liberty division

Bridgeport Bluefish, Camden Riversharks,Long Island Ducks, Somerset Patriots


n Atlantic Leaguefinalizes pace of playchanges for season


In August, the Atlantic Leagueimplemented five pace of playmea-sures designed to speed up the gamesa tad in hopes of trimming a bit of fatfrom the lengths of games and keepfans engaged.

The intended results were gener-ally achieved, with the pace of playinitiative cutting games by roughly10minutes on average over the first10 days. The experiment workedwellenough thatMajor League Baseballimplemented its own pace of playrules this season.

“There were some good ideas,”said first-year SouthernMarylandBlue Crabsmanager Stan Cliburn,who last year was ButchHobson’sbench coach for the Atlantic Leaguechampion Lancaster Barnstormers.“In fact, they were so good thatMajorLeague Baseball is looking at what weimplemented last year in the secondhalf of the season. ... Major leaguegames up until at least a couple ofnights agowere 10 to 12minutesfaster than the pace in previous years,

so it works. And they got a lot of thoseideas from the Atlantic League.”

Last summer, the initialmeasurestaken by the Atlantic League generallyregarded timeouts, restriction of bat-ters stepping out of the batter’s box,requiring pitchers to deliver pitcheswithin 12 secondswith no runnerson base, automatically rewarding thebatter first base for an intentional walkwithout the pitcher throwing fourballs, reducing the number of warm-up pitches a relief pitcher is allowed tothrow from eight to six upon enteringthe game, and directing the umpiresto stick to the strike zone as it is offi-cially laid out in the rulebook.

This season the league tweakedits pace of play rules, whichwerefinalized April 13. Cliburn viewed thechanges and the resultant speediergames as a positive, though as a long-time baseball man he acknowledgedit was initially difficult to get used tothe idea of some, such as not havingto pitch the four balls for an inten-tional walk.

“We all work together on it,” Cli-burn said, referencing the pace of playcommittee which is comprised of for-merMLB executives and players. “I’mfor it. I like the ideas.”

He also said it does not really affectthe way hemanages a game.

“Not really. You have to watch outwith your visits,” he said regarding

the rule that restricts a team to threetimeouts over nine innings. Teamsreceive an additional timeout forevery three innings if a game goesto extra innings. “If you think aboutit, if you have to go out there two or

three times or four times to talk to thepitcher, he’s obviously not doing hisjob, anyway. He needs to be out ofthe game, anyway. You need to thinkabout it that way.”

Another new idea the Blue Crabswill implement this yearmight notspeed the game up, but would figureto keep some fans happy. On nightsthat feature fireworks at the ballpark,the gamewill stop in the seventhinning for the fireworks so families donot have to wait until the game’s con-clusion for the show.

“We’re going to shoot the fireworksoff so the kids can go home for schoolor whatever,” Cliburn said, “andthat’s the boss, [SouthernMarylandowner] Peter Kirk’s idea, alongwithagreement through the whole frontoffice, and I think it’s a tremendousidea. I’ve seen games go extra inningstomidnight, and if you have 10,000people there at a baseball game to seefireworks and the fireworks never getdisplayed, then there’s a lot ofmadpeople.

“This game, and especiallyminorleague baseball, whether it’s affiliatedor independent ball, is for the fans. ...The ideas we come upwith are fan-orientedwithout affecting the integ-rity of the game. You don’t want toaffect the integrity, and I don’t thinkthese rules have done that. I thinkthey’re good.”

Speeding things up Pace of play rules•The time between innings shall be limited to no more than 2 minutes 5 seconds.Timing commences when the last out of a half-inning is recorded.

•Pitchers will be allowed as many warm-up pitches as they need as long as they are preparedto start the inning within 2:05.

•Clubs may test countdown clocks to time the 12 seconds between pitches with no oneon base rule (Rule 8.04), and the 2:05 limit between innings.

•Teams will cease walk-up music when hitters reach the home plate circle.

•The manager or coach will signal the plate umpire for a pitching change immediatelyupon leaving the dugout when making the second trip to confer with the same pitcherin the same inning.

•On-field timeouts or conferences will be limited to no more than 30 seconds, exceptin the case of injury.

•The defensive team will be limited to a total of three timeouts in which mound visitsor on-field conferences are conducted with a pitcher or position player during a game.This rule was implemented in 2014, and is now permanent. A mound visit which resultsin a pitching change at the time of the visit will not count as a timeout. In extra-inninggames, one additional timeout shall be permitted at the start of the top of the 10th inningand every three innings thereafter.

If the defensive team disregards the umpire-in-chief’s reasonable warning and continues todelay the game, the umpire may declare a “ball” for the batter at the plate.

•The Atlantic League will direct umpires to be diligent applying and enforcing rules restrictingbatters from stepping out of the box and requiring the pitcher to deliver the ball within 12seconds when the bases are unoccupied, a rule implemented in 2014 and now permanent.

•When a manager or catcher of the defensive team indicates to the home plate umpire hewishes to issue an intentional base on balls, the batter shall be awarded first base withouthaving the pitcher deliver four pitches, a rule implemented in 2014 and now permanent.


Blue Crabs players get ready for the upcoming campaign, one that will see revised pace of play rules from the Atlantic Legaue.

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Alcoholic beveragesAlcoholic beverages will be available for pur-chase at stadium concession stands from theopening of the stadium gates until the start ofthe eighth inning.

Stadium vendors carry both bottled and draftbeer. Customers may be asked to show a validID before purchasing and consuming alcohol atRegency Furniture Stadium.

AnnouncementsAll requests for scoreboard and public addressannouncementsmust bemade to the Blue Crabsvia the team’s website at www.somdbluecrabs.com(look for the PA request form on the left side of thehomepage) at least 24 hours before the game.

Any day-of-game requests can be made at theFan Service Center and will be accommodated ifscheduling allows.

All fans making requests will be asked to paya $5 donation to a charity of the Blue Crabs’choosing.

ATMThere is one Community Bank of the ChesapeakeATM located in the Crab Shack Team Store.

Bags, bringing itemsThe Southern Maryland Blue Crabs ask that allbags be less than 18 inches long. Fans are notpermitted to bring outside food or drinks into theballpark.

Ballpark toursBallpark tours for groups can be arranged by call-ing 301-638-9788.

Batting practiceBatting practice will not be open to the public

regularly. Stadium gates typically will open onehour before the game, after the conclusion ofbatting practice.

CamerasFans are permitted to bring cameras and videorecorders to the stadium.

Foul ballsFoul balls batted into the stands can be kept byfans. The Blue Crabs ask fans to stay alert forbatted balls and flying bats.

ParkingParking is free, plentiful and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rainouts, delaysRainouts and delays decided before the firstpitch will be announced on the team’s websiteat www.somdbluecrabs.com. Fans also may call301-638-9788 or tune in to local radio stationsfor game status.

SmokingRegency Furniture Stadium is a smoke-freefacility. There are two designated zones outsideof the stadium by the first- and third-base gateswhere smoking is permitted.

Team broadcastsBlue Crabs fans can listen to the team through-out the 2015 season.

Internet broadcasts of every game are at www.somdbluecrabs.com.

Young fansYoung fans will be allowed to run the bases afterSunday games.

Stadium guide

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Patrick Osborn left for theNew York Yankees organiza-tion. Earlier this year, Osbornwas namedmanager of theStaten Island Yankees, aClass A short-season team intheNew York-Penn Leagueand affiliate of the Yankees.

“I will miss all the peopleand all the friends that Imetwhile I was there as well asthe Atlantic League,” Bur-khart said. “My thoughts arethere, and I’ve been keepingin touchwith [Blue Crabsgeneralmanager] PatrickDay, [currentmanager] StanCliburn and [pitching coach]Dan Reichert. I will be follow-ing alongwith their seasonbecause a lot of the guys thatare there are guys that I hadlast year, and I want to check

up and see how they aredoing.”

With Burkhart at the helm,the Blue Crabs finishedwitha 68-72 overall record, finish-ingwith a 39-31mark in thesecond half, in its first seasonin the FreedomDivision.

Burkhart,whoplayed in95gamesasa startingcatcherfor theBlueCrabs in thefinalseasonofhisbaseball career in2009, tookover ashittingcoachfor theLancasterBarnstormersunderBlueCrabs inauguralmanagerButchHobson in2010and remained therethrough the2013 season.

“The biggest difference[between] the [Blue Crabs]and [my FortWayne team]is the age range and experi-ence of the players,” he said.“I’m dealingwith 19- to22-year-old kids. They are alot younger.”

From the time he signed tothe TinCaps through springtraining, the adjustment has

been a process in beingwiththe new team, but Burkhart isenjoying it.

“It’s been an even-keelposition,” he said. “Springtrainingwentwell; we gotrainedout the first twonights.It’s been a smooth transitionbecause I’ve been ahittingcoach in thepast. I’mdefinite-ly looking forward to seeingthese guys process andhelpthembecomebig leaguers.”

Burkhart’smanagerFran-ciscoMoralesplayedeightyearsofminor leaguebaseball,reachingashighasTriple-A,wasa formerAtlanticLeagueall-star for theLong IslandDucks in theearly 2000sandhasbeencoaching since2005wherehe startedwith theAri-zonaDiamondbacks.

Burkhart also playedwithMorales in 1999with theOttawa Senators, the Triple-Aaffiliate of theMontreal Expos.

“It’s great. Baseball is like afraternity,” Burkhart said.

BurkhartContinued from Page 10

Reichert pitched for the Blue Crabsandwas amember of the 2008 inau-gural teamwhile having played for theBlue Crabs as recently as 2012, where-upon he retired fromplaying after theseason.

“Being aroundheremakesme feelcomfortable back in the old stompinggrounds,” Reichert said. “Iworkedhereas pitching coach and spent two yearscoachingwith the Lincoln Saltdogs,and I’ve gottenused to how tohandlemyself as a coach andmentor to theseplayers.Hopefully these last few yearshave givenmeabaseline to comehereandhelp these guys asmuch as I can toget themon to thenext level.”

Reichert was named the AtlanticLeague pitcher of the year in 2010after recording 18 wins and 148 strike-outs in 189 innings over 29 games.

“We of course want to win games,”Reichert said. “We also want to keepthe pitching staff healthy, andNo. 3would be getting guys out of here andback into affiliate ball. The league iswell scouted. If they stay healthy anddowell, they canmove on fromhere.”

Mr. Blue CrabOwenswill be in his third season as

hitting coach.

He has beenwith the organiza-tion since its inception in 2008, andended his playing career last seasonas the Blue Crabs’ offensive leader inalmost all categories, including homeruns (105), RBIs (340), hits (604), runs(424), doubles (129), triples (20) andstolen bases (98). Owens played in 737games for the Blue Crabs.

“It is a long season and youdon’twant to burnout the guys tooquick,”Owens said. “In thefirstmonth youstay in a routine.We try and keep agood set for the guys so they get used toit and get prepared for the game. In thelong run that’s important for keepingthemhealthy throughout the season.”

Owens was drafted by the SanDiego Padres and spent numerousseasons withmultipleminor leagueorganizations, one of whichwas afellow Atlantic League team in theSomerset Patriots. Being used to theleague has givenOwens insight onhow to handle pitchingmatchups.

“We keep books on all the pitchersjust like other teams do on us,” Owenssaid. “Before every series we have ameeting and look at what wewantto do to this guy, or what this pitchertries to do to us, tomake sure if he hastendencies we exploit them.”

Owens is one of themost recogniz-able faces of CrustaceanNation andplans to do nothing but help futureBlue Crabs grow and develop talent.

“Rule No. 1 that I learned fromButchHobson [theBlueCrabs’ inaugu-

ralmanager]whenhewas themanagerhere,was to help these guys get betterand get out of this league,”Owens said.“In that processwefindways towinballgames andultimately try andwin achampionship at the end.”

Manager’s thoughtsCliburn is excited to have such vet-

eranmembers on his coaching staff.“I knewa lot about these two guys

andhaveheardnothingbut greatthings about them,”Cliburn said. “I fellright into a great situation. Like almostallminor league organizations oneofourmain goals is to build upplayer andget thempromoted to ahigher league.

“I told them to totally concentrateonwhat they do,” Cliburn said. “As acoaching staff, take what they did asa player and the success they had, toinitiate that into their program to eachthese guys playing the game.”

CliburnmanagedOwens dur-ing the 2003 Eastern League All-Stargame, whichwas wonwith a bunt byOwens in the ninth inning.

“I emphasized to Dan and Jeremythat hey, you guys have your hittersand pitchers,” Owens said. “You con-trol them and you do your job andI’m just going to be the one to overseeeverything. I’m going to give them fullreign, but I don’t think that’s going tobe a problem. Usually when you getthe respect of your coaches and theydowhat you believe in everythingtakes care of itself.”

CoachesContinued from Page 10


Blue Crabs catcher Gustavo Molina, left,pitching coach Dan Reichert and right-hand-ed pitcher Orlando Santos share a laugh dur-ing a spring training session. Reichert is inhis first season as the team’s pitching coach.

File photo

Jeremy Owens returns as the Blue Crabs’hitting coach.

Ticket salesTickets to Southern Maryland BlueCrabs games can be purchased atwww.somdbluecrabs.com.

Fans also can call the team’sticket office at 301-638-9788 or visitRegency Furniture Stadium in Wal-dorf to purchase tickets to individualgames. Information on season ticketpackages is available at the website.

Individual game seats are priced at$13. Children 5 and younger andchildren 6 to 12 in a youth athleticleague uniform receive free admis-sion to the field box seating area.

DirectionsRegency Furniture Stadium is at11765 St. Linus Drive in Waldorf,near the intersection of Billingsleyand Piney Church roads.

The stadium is accessible from U.S.301 and Route 5.

From Route 5: Billingsley Roadintersects Leonardtown Road (Route5) just south of Waldorf. Take Bill-ingsley Road to the west for approxi-mately 3 miles to Piney Church Road.Turn left and go one-half mile. Thestadium will be on the right.

From U.S. 301: Crain Highway (U.S.301) and Billingsley Road intersectjust south of Waldorf. Turn ontoBillingsley Road. After 2.5 miles, turnright onto Piney Church Road anddrive for one-half mile.

MascotPinch is the official mascot of theSouthern Maryland Blue Crabs.

The 6-foot-6, 450-pound fantasycharacter, whose full name is B.C.Pincher, is a distant cousin of thePhilly Phanatic. Pinch is a big base-ball fan but also enjoys putting on hissize-30 dancing shoes and moving tothe beat of whatever is playing.

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