http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/players/shane_spencer/58030 Recent articles about Shane Spencer en-us Photo via SomersetPatriots.com New leadership, new faces, new energy…that is what the 2013 Somerset Patriots look to be about.  The first series of the Atlantic League season for the five-time champions against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs saw the Patriots bring power at the plate and the mound, taking three out of four games.  Shortstop Yunesky Sanchez has continued his hot hitting from the World Baseball Classic, hitting home runs in each of the first four games and looking like the guy who hit .403 for Southern Maryland in 2011.  The lineup from top to bottom has been solid, with leadoff hitter Jonny Tucker bringing in a run in each contest so far with Joe Holden holding up the bottom with a strong start (5-for-7).  Patriots manager Brett Jodie and hitting coach Shane Spencer have brought an aggressive style on the bases as well, sending runners from first to third and stealing bases at a high rate early on.  The added speed and athleticism on the ballclub has seen Somerset a... Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:48:04 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/somerset_patriots_opening_series_review/13466131 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/somerset_patriots_opening_series_review/13466131 Somerset Patriots Opening Series Review http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/somerset_patriots_opening_series_review/13466131 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Brett Jodie has taken over the managerial role for the retired Sparky Lyle. (Image via PatriotsBaseball.com) After a rough 2012 season which saw the Somerset Patriots miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year, the 2013 season has plenty of changes and just enough pieces back to make a run at their sixth Atlantic League title.  At times last year, the Patriots had the best pitching staff and solid hitting but not together.  For that reason, Somerset either struggled to score runs or hold teams like Lancaster and defending league champion Long Island back.  Somerset felt the effects of players leaving for other opportunities and personal issues as well. The 2013 season comes with a major change in the dugout.  Former New York Yankee great Sparky Lyle, who has managed the Patriots since their inception in 1998, has retired to a manager emeritus position in the organization.  Long time pitching coach (and member of the 2003 championship team) Brett Jodie takes the reigns as manage... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:42:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/new_year_fresh_start_for_somerset_patriots/13431358 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/new_year_fresh_start_for_somerset_patriots/13431358 New Year, Fresh Start for Somerset Patriots http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/new_year_fresh_start_for_somerset_patriots/13431358 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Clearly, even Mother Nature had seen just about all she could stomach of the Yankees’ geriatric merry-go-round this week, washing out the last two nights of what was easily the most disappointing home opening series at Progressive Field since the time everybody just said “screw it” and played at Miller Park instead. It’s now officially been a full five years since the Indians last treated their fans to a series win to start the home schedule. As a silver lining, though, odds are good we’ll have us a nice Yankee doubleheader in much more favorable conditions some time later this summer. And better still, the likelihood of Brett Myers appearing in either of those games is looking slim at best. And since we’re on the subject of seemingly hopeless reclamation projects, it seems a fitting time to revisit our old friend Travis Hafner—perhaps the unlikeliest Yankee clean-up hitter since Shane Spencer. After Pronk smashed his way to vengeance with a homer and four RBI off Ubaldo Jimenez and... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:33:12 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/second_thoughts_the_pronks_bomber_illusion/13380580 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/second_thoughts_the_pronks_bomber_illusion/13380580 Second Thoughts: The “Pronk's Bomber” Illusion http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/second_thoughts_the_pronks_bomber_illusion/13380580 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The five-time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots have hired Shane Spencer as their hitting coach and third base coach. For those who don’t remember, Shane Spencer was in large part, responsible for one of the greatest playoff moments in the history of the game. In Game 3 of the 2001 American League Division series, Terrance Long hit a lined shot down the right field line. With Jeremy Giambi rounding third, right fielder Spencer over threw the cut-off man, resulting in Derek Jeter-completely out of place-picking up the errant throw. With a backhand flip to catcher Jorge Posada, he tagged out Giambi at home turning the tide of the series. Shane Spencer spent parts of seven seasons in the Bigs, five of those with the New York Yankees. Never the main attraction, Spencer was one of those irreplaceable pieces of the Yankee’s dynasty in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. In nearly 1700 career at-bats Spencer collected 84 doubles, belted 59 home runs and knocked in 242. H... Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:16:59 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/former_yankee_shane_spencer_hired_as_hitting_coach3b_coach_for_somerset_patriots/12608695 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/former_yankee_shane_spencer_hired_as_hitting_coach3b_coach_for_somerset_patriots/12608695 Former Yankee Shane Spencer hired as Hitting Coach/3B Coach for Somerset Patriots http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/former_yankee_shane_spencer_hired_as_hitting_coach3b_coach_for_somerset_patriots/12608695 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/a/7a234da46082cfe646a8f4aa8aba43a3b309081a/mini/Yankees_v_Reds_18fa.jpg If you are reading this then there is a 100% chance that you know about the BS call the replacement refs made in the Green Bay Packers vs Seattle Seahawks Monday Night Football game. Every part of the play from the non-pass interference call to the interception that somehow turned into a Golden Tate touchdown was complete garbage (though I had the Seahawks +3.5 so I can live with the decision). Since the replacement referees are getting so much flak, justly, I thought it would be fun to look back at some other replacements from the world of sports and entertainment from the last 20 years and see how they did. Vivian Banks on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air:   That’s right, the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear “replacement” is Aunt Viv. Growing up in the late 80′s/early 90′s I was partially raised by the TV and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was as much a staple for me as bad decisions are to Bobby Petrino. Just when you think that you know all that there ... Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:03:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_best_replacements_from_sports_and_entertainment/11816839 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_best_replacements_from_sports_and_entertainment/11816839 The best replacements from sports and entertainment http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_best_replacements_from_sports_and_entertainment/11816839 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png With one final start slated for Matt Harvey this season, it’s a good time to evaluate what we have seen from the young fireballer in 2012. Like many speculated, he had some really great outings, and some that would be best if forgotten all together. It is expected that the Mets’ young righthander will have his ups and downs, but Harvey has ultimately done enough to lock down a spot in the Mets starting rotation for 2013. Harvey’s Overall Grade: B    Harvey easily could have received an A had it not been for a couple of bad starts which followed his debut. Aside from the solid B grade, there are some things Harvey will have to work on during the off-season which will help solidify his spot at the top of the Mets rotation for years to come. Harvey’s Changeup This is the pitch that got Harvey into a good amount of trouble in his few starts with the Mets. He tends to leave it up in the zone, which makes it easy for hitters to jump on. He has to learn what situations to use it in, and... Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:07:04 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/matt_harvey_taking_his_game_to_another_level/11703226 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/matt_harvey_taking_his_game_to_another_level/11703226 Matt Harvey: Taking His Game To Another Level http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/matt_harvey_taking_his_game_to_another_level/11703226 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png It was Monday September 10, 2001, and I was on my way to the Bronx to see the Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox. The entire day was cloudy, rain here and there, but when my parents and I got to the stadium, the skies opened up. Lightning, purple sky, torrential downpour – it looked like the world was ending. We got into the ballpark and I took a seat in the right field bleachers. Five minutes later, Bob Sheppard’s booming voice came over the PA system and announced the game was postponed. We shuffled out and headed home, about a 40 minute drive north of the city. I went to sleep to the sound of pouring rain on the roof of my house, and woke up to crisp sunshine on my face on that fateful Tuesday morning. For so many of us, September 11, 2001 changed a lot of things. Even eleven years later, the magnitude of the event is still hard to wrap my mind around. But what it didn’t change was America’s pastime. See, baseball has been the one constant throughout this country, it has stood the test of time. In Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:58:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/yankees_gave_hope_in_time_of_despair/11687596 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/yankees_gave_hope_in_time_of_despair/11687596 Yankees Gave Hope in Time of Despair http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/yankees_gave_hope_in_time_of_despair/11687596 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png At least this is what happened to Pat Kelly and Shane Spencer. Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:31:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dear_god_shoot_casey_mcgehee_now_this_is_what_happens_to_middling_former_yankees/11589907 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dear_god_shoot_casey_mcgehee_now_this_is_what_happens_to_middling_former_yankees/11589907 Dear God, shoot Casey McGehee now: This is what happens to middling former Yankees http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dear_god_shoot_casey_mcgehee_now_this_is_what_happens_to_middling_former_yankees/11589907 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Lindsay Lohan reportedly is moving from LA to New York, which should be a good thing because maybe she’ll do less driving this way. Ordinarily this wouldn’t be the sort of story we’d cover on LBS (though admittedly, we do stretch our boundaries quite a bit), but the mention of with whom Lohan was keeping company merits our attention. According to the New York Daily News, Lohan was spotted drinking with former Yankees Pat Kelly and Shane Spencer at an Upper East Side bar. The Daily News reports that Lohan also did some karaoke. Scandalous! Kelly, in case you forgot, was drafted by the Yanks in 1988 and played with them from 1991-1997, hitting 26 home runs while mostly playing second base. Spencer was drafted by the team in 1990 and played outfield for the Yankes from 1998-2002, winning three straight World Series titles. He tore the cover off the ball during his rookie call-up with the Yankees in 1998, bashing 10 home runs and registering a 1.321 OPS. Don’t ask me what the trio w... Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:24:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/lindsay_lohan_spotted_drinking_hanging_with_former_yankees/11589772 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/lindsay_lohan_spotted_drinking_hanging_with_former_yankees/11589772 Lindsay Lohan spotted drinking, hanging with former Yankees http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/lindsay_lohan_spotted_drinking_hanging_with_former_yankees/11589772 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The New York Daily News is reporting that Lindsay Lohan is moving from Los Angeles to New York. This isn't baseball news in the slightest. However, at her new place in New York, Lohan was apparently hanging out with a pair of former Yankees on Tuesday. Former Yankees? AWESOME! They must be superstars, like Bernie! Or Jorge! Or Paulie! Maybe Chuck or Tino? Nope. The former Yankees that Lohan was apparently drinking and singing karaoke with were...Pat Kelly and Shane Spencer. Spencer played five years with the Yankees, won three World Championships, and was out of baseball at 32. He's best known for a ten homer power surge in his first 27 games with the Yankees after he got called up in 1998...Kevin Maas redux, right? Kelly spent seven years as a Yankee, won one World Championship, and was out of baseball at age 31. Both players were primarily bench players during their careers, and are both in their 40s today. Lindsay Lohan can't do any better than a couple of bench pla... Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:14:22 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/lindsay_lohan_is_hanging_out_with_former_yankees_in_new_york/11589760 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/lindsay_lohan_is_hanging_out_with_former_yankees_in_new_york/11589760 Lohan seen hanging with former Yanks http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/lindsay_lohan_is_hanging_out_with_former_yankees_in_new_york/11589760 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/9/899218009c61af8cbd18ecfe178d6851c63a0ed1/mini/lohan.jpg Believe it or not, most of our writers didn't enter the world sporting an @baseballprospectus.com address; with a few exceptions, they started out somewhere else. In an effort to up your reading pleasure while tipping our caps to some of the most illuminating work being done elsewhere on the internet, we'll be yielding the stage once a week to the best and brightest baseball writers, researchers and thinkers from outside of the BP umbrella. If you'd like to nominate a guest contributor (including yourself), please drop us a line. Chad Finn writes the Touching All The Bases blog for Boston.com and is the sports media columnist for The Boston Globe. He believes that Butch Hobson was actually a fine defensive third baseman, misses watching Pedro Martinez pitch, and would appreciate it if you gave him all of your good book ideas. He lives in Wells, Maine, with his wife, two children, and cat named after Otis Nixon.   One need not disregard the surgeon general’s warnin... Tue, 22 May 2012 03:02:40 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/baseball_proguestus_a_salute_to_small_sample_size_by_chad_finn/10845344 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/baseball_proguestus_a_salute_to_small_sample_size_by_chad_finn/10845344 Baseball ProGUESTus: A Salute to Small Sample Size by Chad Finn http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/baseball_proguestus_a_salute_to_small_sample_size_by_chad_finn/10845344 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/367733394af8722ba29af48cb069dfc10be6220d/mini/Ted_Williams_334e.jpg It has been a helluva two weeks for the New York Knicks and their fans. The majority of the teams success can be attributed to Jeremy Lin. The guard was on the brink of being cut by his third team when the Knicks were essentially forced to give him a chance. We all know the whole story of the Harvard alum, and he has been an offensive juggernaut during the Knicks 7-game winning streak. The Knicks only stand at .500, but there is an excitement at the Garden, and that is one of the best venues to be at with a crowd going nuts. New York fans have seen this before, in the Bronx specifically. They have seen guys rise from almost nowhere to become overnight sensations. Unfortunately, New York fans have seen many guys flame out shortly after rising to cult-hero status. Knicks fans hope that Lin isn’t just another one of these flash-in-the-pans that Yankees fans have seen. Joba Chamberlain: Back in 2007, the Yankees needed a shot in the arm with a shot at the playoffs fading away. T... Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:19 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/jeremy_lin_should_hope_he_is_not_these_guys/9971374 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/jeremy_lin_should_hope_he_is_not_these_guys/9971374 Jeremy Lin should hope he is not these guys http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/jeremy_lin_should_hope_he_is_not_these_guys/9971374 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Football season is over. Spring training is still a few days away. That means, for multi-sport fans like me, there is little choice but to get immersed in college basketball and the NBA. And doing so during the past week meant going Linsane. Point guard Jeremy Lin emerged as the New York Knicks’ savior, reviving a team that was struggling to stay afloat in the absence of stars like Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. A Harvard graduate who went undrafted and was rejected by two teams, Lin certainly did not take the beaten path to fame, but that only adds to the intrigue of his timely breakout. Hoops Analyst writer Ed Weiland is one of the few who can claim he saw this coming. Being a baseball fan first, though, all of this Linsanity got me thinking: Who is baseball’s Jeremy Lin?  One possible parallel is former Yankees outfielder Shane Spencer. A replacement player during spring training in 1995, Spencer toiled in the minor leagues for a few years after that, and then put... Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:47:15 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/the_bp_first_take_monday_february_13_by_daniel_rathman/9897427 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/the_bp_first_take_monday_february_13_by_daniel_rathman/9897427 The BP First Take: Monday, February 13 by Daniel Rathman http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/the_bp_first_take_monday_february_13_by_daniel_rathman/9897427 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png 1) David Ortiz Back in 2010, David Ortiz got off to a wretched start, hitting just .143/.238/.286 with a single homer in 63 plate appearances during the month of April. At 34 years old, and on the heels of a season in which he'd set lows in all three slash categories (.238/.332/.462) during his time with the Red Sox, it was fair to wonder if he'd ever be the same hitter again. As May dawned, he suddenly started hitting homers—two on May 1, one on May 5, two more on May 14, and another on May 17. On the occasion of that last one, which came against the Yankees, I checked in on his status and noted that while he had lifted his line to .235/.301/.500, his strikeout-to-walk ratio stood at a very uncharacteristic 38-to-10 through 113 PA. He was striking out at an alarming rate of 34.9 percent—nearly double what he'd done as a Red Sock from 2003-2009 (18.0) percent. Calling upon the work of Russell Carleton, which held that strikeout rate stabilizes at the 150 PA mark and w... Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:02:48 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_lineup_card_10_times_small_sample_sizes_steered_us_wrong_by_baseball_prospectus/9803353 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/the_lineup_card_10_times_small_sample_sizes_steered_us_wrong_by_baseball_prospectus/9803353 The Lineup Card: 10 Times Small Sample Sizes Steered Us Wrong by Baseball Prospectus http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_lineup_card_10_times_small_sample_sizes_steered_us_wrong_by_baseball_prospectus/9803353 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/4/6477adad951fd3c6733c3bba0712e5fae5aefdb3/mini/papi.jpg