Four Blue Crabs Named to ALPB Postseason All-Star Team
Published on October 4, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release
(Waldorf, MD): The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball has announced that Blue Crabs pitchers Dan Reichert and Jim Ed Warden, as well as second baseman Casey Benjamin and catcher Christian Lopez have been named to the 2010 Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team.
Reichert set a personal best and league record for wins in a single season at 18-9, and as a result was also named the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year. His 18 wins surpassed Denny Harriger's 17-4 mark in 2006 for the Lancaster Barnstormers in their championship season. Reichert earned the record in his final start of the year; a 7-2 Blue Crabs victory over the York Revolution on September 17 at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Reichert also led the league with 189.0 innings pitched and 148 strikeouts, and played for the Liberty Division in the All-Star Game on July 6 at Suffolk County Sports Park in Central Islip, NY.
A 14-year veteran, Reichert was drafted seventh overall by the Kansas City Royals in 1997. He has Major League experience in five seasons, predominantly with the Royals, but most recently with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003. Reichert made his big league debut in 1999 with the Royals and pitched for them through 2002, winning 21 games. For his career, Reichert is 108-89 in 425 games and 225 starts.
Warden earns postseason honors as the top relief pitcher after earning a league best 30 saves in 58 appearances out of the Blue Crabs bullpen, and is the franchise leader in saves with 43. Warden went 6-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 58.2 innings pitched, and held opponents to a .217 batting average.
Warden also began the 2009 season with Southern Maryland, collecting 13 saves with a 1.12 ERA in 22 games before the New York Mets purchased his contract on June 12. He ended last year at Triple-A Buffalo, and went a combined 2-1 with three saves in 32 games between Double- and Triple-A. Warden has 63 career saves in 335 games.
A 10-year pro, Warden was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2001. He has also pitched in the Washington Nationals farm system.
Benjamin was one of the best offensive players for Southern Maryland in 2010, smacking a team best 138 hits in 112 games while batting .304 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI. His 20 homers were second on the club.
Benjamin earned Player of the Month honors in August after leading the Blue Crabs in home runs (7) and RBI (24) in 24 games. He also finished second with a .381 average and 21 runs scored. Benjamin started for the Liberty Division in the All-Star Game and hit a leadoff homer in the first inning in his team's victory on July 6.
This was Benjamin's first season in the Atlantic League and eighth overall as a professional. He spent the previous seven years in the Texas Rangers organization, playing for Triple-A Oklahoma City all of last season and part of 2008.
Lopez makes the Postseason All-Star Team as the best defensive catcher in the Atlantic League. In 810.1 innings behind the plate, Lopez threw out more than half (39-for-76) of the base runners who tried to steal off of him. At the plate, Lopez hit .274 with seven homers and 41 RBI in 94 games. He also led the team with a .429 average in July.
A seven year professional, Lopez was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003. He spent the last six years in the Rays organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Durham in 2007 before making his Atlantic League debut this year.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs would like to congratulate the other members of the 2010 Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team. Special congratulations go to Atlantic League Manager of the Year Willie Upshaw of the Bridgeport Bluefish, the Co-Players of the Year, York Revolution centerfielder Scott Grimes and Lancaster Barnstormers third baseman Aaron Herr, and General Manager of the Year Michael Pfaff of the Long Island Ducks.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The 2010 season is presented by the Civista Health Foundation. The franchise will be entering its fourth season in 2011, coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and a team record 82 wins in 2010. Please call 301-638-9788 or visit www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information and to save your seat at the ballpark today!
Atlantic League Stories from October 4, 2010
- Pfaff Named Atlantic League GM of Year - Long Island Ducks
- Upshaw Named Manager of the Year - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Five Bluefish Named to Postseason All Star Team - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Four Ducks Honored - Long Island Ducks
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Four Blue Crabs Named to ALPB Postseason All-Star Team - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Blue Crabs' Dan Reichert Is ALPB Pitcher of the Year - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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