Ashmore's Patriots Notebook
by Mike Ashmore
August 17, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat

In the Atlantic League, having Hector Almonte, Dave Elder and Mike Johnson on the mound with the game on the line is about as lights out as it gets. Unfortunately, the Somerset Patriots had better have their electric bill paid up, because one of those pitchers is on his way out.

Days after Almonte returned from a successful stint in the Mexican League, the team learned that Johnson would be leaving to represent his native Canada in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Cuba

As if this wasn't bad enough, Johnson will have some Canadian company, with outfielder Ryan Radmanovich and shortstop Kevin Nicholson also leaving.

Radmanovich, who leads the Atlantic League in home runs with 21, is expected to return to the Patriots in early September, as is Nicholson. The same cannot be said for Johnson, who is not expected to re-join the team after the tournament is over for "personal reasons."

While the addition of Kane Davis should cushion the blow dealt by the loss of Johnson, Radmanovich is simply irreplaceable. While his much heralded offense will surely be missed, he only has one error in the field all season, so his presence in right field will be missed as well.

Nicholson, hitting just .230 this season, has had somewhat of a disappointing year, but the team will likely have Patrick Boran play shortstop in his absence, although there has been talk of the team acquiring a player from the Road Warriors

In other Patriots news, the logjam at catcher has been cleared up, as Jeremy Booth was released. However, the team may be wishing they'd hung onto the former Bear as Fernando Lunar re-injured himself days after being activated off the DL and will be out for an unknown amount of time.

SomerStuff: The team has reportedly shown interest in Road Warriors infielder Nick Ortiz and former Nashua Pride outfielder Glenn Murray. Murray, the Atlantic League's all-time home run king, announced his retirement earlier this season, but the team is trying to persuade him to return in order to keep some pop in the lineup with the departure of Radmanovich.

Around the Atlantic League: The Long Island Ducks have signed pitcher Jim Mann. Mann, who has big league experience with the Astros, Mets and Pirates, last pitched for the Eastern League's Portland Sea Dogs in 2005. He also has experience in the Atlantic League, having pitched for Nashua last season as well...Atlantic City is expected to lose pitcher Ben Weber, who won a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002. Weber has appeared in eight games for the Surf and has been somewhat of a disappointment, going 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA. Weber reportedly has lost his desire to play, and is expected to retire.

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