Revs' manager Andy Etchebarren ponders future

York's manager will be in his 50th year of baseball this summer. Will it be his last?

York, PA - Andy Etchebarren doesn't want to make any decision yet, but the 2011 season could be his final year as manager of the York Revolution.

"This year will be my 50th in baseball," Etchebarren said. "I've been putting on a uniform for a long time. Last year would have been it if they didn't fix my back."

Etchebarren, 67, underwent back surgery two days after the Revs won the league championship in October. He threw batting practice for the first time in eight months Monday morning. But he's not ready to make any retirement speeches. For one, he's not 100 percent certain he's ready to step down. And he'd like to see how he feels at the end of the season before he makes a decision.

If he does decide to retire from managing, he hopes to remain with the ownership group Opening Day Partners in an advising role.

Power-hitter pickup: The Revs one major weakness headed into spring training could have been the loss of left-handed home-run hitting first baseman Ian Bladergroen. But the Revs moved to fill that void by coming to terms with switch-hitting slugger Jason Botts Monday. The Revs expected him to be in camp by Tuesday.

Botts, 30, played 93 games in the majors from 2005 through 2008 with the Texas Rangers. He spent part of 2008 and 2009 playing in Japan. He has a career .295 average at Triple-A. He batted .342 with three homers for Camden last season before earning a contract with the Washington Nationals organization. He finished the year at Triple-A Syracuse -- batting .279 with eight homers.

Careful on how he found out about Botts' interest in playing for York, Etchebarren said: "It came up, let's me put it that way."

Troubled travel: Pitcher Shaun Garceau drove from Florida to York last week, passing through some of the severe weather that battered much of the Southeast Saturday. The series of storms claimed at least 44 lives.

Near the Virginia and North Carolina border, Garceau heard a radio report warning travelers to take cover when approaching certain towns. Looking at the GPS on his phone, he realized he was right in front of the storm. Unable to stay ahead of the fast-moving storm on Interstate 95, he parked under an overpass and shot video on his phone until the clouds swirling overhead passed.

Not in camp: RHP Matt DeSalvo (student teaching), LHP Scott Rice (personal issue), 2B Liu Rodriguez (work visa) and OF James Shanks (medical) have not arrived at camp, but team officials expect all of them to report.

Rice needed time off between spring training with the Cubs and the Revs to take care of business at home. Rodriguez could arrive by Wednesday after work visa issues in Venezuela delayed his departure. DeSalvo will be pitching and practicing with the Revs when he's able during the first month of the season.

Health concerns: Shanks was injured in a car accident earlier this month and needed to have a doctor examine his chest to see if he can be cleared to play. If he checks out, the Georgia resident could join the Revs later this week Etchebarren said. Infielder Tanner Townsend could have to wait longer. The former Northern League Player of the Year reported for spring training but he has not been cleared to play. He also was involved in a car accident this offseason.

Familiar faces: Atlantic League executive director Joe Klein stopped at Sovereign Bank Stadium with Road Warriors manager Roy Howell and player development consultant Ellie Rodriguez.

Former Revs infielder Victor Gutierrez was also at Sovereign Bank Stadium to discuss a player/coach position with the league-run Road Warriors. Gutierrez worked for the Barnstormers as a player/coach last season.