Gord MacKenzie
Chronicle-Herald Sports
YEEHAW JUNCTION, FL (CP) – The acquisitions of Scott Puffer and George Dunneback notwithstanding, the future of the Atlantics pitching staff appears to be now in a small Washington State town. The 1973 Yakima Yaks, Halifax’s AA affiliate, will, at least temporarily, feature “The Little Three.” Erubiel Martinez, Ben Roseberry, and first-round draft pick Edward Lane will anchor the Yaks’ rotation, though club-watchers expect at least one of them will make their way east by season’s end.
Edward Lane, this year’s first-rounder, is believed by some to be already major-league ready, though the acquisition of Puffer during the offseason will allow him some time to develop further in the minor league system. The 21-year-old righthander is coming off a 9-0, 1.74 senior season at Mississippi State, with an eye-popping 24/175 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Lane throws four plus pitches, including a plus-plus fastball that touches 100mph – an astounding feat considering his rather small 6’1”, 185 pound frame. Lane has good command of his off-speed pitches, which includes a devastating changeup and a curve with a nasty 12-to-6 break. Despite being the newcomer, he is considered closest to major league ready.
Erubiel Martinez was drafted as an 18-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in the first round of 1971. The native Cuban spent 1972 in Yakima, posting a 13-10 record with 156 K’s in just under 200 innings. Now 20, the lefty features three pitches, including a mid-90s fastball to go with a good changeup and adequate slider. Martinez does seem to struggle with control, but managed a solid 1.11 WHIP last season.
Ben Roseberry was the 30th player chosen in the 1971 draft and, with Martinez, co-anchored the 1972 Yaks with a 14-6 record. At 22, he is the oldest of the group; intelligence and mound presence more than make up for a rather ordinary 90mph fastball. Solidly in the junk-throwing category, Roseberry has five other pitches in his arsenal, including an unusual right-handed screwball.
The young guns will for the time being stay in Yakima, where they will be joined offensively by rising stars Carter Akers, John Doyle, and newcomer Earl Donoghue. The sextet is not expected to stay together for long, with most observers expecting early season promotions for Lane, Martinez, and Akers. One thing is for certain – Atlantics watchers are eagerly looking forward to a reunion in Halifax over the next few seasons.
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Other minor league notes:
The Fall River Lizzies (A) are staying put, according to club sources. Rumors had recently surfaced of a bet between Halifax ownership and two eccentric Texas millionaires known as “Big Enos” and “Little Enos.” A truck driver was challenged to make a round-trip run between Atlanta, Georgia and Texarkana, Texas with a load of bootlegged Coors beer. Despite numerous confrontations with law enforcement, including notorious Georgia sheriff Buford T. Justice, the run was successful. A loss would apparently have meant a move of the Fall River franchise to Texarkana to start the 1973 season. There was no comment on Halifax ownership’s winning stakes.