No team in Atlantic League history has ever won back-to-back championships. Seven different organizations have tried over the past 10 years; all have a failed. This season is the Newark Bears’ chance.
“That would be real special,” manager Wayne Krenchicki said. “It’s hard to do, but not impossible.”
Ten of the 45 players from last year’s championship team are returning. It’s one of the reasons they are perceived as strong contenders.
“We definitely brought back a good core group of guys and everyone has been gelling so far,” pitcher Edwin Almonte said. “I think we have a real good shot to repeat.”
Winning back-to-back titles in the Atlantic League is hard to do. It’s just as much luck as it is strategy. In 2002, the Bears won their first championship. The next year, they didn’t even make the playoffs.
Each off-season, the team’s best players are likely to sign with a major league organization. In most cases, if they aren’t, teams jump at the chance to bring them back. That is, if they don’t decide to play overseas, retire or go to elsewhere.
“I’m looking to put together a really good year,” Almonte, a former New York Mets pitcher, said. “If I can do that and we play to our potential, I think we’ve got the pieces to win another championship.”
Those other pieces include returning infielder Ramon Castro (Oakland Athletics) and outfielders Jose Hererra (Athletics) and Keith Reed (Baltimore Orioles); former major league slugger Randall Simon (“He’s going to be counted on as a leader,” Krenchicki said.); and former big-league newcomers Val Majewski (Orioles), Will Cunnane (St. Louis Cardinals) and Cory Aldridge (Atlanta Braves).
“I don’t think we’re going to do anything different this year,” Krenchicki, a former Oriole himself, said. “We’re just going to go out there and compete for the first-half title.”
Tonight the Bears return home to Riverfront Stadium for the first time since winning the 2007 Championship. In front a packed crowd, 10 players – plus others who come back for the ceremony – will receive their rings. They can’t wait.
“I am so excited to get my ring,” JJ Trujillo, another returning Bears pitcher, said. “It’s going to be a great night here in Newark.”
“It’s going to be very nice,” Almonte said. “We worked really hard last year and I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Almonte, Trujillo and eight others are also looking forward to getting another one.