York Revolution catcher Salvador Paniagua, left, is greeted by manager Andy Etchebarren after slugging a home run in an exhibition game last week. Paniagua is a returning player for the Revs this season. (Bil Bowden photo)

Moments after the York Revolution captured their second consecutive Atlantic League title last season, championship series MVP Vince Harrison found himself in the clubhouse celebrating with his teammates.

When speaking with reporters, the first subject Harrison discussed wasn't about himself.

Rather, he pointed to the attitude of the team, and how the looseness of the clubhouse helped keep the Revs on an even keel throughout the season.

Harrison and outfielders Chris Walker and Bryant Nelson helped contribute to that attitude. Now, all three of them are gone from York.

Will that have an impact on the Revs' clubhouse this year?

"They are great guys. But 'Etch' (Revs' manager Andy Etchebarren) does a good

York s James Shanks batted over .300 with double-digit homers in each of the last two seasons. (John A. Pavoncello photo)
job of getting players who are good in the clubhouse," Revs' slugger Chris Nowak said Saturday. "When you have guys like Corey Thurman, James Shanks and Scott Grimes, who have all been here for awhile, they can keep this (clubhouse) together."

Indeed, Thurman, Shanks and Grimes will again be the nucleus for York this season. And they are surrounded by a throng of talented players.

Starting rotation: Thurman, the team's Opening Day starter, heads a stacked starting rotation that includes left-handers Ryan Feierabend, Chris Cody and Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Omar Javier.

Feierabend, Sanchez and Thurman are former major leaguers. Etch believes Feierabend will likely be picked up by an affiliated club after a handful of starts for York. The same could happen with Cody, who started last year with York before being signed by the Atlanta Braves. And Etch said Sanchez so far has looked like the pitcher he was in 2010 for York, when he was signed by the Oakland Athletics.

Bullpen: The Revs have solid pitchers to close out the final two innings in set-up man Adam Thomas and closer R.J. Rodriguez.

As for the rest of the bullpen, York will have plenty of options with long-relief guys and left-handers. Etch has said numerous times he believes this is the best bullpen he's ever assembled in York.

Lineup: Even if the pitching doesn't live up to the hype, York's lineup looks awfully powerful.

Returning is lead-off man Scott Grimes (averaged 117.5 runs scored the last two years), Shanks (batted over .300 with double-digit homers in each of the last two years), Nowak (25 homers, 66 RBIs for York in 2011), infielder Ramon Castro (who Etch believes is the best-hitter in the Atlantic League) and catcher Salvador Paniagua (who has perhaps the most power after Nowak).

The newcomers to the team are pretty good, too. Second baseman Andres Perez has already shown in spring training that he has no problem knocking balls out of the park. Catcher Travis Scott and outfielders Stephen Douglas and Michael Hernandez can swing the bat as well. And shortstop Danny Gonzalez has proven in past seasons he can hit in the Atlantic League.

Outlook: York, who opens the season on Thursday at Sugar Land, has what it takes to win the first-half Atlantic League Freedom Division title. But doing so won't be easy. Division foes Lancaster (19), Somerset (18) and Sugar Land (20) have plenty of players with experience at the major league or triple-A level. York has 17 players who fit that bill.

Plus, who knows what bearing the attitude of the clubhouse will have on the team?

"We just can't get too up on the ups and too down on the downs," Nowak said.

Reach John Walk at 505-5406 or jwalk@york dispatch.com or follow on Twitter @JohnKWalk.