One final game
Here are the lineups for Game 5 of the championship series. There is one change for Windy City as John McCarthy moves up to No. 8 after hitting No. 9 in the ThunderBolts' first seven playoff games:
Washington
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Chris Sidick CF
Jarod Rine RF
Matt Sutton LF
Robbie Knapp DH
Nathan Messner 1B
Rene Quintana 2B
Pat O'Brien C
Ryan Bethel SS
Eric Earnhart 3B
Tom Cochran P
Windy City
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Rob Marconi CF
Mike Coles LF
Wes Long SS
Phil Hawke 1B
Josh Horn 3B
Gilberto Mejia 2B
Scott Billak DH
John McCarthy RF
Gavin Concepcion C
Shawn Phillips P
Weather will not be a problem. Temperature is in the low 70s with a breeze blowing in from right field.
Washington
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Chris Sidick CF
Jarod Rine RF
Matt Sutton LF
Robbie Knapp DH
Nathan Messner 1B
Rene Quintana 2B
Pat O'Brien C
Ryan Bethel SS
Eric Earnhart 3B
Tom Cochran P
Windy City
---------
Rob Marconi CF
Mike Coles LF
Wes Long SS
Phil Hawke 1B
Josh Horn 3B
Gilberto Mejia 2B
Scott Billak DH
John McCarthy RF
Gavin Concepcion C
Shawn Phillips P
Weather will not be a problem. Temperature is in the low 70s with a breeze blowing in from right field.
posted by Chris Dugan at
3:55 PM
12 Comments:
We almost won it.....maybe next year.
I am beginning to think the fans are getting somewhat tired of the slogan "maybe next year". They had a 2 game lead, and lost the last three. Go figure. I just hope to fans will return to Consol Energy Park next year.
I don't think there'll be an issue with fans attending, mostly because, while it is centered around baseball, it's so much more than that. It's pretty cheap, family-friendly entertainment.
For me, it was sad to see the best chance the Wild Things have had in their six seasons get away. This was, by far, not the best team they've ever put on the field. But these guys found a way to qualify for the playoffs, the bats got hot against Gateway, and they made the finals.
The saddest part was that, not unexpectedly, it was the little things not done right, that let the 'Bolts off the hook. The series was lost Saturday night at home, not Monday night in Crestwood. All the things that have been posted here, written about by Chris, talked about by Randy & me, there's no benefit to going into them again.
But we should have won Saturday night and never had to make the trip to Chicago.
I'm sad to see that many of the same little things that weren't done right early still weren't done right late. That's what bothers me the most. And had even a few of them been done right Saturday night, right about now we'd all be at CONSOL Energy Park for the celebration of the Wild Things first Frontier League crown.
They say "There's always next year" but the cold, hard facts are there isn't always next year.
You only get so many chances, in a game, in a series, in a season, and in the life of a franchise. This was our best chance and it got away Saturday night.
Bob Gregg and Chris Dugan. You can always count on these two guys to defend the Wild Things no matter what. Could it be due to the fact that is where their bread is buttered? The little slip in Bob's comment "our best chance" to win points out what I am saying.
The fact is that the coaching staff does not know how to prepare a team to win the big games.
I was also very upset that the players refused to comment to the press after the game. Somebody should have had the class to at least say a word to the Washington fans thanking them for their support throughout the season. We supported them with our cheers, our money, and our time. The players should not be so selfish as to think only of them selfs. I'm sure most of us were disappointed.I had planned to try to be there when the team returned but when I heard about their attitude, I decided not to bother as it seems they would not have appreciated it.
I heard several people remark after the Saturday nights game that they did NOT intend to return next year - we will just have to wait to see about that. I WILL return because I enjoy base.
Having said that, the Wild Things office staff REALLY needs to get their act together. The office is like a "Chinese Fire Drill" - nobody seems to know ANYTHING about anything!
Anonymous:
Your comment about I can always be counted to defend the Wild Things no matter what couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. That comment, combined with what happened in the clubhouse following Game 5 - more on that in Thursday's O-R - makes me feel like I'm doing a decent job. In other words, some people view me as pro-Wild Things and other view me as anti-Wild Things. That's exactly how a reporter wants it.
Thanks Anonymous, you made my day.
"Defend the Wild Things?"
Please, tell me where you read any defense of the Wild Things in what I wrote or what I've said. Please.
It was no slip that I wrote "our best chance." I was born in Washington, PA. I was raised here (with the exception of the six years I lived in Scenery Hill as a pre-teenager). I say we/our/us regularly in my work, not because the Wild Things butter my bread, but because they are OUR team, Washington's team. And I will continue to do so. My job as a broadcaster is to describe the facts of what I'm watching so the listeners to our radio/internet broadcasts can "see" it. Sometimes that means speaking positively about the Wild Things. Sometimes that means pointing out glaring shortcomings. And, yes, I would have participated in the celebration ceremonies Tuesday night, had WE won it, because I was asked to by the Wild Things.
I've spoken/written about the team's shortcomings:
1) my thoughts about our starting rotation in the playoffs and why I thought we'd have a better chance to win with a different rotation. 2) the failure to make the right plays, even though things worked out.
3) the failure to know how to bunt, or the willingness to complete it successfully.
And there are many other examples.
Not that Chris Dugan needs defended, but he's not eating buttered bread either. His work covering the Wild Things is outstanding. The players who refused to speak to him following the game need to find some professionalism.
I've heard from people for years that they weren't coming back next year. Most of them do. Some don't. And there are myriad reasons for both. As you said, I guess we'll have to wait and see. I plan to be there, to watch/broadcast MY team, hopefully winning OUR first championship. And I will NOT apologize for that.
Chris, Glad I made your day - you are sure easy to please.
Bob, I have to agree with you - you ARE a "homer"!!
However, you perhaps should try to be more objective and less subjective in your broadcast. Whenever a broadcaster, or reporter uses the terms "us", "we", "our", etc, objectivity goes out the window. The truly great broadcaster Vin Scully NEVER uses these terms and we all know he is a Dodger fan.
I know that you do point out what you consider weaknesses on the Wild Things but your bias toward the Wild Things DOES still show. Having said that, I prefer listening to your play by play more than Randy Gore. He doesn't even know how to pronounce "swing"!!
Finally, anonymous, I'm not a homer. I'm a rooter. And most teams--high school, college, Wild Things, etc.--would tell you that's the case about me.
A homer sees things one way and one way only--their teams never do anything wrong, the officials cheat their teams, the other teams never are the reason they lost, etc.
Do I see things from a Wild Things perspective? Absolutely. When OUR batters are arguing balls & strikes, particularly at counts that aren't worth wasting their emotion, I spoke out. When the call was right, and the team (and fans) are going out of their minds about it, I spoke out. When Mario Garza got run over (cleanly) and the fans wanted to hang Charlie Lisk, I spoke out. When Rene Quintana wanted to argue with Andy Haines because a Windy City runner stole a base late in the game Monday, I spoke out. And so on.
I'm a rooter. There's no doubt (shouldn't be anyway) which team I'm covering the game for and which team I want to win. That's the way it is. But the other team, and the officials, get their due and a fair shake. EVERY TIME.
I don't get much chance to listen to Vin Scully around here. Somehow, apparently, you do. I wish I could. He's a great broadcaster. And you may be right that he NEVER uses "we/our/us" in his broadcasts. I don't very often, but I do use it. When I write, here and other places, I likely use those words more often. I did use them yesterday and today, and will continue to. That doesn't make me a homer.
If you'd like to continue this discussion, feel free to contact me directly: bgregg@wjpa.com or 724-222-2110.
I believe the fans WILL be back next year. To ensure that, there are two people the Wildthings better keep around. One is Ross Vecchio, a General Manager in a league with huge turnovers, who continues to field a competitive team year after year.
The other is J.D. (AKA The Wildthing), the best mascot in minor league baseball. I have traveled to more than 70 minor league ballparks, and the Wildthing is the best I've seen. Ever noticed how often the opposing team will stop their warm-ups during the seventh inning stretch to watch as he does his "toughest 60 seconds in sports" routine? I've seen many lame mascots that do little more than make an appearance on the field at the beginning of the game.
My only suggestion is that the team brings back the race the mascot promotion (and get rid of one of the game show rip-offs..."let's make a deal"..."blinko", those were just yawners). I read a while back where an Obsever Reporter writer disagreed with me and said, "If you seen one mascot race, you have seen them all." Obviously, this reporter didn't see too many with our Wildthing. Many people who sit near me on the first base line agree that's something they would like to see. I'm speaking of FANS who attend every game.
Well, maybe next year will be our year, maybe not. Personally, I hope Washington never sees the summer we don't field a minor league team. Call me a "homer" if you like (anonymous), but I think WE have a good thing goin'.
And by the way, if you are going to discredit peoples opinions such as sportscasters, fans, and sportswriters, shouldn't you at least have the (sic) nerve to sign your name?
JD has told several people that he will NOT be returning as the "Wild Thing" last year. We will all really miss him - there is none better at what he does!! I guess we will just have to settle for the typical minor league "dog and pony" show next year. Hope you go to the games to see baseball because unless the Wild Things are ready to part with some bucks well, the REAL Wild Thing will be gone!!
BTW Mr. Burnfield I have good reasons not to post my name - I don't need to explain them. If anonymous post are not welcome then all that needs to be done is to remove that option.
Wow. If you're going to a game to see the mascot, I have to question just how much you "love" the game.
The Wild Things choked like dogs and then showed their true colors by not commenting after the game. You blew it guys. Face up to it like men. That's not being a professional, that's being an adult.
It's hard to call them professionals, because basically, they are pros in name only.
This is very low minor league baseball. See it for what it is.
To answer your question (anonymous), I have missed about ten home games in the six years of Wildthings existence, and traveled to a few away games. I've also been to over 70 other minor league baseball parks and more than a handfull of major league stadiums, so I guess you could say I have a fondness for the game.
I also guess I can give a qualified opinion on mascots.
Within all these games, there are a lot of spaces between innings, seventh inning stretches, pitcher changes, ect... It's nice when an entertaining mascot is present.
Washington has one of, if not the best...Believe me, a lot of people who come to only a few games a year come for the ambiance, which includes the mascot.
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