Avon calling

Here is a story about the planned ballpark for a Frontier League team in Avon Lake, Ohio. Word is the team will play in 2009, the same year the Midwest Sliders will be going to Oakland, Mich. Does this Avon Lake story mean the FL will expand to 14 teams in 2009 with the 14th being a travel team? It sure seems that way.

Check out the story here.

Sliding into Michigan in 2009

Here is a story about the Frontier League selling the Midwest Sliders and the team playing in Oakland, Mich., in 2009

Check out the story here.

Blasts from the past

New Wild Things manager Greg Jelks played 10 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1987. Here are links to boxscores from the game in which Jelks had his only major-league hit and one in which he played against the Pirates. There are some rather forgettable names in these boxscores.

Check out the boxscore here.


Check out the boxscore here.

Jelks to be named manager

The Wild Things are expected to announce Monday the hiring of Greg Jelks as their new manager. Nothing new here. It has been rumored that Jelks would be the manager. The official annoucement, however, is expected Monday. Don't expect Jelks to be in Washington on Monday. He's currently in Australia coaching.

Massarelli won't return as manager

Here is a press release from the Wild Things, issued today, about John Massarelli stepping down as manager of the Wild Things. Also, pitching coach Grant Dorn, who has a coaching job at an NAIA school in Virginia, will not be back. More to follow:

Wild Things’ Field Manager, John Massarelli, will not return to manage the team for the 2008 season according to officials. Massarelli has opted to take a year away from managing.

“Mazz decided to take a year away from the rigors of managing,” said Ross Vecchio, general manager of the Wild Things. “He wants to spend time with his family right now, and traveling with the team doesn’t allow that.”

Massarelli, who reached his 500th managerial career victory during the Wild Things’ 2007 season, managed the Wild Things for four years, leading them to the playoffs each year. The Ohio native holds a 239-143 overall record with the Wild Things, and he owns the highest winning percentage among Frontier League managers at .626, and he is seventh overall in total wins. Massarelli is also the only two-time recipient of the Frontier League’s Roger Hanners Manager of the Year award (2004 and 2006).

“I will truly miss my Wild Things family,” said Massarelli. “John and Ross have been outstanding to work for; I will miss the Wild Things fans and the excitement they bring to the house of thrills. The hardest part will be to walk away from the players next year. After 21 spring and summer seasons in professional baseball I’m going to take the ’08 season and spend it with my family.”

Prior to his career in Washington, Massarelli managed for the Houston Astros organization in Auburn of the New York Penn League, Michigan of the Class A Midwest League, and Salem of the Carolina League.

The former catcher/outfielder was originally drafted by the Astros in the 8th round of the 1987 June draft from the University of Akron. He played 10 seasons in the minor leagues, including five at the AAA level. In 932 career minor league games he amassed a .271 batting average, 144 doubles, 34 triples, 19 home runs, and 288 stolen bases. As a player he was part of two championship teams: Tucson (AAA) 1991 and 1993, and he was a member of two other teams that advanced to their respective league championships: Asheville (A) 1987 and Buffalo (AA) 1995. Additionally, he was on the major league roster for spring training a total of five times (two with the Astros, two with the Marlins, and one with the Padres) during his career as a player.

“Having the opportunity to work with John the past four years has been a tremendous experience,” added Vecchio. “I’ve worked with a number of managers throughout my career, many of whom have gone on to manage or coach in the major leagues, and Mazz has his teams prepared to win night-in and night-out, better than anyone I’ve been around. The entire organization will miss having him on the field.”

In other news, pitching coach Grant Dorn, will not return to coach in Washington in 2008 either. Dorn has accepted a position coaching at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va.