First injury of spring

You can add first basemen to the list of players the Wild Things will have an interest in at tryout camps this weekend.

Nathan Messner, who was the Wild Things' cleanup hitter and first baseman for much of last year, will miss the 2008 season because of a labrum injury. Surgery is needed to repair the shoulder.

As one of the youngest players (21) in the league last year, Messner batted .306 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI.

This leaves a big void in the middle of the Wild Things' lineup. It's possible that Robbie Knapp will move into the starting first baseman's spot. Jacob Dempsey, who put up huge numbers at Winthrop University and played well in the Phillies' system before being released and taking last year off, also could end up at first base.

Trying times

The first on-field activity for the Wild Things' 2008 season is Saturday with an open tryout at Consol Energy Park. The Frontier League's two-day tryout begins Sunday in Marion, Ill., and the player draft will be held following workouts Monday.

The open tryout has evolved over the years from a novelty act to something that appeals to only the dedicated player with serious pro baseball ambition. Only 29 players participated in last year's tryout - the smallest turnout in six years - and no contracts were offered. The Wild Things' first open tryout, in 2002, attracted 132 players with wildly different levels of experience and four players were signed.

Many of those 132 had no business being at that tryout. I think I mentioned this last year, but my most vivid memory of the 2002 tryout - other than the O-R's Dale Lolley, who was on assignment, hurting his arm throwing from right field to third base - was a pitcher who wore an unbuttoned flannel shirt, blue jeans, tennis shoes and smoked cigarettes while waiting for his turn to throw in the bullpen. The guy looked as if he walked out of a local watering hole at 3 a.m. the previous night, drove to Wal-Mart to buy a glove and then to the ballpark to show off his fastball. He had no chance to be signed but, hey, the guy can always say he had a tryout with a professional baseball team and Kent Tekulve watched his every pitch.

So what will the Wild Things be looking for in the tryouts? Catchers and left-handed pitchers should be at the top of the list. Washington has only two lefties (Ryan Davis and Alan Stidfole) among 15 pitchers on the roster. And there are only two catchers (Pat O'Brien and Kris Rochelle). Most teams want at least three catchers in camp early in spring training. Another third baseman or shortstop could be signed.

With the Wild Things opening camp Sunday, there is a scheduling conflict with the league tryout for new manager Greg Jelks. Thus, the person assigned to attending the league tryout and drafting for the Wild Things is assistant coach Bob Bozzuto, the lone holdover from last year's staff.

Making the grade in the Atlantic

Scott Stanchak and Mike Ashmore, two followers of the Atlantic League - the top independent league - write a blog about the AL, which begins its season tonight. They've posted their preseason power rankings, listing their top 203 players. Included are at least two dozen ex-major leaguers and five former Wild Things: catcher Randy McGarvey, outfielder L.J. Biernbaum, infielder Chad Ehrnsberger, catcher Brandon Ketron and pitcher Patrick Stanley.

McGarvey had a breakout season last year and is ranked as the No. 8 player in the Atlantic and its top catcher. Biernbaum is No. 16 overall and No. 4 among outfielders. McGarvey and Biernbaum are teammates with the Camden Riversharks.

Infielder Chad Ehrnsberger, who played on the first Wild Things team, is rated No. 137 overall and No. 28 among infielders. Ketron checks in at No. 167 overall and 14th among catchers. He is a teammate of Ehrnsberger with the new Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, who are owned by Brooks Robinson. Stanley is rated No. 175 overall and 96th among pitchers. He's rated one spot ahead of former Chillicothe outfielder John Ramistella.

There are at least two dozen former major leaguers on the list, including former Pirates Bobby Hill and Randall Simon. Also listed is Clint Johnston, a former first-round draft pick of the Pirates (1998) as a pitcher who never made it above Class A at that position and was released. He was moved to first base, reached Class AA in the Blue Jay's system and is now a first baseman in the Atlantic League.

Check out the story here.

You need to scroll down past the season preview to get to the player rankings.

Open records

Added a link in the "Sites to Check Out" section. It's the Wild Things' record book. It's in pdf format, so you need Acrobat Reader to view the link.

Mario making the call

Here's yet another tie to the Class A South Atlantic League: Washington resident and Wash High graduate Mario Seneca is working this season as an umpire in the 16-team league.

Seneca has previous affiliated-league experience but had taken a break from grind of such leagues over the last two years while attending Duquesne University's law school. To keep his skills sharp, Seneca worked Frontier League games and was easily one of its best umpires, particularly when calling balls and strikes. Here's hoping the 25-year-old makes the climb to the majors.

Seneca was on the bases last night for a game between Columbus and Savannah. Former Wild Thing reliever Travis Risser pitched a scoreless ninth inning in that one and earned his second save.

Rep. Douglass?

Former Wild Things pitcher Ryan Douglass is running for Pennsylvania state representative in the 27th Legislative District, which includes the 20th and 28th Wards of Pittsburgh, Crafton, Ingram, Dormont, McKees Rocks, Stowe, Glenfield, Neville Island, Avalon, Ben Avon and Emsworth.

Douglass was an all-star pitcher for the Wild Things in 2005, going 11-3 with a 3.25 ERA.

Check out Ryan's Web site here.

Flipping the switch for the Power

The Class A South Atlantic League is the only place where former Wild Things are currently playing. Both Travis Risser and Shawn Phillips are off to good starts with the Columbus Catfish and Greensboro Grasshoppers, respectively.

The South Atlantic League also has a former Wild Things manager. Jeff Isom, the Wild Things' first manager, holds the same job with he West Virginia Power, a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate. Isom managed the Wild Things in 2002, when they reached the Frontier League championship series, and '03. He also managed the Traverse City Beach Bums in 2006.

This is Isom's second season in the Brewers' system. He led the Helena Brewers to a 48-28 record and captured the first half title in the rookie-level Pioneer League’s Northern Division last year.

West Virginia has a 3-5 record entering Friday.

Risser has appeared in three games for Columbus, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit, one walk and no runs, with two strikeouts. Phillips also hasn't allowed a run. His record is 1-0 in two games. He's pitched five innings, given only two hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

Avon's calling

Here's a brief story about Avon, Ohio, preparing to break ground on an $8-10 million ballpark with at least 3,500 seats that will be home to a Frontier League team next season.

Check out the story here.


With the Midwest Sliders headed to Oakland, Mich., (plans for the ballpark are still pending site approval) Avon would have to get an expansion team or an exsisting team would move there. My guess is an expansion team will be in Avon with the league's 14th team being a travel squad. The Midwest Sliders could live to see another year.

Updated roster

Starting pitchers:
1-Aaron Ledbetter, Veteran
2-Ryan Mitchell, R2
3-J.J. Hollenbeck, L1
4-Alan Stidfole, L1
5-Ian Heisel, R2
6-John Leonard, L1
7-Chris Rivera, R2
8-Michael Eisenberg, L2

Relief pitchers:
1-Cory Bachman, R2
2-Kevin Salmon, R2
3-Travis Miller, R1
4-Ryan Davis, R2
5-Alex Sharick, R2
6-Matt Maradeo, R2
7-Jared Shaffer, R2

Catchers:
1-(Pat O'Brien, L2)
2-Kris Rochelle, R2

First Base:
1-(Nathan Messner, L1)

Second Base:
1-(Rene Quintana, R2)
2-Phil Butch, R2

Shortstop:
1-Chris Carrara, R2

Third Base:
1-(Eric Earnhart, R2)

Outfield:
1-Jacob Dempsey, L1
2-Adam Heffron, L1
3-Nate Parks, R1
4-Chris Sidick, Veteran
5-(Matt Sutton, R2)
6- Mike Butia, Veteran

Designated hitter:
1-(Robbie Knapp, L1)

Own Frontier League rights to:
RP-Travis Risser (Rays, R2)
SP-Pete Parise (Cardinals, R2)

Notes:
- Not sure what role John Leonard will have. He was a starting pitcher at Virginia Commonwealth and last year in the Kansas City Royals' system.
- Players in parenthesis are expected to return but their signing has not been announced by the Wild Things.
- Pete Parise, the former Pitt pitcher whose rights were acquired in a trade with the Midwest Sliders in the offseason, has been assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits, the St. Louis Cardinals' affiliate in the Class A Midwest League.

Gett to Texas

Though no announcement was made by the Wild Things, the Associated Press transactions on Friday listed a deal between Washington and the Harlingen Whitewings of the independent United League. The Wild Things traded right-handed pitcher Alex Gett to Harlingen for a player to be named.

Harlingen is managed by Al Gallagher, for whom Gett played last season with the St. Joes Blacksnakes before being traded to Washington in the final week of the Frontier League season.

Another ex-Wild Thing in minors

Add pitcher Shawn Phillips, who played for Washington briefly in 2007, to the list of former Wild Things in affiliated ball. Phillips played for Windy City last year and was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the championship series against Washington. He has been assigned to the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Florida Marlins' affiliate in the Class A South Atlantic League.

Schedule change for Wild Things

The Wild Things will start their season three days earlier than planned.

Because Chillicothe's V.A. Memorial Stadium has been chosen as the site of the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament May 21-24, the Wild Things and Chillicothe Paints have moved up their season opener to Sunday, May 18. The game was originally scheduled for May 21.

The Wild Things and Paints will play a Sunday evening opener (6:35 p.m.) and a Monday morning (10 a.m.) game to begin the season. The third game in the series will be made up as part of a Sunday doubleheader June 29.

The Wild Things will have four days off before playing their home opener Saturday, May 24 against Traverse City.

The two games against the Paints will come on the heels of two exhibition games between the teams scheduled for May 16-17 at Consol Energy Park.

Best logo in minors

Darren Rovell, the sports business writer for cnbc.com held a minor-league baseball logo contest on his blog and the winner came from the Frontier League. The Southern Illinois Miners' logo defeated 63 other team logos in a single-elimination tournament. Outcomes were determined by readers of the blog, who voted more than 700,000 times.

The Miners' logo defeated those of the Carolina Mudcats, West Tennessee DiamondJaxx, Grand Prairie AirHogs, Augusta GreenJackets and then edged the Wichita Wingnuts int he finals. More than 165,000 votes were cast for the finals.

Talkin' Wild Things

Wild Things general manager Ross Vecchio will be the guest Saturday on Tim Perry's Frontier League radio show. You can listen live at 1 p.m. by going to:


www.blogtalkradio.com/flhistory

The shows are archived so you listen at a later date.

Busy season

The Frontier League season doesn't begin until May 21, but April 1 can often be pointed to as the start of the busy season in the league. This is the week when teams try to put together the final pieces of their roster, signing players who were released last week by affiliated teams.

After scanning current FL rosters and checking the daily transactions, it appears the league will feature more returning players than in past years. Why? Some people are mentioning the new R2 roster status, but I don't think that's the primary reason. It has more to do with the average age of FL players was down last year, which led to fewer players reaching the age limit.

Of the 11 pitchers signed by the Wild Things, none is benefitting from the R2 status. Each would still be a rookie under the old roster rules.

Here is a rundown of the number of pitchers re-signed by FL teams along with their combined records in 2007:

Team; Re-signed; Record
Chillicothe: 8 re-signed; 18-15, 4 saves
Evansville: 3 re-signed; 6-13, 1 save
Florence: 0 re-signed; 0-0
Gateway: 9 re-signed; 48-25, 4 saves
Kalamazoo: 6 re-signed; 24-16
Midwest: 2 re-signed; 3-7
River City: 6 re-signed; 9-20, 21 saves
Rockford: 6 re-signed; 15-18, 1 save
Southern Illinois: 5 re-signed; 23-19, 14 saves
Traverse City: 6 re-signed; 22-14, 9 saves
Washington: 7 re-signed; 28-11, 8 saves
Windy City: 7 re-signed; 45-26, 28 saves

Notes:
* Chillicothe has re-signed pitcher Zach Johnson, who was 0-2. He will be used as an infielder this year.
* Florence is famous for hoarding its signed contracts and turning them into the league office in one lot. So far, no Florence players from 2007 have been re-signed, according the league's Web site.
* Windy City's numbers are skewed a bit because the ThunderBolts signed Nick Tracy, who was 3-12 with Slippery Rock last year.