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.
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.
posted by Chris Dugan at
9:30 PM
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