Attention, campers
Three days into spring training and it's already apparent there will be difficult decisions for first-year Wild Things manager Greg Jelks next week when he cuts his roster to 24 players for opening day May 18. There will be several quality players, capable of playing significant roles for other Frontier League teams, who will be looking for jobs after cutdown day.
"I'd rather be in this situation, one in which you can make the decision on what kind of club you're going to have," Jelks said Tuesday. "You don't want to be trying to put your team together in spring training."
The toughest decisions appear to be in the pitching staff and the outfield.
Under former manager John Massarelli, Washington usually carried only four outfielders. Currently, there are six players listed as outfielders on the roster, though Jacob Dempsey is now considered a designated hitter/first baseman. With Chris Sidick and Mike Butia being two of the Wild Things' three players classified as veterans, you would think their roster spots are safe. Matt Sutton also will have a roster spot. That leaves former Evansville Otter Adam Hefron and former Virginia Tech center fielder Nate Parks battling for the fourth outfield position and possibly the last roster spot. Both the speedy Parks and Hefron have been impressive during intrasquad scrimmages.
Washington will carry either 11 or 12 pitchers. There are 17 still in camp.
There was one roster move Tuesday as former Duquesne University pitcher Alex Sharick was released. That leaves 31 players in camp, including pitchers Dan Horvath and Kyle Dempsey, who were selected Monday in the Frontier League draft.
With Eric Earnhart placed on the retired list, Robbie Knapp - last year's designated hitter - has been moved to third base.
"We'll start out with him," Jelks said. "Robbie is in great shape and has been playing well. I'm sure he's able to play third base."
"I'd rather be in this situation, one in which you can make the decision on what kind of club you're going to have," Jelks said Tuesday. "You don't want to be trying to put your team together in spring training."
The toughest decisions appear to be in the pitching staff and the outfield.
Under former manager John Massarelli, Washington usually carried only four outfielders. Currently, there are six players listed as outfielders on the roster, though Jacob Dempsey is now considered a designated hitter/first baseman. With Chris Sidick and Mike Butia being two of the Wild Things' three players classified as veterans, you would think their roster spots are safe. Matt Sutton also will have a roster spot. That leaves former Evansville Otter Adam Hefron and former Virginia Tech center fielder Nate Parks battling for the fourth outfield position and possibly the last roster spot. Both the speedy Parks and Hefron have been impressive during intrasquad scrimmages.
Washington will carry either 11 or 12 pitchers. There are 17 still in camp.
There was one roster move Tuesday as former Duquesne University pitcher Alex Sharick was released. That leaves 31 players in camp, including pitchers Dan Horvath and Kyle Dempsey, who were selected Monday in the Frontier League draft.
With Eric Earnhart placed on the retired list, Robbie Knapp - last year's designated hitter - has been moved to third base.
"We'll start out with him," Jelks said. "Robbie is in great shape and has been playing well. I'm sure he's able to play third base."
posted by Chris Dugan at
9:51 PM
7 Comments:
It looks like the end of the year comments are comming back to hurt the Things.
I don't see much in the O-R about the Things this spring training.
Yeah, but who really cares?
What a clessless act the Things are!
Should have said CLASSLESS! Also, clueless
You obviously care enough to click on the Wild About Things blog, then to click on this particular item, then to click on the Post A Comment link, then do it again.
If you really don't care, why don't you just not click on the blog to begin with and just go away?
I agree!
With the Wild Things now having Mr. Jenks as manager, I'm sure that we will see a more disciplined team on the field this year.
Lets give the Wild Things a change before calling them things like "classless" and "clueless".
Ron Wilson
ooops: My apologies to Mr. Jelks for mis-spelling his name.
Ron Wilson
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