Letter from camp
Some final thoughts about the Wild Things' spring training and final roster cuts:
* It was insane to attempt to play exhibition games on the kind of field conditions that existed Friday and Saturday at Consol Energy Park. The conditions in the outfield were more suited for fishing than baseball. Perhaps that's why one Wild Things player attempted to turn a baseball bat and some string into a makeshift fishing pole Friday morning. I don't like artificial turf for baseball, but if there is one field that needs the fake grass, then it's CEP. If money is going to be spent on renovating or changing the playing surface, my first choice would be to tear up the outfield, install an adequate drainage system and then put sod back down. What is under the outfield now is not a drainage system. It's on par, in terms of drying power, to a roll of paper towels.
* Biggest surprise of camp? It's that both players selected in the Frontier League draft – right-handed pitcher Kyle Dempsey and left-handed pitcher Dan Horvath - made the team. Each had three fewer days of spring training than their competition. Dempsey is the hardest thrower on the team, which is amazing when you consider he's the smallest pitcher (6-0, 180) and has been pitching for only two years. Though Horvath's numbers last year as a senior at Bowling Green were mediocre, he's shown an ability to consistently throw strikes. You know what they say about lefties who throw strikes, right?
* I can't say there was a surprise among the final cuts. I think Jared Shaffer had made the team until he gave up five hits and three walks in two innings of his start Friday night against Chillicothe.
There's no doubt that several players released by the Wild Things can contribute in the league. Outfielder Nate Parks has a lot of potential but he's a rookie. Parks' fate was probably sealed when Washington signed Adam Heffron, an outfielder who played parts of two seasons in the Frontier League, including one under Wild Things manager Greg Jelks.
Left-handed pitcher Matt Foard can help some clubs. I didn't see enough of lefty Matt Nelson, a Ringgold High School product, to make an evaluation but he did retire the Paints in order before the rain came Saturday night.
* Nathan Messner was in town this week. The Wild Things' first baseman last year got a second opinion on his sore shoulder. Apparently, he doesn't have a torn labrum after all. He could return after a rehabilitation program that begins next week.
* I'm sick of rain. At least it's not snow.
* It was insane to attempt to play exhibition games on the kind of field conditions that existed Friday and Saturday at Consol Energy Park. The conditions in the outfield were more suited for fishing than baseball. Perhaps that's why one Wild Things player attempted to turn a baseball bat and some string into a makeshift fishing pole Friday morning. I don't like artificial turf for baseball, but if there is one field that needs the fake grass, then it's CEP. If money is going to be spent on renovating or changing the playing surface, my first choice would be to tear up the outfield, install an adequate drainage system and then put sod back down. What is under the outfield now is not a drainage system. It's on par, in terms of drying power, to a roll of paper towels.
* Biggest surprise of camp? It's that both players selected in the Frontier League draft – right-handed pitcher Kyle Dempsey and left-handed pitcher Dan Horvath - made the team. Each had three fewer days of spring training than their competition. Dempsey is the hardest thrower on the team, which is amazing when you consider he's the smallest pitcher (6-0, 180) and has been pitching for only two years. Though Horvath's numbers last year as a senior at Bowling Green were mediocre, he's shown an ability to consistently throw strikes. You know what they say about lefties who throw strikes, right?
* I can't say there was a surprise among the final cuts. I think Jared Shaffer had made the team until he gave up five hits and three walks in two innings of his start Friday night against Chillicothe.
There's no doubt that several players released by the Wild Things can contribute in the league. Outfielder Nate Parks has a lot of potential but he's a rookie. Parks' fate was probably sealed when Washington signed Adam Heffron, an outfielder who played parts of two seasons in the Frontier League, including one under Wild Things manager Greg Jelks.
Left-handed pitcher Matt Foard can help some clubs. I didn't see enough of lefty Matt Nelson, a Ringgold High School product, to make an evaluation but he did retire the Paints in order before the rain came Saturday night.
* Nathan Messner was in town this week. The Wild Things' first baseman last year got a second opinion on his sore shoulder. Apparently, he doesn't have a torn labrum after all. He could return after a rehabilitation program that begins next week.
* I'm sick of rain. At least it's not snow.
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:05 PM
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