Slow out of the blocks

Two down, 94 to go. So what have we learned from the Wild Things' first two games?

* Washington is off to what has become its typically slow start. In seven seasons, the Wild Things have started 0-2 three times. With the exception of last year and 2005, they have struggled to get to .500 by June. The franchise's worst start was back in 2002 - the inaugural season - when they began 0-2 and 1-5 but ended up setting the league record for wins in a season.

* If Frontier League games were only seven innings, then the Wild Things would be 2-0. The bullpen had a rough two days in Chillicothe. If you throw out the outing by Chris Rivera - a starter who made a relief appearance in the opener - the bullpen's ERA was 10.38 with two blown saves.

Ouch!

The Wild Things didn't have their second blown save last year until July 17.

* The biggest surprise from the two games in Chillicothe was that outfielder Matt Sutton did not start either contest.

* It appears the plan is not to use Ian Heisel in back-to-back games, at least early in the season. Heisel is coming off an injury that ended his season in July last year and the coaching staff doesn't want to overwork him in the first half of the season.

* Kris Rochelle is going to be a solid defensive catcher and tough to steal bases against.

* Washington had baserunners thrown out at third base in each game. A trend that has carried over from last year?
* Robbie Knapp still kills Chillicothe pitching.

* When you put 1,800 rowdy school kids in V.A. Memorial Stadium for a morning game, it makes WJPA Radio's Randy Gore sound like he's broadcasting from inside a Chuck E. Cheese.

* The above photo is from our friends at the Chillicothe Gazette.