Story on Travis Risser
This story (link at bottom) about former Wild Things pitcher Travis Risser is one that I considered not putting on this blog for several reasons. The writer, from the Times Herald-Record in New York, didn't check his facts and he apparently exaggerated the truth to make the story better. Thus, he has little credibility left by the time you finish the story.
There are glaring factual errors in the story. There are no 19-hour bus rides in the Frontier League (and this was put in the first sentence). Heck, there are no 16-hour bus rides. I've been to Evansville and the city is anything but depressing. And I don't think anyone would call the ballparks at Southern Illinois and Traverse City, among others, dank and dirty. The minimum pay for a FL player last year was $600 per month. Also, if you've ever spoken to a Wild Things player or coach about road trips, then you know there is certainly AC on the bus. Perhaps the coldest place in the midwest during July and August is the Wild Things' bus when Arnold is driving. And no AC in the hotels. C'mon! I can't imagine the Hilton Garden Inn in O'Fallon, Mo., not having AC.
But, hey, why let the facts get in the way of a good story, right?
But it is a story about Risser, who is now pitching with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the short-season New York-Penn League, and it does mention the Wild Things and some people in Washington.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/SPORTS/806290337/-1/SPORTS
There are glaring factual errors in the story. There are no 19-hour bus rides in the Frontier League (and this was put in the first sentence). Heck, there are no 16-hour bus rides. I've been to Evansville and the city is anything but depressing. And I don't think anyone would call the ballparks at Southern Illinois and Traverse City, among others, dank and dirty. The minimum pay for a FL player last year was $600 per month. Also, if you've ever spoken to a Wild Things player or coach about road trips, then you know there is certainly AC on the bus. Perhaps the coldest place in the midwest during July and August is the Wild Things' bus when Arnold is driving. And no AC in the hotels. C'mon! I can't imagine the Hilton Garden Inn in O'Fallon, Mo., not having AC.
But, hey, why let the facts get in the way of a good story, right?
But it is a story about Risser, who is now pitching with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the short-season New York-Penn League, and it does mention the Wild Things and some people in Washington.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080629/SPORTS/806290337/-1/SPORTS
posted by Chris Dugan at
10:48 AM
4 Comments:
I read that article. It does have some 'facts" that may be incorrect but it is sure hard to argue about this quote "Welcome to the bushes, the independent Frontier League, where baseball dreams often go to die."
You can see this everyday, season after season in the Fronrier League.
While "dreams often go to die" in the Frontier League, it is better that they die than just drift off somewhere, wondering "what if"...
Too many guys think they have the stuff to make "the show" but didn't get the chance.
Well, fellas, if you can't hit over .230 in the FL or can't stop the other team from hitting .320+, you don't have the stuff to make it and the FL has proven that, ergo, your dream has just died. There is no heroic measures to be taken, no more wondering. The patient is dead.
for anyone who has been involved with ind bb that was a very insulting article full of inaccurate facts - if it was not for the frontier wwt travis would not be where he is today i find it hard to believe that he approves of that article i am going to comment on that article as i hope others do also most ind teams have better ball then the level of that team but those kids do have the opportunity to break into mlb - but most of them will go no further and many would not even make an ind team roster very degrading article
Degrading, ands true!!
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