Monday, July 28, 2008

Paint-ing a bleak picture for Chillicothe

I know, I wrote that vacation would prevent me from posting for a few days. But, hey, a reporter's job is never done, and when you have wireless Internet access you better use it. I came across an absolute must-read by Phil Gray of the Chillicothe Gazette. Phil writes about the growth of the Frontier League and status and future of the Paints.

Click here for story.

29 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe Mark Mason will end up as the Wild Things pitching coach for the third time.
PS-Chillicothe has free parking.

July 28, 2008 at 8:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not for long!

July 29, 2008 at 5:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No matter how the picture of the Frontier League is painted – it is STILL the Frontier League. Packed with has been, never was, and never will be players. coaches, and managers. Just one huge joke from start to finish. Is this really the best we can expect here in Washington? I suspect that a lot of the ‘fans’ here have never even seen any real baseball. If they had they wouldn’t settle for this garbage night after night.
The only half way good things about the WT and the Frontier League is that next year, as it is every year, there will be a whole new cast of characters. The other good thing being that both will be gone in about another 5 years. This entire baseball product stinks to the heavens.
BTW: I don't attend the games any more 'cause I've seen enough of this crap.

July 29, 2008 at 5:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why does everyone continue to refer to this league as "pro ball"? There is nothing professional about the "ball". The organizations make it a professional operation, but the ball is what is lacking and what kills the franchise after 10 years. Fans can't be duped into what is essentially sandlot any longer after a decade. Who out there is going to spend $50-75 a night for a family to watch an American Legion game? Fans, eventually, wise up and the FL franchise moves on to swipe some other cash somewhere else. Slippery Rock residents sniffed it out from the start.

July 29, 2008 at 5:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I enjoy going to minor league games, and travel to Erie often to watch the Seawolves since I have a camper I go to on weekends during the summer.

Grew up in the Washington County area, and though the park is nice and the surroundings building, the quality of baseball doesn't appeal to me either. Nothing against the guys, but rarely do these guys develop or have the upside to become more than what they are.

My question: At one time the Erie franchise before becomimg AA for Detroit was a short A for both the Pirates and Marlins. What would it take for Washington to become a short A franchise (in terms of money/park/etc) and is it something the brass ever considered before or instead of the FL?

WKC

July 29, 2008 at 6:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fans here are beginning to figure it out now. The crowds are falling and the shine is off the old apple. They can't get out of here fast enough for me. NEVER again will they see sell out after sell out. They have no one to blame but themselves! They richly deserve it! I know I've ben "had' for the last time. I wil NEVER attend another Wild Things game. I can se the same thing at any local playground.

July 29, 2008 at 7:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have never seen so many people who don't like something, who profess to have nothing ever to do with something, to want in no way to be associated with something, spend so much time and energy associating themselves with that very thing.

If you don't like the Wild Things, that's your business.

It it not your business to tell me that I shouldn't.

If you're so fed up with the whole operation, STAY OFF THE 'WILD ABOUT THINGS' BLOG. In case you didn't know this, the 'Wild About Things' blog is about the Wild Things.

Only an idiot would continue to do the same thing and expect a different result.

July 29, 2008 at 7:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i totally agree with the whole post above, if you don't like the WT's any more thats fine, but stop coming on here to complain about something you obviously don't care about. There will never be a A,AA,AAA team in washington because of the way all of you negative people are acting. All a GM or Owner has to do is look at these blogs and see that a team like that would just be "hated" on just like your doing to the Wildthings.

Not to mention all those minor league players could care less about winning, they are just looking to move up to the majors. These players we have right now (most of them anyways) this is as far as they go, and they go out there every night and try to win for the team, their teammates and the fans (the ones that still care to see them do well and dont sit around all day complaining about them on blogs) not themselves.

Now I know I've gone alittle off topic here Chris, sorry, i know we're supposed to blog about the topic but this had to be said

GET A LIFE ALL YOU NEGATIVE PEOPLE

the team, coaches, player, fans etc. are all better off if you dont come to the park anymore

July 29, 2008 at 11:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

AMEN!!!

July 29, 2008 at 12:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That't life in the Outhouse League!!

July 29, 2008 at 1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All you Wild Things fans are nothing short of hilarious. Most of you wouldn’t know good baseball if it bit you on the fanny. You swallow all the BS shelled out by the other ‘locals’. If a guy hits a home run you all think he is ready for the major leagues. You all seem to panic every time somebody says something bad about your team. The baseball at CEP is good to keep one laughing so I like to go just for the cheap laugh.
The baseball played at CEP is flawed at all levels – why do you think the admission price is so low?
Surly you should know that a cheap product is no good and that a good product isn’t cheap! Really very basic stuff. Don’t know why you can seem to figure it out. I suppose the WT and the FL is pretty good for the yokels that have never been more than 15 miles from Washington. I sure hope nobody offers to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge – you’ll be all over it like flies on……. well you know what I mean, maybe.

July 29, 2008 at 1:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nobody said that it's Hall of Fame baseball. I know I don't have any misconceptions about seeing a future Cooperstown inductee played at CEP. I recognize that in the six and a half years the Wild Things have existed, perhaps
one player, maybe two, that they have faced have made the big show.

The evening is enjoyable entertainment. The baseball is competitive. The players work hard. It is more convenient, less expensive and more enjoyable than going to PNC Park, except if the Yankees are in town (and that only happens one series every 48 years).

July 29, 2008 at 1:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

First of all, I'll post where I damn well please. Until someone wants to pay my internet bill.

Secondly, If Washington is fine with settling with FL baseball, then that's fine by me. I'll go and support them a time or two a season, as much as I do with going to Erie, Altoona, etc. I used to have season tickets with the Pirates but refuse to do that again until I see ownership take more of a commitment.

It's just my opinion that Washington may be better served with having affiliated baseball, that's all.

July 29, 2008 at 4:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As I understand, Washington needed approval from the Pirates to even have a Frontier League team which is why they won't have an affiliated team in Washington as long as the Pirates remain in Pgh. because of the closeness to a major league team.
The Wild Things like it or not are a professional ball team by definition because they are paid (probably about minimum wage for the game hours for a rookie, excluding practice and bus rides).
As I understand, even if they would become part of another league, the Pirates would have to approve because Washington is a "professional" ball team and the Pirates would not want a team that would take much of the Pirate's attendence away.
They could join the college wood bat summer league without a problem.

July 29, 2008 at 7:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder what team the rookie starting center field player plays for in the East Division.
Not Chillicote-obviouly
Not Washington (Sidick is a veteran)
Not the sliders because who would want to sign with a traveling team.
Probably not Kalamazoo since attendence is slighly better than Chillicote.
Probably not Florence-who would want to be in Bengal land?
Traverse City is where I would bet my money. A place with good attendence and a summer beach town should attrack some beach bums!!
What do others think?

July 29, 2008 at 7:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks llib, I actually went to a college wooden bat game while on vacation in North Carolina. The talent level was on par with the FL, though the other intangibles that come with the ball park experience.

July 29, 2008 at 8:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Pirates have NO right of refusal for a Frontier League franchise, anywhere. Not in Washington, not in Slippery Rock, or Butler, or even Pittsburgh.

They would, however, have to approve the placement of an affiliated team within a certain distance of the City of Pittsburgh.

July 29, 2008 at 8:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To the guy that compared the Wild Things with American Legion baseball. I played American Legion ball and I highy resent the comparison! We NEVER stunk like that!!!!!!!!!!!- NEVER.

July 29, 2008 at 8:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dude American Legion ball is a joke, i played for 2 years and you now as well as i do your not playing anywhere now and never will be. At most your playing for some DIII school and are sitting the bench, grow up

July 29, 2008 at 10:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay Dude - whater you say - Dude. Reply when you come down of yout drugs Dude.

July 30, 2008 at 6:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It really takes a nimrod to criticize the Wild Things organization. All it has done is offer an ENTERTAINMENT outlet for a city that most people just pass by on the interstate. The team is the best thing to hit this place since - what? - Sarris Candy?

No, the talent level is not that great. But so what? The team hasn't had a losing season. It draws about 3,000 fans a game. It's fun to go to the games. For the price of just parking your car at a Pirates game, you can buy a ticket and get some food at Consol. Geeze, why the hell would we want that in our town, right?

Idiots.

July 30, 2008 at 3:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Idiots said, “It really takes a nimrod to criticize the Wild Things organization”

That has to be the most idiotic thing I EVER read!
Enjoy it while it’s here sucker. You sure are easy to please. About four times watching a Wild Things game proved to me what a nothing thing Frontier League baseball is. You are definitely the type of person they are looking for.

It takes a nimrod not to be able to figure that out! The FL is like a band of marauders pretending they are some sort of real baseball and guys as you buy it! They probably laugh all the way to the bank counting what was once your money. You’ve been had and you don’t even realize it.

July 30, 2008 at 5:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Pirates "pretend" to be Major League Baseball players. Have you had a problem with that. . . for the last 16 years?

July 31, 2008 at 4:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I guess I am stupid because I criticize the Wild Things. I also criticize the Pirates.
Is this what a nimrod is?

July 31, 2008 at 5:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

“The Pirates "pretend" to be Major League Baseball players.’

I’ll bet your one of those that thinks the WT could actually beat the Pirates. You can’t compare MLB with the FL in ANY context.
Yes, I do have a problem with the situation with the Pirates. The fans of the Pirates are equally as stupid as the fans of the WT. They keep showing up for those dumb bobble heads, The big difference is that there are many very good MLB teams and NO good FL teams at all. To top it off the FL has a “traveling” team that acts as a sort of ‘sacrificial lamb’ for the rest of the teams to beat up on at home games. Anything to sucker the fans into thinking their team is really good.
The FL fans are willing to settle for a definite inferior brand of baseball – I suspect the reason might be because the tickets are cheap. You only get what for pay for, especially in the FL where you overpay!
This League is so cheap that the players need help from the fans, and some sponsors to get a decent meal.
The FL should be ashamed of this. Most of you support this type of organization by continuing to attend games. The players are so willing to play that they are subjected to this type of employment. The FL, and its teams management’s are all too content to go along with it to save a buck – at the players expense.

“The Pirates "pretend" to be Major League Baseball players.” No –the Pirates management pretends to be major league.
The entire FL pretends to be an actual baseball organization

July 31, 2008 at 7:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ok well the FL is minor legue did they ever say they were major league or try to be. no they didnt that is why the tickets are cheaper that is why the ball park isnt HUGE and that is why the players are not ML players. the WT are fun if you want to go to a ball game with the family and not pay out the ass. Yea the food is expensive but there has to be some profit somewhere the tickets are so cheap its ridiculous! But you continue to go to the games a buy the food. Many people enjoy going to a WT game b.c its just as good as a pirates game. i bet your kids dont get to go up to the players at the end of the game and get autographs. no they dont b.c the pirate players are to high on there horse..and the SUCK! i have been to two pirates games in my whole life and didnt have fun at either of them. i have been to everysingle WT game this year and loved every single one! the atmaspere is better the connection is better. and if i had younge children i would rather take them to a WT game then a pirates game. witch one is more likly for them to get lost in???

August 1, 2008 at 9:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh also btw. If you hate the Wildthings so much and think they are worthless why waste your time on a blog about the wild things..
that make a whole mess of sence..well no not accualy.

August 1, 2008 at 9:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! Those last two bloggers should learn how to spell. Probably went to school in Washington or Greene County

August 2, 2008 at 4:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i never said i was a terrific speller. I failed spelling when i was in grade school.

August 2, 2008 at 11:42 AM  

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