Another managerial opening

A managerial job in the East Division became vacant today when Jamie Keefe informed the Florence Freedom that he will not be returning for the 2009 season.

In four seasons with Keefe, the Freedom compiled a 180-201record and failed to make the playoffs. In 2008, the Freedom were 47-49 and finished in fourth place in the East, 13 games behind division winner Kalamazoo.

Keefe spent four years as manager of the Chillicothe Paints before moving on to Florence. He is third on the FL's all-time wins list for managers with 367.

The River City Rascals recently filled their managerial vacancy by hiring Chad Parker, who recently worked as a scout for the Atlanta Braves. In 2007, Parker was manager of Macon Music of the now-defunct independent South Coast League.

Breaking point

The Frontier League announced Tuesday that it has banned the use of maple bats for the 2009 season. The following is the league's press release:

At their recent meeting in Fort Myers, Florida, the Frontier League’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to ban their players from using maple bats beginning with the upcoming 2009 season.

“We have seen many incidents of maple bats breaking in a jagged fashion and becoming projectiles. We feel this could pose a risk to our players, on-field staffs, and fans,” said Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee. “Last season, there were bat ends that stuck in the ground like spears and we simply cannot put the people near the action in that kind of danger.”

As part of the ban, all bats that are used will have to show their grain clearly so that the rule can be enforced by the League’s umpires. Any player using a maple bat will be ejected immediately from the game. In addition, the League office will impose a fine against the player and the manager of the player’s team.

Name that team

The Avon, Ohio team that begins play in the Frontier League next year -- with manager John Massarelli -- is conducting a name-the-team contest. The list of names is down to five:

Ohio Groove
Lorain County Ironmen
Avon Red Tails
Cleveland Artichokes
Lake Erie Crushers

My guess is the winner will be the Lake Erie Crushers with Lorain County Ironmen as the runner-up.

If the winning name is the Cleveland Artichokes, then the Massarelli-bashers will have a field day with him managing a team named the Chokes.

Brett, Brett Grandstrand

In case you missed it in today's O-R, Wild Things shortstop Brett Grandstrand has been named head baseball coach at Ringgold High School.

2009 Read story here.

2009 schedule released

The Wild Things released their 2009 schedule Thursday. Here are the highlights:

* The Frontier League usually runs from the Wednesday before Memorial Day through the Wednesday after Labor Day - a 14-week span. Because of when the holidays fall in 2009, there are 15 weeks this year. The league chose to keep the 96-game format, switch opening day to the Friday before Memorial Day, end the season the day before Labor Day and add more off days. There are 12 off days, including the four-day all-star break. The Wild Things will be off on four consecutive Mondays in August.

* The season begins Friday, May 22 and the Wild Things will open at home against the Avon, Ohio, team (yet to be named) that will be managed by John Massarelli. The Avon team is currently holding a name-the-team contest. I wonder how many people will suggest the Avon Callings? Word is ownership wants a regional name, such as the Lake Erie Somethings or the Erie Somethings.

* Washington begins with a three-game home series, is off on Memorial Day and then heads to St. Louis for games at Gateway and River City. In past seasons, interdivision play didn't start until mid-June.

* The Wild Things will be at home every other weekend the entire season.

* For the first time since 2004, Washington will be on the road for the July 4th holiday, playing July 3-5 at Kalamazoo. In my opinion, the Wild Things' best home date is July 3. It always produces one of the top 2 or 3 crowds of the year.

* The Wild Things will be opposite high school football when they play at home Friday, Sept. 4 against Florence. It's the opening game in the season's final series.

* The Sunday, Sept. 6 season finale against Florence has a 2:05 p.m. start. That's probably not a good idea because the game could be opposite the Steelers' season opener. The game also is one of two home afternoon games, the other being a noon start June 23 against the Oakland County Cruisers.

Here is the link to the 2009 schedule (Note: the team called Midwest on the schedule will be the Oakland County Cruisers):

2009 Wild Things schedule.