Thursday, June 11, 2009

Time to push?

The Wild Things enter tonight's series finale at Traverse City with the worst record (5-12) in the Frontier League. From the baseball end of the operation, this is the low-water mark for the Wild Things. They have never been more than seven games under .500.

So let's examine three reasons it's time for the Wild Things to push the panic button, and three reasons not to get carried away with Washington's slow start:

Three reasons, in no particular order, to make a mad rush to push the panic button:

1. Roadkill - Much like last year, the Wild Things haven't proven they can win away from Consol Energy Park. They are 1-7 in road games with seven consecutive losses. And counting tonight's game, the Wild Things will play their next seven games on the road, so there is reason to believe things could get worse before they get better. The teams that make the playoffs in the Frontier League are the ones that win on the road. of Washington's six playoff teams, only one (2006 when they were 20-25) failed to have a road record that was at least three games above .500.

2. Pitching - Washington's starting rotation is a mess. The Wild Things are tied for the fewest quality starts in the league with two in 17 games. Opening night starter Craig Snipp has looked very good at times but is currently on the disabled list. Jason Neitz (1-1), who will start tonight's game, has been the second-best healthy starter, and his ERA is 8.82. It all starts with pitching, and the Wild Things' starting pitching has been dreadful. You can't turn things around when your starting pitchers fail to give you more than four innings each night.

3. To many left-handed bats - Washington will typically have four left-handed hitters in the lineup, and manager Mark Mason has even used lefty-hitting catcher Alan Robbins against left-handed starting pitchers. Many managers in this league will tell you that teams win with left-handed hitters, but so far opponents have been able to take advantage of the Wild Things' heavy-lefty lineup. Washington is batting 52 points lower (.288 to .236) against left-handed pitching than against right-handers. The Wild Things' lefty hitters are 12-for-59 (.203) with 22 strikeouts against left-handed pitching. If this average isn't improved dramatically, you can forget about any turnaround in the wins and losses.

Three reasons, in no particular order, not to push the panic button:

1. It's only June - Enough said. There are still 79 games left in the season.

2. The Windy City factor – Last year, the Windy City ThunderBolts had a 6-13 record and their relief pitchers were blowing saves at an alarming rate. But Windy City proved that nothing is won or lost in the first 20 games. The ThunderBolts regrouped, won the West Division title and tied Kalamazoo for the best record in the league at 60-36. The Wild Things' returning players probably think their hitting is as dangerous as Windy City's was last year, so a similar turnaround is possible. And remember, the Wild Things were 7-10 in 2006 but finished with the league's best record at 59-37.

3. Help is on the way – Major League Baseball's draft, which concluded today, couldn't have come soon enough for the Wild Things. There's now a lot of successful college pitchers, who were deemed too small or too much of a project by pro scouts, looking for a place to play. Several sources have told me that major league organizations overstocked their extended spring training camps with pitchers this year. Now that the draft is over and picks are starting to sign, some of those extra pitchers will be released. There is no doubt the Wild Things are badly in need of pitching and will be looking to pick up some extended-spring releases - they prefer these over college players. Signing two or three of the right pitchers might make the difference over the final 50 games of the season.

32 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now that the ML draft is over there will be very little of real value left to pick from.
Just has beens, never was, and just don’t have it’s! More junk players for the Frontier League
to try to sell the fans with promotional crap such as, played in Cardinals organization etc.
Should be called the Farce League!

June 11, 2009 at 5:18 PM  
Anonymous H.M. said...

Wild Things win tonight...YEAH!! Heading to the Lake Erie, OH to play the "new" Crushers.

June 11, 2009 at 7:08 PM  
Anonymous WPA Redneck said...

Call the Wild Things office for your playoff tickets!

June 11, 2009 at 7:36 PM  
Blogger Chris Dugan said...

On a side note to "Help is on the Way," two Frontier League pitchers were selected in the draft. River City's Brandon Graves (1-0, 1.29) was taken in the 35th round by San Francisco and Windy City's Shane Zegarnc (1-2, 6.48) was chosen in the 42nd round by Texas.

Two of Graves' three appearances with the Rascals were against Washington. He pitched a perfect inning May 31, then gave up two hits and one run Sunday at Consol Energy Park.

June 11, 2009 at 9:11 PM  
Anonymous Thriftyone said...

I wonder how the major league draft and signing make sense.
They guy from Windy City had a 6.48 era in the Frontier League yet a guy like Aaron Leadbitter never gets picked up.
Mystery!

June 12, 2009 at 4:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Aaron Ledbetter was a righthander with an 89 mph fastball. He had his shot and didn't impress.

righties with sub-90 fastballs are a dime a dozen. That's why he never got a second chance in affiliated ball.

June 12, 2009 at 6:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice blog Chris, I enjoyed this post. I think they'll turn it around, and make a slow climb back to the top

June 12, 2009 at 6:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These guys were picked on the 35th and 42nd rounds. That speaks for itself.
Bob in E Washington.

June 12, 2009 at 9:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So far this season I’m most impressed with Grant Psomas. He seems to have quick bat and power that is required for third baseman, plus the skills to fill in at other positions, if needed. He reminds me a lot of Josh Loggins.
I would like to watch him for entire season but I doubt if I will get that chance. I suspect somebody will buy his contract before too long.
Ron Wilson

June 12, 2009 at 10:04 AM  
Blogger L.C. said...

What's the deal with Ernie Banks?
He got tossed again last night.He is a real good player.He isn't helping the team at all with his actions.

June 12, 2009 at 10:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

two pitchers released, one player suspended, several players signed. button pushed???

June 12, 2009 at 10:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Banks is a hot headed young man. Nothing at all like the REAL Ernie Banks.
He refuses to stand still for even the short time it takes for the Anthem.
He is self centered and foul mouthed. I have spoken with him twice and find him as phony as a $3 bill. Any more Questions?

June 12, 2009 at 10:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Care to share the roster moves with all of us? Sounds like you're a WT employee or a player.

June 12, 2009 at 12:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well Ernie, welcome to the ‘cyber assassinated’ club. Bob Gregg and I are the first two members and you have now become the third member. No way to say for sure but it is probably from the Wild Things office.
I think someone there has too much time on his or her hands. It’s just a guess of course but it would not be a shocker to me! When they don’t like you some people might even question your mental status.
Turn a blind eye to all this crap Ernie, stay above it.
Ron Wilson

June 12, 2009 at 12:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why is the WT office always so cloaked in secrecy? Everything is treated as “top secret”.
These jerks have no idea how handle communication with the outside world. Could it possibly be that the Empire is Crumbling? Perhaps it is that they are just too busy trying to figure out how to get their greedy hands on some more of our money. Just like the pack of wolves they are, their thirst for more and more free money is unquenchable. Look for more shenanigans at just about any time. Bob Gregg will probably be the one to show them how to get the money ‘under the radar’ so you will not even know it happened.
They are a sneaky bunch. Most circus people are.
Bob

June 12, 2009 at 1:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Has anybody fully figured out the exact connection between the WT and Mylan Labs in Canonsburg?
I suppose it has a lot of involvement with Franni Williams and her husband. I don’t have any idea what Mr. Williams role in this alliance is but I’ll wager a tidy sum that Franni is the bean counter. She sure knows how to count the cars in the parking lot.
Now that we know that both of these good people are lawyers, I think I have a good bit of sound advise for the taxpayers – WATCH YOUR WALLETS!!!!
In a few short years these fine upright paragons of virtue will need to replace the million dollar field we just bought them. Being lawyers they, by default, they are smarter then we underlings – non lawyers!. I’m almost certain they are laying the groundwork to see to it that we will be the ones to buy the next carpet for them also. Why not? We were stupid enough to do it this time weren’t we?
Now don’t forget to save your pennies so you can buy a piece of the WT action. I wonder what the prospectus will say? Something like; “Your money is save with us because we have all the political influence we need to get anything we want from the taxpayer” It probably WON’T say “We are keeping controlling interest so you will have no say in our decisions no matter how convoluted they are”.
Snoopy

June 12, 2009 at 3:30 PM  
Blogger Swisscheda said...

From the Frontier League site:

WASHINGTON WILD THINGS: Signed INF Chris Raniere and RHP Brian McCullough; placed 1B Ernie Banks on the suspended list; released RHP Rick Austin and LHP Eric Evans

June 12, 2009 at 3:35 PM  
Blogger Swisscheda said...

Upon further digging, Raniere was recently let go by River City, and McCullough last pitched for Windy City.
How long is Banks suspended for, and for what? Anybody know? I would obviously think it has to do with his 2 ejections in the Traverse City series. The fact that we just signed an infielder isn't a good sign that he's coming back.
I think Austin sealed his fate in a recent game....I believe the score was tied at the time. He walked the first batter, hit the second, walked the third, and then served up a bases clearing double. Ugh.

June 12, 2009 at 3:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

evans has been terribly ineffective. austin is physically ill and will be shelved for a little while. banks is on the team suspended list for two weeks, maybe more...needs to learn the old "no I in TEAM" thing. mccullough pitched for mason in chillicothe. raniere was being pushed to mason by river city both at their place and at cep. they'd love to keep, just doesn't fit what they're doing.

June 12, 2009 at 3:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

either you can't read, don't read or don't really care, snoopy. the coury family runs mylan labs. the same coury family has significant, if not majority, ownership of the washington wild things. this has been posted before, usually each time right after you post the questions.

June 12, 2009 at 4:01 PM  
Blogger Chris Dugan said...

Banks has been placed on the "14-day suspended list," according to Mark Mason on the WJPA Radio pregame show. Raniere put up good numbers in River City last year (.285, 11 HRs) and this year (6-for-15 in five games). McCullough must have been released this week after pitching in three games (0-0, 2 IP, 0 runs) for Fargo-Moorhead of the Northern League.

June 12, 2009 at 4:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"the coury family runs mylan labs. the same coury family has significant, if not majority, ownership of the washington wild things. this has been posted before, usually each time right after you post the questions"


I can read. What the key words were "FULLy understand" Got it FRANNI?

June 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Touchy old gal, ain't she?

June 12, 2009 at 6:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The last time I saw Franni she was chasing a penny some little kid dropped in the
parking lot. She was closely followed by Edgar Snyder, another lawyer, an ambulance, and a Brinks truck filled with taxpayer money driven by Bob Gregg. Franni got there first (of course) because Edgar was too much of a gentleman to slug her for it! Franni acted like see found a fortune – the little kid just laughed at her!
Every penny counts! Whether it be taxpayer money, or money taken from a little kid! It’s all the same to these types of folks. The Circus has come to town!

June 12, 2009 at 6:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

wow real harsh,...... better watch out, Ron Wilson is going to be sent after you cause your not playing nice. I liked the way this post started off, talking about BASEBALL, but then switched to the ownership, ... really who cares about the owners, they are just rich people who are putting their money into a community outlet to get recognition from their rich friends. They know nothing about baseball at all, so just get off the subject of blaming Franni for the WTs problems.

WT's drop a close one tonight, Psomas might be the only positive aspect about this season, the kid can straight hit, not to mention (correct me if im wrong chris) but hasn't made an error at 1st base with all the time he played there with Banks either being hurt or thrown out. The defense seems solid and the bats are there, come on Ross find some pitching.....PLEASE!!!!!!!!!


P.S. we had a solid starting rotation last year, and you clean house to only leave groh? (i like groh, making a point about the rest of the rotation) are you serious? with the way eachues and peterson are working out of the bullpens in the late innings the WTs would def be over .500

Mike

June 12, 2009 at 8:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

7-run inning tonight, the fifth time (already) that the team has given up 5 or more runs in an inning...

June 12, 2009 at 9:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

groh is a solid pitcher. has had a few walks and some hits but hasn't done bad but not great either. rough last 2 outings but anyway the rest of the starting pitching staff from last year would conflict with the offensive status classes... too many L2s i think....

June 12, 2009 at 10:22 PM  
Blogger Chard said...

As far as the "Windy City Factor" a LARGE part of that poor start was on the new manager Brian Nelson's head. Completely mismanaged the team (I KNOW for a fact many of the players hated him based on their post division clinching victory chant) The guy wouldn't ever have a relief pitcher warming up untill 4 or 5 runs had plated. He insisted on sticking with "his guys" no matter what. It wasn't pretty, and the minute he was gone was when the team turned around last year.

June 12, 2009 at 11:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The guy wouldn't ever have a relief pitcher warming up untill 4 or 5 runs had plated. He insisted on sticking with "his guys" no matter


Sounds just like Jelks last year and Mason this year!

June 13, 2009 at 5:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I liked the way this post started off, talking about BASEBALL"


Can't blame me for it this time. I was hoping we could forget the turf thing and talk about Psomas!
Ron Wilson

BTW: That post was a bit rude - but it WAS funny!

June 13, 2009 at 5:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"These guys were picked on the 35th and 42nd rounds. That speaks for itself.
Bob in E Washington."

then what possessed you to speak for them?

June 13, 2009 at 8:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

^^^^^
Atleast they were drafted.
And quit reposting your stupid comments.We all seen them the first time Boob...

June 13, 2009 at 9:01 AM  

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