Troubled times
One overused saying that coaches in all sports rely on is this: You are what your record says you are.
Today, the Wild Things are the worst team in the Frontier League's East Division with a 2-7 record. Only Rockford (2-8) in the West Division has a worse record.
That doesn't mean much when you're nine games into a 96-game season. Yes, 2-7 is lousy. No one wanted or expected this kind of start, but it's not predictive of anything. The season is not over. Keep in mind that Washington started 1-5 during its inaugural season (2002) and ended up setting the league record for wins.
Is this a team that can rebound from a 2-7 start to be a playoff contender? Can it even play .500 ball? We don't know. It's too early to draw any definitive conclusions. There are, however, some alarming numbers and trends that indicate things that must change in a hurry. For example:
* The 2-7 record is the Wild Things' worst after nine games. In other words, this is the worst start in franchise history.
* Prior to today, Washington has been five games under .500 for only one day (May 28, 2008) in its eight-year history. The Wild Things have never been six games under .500.
* The recent six-game swing to the St. Louis area ended with a 1-5 record. It was the 27th six-game road trip in team history. It was the first time the Wild Things have failed to win at least two games on a such a trip (that the Wild Things went seven years with no worse than a 2-4 record on six-game trips is an amazing statistic that is probably unmatched in league history).
* The current five-game losing streak is tied for the longest in team history. Washington lost five in a row back in 2005 (Aug. 29-Sept. 3) but that was after the club had clinched the East Division title and was simply playing out a string of meaningless games.
* Washington's pitching staff has been - insert your favorite adjective here because there is no sugar-coating it - bad, awful, putrid, etc. You get the idea. Washington has given up 50 walks in nine games. Only Gateway (54) has allowed more, but the Grizzlies have played one more game. The Wild Things also are tied for the league lead in hit batsmen with nine. The 6.63 team ERA is next-to-last. Again, only Gateway is worse.
* Washington's hitters lead the league in strikeouts and are next-to-last with only three stolen bases, but offense hasn't been the problem. Washington's hitters have done enough to win seven games.
* The bullpen is 0-for-3 in save opportunities.
It all adds up to an ugly start, which will make for some interesting decisions for manager Mark Mason during the homestand that begins Tuesday against Gateway. The Wild Things' track record indicates that no major roster overhaul is in the works. The philosophy in Washington has been to stick with the core group of players and add a couple of former college guys following Major League Baseball's draft. You don't blow up your roster after nine games.
However, there will surely be some moves made this week. Pitcher Aaron Fuhrman will come off the disabled list during the homestand. He could trade places with pitcher Kedrick Martin, who left Sunday's game with an injury.
Another candidate for the DL is closer Jon Lewis, who was brought in during the offseason to solve the bullpen woes that plagued the Wild Things all last year. Lewis has pitched 1 2/3 innings and given up 10 walks and thrown three wild pitches. Saturday at River City, Lewis walked six batters in just 2/3 of an inning. Only 12 of his 40 pitches were strikes. Keep in mind that Lewis walked only 11 batters in half a season with Evansville last year, and in his previous 82 pro games walked more than two hitters only once.
When a pitcher with that kind of track record goes Steve Blass, it has to be because of an injury or a major problem with his mechanics. Either way, a trip to the DL is likely.
Not all the struggles have been on the pitchers' mound. There were concerns before the season about outfielder Chris Demons' ability to hit. He was only a .232 career hitter in two pro seasons, but the Wild Things love his speed and arm. Demons might be the fastest player in the league. But he's also 2-for-26 (.077) with 13 strikeouts. Starting the season with only four outfielders (including DH Jacob Dempsey) was a gamble that hasn't worked. Mason probably has several outfielders on speed dial.
How long will the Wild Things wait to shuffle their roster? The draft is June 9-11, which also is the beginning of a nine-day road trip for Washington. The Wild Things don't like to make roster moves while on the road, which means if things don't turn around this week the earliest the roster can undergo a makeover is June 18.
Labels: Aaron Fuhrman, Chris Demons, Jon Lewis, Kendrick Martin, Mark Mason
posted by Chris Dugan at
4:51 AM
59 Comments:
Chris,
What is the reason the WT don't, or won't, make roster moves when the team is on the road?
Afraid to leave my name. I may be called some unly names.
One reason is a logistical thing with signed and released players. For example:
Let's say the Wild Things are in Traverse City, Mich., and sign a player. They also have to release a guy. The released player is in northern Michigan with his baseball equipment, but he also has clothes and things such as bats in Washington. If he has a car, it's back in Washington. If he doesn't have car ... well, you get the idea.
Also, if the new guy has a car, does he drive to Traverse City and then follow the bus back to Washington? Do the WTs buy him a plane ticket to Michigan? If so, then the player has to get someone to drive his car to Washington.
Another smaller problem is you need to have a uniform for the signed player. You have to take plenty of different sizes with you.
There are other factors, but the one I hear most often is the logistical nightmare. It's not like in affiliated ball, where the club simply puts the player on an airplane.
If anybody wants to know what others think of the ill gained money the Wild
Things weasled out of the taxpayers then check out Brant Newman's blog.
Get the other side of the turf issue.
No name numskull
Wow, this blog is easily the most entertaining thing I have read all day... I don't care one way or the other about the Wild Things... and I am a very part-time baseball fan in general... but reading through the soap opera that is the comments is just priceless!
Love it!
Ellipses,
Don't make the mistake of giving your real name. You will be branded as insane and shot at sunrise
The last place Washington Wild Things will be home tomorrow night.
I wonder what sort of manure Franni will greet us with at the entrance
to her fabulous parking lot?
Will she have a brass band waiting or, an 800-pound gorilla with brass knuckles to
kick your butt into the parking lot? I’m betting on the gorilla. Brass bands are too expensive and
gorillas work on the cheap. That makes him the winner – hands down!
You will have a chance to win a car (used of course). I think it was used in the demolition derby at the Wasington Fair last year. You would think with all the free money
they got we could win a NEW car. But noooooo! How many of you remember the NEW car BS that the Wild Things and Bud Baer pulled off the first season here in Washington?
Pretty near a riot that night when the folks found they had been duped! Bud Baer never returned! Got to say he knows better than to collaborate with the WT again. When we saw that fiasco we should have all realized that these people were a little '’funny', if you know what I mean.
Come on out tomorrow night. Keep a big chain on your wallet. If you win the used car I hope you don’t get arrested for GTA by one of those parking lot patrol officers.
Frenchie
Pitching Coach Larry Wayman will be gone as of today or tomorrow. Its really starting to look like Mason made some bad calls on some of the moves hes made over the last few months sending out and or releasing the consistent pitchers from last year...
Pitching Coach Larry Wayman will be gone as of today or tomorrow.
Is that a verified facT or just a rumor?
What is the scorce of your information?
If we can just get SOME pitching, we should be at least competitive. The hitting is there, with Banks and Psomas off to torrid starts. But at this pace, will they be here long? Maybe they'll get snapped up by affiliated ball? Sidick and Grandstrand's slow starts are puzzling, you could actually add Dempey to that list as well. Demons....wow....let's hope he turns it around real quick. I thought Mike Alberts was a good player in his limited role last year, it's a shame we let him go. He had some power.
The pitching staff is an atrocity. The 5 starters were the team's strength last year, and we kept none of them (although Groh has come back). Ledbetter obviously aged out of the league, but we sure do miss the others. What do we have in terms of quality starts so far this season, 1? The bullpen....ugh....if they were any worse they'd have Ryan Vogelsong out there warming up. It's hard to believe Lewis was an all-star last year. Didn't I read on this blog that he was impressive in camp? And why IN THE WORLD wasn't he pulled after, say, 3 walks on Saturday night? He was left in there to promptly walk 3 more. Where is Guy Hlebovy when you need him?
Chris, Evansville released RHP Billy Phillips today. Is this the same guy who was with Windy City in 2007 and shut us down in Game 5? He's got veteran status, though.
Any further word on Sidick? Is he coming back, and is being in a wedding the real truth as to why he wasn't with the Wild Things over the past 3 games?
Lewis is going on IR. Ankiel, Blass, among others. It's just not there right now.
Sidick was in his brother's wedding. Nothing more, nothing less.
Ron Wilson, nice letter to the editor in the O-R today.
It will be interesting to see what the attendance will be for the 6 game home stand starting Tuesday.
I also hope the fireworks for Friday night are longer than the opening night fireworks. It was a real show of cheapissity.
What will they call the turf?
The Bill Defabio toupee turf or
perhaps the 95.3 tourist turf.
Lets hope the Wild Things get their act together and get back to 500.
Speaking of 500, isn't that the amount of the tourist tax and also the state grant for the turf?
Lets remember the good days when John Switek was the top person in management. He got his Franni wacked!
swisscheda
were you referring to tim alberts instead of mike? if so i did like his bat but was a liability defensively. i wouldn't mind seeing him in the lineup though. he doesn't appear to be playing anywhere at the moment
Yes, Tim Alberts. I stand corrected. Actually he is playing for the Joliet Jackhammers of the Northern League. Hitting .290 in 9 games.
thanks. i actually tried looking up his numbers on a couple different sites i use but didnt come up with anything
Frenchie, could you refresh my memory on the "new car" promotion involving Budd Baer?
Thriftyone,
I spoke with Ron Wilson last night. He is not posting on this blog for the foreseeable future. He is tired of being called names by the WT lackeys. They claim not to know anything about it but both him and me are sure that’s a bunch of bull sh**!
That have called him senile and some other things. The other day they implied that he needed mental help!
They even included you and Obuma in their outrageous attack. No scruples at all!
They stomped on his reputation just because they know that he is right. They took advantage of the fact him uses his real name to trash his name. If somebody can’t defend their position and have no answers for the issues involved, they start character assassination. You, Ron, and Obuma are the targets of their wrath right now.
I am not going to attend any more games this year. The WT are just money grabbing ass holes. They
think the taxpayers own them a living.
Be sure to check out in “In the NEW” blob to see how the non-sports fans people about the WT money grab.
Lloyd
Ellipses said,
“ I am a very part-time baseball fan in general... “
Good, then the WT are the team for you. They play only play part time baseball.
They spend the rest of the time counting the money Bob Gregg gave them and having
stooges post crap about people on this blog.
Welcome!! Watch your rear end.
Hey, we are selling out CEP every night, so if you don't like it, obviously many people do! We are expected a full house tonight, as everyone wants to win cash! So eat it!
Ron Wilson is, was, and will always be an old grumpy man. He feels as though since he has collected years of life, he is entitled something more than the next guy. Being old does not grant widsom. So what if he didn't want turf, so what if he thinks that the management of the team is corrupt, so what if he thinks that him not posting on here is a disservice to the community.
Lloyd:No one cares about what you have to say, no one. Or atleast not enough to make it even remotly count. 99% of the people that go to the games, could care less about what Ron, or any other of the Anti-WWT posters but up here.
Ron:You will not be missed at all. One less person that thinks they are entitled to something in this world would be a good thing.
Joe from Gabby
Amen, my last two brothers!
Hey, we are selling out CEP every night
Is that so? Have you been there lately?
Also, I think you probably meant to say 'we are giving away taxpayer money tonight' didn't you.
Who is the "we" you are talking about. Are you Franni or do you just have a turd in your pocket?
Come on Joe. Most everybody knows that you are one of the WT Interns just sucking
up to your bosses. Shi*, you’ve already trashed the man so enough already.
If that’s what Ross told you to say why didn’t you tell him to do his own dirty work? YOU ARE SCUM JOE! Nothing more, nothing less.
Bob in E, Washington
I guess Joe from Gabby is the one who gets to decide who is allowed to make comments here. I've never met Ron Wilson, but he strikes me as being a good, decent person who never resorts to some of the lowlife, personal attacks that others, writing anonymously, like to resort to. And what did Lloyd do to get your panties in a twist? I guess he shouldn't have had the audacity to defend Ron. And to the really person who suggested that anyone posting negative comments about the Wild Things "eat it," you clearly know nothing about the attendance at the Wild Things games. The home opener was listed as a sellout, but if that's the case, either hundreds of people stayed home, or they came disguised as empty seats. The next two games, by the Wild Things own accounting, were not even close to being sellouts. If the team continues its tailspin, coupled with the poor economy, actual sellouts could be very rare this season. The Wild Things can ill afford bad publicity about taxpayers' money being used for artificial turf and about their ridiculous parking system and fan-unfriendly concessions operations. Maybe now that they're even deeper into the public's pocket, we taxpayers who also are baseball fans should expect a little better treatment.
Chris,
How long is the O-R going to allow people to trash Ron Wilson on this blog. It’s fine for people to say what they want to say as long as the people are anonymous, or used some made up name.
When you allow this sort of thing to continue against somebody that is clearly known to most people I feel this is not an ethical practice by the O-R. I wonder if it isn’t actionable in a court of law. Some of this stuff is libelous.
It’s one thing for some moral cowards to put some false information on here. It is very much another matter when you allow it to remain posted..
If these assassins care to fully identify themselves then I suppose it would be all right to leave them remain posted. This is a country where you have the right to face your accuser. In this case he doesn’t even know who they are.
Yes, I know Ron and consider him a loyal and good friend. Just because he has courage and believes in his convictions is no reason to allow this sort of garbage to continue. Ron has never directed any of his remarks against any individual. He has been critical of the WT organization and some of its policies. If you ask me, there is a lot to be critical of. The argument that he should stay home if he doesn’t like it is just plain stupid.
So is the argument that he should keep his thoughts to himself.
Just read the various blogs and you will find there is plenty of opposition to the WT money grab. Should those people stay home too? Should they just not say anything either?
Lloyd
Bafoons I tell ya! A sellout is by tickets sold, not people who are in-house. You should try to learn something about the sports business! Do you really think we had 4,000 people in that ballpark? No way, thats how many tickets were sold!
And that $3 for parking... thats just making up for all of the moolah that disappeared prior to Franni's watch!
Steal from me once, shame on you, steal from me for 7 years, shame on me!
I personally love the WWT and I'll be sitting in a nice comfy seat tonight when they break the streak, turn this season around and then give me $100, no matter where it comes from!
And cookies and milk... thats just icing on the cake!
Larry Weyman gets axed and the worst reliever released??? Let the revolution begin!!!!
Washington Wild Things... what else would you do until the fair starts???
Chris,
How long is the O-R going to allow people to trash Ron Wilson on this blog. It’s fine for people to say what they want to say as long as the people are anonymous, or used some made up name.
When you allow this sort of thing to continue against somebody that is clearly known to most people I feel this is not an ethical practice by the O-R. I wonder if it isn’t actionable in a court of law. Some of this stuff is libelous.
It’s one thing for some moral cowards to put some false information on here. It is very much another matter when you allow it to remain posted..
If these assassins care to fully identify themselves then I suppose it would be all right to leave them remain posted. This is a country where you have the right to face your accuser. In this case he doesn’t even know who they are.
Yes, I know Ron and consider him a loyal and good friend. Just because he has courage and believes in his convictions is no reason to allow this sort of garbage to continue. Ron has never directed any of his remarks against any individual. He has been critical of the WT organization and some of its policies. If you ask me, there is a lot to be critical of. The argument that he should stay home if he doesn’t like it is just plain stupid.
So is the argument that he should keep his thoughts to himself.
Just read the various blogs and you will find there is plenty of opposition to the WT money grab. Should those people stay home too? Should they just not say anything either?
Lloyd
To the anonymous "bafoon" - They can claim that they sold every ticket in the house for opening night. Maybe they did. But why, then, where there large expanses of empty seats on opening night with perfect weather and even fireworks. Something ain't right there. And you, "bafoon," said you are selling out the park every night, when that's clearly not true, even according to the Wild Things. You'd better get YOUR facts straight before you start anonymously ripping other people. Or just continue lying, if that makes you happy.
Couple of questions about sell-outs.
Seems as though every game I go to a a Wild Things game Mr. Di Fabio announces “It’s a sell-out – Give yourselves a big hand”
WHY? What do we care!
Also, it seems to me by that always crowing about their sell-outs they weaken their position on taking government handouts! If they are that successful why do they need OUR money?
Who is going to buy the next plastic field when this one wares out? Do the Wild Things think we all graduated from the Frontier League school of stupid?
The only ones “sold-out” are the paying fans.
Laura T
We bafoons know that tickets sold is what counts. However, no shows reduce the overall profit. Less $3.00 for parking, less revenue from concessions, less purchases from the gift shop. Lets assume a person spends $10/night beyond the cost of a ticket (concessions, parking, other purchases), for every 100 no shows, that is a thousand dollars of lost revenue. If there are a thousnand no shows, that is $10,000 of lost profit. It looks like every night there is somewhere between 500 and 1000 no shows based on the number of empty seats.
So MR. anomymous bafoon, the number of people that show up is more important that ticket sales.
PS-Ron Wilson, Thriftyone, Jamal and others like that are what keep this blog interesting.
1,000 no shows is still $8k-$10k of ticket revenue. We get the money whether anyone shows up or not and it doesn't cost us any overhead. yes, it'd be nice if those people showed up and bought some funnel fries or IC light, but we'll take what we can get!
Wayman has to go.You seen the body of his work last season.This year is no coincidence.
"but we'll take what we can get!"
Including taxpayers money!
You forever have yor hand out for something free.
By the number of no-shows it looks like people are paying NOT to watch the Wild Things!
what a miserable lot...all the way around. Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful.
here's one I found on another thread in this blog:
Somebody is going to win a car tonight at CEP. And some of you "people" are already complaining that it's not a brand new car...unbelievable. Somebody bought a ticket to a Wild Things' game and is going to get a new used car.
And somebody has a problem with that??? amazing.
I heard the used car to be given away tonight is sponsered by AAA Towing.
License plate E-I-E-I-O
Bring back Brad Hensler!
Bring back Wayman!
I’ll tell you white folks one thing. No matere how bad you all think black people are we don’t ever dis are old folks. we are taughht to have rsepect. All you crackers don’t know the first thing about that. if a brother would do some of the things you do to that Ron wilson guy somebobdy would get a visit.
You see the wild things did not give me a lot of that crap. They knew it was no joke and took care of the situation. The Wild thigs and all you others should be ashamed
Jamal
The "official attendence" accourding to box score last night was 1815.
This is 1385 below an official sellout.
I wonder how many were actually in attendence?
Probably closer to 1200.
Lots of lost $3.00 parking revenue.
6 losses in a row won't improve attendence. In the Switek days, there would have been closer to 3000 even on a dreary night.
Of course in the Switek days, the team never lost 6 games in a row.
They have a chance to make it 7 tonight. I think they should give free parking until they win 6 games in a row.
Thriftyone,
Your going to get cyber shot if you don't back off!
Is there any legal commitment beyond this year to keep the Wild Things, or any other professional team at Consol Field.
The local community would really get mad if one million of tax payers dollars is used to install tax payers turf in a stadium only used by a high school and college team.
The way the Frontier League teams move from city to city, and heading west, I would not be surprised to see the Washington Franchise moved west.
There should be a long term legal commitment with the Wild Things or a million dollar buy out to refund the tax payers money if the professional baseball team vacates the Washington Stadium.
If it is true that the Frontier League in ‘mandating’ all their teams to have a plastic field then
why don’t they finance this crap. Why should it be incumbent on the citizens of Pennsylvania to foot the bill, or any portion of it? If that is what they want why the hell don’t they pay for it? Anybody with half a brain knows that the Frontier League is professional baseball at it’s worst. Most American Legion teams are equal to any team fielded by this organization. The Frontier League makes its living by preying on communities such as Washington. There are more defunct teams than there are existing teams in this League.
When there is nothing left to bleed from a city the bastards pick up and leave town with a lot of unpaid bills leaving the suckers that were their fans holding the bag. Just like the Circus troupe they are.
These million dollars could do so much good for so many people that desperately need help here in Washington. Can you imagine how much good a million dollars in the hands of The Washington City Mission, or the Salvation Army would do? Nooo, a lot of you lemmings that support the WT on this blog can’t even keep your focus on what’s important, and what is trivial. Such as artificial grass! We must not force the Wild Things to stand, or fall, on their own must we? Are the Wild Things to big to fail!
Of course not! Quit being such suckers. The Wild Things are digging their own grave with their greed.
Lloyd
Lloyd,
As long as there are people like Bob Gregg the Wild Things will continue to do this stuff.
If that wasn't the biggrst farce in the history of Washington County, I don't know what was.
The Frontier League doesn't mandate any particluar kind of playing surface.
The Tourism money can't go the City Mission, or the Salvation Army.
is Llyod the new name Ron Wilson is using so he can continue to cry on this blog? There is no mandating on the playing surface you idiot.
Glad to see Jamal is back to putting his 2 cents in,...... not
End this blog Chris, its out of control
No name needed
You call someone an idiot, and yet you're the one who thinks the blog is out of control. Nice.
So the wheels of the circus wagon are coming off.
Don’t worry Wild Things, Be Happy. To get more money FREE call the
treasury raiders firm of Bracken, Maggi, and Gregg! NO PROBLEM!
The taxpayers can hardly wait to grant you some more of their money.
My name is Lloyd and I and a regular poster on this blog. YOU are both a moron AND idiot.
Morons. Idiots. racists. taxmoney stealers. You stay classy washington.
Anyone at the Wild Things office ever hear of a French drain? Loads cheaper than that turf stuff.
To the person that called another an “idiot” because of the mandated turf issue.
This has been discussed on here several times before. I think it was generally known that the Frontier League does want all their teams to have artificial turf. Am I wrong on this?. Is there a date by which this must be done?
Not Lloyd, Not Ron Wilson, Not Jamal, Not Brant, Not Bob, just plain old Frank in Section 207
BTW - Great crowd last night. More Navy parachutist then paying customers.
Yes you are wrong. There is no date and instruction to have turf fields.
Im new to this blog but i have been reading about it for a while. All the complaining about Frannie doing this and that and thats why you blame her for the team being horrible. I strongly feel that Ross Vecchio is to blame for this. Frannie thinks she knows everything but she is not the one responsible for scouting and signing the players. Thats all Ross has to do and the last few years he has been doing a treeible job of that. I think more people need to shift the blame to him. Our Buccos have been horrible for the last 15 years and everyone is right in blaming the descions made by the GM there so why should this be any different. Ross needs to go in order for the wildthings to be able to once again compete in this league
Another sellout last night? Wow!All of about 1,000 if that many, which I doubt very much. Don't tell me the rain kept them away because I've seen a larger group of people with more than that rain.
For the one that ridiculed Ron Wilson as being grumpy, did it ever occur to you that he is providing entertainment for idiots like you? If you don't like what he has to say then don't bother reading the blogs. I know there is a lot of controversy regarding the turf but he needs something to bark about. I personally find it interesting. Another thing, why would anyone be so dumb as to think that the WT would give away a NEW car? Personally I wouldn't want it because the insurance would be too high and the gas mileage would be a joke. I'll keep my little baby sedan. As long as the blog is centeread around the WT I see no reason for it not to continue. You can hate Ron Wilson, Jamal, Lloyd, Bob, Jim, or anyone else that works in the office but mail is going to continue. I use Anonymous because I don't want a lot of flack from idiots like you. Enuff said!
Ross has had far less to do with the on field product this year than ever before. Maybe thats why the team isn't any good. Didn't someone on here say Mason never had a winning record?
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