Playoffs update
The Kalamazoo Kings have forced Game 5 in their best-of-five playoff series against the Lake Erie Crushers. The Kings won 7-5 in Game 4 Saturday afternoon. Lake Erie seemed to have punched its ticket to the finals by taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning against Kalamazoo starter John Brownell, who was pitching on three days rest.However, after the rocky start Brownell shut out Lake Erie the rest of the way, throwing 141 pitches in a complete game.
“Brownell had a very impressive performance,” Crushers manager John Massarelli told the Chronicle-Telegram after the game. “You’ve got to tip your hat to him. That was about as impressive as I’ve ever seen."
Kalamazoo scored the tying run when Lake Erie center fielder Tyler Johnson tried to make a basket catch on what was described as a catchable fly ball and dropped it. The Kings scored two runs in the eighth to win the game.
Massarelli held a 10-minute closed-door meeting with his players following the game.
“I told them, ‘This is a hell of a series and it’s going to be a hell of a Game 5,’” he said. “I told them what I said from the beginning of the first game. It doesn’t matter how we do it, you can lose two and win three, or split at each home field like we’ve been doing, as long as we get that third win. It doesn’t matter how you win a five-game series. Home-field advantage is bull (bleep). It’s all about who gets to three first.
“We only won two, and so have they. That’s why we’re going to Game 5.”
Game 5 is Monday night in Kalamazoo.
In typical minor-league playoff fashion, Game 4 drew a crowd of only 1,319, the smallest of the year, to All Pro Freight Stadium. It was a rare afternoon game in Avon, Ohio. I haven't seen a reason why the game was played in the afternoon but I'm guessing it was because of the Ohio State-USC football game Saturday night.
River City, which won its first playoff series in 11 years, awaits the winner. The Rascals swept two-time defending champion Windy City. Former Wild Things first baseman Ernie Banks hit two home runs for River City in their Game 2 win. Banks was 5-for-15 with 5 RBI in the series.
Labels: Kalamazoo Kings, Lake Erie Crushers
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:48 AM
30 Comments:
This front office staff is ridiculous. They finally have a friendly and helpful ticket staff in place (minus the woman they brought in), and then they bring in the red headed guy with no personality and who is also very unfriendly. His bio on the website says he comes from the Pirates. Great move, bring in a guy from a losing organization (who obviously couldn't hack it there) to a front office who wants to model themselves after the Pirates. Also, I noticed that Greg "Dutch" Thompson is no longer on the website. Has he been canned too? Next thing you know, ticket prices will be raised.
Just another reason to stop going to the games. I may cancel my plan for next year. Dutch was the best on field entertainer they've had since the beginning, both as the host and just as a person having a regular conversation with the fans.
The ticket staff guys were great, whether it was Sean (my season ticket contact) or PJ in the Season Ticket Concierge, they always treated me with respect and did what they could to accomodate any problems that came up. The other guy in ticketing, Phil, still has his name on the website, so I don't know whether he is gone or not, but he is very personable too. At the beginning of the year he helped out in the concierge with PJ, then later in the year I don't know what happened to him. He just seemed to be helping around the park when I saw him. All three of those guys were nice to work with in the office or on the phone though!
Great move front office, just another reason the team is headed in the wrong direction!
dutch did get canned and it's total.B.S.
wanna sell out every game. how bout a good ball team. the product should sell itself
Why don't they just load the whole bunch up,Ross, Franni & the Coury's and ship them out of town. Turn the field into a football field and have the Pittsburgh Passion pro womens team play there. We could watch a winning team once again
Do the Passion even still exist? If they do, I bet they could beat the Wild Things in a baseball game. I think its funny that the Coury and Williams dont get along at all and both want to see who can run the team into the ground first.
Sign me up for season tickets for that !!!
Halftime Show : Williams & Coury's
Slug it out, or the dizzy bat race of death
OR: Ross and Dutch Sumo Wrestle for control of the cookies and milk
Greg Thompson is a true professional, and I am disgusted that he was let go. What a classless move by the Wild Things. If you are reading this, we wish the best of luck to you in the future. You know who we are. I live in the town where your buddy had an indoor baseball business with batting cages, and my other half sang at a game late in the season.
Greg Thompson did not walk 15 batters in a game, commit a billion errors in the field, or strike out with the bases loaded. What a ridiculous move by the Wild Things. What's coming next, an announcement that Ron Wilson will take his place?
Hello Wild Things Fans,
My name is Gregory Thompson, but many of you know me simply as "Dutch". I wanted to update everyone on something that happened this past Friday as I see rumors are already starting. As of Friday morning I no longer work for the Washington Wild Things. The Washington Wild Things are restructuring and as a result of that, my position, along with several others, was eliminated.
I enjoyed my time at the Wild Things and worked with a lot of great people, but unfortunately my position was not included in their future plans. I wish nothing but the best for the team and the people who work there as they go through this restructuring. I have no hard feelings towards the Wild Things, as I have worked in sports for a number of years and understand sometimes these things happen. It’s simply the nature of the beast. I know the current staff is working hard on the 2010 season and hoping to bring the fans an even more exciting product for the new season. A Wild Things game is a great way to spend a summer evening and great family entertainment whether the team wins or loses.
I had a wonderful time over the past three seasons getting to know all of the great season ticket holders and the fans who attend Wild Things games. It was my pleasure to go out night after night and hopefully bring something extra to each game. I know there was the occasional flub and voice crack (Maybe one day I’ll shake the whole Peter Brady thing!), but I always had a great time and enjoyed performing for all the fans. There is no way for me to thank all of you for your kindness and friendship over the past three seasons, but please know I will look back on these past three seasons with great fondness and wonderful memories because of all of you.
I am currently on the job search, so if anyone has any leads please feel free to contact me at my personal email address gregorypthompson@hotmail.com
Thanks to all of you for all your help in the past and I look forward to what the future brings!
Sincerely,
Gregory “Dutch” Thompson
P.S. Let’s Gooooo Wild Things!
(Sorry I couldn’t resist one last time!)
Wonder if the WTs are "restructuring" the baseball end of the operation too.
Who's the red headed guy with no personality?
Dutch has to be as restrained as possible because he can’t afford to do otherwise.
All the people that should NOT be in their plans are the ones that are still there.
Starting with that worthless Franni Williams, Ross, and the freakin’ concessions jerk.
EVRYONE, except Christine and Wayne, should be given the bums rush!! Remember that
guy they hired mid-season to try to help straighten the mess out? I knew on a casual basis
and he told me the WT wanted him to do things that he could not do because of the people
that would be hurt. He quit in less than two weeks…….smart man!
I know it is not a good example but they need to “blow the organization up” just as the Pirates
Did with their team. Nothing likes as fresh start.
The Wild Things showed us their backsides this season without ever taking down their pants!
Franni showed us how dumb she was at the first game and she managed to go downhill from there!
What and incompetent boob.
Dutch, thanks for having the class to leave us a ‘goodbye’ message. Most of us enjoyed your antics and,
more importantly, we respected you as being a fine gentleman. Best of everything in the future.
The Wild Things can take my mini ticket seat and stuff it where the sun doesn’t shine!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
your a class act Greg, i wish nothing but the best for you, good luck in all your future endeavors, you will be truly missed by all of us season ticket holders
maybe if the ticket staff and front office would have spent more time focusing on their job and not reading this blog all of the time, the product would have been better. Customer Service has been down at WWT the last few seasons!
I noticed earlier on this blog that somebody thought I was dead. The last time I checked I was still alive - at least from the neck down.
I'm too ugly to die so darn young!
Ron Wilson
BTW: I don't want Dutch's job. I want them to give it to Frannie!
Dutch some day you'll look back and see that those bums did you a favor. You can now get out and find a job with a future instead of wasting your time with those greedy lawyers. I hope everyone comes to their senses and finds out the W.T. could care less if you have a good time at their park. As long as this group remains owners we'll be forced to take the same crap year in year out. Don't believe me....just watch.
They have allready stiffed busniess's in the area refusing to pay them for services rendered. Yeah ! Their GREAT community neighbors I'll NEVER set foot in that place again. W.T. CANCEL MY SEASON TICKETS.
Congratulations to John Massarelli and his Lake Erie Crushers for advancing to the Frontier League Championship Series, defeating Kalamazoo in Game 5 in 10 innings, 6-2. The game didn't suffer from a lack of thrills. Lake Erie took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th, only to give up the tying run when the ghost of Bob Moose circa 1972 came back in the form of reliever Cardoza Tucker, on a wild pitch. Lake Erie took the lead for good in the top of the 10th on a pair of 2 run homers by Tyler Johnson and Arden McWilliams. Will this be the year that Massarelli finally wins his elusive Frontier League Crown? Or will Ernie Banks lead the River City Rascals to glory? If you plan on listening to the game online, I highly recommend the Lake Erie broadcast. Their announcing team is far superior to River City.
I was very sorry to hear that Greg Thompson has left. Say what you want about the Wild Things organization, with surely much of it deserved, but this guy has class. Good luck to you Greg, and I'm sure you will succeed at your next stop. Isn't it amazing when an organization decides to "restructure", they always leave in place the people who ran it into the ground in the first place? If we had some PITCHING we'd probably still be playing now.
So what's up with the taxpayer turf?
There is no turf, there is no taxpayer budget, and WWT won't front the money which was a requirement. Speak to anyone at WWT and they'll tell you it is grass next year
Thats good news for Steve, now he can stay
"Thats good news for Steve, now he can stay...............................
Crap, he should be the next idiot to go!!
“I was very sorry to hear that Greg Thompson has left. Say what you want about the Wild Things organization, with surely much of it deserved, but this guy has class.”
That’s the first thing SwissCheda ever said that I completely agree with. Greg was a good/is a great guy! So the Wild Things do what all organizations with a bunch of scum bag attorneys in charge do – THEY THROW HIM UNDER THE BUS! This is what happens when you have a mix of politicians and attorneys. A gang of people that have feeling for anybody or anything. These classless folks care less what others think of them. Just don’t get in their way while they greedily grab every dollar they can get their filthy hands on. There is not a drop of loyalty in
their bodies and their blood runs as cold as ice water.
None of these Wild Things management team has ever done anything to make me think otherwise. When this Franni
woman took over all the things that were already going downhill went completely out of control. She came storming in with the typical attorney attitude and, as anyone could have predicted, failed miserably! Also, what’s with the “Esquire” crap? Does she think this is the United Kingdom? Perhaps she thinks CEP is her kingdom! What an egoist! What a load of horse manure! As long as this ownership group remains, don’t expect things to change because thay care not what we think.
Snoopy
I was thinking the same thing with the "Esquire” crap. That's the first thing any good business person wants to do - give the impression to your paying customers that they're not as good as you. ... NOT!
Arnold Ziffell said...
I'll NEVER set foot in that place again. W.T. CANCEL MY SEASON TICKETS.
I'd bet the bank that you will be there at the opener next May. People like you would go crazy if you didn't have something to bitch about all summer. And tell me....just how stupid is it to tell the Wild Things on the blog to cancel your season tickets, but leave your name as a character from a late 60's sitcom?
Sam Drucker
what is with all of the whining??? Ever since the beginning years of WWT they have let the good staff members they have walk out the door because of the attitude "we'll find someone else who is dying to work in sports, come in and fill that spot" its been a downhill spiral since 04!
I'll bet ole Arnold didn't have season tickets and only went to games if he was given free tickets.
I wouldn't go if I did have free tickets because they would probably be next to you and I'd barf watching you kiss up to Ross
PS. wouldn't even go if Franni let me park for free in the handicap spaces
I like the Idea about the womens pro football team playing at C.E.P. Do you think they could get Big Billy Deflabio to call the game
well defabio did announce once this season that the center was batting instead of the catcher, so i think bill would get the job
"Will this be the year that Massarelli finally wins his elusive Frontier League Crown? "
massarelli is an arrogant south end of a north-bound horse.
let's go, RASCALS!
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