Goodbye to Fran
OK, judging by many of the comments on this blog, you probably think this post has something to do with Wild Things ownership. It doesn't.It deals with Fran Riordan, pictured, who on Monday was named the first manager of the lake County Fielders, an expansion team in the independent Northern League. Actor Kevin Costner is part-owner of the Fielders.
Riordan is the winningest manager in Frontier League history with 435 victories. Riordan spent the last six years as manager of the Kalamazoo Kings. Prior to his stint with the Kings, Riordan was a player/manager for Richmond and DuBois County.
Riordan won three league championships (Richmond in 2001 and 2002, Kalamazoo in 2005). If you've ever been to Richmond or Kalamazoo, then you understand how difficult it is to put together championship teams in those towns and ballparks. That Riordan did it three times speaks volumes about his ability to put together a highly competitive team and his managerial skills.
In addition to being a fine manager, Riordan is one the best persons I've met during eight years of covering of the Frontier League. He's a class guy and will be missed by the league.
Labels: Fran Riordan
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:58 PM
26 Comments:
We should be sp lucky to have Annie Franni exit the scene!!
so much for riordan leaving kalamazoo and coming to washington...
Kalamazoo is a great town. Western Michigan University is there. Its not hard to get players to go to Kalamazoo to play.
One of the best stops in the league even though their attendance ha suffered recently.
To the smart a** that had an inside scorce telling him about how the heavy equipment would be in CEP this week...GO EAT YOUR PABLUM!!
Natural grass is still growing there with NO equipment of any kind in sight.
Ron W
Easy Ronnie, don't get your biles in an uproar! You know what might happen if you do!
all weather turf is coming, any day now the work starts.
all weather turf is coming, any day now the work starts
.....
Hard to put that sh** down in the snow.
Easy Ronnie, don't get your biles in an uproar! You know what might happen if you do!
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If it does happen, then I am aiming it directly at you!!
Arn't you the guy that told us about all the heads that were going to roll after the end of the season?
So far the only head that has rolled has been Dutch's. Now that really made a lot of sense didn't it?
Ron W. (Trying NOT to get my bowels, not biles in an uproar until I have you in my crosshairs!)
a quick comparison Riordan / Mason
Riordan 9yrs 435 wins = 48 / yr
Mason 4yrs 175 wins = 44 / yr
Riordan 1st all time in wins
Mason 11th all time in wins
2008 Mgr of the Yr Riordan
2005 Mgr of the Yr Mason
Mason wins award in his 1st yr
Riordan wins award in his 8th yr
Mason also managed a travel team in his first of his 4 yrs
Mason has never had a piching coach in any of his 4 managing jobs other than Wayman for 2 weeks in 2009.
Mason (2 yrs) in Chillicothe, no hiiting or pitching coach, only Marty Dunn who served as the bench/base coach. In Ohio Valley (1yr) only a hitting coach (Cahill) in Washington (1yr) only a hitting coach (Cahill) and (Bozzuto) bench/base coach.
Mason has been the ONLY manager in Wild Things history to NOT HAVE a pitching coach on his staff and probably the only manager in league history to not have a pitching coach in any of his 4 yrs as a manager.
There are no excuses but there are facts.
Did all of you people miss the fact that in order for turf, the WWT had to pony up their part of the $500k upfront??? They came right out and said that wasn't going to happen. Also, they can't pay their local bills of $1k on time, do you really think they are going to pay $500k? There is no turf coming
Did all of you people miss the fact that in order for turf, the WWT had to pony up their part of the $500k upfront??? They came right out and said that wasn't going to happen. Also, they can't pay their local bills of $1k on time, do you really think they are going to pay $500k? There is no turf coming
Anonymous,
I hope you are right. Take the Soloby grant and fix the drainage and put the sod back in and everything will be all right. Who will pay to replace the taxpayer turf when it wears out?
AMEN !!! Someone else knows the WWT don't pay there bills ! I'm tellin ya folks these bums are ruthless. If they want any upgrades they should have to fork up 100% of the money. They have it...they get it from stiffing all the local businesses.
AMEN !!! Someone else knows the WWT don't pay there bills !
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What bills have they failed to pay? Who do they owe money to?
What are the names of the people that are posting this stuff?
How are we to know your statements have any validity if you don't give us concrete facts, INCLUDING your name? IF your telling the truth, not rumors, then you should have nothing to fear. If the Wild Things haven't haven't had me assassinated yet, then you should have nothing to fear.
If you are goung to post this sort of crap then back it up with the facts. Otherwise, I think your just full of yourself!
Ron Wilson
holy toledo, I have to admit, that for the first time, I am 100% in agreement with Ron Wilson!
I asked in a previous thread for some info on who they owe money to, but of course, there was no response...
"a quick comparison Riordan / Mason
Riordan 9yrs 435 wins = 48 / yr
Mason 4yrs 175 wins = 44 / yr
Riordan 1st all time in wins
Mason 11th all time in wins
2008 Mgr of the Yr Riordan
2005 Mgr of the Yr Mason
Mason wins award in his 1st yr
Riordan wins award in his 8th yr"
You missed the most important comparison...
How many championships does Mason have???
There you go again Ron, ASSUMING you know who made certain statements, which of course you are wrong! You know what they say about assuming Ron, but haven't you already established that? By the way, I agree the lose of Dutch is a shame, but didn't someone on this blog once wish him harm from something like a lightning strike?
Championships...
Fran 3
Mason 0
Riordan 5 more seasons managing than Mason.
Riordan 1 team for 6 seasons, 1 championship with Kalamazoo.
Mason managed 3 teams in his 4 seasons.
Riordan managed 3 teams in 9 seasons.
Game 2, 2002 championship vs Riordan and Richmond, wet outfield costs Washington the game which could have put them 2-0 in series. 2003 wet outfield costs Washington playoff game vs Gateway. The outfield is an embarrassment to the game and the league. Its a hazard for all players on all teams.
Its about time a change is made and the turf WILL BE here for sure. Take that to the bank.
the wet outfield, the dangerous warning track all the way around, the postponed games (and the ones that should have been). it is on the way to the bank. what should have been is coming.
There you go again Ron, ASSUMING you know who made certain statements, which of course you are wrong!
Sounds like that moron Joe from Gabby again.I didn't see where Ron said he knew who said anything like that! I saw where he ask if somebody said something but did not say he KNEW who said something. Don't pick on the guy just because you know his name. I didn't see your name on on your remarks.
Also, I "assume" you meant the loss of Dutch not the lose of Dutch. Your sort of stupid your self!
Ken
"Riordan 5 more seasons managing than Mason.
Riordan 1 team for 6 seasons, 1 championship with Kalamazoo.
Mason managed 3 teams in his 4 seasons.
Riordan managed 3 teams in 9 seasons."
Again, I repeat myself...
Championships won...
Fran 3
Mason 0
It's really simple, Mason could win a championship each of the next 3 years and he would be equal to Fran, but he WON'T and he ISN'T!!!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Boy, step away for a day or two and the blog blows up with comments. I missed a lot of activity Thursday and Friday.
One thing I wanted to address is the comments about the WTs not paying their bills. If you can't support such a charge with facts, such as saying who is owed $$$$ or what bills were never paid, then I'll have to delete the comment because it becomes nothing more than speculation. It's kinda like going on here and saying without proof that somebody cheats on their taxes ... well, uh, maybe that's not such a good example. ... Let's just stick to opinions, observations and things we can back up with facts.
I'll try to post something new by Monday.
Chris: Nice to see that you are going to police the site. That comment has ben long over due.
Nice to see that you are going to police the site.
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I agree with that also! This business of saying the Wild Things do not pay their bills is just a bunch of unsubstantiated speculation. If somebody wants to make accusations like that then they should be very specific, present provable information and, use your real name. Otherwise, SHUT UP!
Anybody can get on this blog and run their yap. Show us your facts! Don’t be so cowardly as to post as anonymously. I certainly don’t need to defend the Wild Things; they can handle that themselves (which BTW they won’t do). They will ignore it just as they do ALL other complaints whether they be legitimate, or not. They are experts at ignoring things. Also, they have told me they don’t read this blog and I believe them! LOL!
I have done a lot of ‘wolfing’ at, and about the Wild Things. I know that don’t like it but at least they know who said it. So, why don’t the ones that are accusing them of not meeting their obligations at least have the decency to let them know who their accusers are. This is still America, at least for now, and the Wild Things still have a right to face their accusers. So, strap on your ba**s and be “up front” or stop posting this crap. The Wild Things have always been good in with dealing with me when it comes to matters involving money. They are NOT as perfect as they think they are, but not dishonest.
Ron Wilson
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