Meeting the manager

New manager Darin Everson, pictured, was in town Thursday and Friday for the Wild Things' media luncheon and an invitation-only tryout camp.

My first impression of the new manager? The guy likes to talk. That's good news for the players, fans and media. It's probably not so good for the Frontier League's umpires.

Among some of the items Everson talked about Thursday:

* Though the Wild Things have not announced the contract signings, Everson mentioned outfielder Chris Sidick, second baseman Michael Parker, catcher Alan Robbins and pitcher Justin Edwards will be back with the team. Sidick will fill one of the three Veteran roster spots, while Parker and Robbins are two of the three L2 players.

Washington has one Vet spot and one L2 to fill. The decision to re-sign Robbins is an interesting one because his .234 batting average last year was a career-high in four pro seasons. You usually don't see an L2 hitter with a .215 career batting average. Robbins is more valuable as a defensive catcher. He threw out 23 percent of opposing base stealers last year (the league average was 25.8 percent).

* Everson already has contracts out to "seven to 10 guys" who were cut from minor league spring training.

"I'm looking for pitchers who pound the strike zone," Everson said. "Independent baseball leagues are generally known as offensive leagues. Washington had a .263 batting average last year – which is good – but was in the middle of the pack in the Frontier League. You know the offense is going to be there. If you have pitchers who pound the zone with strikes, then you have a chance to be special."

Washington led the league in walks allowed for most of last season and finished with 427. Only Gateway (428) issued more. It was no surprise that Washington finished 15 games out of first place in the East and Gateway was 16 out in the West.

* Everson likes his coaching staff of Wild Things holdover Bob Bozzuto, pitching coach Mark Dewey and hitting coach Dana Williams. Dewey, who spent part of his major league career with the Pittsbugh Pirates, has been a coach in the New York Mets' system and Williams spent 12 years coaching in the Seattle Mariners' system.

"I think our coaching staff, in terms of experience, rivals that of any coaching staff in minor-league baseball," Everson said.