A series crumbles

The Wild Things, fresh off a series sweep of the Lake Erie Crushers, were supposed to play a doubleheader Saturday against the East Division-leading Oakland County Cruisers at something called Henry Ford Field in Livonia, Mich., in suburban Detroit.

The opening game lasted all of three pitches.

That was when the pitcher's mound began to crumble. According to WJPA Radio's Randy Gore and Wild Things pitcher Justin Edwards, the mound began to break apart under Oakland County pitcher Joe Rodriguez. The mound wasn't made of clay, like any good pitcher's mound. Instead, it was made of "crushed gravel" and dirt. There also was a piece of red plastic that could be seen poking through the dirt.

Some work was done on the mound but it didn't help. The umpires declared the mound unplayable, and as of this writing the game scheduled for Sunday on the same field was in jeopardy of being postponed. The Cruisers were looking for a place to host the game.

The Cruisers, who do not have a home field and have played only nine "home games," each at Eastern Michigan University, tried to sale this series to Washington. The Wild Things declined the offer because it would have given them 21 home games in 24 days, which was deemed too much for its operations staff. Thus, the Cruisers shopped around and found a home in Lovina. Henry Ford Field is part of a seven-field complex that hosts youth baseball and softball games.

UPDATE: The Wild Things and Cruisers will play a doubleheader Sunday at Eastern Michigan beginning at 3 p.m. The first game will be the completion of Saturday's suspended seven-inning contest. There is still debate between the league and teams as to the length of Sunday's second game. Based on past situations, the second game should be a seven-inning contest, though the league is trying to make the game nine innings.

How good was that?

From pure baseball standpoint, there have a few really good Wild Things games played at Consol Energy Park, some real hard-to-watch clunkers and a whole lot of games that fall inbetween.

In this guy's opinion, Washington's 3-0 victory Thursday night over the Lake Erie Crushers was the best-played game at the nine-year-old ballpark. There have been more exciting games and wild finishes, but from a quality baseball standpoint that was the best-played game I can recall. There was tremendous pitching and enough outstanding defensive plays to fill a week's worth of games. If pitching defense is your game, that was one for you.

Washington's Jeff Sonnenberg, pictured, faced the minimum 27 batters in throwing a two-hit shutout with no walks. Only one Lake Erie batter reached a three-ball count. After each of the hits allowed by Sonnenberg, the next Lake Erie batter grounded into a double play. At one stretch, Sonnenberg retired 22 consecutive batters, getting 23 outs in the process.

First baseman Eric Stephens made two terrific defensive plays, going far to his right to snag a grounder by Jodam Rivera in the fourth and to a catch a liner by Raphael Turner to end the eighth. Center fielder Luis Rivera also tracked down Arden McWilliams' deep fly ball on the warning track in the sixth inning. Sonnenberg said he thought McWilliams' shot was going to be a home run.

The biggest defensive play came in the first inning when right fielder Mark McGonigle threw out Jodam Rivera, who was trying to score from second base on a single. Catcher Jared Dyer was able to block home plate with his left foot and make the tag.

Lake Erie also made some web-gem-like defensive plays, especially Rivera at shortstop and Andrew Davis at third base.

Was there ever a better performance by a Washington pitcher than the one by Sonnenberg? Washington pitchers have thrown two no-hitters -- Jason Hickman at Kalamazoo in 2002 and Eric Palmer in the second game of a doubleheader at Windy City in 2004 -- but neither was a shutout. Hickman gave up a run on a two-base throwing error, wild pitch and groundout. Palmer gave up a run on two errors.

Aaron Ledbetter had several outstanding games at home, as did Jared Howton, Ben Ally and Dave Bradley, to name a few. The one that stands out to me was Howton's game against Johnstown in 2002 when he threw a three-hit shutout with no walks and 13 strikeouts. Lake Erie, however, is a better team than Johnstown was in 2002.

While trying to think of a game that was better-played than last night's, I came up with a few possibilities. One was a pitcher's duel in 2006 when Rockford's Derek Roper beat Ledbetter 1-0. The other was in 2003, on Father's Day, when Ally pitched Washington to a 4-0 win over Cook County. Ally threw a four-hittter with one walk and 12 strikeouts in a game that lasted only 1:57. Cook County's James Clelland also threw a complete game and didn't walk a batter, striking out six.

Those games, however, fall short of the game played Thursday night because of defensive plays and Sonnenberg facing the minimum 27 batters. The latter, however, was odd because if you weren't watching the game closely or keeping score, you probably didn't know what was happening. After all, Lake Erie had two hits and Washington started the night with an error, the only one of the game.

500 and counting

Just noticed that the previous post was the 500th on this blog. So to anyone who contributes comments to this site, and those of you who just stop here occasionally to read the blog, thanks for doing so. Hope you continue to come back.

Turf update

The Wild Things are in the final stages of selecting a brand of synthetic turf that will be installed this fall at Consol Energy Park. Bids and samples from roughly a half dozen companies have been received and head groundskeeper Steve Zavacky has visited several college and professional ballparks to see various styles of turf.

"We're close to making a decision," Wild Things managing director Todd Marlin said. "Steve went and looked at different fields from Louisiana to Kansas to Kentucky and Ohio. He's met with the sales representatives and given his reports. We're in the decision-making progress right now."

Zavacky saw turf college fields at Wichita State University and Louisiana-Lafayette, in addition to Lake Erie and Florence in the Frontier League.

With roughly half of the cost of the turf installation coming from a state grant, it will be interesting to see if the Wild Things will go with the only Pennsylvania-based turf company, Pro Grass LLC, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh.

Installation won't start until late September at the earliest because of an event scheduled at the ballpark in the middle of the month.

It's been a long time

A few leftover statistics from the Wild Things' 1-0 victory, on the combined pitching of Billy Muldowney, Kevin Hammons and Eryk McConnell, Monday night over the Oakland County Cruisers:

* It was the first shutout by Washington pitching since a 5-0 victory over the Midwest Sliders in the second game of a doubleheader Aug. 15, 2008. Zach Groh was the Wild Things' pitcher in that seven-inning game.

* It was the first nine-inning shutout by Washington pitching since a 7-0 win over Midwest July 1, 2008.

* The last time a Washington pitcher threw a nine-inning complete-game shutout was June 18, 2007, when Aaron Ledbetter threw a two-hitter in a 3-0 victory at Evansville.

Former Pirate named hitting coach of ThunderBolts

The Windy City ThunderBolts announced today they have hired for major league utility player Rob Mackowiak as their new hitting coach.

Mackowiak was a 53rd round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996. They don't even have 56 rounds in the draft anymore.

Mackowiak beat the odds and spent eight years in the major leagues, including five with the Pirates. In 2004, Mackowiak hit 17 home runs and drove in 75 runs for Pittsburgh.

Never been worse

As we check the Frontier League's standings today, we notice this is the low-water mark for the Wild Things franchise. Washington has a 22-33 record, and is 16 games behind first-place Oakland County and 8 1/2 games out of a playoff spot.

Never before has a Wild Things team been 11 games under .500. Washington had been 10 games under .500 last year.

When checking this, I was reminded of just how consistently good the Wild Things had been during the regular season. After starting 1-5 in their first season (2002), Washington went until the 35th game of the 2006 season before having a record of five games under .500. More than four years without being more than four games under .500 is simply amazing.

Bruised Brothers

The Frontier League's Bruised Brothers -- a.k.a. the Wild Things -- pulled out of Consol Energy Park last night head for Traverse City, Mich., short on outfielders, momentum and answers.

Washington lost another game -- 8-0 to Windy City on a three-hitter by the ThunderBolts' Dustin Williams, who was pitching in college two months ago -- and another outfielder -- Joel Hartman, who broke a finger while bunting -- to injury Wednesday night.

Injuries have cost the Wild Things two of their three starting outfielders plus the first backup. Chris Sidick, who was leading the team in most offensive categories, is out with a hamstring injury and Luis Rivera also has a broken finger.

When Washington plays Traverse City in a series that begins tonight, the Wild Things will likely have two players who weren't with the team at the all-star break starting in the outfield in at least two games against the Beach Bums. One player will be Jon Kourie, the other will be a guy they sign today.

Following the shutout loss to Windy City, Washington manager Darin Everson, who for the first time this season had the body language of a man who has suffered too many unexpected setbacks, said Sidick and Rivera will be back in the lineup, possibly next week.

"Sidick is close," Everson said. "He'll stay behind during this road trip to do rehab work. We clearly miss him. Rivera, it's all about what the next X-ray shows. That will be either Friday or Monday. We have a veteran and L2 bats coming back, just when they're coming back we don't know."

Washington began the game Wednesday with only two position players on the bench. One was designated hitter Jacob Dempsey, who was going to have the night off, and the other was backup catcher Billy O'Conner. When Hartman was injured, the decision was to put Dempsey at first base and move Eric Stephens from first base to left field. The only problem with that move was Dempsey, who had offseason shoulder surgery, is far from 100 percent healthy and can barely make a throw from first base to the pitcher's mound.

And one of the many unwritten rules of baseball (a topic for another post perhaps) is when you put an injured player in the game, or move a player to a position he's unfamiliar with, the ball always finds the guy. That happened Wednesday night as Dempsey made a throwing error in Windy City's five-run eighth inning.

Things got so thin on the Wild Things' bench after Hartman's injury that pitcher Justin Edwards, who was sitting in the seats behind home plate charting pitches, was told to return to the clubhouse and put on his uniform. Edwards played third base in college and for Worcester in the independent Can-Am League in 2008. He was an emergency option as a position player.

How thick is your bullpen?

This much can be said about the Frontier League's all-star break: It sure came at the wrong time for the Wild Things.

After winning eight of 11 games heading into the break, the Wild Things were swept by Oakland County coming out of the break. The Wild Things are now mired in fifth place in the East Division, 21-29 overall, 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Cruisers and 7 1/2 games out of a playoff spot.

"We were playing so well heading into the break," Washington manager Darin Everson said. "We were doing the little things. We were getting the lead, then our pitchers were putting up zeroes. This series, we gave up some leads, then we didn't answer."

During the series, it seemed as if the Wild Things installed a revolving door on their clubhouse. Players were being added an dropped from the roster on a daily basis. The most recent activity included Everson's first trade with another Frontier League team. Washington sent first baseman Adam Amar (.255, 2 HR, 26 RBI) to the Normal CornBelters in exchange for relief pitcher Chris Bennett (0-2, 2 saves, 5.21) and a player to be named.

Normal is managed by former Houston Astros manager Hal Lanier. Everson played for Lanier in 1999 with Winnipeg of the independent Northern League.

Amar began the year as the Wild Things' cleanup hitter but he never developed into the power hitter Washington envisioned. After hitting nine home runs in 252 at-bats for Auburn in the New York-Penn League in 2008 (when Everson was managing in the league), Amar has hit only four homers in 266 professional at-bats since then.

Washington also signed infielder Wilson Matos, who hit eight home runs last year while playing for Windy City and Gateway, and released pitcher Matt Lackner (0-0, 45.00). Bennett was en route to Washington on Sunday afternoon. Matos did arrive at Consol Energy Park about an hour before game time, but he didn't get his gear unpacked, contract signed and into uniform until the bottom of the first inning. The Wild Things actually started Sunday's game with only one available position player (catcher Alan Robbins) on the bench.

Washington also is making one change to its starting rotation. Tim Smith (4-3, 7.16), the opening day starter, is being moved to the bullpen while Justin Edwards (2-0, 3.34) will start Tuesday night's game against Windy City.

"We were looking at how we could make our bullpen thicker and stronger," Everson said. "We looked at the numbers Edwards has put up, and after the rain delay Friday night he threw 44 pitches. We decided if he's up to that many pitches, what about moving him into the rotation? We're trying to thicken our bullpen, with Smith going to the bullpen and acquiring Bennett."

Better or worse?

So ends a first half, one the Wild Things probably don't know how to feel about.

Even with a loss Sunday at Florence, the Wild Things head into the all-star break on a definite high note. They've won eight of their last 11 games, yet even with the big run the Wild Things haven't experienced a day of gaining ground on East Division leader Oakland County since July 4.

For every positive, there's a negative.

The one true way of measuring a team is with its won-lost record. As coaches in many sports like to say, you are what your record says you are.

Today, the record tells the Wild Things they are a 21-26 team and in fifth place in the East Division. Following an offseason filled with changes to the front office, coaching staff and roster, the Wild Things are almost identical to last year, when they were 21-27 and in fifth place at the all-star break. The only difference is the Wild Things were eight games out of first place last year. Today they are 10 1/2 games out of first but only 5 1/2 out of a playoff spot.

Are the Wild Things better than last year? I guess it depends on how you view the standings.

One thing is clear, though, fewer people are viewing the Wild Things these days. Attendance has tumbled in the first half of the season to a low of 2,373.

Wild Things Average Attendance
at the All-Star Break:
2002 - 2,942
2003 - 3,390
2004 - 3,242
2005 - 3,048
2006 - 3,133
2007 - 3,180
2008 - 2,899
2009 - 2,734
2010 - 2,373

So what has to happen for the Wild Things to go from fifth place to a contending team in the second half? For one thing, they'll need to win when playing the league's better teams. Washington has won five series, two against Kalamazoo (last place in the East), two against Florence (5th in the West) and one against Evansville (last place in the West). Washington hasn't won a series against a team better than 10 games under .500. With only three games remaining against the above mentioned teams, wins in the second half will come against good, playoff-contending teams and will do more to push the Wild Things up the standings.

It's obvious Washington needs an impact hitter, one that can carry a team with a hot streak. Without one, they've been forced to play small-ball for the past month, trying to win one-run games with squeeze plays, stolen bases, relief pitching and a big first half from leadoff hitter Chris Sidick, who leads the league in stolen bases (27) and on-base percentage (.451). It's tough to win over the long run playing small-ball in the hitter-happy Frontier League.

The bullpen has three usually reliable pitchers in Justin Edwards, Kevin Hammons and Eryk McConnell. Three arms at the back of the bullpen is the formula John Massarelli used with much success when he was manager in Washington. The difference in Mazz's staffs and this year's Wild Things team is in the starting pitching (and it always comes down to starting pitching, right?). Washington is 11th in the league in ERA (5.29) and last in quality starts (at least six innings and no more than three earned runs allowed).

Quality Starts
29 - Normal
25 - Oakland County
24 - Southern Illinois
22 - Traverse City
21 - Gateway
21 - Lake Erie
18 - Evansville
17 - Windy City
15 - River City
14 - Florence
14 - Kalamazoo
12 - Washington

At times, it seems as if Washington is determined to have its starting pitchers throw five innings -- no more, no less -- regardless of the score. For example, go back to Sunday's game. The Wild Things were looking at having the next four days off, and they had an off day only three days earlier, so there should have been extra pitchers available to throw an inning or two. Starter Zach Rosenbaum, however, was left in to give up nine runs in a 12-8 loss.

The starters will have to pitch deeper into games in the second half of the season -- long enough to turn a lead over to Edwards or Hammons in the seventh or eighth innings, not the sixth. Middle relief is where far too many games are lost in the Frontier League, which means the good teams are ones that rack up quality starts and give a lead to a trusted closer.

When Washington made the playoffs in 2006 and 2007, they had 44 and 38 quality starts, respectively. Being on pace for 24 quality starts in 95 games is a recipe for disaster.

So what if everything begins to align in the Wild Things' favor, with another impact hitter being found, starting pitchers reeling off one quality start after another and top-notch opponents being defeated? How many wins will it take for the Wild Things to make the playoffs?

Since the Frontier League went to a 96-game schedule in 2004 (remember, Washington will play only 95 because of the rainout Thursday at Evansville), the fourth-best record each season has averaged 52.3 wins. Last year it took 57 wins to get to the postseason from the East. For the Wild Things to get to 53 wins and have a fighting chance at the playoffs, they must go at least 32-16 in the second half. They'll quickly know if they have any chance of having a meaningful August because they play 12 of their first 18 games in the second half against Oakland County and Lake Erie, the top two teams in the East.

Stanley back in baseball

Former Wild Things pitcher Patrick Stanley, who last season reached Class AAA in the Detroit Tigers organization, is back in baseball, having signed a contract last week with the Grand Prairie Air Hogs of the independent American Association. Grand Prairie is located between Dallas and Fort Worth.

Stanley spent last season in the Tigers' system. He started the year in Class A before being promoted to Class AAA (getting a win in his first appearance) then spending the majority of the season with the Erie Seawolves in Class AA. For the year, Stanley had an 8-4 record and struck out 76 in 106 2/3 innings. Stanley had his season cut short by a shoulder injury. One person told me Stanley had surgery on the shoulder.

Parker added to all-stars

Washington second baseman Michael Parker (pictured) was added Friday to the East Division team for next week's Frontier League All-Star game in Marion, Ill.

Parker was added as an injury replacement for Windy City second baseman Gilberto Mejia, who was named the starter for the East. Parker had the second-highest vote total among second basemen.

Parker, who is batting .254, leads the Wild Things with 26 RBI. He has five doubles, two triples, two home runs and eight stolen bases.

Traverse City's Michael Diaz will start at second base for the East.

Young: It was medical marijuana ... no, no really

Dmitri Young, the Oakland County Cruisers' vice president/bench coach who was recently arrested in Bloomington, Ill., on a drug charge, told the Detroit Free Press that the marijuana he was in possession of when arrested was for medical reasons:

“Since retirement, I’ve been in a lot of serious pain,” he told the Free Press in a telephone interview Wednesday from Florida. “From my quads to my back to anxiety from my mother’s death, it takes a toll. I didn’t want to use pills. I had already been to rehab before and knew I didn’t want to be on opiates. So, in talking with physicians, we decided this was the best way to go.”

Unfortunately, he said, “I used poor judgment. And I have to pay the consequences.”

Medcial reasons? C'mon.

Read the story here.

Only 2 all-stars

Oakland County manager Gera Alvarez, who will run the East Division team in next week's Frontier League all-star game, filled the final three spots on the team's roster Wednesday and none went to a Wild Things player. Alvarez added first baseman Joash Brodin (.276, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 10 SB) and pitcher Adam Dominick (2-2, 1.71) of Oakland County and pitcher Jeff Cinadr (1-1, 3 Sv, 1.99) of Lake Erie.

Washington will have only two representatives, outfielder Chris Sidick and pitcher Kevin Hammons, in the game at Southern Illinois July 14.

Long night in Evansville

The Wild Things lost 7-5 in 11 innings Tuesday night at Evansville as the Otters' Jake Rogers hit a three-run walk-off homer. Washington didn't lose any ground in the standings, however, as the East went 0-6 against the West. Here is the story from the Evansville Courier Press about the game and the Otters' managerial situation:

Read the story here.

Who's running the Otters?

The Evansville Otters have become the second Frontier League team to change managers before the all-star break. Wayne Krenchicki has been fired as manager of the Evansville Otters and his entire coaching staff has been let go.

So when the Wild Things begin a six-game road trip tonight in Evansville, who will be calling the shots from the dugout for the Otters? The team's website still lists Krenchicki as manager, as does the Frontier League roster site. A story in the Evansville Courier Press about Krenchicki's firing mentions that Otters owner Bill Bussing did not reveal his new coaching staff Monday, the day of the firing.

Read the story here.

UPDATE: WJPA Radio's Randy Gore will have an interview with Bussing during the pregame show tonight.

UPDATE #2: According to the Frontier League website, the Wild Things signed pitcher Greg Byron, a pitcher from Canada who is living in Florida. Byron pitched in two games for Quebec in the Can-Am League last month and was released. Also, Bill McKeon was listed as interim manager in Evansville but the Otters' website has a story about the hiring of Andy McCauley as its new manager. McCauley guided the London Werewolves to the 1999 Frontier League championship. Former major league pitcher Rick DeHart will join McCauley's coaching staff.

Sunday's leftovers

Some notes and observations from Sunday's 9-8 Wild Things win over Florence:

* I mentioned a few posts back that I enjoy going to the ballparks, gymnasiums and fields because I hope to see something I've never seen before. Well, I saw something Sunday that falls into that category. It wasn't exciting, just unusual, perhaps a million-to-one shot.

In the top of the first inning, with Florence's Stephen Shults batting (I think it was him), Washington's Tim Smith delivered a pitch that was foul-tipped by Shults. Instead of flying back to the screen or clanging off the catcher's mask, the baseball shot back directly into the ball bag that home-plate umpire Ron Arnsperger had on his right hip.

If you were watching closely, you might have wondered where the ball went. You saw the pitch thrown, saw the batter swing, heard the ball was tipped, then it disappeared and the umpire quickly gave the catcher another baseball from his bag to throw back to the pitcher.

The odds of that happening are astronomical. Never saw it happen before. Likely to never see it again.

* I don't have the statistical data to back this up, but Washington reliever Justin Edwards pitches much better from the windup than from the stretch position. That's why I'd rather see him start an inning than be brought in with runners on base.

* Overcoming a five-run deficit like Washington did in the eighth inning takes more than one big hit. This one took three: Jacob Dempsey's two-run triple against a left-handed pitcher, Denny Duron's two-run homer and Michael Parker's two-strike single that gave Washington the lead.

* Florence manager Toby Rumfield used four pitchers in the eighth inning and I agreed with all but one of his moves. He never did bring in Jacinto Gonnel, who leads the Freedom in saves and was the closer for league champion Lake Erie last season.

* Washington still needs at least one more hitter and another reliable pitcher to make a run at a playoff berth. And playing with only 22 active players is never a good idea. You have only two bench players and one is a backup catcher.

* Though he's been struggling offensively for much of the season, Dempsey has drawn 32 walks, which is one fewer than league leaders Zach Pace of Oakland County and Traverse City's Chase Burch.

Sidick, Hammons named to East all-star team

Washington will have at least two representatives in the Frontier League's all-star game July 14 in Marion, Ill.

Outfielder Chris Sidick (.333, 22 stolen bases, .458 on-base percentage) and left-handed relief pitcher Kevin Hammons (2-2, 1.59, opponents batting only .176) were chosen Monday to the East Division team.

Oakland County manager Gera Alvarez, who will run the East team, will name three additional players to complete his roster. There's a chance that Washington closer Eryk McConnell (0-1, 8 saves, 2.81) will get one of those spots.

Cruisers' VP/bench coach arrested on drug charge

According to multiple reports, Oakland County Cruisers vice president and bench coach Dmitri Young (pictured) has been arrested in Bloomington, Ill., for possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

Young was arrested early Monday and posted $100 bond and was released from McLean County Jail later that day. Officials at the jail said he had no court date scheduled.

The Cruisers played Sunday in Marion Ill., and are in Normal, Ill., tonight to start a three-game series against the Normal CornBelters.

Young, 36, announced his retirement as a player March 18 -- the same day he was named the new vice president and senior adviser for baseball operations for Diamond Heroes of Southeast Michigan, Inc., the owner of the Cruisers.

A 13-year veteran of the major leagues, Young was a two-time all-star but had off-the-field struggles with alcohol and substance abuse and diabetes. According to mlive.com, Young pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend in 2006, reportedly beating and choking her in the process. Shortly thereafter, he was released by the Tigers, was put on probation for domestic violence and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

In the same year, Young reportedly checked himself into rehab for alcohol addiction and spent three months at a rehab facility in Southern California. He appeared to have taken steps to get his diabetes in control after winning the starting first base role on the Washington Nationals in 2007. That lasted only a year as he was declared officially out for the season in 2008 because of his diabetes.

During his 13-year career, Young played for the Tigers, Cardinals, Reds and Nationals.

UPDATE: Rob Hilliard, president and CEO of Diamond Heroes, which owns the Cruisers, said in a statement that the team is supporting Young:

“With 13 seasons of Major League Baseball and six more years in the minors, Dmitri Young has had more than his share of bumps and bruises — to his knees and back — as well as his well-documented fight with late-life (Type II) diabetes,” Hilliard said. “While we believe Dmitri could have exercised better judgment in this situation, we have been speaking with his physician and are beginning to have a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding his health.

“What we are certain about is Dmitri’s positive impact on our players, their approach to the game and their commitment to competing."

Cochran an all-star

Former Wild Things pitcher Tom Cochran (pictured), who is playing for the Carolina Mudcats, the Cincinnati Reds' Class AA affiliate, has been named to the Southern League All-Star Game, which will be played July 12 in Huntsville, Ala.

Cochran has a 5-3 record and 2.32 ERA in 15 starts for the Mudcats. The league is batting only .226 against him.

In his last start, Wednesday against Jacksonville, Cochran pitched seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits.

Cochran is the second former Wild Things player to be selected for a Southern League All-Star Game. Pitcher Dave Bradley was chosen for the 2004 game (I think that was the year).

Managerial change in Kalamazoo

The Kalamazoo Kings, off to a 7-31 start, have fired manager Jamie Keefe and pitching coach Brian Lewis. Keefe was replaced by outfielder Matt Maloney. Here is the story from the Kalamazoo Gazette's David Drew:

KALAMAZOO — The struggling Kalamazoo Kings fired first-year manager Jamie Keefe and pitching coach Brian Lewis on Thursday.

With a 7-31 record and a firm hold on last place in the Frontier League’s East Division, Kalamazoo Kings owner Bill Wright said he was not satisfied with the direction the team was headed.

“I didn’t feel the hustle on the field and the behavior off the field represented the Kalamazoo Kings and how I feel they need to be represented,” Wright said. “It starts on the top. A 7-31 record speaks for itself.”

Matt Maloney, who has been serving as a player coach this season, has been named interim manager. Pitcher Tyler Herron will handle the pitching coach duties.

“This is an unfortunate circumstance for me to take over. I have the utmost respect for Jamie and Brian," Maloney said in a team news release. “At the same time, I am eager and excited to turn our season around.”

The Kings sat 18 games behind the first-place Oakland County Cruisers in the East Division entering Thursday night's home game against the Gateway Grizzlies.

Wright said his decision was heavily influenced by a lack of focus on the field.

“It came down to me watching the play on the field and the intensity off the field,” he said. “I demand people to lay it out every single game and not one inning. There are a lot of young men and they need to keep focused.

"If you’re intense and you leave it all on the field, you’ll never have to hear from Bill Wright. I don’t ever expect to say losing is acceptable.”

Wright said he will take the next nine days, which leads into the Frontier League All-Star break, to decide whether to stick with Maloney at the helm and Herron as the pitching coach or to seek out a new coaching staff.

“I’ll be down looking closely to see how the team performs,” Wright said. “I think people need a challenge in life sometimes. I think the team will pull together to help Matt.”