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.
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.
Labels: Attendance
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:06 PM
19 Comments:
Very briefly out of retirement from this blog and, at the risk of having all the “vultures” referred to in a previous post jump all over my a**, here is my two cents worth.
I think the new management is a lot more ‘user friendly’ than it was when Ross Vecchio was in charge
of things. So many people were turned off by his arrogant attitude that they just decided not to return to CEP – ever. With the things he projected, it is no wonder so many made that decision. In fact, I’m amazed it did not happen sooner than it did. Also, keep in mind that he never delivered when it came to building a championship team. Indeed, they came close but NO cigar!
I believe that at least part of the problem just may be an inexperienced sales staff. Since the Wild Things fired their entire ticket staff at the end of last season it stands to reason that a lot of contacts were lost. Probably a lot of the lost business will never return. The best way to rectify that is to field a winning team – nothing succeeds like success! Everson, a rookie manger, to my understanding, has been placed in charge of player matters including evaluation and acquisition. This is a heavy burden for a man with such limited
experience. Given time I think he is up to the challenge.
As for the turf issue, the Wild Things will do whatever pleases them. I think Bill Lee has stated his wishes and that it will happen. I gave up on the turf thing long ago. Whatever they decided to do won’t stop me from attending the games. However, it just seems to me that installing turf in an already deteriorating ball park is pretty much akin to installing fine leather upholstery in an old dune buggy.
Folding my tent and going back into retirement, or perhaps just semi-retirement.
Ron Wilson
Everson is hardly a rookie manager. Three years as manager with Marlins and one as hitting coach. Think he might have been a manager in one of those college summer leagues. You'd think with that kind of experience he'd be better than Mason or Jelks ... BUT NO! At least with Ross Vecchio in charge the team was competitive. Don't see that happening again.
Everson is hardly a rookie manager. Three years as manager with Marlins and one as hitting coach. Think he might have been a manager in one of those college summer leagues. You'd think with that kind of experience he'd be better than Mason or Jelks ... BUT NO! At least with Ross Vecchio in charge the team was competitive. Don't see that happening again.
Sorry about the double comment. Got an error the first time. Didn't think it went through.
He'sssssssssssssss backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.........
Ron nice to see you came out of retirement.
I'm with you on the turf thing I will be there if it's grass or turf.
But I was told by one of the higher ups turf is coming when the season is over.
“Everson is hardly a rookie manager.”
You are correct. But since this is a Frontier League blog I was limiting my remarks to
this league. It takes a while to learn the nuances of any league that you are not familiar with.
Ron W
lol, what? It takes a while to get used to coaching baseball in a different league? Same game, different players. Or are you saying it's harder because the players are so much worse?
It does take getting used to coaching in a different league. Before interleague play, many AL managers froze when it came to figuring out when to pinch hit/double switch when playing NL teams in the World Series. The same occurred when managers switched leagues. Even with interleague play, you still see managers make mistakes every once in a while because they aren't used to situations the NL games present.
The Frontier League is a much more hitter friendly league than most (read: bad pitching and defense). In this case, playing for one run by bunting and stealing bases (although always useful fundamentals to use) doesn't always yield successful results because teams can pile up runs in a hurry.
Mr. Wilson, you said "However, it just seems to me that installing turf in an already deteriorating ball park is pretty much akin to installing fine leather upholstery in an old dune buggy."
I wholeheartedly agree with you, sir. The issue should not be the taxpayer turf. Instead, it should be how the organization intends on repairing the crumbling concrete and broken railings.
Mr. Wilson, you said "However, it just seems to me that installing turf in an already deteriorating ball park is pretty much akin to installing fine leather upholstery in an old dune buggy." I wholeheartedly agree with you, sir. The issue should not be the taxpayer turf. It should be how the organization intends on repairing the crumbling concrete and broken railings.
WT lose in 11 innings. Dempsey contributes nothing. Everson continues to put him in the lineup
every game. Dempsey continues to hurt the team. All he does is swing for the fence on every pitch. Then all he does is strike out, or pop up. Then he does his mini-tantrum while going back to sit on his butt on the bench. SO WHAT’s NEW YOU ASK? Well, NOTHING!!!!!!!!!
I wasn't able to attend Saturday's game, but from what I hear, there was less than 600 people there. I can't imagine how this team and franchise will be able to survive.
The low attendence may have had something to do with the fact these three games were not on the original schedule.
Please get out of here with your logic, these people want nothing to do with it!
Just who are "these people"?
Anyone ever think that the new management wants the team to fail so that they can either 1. sell the team or 2. move the team?
While it is true that Dempsey's power numbers are way down this year, it is not fair to say that he is popping up and striking out most of the time. In fact, his on-base percentage of .383 is not bad.
For all we know, he may be battling an injury. Hopefully, he'll be back to 100% and crushing the ball soon, just in time to help with a playoff run. . .
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