Manager skipping series to play softball
The Wild Things begin a three-game series Friday at Consol Energy Park against the Normal CornBelters, the Frontier League's newest team.The CornBelters are managed by Hal Lanier, pictured, the former major league infielder and 1986 National league Manager of the Year with the Houston Astros.
The 68-year-old Lanier, however, won't be in Washington this weekend. Word is he's staying behind in Normal, Ill., to play softball.
That's right, softball.
Lanier will skip the series in Washington to play in the State Farm Legends Softball Classic with a bunch of former St. Louis Cardinals, including ex-Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke and pitcher John Tudor.
With the CornBelters nine games out of a playoff berth in the West Division and Washington 10 1/2 games behind second-place Windy City in the East, the feeling in Normal is there's no need for Lanier to manage his team. Apparently, the CornBelters are sending only one coach to Washington.
Labels: Hal Lanier, Normal CornBelters
posted by Chris Dugan at
9:43 AM
7 Comments:
It shows what they think of Washington,(easy wins)
blog is dead, team is dead, see you next year on turf washington
If the blog is dead then it’s because you want it dead! There is plenty to talk about but nobody cares unless the Wild Things are having great season. There are just too many ‘fair weather’ fans out there. The attitude seems to be that if “we” are not winning than don’t talk about it and say “they” just stink!
Well, I’ve had many “issues” with the Wild Things as an organization (not this season), the Wild Things are still MY team and I will continue to support them.
How about discussing the job Mr. Everson has done this season? That should give any fan something to talk about. Not the lest of which how much the constant use of Jacob Dempsey as DH when he was obviously hurting the team much more than helping. By the time Mr. Everson seemed to realize that Dempsey was not going to produce, it was far too late, the damage was done. Was it a ‘gut’ feeling Everson had, or what? He sure never offered an explanation or, was it that nobody even asks for one?
What about the performance of the Wild Things new management! What do you like, what don’t you like?
One thing about them, they are certainly more receptive to suggestions than the previous dictatorship.
Something I really didn’t like was the replacement for our boy Dutch…geez, zero personality - I’ll say no more about that! And how about that ‘between innings’ stuff? Same things, over and over, game after game. If we must suffer through this stuff at least try something new.
How about the coaching staff? Who has done a good job and who should go, or stay, and why?
Among the players, who should be invited back next season, and why? Which players performed well and which under-performed? There sure a LOT of room for improvement.
There is plenty to talk about so please don’t allow this blog to die. If you all want to complain about what I post, then fire away. Just remember this blog is about the Wild Things and it is OUR team.
Ron Wilson
Why do you people insist on continually ragging on Jacob Dempsey? I don't remember anyone complaining in '08 when he hit .310/17HR/88RBI or in '09 when he hit .281/31HR/95RBI. The reason he continually plays is that he is a proven hitter. I'd much rather have Jacob Dempsey in the lineup then some random kid off the street fresh out of college who is only in the Frontier League because he wasn't good enough to even get a look at affiliated ball. If you can't see that, you're a fool and know nothing about baseball. Quit being so narrow-minded.
No need to worry about Dempsey anymore...He retired tonight.
I'd much rather have Jacob Dempsey in the lineup then some random kid off the street fresh out of college who is only in the Frontier League because he wasn't good enough to even get a look at affiliated ball.
What? I know Jacob retired so why discuss it any more. Just remember Jacob was playing in the Frontier league that you seem to scorn. It is a hitters league with no real dominant pitchers, some good ones but NOT dominating. If Dempsey could not hit in this league then there had to be a lingering problem from his off-season surgery, or some other problem we know nothing about.
My problem was, and still is, why was he used so much? Somebody in the organization told me he was a threat! I just don't buy that because a .220 hitter cannot be considered a "threat", especially when the strikeout ratio was as far out of whack as Jacob's.
I was also a bit disappointed that Everson let Jacob bat in the 9th inning. If Jacob would have struckout he would have had the memory of his last night with the Wild Things greatly diminished.
Just my two cents worth.
Good luck to Jacob and thanks for a lot of great memories!
Forgot to sign the above.
Ron Wilson
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