Playing catch-up
While this is generally a slow time in the Frontier League as teams await cuts from minor league spring training, there was plenty of news over the last week.
* The Wild Things signed a catcher, Blake Ochoa, who figures to get plenty of playing time. A 25-year-old native of Maracay, Venezuela, Ochoa has six years of pro experience in the Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners' systems. He's listed as an "Experienced" player under the FL's new roster rules. In the past, he would have been listed as a Veteran.
Ochoa played three games last season for the Mariners' Class AAA affiliate in Tacoma and played three games in Class AA at Carolina in 2007. He played 256 career games in Class A.
* The Wild Things are asking fans to select the club's all-decade team. Online voting will be conducted on the Wild Things' homepage. Currently, you can vote on the left-handed starting pitcher and right-handed starting pitcher.
* The situation in Kalamazoo remains muddled. Here is a link to the Kalamazoo Gazette's video of an interview with Kings owner Bill Wright.
Video here.
* If Wright decides the Kings will be "dark" during the 2011 season, here's one possible location for the Frontier League's 12th team: Schaumburg, Ill.
The Schaumburg Flyers of the North American Baseball League, and formerly of the Northern League, have been evicted from Alexian Field for owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent and fees.
The team, up for sale for more than a year, was ordered by a Cook County Circuit Judge to vacate by March 6. The village of Schaumburg and the Schaumburg Park District — co-owners of the stadium — asked for the eviction as last resort to recoup some of the more than $900,000 owed.
Now the village has the right to negotiate with other teams and independent leagues.
According to ballparkdigest.com, the American Association and Frontier League have been invited next week to make a pitch for the Alexian Field lease. The city seems set on having a team in the ballpark for the 2011 season.
With the Frontier League the only indy circuit looking at the possibility of having an odd number of teams (because of the Kalamazoo situation), Schaumburg might be most appealing.
The whole situation, however, could be rendered moot if the Flyers are sold between now and March 6.
* The Wild Things signed a catcher, Blake Ochoa, who figures to get plenty of playing time. A 25-year-old native of Maracay, Venezuela, Ochoa has six years of pro experience in the Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners' systems. He's listed as an "Experienced" player under the FL's new roster rules. In the past, he would have been listed as a Veteran.
Ochoa played three games last season for the Mariners' Class AAA affiliate in Tacoma and played three games in Class AA at Carolina in 2007. He played 256 career games in Class A.
* The Wild Things are asking fans to select the club's all-decade team. Online voting will be conducted on the Wild Things' homepage. Currently, you can vote on the left-handed starting pitcher and right-handed starting pitcher.
* The situation in Kalamazoo remains muddled. Here is a link to the Kalamazoo Gazette's video of an interview with Kings owner Bill Wright.
Video here.
* If Wright decides the Kings will be "dark" during the 2011 season, here's one possible location for the Frontier League's 12th team: Schaumburg, Ill.
The Schaumburg Flyers of the North American Baseball League, and formerly of the Northern League, have been evicted from Alexian Field for owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent and fees.
The team, up for sale for more than a year, was ordered by a Cook County Circuit Judge to vacate by March 6. The village of Schaumburg and the Schaumburg Park District — co-owners of the stadium — asked for the eviction as last resort to recoup some of the more than $900,000 owed.
Now the village has the right to negotiate with other teams and independent leagues.
According to ballparkdigest.com, the American Association and Frontier League have been invited next week to make a pitch for the Alexian Field lease. The city seems set on having a team in the ballpark for the 2011 season.
With the Frontier League the only indy circuit looking at the possibility of having an odd number of teams (because of the Kalamazoo situation), Schaumburg might be most appealing.
The whole situation, however, could be rendered moot if the Flyers are sold between now and March 6.
Labels: Bill Wright, Blake Ochoa, Kalamazoo Kings, Schaumburg Flyers
posted by Chris Dugan at
3:30 PM
4 Comments:
I welcome Blake Ochoa Its been years without a catcher on this team. he could be our missing link.
The last three seasons the Washington Wild Things downfall was RELIEF PITCHERS and catchers.
We all hope Kalamazoo Kings can keep the doors open this 2011 season. We are all feeling the pinch but Michigan state working families have been especially hit hard,
My choice for ALL-Decade Team
Left hand pitcher - Tom Cochran
Right hand pitcher - Aaron Ledbetter
Relief pitcher - Jim Popp
Manager - John Massarelli
Designator hitter - Jacob Dempsey
Catcher - Josh Loggin
First basemen - Nathan Messner
Second basemen - Kyle Werman
Shortstop - Brett Grandstrand
Third Basemen - open -pick- list- Grant Psomas
Outfielders - The best trio in Frontier League history
and did play together: Mike Arbinger, Chris Carter, & still with us #12 Chris Sidick
RW
How is the taxpayer turf comming along?
With the snow and wet weather, I hope the heavy equipment sinks in the outfield.
Do you mean that stuff that Mr. Tim Consolobay had his dirty corrupted hands in?
I think that deed has been completed. Not to worry about anything though. If he can do anything
else to please Consol Energy he will be there for them like “Johnny on the spot”. After all they did see to it that he was nice and cozy at the Super Bowl didn’t they? They even paid for everything. I’m sure he will pay it back – wink, wink…..
Curmudgeon
Tim Consolobay! Now that’s funny, but so sadly true.
Both the Wild Things, and Consol Energy have this person in their hip
pockets – bought and paid for. In your face corruption. Tim Solobay might
just make the Frontier League HOF for one being one of the most dishonest public
officials ever to boost one of it’s teams.
Well, you ARE known by the company you keep. As someone said last year on
this blog – remember the “Canonsburg Connection”
AJ
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