Series leftovers

Some notes, thoughts and numbers that didn't get into the print edition during the Wild Things' series against Windy City:

* Surely, in all of baseball's written and unwritten rules, there has to be something about teams shouldn't wear the same colored jerseys. Prior to the opening game of the doubleheader Friday night, Windy City walks onto the Consol Energy Park field wearing royal blue jerseys and blue caps. The Wild Things, meanwhile, opt for their royal blue jerseys and blue caps. The uniform selections made it look like Trinity High School was playing an intrasquad game. Whatever happened to wearing gray on the road? At the very least, the visiting team shouldn't wear a colored jersey that matches any of the home team's jerseys.

* After the game Saturday, Washington signed Ryan Morrow, a switch-hitting catcher out of St. Mary's University in Texas. He has no professional experience. Morrow was drafted in the 44th round by Atlanta in 2010 but did not sign. As a junior, he batted .366 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI but his numbers dropped off (as they did for most players because of the change in bats) this year. Morrow hit .277 with three home runs and 29 RBI. It seems Morrow might have a decent arm because the opponents for St. Mary's stole only 39 bases in 59 games.

* From the How Did That Happen Department? comes this: Washington right fielder Luis Rivera entered the second game of Friday nigth's doubleheader with zero walks in 61 at-bats. Rivera then walked in each of his first three plate appearances against Windy City starter Luis Rivera.

* Former California University pitcher Randy Sturgill made his pro debut Friday night with the Lake Erie Crushers. Sturgill pitched one inning of relief in the Crushers' 3-2 loss at Rockford. He gave up two hits, one run and one walk.

Sturgill, a left-hander from Leechburg, was a two-time PSAC West Division West Pitcher of the Year. He holds Cal's single-season and career records for wins. He led the PSAC in wins, innings and strikeouts this spring, going 10-2 and two saves with a 2.23 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings.

Sturgill had another year of eligibility remaining at Cal but opted to leave early. There is a connection between Cal's athletic department and Lake Erie manager John Massarelli that got Sturgill a look from the Crushers.

* The Wild Things' rained out game in Joliet has not yet been rescheduled. It will be played as part of a doubleheader either Aug. 16 or 17 when the Slammers play their first series in Washington.

* Rough week with the bats: Washington hasn't scored more than two runs in an inning since last Sunday's win over Normal.

* When you have a team that is struggling to get hits and score runs, such as the Wild Things have been all season, is it better for the manager to pick a batting order and stick with it for an extended period, or should he change the order nightly? There are different theories about this. Washington's Darin Everson has opted to change the order with each game. He has used 25 different batting orders in 26 games, and five players have hit in five different spots in the lineup.

* That the Frontier League has had eight players (including two from the Wild Things) sold to major league organizations in the first month of the season, shows that what we speculated on this blog last month was true - the talent level in the league was up this year. At this point last year, only one player had his contract purchased.