Slow season
March might be a busy time in college basketball, but in the Frontier League it's the calm before the storm. In April, after minor league spring training ends, managers will be busy filling the remaining spots on their roster with players recently released from affiliated organizations.
Until then, there will be only a few signings, mostly players who are re-signing with their 2011 clubs.
The Wild Things have made a few roster moves in the last two weeks, including a trade announced today on the league's website. Washington shipped infielder Wes Kartch to Roswell, the defending champion in the Pecos League, in exchange for a player to be named later.
Kartch was signed in December by Washington. He was one of the many former NAIA players signed in the offseason. Kartch had last played at Point Loma Nazarene in 2010. At the time of his signing, Kartch was called a "gold glove" infielder by new manager Chris Bando. Apparently, the coaching staff decided Kartch's bat need some pro experience before joining the Wild Things.
Another player traded to the Pecos League was catcher Rob Herrmann, who also was acquired by Washington this offseason. Herrmann was traded to the Alpine Cowboys for a player to be named later.
Herrmann was traded back to the league in which he played in last year, only to a different team. He was a player I had questions about based on one statistic: He led the Pecos League in passed balls last year with 32. That's 32! In a shorter season than the Frontier League. The Frontier League leader in passed balls last year had 23 and the guy who was second had 18.
Washington did sign right-handed pitcher Eric Binder, lefty pitcher Daniel Schmidt and utility player Shain Stoner.
Binder is a pitcher who began his college career in the Big Ten at Northwestern and finished it at Division III Trinity University in Texas. He signed as a nondrafted free agent last summer with the St. Louis Cardinals and posted a 3-1 record and 7.07 ERA in a season split between rookie ball and the short-season New York-Penn League.
Binder pitched for Trinity in 2009 and 2010. His numbers those two seasons weren't good, 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA in '09 and 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA the next year.
Schmidt pitches for Perth in the Australian League in the winter and bounced around two independent leagues the last two summers. A possible connection for the Wild Things would former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Grame Lloyd is the pitching coach at Perth and Washington manager Chris Bando is a former coach with the Brewers.
Schmidt was 6-2 4.08 this year in Australia. In independent ball in the states, Schmidt played in the American Association and Can-Am League, going 7-7 with a 6.00 ERA.
Schmidt will be the first native of Australia to play for the Wild Things.
Stoner is another product of Point Loma Nazarene, an NAIA power in California. Stoner played third base and led Point Loma with a .365 batting average along with 14 doubles and 10 home runs last year. Stoner also played in the NAIA at Southern Nazarene in Oklahoma.
The signing of Stoner and trade of Kartch leaves Wild Things with four infielders (five if you include unsigned Doug Thennis as a first baseman). Here's thinking that Washington will be in the market for two and maybe three infielders when the minor league roster cuts happen.
One player was re-signed for 2012. Pitcher Gary Lee will be returning fro a second season in Washington. Lee was 4-6 with a 4.18 ERA last year.
Lee will actually be playing for Bando for the second time. Lee began his pro career in 2007 by pitching in 35 games in relief for the Aiken Foxhounds of the now-defunct South Coast League. Bando was Aiken's manager.
Lee is only the second player from the 2011 team to agree to a contract extension.
Until then, there will be only a few signings, mostly players who are re-signing with their 2011 clubs.
The Wild Things have made a few roster moves in the last two weeks, including a trade announced today on the league's website. Washington shipped infielder Wes Kartch to Roswell, the defending champion in the Pecos League, in exchange for a player to be named later.
Kartch was signed in December by Washington. He was one of the many former NAIA players signed in the offseason. Kartch had last played at Point Loma Nazarene in 2010. At the time of his signing, Kartch was called a "gold glove" infielder by new manager Chris Bando. Apparently, the coaching staff decided Kartch's bat need some pro experience before joining the Wild Things.
Another player traded to the Pecos League was catcher Rob Herrmann, who also was acquired by Washington this offseason. Herrmann was traded to the Alpine Cowboys for a player to be named later.
Herrmann was traded back to the league in which he played in last year, only to a different team. He was a player I had questions about based on one statistic: He led the Pecos League in passed balls last year with 32. That's 32! In a shorter season than the Frontier League. The Frontier League leader in passed balls last year had 23 and the guy who was second had 18.
Washington did sign right-handed pitcher Eric Binder, lefty pitcher Daniel Schmidt and utility player Shain Stoner.
Binder is a pitcher who began his college career in the Big Ten at Northwestern and finished it at Division III Trinity University in Texas. He signed as a nondrafted free agent last summer with the St. Louis Cardinals and posted a 3-1 record and 7.07 ERA in a season split between rookie ball and the short-season New York-Penn League.
Binder pitched for Trinity in 2009 and 2010. His numbers those two seasons weren't good, 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA in '09 and 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA the next year.
Schmidt pitches for Perth in the Australian League in the winter and bounced around two independent leagues the last two summers. A possible connection for the Wild Things would former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Grame Lloyd is the pitching coach at Perth and Washington manager Chris Bando is a former coach with the Brewers.
Schmidt was 6-2 4.08 this year in Australia. In independent ball in the states, Schmidt played in the American Association and Can-Am League, going 7-7 with a 6.00 ERA.
Schmidt will be the first native of Australia to play for the Wild Things.
Stoner is another product of Point Loma Nazarene, an NAIA power in California. Stoner played third base and led Point Loma with a .365 batting average along with 14 doubles and 10 home runs last year. Stoner also played in the NAIA at Southern Nazarene in Oklahoma.
The signing of Stoner and trade of Kartch leaves Wild Things with four infielders (five if you include unsigned Doug Thennis as a first baseman). Here's thinking that Washington will be in the market for two and maybe three infielders when the minor league roster cuts happen.
One player was re-signed for 2012. Pitcher Gary Lee will be returning fro a second season in Washington. Lee was 4-6 with a 4.18 ERA last year.
Lee will actually be playing for Bando for the second time. Lee began his pro career in 2007 by pitching in 35 games in relief for the Aiken Foxhounds of the now-defunct South Coast League. Bando was Aiken's manager.
Lee is only the second player from the 2011 team to agree to a contract extension.
Labels: Gary Lee, Shain Stoner
posted by Chris Dugan at
9:27 AM
1 Comments:
The Wildthings are the best thing that has happened to Washington County. I have gone to every game since the team started and I have never been disappointed. The team is only a part of the fun of going and the rest is all the fun entertainment, fireworks, and great food. I happen to love the Wildthings and will never stop going especially if the Williams' and others continue to improve the stadium and team like they have. I am also excited for the other entertainment being brought in this upcoming season, as well. Go Wildthings!
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