Are you experienced?
Most people will tell you there is no substitute for experience. That theory, however, didn't work for every Frontier League team last season. Before getting into the reasons why, let's go back one year and look at a change the Frontier League made to its player eligibility requirements to make them less restrictive. The result was a higher level of play, faster games and more-experienced players.
Prior to 2011, players were classified as either Rookie, L1, L2 or Veteran, based on the number of professional at-bats, games and innings pitched they accumulated. Rookies had less than one full year of experience, an L1 had one full season, an L2 had two years and a Veteran had at least three years. A full season was any in which a hitter accumulated more than 150 at-bats. For a pitcher, it was more than 30 appearances or more than 60 innings. Teams used to be limited to 7 L1 players, 3 L2s and three Veterans, which included no more than one Super Vet (older than 27). There were some other rules, but these were the basic guidelines.
As you can see, keeping more than a half dozen players together for multiple years was very difficult. If you had seven good L1s one year, then you had to get rid of at least four the next season, and more if you signed an L2 released from an affiliated team. Last year, the league did away with the L1, L2 and Veteran classifications and replaced them with a class called Experienced. Teams are limited to 13 Experienced players. You can have 13 guys who were Veterans under the old system, if you can sign 'em and stay under the salary cap.
Last year, I checked each team's roster at the start of the season and found that three teams were able to stock up on more "old-school" Veterans than other teams. Evansville (which went to spring training with 9 Vets), Rockford and Southern Illinois each opened 2011 with six Vets on the roster. Rockford finished last in the East and Evansville was fifth in the West. Only Southern Illinois (2nd in the West) made the playoffs.
Breaking it down even further, Rockford and Gateway had the most combined Vets and L2s with 10 each. Gateway finished 4th in the West.
So, loading up on "old-school" L2 and Vets is not the best way to go? I won't go that far because last year might be an exception to what could be the rule over the next 10 years.
With nothing better to do last weekend, I checked this year's rosters to see how each breaks down according to the old player eligibility. What I found is defending league champion Joliet (9 Vets) and Windy City (12 combined Vets and L2s) are the two most-experienced teams in Frontier League history, and the Wild Things are one of the youngest this year. Here are the results (did not include players on the DL):
East Division
Evansville
L1: 6
L2: 4
Vet: 6
Florence
L1: 4
L2: 6
Vet: 3
Lake Erie
L1: 3
L2: 2
Vet: 5
London
L1: 2
L2: 3
Vet: 5
Southern Illinois
L1: 6
L2: 5
Vet: 4
Traverse City
L1: 6
L2: 4
Vet: 4
Washington
L1: 6
L2: 1
Vet: 4
West Division
Gateway
L1: 5
L2: 4
Vet: 4
Joliet
L1: 6
L2: 1
Vet: 8
Normal
L1: 7
L2: 1
Vet: 2
River City
L1: 6
L2: 3
Vet: 5
Rockford
L1: 6
L2: 3
Vet: 3
Schaumburg
L1: 6
L2: 4
Vet: 3
Windy City
L1: 4
L2: 7
Vet: 5
Managers used to say that your L2s and Vets were the players who had to carry their ballclub. The teams currently with the most combined L2 and Vets under the former eligibility system are Windy City with 12 and Evansville with 10. Joliet has the most Vets with 9, followed by Evansville with 6. Florence and Normal each have only two old-school Vets. The CornBelters have the fewest combined Vets and L2s at only 3.
Another look at how last year's roster classification system changed the league: The following is the number of professional at-bats each opening day roster for the Wild Things had accumulated:
2012: 6,490
2011: 9,197
2010: 6,842
2009: 7,269
2008: 5,997
2007: 4,139
2006: 5,433
2005: 3,140
2004: 4,129
2003: 4,648
2002: 1,829
posted by Chris Dugan at
6:29 PM
11 Comments:
In my opinion just about everything about the Frontier League, and most all independent leagues, is just a lot of convoluted nonsense that ii is not worth trying to analyze. If you do it for fun that’s fine but it seems nothing more than just a passtime activity to me. Chris, you said it yourself when you stated “having nothing better to do”..
As for me, I choose to sit back and watch the games and not analyze anything that happens. No matter how you cut it – this is just glorified college baseball at most where the players are just having an extended career but with a small paycheck as a reward. Nothing less – nothing more.
Think I will take your advice Anonymous and not analayze anything ... high schools, colleges, pros, etc. Probably eliminates the need for this blog. Makes my job easier, too.
Isn't all minor league ball glorified college baseball? I've seen some college baseball this year and I hope the Wild Things games are better. Seen too many errors, walks bad baserunning and boneheaded plays. Must be a down year for college baseball.
Chris, I always appreciate your "more in depth look" into the league in your blogs. I would suspect that the majority of your readers do as well. Interesting perspectives. I have my own as well. If your schedule allows, maybe we can get a bite to eat when I am in town and talk about the league when I am there in a few weeks.
Mike Pinto
Field Manager/Dir. of Baseball Operations
Southern Illinois Miners
I did not mean that nobody should not analyze whatever sport they wish. I simply stated my view that it serves no real purpose. Why do I feel that way? Because stats seem to remove the human factor.. Now, if anybody wants to analyze, have at it, knock yourself out and I have NO problem with it at all.
Don't be offended so easily.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your insight. Attendance on the FL website says over 2,000 last night. Did not look like that many, and you eluded to that on twitter as well. After seeing 11 openers, how many would you guess were there.
Thanks
Probably about 1,800 in park.
Not too good a start attendance wise for opening night. I think that the candle that was the Wild Things just might be flickering a bit.
My wife and I attended the opener, and we were both impressed with the new and improved Wild Things team and ownership. Although the concession prices are high, we ate before we entered the park, and only purchased a soft pretzel (which was terrible). The on field MC did OK, but it was a shame his mike kept cutting off. Mr. Dawson shook hands and posed for pictures, and old friendships were renewed (people whom you haven't seen since last season). With only 4 games played, and the team 3-1, we can only hope for a winning season, and more fans in the stands.
And congrats to Chris Dugan and radio Randy for there respective awards.
What awards?
Randy Broadcaster of the Year 2011
Chris Writer of the Year 2011.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home