Monday, June 25, 2012

Record-setting season

The Wild Things will set at least one team record this season: most players used.

Washington made another roster move Monday, releasing 6-8, 275-pound designated hitter Tim Leary and signing outfielder Tanner Leighton, who recently completed his senior season at The Masters, an NAIA school in California.

Leary was batting only .130 (6-for-46 with 20 strikeouts) since joining the Wild Things June 7. Leighton, who is from Meridian, Idaho, the hometown of former Pirates pitcher Vernon Law, batted .322 this spring with three home runs and 31 stolen bases.

Leighton becomes the 48th player to appear on Washington's roster during the regular season, which is more than the Wild Things used in any of their previous 10 seasons. They used 47 in 2009.

When Leighton makes his debut, he will be the 46th player to get into a game this year. The Wild Things signed two players, infielder Anthony Long and catcher Cody Coffman, but released them before they ever played in a game.

Washington manager Chris Bando said before the series against Lake Erie began that he had one more roster move to make. This, apparently, is the move and the flurry of roster moves will be stopping, for various reasons. One is that the Frontier League has a limit of 25 transactions (not every roster move counts as a transaction) per team during the regular season. Washington is at 21 moves, according to the league office.

"The first third of the season, you find out who will be your team. The second third of the season, you build team chemistry. The final third, you make a run for the playoffs," Bando said. "That's what we're going to do."

Bando said many of the roster moves were made because several players classified as Experienced by Frontier League roster standards did not play to the level that the coaching staff expected. Many of those players were replaced by rookies from NAIA schools in California.

"We made some poor decisions on some of the Experienced guys who we thought would be productive," Bando said. "They didn't pan out. We will have to be better at selecting our Experienced players in the future.

"Because we had some Experienced guys who didn't produce the way we expected, we went with the approach of signing all young college guys and sinking or swimming with them. What we found out is, you can't miss on your Experienced guys. They have to be the nucleus of your club. In years to come, we don't want to be having as much turnover as we've had."

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21 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Boy, this Banjo, er, Bando Bunch is a laugh a minute.

June 25, 2012 at 3:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think I have found someone with more BS than RW. Only difference, Bando admits his mistakes!

June 25, 2012 at 4:51 PM  
Anonymous Disa Pointed said...

The Wild Cubs are getting ready for a run for the playoffs!
The question is with all the moves who are they helping get into the playoff.
Definitely not the Wild Cubs!!!

June 25, 2012 at 6:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it's pretty obvious none of those moved worked. let's try this one--a real, professional baseball manager who recognizes this is not naia baseball. mr bojangles' charges gave up 5 outs on the bases tonight--one thrown out going to third, three runners caught stealing and another trying to advance on a short passed ball. and you'll have to take off at least one shoe to count the strikeouts again tonight--three with a runner at third, including the tying run in the 10th. don't need to send in the clowns. they're already here.

June 25, 2012 at 7:16 PM  
Anonymous Natural Grass said...

I would say the Wild Cubs are on course to set another record.
Record low average attendance for any season in Washington.
Tonight's attendence of 1249 helps to maintain the new record low average attendence.
The current average attendence through 19 home events is 1476.
By the way Chris, I believe the only current Frontier League teams holding a longer reign in the same city is Evansville and River City. Am I right?

June 25, 2012 at 8:22 PM  
Blogger Chris Dugan said...

You can add Gateway and Windy City. Rockford entered the league the same year as Washington but switched to the Northern League for a year and returned.

June 25, 2012 at 9:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Bando continues to sign NAIA players from California and none of them has produced. Why does he think this trend will change? Sign some players who have at least been drafted or done something in their career. Same old same old will only produce more losses.

June 26, 2012 at 8:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

See that the Wild Cubs hired a cheerleader now. I think she is supposed to be an usher but she doesn't anything but wave a towel, irritate the fans, and try to be a bigger buffoon than Showboat Lenny Randle.
Will the Wild Cubs ever quit striking out with runners at third and less than two out.

June 26, 2012 at 8:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some guy grabbed the towel from her and pitched it into the stands. Too bad she got it back. Just what the Wild Cubs need is another idiot on their payroll.
Every time I go to a Wild Cubs game it gets a little more hokey than it was before.
Why doesn’t the idea that having a winning team seem to sink into the horrid management’s mind?
Who needs all this hillbilly stuff?

June 26, 2012 at 11:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Natural Grass,
In reference to your post of June 24th
I'm taking a short break from posting but I did read your post. I'm still observing all the bonehead moves the Wild Things are making. I know who you are talking aboutthat was fired. Instead of being loyal to their good employees they embrace people like that 'person' that is running around making a a** of herself along the first base area. What a dolt!
Nothing new in Wild Things Land!
At least the Wild Things found a way not to lose today - they didn't play!
Back to my "Cubby" hole
Ima Fraid

June 26, 2012 at 12:30 PM  
Blogger Swisscheda said...

Bando, stay away from the airplane glue, wow. 9 1/2 games back and it's not even the all-star break, and you expect to make a run at the playoffs? Not happening, my friend.

Granted, some of the recent position players they've signed lately are off to good starts, but it's only a few games so far, and this season is over already.

This season reminds me of that one godawful year with Greg Jelks at the helm, where very few players lasted from opening day to the season finale.

I've had a bad vibe ever since they signed a first baseman with the same last name as the manager (great move, he has 8 RBIs so far), and when they signed a guy in the offseason (don't remember the name) who had batted something like .208 last season.

I had planned on attending 1 or 2 games during the recent homestand, as my friend's kid plays for one of the visiting teams, but changed my mind after learning he was hurt and wouldn't play for a few days. I didn't mind missing the games.

They will set a franchise record for losses this year, for sure.

June 26, 2012 at 7:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bando is going to be the best first baseman in Frontier League history. Don't take my word for it but it must be true. Daddy lets him play almost every game doesn't he?
These Wild Cubs are a joke unmatched in the previous 10 seasons.

June 27, 2012 at 8:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I understand that the Wild Cubs have a worn out manure spreader for sale-cheap! They bought it new from TSE after the 2011season ended and have been spreading crap liberally with it ever since. The group primarily being fertilized was the disgruntled season ticket holders. It didn’t work because these folks soon figured out that they were treated as mushrooms by the ownership and their cronies.
The Wild Cubs have purchased a new spreading machine now. It’s called Wait and See and is manufactured by the Williams BS Company.
Starting tonight the Wild Cubs have an opportunity to start making up a little ground. Anybody want to take a guess about how they will blow it?

June 27, 2012 at 9:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If Mike Bando keeps patting all the player's butts as they approach the bases he may get another name for himself. And it won't be kind to Daddy. Mike makes so many mistakes it's a wonder that even Daddy keeps him on board.
Go Bando!
Cookie's Mom

June 27, 2012 at 9:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bando touches more men's rear ends in one night then most doctors do in a year. If you don't beleive it, just watch closly during the next home series.
I thought I was the only person that noticed that. Apparently not. Something strange here. But, it's been a strange season so far.

June 27, 2012 at 10:57 AM  
Anonymous Jeff said...

this is sad - -
the other night after a loss I watched coach Bando come out of the home plate end of the dugout and walk over near the foul line and then walk near the line all the way into right field and the then turn and walk into the clubhouse. A very deliberate route to avoid the fans.

this is sadder - -
3 of the 4 coaches have worn a jacket over their uniform shirts every home game so far. Is this a means of trying to hide their identities from the fans?

and this is truly sad and makes me extremely angry -
is has become very noticeable that most of the coaches do not stand with the players for our National Anthem. I have seen one with a group down the first base line, and that's fine. I have seen one standing with the pitchers out in the bullpen area, and that's fine. But what is NOT OK is the fact that I watched coach Bando go into the dugout pre-game and not come out and stand with his players for a salute to Our Country's great flag. Just shameless.

June 27, 2012 at 2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I see good old RW came out of his self-imposed "cubby" hole just long enough to insult another employee. (I'm sure you were just kidding right, that's your usual response after one of your tirades). It amazes me how some people actually enjoy your vicious comments. Since you think you have all the answers, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and see about purchasing the club and run it your way! But then again, you wouldn't have anything to complain about, right RW!

June 27, 2012 at 6:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Holy jumpin' Banjos!

June 27, 2012 at 7:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I usually try to get to the game after the National Anthem because it sickens me to see the lack of respect by both players and the fans. The Wild Cubs can't control the fans, and they sure as hell don't care what their player and coaches do.

June 27, 2012 at 7:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

befuddling blundered bunt beckoned by bojangles bando. record-setting losses continue to mount. let's lose this loser and see if this thing can be saved.

June 27, 2012 at 7:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't appreciate the fact that a lot of people do not stop and wait for the National Anthem to be played. They walk up and down the concourse completely oblivious and with total lack of respect. Even service personnel remove their hats
and show respect - teaching their children. What Bando does, shows his lack of respect his own way and lets you know how ignorant he is. Cookie's Mom

June 28, 2012 at 9:48 AM  

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