One coaching change
Though no word has been released from the team about the change, the Wild Things will be down to three coaches for tonight's game against Rockford and likely the remainder of the season. Pitching coach Tim Ferguson is no longer on the staff.
UPDATE: Was told tonight that Ferguson has "resigned."
UPDATE: Was told tonight that Ferguson has "resigned."
Labels: Tim Ferguson
posted by Chris Dugan at
3:22 PM
44 Comments:
One good move. Now, we need to see about 5 or 6 more.
I suggest they make Mike Bando a playing coach. Who cares if he can pitch or not.
addition by subtraction. the guy has no class, no respect for the game, no respect for the players he had. can't believe anybody would want to play for him. see ya!
Shucks, I saw the headline and got excited that perhaps Bando left. No such luck. I'd love to know the real reason why the pitching coach left. The hitting is far and away their biggest problem this year, although both Hall and Montoya have clearly regressed. And in their defense, surely knowing that they'll get ZERO offensive support must put incredible pressure on them.
I made the mistake of going to the 4th of July game. I got seats 5 rows from the field just hours before game time, that's pathetic. Yet another dismal crowd, and quite honestly, I can't blame folks for staying away.
Here's a telling stat: Michael Bando is 3rd on the team in at-bats. Does that not say a lot? And who knows, if Stoner and Thennis don't survive the season, he could take the lead.
I never thought I'd say this, but it's a pleasure watching excellent baseball.....on the Pirates telecasts this season.
I don't know if he was new to the game, or just hadn't been around it much, but I hope he gets better at what he does.
Back to the desert for Pecos Tim.
I wish Tim the best of luck moving forward in his career. I don't think Coach Ferguson is a bad guy or even a bad coach for that matter. I think he was very overwhelmed in the role that he was placed in. He did not know how to handle a professional rotation or bullpen and how to keep the pitchers organized. He had tough shoes to fill with Mark Dewey preceding him. I think the experienced pitchers bailed him out a lot and that's why he lasted as long as he did.
EVERYTHINGS gone to hell at CEP. These people have no respect for the game at all. It’s crap baseball because the Wild Cubs have shifted the games to a ‘show’ rather than baseball. The dip shi** from TSE have decided to turn the ushers into being part of the show. Those ushers that didn’t play along were fired. Long time employees axed because they acted as ushers and not towel waving escapees from lunatic institution. ‘Stone Cold’ Williams is responsible for that. I can’t believe just how a person can be so vile.
Then you have the no talent Wild Thing – what a joke this guy is. Somebody just had to stuff the ballot box for him to win a contest! TSE wants a show but the biggest show so far has been how they don’t know sh** from Shinola! Shooting hot dogs from and air gun and splattering the damn things all over people – brilliant.
Then you have Chris ‘Five Year Contract’ Bando, and his little boy ‘Buttons’ Bando. All we see is bunt after bunt to get base runners because NOBODY can hit. Of course the kid gets to play so we can all see just how cool he is with his open jersey and constant butt touching.
Thanks ‘Stone Cold’. We really have enjoyed all these fantastic changes. Look like a mini-version of “Hope and Change” and, it ain’t workin’ out for me.
Ima Fraid
Garvey got what he deserved last night. Too bad the pitch wasn’t up and in. The Wild Cubs have no class just like their ownership.
Boohoo RW, just love name calling don't you! What a piece of work! Sure wish you were a person of your word and would retire from the blog or at least return to your "cubby" hole! What got your panties in a bunch this time?
Chris:
What was the Wild Things record in 2011 compared to the Wild Cubs of this year afer 44 games.
Currently the have won 16 and lost 28 games.
Could Mr. Smily possible have a worse record than the Frito Bandito?
It's probably a good move to get rid of some of the ushers. Most of them were about 105 years old and couldn't wipe your seat clean without throwing their back out of place or dropping their walker. About all they were good for was yelling at kids to stop running. Usually when the boss tells you to do something or act a certain way, you lose your job when you don't follow orders. The fewer geriatric ushers the better.
The happiest person in Washington has to be Bill DiFabio. No one has brought his name up on this blog in ages.
You too will grow old someday. I hope you get the same respect that you show older people now. That's what you deserve.
You must be a Wild Cubs apoligist if not Williams himself.
What ever happened to the June meeting for the season ticket holders? It never happened.
There was a rumor going around that there would be a meeting on July 11th. Guess that all it was; a rumor.
No communication from the Wild Cubs outstanding front office yet. They probably will wait until Tuesday night when it’s too late to make plans to attend.
19-25 after 44 games last year, then lost two in a row to go into the all-star break at 19-27.
No matter how Tim Ferguson left the the Wild Cubs, he has to be better off getting awy from that bunch of blood suckers.
Bring back Mazz!!!!!
another offensive flop---with tying runs on base, strikeout, strikeout, foul out...thennis, garvey, leighton. oh, and didn't garvey get caught stealing, again...?
The last person to fire Bill DaFabio was Mike Tomlin when ring announcer Bill showed up at the Steelers news conference before Christmas dressed as Santa.
Perhaps he should wear his Santa suit at the next home game as the Wild Cubs and the Frito Bandito could use a little fictional help!
Beside, it would not surprise me if Jumping Bill does the announcing free. That is the only way Stu would keep him!
The Wild Cubs have the next to worst record in the FL by .5 games.
"Any time you can get caught stealing with two outs so the pitcher leads off the inning, you do it." - an excerpt from the California Coaching Manual.
If you're looking for the page number, its right after "enter your DH in a game you are tied/losing" and "be sure to bunt when down five runs - bonus points if you break up a no hitter".
And that's just in the last two days.
RIP WASHINGTON FRONTIER LEAGUE BASEBALL, LLC
Not much left to say about the Wild Cubs this season.
Ima Fraid
So, the formula for improving in the standings is to lose at home and, lose on the road too! Bo and his son Buttons have sure brought the excitment back to CEP haven't they?
Anyone else notice on the Wild Things' website that the story they have for "Gary Lee Selected for 2012 All-Star Game" has a picture of a pitcher that's NOT GARY LEE?!
How incompetent can these people get? Let's put up a picture of a left-handed pitcher to show our support for our right-hander who was named to the All-Star team.
After some research it appears the picture is of Nick Cicio, whoever that is.
Clowns at CEP. Did you also notice that the number photo on the Wild Cubs site is of a circus?
In the upper left hand corner is a photo of four horses behinds. Can anybody identify any of them?
I can but, if I tell you it won’t be any fun for you to figure out. Of course, we are speaking metaphorically here.
I think I have finally figured out what is happening with the Wild Cubs franchise.
It seems Stu is trying to bankrupt the franchine so he can sell or develop the property for non baseball use. The land is probably worth more than the 3+million he paid for the park.
That way he can make a profit on the Wild Cubs and move the franchise to WVA.
Smart lawyer, how dumb we fans are!
The Wild Things record and their cranky geriatric fans are a match made in baseball heaven. Washington's fans are getting what they deserve.
Wild Flubs finally win one. Buttons average now down to .200
Yes, a lot of the negative comments are insulting. A lot of players are trying to improve and win for Washington. Anyone who is a WWT fan should be cheering for Garvey when he breaks up a no hitter in the middle of a close game. Even the Rockford coach said that was his game and he did not take exception to it. To be rooting against the local team and be negative is a peron's right, but not what fans of a team should do - or is it? Yes, unfortunately, the W.Pa. teams have fans who only are on their side when winning.
I wonder how hot is was in the circus tent for the performances yesterday at the "BASEBALL STADIUM"?
Probably not as hot as the people who found out they charged for parking.
Interesting article written by Chris Dugan in today's (Sunday) sports page about the Wild Things and the lack of attendence. Chris pretty much hit the nail on the head, although I must say that I truly believe the real reason for the lack of fans is the increase in the concession prices. One might expect a small increase , but the increase in prices and parking were dramatic, (I know this has been beat to death in past comments, but I still believe this is one of the reasons people are staying away. In today's poor economy people don't have alot of money to spend $5.00 on an ice cream cone, or $10.00 for a hot dog, fries and a small drink. Not gonna happen. I attend games on a regular basis, mostly on weekends, and I have noticed a lot of fans with children doing without concessions, simply because of the cost. Stu and the other management might want to reconsider there policies, and attempt to lure the fans back to CEP for the second half.
Chris - Great article in today's paper. I did chuckle a bit reading comments from Mr. Williams see-sawing about the effect of a winning vs. losing team and the attendance. With the increase in parking and concession stand prices does he really think that it's a great family entertainment value? Perhaps for his family, certainly not mine.
Chris, yor article in today's paper was interesting. However, it contained too many of Stone Cold Williams quotes.
That is the same sort of crap he slung against the wall all winter.
II sure don't see that many people enjoying the antics that TSE tries to pass for entertainment. I do however, here a lot of grumbling about it. TSE sucks - period! How can Williams be so stupid to think everybody is having a good time. He is looking at the world through colored glasses. I thought his guy was an intelligent man. I was wrong.
All it takes is win baby, WIN! We don't need TSE, five year contracts, and managers that let their minimum taleted son play almost avery game. I'm sure that was probably part of the deal that brought Bo and Buttons here in the first place.
As for Williams - how can he be so smart and so dumb at the same time?
The Wild Cubs simply over promised and under delivered.
Ima Fraid
Companies like TSE are what is destroying baseball. TSE doesn’t give a hoot about whether you enjoy the game, or not. The only thing they care about is seeing Williams smiling face when forks over the money.
Baseball, especially minor league baseball, has become an absolute farce because of organizations such as TSE. The make a mockery of the game and help to destroy the pleasure of watching a game. It’s really hard to concentrate on the game with all the loud distractions going on around you. Most of this happens between inning but is still a bit unnerving. Then you have ushers running around jumping up and down like they have fire ants in their shorts and wearing flashing glasses. I thought that sort of stuff was reserved for the circus.
Yes, I want to be entertained. However, I go to a baseball game to enjoy baseball, not a side show. Why should those of us that love baseball be subjected to this stuff? Does Mr. Williams have baseball at his stupid circus, or concerts. or even more silly pro wrestling shows? I doubt it.
Stop the contest. We have a winner for dumbest comment of the season. This year's winner is ... "I truly believe the real reason for the lack of fans is the increase in the concession prices."
Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, ever went or didn't go to a baseball game because of the price of a hot dog. If the price is too much you eat BEFORE the game. Same thing with going to a movie or a concert. That's why they put kitchens in houses and opened McDonald's.
The attendance has everything to do with losing team after losing team and this not being a baseball town.
Sssshhhh! Everybody on this blog must be quiet because we have some geriatric Wild Things who are trying to concentrate on the baseball game. We all need to stay in our seats and act as if we're listening to the preacher's sermon on Sunday morning. We wouldn't want anyone to have fun at a ballpark. That would be unnerving.
Want to know why Wild Things fans go to baseball games? Because it's too damn LOUD at football games. Those peppy cheerleaders are always yelling, those bands are always playing between downs and over the PA announcer's talking. It's unnerving. You can't concentrate.
Ima Fraid, you hate the team, the manager, the ushers, the in-game entertainment, the concessions, the coaching staff, and the field. Why do you continue to use Mr. Dugan's fine blog as your own megaphone of whining and crying? I know I speak for many when I say I wish you would just go away. You hate everything about this team so much, yet you keep coming back to complain about the same things over and over. Enough already!
I've talked to a lot of people around CEP this summer and with the exception of those on this blog, I have heard a lot of good things and compliments about the direction this franchise is taking. Mr. Williams dumped a lot of money into this team this season trying to put a winning and fun product on the field and it's getting there, you just don't poof a fantastic product out of thin air. It takes time. This team isn't going anywhere.
Thanks for the great blog and Wild Analysis, Mr. Dugan, I, for one, greatly enjoy your stories and blog posts. Keep up the good work, sir.
Good article Chris.
I wonder if Stu would give free parking the balance of the season if the attendence would improve.
I know the Wild Cubs can't do anything about improving the baseball team this year so maybe free parking and "reasonable" concession prices would help.
If these two ideas are tried, maybe people wouldn't mind the ticket increases this year except for general admission.
People aren't going anymore because no casual sports fan has ever heard of the Frontier League. They call their brand of professional and entertaining because they choose to call it that. How many people pay to go watch the Pittsburgh Power? Those players are much closer to the NFL than WT players are to MLB and I guess their attendance stinks too and the novelty is still there.
If they can make a buck or two off this brand of baseball, hey, more power to them. The Pirates, the concession stands, the parking, the people that talk on the field, they have nothing to do with it. If I pay for a movie and the quality stinks, I am not going to blame the popcorn butter.
What percentage of western PA checks the newspaper or internet checks to follow this team every day whether they win or lose? A very small percentage. The 1 percenters. That's a tough sell for ownership, but one they chose to take on.
What the heck is Schaumberg? I suspect the WT just played in Germany?
Thank you 8:59, my sentiments exactly! For years this man and his (very) small group of Wilsonettes have strewed their swill about the Wildthings and have made WashPa a laughing stock in the process. With Ima Fraid, to quote Thomas Paine, "To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead". RW takes great pride in demeaning others.
If you can get 42 comments on a three-sentence blog post about something in the Frontier League, then I'd say some people follow the team and league.
Only 42 posts? I talked to four or five big league guys who say that is an error. I don't know if blogging is new to you or not, but I hope you get better at what you do.
Someone on that hill reads this blog since the website has changed the Gary Lee All-Star story to actually include a picture of, well, Gary Lee.
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