Which teams hurt, helped by Rippers' demise
When the London Rippers became the first Frontier League team in 19 years to fold during the regular season, something had to be done to fill the hole in the schedule. The Rippers (25-35) had 36 games remaining to be played.
The only logical solution was to form a traveling team, which will be called the Road Warriors. The Frontier League purchased uniforms from the Atlantic League, which for several years had ran a travel team dubbed the Road Warriors.
Because of legal reasons, all players remaining on the Rippers' roster became free agents as of 12:01 a.m. today. Any of the Rippers wanting to play for the Road Warriors are guaranteed a spot on the team. A manager for the Road Warriors is expected to be named today.
When the Rippers' bus, with quite the impressive paint job, pulled out of Consol Energy Park last night, many of the players on it were still unsure if they would join the Road Warriors or simply call it quits.
This much, however, is certain: the Road Warriors will not be as good as the Rippers, especially after the Wild Things poached four of London's better players. Plus, it was rumored that London's best pitcher (Jamie Richmond) and best hitter (Joash Brodin, the Frontier League's leader in batting average) will sign with teams in the American Association.
So, which teams benefit from playing a weakened Rippers/Road Warriors club? And who plays the most games against a somewhat improved Washington club? Keep in mind that the Frontier League's playoff format this year is agin four teams, but it's the two division winners and the two remaining teams with the best winning percentages.
Looking at the schedule, the clear winner in this is Traverse City. The East Division-leading Beach Bums have six games remaining against the Road Warriors. Lake Erie is the only other team that will play the Road Warriors six times. The Beach Bums also do not have to play Washington. Lake Erie will play Washington six times.
The loser in the Rippers' shakeup is Southern Illinois. The Miners, who are two games behind Traverse City in the East, will not get to play the Road Warriors.
Florence, which is trying to hang in the playoff race with a 31-29 record, is the only other team that has to play Washington six more times, but who knows how many position players the Wild Things will be able to field for tonight's game against the Freedom. Not counting the former Rippers, Washington has only seven position players on its roster.
UPDATE: Joash Brodin has been signed by the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, and Brandon Sinnery, who beat the Wild Things 2-1 last week, has hooked up with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association. He joins former Wild Things pitcher Justin Edwards in Lincoln.
The only logical solution was to form a traveling team, which will be called the Road Warriors. The Frontier League purchased uniforms from the Atlantic League, which for several years had ran a travel team dubbed the Road Warriors.
Because of legal reasons, all players remaining on the Rippers' roster became free agents as of 12:01 a.m. today. Any of the Rippers wanting to play for the Road Warriors are guaranteed a spot on the team. A manager for the Road Warriors is expected to be named today.
When the Rippers' bus, with quite the impressive paint job, pulled out of Consol Energy Park last night, many of the players on it were still unsure if they would join the Road Warriors or simply call it quits.
This much, however, is certain: the Road Warriors will not be as good as the Rippers, especially after the Wild Things poached four of London's better players. Plus, it was rumored that London's best pitcher (Jamie Richmond) and best hitter (Joash Brodin, the Frontier League's leader in batting average) will sign with teams in the American Association.
So, which teams benefit from playing a weakened Rippers/Road Warriors club? And who plays the most games against a somewhat improved Washington club? Keep in mind that the Frontier League's playoff format this year is agin four teams, but it's the two division winners and the two remaining teams with the best winning percentages.
Looking at the schedule, the clear winner in this is Traverse City. The East Division-leading Beach Bums have six games remaining against the Road Warriors. Lake Erie is the only other team that will play the Road Warriors six times. The Beach Bums also do not have to play Washington. Lake Erie will play Washington six times.
The loser in the Rippers' shakeup is Southern Illinois. The Miners, who are two games behind Traverse City in the East, will not get to play the Road Warriors.
Florence, which is trying to hang in the playoff race with a 31-29 record, is the only other team that has to play Washington six more times, but who knows how many position players the Wild Things will be able to field for tonight's game against the Freedom. Not counting the former Rippers, Washington has only seven position players on its roster.
UPDATE: Joash Brodin has been signed by the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, and Brandon Sinnery, who beat the Wild Things 2-1 last week, has hooked up with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association. He joins former Wild Things pitcher Justin Edwards in Lincoln.
Labels: London Rippers
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:14 AM
8 Comments:
Look at those WildThings stealing the Pirates night in the spotlight by making a bigger and more impactful trade than Wandy Rodriquez.
Very funny - I think!
It's really not about the Wild Cubs.
I'm sorry to see the demise of another Frontier League team.
I'm sure Bill Lee did all he could to correct the situation but the Rippers were DOA.
Bill Lee did all he could? Are you serious? Did all he could to WHAT? To create a joke of a 2012 season?
After reading Chris' post, it sounds like the fairness of the schedule and playoff race is permanently damaged.
Maybe this problem was created because the league did not do their due diligence in looking into this situation to begin with? The viability of the ownership, the review of the lease and intricacies. The articles mention a lack of follow through on certain lease items and payment items within the community and the league. Why was it allowed to get to this point? This followed similar situations with Slippery Rock and Oakland County. And no accountability to those situations seem to matter either. At what point does some responsibility for these repeated mistakes fall clearly at the top?? This is embarrassing to the Frontier League.
I wonder who the manager of Road Warriors will be.
Any votes for Buttons Bando?
The Rippers had the best logo in the Frontier League, hands down. Also, the best team bus. Nothing good last long in this league.
Its amazing someone would invest that much money without doing some diligent research. As someone who has spent 40 years in London, Ontario it is pretty obvious hockey is the only sport that is supported. Several teams have tried to make a go of it here but to no avail.Labatt Park is a beautiful venue for baseball but is does not have adequate parking for the crowds required to support a pro team. The beer license situation could not have been explored whatsoever by ownership. In short a totally doomed enterprise.
"Bill Lee did all he could"...
fl is bl's personal playground. he is a big part of the problem in the league.
Ron Wilson for Road Warriors manager.
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