Failing math
Though the season was lost many weeks ago, the math tells us that the end of the line for the 2012 Wild Things came Sunday night.
Washington was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with its 6-5 loss to Windy City.
This is the fifth consecutive year without playoff baseball for the Wild Things.
Washington was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with its 6-5 loss to Windy City.
This is the fifth consecutive year without playoff baseball for the Wild Things.
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:51 PM
53 Comments:
I miss those glory years of the franchise, like the one time where we were one game from winning it all, but the newspaper reporter was too hard on the guys and that was too much to overcome. I believe I read 2,600 people attended a recent game at CEP? Did they give away $100 bills to every ticket holder? I can't think of any other reason to attend.
Bring back Chris and Buttons Bando.
Give them another chance to beat the 2012 record.
Unfortunately it would be more losses.
.222 Batting Average. Worst throughout professional baseball.
Word on the street is that the Wild Things and Pony League World Series are both leaving Washington after this year. Baseball annihilation.
Please enlighten me about the references to Chris Dugan and the Wild Things failure. I have now seen it referenced twice on the Blog and I don't understand but it seems as though it was a BIG story at some point.
The loser Wild Things blamed Chris because he wrote a few stories they didn't like. Nobody in the Wild Things organization ever wants to heat the truth. They can't handle the truth.
Ima Fraid
Ban the Bando's
The Wild Cubs have lost touch with the fans - PERIOD! Most of the crap they have done is counter intuitive to the average person. You raise concession and parking prices at a time when they should have at least remained as they were in 2011? I don’t think so. To their credit, most fans have elected to forego feeding their faces at CEP.
During the season ticket holders meetings lots of promises were made and never kept. Many of these involved issues which only concerned season holders and some concerned anybody that bought a ticket other than general admission. No need to go into details because most of you don’t care about season ticket holders issues. The point is that of all the promises made only one was kept. That was to have bigger tv’s to watch the game on while you stand in line at the concession lines. Even that went kapoot when the long lines never happened due to the increase in prices.
The Wild Things seem totally incapable of making any correct move. They can’t select a field manager other than some person that proves as inept as the one that signed them. Jelks, Mr. Smiley, and the stealth, faux, and inept Chris (is he really in the park) Bando. With Bando they were so ill advised as to give this do-nothing a five year contract already! Geez! I could use the money more than Chris Bando and do equally as well hiding in the locker room all night. If he is in the dugout he must be hiding under a bench!
When it comes to player evaluation well, just look at what we have. A team that can’t even execute a simple rundown play without screwing it up.
Then the Wild Cubs have enough brass b***s to expect you to be content with the flimsy excuses they come up with.
Ima Fraid
Ban the Bando’s
The Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League signed Roger Clemens today. He will pitch this weekend against Bridgeport. Roger Clemens vs. James Simmons. Hmmmm.
Chris Bando already coached his last game in Washington.
Mr "Hillbilly" Anonymous... where is your World Series Ring? So sick of your moaning and complaining.
"Wild Things and Pony League World Series are both leaving Washington after this year."
What I heard from an intern with the Wild Things that the announcement will be made in late Oct, or very early November. Looks like they are moving to West by God Virginia.
You may note that in all prior seasons to this that, beginning about mid-August, Bill DeFabio would start urging fans to make a deposit for next season’s games. That has been no such solicitation this year. Since they plan to move there is no need to make that sort of announcement is there? A dead giveaway that the Wild Things are out of here.
I haven't heard a thing about the PONY League.
The cat is now officially out of the bag. Is it not?
"Chris Bando already coached his last game in Washington."
"the announcement will be made in late Oct, or very early November. Looks like they are moving to West by God Virginia."
"beginning about mid-August, Bill DeFabio would start urging fans to make a deposit for next season’s games. That has been no such solicitation this year."
It all adds up to the Wild Things being gone. Might as well announce it now Stu and not wait.
You can kiss 'em goodbye.
The West Virginia Wild Things have been born.
West Virginia Wild Things has a nice ring to it.
I hope they can come up with some players that don't have the same DNA in WV.
Oh goodness, if this move is true what will Mr "Hillbilly" Anonymous have to bitch about now? So glad they will move on to greener pastures, where people will enjoy & not criticize. Bye, Bye Hillbilly...
How could "Chris Bando has coached his last game in Washington" mean the team is moving? The Wild Things still have a homestand remaining.
Have you noticed that there are no announcements asking people to place a deposit for next years tickets? Always have been in the past. They are pulling up stakes and shoving off.
How about the West Virginia Wild & Wonderfuls? Or the West Virginia Rip Offers?
Good-Bye Wild Things thanks for 11 years of great baseball miss you good luck in West Virgina
I'll be sad to see the team move. Where are they going in West Virginia? Bridgeport? Parkersburg? Morgantown?
What will happen to CEP? Doesn't Stu own it? Doesn't Cal U have a lease or something to play there. Surely that can't generate enough money to pay for the turf and the taxes on the stadium.
Hey Stu and Steve, how about I come down and hold the door open so it won't hit you in the butt as you leave?
Need any help packing? I'll just bet you can get a lot of volunteers to held send your miserable lot on it's way.
"thanks for 11 years of great baseball"
What team have you been watching the last five years? Sure wasn't the Wild Cubs.
All you season ticket holders that thought you were going to get free parking next year as a perq - you're right. But everyboby gets free parking because there will be no team. You were had by a slick attorney.
It never ceases to amaze me how a few off the cuff comments can become the bible truth in just the matter of a few days.
I'm watching Andrew Werner pitching against the Pirates for the Padres in his major league debut. He is a former Frontier League player and beat the Wild Things back in 2010 while pitching for Evansville I believe.
It almost has to be true. I never paid any attention to it until now but the thing about not requesting deposits for next year is true. Bill DeFabio has not said one word about it. There certainly isn’t any real enthusiasm about this team’s future, is there?
They have made one stupid move after another and now I’m definitely thinking it was all part of a design
to get the fans so disgusted that there would not be too much resistance to a move. It sure worked in my case because I had already decided to opt out of my mini-season in 2013 several weeks ago.
The fact the Wild Things are not denying any of this also lends credence to the story.
"Word on the street is that the Wild Things and Pony League World Series are both leaving Washington after this year."
You're right, that "word" has been on the street. While I doubt the part about the Wild Things leaving town, I can tell you definitively that there are no plans for the Pony League World Series to leave Washington after this year, or as far as can be seen down the road.
The Wild Things finally blew enough smoke up our ***** and now the act is over. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Leave the darn taxpayer turf here Wild Things because you haven’t paid for it yet. Rotten baseball and even worse management. Wonder how long it will take the fans in West Virginia to catch on to their act down there. Believe me guys, you aren’t getting anything but our leftover garbage.
I wonder how many people will pay $5 to park their tractors when the Wild Cubs move to WV?
On the plus side, moonshine will probably be a dollar a cup on Thirsty Thursdays.
I'd hold off on the funeral for the Wild Things at the moment. If they're moving, I would doubt that an intern would be told. Believe it when you hear it officially. However, it would not shock me at all, as I have expressed twice already this summer. And if they do leave, Stu sure did a convincing job of running the franchise right into the ground.
I've been a diehard fan since '06, and got to about 15 games a year since. This season? Just 4, the last being July 4th. And I have no desire to go back. They scored a whopping 6 runs in the 4 games I saw. No threat of a home run, a triple, or hell, even a double. Wow, what a bore.
I do think their only hope of survival in Washington is if Stu would sell to someone else. The only thing that brings customers back is a "Under New Management" sign.....and reduced prices, naturally.
Kalamazoo's attendance went into the tank, and the team vanished soon after. Greedy, rich owners always manage to snake their way out of contracts/leases.
The most pathetic thing I've seen this year was Stu asking "what happened to our crowds" in the interviews with the O-R and Post-Gazette. A fish rots from the head down, people.
Ban the Bandos!
I'd be interested in research on how many Frontier League franchises had their rosters "stacked" in the first few years to enhance interest.
" I would doubt that an intern would be told."
The Intern was not told. This person just happened to be within earshot while it was being discussed.
Even the walls have ears and Interns listen. Interns have nothing to lose by having loose lips.
Just as they did in the 2007 debacle, the Wild Things don’t know how to handle the fact that they have been found out by an unpaid Intern. So, the do nothings in the front office are…… doing nothing!
I don’t know anything about, nor do I care about the PONY League. It does seem rather silly to have the PONY league World Series played here just because it originated here. It’s embarrassing to have the games played in such a dead city.
But this is really about the Wild Things and not the PONY League
I know the Wild Things are not happy with me and Swisschedda about our posts on this blog.
I know that some of my post have been rather abrasive at times. I did not mean to offend but to try to get somebody’s attention. Sometimes you need to club an elephant upside its head to get any attention. It was, as things turned out, to be an exercise in futility. The Wild Things have retaliated against me in very petty ways that none of you are aware of. I will not elaborate on these things because they are of no importance to anyone, not even me.
I. for one, hope this rumor is not true. I would like to see them remain here. I have to agree with Swisschedda that Stu Williams has run this franchise into the ground. Whatever his reasons are he has been very successful in taking the joy out of watching the Wild Cubs. How ANYBODY could find a field manager as inept as Chris Bando is almost incomprehensible. What sort of thinking would convince a millionaire that raising prices is a way to help increase attendance? How could this same person let ‘suck ups’ convince him that he had a good team that just needed to jell? I think the fact is that he didn’t ever
believe any of these things. Now it seems as though the real motive is becoming clear. I would truly hope it isn’t true, but it appears the ultimate goal is to leave Washington. If not now then at some time in the near future. If that’s the way it is, than so be it!
Your fair weather friends will always tell you that whatever you are doing is just great. In other words, they tell you what you WANT to hear. Your true friends will always tell you what you SHOULD hear!
I wish the Wild Things no ill and never have.
This is my last my last word of the subject. We will just have to wait and see what happens.
Ima Fraid
Ban the Bando’s
Adios
Any of you aware of Steve Zs background in baseball? I was wondering just what his qualifcations are to be Asst.General Manager.
What is more valuable to The Wild Cubs ownership? Operation of a Fontier League team in Washington or tearing down the stadium and using the real estate including the parking lot for commercial development?
The dollar talks.
PS-will they be able to recycle the TP turf?
If an announcement is not made about season ticket deposits for 2013 at the next home game you know the team has its bags packed and is headed for the land of moonshine and toothless women. Never will so many people be anxiously waiting to hear what Bill Defabio has to say.
It's too late now. They will probably make those announcements just because they know people are wise to the little game.
OMG ~ Uncle Ron said, "I wish the Wild Things no ill and never have".
Does he really expect anyone that has ever read this blog to actually take him seriously? The man has been like a piranha, attacking any and everything dealing with the team, employees, coaches, ownership etc. since the team came to WashPa. So now, with the rumor he probably started gaining momentum, he wants us all to forget his rants and consider him "Wildthing Super Fan"! The problem with Ronnie is that, if they leave (which they are not), he will have nothing to complain about. The man will have to find another poor organization to whine about, be careful Pony League you may be next! Let us all hope he is a man of his word (now that is funny) and has had his last word on the subject, until the next time.............
I know the Wild Things are not happy with me and Swisschedda about our posts on this blog.
Gee, I write a song parody and go on the list...LOL. Ah, I'm fine with it. Hey, I always used to post about the BASEBALL before, but this organization has lost me this year. Nepotism has always been a pet peeve...I feel it's beyond absurd when nearly all position players from the opening day lineup were sent packing (including Luis Rivera, who was one of the team's at least average players) and Bando's kid remains. Pathetic. That kind of crap belongs in politics. I'd love to know what current/released players from this year's team have to say on the subject.
I do have friends who go to the season ticket holder meetings, so I keep informed. Does anybody have an idea on how many season ticket holders the team has? I would have gladly been one if I lived in Washington County, but not now...wow has the excitement level vanished. And I say again, the team's original mascot Jason (correct?) WAS the star of the team. Since then, it's been one stiff after another. Jason was worth the price of a ticket alone.
Where are all of the kids' groups, and hell, adult groups? There used to be busloads of groups pulling into the parking lot. This year, there are complete sections empty. No advertising during Pirates games, no telecasts of games during the last few years, etc. I can't tell you how many times I've sat beside folks attending their first game the last 5 years. This year? There's nothing but an empty seat there.
My former workplace began declining over a period of time. We'd scratch our heads and ask "why isn't the owner taking care of the problem?" And the next thing you know, the place was gone due to a back alley dirty deal.
It won't shock me at all if the team folds, whether it be this fall or within the next 2 years.
Ban the Bandos! Boo Stu!
Ima Fraid is only trying to point out the bad things management of the Wild Cubs have done this year and in the past. If no one points out what needs attention, it will never happen.
Look at what was offered the first half of their reign. A manager who knew how to manage. The second manager was also high quality. A complete downward trend after that.
Ricky R. who was probably their best on field person. A staff who was hired for other minor and major league teams with experience.
Teke, the shirt of his back.
Some of the best players ever on the team. Ross, who I didn't always agree with knew baseball and how to be a G.M. John S. as managing parter who might not have know baseball, but knew how to promote the Wild Things. A coach who was the AL rookie of the year.
Jason, the best mascot perhaps in all of baseball at any level.
A real baseball field with grass.
Now what do you have?
Go ahead and criticize the critics and keep the mess as is as they move to moonshine land!
I've always gotten a chuckle out of "the mascot was worth the price of the ticket alone". Numerous people have mentioned that thru the years. 1) If an adult admits this, there's probably some bigger issues that they haven't fully admitted yet. 2) If the main thing people remember from the glory years was the guy underneath a big furry costume, doesn't that say something about the product you are putting on the field? What if a T-ball team played at Consol, had between inning promotions, concessions and beer sold at their games and a mascot running through the bleachers? Wouldn't that basically be the same entertainment for 95% of the people that attend? A very small percentage that attend care if the team wins or loses (or pays attention longer than 2 innings), that's the nature of the Frontier League. You have to commend the owners, past and present, for maximizing what is not a great product. I am amazed that they've lasted this long.
If an announcement is not made about season ticket deposits for 2013 at the next home game you know the team has its bags packed and is headed for the land of moonshine and toothless women.
So it's moving from Washington County to... Washington County?
Natural Grass (8/24 @ 4:07) post pretty much hit the nail on the head. I am looking forward to the final homestand of the season, and going to the season holders picnic on 08/28/2012. There seems to be a lot of "frankly I don't give a dam" attitude. In the early years, the attitude among the staff was pleasant, and they seemed to care about the team and the entire organization. In the last 3 or 4 years, it seems that every year there are new people, and the fan base has dwindled to almost none. Many times I can remember the only seats were standing room only, and the entire staff (from the CEO to the ushers to the waitresses) worked had to make the experience enjoyable. Now, the ushers don't even wipe your seat. Ricci Rich, Jeff Ptak, Scott Efradee, and the rest of the staff were great,and the prices were affordable. No sense beating a dead horse, however, it occurs to me that the plan is to move this team, and use the stadium for other purposes. If that is indeed true, that will be a great loss to the entire community, not only in lost tax base, but loss of employment for many of the youth (summer jobs). I said to my wife about a month ago, something is fishy, simply because they aren't asking for deposits for next year. If I were a Wild Things account rep, I would be banging my head against the wall, unless they know there jobs are going to be eliminated or moved. This could be the reason for the lackluster attitude.
Hopefully, some light will be shed on Tuesday at the picnic.
News flash. The Wild Things aren't leaving. They will be passing out next years ticket information at the season ticket holders picnic on 08/28/2012.
Don't count on anything being said at the picnic. These WT never address any issue with honesty.
You don't get wealthy being a good guy.
But, you know what the Bible says about the chances of a rich man getting to heaven!
“OMG ~ Uncle Ron said, "I wish the Wild Things no ill and never have".
Why is it that the WT always find one of their employees to bash Ron Wilson?
No matter how much the WT scream and yell, and cry about him the truth is he is usually right on.
He is not afraid to speak his mind and the WT decline was predicted by him some time ago and moved along almost exactly as he said it would.
Weep and cry WT because you are your own worst enemy. You have destroyed what was once a good thing.
Ban the Bandos
Boo Hoo, Stu
News flash. The Wild Things aren't leaving.
What? You believe everything the Wild Cubs say. Do not forget this is still the same lying bunch as before.
M. Bando in the line up again tonight.
Notice how many of his starts are when the team is on the road? A guy with a .180 BA and playing at a power hitters position. This guy has one HR yet Daddy lets him play. Way to go Stu, you really know how to pick the cream of the crop for your team!
Ban the Bandos
Boo Stu
How many reasonably good players have been released while sonny gets to hang on with the team? This kid can't even play well at this low level of baseball.
Send the both of them packing Stu Head!
You're just a guy that likes every one licking your boots.
Take your team and get out.
21 games behind in the standings. We are just so proud.
When they move to Wv. at least get Buttons a shirt with velcroe.
I might to on a thursty Thursday for some dollar moonshine.
How about the Morgantown Moonshiners!
"a shirt with velcroe.
I might to on a thursty Thursday"
Nice try Jethro. If the Wild Things would move to W.Va. at least then they'd have fans who can spell better than those in Hillbilly, Pa.
Go work on your cyphering Jethro.
Whether the WT leave for WV next year or not, it’s just a matter of time before it actually happens.
My guess would be after the 2014 season. One thing is certain – they are finished here.
Retaining the services of the Bandos for another season will be like driving the nails into your coffin with a power tool.
Ban the Bandos
Boo Stu
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