What's been happening

Now that the basketball season has basically ended for area teams, I've finally had some time to dedicate to this blog. Here's what's been happening around the Frontier League in recent weeks:

(insert sound of crickets chirping).

Though this is generally the quiet time in the Frontier League -- the calm before the signings flurry in April -- but there have been a couple of things going on that have not been mentioned on this blog:

* The Rockford franchise has changed its name to the Rockford Aviators. I liked the Riverhawks nickname so my reaction to Aviators was .... ehhh. You probably can't do much marketing with the nickname Aviators. And what do you have for a mascot?

I guess Aviators could be worse. They could have renamed the team the London Rippers.

It appears that Rockford's uniforms will include some orange. Here's an idea: Rockford's players should wear orange hats. That way, the team can have Lowell Mather Night and bring in Thomas Haden Church to throw out the first pitch (I know, cheap "Wings" reference.).

At least Rockford didn't change the team colors to red & black, which seems to be the official color scheme of all Frontier League teams, expect the Wild Things, who should be wearing red & black. I never understood why there is an oversized red & black "Wild Things" logo behind home plate at Consol Energy Park but the team is wearing blue hats and socks.

* The Greys, the Frontier League's travel team that will play in the East Division, will hold spring training in Chillicothe, Ohio.

* Because of the league adding the Greys and losing the Rippers, the number of miles teams will be logging on the bus this year will be down significantly. This will be the subject of a future blog post.

* Former Wild Things first baseman Ernie Banks has been released by Normal.

* Though still listed as a minor league free agent by Baseball America, former Wild Things pitcher Tom Cochran has re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Cochran was was 9-5 with a 3.96 ERA in 25 games (23 starts) with Class AAA Lehigh Valley last year.

All-Star Game returning to Washington

One of the worst-kept secrets in baseball was made official Thursday. The Frontier League is bringing its marquee event back to Washington this summer.

Frontier League and Washington Wild Things officials announced that Consol Energy Park will be the site of the 2013 all-star baseball game July 17. The announcement was made during a news conference at Consol Energy’s headquarters.
 

Washington is hosting the all-star game for the second time. The Wild Things, who first played host in 2005, beat out two other cities for hosting rights to this year’s game.
 

"This is our feature event, the mainstay of the league," Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee said. "When I joined the league as commissioner back in 1994 and we discussed the all-star game, it was like, ‘OK, who drew the short straw and has to host it?’ Now, it’s a tough battle for a team to get the game."
 

Wild Things owner Stu Williams said this is a project his organization has been working for a long time.
 

"The process started more than a year ago. Basically, as soon as last year’s all-star game was over the league has to decide where the next one is going to be held. If you want to host, then you do your lobbying and put together a program. A bonus that we have is, everyone in the Frontier League knows that when Washington does something it’s done first class."
 

In 2005, the Wild Things followed the plan of Major League Baseball and made the all-star game part of a multi-day event that included a country music concert at the ballpark. The plans are again elaborate.
 

All-star week begins July 15 with a luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel in the Meadow Lands. Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster and former pitcher Steve Blass will be the keynote speaker. On July 16, there will be a home run derby followed by the all-stars playing a softball game against the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch women’s professional league. The Racers also will be conducting a clinic for youth softball players.
 

"We want this to be the standard for all future Frontier League All-Star games to be measured," Williams said. "We want people to say, ‘Was it as good as Washington? No.’"
 

In 2005, the Wild Things’ Mike Arbinger won the pregame home run derby, then was named Most Valuable Player in the all-star game after helping to the East Division to a 5-4 victory. One thing I recall about that night is the wind was blowing in from right field, making it difficult for lefties to hit for power. It might be the only night in the ballpark's history when the wind blew in from right field (it usually blows out to left field).

One player from the 2005 all-star game made it to the major leagues. River City’s Joe Thatcher went on to make his debut in the majors less than two years after playing in Washington. Thatcher has appeared in 237 major-league games as a left-handed relief pitcher with the San Diego Padres.

"The talent level in the league now is better than in 2005," Lee said. "We’ll be trying to showcase everything we can. The difference in Washington from 2005 is like night and day with the ballpark having turf and the development around there."

84 Lumber will be the title sponsor for the All-Star Game.