Decisions, decisions
The Wild Things made two interesting roster moves this week, which will lead to some difficult decisions as early as next week.
Starting pitcher Jason Hall was placed on the 7-day disabled list with what has been described as rotator cuff soreness. It is believed that this is only a minor ailment and the Wild Things decided to play it safe and put Hall on the shorter of the two disabled lists. He will be eligible to come off the DL June 5, the second game of the home series against the Frontier League Greys.
Washington also signed 25-year-old outfielder Nick Akins, who spent five seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. Drafted three times, Akins has hit 56 career home runs, including 21 in one season.
Washington had been at the Frontier League roster limit of 13 players classified as Experienced or Veteran. Putting Hall on the DL and signing Akins kept the Wild Things at 13.
However, Washington manager Bart Zeller told WJPA Radio's Randy Gore prior to the Wild Things' win over Windy City Friday night that outfielder Rogelio Noris has secured a visa is expected to be in Washington early next week. Noris, who hit 21 home runs in the Frontier League last season and was acquired in an offseason trade with Gateway, also is classified as Experienced.
"He's supposed to be in Washington Monday. We'll probably work him out for four or five days," Zeller said.
If Hall is activated off the DL and Norris added to the active roster, that means Washington must make two corresponding moves with Experienced/Veteran players. Releasing or trading a player classified as Rookie-1 or Rookie-2 won't help the situation.
Akins and Noris each are outfielders, and Washington already has two Experienced outfielders in Gus Benusa and Darian Sandford. Benusa is tied for the team lead in runs (12), is second in batting average (.314) and might be the most improved player on the team. Sandford has pushed his batting average up to .256 and leads the league with 13 stolen bases, more than double that of the closest competition. Openings on the roster for new players are hard to find.
"When you do things like that, it puts a lot of pressure on the coaching staff to make some very, very tough decisions," Zeller said.
Starting pitcher Jason Hall was placed on the 7-day disabled list with what has been described as rotator cuff soreness. It is believed that this is only a minor ailment and the Wild Things decided to play it safe and put Hall on the shorter of the two disabled lists. He will be eligible to come off the DL June 5, the second game of the home series against the Frontier League Greys.
Washington also signed 25-year-old outfielder Nick Akins, who spent five seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. Drafted three times, Akins has hit 56 career home runs, including 21 in one season.
Washington had been at the Frontier League roster limit of 13 players classified as Experienced or Veteran. Putting Hall on the DL and signing Akins kept the Wild Things at 13.
However, Washington manager Bart Zeller told WJPA Radio's Randy Gore prior to the Wild Things' win over Windy City Friday night that outfielder Rogelio Noris has secured a visa is expected to be in Washington early next week. Noris, who hit 21 home runs in the Frontier League last season and was acquired in an offseason trade with Gateway, also is classified as Experienced.
"He's supposed to be in Washington Monday. We'll probably work him out for four or five days," Zeller said.
If Hall is activated off the DL and Norris added to the active roster, that means Washington must make two corresponding moves with Experienced/Veteran players. Releasing or trading a player classified as Rookie-1 or Rookie-2 won't help the situation.
Akins and Noris each are outfielders, and Washington already has two Experienced outfielders in Gus Benusa and Darian Sandford. Benusa is tied for the team lead in runs (12), is second in batting average (.314) and might be the most improved player on the team. Sandford has pushed his batting average up to .256 and leads the league with 13 stolen bases, more than double that of the closest competition. Openings on the roster for new players are hard to find.
"When you do things like that, it puts a lot of pressure on the coaching staff to make some very, very tough decisions," Zeller said.
posted by Chris Dugan at
9:03 AM
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