My back hurts just watching this guy
The Wild Things pushed their roster back up to the 24-player limit Tuesday when they signed outfielder Alex Buccilli out of Coastal Carolina University.
Buccilli, who played at Franklin Regional High School, Frederick (Md.) Community College and Oregon before playing two seasons at Coastal, is a player that most college baseball fans know of, though they might not remember his name. He's more commonly known as the guy "with the strange batting stance" or "the guy who makes my back hurt when I watch him bat."
Here's an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFHu374BQkI
Buccilli went from a walk-on to a everyday starter at Coastal Carolina, which has been a good proving ground for Frontier League players. Former Wild Things Chris Carter, Randy McGarvey, Brett Grandstrand, Travis Risser, Ryan McGraw and a few others, along with current Lake Erie outfielder Daniel Bowman and pitcher Matt Rein, each had outstanding careers with the Chanticleers. Buccilli, who is the younger brother of Wild Things Baseball Operations Director Tony Buccilli, batted .294 with 20 doubles, four home runs, 70 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 116 games in two seasons with Coastal, which made the NCAA tournament each of those years.
Buccilli told me the odd batting stance -- which stops being weird and reverts to a normal stance just before the pitch is delivered -- is simply something he does as a routine that helps him remember a couple keys to his swing. He added that he did get heckled a lot in road games because of the batting stance, saying that Clemson probably razzed him the most.
Buccilli, who played at Franklin Regional High School, Frederick (Md.) Community College and Oregon before playing two seasons at Coastal, is a player that most college baseball fans know of, though they might not remember his name. He's more commonly known as the guy "with the strange batting stance" or "the guy who makes my back hurt when I watch him bat."
Here's an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFHu374BQkI
Buccilli went from a walk-on to a everyday starter at Coastal Carolina, which has been a good proving ground for Frontier League players. Former Wild Things Chris Carter, Randy McGarvey, Brett Grandstrand, Travis Risser, Ryan McGraw and a few others, along with current Lake Erie outfielder Daniel Bowman and pitcher Matt Rein, each had outstanding careers with the Chanticleers. Buccilli, who is the younger brother of Wild Things Baseball Operations Director Tony Buccilli, batted .294 with 20 doubles, four home runs, 70 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 116 games in two seasons with Coastal, which made the NCAA tournament each of those years.
Buccilli told me the odd batting stance -- which stops being weird and reverts to a normal stance just before the pitch is delivered -- is simply something he does as a routine that helps him remember a couple keys to his swing. He added that he did get heckled a lot in road games because of the batting stance, saying that Clemson probably razzed him the most.
posted by Chris Dugan at
10:38 AM
13 Comments:
The daddy ball era is over, it's now help out your baby brother ball.
Ok first off, is that seriously Tony's title? Baseball Operations Director? Can you please elaborate on this Tony guy and just what exactly are his qualifications to be a "baseball operations director"? He does nothing more than look at stat sheets. He has no business being there. Ross Vecchio must be incredibly disheartened to see this is what the Wild Things have become.
Secondly, the brother the player must just need attention with a stance like that. What a fool.
Third, which all-star will Washington have to trade away along with him to get him off the roster?
If this was done to perhaps get the franchise's name out there with the odd stance, kudos to management. Maybe the Pittsburgh media will pick up on it and get a few more fannies in seats as a reminder that franchise still exists. That of course reeks of desparation but we may be reaching that point.
Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner for dumbest comment of the year on this blog. The winner is Anonymous 5:01 AM. Please explain to me how a 5th outfielder with an odd stance will get more people in the seats. I want to hear this.
Just when you think they can't get any dumber on this blog .....
Just when I was beginning to show a little desire to come to a game, nepotism rears its ugly head yet again. It will be great if the guy hits .300, but I'm guessing it's not likely. What the heck is it with the Wild Things and Franklin-Regional High School? The same school that produced ex-pitching coach Larry Wayman, who set a Frontier League record (formerly held by Greg Jelks) for the slowest, most apathetic walk to the mound. I remember the Things also had Alex Paluka, another F-R grad, in camp a few seasons ago but he didn't make the roster.
Can he go on all the rides?
It was just a tiny joke, I swear.
Don't any of you try to say this isn't just more of Wacky's attempt to empty the stadium completely. The Wild Things ARE leaving Washington after the season ends.
Are you ready for some football?
What advantage does the owners of the Frontier Greys have when a team does nothing but travel. How can the owners afford to pay the salaries of the players, manager and coaches, when there is no fan base? (Meal money, expenses and so on). Funny, last years traveling team folded halfway through the season. I am not sure these players like this situation, but they are doing the best they can in a difficult situation. I wonder what the bus driver thinks about all the traveling. Unless they switch drivers, he or she is also gone for 4 months. Not the way I would like to make a living.
The Frontier League, not an individual, owns the Greys. And last year's traveling team, the Road Warriors, did not fold halfway through the season. It was the London Rippers who ceased operations.
This guys stance is great
I read the article in the O-R about the Meadows 50th anniversary.
It said Stu once owned the Meadows.
The Wild Cubs and the turf field they play on, which he owns, are just "chump change" compared to the meadows. We should not get excited about anything he does the the tax write off would.
Never mind the strange pre-batting stance, the kid really hit the ball hard at his first few at bats - -
Sunday's game (06/30/13) was worth the price of a ticket. Those guys played there hearts out. Great job Wildthings. Just a shame there wasn't more fans there.
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