Wild Things going managerless
The Wild Things will not have a manager tonight. Or in the near future.
The Wild Things will go with what has been described as a "coach by committee" approach.
I'm not making this up. River City's Steve Brook will be the only manager in the ballpark tonight.
Washington's coaching duties will be split between coaches Bob Didier, Bob Bozzuto and Kevin Gryboski.
The Wild Things will go with what has been described as a "coach by committee" approach.
I'm not making this up. River City's Steve Brook will be the only manager in the ballpark tonight.
Washington's coaching duties will be split between coaches Bob Didier, Bob Bozzuto and Kevin Gryboski.
posted by Chris Dugan at
2:59 PM
36 Comments:
This is remarkable,,, the wheels are off the wagon and it's comedy shop time at the park.
How dumb can the Wild Things mis-management be?
The FIRST person out the door should have been Kevin Gryboski. Instead, he is permitted to stay and be rewarded for being a freakin' jerk. How long will it be before he grabs Williams or Wacky Zavacky around the throat in the same manner? I suppose he will then be rewarded once more with part ownership of the team. I would not be surprised because Williams seems to love to surround with classless people. He is doing a great job of that. Birds of a feather do flock together.
I strongly suspect that this tri-managership has come about because nobody in his right mind would want to manage a Stu Williams owned team after learning just how much of a tin horn organization the Wild Things are.
With people like swaggering Wacky Zavacky, and his now equally undeserving pitching coach remaining with the team, how can anybody think this is anything but at rinky-dink bunch of ego driven nut cases with no sense of what is right or wrong.
I will say that Zavacky has the art of sucking up perfected.
Meanwhile, Bart Zeller, the man who put this team together had to go. Nobody should have to be subjected to that sort of crap. He will be much better off for it in the long run. His only mistake was ever associating himself with the classless Wild Things.
One person needs to be at the helm. A camel was a horse designed by committee.
It is beyond comprehension that Kevin Gryboski is still with the team. Talk about the Titanic, even it had managed to avoid a few ice burgs. This management hits all of them.
Washington Wild Swings Story
It’s Saturday, August 2, 2014. The Wild Swings vs. the Frontier Greys
at CEP.
Top of the first inning, one out and the Greys have a runner on third base.
He’s just a small guy but fast. The batter hits a slow roller to third. The runner
breaks for home but is out by a mile. He does his best to knock the ball out of
the catchers grasp with a hard slide. The catcher gets knocked on his fanny but
holds on to the ball. Runner out – catcher miffed, and probably embarrassed, too
‘That little guy should never been able to do that to me!’ ‘cause there’s rule about that.’
Who cares? The guy was out. Does the catcher what the guy hung in a public execution?
Next day the Greys throw a pitch behind the pitchers head. Gryboski ask Bob Didier if he thinks the
Wild Swings should retaliate. Didier says he’s not sure but when ‘I was in the ‘big’s’ it did happen
sometimes.’ Gryboski, still upset about the “intention” pitch ask Bobby Bozzuto if they should throw at a
Greys batter. Bobby says no because some kid might be seriously injured. Well, that’s not what Gryboski wanted to hear.
He puts Bozzuto in a choke hold. Didier breaks it up. It’s an ugly situation.
The next day the Wild Swings brain trust meet and take the following actions:
1 – Bozzuto is fired for being a troublemaker.
2. – Didier is sent off to an anger management school.
3. – Gryboski is promoted to manager.
There is something really wrong when a pitching coach gets into a physical altercation with his manager and still
remains with the team. Gryboski should have been in Timbuktu no later than last Monday but, the amateurs powers that be
apparently don’t understand the difference between right and wrong. You don’t slug the manager – PERIOD! What a pi## poor
example of leadership by a so-called coach! Using the Wild Swings twisted logic, it would be a good move for Steve Zavacky to
smack Williams upside the coconut. He would be allowed to stay and Williams would resign as the owner. (Of course, we all know
the owner is really Franni Williams).
Ima Fraid
grabbowowowksi is no pitching coach the guy is a loser and shoulf be fired. How about getting some decent food in the ballpark anyway
How can mananagement allow that fool groobowksi to stay in the dugout with the young men he is supposed to be a leader for and a role model to. Get that bum out of the dugout. Time for Zeller to tell us all what really happened
Anybody ever think that's there is just no hope for this franchise?
I wonder what Bill Lee thinks of this group?
Exasperated.
Good luck to Stewart Ijames in the Arizona Diamondbacks system, a phenomenal player from what I've read. But his is not the only contract being sold to the big leagues....
The Ringling Bros. Circus has purchased the contract of Stu Williams from the Washington Wild Things Frontier League baseball club. A spokesman for Ringling Bros. said "Stu has ringmaster written all over him. Who else could make a formerly packed 'House of Thrills' into a ghost town in a manner of just a few seasons? Who else could let a championship winning manager who led the team to a first place finish in the season's first half slip away, and keep the alleged reason for it on staff? Who else could possibly earn a $40,000 fine for violation of child labor laws? When you really think hard about that, it's nearly impossible to do. But Stu has thrived despite the long odds, and we think he'll be a perfect fit for OUR circus as well." Good luck, Stu!
Solution for the managerial opening: Chris Bando returns to the role, via phone, natually. His son returns to the team as well, on paper only. When it's his turn to bat, an empty chair will be placed in the batter's box. It's not likely the chair could hit for a lesser average.
Swisscheda:
Your comment says it all - almost anyway.
The first sign that the Williams era was not going to be a good one was when he proudly announced he had signed Chris Bando to a FIVE year contract. Immediate red flag! Anybody that doesn't know why that should be a red flag has almost as little baseball acumen as Mr. Williams.
It's been all downhill since that time. The last few seasons have been filled with a lot of broken promises and very little else.
It's just no fun at CEP anymore. Same old stuff every night. Bill Di Fabio (spelling?) making mistake after mistake and speaking the now very old "broken windshield" and "dirtiest car" lines until one gets sick of hearing it.
Then there is the scoreboard operator that can't keep up with the ball-strike count and the correct number of outs or runs scored. In short, the place just seem to be falling apart in small increments.
I don't dislike Mr. Williams. He has always treated me well and with respect. It does seem to me however, that he has not put together a program that will make CEP a fun place again.
Having said that, I agree with Jeff. It's Mr. Williams team and, it's his money. He certainly has the right to do as he pleases with it. We are merely the fans. When all is said and done we have no say in anything.
We also have the right to voice our thoughts even if it does touch some nerves with some overly sensitive persons. We are still, at least for the moment, Americans with freedom of speech.
Last word; Gryboski should go - NOW!
Ima Fraid
I saw in Dugans article that the night after the Zeller Graboski fight
that Graboski was sitting in Williams suite not in the digout but that he was not suspended.
Looks like we have a second Steve Z type on our hands.
I would have thought Franni would have had a nervous breakdown over the parking lot by now. Hey, btw, how is the thing with Stu's daughter's and the boyfriend working out. Buy his artwork, he is really good at...ummm.......THAT...yep...THAT.Please, everyone, please buy a ticket. Or just wait for Wayne to approach you at Walmart or Foodland with a free one. OY VEY...LOL.
The Wild Things should be sold to a circus. Just think how appropriate that would be. All circus's use a song entitled "Entry of the Gladiators" as their opening act. All Ringling would have to do is wheel in a float with Gryboski leaning over the fallen body of Bart Zeller. Appropriate indeed.
How can a 40 year old man physically assault a man that will turn 73 years old Tuesday and be allowed to continue to coach young men? What sort of message does that deliver to these players?
These Washington Wild Things are showing us their total lack of respect for baseball principles and their lack of respect for older people in general. No matter what the fight was about there is NO excuse for Gryboski's lack of self control. If things go the way they have the last few years we can expect that Kevin Gryboski will be named the new Wild Things manager.
Geezer
Swiss, you are so right!
Wild Things Ad.
Help Wanted
Baseball Team Manager.
No experience necessary.
Must be able to beat up on old man in a dugout.
No moral compass needed.
Having no pride will be a plus.
Prefer a person from the Wilkes-Barre, PA area.
Being a jerk is a prerequisite.
Apply at Wild Things office.
"coach by committee" .
How laughable is that?
Typical boneheaded approach to a problem. Only in the Frontier League would this sort of thing happen.
Too many amateur's in one place at the same time.
These people should go on America's Got Talent as comedians.
They would probably just screw that up too.
Re: Wild Things ad should have included that based on the past, considerable health risk involved.
Last two managers caught Williamsitis. No cure even been found for it. Could bring an end to your baseball career.
I can't believe the Mild Things think its OK for pitching coaches to undermine the authority of their superior (the manager) and then get into a fight with him. I guess that tells the players its OK to fight with the coaches in the dugout.
If the players are okay with Grab-socki being their pitching coach then they are just as big a joke as the Wild Things management and I hope their season goes to the dogs where it belongs. If they support Kevin G then they have as much lack of respect for baseball as Williams + Zavacky.
A complete disrespect of tradition and older people. Of course we know Williams thinks they are fine "adults". RIGHT!
Only one reason why Ijames was picked up by Arizona. Thanks Bart!! It certainly wasn't the big loaf pitching coach.
Boo Stu
In how many leagues do you think the players would support a bonehead pitching coach over their manager? Only in the Frontier League.
Also, how many teams have a management boneheaded enough to allow a even more boneheaded pitching coach to remain with the team even one day after such an incident, much less letting him sit in the owners suite?
Only Stu Williams would be dumb enough to do that. Guess what, he actually did just that!
I'd suggest a boycott but we've been doing that all season and the WT management still hasn't received the message. Boneheaded isn't a strong enough word for Stu and Steve.
Wow!! What a bunch of haters on this Blog. Now your wishing ill will on the players.
You guys commenting on here are a joke. You guys think that he was fired because of a little shoving match that happens all the time in sports?
If they support a nutty pitching coach over their manager, then they deserve it.
Who is the Al Davis of the Frontier League?
Hate? I doubt that.
When one of the players, C. J. Beatty, says, in part “we (the players) feel comfortable with the coaches we have.”
it tells me that they are willing to turn their backs on the man who brought them all to the Wild Things in
the first place, Bart Zeller. And, they are doing just that, aren’t they? Gryboski, the pitching coach that is willing to
hit not only his boss but also, an elderly person, is still being retained by the WT as a leader of the team. Not only
is that unconscionable, but an outrage. What’s next with Steve and Stu? Do they do the right thing and release this
disgraceful individual or, name him the new manager? Are these two people, Williams and Zavacky, so incapable of doing the right thing that they
will screw this up also?
If the past is prolog, as it usually is, the answer is a resounding, YES! We have come to expect this pair to do nothing
that makes even a modicum sense. I suppose this situation will see the same result.
The players usually are a reflection of their coaching staff and this sure seems to be the case with this team as it is now comprised.
If C. J. Beatty is the spokesman for the team, and he did say “we”, then this team has a low set of values and will sell out
to a person that has NO values at all. Par for the course since the Williams/Zavacky regime took over.
Anon @ July 23, 2014 at 10:26 AM
You are the joke. The problem was/is that NOBODY was fired. Get you facts straight before making yourself look so bad.
No, it does not happen all the time in sports.
Now you question the character of CJ Beatty? Get real. Clearly you never interacted with him after a game.
The squad is the reason for the success this year. Not the coaches.
It was time to take Old Yeller, or I mean Zeller, out to pasture.
Listen folks, please lay off each other. Let Jeff have his say, he seems very insightful and it' ok that he likes the players. Take it from someone who knows, Stu knows nothing about sports and marketing. He is a lawyer. Everyone knows the worst business people are lawyers and doctors. Steve Z should be even mentioned in these blog responses. He knows nothing but himself and his ego, Heaven know why. However, he used to cut the grass very well when baseball in Washington was a good thing. Now it’s just something that needs to go away.
I agree. I hope that take Jeff with them. His only concern is winning at any cost. He is not the least bit concerned about the message the WT management is sending to these young players. You may think that Jeff is insightful, I think he's just sucking up.
Guess you don't know sarcasm when you read it.
Wild Things players = very good.
Wild Things fans = Cranky old people who complain about everybody and everything probably because they're stuck in Washington.
Anon on July 25, 2014 at 6:23 AM
said, "Steve Z should be even mentioned in these blog responses. He knows nothing but himself and his ego, Heaven know why. However, he used to cut the grass very well when baseball in Washington was a good thing. Now it’s just something that needs to go away."
He has also lost his self respect and even worse, his soul. He has sold that to Williams.
(these comments were also posted under Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Too many managers?) -
It seems that the wifi at this campgrounds in the Poconos was the same one that Abe Lincoln also tried to use, without much success. Reading CJ's comments at this time is not possible, as I cannot access the OR archives, although, I'm guessing that his spin on the situation had a positive outlook to it seeing that he does a fair amount of motivational speaking besides being a baseball player. Nothing wrong with a positive attitude.
And yes, at this point in time nothing with the team is going to change.
What I am still pondering is do we know exactly what happened that Saturday evening?
I know that our catcher was thrown at, and that a player for the visiting team was then thrown at. I heard a very brief exchange of yelling coming from our dugout. I watched as the players gathered in right field immediately after the game and had a meeting lasting about 10 minutes. I was told that Bart resigned the next morning and was on his way home to Arizona.
I have not heard or read an actual account of what had happened in the dugout. I have read and heard speculations and assumptions. The majority here on this blog have thrown Kevin under the bus and have put the team in a bad light for continuing their jobs as baseball players, regardless of whom is managing the team. I would be more than happy to hear that Bart was wronged and this alleged attack caused his resignation. But, is that the truth?
Allow me to state, I am not a 'winning is the only thing' kind of person. A good sporting event, regardless if my team wins or loses, is still good entertainment. I have played and coached the game, and in hindsight, it was a rewarding experience despite some of the losses.
I met Bart shortly after his arrival in Washington last year. We had numerous brief conversations and lunched together at the All Star event in 2013. I looked forward to his 'coaches' updates' on-line during the off season. In short, I was, and continue to be a Bart Zeller fan. In fact, did you know that there is a group on Facebook, "The Bart Zeller Fan Club" of which I am a member.
All that being said, I ask the question, is it possible that Mr Zeller was the instigator of that 'ugly incident' in the dugout? Was he defending his right to order our pitcher to throw at an opponents head? Did he lash out at Mr Gryboski because Kevin had ordered the knockdown pitch? Was Kevin defending himself? Was Bart defending himself? Do we really know what had happened? I sure do not. Chris, do you have any additional light to shed on this? Does anyone else know for sure what happened that evening in the dugout that lead to Bart's departure? I for one would sure like to know, if for no other reason than to put the subject to rest.
As far as where the team is now, wonderful. A great season so far, and hopefully continuing success, the playoffs and the championship. Go Wild Things!
"The Bart Zeller Fan Club"
You actually belong to that?
That's the best joke of the season, at least to this point.
Other than Bill Lee, you have to be the biggest FL person in the whole world.
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