Pitcher signed, Heck of a coach added
The Wild Things have been playing for quite some time while under the Frontier League roster limit of 24 active players. For example, they played a doubleheader Sunday against the Greys with the league minimum 22 active players.
To move closer to the 24-player limit, the Wild Things signed left-handed pitcher Christopher O'Hare from Lynnfield, Mass. He gives Washington 23 active players heading into tonight's game at Schaumburg.
O'Hare played college baseball at Fisher College in Boston, Mass., and comes to the Wild Things after spending parts of two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies system. O'Hare was drafted in the 23rd round by the Phillies in 2013. At Fisher, O'Hare led the NAIA with a 0.86 ERA, had a 28-inning scoreless streak and a 19-strikeout game.
O'Hare pitched in only 18 games in affiliated ball, including 12 this year for Class A Lakewood and one with short-season Williamsport. O'Hare's career was derailed when he received a 50-game suspension in January after a second failed test for a banned substance, reportedly a drug of abuse. Players are given a warning after their first positive test for a drug of abuse.
The Wild Things also filled a coaching vacancy Tuesday by hiring former Washington outfielder Andrew Heck as its first-base coach. Heck played for the Wild Things in each of the last two seasons and was in spring training this year. Heck is in his second season as the head baseball coach at Sewickley Academy and guided the Panthers to the postseason each season, including a spot in the PIAA Class A playoffs this spring.
To move closer to the 24-player limit, the Wild Things signed left-handed pitcher Christopher O'Hare from Lynnfield, Mass. He gives Washington 23 active players heading into tonight's game at Schaumburg.
O'Hare played college baseball at Fisher College in Boston, Mass., and comes to the Wild Things after spending parts of two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies system. O'Hare was drafted in the 23rd round by the Phillies in 2013. At Fisher, O'Hare led the NAIA with a 0.86 ERA, had a 28-inning scoreless streak and a 19-strikeout game.
O'Hare pitched in only 18 games in affiliated ball, including 12 this year for Class A Lakewood and one with short-season Williamsport. O'Hare's career was derailed when he received a 50-game suspension in January after a second failed test for a banned substance, reportedly a drug of abuse. Players are given a warning after their first positive test for a drug of abuse.
The Wild Things also filled a coaching vacancy Tuesday by hiring former Washington outfielder Andrew Heck as its first-base coach. Heck played for the Wild Things in each of the last two seasons and was in spring training this year. Heck is in his second season as the head baseball coach at Sewickley Academy and guided the Panthers to the postseason each season, including a spot in the PIAA Class A playoffs this spring.
posted by Chris Dugan at
2:42 PM
27 Comments:
Welcome back to Andrew, I look forward to saying hi in person.
Chris, does the Frontier League have a drug testing procedure in place?
We sure don't want or need any substance abuse problems in and/or around the Wild Things.
As far as I know, the league does not have a drug-testing program.
OMG, can you believe this! I received a letter today signed by Steve Z asking the season ticket holders, you know the forgotten
old people that don't spend enough money, to help the Wild Things raise their attendance.
Are these folks nuts, or just plain crazy? They can KMA!
I'll say one thing - they sure have a lot of ba##s! I will not do anything for them until they do something positive for the season ticket holders. Pretty sure that ain't gonna' happen.
Gee, another timely post having to do with the blog subject, go figure.
Hey season ticket holder, how about bringing the best team in club history and in the frontier league? Finally having a quality to watch isn't enough? You should feel privileged to watch this fine group of young men #squad
Hey season ticket holder, how about bringing the best team in club history and in the frontier league? Finally having a quality to watch isn't enough? You should feel privileged to watch this fine group of young men #squad
They team owes you nothing. What are they suppose to whipe your @$$
Anon at 8:53 PM and 9:10
You either repeat yourself or you stutter.
Typical WT dolt. Can't even post anything without screwing up.
That letter has me laughing so hard I just might start peeing down my leg.
Anonymous said...
They team owes you nothing. What are they suppose to whipe your @$$
First, you can't spell.
Second, we owe the team nothing.
I'm sure as hell am not going to be a ticket salesperson for them without compensation. What have they done for the season ticket holders or any other fans for that matter.
I'm fifty years old and have made a decent living without having to grovel for my boss. Steve is so enslaved to Stu Williams that it is humiliating to even watch. He's just the kind of person Stu needs to do his dirty work for him.
The WT are going belly-up. I don't care enough to carry the water for them.
BTW: They probably need to wipe your a## for you because you're not smart enough to do it for yourself
Interesting dialogue with only 3 weeks plus left in the season and Washington still clinging to first place in the east, despite a subpar offense.
I hope the anonymous blogger is wrong about the Wildthings going belly up as I am as passionate about them as I was and am about the Denver Broncos when I lived in Colorado. It's a wonderful alternative in sports: athletes really competing for something and no Las Vegas involvement.
My hope is that the community rallies around the team and the Wildthings get an additional right handed power hitter asap. The longer they cling to first place now the better their chances in the playoffs. Much like the old Mets in 1973, they have pitching and defense, which is the secret to winning in a short series.
Blessings to all,
Bill 105C08
Nice letter Steve. First Stu makes you grovel to him and now he has you doing the same to the fans.
Why don’t you just send Wayne to few more grocery stores or Target with more freebie tickets. Pack
the park indeed! Why didn’t you morons send Kevin Kevin Gryboski packing? Better yet, why don’t you send his rotten a*s out as a good will ambassador for the WT? That should be worth a good laugh.
You have no pride left. You should stop embarrassing yourself and just move on.
Reply to William Gratchic.
I have to agree with you Bill. The problem is that management has put themselves in a position that they are a larger story than the team. Instead of doing the right thing with the Gryboski incident they allowed something to happen that runs counter to all the best traditions of baseball.
In the past seasons with even more than 10 games to play they were soliciting the fans to make a deposit for the next years season tickets. So far this year - nothing. Makes one wonder if they are not going to fold.
Frankly, I don't care. If a new ownership would come upon the scene, that would be an entirely different story. I could really support that.
There is very little exciting left at CEP. Same old boring silly promos like, another customer for Pro-Tech Auto Glass, and the even more silly dirtiest car in the parking lot thing. Bill DiFabio, the public address guy, just runs everything into the ground. We've all heard the Garrett Rau intro, the one where Bill just has to make it sound like a growl. Well, it's more than time to give that one a rest. The point I'm making is that a night at CEP has degenerated into the same darn thing, night after night. Add that to all the broken promises and outright lies made by the William's Family and it all adds up to the fact they don't know how to promote baseball. They sure do know how to talk but, talk is NOT entertainment!
In short, the Wild Things need fresh blood and new ideas. I don't see that happening under this narcissistic ownership.
Could it be that the Wild Things could both win their first championship and go belly-up in the same season?
I refuse to state my name. I'd advise you to do the same.
Is Steve the Rebellion's assistant general manager also?
Amazing, the ownership has the best team record league in the Frontier League and the Rebellion has the worst record in the pro women's league with the same general manager and assistant general manager.
Off Topic but necessary post.
I want to thank the Wild Things for making my wife “Sweetheart of the Night” on Saturday,
August 9th. After undergoing a series of surgeries for a sudden life threatening condition in late
December 2013, she has had a long and difficult period of recovery. The presentation put the biggest
smile on her face that I’ve seen in the last few months and made her feel so much better. It was great
to see that smile back once more..
Again, thanks to the Wild Things and the sponsor of the promotion, Malone’s Flower Shop
in Canonsburg.
Ron Wilson
Note for Chris Blaine; Thanks for all you do. Love you with all my heart. Now, if only I wasn’t
a married man.................
uh oh tonight was bad, they could use some of those quality pitchers they let go in spring training to take some shots on other guys who are gone or will be shortly. The second game tonight hurt...
You mean those quality pitchers they let go during spring training who are so good that NOBODY in professional baseball has signed not even the Pecos League teams?
Yes sir those pitchers sure will put this team in the playoffs .... Not!
The Rebellion was a joke from the initial concept. An other "Can't Miss" idea from the Media Genius Williams and his band of Merry Yes Men. Can you imagine how stupid the Sarris Candy people feel for dumping huge money into sponsoring this mess. Stick to being a lawyer and leave the sports to the pros. Also, find someone real to be the GM, not a lawn boy.
If there were actually 2,000 people at Sunday's game then I'll eat the scoreboard without any mustard. Counting the no-show season ticket holders is what brought the attendance figure up.
It was too damn hot for Bark in the Park day. Why did not these people schedule this event for an evening game. Another brilliant move by the Williams gang.
Anonymous said...
Hey season ticket holder, how about bringing the best team in club history and in the frontier league? Finally having a quality to watch isn't enough? You should feel privileged to watch this fine group of young men #squad
August 7, 2014 at 8:53 PM
Sure, I'll come to a game if you promise to stay away!
Anonymous said...
The Rebellion was a joke from the initial concept
Perhaps you are right about the Rebellion. BUT, just think, they will be on national TV so Washington can be the laughing stock of women's softball in a much bigger forum now.
As for Steve, that man could screw-up a left handed crescent wrench even with Williams showing him how. These two must be professional light bulb changers because they just keep on "screwing-up".
It's good to see the ole fans in Washington are as cranky and miserable as ever. Just think how grumpy and ornery you'll be when the Wildthings collapse and miss the playoffs. I guess having to live in Washington makes you miserable and having to watch the Wildthings the last half dozen years makes you take miserable to a level that fans in the rest of the league will never experience.
Have a good day before the collapse.
you got to be kidding about this being the best tesam ever. The pitching staff is hanging in there and the lineup is producing runs but not a dominant team by any stretch and many other teams can finish ahead if they slump. Two more pitcher releases coming...
Wait a darn minute. The team is winning and GM Steve sends out a letter telling the fans THEY are not doing their part?
It's your darn business to get the fans out, Wild Things! If you can't figure out how ‘Pack the Park’ don't blame anybody but yourselves.
Same old stuff as it has been for the last 6-7 years and you expect every one to get all jazzed up about coming to CEP?
Actually, there are some new things this year. The concessions stands are serving even more rotten food at higher prices.
Last year we could buy either a small box, or a large box of popcorn. This year no small boxes just a large box at the inflated
price of $5. Also, 5 bucks to park your car plus dealing with a bunch of smart ass parking lot attendants that give you a lot of crap about where you can and cannot park your vehicle. Lord Almighty, does everything at CEP have to be made such a hassle? I’m sure these poor guy’s are only following instructions but, can’t it be just a little more relaxed than that? I've seen attendants running across the lot just to tell somebody they can't park in a certain area. Then these same parking lot people allow cars to park in the blue painted area that is supposed vacant so handicapped people can get into, or out of, their cars more easily. I suppose they have paid off the North Franklin PD to just look the other way.
Now, don’t feed me that crap about how much things cost at PNC Park. We need to compare apples to apples, not apples to a uince. At PNC you actually get to see baseball played at a level you will never see at CEP even if you come there for the next 200 years.
It’s not the fans fault nobody shows to watch the self-proclaimed ‘best team in the Frontier League’. That’s like saying we are
the least rotten apple in the barrel. The reason nobody shows up is the stinking attitude of the powers that be at the present time.
Surly freakin’ ushers yelling at small children (Usher Sandy being one of the most nasty when it comes to this) and generally
being not very helpful. You folks need to learn something about how to entertain your customers, not bore them to death. That’s
your responsibility, not the fans. Please, sell the team to some one that knows what the heck they are doing before we lose baseball here in Washington for good.
There is no doubt that Stu Williams and Steve Z's worst enemies are: Stu Williams and Steve Z!
Don't be trying to pass the blame for your failures onto the fans.
Anon (Ron Wilson) - 8:07am
It is nice to hear that the Mrs is on the mend - and the flowers were well received, we could her smile on the video screen.
Thanks, Jeff. It's been a long haul for her.
Received some information today that says the Frontier League does indeed have a drug-testing program. It is random testing.
Twice a year -- once before the all-star game and once in August -- two players are randomly selected from each team. If the teams are on the road, the home team is responsible for getting the visitors' players to the testing site. Teams are notified late in the day, and the players who are selected must be tested the following day or it is considered a failed drug test.
Thanks for the drug test update Chris - I, for one, am glad to hear it.
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