Time to think baseball

The basketball season, at least in the O-R coverage area, is over for the year and temperatures already have soared into the mid-70s. It's time to start thinking baseball, especially Wild Things and Frontier League baseball.

So, this is the first post of the new season. The best place to start is to examine the Wild Things' roster, who is returning, who is not returning and who remains unsigned.

The biggest change is in the manager's office. Gone is Bob Bozzuto (more on this one in the next blog post) after one season as manager. He has been replaced by Gregg Langbehn. Hiring Langbehn might be the best offseason move the Wild Things have made in several years. He spent five years in the Frontier League as a manager, with the Traverse City Beach Bums, and had a 267-212 record with one division title and one trip to the league championship series. He also coached and managed in the Houston Astros system and spent the last two years as the Cleveland Indians' "replay coordinator." In other words, he was the guy who told Indians manager Terry Francona when to challenge a call made by an umpire.

Mike Marshall, a former major league outfielder, will be the hitting coach. The pitching coach has not been announced.

Here's a breakdown of the roster:

Returning (13)
LHP - Tyler Ferguson - R2
RHP - Matt Fraudin - R2
RHP - Jeremy Holcombe - R2
RHP - Steve Sarcone - R1
*RHP _ Luke Wilkins - R2
RHP - Ernesto Zaragoza - R2
C - Eddie Sorondo - R2
INF - Austin Wobrock - R2
INF - Matt Peters - R2
1B - Jimmy Yezzo - Exp
OF - Andrew Heck - Vet
OF - Cody Herald - R1
OF - David Popkins - Exp
* Placed on 60-day disabled list

Newcomers (9)
LHP _ Pat Dyer - R2
RHP Sam Agnew-Wieland - Exp
RHP - Chase Cunningham - R2
RHP - Tyler Thompson - R1
INF - Justin Fox - R2
1B - Scott Carcaise - Exp
OF - Jamal Austin - Exp
OF - Ricky Rodriguez - R2
OF - Alex Simone - R1

California Winter League (3)
(The Frontier League announced today Washington's acquisition of these three players who were signed out of the recently concluded California Winter League)

LHP - Brian O'Keefe - R1
RHP - Alex Williams - R1
RHP - Tyler Garkow - R1

Option Held (8)
(The Wild Things hold the contract options for the following players who have not yet re-signed)

LHP - Kyle Helisek - Exp
RHP - Ryan Bores - Exp
RHP - Roman Madrid - Exp
RHP - Kolin Stanley - R2
RHP - Tyler Wilson - R1
C - John Fidanza - R2
SS - Ryan Kresky - Exp
OF - Ryan Mathews - Exp

Gone - Released/Traded/Suspended (10)
LHP - Steve Messner
LHP - Scott Silverstein
RHP - Tim Giel
RHP - Jon Klein
RHP - Jonathan Kountis
RHP - Matt Purnell
2B - Matt Ford
OF - C.J. Beatty
OF - Scott Kalamar
OF - Danny Poma

Washington has 25 players signed for 2016 with, by my count, only five Experienced players and the one allowed Veteran. That leaves a lot of room for Experienced players who will be released at the end of minor league spring training. A team can carry 13 Experienced/Veteran players during the regular season. One thing that former manager Bob Bozzuto did well last year was acquire Rookie pitchers for this season.

The most glaring needs at this point are top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers (doesn't every team have this problem?). A 1-2 punch, like Washington had with Ben Ally/Dave Bradley or Aaron Ledbetter/Tom Cochran or more recently with Zac Fuesser/Troy Marks, is needed. Fraudin and Zaragoza would be nice 3 and 4 guys in a rotation. I expect Washington to sign at least three starting pitchers who are let go from minor league spring training.

I also don't see a potential closer among the group of pitchers, so signing relievers with pro experience will be a priority in the coming weeks.

The Wild Things also are missing some impact bats, though Jamal Austin is a good pickup in the outfield. Another outfielder, a 2B or 3B, and another catcher (two if Fidanza doesn't return), are likely to be priorities. The Wild Things' offense last year was dreadful as they finished tied for last in batting average, 13th in runs, 11th in on-base percentage and 2nd in strikeouts. An overhaul of the everyday lineup is a must. New guys can't do any worse, can they?