Oyster stewed

It's amazing what oysters can do to the body.

Nick Schreiber, the newest Wild Things pitcher, found out firsthand in late February when he was in St. Petersburg, Fla., to participate in the Independent Prospect Tournament. A former pitcher in the PSAC with California University, Schreiber was on the London Rippers' roster at the time and playing for the Frontier League team at the tournament. Schreiber decided to take advantage of being in Florida to sample some oysters, which happens to be one of his favorites.

Schreiber didn't give his meal a second thought until the day, just before the Frontier League team was to take the field for its first game in the tournament.

That's when Wild Things pitching coach Tim Ferguson, who was coaching the Frontier League team, heard a frantic yell. One of Ferguson's players was unconscious in the locker room, Ferguson was told.

Ferguson raced back to the locker room to find Schreiber on the floor.

"We called the paramedics and they gave Nick some fluids. It was hot down there. I thought maybe the heat got to him," Ferguson recalled. "The paramedics wanted him to go to the hospital, but he said that he was OK and wanted to go to the game. He thought he could pitch, if needed."

So Schreiber joined his teammates in the dugout. By midgame, he was down for the count again.

This time, Schreiber received more extensive medical attention, and it was discovered that the former Vulcans standout was suffering a bout of food poisoning, the result of eating some bad oysters.

It wasn't the kind of first impression Schreiber wanted to make with Ferguson or his Frontier League teammates.

Schreiber, a member of Cal's 2010 PSAC championship team, was feeling much better the next day and eventually pitched in the tournament. They were was his outings since being acquired by London in an offseason trade. A native of Greencastle in south central Pennsylvania, Schreiber played his first season of professional baseball in 2011 with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the independent American Association. Former Wild Things pitcher Justin Edwards currently plays for the Saltdogs.

Schreiber had an interesting season with Lincoln. As a reliever, Schreiber won his first six decisions and finished the year with a 6-1 record. But had 6.35 ERA in 37 games, which was a heavy workload for a rookie.

"At the beginning of the year, I was pitching every other day, like most relief pitchers, then it became three out of every four," Schreiber explained. "By late in the year, it got to me. My arm wasn't fresh.

"The ERA, obviously it reflected poorly. I guess it was the perfect storm. I got tired at the wrong time. One night, my manager had contacted a scout to come see me pitch and I had a bad game. Everything spiraled downhill from there."

The downhill path led to a trade to London and a short stay with the Rippers. Schreiber went to spring training with the club in Waterford, Mich., earlier this month but was there for only five days.

"I arrived on a Thursday, didn't get to a pitch until Monday, and for only two innings in an intrasquad game," Schreiber said. "I was released at 9 a.m. the next day. I was there for five days, threw for 10 minutes and then released."

So Schreiber returned to Western Pennsylvania -- he was living in Pittsburgh's South Side -- and began sending emails, in an attempt to get a tryout with any professional team. One of about "15 or 20" emails went to the Wild Things.

"They told me to keep working out, stay in shape and they'll call if they need me," Schreiber said.

Schreiber was brought in for a workout the day before the Wild Things left for a season-opening series at Evansville. When the Washington bullpen struggled against the Otters, Ferguson recalled liking what he saw of Schreiber in Florida, at least when the pitcher wasn't lying on the locker room floor.

Schreiber was brought back to Washington to throw for Ferguson on Monday, an off day in the Wild Things' schedule. He was signed and activated Tuesday before the home opener against the Gateway Grzzilies.

At Cal, Schreiber had a 6-4 record and 6.89 ERA in 17 games (10 starts) in 2010, his last season with the Vulcans. That also was the last year before the NCAA switched to the less-lively aluminum bats.

In 2009, Schreiber was 4-4 with a team-best 4.17 ERA.

DiMatteo to the Frontier

Former California University of Pennsylvania standout outfielder Sam DiMatteo (picture) has signed a contract with the Traverse City beach Bums of the Frontier League.

DiMatteo played his first season of professional baseball this year. He was in spring training with the Washington Nationals but was released. He eventually found a spot on the roster of the Ruidoso Osos of the independent Pecos League. DiMatteo played in 40 games for Ruidoso, batting .333 with eight home runs, 29 RBI and eight stolen bases.

DiMatteo was one of the best players Cal has ever produced. The Beaver County native was the first player in PSAC history to steal 100 bases in a career, and batted .375 with 31 home runs and 161 RBI. He helped Cal win the PSAC championship in 2010.

This is a good signing by Traverse City. Based on what he did at Cal, I felt DiMatteo was good enough to make a Frontier League roster and contribute.

Series leftovers

Some notes, thoughts and numbers that didn't get into the print edition during the Wild Things' series against Windy City:

* Surely, in all of baseball's written and unwritten rules, there has to be something about teams shouldn't wear the same colored jerseys. Prior to the opening game of the doubleheader Friday night, Windy City walks onto the Consol Energy Park field wearing royal blue jerseys and blue caps. The Wild Things, meanwhile, opt for their royal blue jerseys and blue caps. The uniform selections made it look like Trinity High School was playing an intrasquad game. Whatever happened to wearing gray on the road? At the very least, the visiting team shouldn't wear a colored jersey that matches any of the home team's jerseys.

* After the game Saturday, Washington signed Ryan Morrow, a switch-hitting catcher out of St. Mary's University in Texas. He has no professional experience. Morrow was drafted in the 44th round by Atlanta in 2010 but did not sign. As a junior, he batted .366 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI but his numbers dropped off (as they did for most players because of the change in bats) this year. Morrow hit .277 with three home runs and 29 RBI. It seems Morrow might have a decent arm because the opponents for St. Mary's stole only 39 bases in 59 games.

* From the How Did That Happen Department? comes this: Washington right fielder Luis Rivera entered the second game of Friday nigth's doubleheader with zero walks in 61 at-bats. Rivera then walked in each of his first three plate appearances against Windy City starter Luis Rivera.

* Former California University pitcher Randy Sturgill made his pro debut Friday night with the Lake Erie Crushers. Sturgill pitched one inning of relief in the Crushers' 3-2 loss at Rockford. He gave up two hits, one run and one walk.

Sturgill, a left-hander from Leechburg, was a two-time PSAC West Division West Pitcher of the Year. He holds Cal's single-season and career records for wins. He led the PSAC in wins, innings and strikeouts this spring, going 10-2 and two saves with a 2.23 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings.

Sturgill had another year of eligibility remaining at Cal but opted to leave early. There is a connection between Cal's athletic department and Lake Erie manager John Massarelli that got Sturgill a look from the Crushers.

* The Wild Things' rained out game in Joliet has not yet been rescheduled. It will be played as part of a doubleheader either Aug. 16 or 17 when the Slammers play their first series in Washington.

* Rough week with the bats: Washington hasn't scored more than two runs in an inning since last Sunday's win over Normal.

* When you have a team that is struggling to get hits and score runs, such as the Wild Things have been all season, is it better for the manager to pick a batting order and stick with it for an extended period, or should he change the order nightly? There are different theories about this. Washington's Darin Everson has opted to change the order with each game. He has used 25 different batting orders in 26 games, and five players have hit in five different spots in the lineup.

* That the Frontier League has had eight players (including two from the Wild Things) sold to major league organizations in the first month of the season, shows that what we speculated on this blog last month was true - the talent level in the league was up this year. At this point last year, only one player had his contract purchased.

Cutdown day

On roster cutdown days in the NFL, teams use someone from their personnel department to go into the locker room and ask players to report to the head coach or general manager. This messenger is called the "Turk."

Well, the "Turk" arrived at Consol Energy Park Monday and there were a few surprised people.

As expected, the Wild Things placed pitcher Justin Edwards on the disabled list while he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. Let go were pitcher Blake Hennington and outfielders Joel Hartman and Jeremy Richter. Catcher Greyson Schram was put on the suspended list, which means former California University catcher Stephen Hermann had his chances of making the roster for opening day greatly increase.

The biggest surprise was that pitcher Zach Groh, pictured, was released. Groh had spent three seasons in Washington, and had good results in a five-inning outing during a spring training game Friday against Lake Erie. Groh said afterward that it was only the second time during camp that he had faced hitters.

Groh's release was even more surprising when you consider Washington is two under the limit for players classified as "Experienced" by the Frontier League's roster rules. Only three of the Wild Things' pitchers are classified as "Experienced."

Monday's moves leave Washington with 27 active players. They must get down to 24 before Thursday's season opener. However, being two under the "Experienced" limit makes me think there will be a new player or two arriving before the team leaves Wednesday for Joliet, Ill.