Cleaning out the notebook

Here are some things that have happened around the Frontier League in the last week:

* In addition to Fran Riordan leaving Kalamazoo as manager, Joe Rosenhagen, the Kings' general manager, wont' be back in 2010.

In a Kalamazoo Gazette story today, Kings owner Bill Wright said the search for a new manager has centered around one person. When asked if the rumor was true that former Wild Things manager Greg Jelks is the top candidate, Wright said, "I don’t know, is he?"

Rosenhagen said he's leaving because of financial reasons.

"It’s the last thing I wanted to do,” Rosenhagen told the newspaper. "I have to leave for financial reasons. It’s been a challenge, because five years ago I took a pay decrease. I haven’t had an increase since. I’ve personally done everything I could to try to help the organization out by maintaining the salary. I do have two children in college and I needed to try to go out and make some more money.”

* As Bob Gregg commented, Kevin Rouch has left the FL. Rouch has served as deputy commissioner and the league's legal counsel for several years. His first association with the FL was as the Chillicothe Paints' broadcaster. During one less-than-memorable game in Johnstown, Rouch uttered a famous line about ambidextrous pitcher Jamie Irving, who was pitching left-handed until late in the game, when he decided to start an inning throwing right-handed.

When Rouch realized what was happening, he told his radio audience, "Jamie Irving is relieving himself on the mound with his right hand." Not once, but twice.

Rouch, who has terrific sense of humor, still jokes about that call. When he visits CEP, Rouch likes to talk about the night of the first game in Wild Things history. That's when a guard for then-Gov. Mark Schweiker tried to have Rouch removed from the field prior to the pregame ceremonies. Apparently, Rouch didn't look official.

Rouch will now have more time to devote to his law practice. He also teaches sports law in Columbus.

* One managerial job has been filled and another vacated.

Steve Brook, who only two years ago was pitching for River City, has been named the Rascals' manager. Brook has been River City's pitching coach. He replaces Chad Parker, who guided the Rascals to within one win of the league championship.

Thommy Thompson has resigned as Windy City's manager to take a job in the Chicago White Sox organization. One odd thing I noticed about Thompson is that he tapes his wrists for each game. Strange.

The ThunderBolts are expected to name their new manager tonight.

* Former Wild Things outfielder Tim Alberts was acquired by Windy City in trade with Joliet of the Northern league. Windy City sent pitcher Ross Stout, who went 24-8 in two seasons with the ThunderBolts, to Joliet.

* The Oakland County Cruisers will break ground on their new $8.5 million stadium Thursday. The park is being called The Diamond at The Summit.

One of my favorite FL stories

One of the charms and appeals of minor-league baseball is the characters associated with the games. The players, the coaches, the umpires, the broadcasters, the fans. There's an interesting person and good/funny story around ever corner. From Max McLeary, the one-eyed umpire, to Matt Buckmiller, the Ivy League graduate who canceled a job interview with the CIA to sign with the Wild Things in 2003, the Frontier League has had more than its fair share of interesting people and stories.

One of my favorite stories happened long before the Wild Things entered the league. It involves Kevin Rouch, the Frontier League's deputy commissioner/general counsel and an ambidextrous pitcher named Jamie Irving, who was a Harvard graduate. The old-time Frontier League people who visit this site probably already know this story, but it's likely news to many of the Wild Things' fans.

Rouch, who has a terrific sense of humor, is an attorney who teaches sports law in Ohio. But Rouch was Chillicothe's radio play-by-play broadcaster during the Paints' early days in the Frontier League. One night, Chillicothe was playing a game against the Johnstown Steal, which featured Irving.

Irving hurt his right arm during high school and taught himself how to throw and pitch left-handed. The right arm finally healed during Irving's days at Harvard and he started pitching with both arms. One weekend, Irving beat Yale on consecutive days, one game pitching left-handed and the next tossing right-handed.

Against Chillicothe, Irving was pitching left-handed until late in the game, when he decided to start an inning throwing right-handed.

When Rouch realized what was happening, he told his radio audience, "Jamie Irving is relieving himself on the mound with his right hand." Not once, but twice.

The other people in the pressbox heard what Rouch said and immediately burst into laughter.

Rouch has never been able to let that flub fade into history.