Banks gone, Smith signed

Ernie Banks' second stint with the Wild Things ended in the same fashion as his first -- with a trade.

Banks (above left) was traded Wednesday by Washington to the Southern Illinois Miners. In exchange for the first baseman, the Wild Things acquired rookie relief pitcher Joe Tarallo and the Miners' first-round draft pick next year. That pick will likely be No. 10 or 11.

Unlike his first go-around in Washington, Banks struggled mightily at the plate, hitting only .207 in 42 games. He had two home runs (each during the last road trip) and only 13 RBI.

Banks will be heading to Southern Illinois for the second time. He started last season with the Miners, playing 29 games before ending the season in another independent league.

Banks will have an opportunity to play regularly as Southern Illinois has lost first basemen Matt Fields (wrist) and Gordon Gronkowski (foot) to injuries.

"We were definitely looking for another pitcher, and there was some interest from other teams in Ernie," Washington manager Darin Everson said. "He's going back to a place he's been before. The trade narrows out lineup a little bit. Instead of having two experienced hitters on the bench each night we only have one. What is means for the guys who are here is more playing time. It's time to make a push."

In Tarallo (0-0, 3.38), the Wild Things get a pitcher who has appeared in 16 games with Southern Illinois and Florence. He averages more than one strikeout per inning.

The trade was part of a flurry of moves by the Wild Things.

Relief pitcher Michael Cotter (0-0, 6.35) was released. Washington picked up Cotter in a trade with a team in another league only three weeks ago.

The Wild Things signed Chris Smith, a right-handed pitcher who had been playing in the independent Pecos League after beginning the year with Traverse City. He was released by the Beach Bums after only two relief appearances, including one against the Wild Things at Consol Energy Park.

Smith was a draft pick of Lake Erie last year but lasted only one outing. He will start Friday night against Rockford as the Wild Things switch to a six-man pitching rotation.

TRIVIA: Banks is not the first player traded twice by the Wild Things. I can think of one pitcher. Anyone willing to guess who that might be?

A new pitcher?

Found this on the American Association website:

Tuesday, July 5 - The Wichita Wingnuts trade RHP Mike Cotter to Washington (Frontier League) in exchange for future considerations.

The trade hasn't been listed on the Frontier League site, and Cotter isn't listed on the Wild Things' roster. I didn't listen to all of the game Tuesday night, so I didn't hear if Randy Gore mentioned this transaction.

Cotter was a rookie for Wichita, signing last month after his senior season at Emporia State in Kansas. With Wichita, Cotter pitched in seven games out of the bullpen and had a 5.19 ERA. Wichita, by the way, is the same team the Wild Things' Gary Lee played for earlier this year.

At Emporia State, Cotter had one of the strangest statistical seasons I've seen in quite some time. This year, the 6-6, 215-pound Cotter pitched in 18 games. He had a 1-0 record and saved 14 of those games. But his ERA was 6.43 and opponents batted .341 against him.

It's almost impossible to save 14 games and not lose one with a 6.43 ERA.