All-Decade Team: Outfield

When the Wild Things opened camp for the 2004 season, there were two burning questions: 1. Could new manager John Massarelli continue the success started by Jeff Isom, who left Washington for Joliet and the Northern League? 2. Could the Wild Things find a replacement for slugger Josh Loggins, who won the Frontier League's MVP Award the previos season?

Both questions were quickly answered in a resounding yes.

Massarelli took the Wild Things to the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, and Washington found another power bat in the middle of the lineup by making a seemingly minor trade after camp began to acquire Mike Arbinger from Gary of the Northern League in one of the those famous player-to-be-named-later deals.

If I recall correctly, Arbinger originally wasn't excited to be in Washington because the pay was better in the Northern League and it was a little closer to his home of Toledo, Ohio. However, Arbinger quickly took a liking to the Wild Things, and their fans made the lefty hitter one of their favorites.

Arbinger, who spent two seasons in the Pirates' minor-league system, batted .299 with six home runs in his first year in Washington. Then, in 2005, his power numbers went to 12 home runs and 29 doubles. He batted .317 that year and drove in 88 runs, which was the franchise single-single record.

Also in 2005, Arbinger played in Frontier League All-Star Game at then-Falconi Field -- the only one held in Washington -- in which he was named MVP.

After the season, Arbinger became the second Washington outfielder to be selected for the all-league team, following Jack Headley in 2004.

Arbinger's production slipped in 2006 to .273 with 22 doubles, eight home runs and 53 RBI -- most players would love to have such a "down year" -- and he was released during the 2006-07 offseason.

The first three-year starter for the Wild Things, Mike Arbinger earned a spot on the all-decade team.

All-Decade Team Outfielder: Mike Arbinger (2004-06)

Useless information, V2.0

Some random thoughts and notes about the Wild Things and Frontier League:

* Has any Wild Things player ever had a better road trip than the one Chris Sidick (pictured) is having? In the first five games of the current six-game trip to Traverse City and Rockford, Sidick is 14-for-21 with 11 runs, 5 RBI, 2 home runs and 5 stolen bases. He has raised his batting average from .243 to .286.

A few other guys I recall having good road trips were Josh Loggins, Chris Carter and Mike Arbinger.

Loggins had a trip to Evansville and Chillicothe in 2003 in which he went 7-for-17 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI and was signed by Colorado during the trip.

When Washington ran off a 13-game winning streak in 2005, Arbinger and Carter were the catalysts. During a nine-game road trip to Gateway, River City and Mid-Missouri, Arbinger was 17-for-44 with 2 homers and 16 RBI. On the same trip, Carter went 15-for-38 with 5 homers and 15 RBI.

* According his Twitter account, Chris Smith, a right-handed pitcher who has been playing with the White Sands Pupfish of the independent Pecos League, has signed a contract to play with the Wild Things. Smith, who is from Louisville, was Lake Erie's first-round draft pick in the Frontier League draft in 2010. He played two games for Traverse City this year, including a rough outing out of the bullpen against the Wild Things at Consol Energy Park in May. Smith later signed with White Sands. In the Pecos League, Smith had a 3-0 record and 1.39 ERA in four outings. He struck out 28 in 26 innings.

According to the Twitter post, Smith said he will be a starting pitcher with the Wild Things.

* Former Wild Things relief pitcher Alan Williams, who was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers early in the Frontier League season, has been promoted from rookie ball to Class A. Williams was sent from Helena (Mont.) to Appleton (Wisc.), where he will play for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League. Williams pitched in nine games with Helena and had a 1-1 record, 4 saves and 2.57 ERA. He struck out 28 in only 14 innings.

* When Luis Rivera homered in the fifth inning Wednesday at Traverse City, it was the first time all season the Wild Things received a home run from the cleanup spot in the batting order. That one came 52 games into the season.

* Remember Steve MacFarland, who pitched for the Wild Things last year until an injury ended his season? McFarland was the Pittsburgh Pirates' 9th-round draft pick in 2006 but never made it past low-Class A with the Bucs. He was traded by Washington to another independent league last offseason. Since then, MacFarland has been released from three different indy leagues but is back in the Frontier. He was signed this week by the Florence Freedom.

Mike Arbinger, Hall of Famer

Former Wild Things outfielder Mike Arbinger, who played here for three seasons (2004-06), has been chosen for induction into the Ohio University Athletics Hall of Fame. He will be recognized recognized at the Bobcats' football game Oct. 16 against Akron. Arbinger is one of four inductees in this year's class.

According to the press release from the school, Arbinger was a consensus first-team All-American, first-team All-Mid-American Conference and All-Mideast Region selection in 2002, was a four-year starter for the Bobcats and one of the best hitters in Ohio history. Upon completion of his collegiate career, he held most of Ohio's season and career hitting records and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played five seasons of professional baseball and was named to the Gulf Coast All-Stars in 2002 and was MVP of the 2005 Frontier League All-Star Game.

Arbinger still holds the Wild Things' record for career doubles with 78.

Currently a physical education teacher with the Toledo Public Schools, Arbinger is pursuing a Master's degree in Education from the University of Toledo. He also serves as the baseball coach for Toledo Start High School.