Trying out some notes

Some notes, thoughts and observations from the Wild Things' tryout camp:

* Kalen Gearhart, the pitcher the Wild Things signed Saturday, certainly has a chance to make the team. He's not your typical player who shows up at a tryout camp in that he has four years of pro experience. Gearhart, who is only 23, spent four years in the Los Angeles Dodgers' system, pitching in 67 games (all in relief) and compiling a 5-3 record with a 3.81 ERA.

* The most impressive thing about Gearhart's career statistics is he walked only 27 batters in 106 innings in pro ball. The guys throws strikes.

* Wild Things manager Mark Mason said 12 pitchers will compete during spring training for five spots in the rotation.

* You can get a sunburn when it's overcast.

* Gearhart also uncorked only one wild pitch in his last three seasons with the Dodgers.

* Two Washington players - catcher Steve Pickerell and pitcher Jace Smith - will be late arrivals for spring training. Mason said Smith will be one of the candidates for a starter's spot and would be surprised if he makes it, even with a late arrival to camp. With Pickerell being delayed, you can count on the Wild Things selecting a catcher Tuesday at the Frontier League draft.

* The drainage in the outfield at Consol Energy Park isn't any better than it was last year.

* I feel like I've heard of as many colleges and universities as anyone out there, but tryout camps usually bring players from places I've never heard of. Saturday's where-is-that schools were Danville Community College and Southern Wesleyan University. Each of those schools had a player at the tryout. Danville Community College is in Danville, Va., and Southern Wesleyan is in Central, S.C.

The waiting is the hardest part

It's less than 24 hours until the on-field part of the Frontier League season begins for the Wild Things with their annual open tryout Saturday morning at Consol Energy Park. The Frontier League's tryout and player draft - each team must select at least 2 players - will be Monday and Tuesday in Washington.

If you check the Wild Things' roster, you might notice there are at least two positions in which depth is needed. One is catcher, where only Steve Pickerell and injured Kris Rochelle are on the roster.

The other position is first base, where Washington does not have a player with pro experience. Only Peters Township graduate Aaron Janusey is on the roster as a first baseman.

The Wild Things were expected to announce the signing of three more players as early as Wednesday, but that hasn't happened. Word is they were to sign catcher Alan Robbins, along with a first baseman/outfielder-type player and an infielder. Robbins was a teammate of Jacob Dempsey and Chris Carrara at Winthrop University and spent three years in the Philadelphia Phillies' system. he has the reputation of being a good catch-and-throw guy, better defensively than with the bat.

UPDATE: The Wild Things announced the signing of Robbins late Friday afternoon. Washington also signed one outfielder and lost another.

Signing was Alex Paluka, a Murrysville native and Franklin Regional High School graduate. Paluka played at the University of Iowa and Eastern Connecticut State before concluding his career at Point Park. Paluka played four years at Franklin Regional under Wild Things pitching coach Larry Wayman. Paluka batted only .235 for Point Park last spring.

"Alex is someone who we've worked out, and we've watched him hit. … We liked what we saw and wanted to give him an opportunity to come to camp," added Mason.

Washington also announced the retirement of outfielder Jason Appel who, judging by the current roster, would have seen significant playing time. This roster move leaves the Wild Things with only two outfielders with pro experience (none at the affiliated level), Chris Sidick and Matt Sutton. Not a good way to start camp.

Two more signed

The Wild Things announced Tuesday the signings of catcher Steve Pickerell and infielder Michael Parker.

Pickerell will be counted on to do a significant amount of the catching while Kris Rochelle recovers from elbow surgery. Pickerell spent three seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays' system and played last year in the Frontier League with Rockford, hitting .273 in 33 at-bats before breaking a bone in his arm in June. The injury ended his season. Pickerell is classified as a Rookie by FL standards because he has only 134 career at-bats.

Parker comes out of the New York Mets' system. He played multiple positions during his two seasons with the Mets. In 2007, Parker batted .298 in the rookie-level Appalachian league but struggled last year, hitting only .190 between the Class A South Atlantic League and short-season New York-Penn League.

Pickerell is from Cincinnati and played at the University of Cincinnati. Parker is from Newton, Mass., and played at George Washington.

I suspect these will be the last of the newcomers to sign with the Wild Things until after the cuts at minor-league spring training. The next round of signings will be players from the 2008 team.