By Steve Robinson | July 17, 2012 - 10:10 pm
Posted in Category: Sports, The Normalite

NORMAL – Some unfinished business leads off this week’s column:

The Frontier League All-Star Game at The Corn Crib was a smash hit, with 5,251 fans filling the stands and enjoying the league’s mid-season showcase event.

Even though the Western Division lost, 9-6, it was great to be able to see folks cheering and giving their loudest appreciation for Normal’s Pat Trettel as he drove in two runs. He was among four players who got hits in the Western Division’s half of the eighth inning. Normal Pitcher Rich Mascheri received warm applause and plenty of cheers, too, as he took to the mound in the sixth inning.

Following the contest, Bill Lee, the commissioner of the Frontier League, addressed the crowd who were sitting in their seats still, some of them, waiting for the post-game fireworks. “Folks, we hoped we’ve put on a great show for you tonight,” Lee started. “A lot of home runs, a lot of runs, great pitching…It was a great night for everybody, and the weather was spectacular.

“Our three days here in Normal have been wonderful,” Lee continued. “We thank all of you for that. We thank the CornBelters for all their hard work.

“You have a wonderful community and we’re just proud to be a part of it right now. Thank you for allowing us to come to your community to bring our premier event to you,” Lee concluded. His speech was followed by more of the warm applause the players, coaches, and league staff had experienced that whole week for the job they did in bringing and entertaining us during the one-of-a-kind event.

The citizens of Washington, Pa., home of the Washington Wild Things, outside Pittsburgh, will be next to experience this three-day event as Lee also announced the 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game and Home Run Contest will be held at Consol Energy Park.

On another subject, time for some other items from my All-Star Game Notebook. ITEM #1: Have you ever wondered about big leaguers who played in the Frontier League? In the interview with Mike Veeck, who gave the keynote speech at the All-Star Game luncheon last week at the Marriott in Uptown, he mentioned a couple of names we’d all be familiar with whose careers started in independent ball. Famed right fielder Darryl Strawberry, who had a 17-season career in the majors from 1983-1999 – most of it with either the New York Mets (8 seasons) or the New York Yankees (5 seasons), — began his playing career with the St. Paul (Minn.) Saints, a team Veeck has a stake in.

Veeck also mentioned Kevin Millar, who was a third baseman and outfielder, and had a 12-season career with Florida (now Miami), Boston, and Baltimore from 1998-2009, also began his playing days in the Frontier League. Cubs fans even got to see a former independent leaguer when shortstop Rey Ordonez played for them in 1994, the last year of a nine-year career, that included seven years with the Mets and one season at Tampa Bay before arriving at Wrigley Field.

ITEM #2: Frontier League Commissioner Lee tells me the league is going to wait a while before considering expansion. He said the league is looking at West Virginia, where, he explained, there are a couple of markets interested in joining. He said it may be the 2014 or 2015 season before any new teams join.

“We want to expand and do it correctly,” Lee told me. “We want to do it so that the new teams that come in have the best chance to succeed.”

On another subject, Since the All-Star festivities ended, Normal has made some transactions of note. The CornBelters have received right-hand pitcher Mitch Mormann from the Abilene Prairie Dogs of the North American League for a player to be named later. They have also signed two other right-handed pitchers Drew Provence and Rich Ruff; and catcher Bubby Williams.

Normal also traded center fielder Alvaro Ramirez to the Southern Illinois Miners, completing a transaction that was started earlier in the year. Ramirez was hitting .277 and had managed 12 stolen bases thus far this season. The CornBelters also sent pitchers Marshall Schuler and Estevan Uriegas to the Gary (Indiana) South Shore RailCats of the American Association.

In turn, the CornBelters received first baseman Ernie Banks, Jr. and outfielder

K. C. Judge. Ramirez being sent to Southern Illinois was part of an agreement that would secure Normal receiving Banks because Banks’ Frontier League rights had belonged to Southern Illinois.

The team has also placed infielder Yasel Gomez on the 14-day injured list, retroactive to July 16.

On another subject, the road trip continues for Manager Chad Parker and the CornBelters, as they will have spent the first part of the week at Windy City Monday-Wednesday. They will play six games at The Corn Crib starting July 19. First, they will play host to the London Rippers Thursday through Saturday, followed by three games hosting Southern Illinois Sunday-Tuesday, July 22-24. They will visit Rockford July 25-27, and return home for a two-day, three-game series against River City, Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29. The teams will play a double-header on July 29, with the first game starting at 5p.m.

Lastly, on another subject, you will hear a different public address announcer for the remainder of the season at The Corn Crib when the ‘Belters return. Craig Fata will take over those duties, replacing Jerry Harcharik. Harcharik’s last turn at the P. A. microphone was during the Frontier League All-Star Game.

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