Midwest League in the News

A couple of stories from around the league newspapers:

At fortwayne.com:

Wizards frustrate farm boss
Starting pitching, hitting are two areas of concern

Bill Bryk expected the Wizards to be a second-half team. And for nine games, San Diego’s minor-league field coordinator and special assistant to the general manager was right.

But after starting 7-2, Fort Wayne has dropped seven of nine and stands at .500 (9-9). The team returns from a three-day leaguewide break Friday, playing host to Cedar Rapids.

“It’s frustrating to me to see us get off to such a good start and now we’re fading a little bit. There are peaks and valleys in every season, and right now we are in a valley,” Bryk said last Sunday. “We’ve got to get back uphill. We will do what it takes.”

From the Dayton Daily News:

Farm director doesn't expect many more roster changes

With 50 games to go, there is still plenty of time for Cincinnati Reds farm director Terry Reynolds to mess with the Dayton Dragons' roster.

He says he won't, too much. However, Dragons manager Donnie Scott said he'd like to add a pitcher.

"We have stabilized things a little bit," Reynolds said the other day as he headed out to see the Class AAA Louisville club. "The rosters are all full, or close to being full. That doesn't mean there won't be movement. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't going to happen. If someone gets promoted from one level, someone else might get promoted."

Over at ourmidland.com, the story of a local high school baseball coach working as an umpire in the Loons-Bees series:

Albright umpires Loons' game

Eric Albright wanted what all umpires want on Friday night.

"I was hoping to remain anonymous," Albright said.

But in Midland, that's easier said than done for Albright, who is the Midland High baseball coach.

A former minor league umpire, Albright substituted as the field umpire in the Great Lakes Loons' 6-5, 10-inning win over the Burlington Bees at Dow Diamond on Friday night.

"There were a few people that recognized me," Albright said. "It was a little embarrassing."

But Albright's done this before. Before coming to Midland as a teacher in the fall of 1997, Albright spent that summer as an umpire in Florida's Gulf Coast League and has officiated occasionally since then.

So when Albright received a call from Midwest League president George Spelius earlier this week asking him to work games Friday night and tonight, he readily accepted since he had no other plans.