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Rosenbaums! Get your Rosenbaums

The Wild Things will start the season leading the Frontier League in one category: most players named Rosenbaum.

Washington signed three players Wednesday, including catcher Chris Rosenbaum, who played in the Los Angeles Angels' organization. Also signed were former James Madison University pitcher Kurt Houck and ex-Lock Haven University infielder Matt Palko.

Rosenbaum, from Albany, N.Y., is the only one of the three with pro experience. All three are rookies by Frontier League standards.

Rosenbaum spent three seasons in the Angels' system, advancing to high-Class A Rancho Cucamongo, where he batted .319 last year but played in only 31 games. Rosenbaum played at the University of Tampa and was signed as a non-drafted free agent.

“Chris is coming off the best offensive year of his career," Washington manager Darin Everson said. "Throughout Chris' three-year career with the Angels, he has been known as a solid defensive catcher.”

Earlier this month, the Wild Things signed pitcher Zach Rosenbaum – apparently, no relation to the catcher.

Houck (6-6, 210) was a 2004 draft pick of the Atlanta Braves but did not sign, opting instead to attend James Madison. He had a solid career at JMU before missing the 2009 season because of an injury. He won 13 games for James Madison and posted a 7-2 record in 2008.

“Kurt is coming to us following a good stint in spring training in the Atlantic League,” Everson said. “We look forward to him reaching his potential as a reliable, hard-throwing reliever. We hope he can be an impact rookie."

Palko earned All-PSAC honors in 2009 after leading Lock Haven in home runs (11), triples (4), on-base percentage (.381) and walks (24). He batted .291 for the Bald eagles and played in the California Winter League.

“Matt comes highly recommended from many people who ran the California Winter League where he showed a solid bat and was very good defensively,” Everson said. “We look forward to having Matt be a solid option for us at third base and hope he can become an impact rookie for us this season.”

The Wild Things also dropped one player from the roster, former California University pitcher Rob Hedrick.

Two dropped

The Wild Things released two players from the roster Tuesday. Gone are right-handed pitcher Andy Schindling and catcher Kyle Obal.

Schindling was a solid starting pitcher last season before wearing down late in the year. He had a 4-3 record and 4.80 ERA. Obal was signed late last season and had only 11 at-bats. With Obal released, there are only two catchers (Alan Robbins and Billy O'Conner) on the roster. The Wild Things will likely be looking to sign at least one catcher either Saturday at their open tryout or next week at the Frontier League tryout and draft.

L2 added

The Wild Things filled one of the holes in their roster Friday by signing outfielder Luis Rivera, a former fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angeles.

Rivera, 23, has played five years of pro ball after being drafted in 2004 out of high school in his native Puerto Rico. An L2 by Frontier League roster standards, Rivera spent three years in rookie ball before being released by the Angels and sitting out the 2007 season. He then spent two years in the short-season New York-Penn League, one with Toronto and last year with the New York Mets' affiliate in Brooklyn. Rivera batted .297 for the Brooklyn Cyclones last year with 14 doubles and 13 stolen bases in 66 games. He does have a high strikeout rate -- more than a quarter of his career at-bats have ended in strikeouts.

Rivera was the 143rd pick in the 2004 draft and was selected nine rounds before the Angels drafted the late Nick Adenhart.

Also signed by Washington was catcher Billy O'Conner, who was a college teammate of former Wild Things pitcher Michael Lucas. O'Conner played rookie ball last summer for the Texas Rangers' affiliate in Arizona league and batted .304. He also appeared in three games with Class A Spokane.

One month to opening day

The clock must seem as if it's ticking at warp speed these days for the Wild Things' coaching staff and front office. Time is running out as they put the finishing touches on the roster, the ballpark and an operational plan for the season.

Washington announced the signing of four players Wednesday, but two of those didn't come as a surprise. Pitcher Justin Edwards will be back for his second season after tying the team record by pitching in 43 games a year ago. Edwards had a 4-5 record and 5.40 ERA but struck out 70 in 60 innings. Edwards' was at the team's media luncheon earlier this month, so we knew he was returning.

Also signed is pitcher Ryne Nelson, who was acquired last month from Laredo of the independent United League in the trade for Michael Lucas.

The other two signings are left-handed pitchers, Sean Grieve and Spencer Hylander. Grieve is from Flourtown, Pa., and a graduate of Germantown Academy. He played at William & Mary and spent two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies' system.

“We look for Sean to be an important part of our bullpen this summer. I was able to see him pitch in 2008, and feel he's has the potential to be a guy we can rely on to get big outs as he's averaged a strikeout per inning in his first pro seasons,” said Wild Things manager Darin Everson.

Hylander played at Oklahoma Baptist University and was drafted in the last round (50th) in 2009 by the Houston Astros.

“He comes to us with great reports and we look forward to have him compete for one of our spots in the starting rotation," Everson said. "With the Astros, he showed very good command and deception as displayed in his impressive opponent batting average (.237).”

I was told there will be two or three more signings announced Thursday. There are still several huge holes in the roster – open Veteran and L2 spots along with no shortstop with significant pro experience.

The Wild Things open the season at home May 21 against the Oakland County Cruisers. By the way, the Cruisers have yet to start construction on their new ballpark, which is scheduled for a July 16 opening against Washington. If you believe that will happen, then I have some swamp land in Florida I'd like to sell you.

Mascot fail

Many a summer night I've wondered how a person dressed in a furry costume with oversized floppy feet/shoes can dance on a wet dugout roof and not slide off and break his/her back.

Seeing out of one of those big mascot heads isn't easy, let alone trying to dance while watching for where the dugout ends and a killer of a first step begins.

During a recent exhibition game between the University of Nevada and the Class AAA Reno Aces, the school's mascot "Wolfie" had a Wile E. Coyote moment.

Your not-so-normal Normal ballpark

The ballpark for the Frontier League's newest team, the Normal CornBelters, located in Normal, Ill., is almost complete. Installation of the artificial turf playing surface is starting today and the seats will be delivered Tuesday. Among the unique features of the ballpark, which is dubbed "The Corn Crib," are a drive-in movie screen and something described as the "world's greatest women's restroom."

Here is the link to a video about the ballpark's status:

Watch the video here.