May 5, 2016 3 min read

With 19 pitchers in training camp – and more on the way – and the Frontier League season opener only a week away, the Wild Things’ crowded battle for rotation and bullpen spots is entering the stretch drive.

There are only four pitchers back from last season’s team, so plenty of roster and rotation spots are there for the taking. When the Wild Things play three exhibition games beginning Friday against the New Jersey Black Sox at Consol Energy Park, Washington’s pitchers need to make a good impression – and fast.

The Wild Things and Black Sox, the latter a squad of unsigned players who scheduled exhibition games against teams in four independent leagues this spring, will play a day-night doubleheader today. A Kids Day game will be played in the morning and a 7:05 game at night. Another game will be played Saturday night.

With only five shopping days left before new Washington manager Gregg Langbehn must select his 24-man roster, the exhibition games are important in the evaluation process. They also are a welcomed change of routine.

“The guys are ready for outside competition,” said Langbehn, who spent five years (2009-13) as manager of the Traverse City Beach Bums.

“Playing intrasquad games every day, you get to the point where you have to play someone else. Our hitters start figuring out our pitchers. It’s going to be good to play three outside games and get some reads on unsettled positions.”

Many of those muddled positions are found on the pitching staff. With so many pitchers who are new to the league still on the roster, the Wild Things have the look of an expansion team in that area. A starting rotation must be determined, a closer must be chosen, and setup and long relievers need to be selected.

“The biggest thing I’m looking for is ability to command pitches and throw strikes,” Langbehn said. “I’m also looking at secondary pitches – that so-called wipeout pitch – that gets you strikeouts.

“It’s not going to be easy. We have 19 pitchers and a couple more are coming in over the weekend. We have only two or three days to figure out who goes where.”

Frontier League rosters must be trimmed to 28 players Sunday and to 24 by Wednesday. The Wild Things open the regular season May 13 at the Gateway Grizzlies.

Washington is coming off a disappointing 42-54 season.

“I told the players in the offseason that I don’t care what they did or where they played last season,” Langbehn said. “Everybody was given enough notice that they would have to fight for a spot. Nothing is going to be given to anybody on this team.

“All of our decisions are void of politics. That produces a more positive setting for the players.”