Walking In Wisdom

Dear Editor:

I was not sure who to write my concerns to, but because of the public nature of the Lancaster Barnstormers inception and seeing their lack of performance  affects the community -- I thought you would be a good place to air my feelings. I was the 50^th person who purchased season tickets when the team launched nearly four years ago. I have enthusiastically supported this idea to bring baseball back and spend the millions of dollars on that stadium. And up until this year, I have been nothing but positive about the team ---but the honeymoon is over.

The first year of existence we were driven by the novelty of the stadium and the fact that we had a fun, family oriented activity to do through the summer that was not a lot of money. The second year was great – again for the fore mentioned reasons plus the team played well. It was exciting to see a two-year-old team win a championship. Then this year came along, the big hook was supposed to be an All-Star game, but to be honest it was a bust! This league’s players rotate in and out so much that is it difficult to get excited about “All-Stars” that could be gone in a few weeks. Not to mention, we see all of them play anyway. It is not like seeing players from another league whom your team never gets to see!

So last week I get my bill for NEXT SEASON and for the first time -- I am vacillating on whether or not to purchase my season tickets. This year has been such a downer, I am not interested in spending that kind of money to have to agonize through another summer! Now don’t get me wrong, I am not a “fair weather fan.” If they experienced some injuries and misfortunes along the way, I would still write the check. Yet my concern is that there are things that the Barnstormer’s organization has to begin to work on and take responsibility for, before getting unquestioned loyalty from the good people of Lancaster. There are things that they have just NOT done this year in hopes not to spend the money and the quality of the experience is wearing away support. I believe that there are a number things that the club needs to do asap, if they don’t clear the stadium for good! Here are my suggestions:

1.       Secure a viable and creditable manager who is committed to stay with the organization and not use it as a stepping stone. The Tommy Herr situation was so incredibly disappointing. All we heard the first year was “how his dream came true to manage a team in his hometown” and when an opportunity came along to manage in a “real league” – he jumped ship on us. Somerset has had former major league reliever Sparky Lyle as their manager for six years – he is loyal and qualified. Find a manager really committed to Lancaster and minor league baseball and pay him what he wants. We were hurt by Herr’s ambition and his real desire to manage in the majors.

2.       Separate your ties to the other teams in our league. You need to be competitive and when you are in bed with your competition I have to wonder if you are really going to play to win. Being under the same ownership of York and Camden is a real problem. Look we loss an excellent GM so that he could go over and get York established. The net result is that the champs are the chumps and York is shining!  You can not tell me that when a player is available that you are not considering the other teams under the ownership! Baseball is a capitalistic venture not a communistic experience.

3.       Get aggressive with securing some big name former players who are in the twilight of their career. Lancaster has a lot to offer a major league player looking to settle his family down and finish out his playing days and still have fun. This league use to attract some fantastic players – in recent days all it is a haven for college players who did not make it in the minors or horrible “one-hit wonders” from the MLB. If a team is playing poorly, but I still get to watch a former big leaguer play – I am there! Other minor leagues have the opportunity to see players on their way up….the Atlantic League was made for players on their way out of baseball!

4.       Get “I-AM-FUN” Back and fast! At least when the ‘Stormers were losing the evening was really enjoyable with I am Fun hosting the event. The entire package was what I really appreciated. When “I AM FUN” was running the “on field show” – you had a winner every night. No offense….but the people MC-ing the between inning activities are terrible. They are not made to do what is needed to stir up the fans and get crazy. The Fun Patrol has little to no personality. The kids working last year talked with the fans, acted silly and made fun of each other. Waiting for Janelle to attempt to throw a Frisbee was hilarious – even if we were down by five runs! NOW – you don’t even know the patrols names. That “FUN” element has vanished this year. You have gotten lazy, living off the loyalty of fans from the past two years. There is no creativity…no spontaneity…no FUN!

I think before the Barnstormers take one penny from its faithful supporters, they need to answer some questions and start making the moves to produce a quality evening every time you go to the Clip – win or lose! This community has handed them thousands of season ticket holders and plenty of corporate money – so don’t tell me they don’t have the money. Forget about using “fireworks’ as an incentive for attendance. Show me some fireworks on the field and during the game. Trust me, you duplicate this past season and you will have so many empty seats, you will have to send Cylo out on Prince Street to give away tickets – paying people to come and watch! (By the way, Cylo’s costume needs an upgrade – you are even letting that go to pot!) I am calling on the management of the team to act fast and for season ticketholder to hold back until they start showing us that they are going to produce a winner in all aspects of the organization!