The Pottsylvania Creepers shell out the cash to bring in a new ballpark and coaching staff.
After having his regular field in Reno, Nevada get taken over by "Pottsylvania creepers" (the man-eating plants that the team is named after--a picture can be seen on the team Website at http://www.barb-creepers.blogspot.com/), GM Jeff Moore decided to follow in the spirit of the London Bridge--buying a landmark and moving it, piece-by-piece.
So Tampa's Tropicana Field, catwalks and all, was sold and moved in sections to the west. Moore, promising "great changes," announced a new name for the park: the Creeper Dome.
Along with the stadium came the surface of artificial turf--the first time the Creepers (or the inaugural version of the team, the hapless Boise Brawlers) have played on fake grass at home.
The other great changes had to do with the coaching staff. Bench coach Will "The Thrill" Clark was promoted to manager, but, according to Moore, "everyone else is toast." That included longtime Creepers manager Tony La Russa, who was let go after spring training after what is only being described as "a disagreement with management."
Clark's staff will include many names familiar to the 15 diehard Brawler/Creepers fans in existence:
Bench Coach-Jeff Reboulet (.128 in 196 AB with 2003 Boise)
First Base Coach- B.J. Surhoff (.250 with 1 HR and 4 RBI in 92 AB with 2003 Boise)
Third Base Coach- Mike Bordick (.227 in 242 AB with 2003 Boise)
Hitting Coach-Mark McGwire
Bullpen Coach- Paul Quantrill (A respectable 5-6 with 6 Sv, 3.44 ERA in 143 appearances with 2003 Boise, 2004/05 Pottsylvania)
Pitching Coach- Mark "Agent" Mulder (1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H in last BARB playing attempt with 2008 Pottsylvania)
"It needed to be done," said Moore. "The team was getting too stagnant; we needed a new attitude to reflect our new home."
According to Pottsylvania Times reporter R.B. Guy, with these moves and Moore's poor outlook for the season, many insiders believe he has finally "returned to the deep end."
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