By MIKE ECKERT
meckert@record-eagle.com
November 13, 2008 12:00 am Roger Mason has never coached professional baseball. But his hiring Wednesday as Traverse City's new pitching coach may have been one of the biggest moves in Beach Bums history. In one week's time, the Beach Bums have announced new manager Gregg Langbehn, who comes in with 10 years of coaching experience in the Houston Astros system. Now, Traverse City adds a local guy and former major leaguer, instantly assembling a coaching staff that will no doubt have other Frontier League executives jealous. "I think it's a grand slam," Beach Bums CEO John Wuerfel said of his new coaching staff. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has been to Wuerfel Park that the Beach Bums can attract top-level coaches. First, you promise a summer in Traverse City and then show them a new, state of the art ballpark. It impressed both Mason and Langbehn. "What John and Leslye have done to the ballpark is just incredible," Mason said. "Of all the places I played, the only place that even compares is Buffalo, and they were trying to get a major league team there." Now, the team will look to use Langbehn and Mason to attract the top Frontier League talent. "We're so excited," Wuerfel said. "If a player comes in and listens to the experience we have, they have the best chance of moving on. I think it's going to be huge. (Director of Baseball Operations Jason Wuerfel) mentioned that last year he lost a couple of players to another team in the league, because they had a pitching coach (with minor league experience). Now, look what we've got." It's hard to argue that. Frontier League players are looking to move on to the next level. And who better to teach them than someone who did it himself. It's not just that Mason made it in the big leagues. Sure, he can talk about pitching in Toronto for Philadelphia in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, putting the Phillies in line for a win and a final Game 7 only to see Mitch Williams blow a save and his win off Joe Carter's historic homer. But if I was a minor leaguer, what would be more impressive is the fact that Mason started off small, pitching at Saginaw Valley State and worked his way up the ladder -- step by step -- until he reached the top. That would be the guy I would want to learn from. Fancy ballparks and top-level coaches and players can only go so far. To be fair, Wuerfel Park was here last year and it would have been hard to find a team in the Frontier League with more talent than the Beach Bums had last summer. Yet, they missed the playoffs for the third straight year. That will be the challenge for Langbehn and Mason. And they will both have personal experience to draw on. But their hirings sent the message that the Wuerfels are ready to win. At any cost. "We're ready for a championship," Wuerfel said last week at Langbehn's press conference. "Everybody loves a winner and Traverse City deserves one."
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Mike Eckert