COLUMBIA RATTLESNAKES
Team Page

Owner: Brian "Dizzy" Dissler
Career Coaching Record
Year W L PCT GB Finish
19917377.487154/6
19926498.395406/7
19936597.401398/10
19947587.463328/10
19966894.420387/10
19977686.469429/14
199855107.3405714/14
199955107.3405013/14
20007389.45129.59/14
20017587.4632012/14
20027686.469448/14
20036993.4262513/14
Totals8241108.427 8.4
Email: contact via the commissioner
AIM: tazmet86
Team Notes
Snakes Clean House
(8/1/03) After another losing season, GM/Owner Brian Dissler has had enough. Manager Gary Carter and his coaching staff were given their walking papers Friday. "Statistics show it's best to fire people on Fridays" said Dissler. "There's less chance of an incident." Replacing Carter is former Met Lee Mazzilli. Maz has brought in Rusty Staub to tutor the Snake hitters and recently-retired DMBL great David Cone will take over duties of the pitching coach. "Rusty has proven that he knows how to get hits" said Mazzilli in a press conference yesterday. "And Cone knows the ins and outs of pitching in the DMBL." Although Cone has never pitched for Columbia, he is happy to accept the role. "I always saw potential in some of the guys this organization had" said Cone. The new staff will take over in time for Friday's matchup against Vancouver.
Shaw takes closer role
When closer Todd Jones became injured for the second time this season, management took no risks. Jones went on the DL the next day and signed veteran Jeff Shaw. Shaw had spent the last few years with Austin and later Harrison. In the three games since he has been signed, Shaw is off to an impressive start, saving two games, while working a perfect inning in each game. When asked if Shaw would stick when Jones returns from the DL, GM Brian Dissler would not speculate though he hinted at the fact that it was a possibility
Wunsch impressive
When drafting rookie reliever Kelly Wunsch, no one knew what to expect. Wunsch has proven the non-believers wrong, however, as he has been the most solid reliever in the Crusader pen. Wunsch has compiled a 4-1 record with 3 saves and a sparkling 1.98 ERA in 26 games. He is second only to reliever Mike Williams in apperances. "Kelly's really solidified an area that has been a problem in the past for us" said teammate Chuck Finley.
Manager: Lee Mazilli
Hitting Coach: Rusty Staub
Pitching Coach: David Cone
Game Results
Team Schedule
Real life Statistics Simulated Statistics Previous Seasons
Stadium: Crusader Park (Shea)

Minor League Affiliates:
AAA: Charleston Vassals
AA:   Georgetown Jousters
A:      Sumter Serfs

Hometown Newspapers
The State

Weather Report
Crusaders/Snakes Team Records
Single Season Career
Record Player Year Num.
BATTING
Games Many Tied   162
At Bats Dante Bichette 1994 767
Plate Appearances Dante Bichette 1994 794
Hits Dante Bichette 1996 258
Runs Harold Baines 1997 131
RBIs Dante Bichette 1996 168
Doubles Dante Bichette 1994 57
Triples Joe Carter

1993 12
Home Runs Mark McGwire 1993 59
Walks Frank Thomas 2001 120
Strikeouts Ken Caminiti 1996 173
Stolen Bases Chuck Knoblauch 1999 30
Caught Stealing 1 Chuck Knoblauch 1999 17
Errors2 Pat Listach 1993 55
Batting Avg 3 Dante Bichette 1996 .352
On Base Pct 3 Frank Thomas 2001 .413
Slugging Pct 3 Dante Bichette 1996 .627
OPS 3 Mark McGwire 1993 1.004
1 not available before 1997 season
2 not available before 1998 season
3 based on 502 PA
PITCHING
Games Lee Smith 1992 93
Wins Pat Hentgen 1997 16
Losses O. Hernandez 1999 19
Win-Loss Pct 4 Dave Stieb 1991 11-5 (.688)
Saves Jeff Shaw 2001 19
Blown Saves 5 Lee Smith 1993 10
Innings Pitched Pat Hentgen 1997 237.3
Hits S. Reynolds 1997 279
Walks Chuck Finley 2001 105
Strikeouts S. Reynolds 1996 206
Earned Runs Pat Hentgen
S. Reynolds
1998
1997
122
ERA 6 T. Greene 1992 2.90
Runners per 9 6 T. Greene
Gil Heredia
1992
2000
12.3
Games Started Many tied   33
Complete Games Steve Avery 1993 11
Shutouts 5 Pat Hentgen 1997 4
4 minimum 15 decisions
5 some data not available, 1991-1992, 1997
6 minimum 162 IP
Record Player Num.
BATTING
Games Ivan Rodriguez 714
At Bats Ivan Rodriguez 3925
Plate Appearances Ivan Rodriguez 4112
Hits Ivan Rodriguez 1096
Runs Paul O'Neill 313
RBIs Ivan Rodriguez 554
Doubles Paul O'Neill 216
Triples Joe Carter
Shane Mack
192
Home Runs Fred McGriff 161
Walks Paul O'Neill 445
Strikeouts Fred McGriff 784
Stolen Bases Dante Bichette 61
Caught Stealing 1 Ivan Rodriguez 29
Errors2 Fred McGriff 135
Batting Avg 3 Ken Caminiti .306
On Base Pct 3 Ken Caminiti .389
Slugging Pct 3 Ken Caminiti .527
OPS 3 Ken Caminiti .915
1 not available before 1997 season
2 not available before 1998 season
3 based on 1500 PA
PITCHING
Games Rick Aguilera 271
Wins Shane Reynolds 51
Losses Shane Reynolds 65
Win-Loss Pct 4 Pat Hentgen 37-37 (.500)
Saves Rick Aguilera 43
Blown Saves 5 Todd Jones 24
Innings Pitched Shane Reynolds 967.7
Hits Shane Reynolds 1215
Walks Mark Langston 317
Strikeouts Shane Reynolds 836
Earned Runs Shane Reynolds

533
ERA 6 Steve Avery 4.70
Runners per 9 6 Shane Reynolds

13.4
Games Started Shane Reynolds 153
Complete Games Steve Avery 26
Shutouts 5 Pat Hentgen 5
4 minimum 50 decisions
5 some data not available, 1991-1992, 1997
6 minimum 500 IP
Did You Know?
  • Since the team was founded in 1991, 180 men have suited up for the Columbia Crusaders: 86 batters and 94 pitchers.
  • No player has been with the team since its inception, but 18 players have been with the team for at least five seasons: Rick Aguilera (1991-1996), Steve Avery (1992-1996), Harold Baines (1991-1998), Dante Bichette (1992-1999), Ken Caminiti (1993-1998), Joe Carter (1991-1996), John Franco (1996-2000), Pat Hentgen (1994-2000), Todd Jones (1996-present), Eric Karros (1994, 1997-present), Mark Langston (1991-1997), Fred McGriff (1991-1997), Otis Nixon (1992-1996), Troy O'Leary (1996-present), Paul O'Neill (1992-present), Shane Reynolds (1996-2000), Ivan Rodriguez (1993-present) and Lee Smith (1991-1996). Crusaders for at least three years: Joey Cora (1997-1999), Tom Goodwin (1996-1998), Lenny Harris (1991-1993), Mike Henneman (1993-1996), Jay Howell (1991-1994), Bruce Hurst (1991-1993), Shane Mack (1992-1994), Mark McGwire (1991-1993), John Olerud (1992, 1998-1999), Neifi Perez (1998-2000), Chris Sabo (1991-1994) and Alan Trammell (1991-1994).
  • Although he's been off the team for three years, Fred McGriff's career HR record (161) may stand one last year. Paul O'Neill is closest on the active list, 41 HR short of the mark; Ivan Rodriguez needs 43.
  • Another long-time Crusader who is likely to hold onto his career records for awhile is Shane Reynolds, who was with the team from 1996-2000. Now with the Harrison Rats, Reynolds will likely remain the Crusaders' leader in career starts, hits, strikeouts, wins, losses and earned runs for quite some time: The next active Crusader is Chuck Finley, more than 100 starts behind.
  • Finley pitched for the Crusaders in 1991, but it would be nine years -- and five different uniforms -- before he returned to Columbia in 2000. If he stays in Columbia for the entire 2001 season, it would be the first time in his DMBL career that he played back-to-back full seasons for the same team.
  • Ken Caminiti's "percentage triple crown" (batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage) also appears safe: O'Neill is the closest active Crusader with at least 1,500 plate appearances, but he'd need a great season to catch him: He needs a 12-point jump in batting average, 60 points in slugging percentage and 13 points in on-base percentage, which would also give him the 70 points in OPS needed to dethrone Caminiti.
  • In 1991, Doug Drabek averaged 11.8 baserunners per 9 IP, but split the season between Columbia and Arkansas. It's unlikely that Drabek, with 185.3 IP that season, pitched enough for Columbia to qualify for the single-season record (minimum 162 IP).
  • If he can record 11 saves in 2001, Todd Jones will leapfrog John Franco (42) and Rick Aguilera (43) to become the team's all-time save leader; he needs 30 appearances to pass Aguilera for the games pitched title.