The Nashville Panthers?

Our first inter-league match-up of the season is a doubleheader tomorrow with the Nashville Panthers, from the upstart Tennessee Summer Collegiate Baseball Association (TSCBA for short). And just who are these Cats? Are they just another breed of feline niggling into our Yard?

With a look on the TSCBA website we can see that the Panthers have the best record in their league at 10-5. They have a team batting average of .275, (the Railroaders average is.255), with 7 players batting over .300. Of the 115 hits total, 20 are for extra bases and there are no homeruns on the year (we have 11 after our last game). For Panthers, they seem a bit slow with only 16 stolen bases in their 15 games played. Our train has 44 in 18 games total. They have scored 52 runs averaging 3.5 per game, and the Railroader total 106 averaging 5.8 per game.

On the pitching front, the Panthers team ERA is 2.73 from a core of 11 pitchers. We’re weaker in this area with a team ERA of 4.16. So combine that with the Panthers better batting average, and we’d better be on our toes with defense! And speaking of Errors, the Panthers have 21 in the 15 games; while in our 18 games we have 37. We’ve done better over the last 3 games with only 3 errors but still, any error is one too many. With the Panthers, it could kill us!

It seems to me that the key to winning these games will be Defense. The bats seem hot and we have the speed to get it done on the bases. The Panthers have 4-1 record against other Kitty League teams this year, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Pirates. Let's give them a double-defeat tomorrow!

What’s wrong with the Railroaders?

You think it’s about time we take a look at record and numbers? The Railroaders current record is 9-8. In first 9 games, the guys won 7 and lost 2. Since then, the record shows only 2 wins and 6 losses. Is it the heat? The “at Home” record is pretty good at 7 wins, 3 losses while the “on the Road” not so good, 3-5. Are the Pirates really that good? Our record so far with them is 1 win, 4 lost. They have beat up on the other team too, but so have we. Tradewater has handed us half our losses. I know we’re better than that and I know we can turn it around. Let’s get a grip on things and start winning. We don’t face the Pirates again until July 17th in Fulton, and only face them 3 more times total. We may still be in 2nd place in the standings, but we’re 5 games behind Tradewater. Let’s get the steam pressure up and get this train rolling! The quality of our players and coaches are better than the record reflects. Let’s begin tonight at the Yard and put away the Bobcats, then repeat the same this Saturday when the Nashville Panthers come into town. The Panthers are the best of the TSCBA with a record of 10-4. The next 3 games we play are at Home, let make them all WINS!

Stolen Bases and Hits abound

What a show in Farmington on Wednesday. The train ride was certainly work it. The Railroaders are hitting all around and running the bases just the way I like it. It's so inspiring I'm going to work harder than even to be ready if I'm ever called up from under grandstand. Watching these guys play just make you want to out and get dirty. They are really getting ready for Pirates on Friday and Saturday, but first the Browns will follow us home for a Thursday night meeting at the Yard. I'd better get started back to be there in time. I have enjoyed the great chow they have in Farmington, but I sure miss the food at the Yard. I hope everyone will come out and cheer on the Railroaders as they really poor on the power. See you at the game!

Hobo Hoghead

I decided to hop a train and head to the farthest point north in Kitty League territory where the Browns reside. I made short time of it with only having to catch 3 trains and taking only 15 hours. Barely enough time for me to enjoy the trip and great leftovers I obtained from Tuesday night’s game in Fulton. What a game, huh? The boys are really at it now and I’m looking forward to seeing more, starting with Farmington. Did you know the Railroaders, after 7 games, have stolen 22 bases total? The entire league total is 54 and our guys have almost half of them! I enjoy aggressive base running as much as I do catching trains.

The 1-4 upstart Browns are behind everyone in the standings, but we all know that could change quickly. Wednesday night is the franchise Home opener in Farmington. I’m sure they’ll play their hearts out for a win. I’m looking for the Railroaders to have a different plan. Tomorrow, Thursday, the guys will return to Fulton and play the Browns a second game in the Yard. I’ll have to catch the midnight express to make in back down in time. But even if I have to walk, I’ll be there for some big weekend action.

The Railroaders are in the early season lead along with Pirates, but we have a couple of more games under out belts that they do. We're at 5-2 while they stand 4-1. On Friday, we’ll begin a 3 game series with the Pirates, one game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. This will be some good baseball playing between the current top 2 teams. The Railroaders have already face Pirates once this season, and they handed our first loss. I have feeling the outcome may be different after the two meet again the week’s end.

Well, I’ve got a couple miles to go before I reach Wilson-Rozier Park. No track or train from here on, so off on foot I go. If I start now, I may even beat the Railroaders bus. Hope the leftovers with are as good as they are at the Yard. If not, I brought plenty with me.

Let’s stop the leak!

We should be warmed up now after 3 games and ready to go. So it’s a good time to get down to work and put a halt to the losses. We can start by stopping this Oilers’ leak. This early in season, our 2 defeats can easily be overcome. Both the losses were only by 1 run. We ought to have no problem getting this thing plugged and get back to business. A sweep of today’s doubleheader with Owensboro will put us back in on top and out of the murky water. Let’s go guys and get the job done right! We don't want the Oilers' crude all over the Yard! This stuff will just make the garbage taste bad.

What a Game!

The opening night's game with the Oilers was like the pre-game rain showers, on and off. But in the end, all was well. While players saved the field for play earlier in the day, they also saved the game in the 7th inning scoring 8 runs to overcome an 8 to 3 Oilers' lead. Both teams seem to struggle at times, with 3 errors each, 18 walks total, 3 hit batters, and 20 men left on base. The Railroaders were rustle first falling behind after the first inning 6-0, Oilers adding 2 more in the 3rd before the Railroaders finally started to get thing together in the bottom of 3rd with 3 runs. The guys looked better after that and then the Oilers began to be plagued with the bug-a-boos. It brought a warm feeling to my baseball heart when our guys ran up 8 runs in the 7th. The Oilers tried to come back in the 9th, but came up short one run with the final 11-10 in Fulton's favor.

Time to hit the road to face the Pirates in Tradewater. I'm sure they're waiting for us with bad breath. Only 1 game with Bucs on Thursday, the a game with Oilers again in Owensboro on Friday. AND Saturday we're back home for a doubleheader with the Oilers again, first game at 5 pm. Should make for an interesting weekend. Let's shake off the opening jitters and get this train rolling.

One more thing, the food a the Yard was great! With people jumping around during the game, there was plenty of dropping to be had. Thanks for Railroaders!

Ready To Go!

It's the day before opening night at the Yard and the players are hard at it getting ready for the first game against the Owensboro Oilers. Now that I'm back in the groove, Boilerstoker and I are hard at it helping the guys out on the field. The ground crew sure has it looking good! I can smell the food cooking too, I can hardly wait to take out the garbage.

This years group of Railroaders are really something to watch. While waiting for my next task on the field, we watched a little batting practice. Wow! These guys are hot, and just not from the weather. Keep you eye out on Ryan Conner, this guy can put it over the scoreboard. I know I like what I see, and I believe this could be the best assembly of players we've ever had. All the Railroader teams of past have been good, but these guys are really focused, even in practice. They've only been together a couple days, and already they appear to be well form group ready to take on anyone. I can hardly wait for tomorrow night. Hope to see everyone at the Yard!