Feel the rumble...The train is near

Dude,Hoghead i thought you would never get back from that vacation, I have been laying low,and getting ready for another great Railroader season,lots to do as the crew will be here next week!!! I have been tring to get us an Obama Stimulus package so we could get a great set of seats,but I guess we will remain under the bleachers,get better food there so not all bad.Fans make your plans to be in the Yard Friday May 29 for opening ceremony and a date with the KIT league returning Sikeston Bulls for a 3 game weekend series! See ya there!
ROLL TRAIN

Dazed & Confused

I just got back from my off-season down in Bermuda where I managed to drop my laptop in the ocean while surfing both the web and waves at the same time. Without Internet access and less than 3 weeks to go before the season begins, I was anxious to catch up on the Railroader happenings. At first I thought I’d gone through a space-time wrap or something, and missed the entire 2009 season. It was like the Twilight Zone in Bermuda with all the girls and action there, but surely I hadn’t been there over a year! Last I’d checked, there were 8 teams in the League and Railroaders’ staff was established.

Now, the League is back to 6 teams with a new schedule, and the Railroaders have a new, different manager and coach. I guess I missed another chance for a manager position after being out of touch. This new manager, Terry Davis, looks tuff too! I suppose he won’t need me on the roster to keep the team in-line. The new coach, Derrick Shuler, knocks me out for a coaching position also. Other changes are the addition of more Teamline broadcasters, scoreboard operators and scorekeepers. Well, I’m sure Front Office will let me kept my position cleaning up the grandstand. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

The 2009 Railroader Roster is looking pretty good. There are 23 of the 24 spots filled. Ummmm, I wonder…would they consider my talents to complete the team? I see there are 13 pitchers available to throw, 10 right-handers and 3 Lefties. Well, I am a Leftie myself, so maybe I could help in that area. I like the size of these guys also. These team looks good to capture another title for the Railroaders in ’09. It won’t be long now before the Yard is full of the sounds and smells of baseball in Fulton. The ground crews are working hard and new upgrades are installed. Even the Little Monster has received a facelift. It’s good to back in town and I’m ready for some baseball!

Off-Season antics and acquisitions

During the off-season I’ve been working out down in Bermuda, and getting into shape for a possible spot on the 2009 Railroaders roster. After finally finding a dial-up connection to the Internet, I have learned the team roster has already been filled! To top that off, they have also signed a new manager, Ryan Wheat, who looks to do some great things with the Railroaders in the upcoming season. And . . a new pitching coach, Steve Stemle, an ex-major leaguer who played for the Kansas City Royals.

I’ve checked out a few of the guys on the roster and I’m seeing a lot of good talent this year. There’s even a set of twins, that will make it a bit interesting. We have a few returning players too, Tyler Hall, Lee Kimbell, Justin Rodgers, and Cory White. The Kitty League is allowing 24 players per roster this year, up 2 more from pervious years. The Railroaders only have 22, but an email to and from the front office informed me I won’t make the roster again this year. All my bodybuilding work seems a waste, although it has improved my standing with the girls down here.

The League has also expanded to 8 teams! Wow, more baseball action to look forward to, and 27 homes! Two divisions, East & West, with 4 teams each. The ole’ Bulls from Sikeston are back and who’s this road team the Mavericks? I suppose these poor ponies can’t find a place to sleep! I’m sure looking forward to the 2009 season action. Perhaps the Railroaders will give me my old job back, cleaning up under the grandstand. Maybe I get a job as a “bouncer” and keep the unruly Greyhound Fans under control. At least I’ll be in shape for it. Meanwhile, I'll start looking for a ride on a fishing boat heading back to the States, that will take a couple of months. In the meantime I’ve picked up new sport down here that will help keep me in shape. “Gnarly Dude”

The Season is over, but the Memories Great

Well we wish the season could go on for a few more games, but we'll have to settle for 2nd place in the regular season play. There were many great moments in 2008 and we'll look forward to 2009 for even more. The Players, Coaches, Fans, and Owners have all contributed to exciting baseball in Fulton. If you would like to express your thoughts, this is the place to do it. Boilerstoker and I wish all the players success in their future with baseball and hope to see a few next year. Congrats to the Oilers and the Pirates on their play Playoff run so far, good luck in the 3rd Round.

On to Post Season Play

The standings for the season have finally been decided and the Railroaders take the 2 seat for the Playoffs. What a ride! It came down to the last day of the seasonal play to get there, too. Congrats to the team for a great finish and fine win against the Bobcats. Now the guys have 2 days to rest up and get ready for the tough Post Season Playoff series in round 2 with either the Oilers or Firebirds (I stand corrected from my first posting when I thought it was UC or Marion we would face). Both these teams will mean business when go at it on Monday the round 1, single game elimination in Owensboro. Then on Tuesday, the winner will be hosting the Railroaders for the first game in the best of 3 games, round 2. The second game, and third if necessary, will be played in Fulton at the Yard.

The Railroaders are a little thin in the ranks going into the Playoffs, but their spirit is strong and you can see it in their eyes as they played on Saturday. And as Boilerstoker pointed out, had we not won the game, the Oilers would have taken the 2nd seed by their sweeping of the Hounds in Union City on the same night. I must admit I was a Greyhound fan for a while, hoping they would take out the Oilers for at least one game to ensure our 2nd place position. But our players knew if they won, there would be nothing the Oilers could do to stop them from securing the 2nd top standing for 2008’s regular season. They did just that and I’m extremely proud of everyone of them. I believe in the upcoming Playoffs they have a lot more to show us too. Go get’em Railroaders!

BTW, Marlene is as tickled as can be and is wondering if any of the players don't have a girl friend.

Railroader and Bobcat matchup report

Here are some numbers to help size up the contest between the Railroaders (47 games) and the Bobcats (45 games). Pretty even in the pitching department with ERA's, 3.45 Cats and 3.38 Railroaders. The only noteworthy difference would be they've walked 53 more batters than we have with 2 less games played about a 100 less batters faced. In every other pitching category we are pretty much even.

At the plate there are a couple of differences worth mention. We have 261 RBI's to their 141, a difference of 120. (with of course 2 more games played). We have 113 more runs scored and 114 more walks. Team batting averages are Cats .240 and Railroaders .254. They do steal a few more bases than we do. Other than these, both teams again look much the same.

So, I think is boils down to who's more fired up and in-tune for playing. The Bobcats have been scrappy of late and have won 5 in a row including a game against the Pirates and a 2 game sweep of the Greyhounds in the dog pound. I guess that answers where they're at, playing for pride and being successful. On the otherhand, we have the Railroaders, and until last night I was a bit concerned for they well being in the standing. But the train has been put back on the track by one shift crack of the bat in the bottom a 9th inning comeback by Hunter Dawson who more than paid for 2 errors he was charged with during the game. Hunter displayed what the 2008 Railroader team is all about, pick it up, keep it cool and get the job done! That moment in the Yard will be one that everyone there will always remember. So if you want to see some that action, get out there tonight and Saturday for some more. Because the Train is rolling and the steam pressure is up. Go Railroaders!

2 nd place

new season, everybody will be 0-0. First team to 2 wins will be champs. Good Luck to all teams, congrats to the RR's. keep playing good ball,
Rattler, outta here