In the Wingnuts notes that are handed out to the media (read: me) every day, there’s a section of “last time the Wingnuts….” accomplishments. And one of them is “Last time the Wingnuts had a walkoff hit.” The answer? May 9, 2008, when Blake Gailen hit a sacrifice fly to win it for Wichita in the bottom of the eighth.
Yeah, you read that right. The EIGHTH. That was the first game of a doubleheader, and in the American Association (like the Texas League), doubleheaders are comprised of two seven-inning games. So that game actually went extra innings and the Wingnuts had their first (and only) walkoff hit before the ninth inning. It’s all pretty confusing if you don’t put it in context.
Mostly because I don’t like to keep the air conditioning on in my apartment for too long and I can turn it off when I’m not home, I get to these games pretty early. Today we have a 5:00 doubleheader start, so I got here at about 1:30. OK, 1:15. But getting here early allows me to see things I wouldn’t normally see. Not important things necessarily, but things.
And I’m discovering another thing I like about independent baseball. These guys, the Wingnuts players, actually seem to like each other. They’re stretch together, hang out in the outfield, play catch, tell jokes, have fun. It’s good.
And I know you’re probably thinking — well, Jeff, they ARE teammates. Isn’t that what they’re supposed to be doing? Well, reader, yes they are. But in professional sports, it happens a lot less often than you might think. I hardly ever saw the Braves players hang out in the outfield or stretch together when I covered them last summer. Yeah, they got along, but on this level there are no petty feuds, no big salaries that create jealousy, and no massive egos. I like it.
I know two days ago I said to check back every day this week and then yesterday I failed to blog. I actually started to but people kept coming into the press box and I was doing other things and by the time I packed up my computer and left I think I actually thought I had written. But I just forgot. My bad. But seriously, check back every OTHER day this week and I’ll spin you some Wingnuts gems.
By the way, reliever Doug Hurn was released yesterday. Apparently the Wingnuts have signed a new pitcher, but with everyone running around in a frenzy after the game was postponed last night, I never caught who the new player is. I’ll find out, though, and let ya’ll know. See ya soon.