Des Moines Gets Their Moment In the Sun

[lordtoffee]

Des Moines has seen a lot of bad baseball over the years, with their playoff drought being one of the two most infamous droughts in the BBA. The Nine might have served up heartbreak, but their brand of heartbreak was being competitive and failing to get to the Holy Grail of a BBA Series winners pennant and the knowledge that their drought would be the defining feature of their place in BBA lore. Des Moines's streak was of a different kind, where they couldn't make the playoffs and the feeling that no matter what happened in the executive ranks, the playing ranks, or the movement of GMs throughout the league, the playoff drought was the one constant.

To be a Des Moines fan meant that you would go to the games seeing a lot of bad baseball, and question why you put yourself through it while other teams in the league got some level of playoff success. As the drought got longer, it overshadowed anything else about the franchise, and those that stayed over the decades deserve a lot of credit. Fandom is a strange thing, and requires a lot of investment, time, and energy. What the Kernels fans have shown is that they were willing to continue to support the only major sports team in Iowa through a lot of losing, and they finally got their reward.

Randy was able to finish the job by assembling an excellent offense that is among the best in the FL in the power metrics, and should get a ton of love for GM of the Year in the Frick. The two big bats of Cano Jr. and Haney have accomplished a lot in their careers between them. A lot of team success, individual awards, and the respect of the entire league. But what they did for Des Moines cannot be calculated by pure numbers or awards. They made a state believe, and Game 1 of the Kernels-Sluggers series will be played in Iowa.


Game 1 belongs to the fans who continued to believe that their team would get to the playoffs, and who supported their team through the losing. That patience and effort should be respected throughout the league. As a rival executive, let me offer my sincere congratulations to Randy and his team. They have now removed the shackles of their playoff drought, and will get to enjoy their moment in the sun, no matter what happens in their series. Des Moines is now a playoff team, and that means more than I can ever know to their fans and Randy.

[usnspecialist]

Damn that was beautiful to read.

[recte44]

Edward Murphy is smiling down on the Kernels. The thought of this makes me happy.

[lordtoffee]

Edward Murphy is smiling down on the Kernels. The thought of this makes me happy.

Yes. No matter what happens tonight, Des Moines getting a playoff berth has been one of the highlights of my time here.

[pandan]

Congrats, Randy!

Bob Anderson shedding a tear for you in JAX

[trmmilwwi]

Edward Murphy is smiling down on the Kernels. The thought of this makes me happy.

Well said! Great writeup also.