Dog Days Bite Bats
“We knew that this was going to be a key stretch for us,” said manager Bill Inkster. “The guys got together and looked at the calendar a few weeks back, then kissed their wives, girlfriends, and significant others goodbye. We knew it was going to be trench warfare.”
And it’s been just that.
The month will see the Heartland division’s leader play only six times in the comfortable surroundings of Utopia Field, but venture out in to no-man’s land for twenty-one events. Through half that span, the bloodshed has been palpable. The Nine swept a key series at home against Nashville, but have managed only three wins in ten road games at San Fernando, Twin Cities, Chicago, California, and now Seattle—where they have two more contests before heading home for two games against Hawaii. They’ll finish back on the road with Omaha and a surging Des Moines.
BATS BATTERED
McNeill's CommentsBring Out Fan's Best
“It’s a long grind,” said veteran Lucas McNeill. “It’s okay. It happens to everyone sometimes. It’s not that big of a deal.”
His comment led one fan to ask if Mrs. McNeill, the world-famous Mikki Manning, might have a different opinion.
Regardless, it is true that the season is long and hard, so to speak, but soft spots are generally expected to hit in Loserville or Chicago rather than here in Ohio. "Striking out is what happens in the Winless City," said one fan in a recent call in conversation that's since gone viral. His play on the Windy City has since taken off, something that made the team's tepid 1-2 performance in Chicago sting a little.
"Wait until they come to Utopia in September," quipped one stung fan.
COSTELLO TO RETURN?
A positive note amid the angst, outfielder Luis Costello is rumored to be nearing the point where he could be activated from the injured list. Costello’s broken fibula stripped the team of a solid RHB that they lean on in their heavy platoon system. His injury became a bigger issue when youngster Jim Des Jardien botched what looks like his last chance to make a spot for himself.
“Luis makes a difference for us because he can play the whole outfield,” Inkster said. “We’re not going to rush him, but it’ll be great to be able to get him back into the dugout.”
