2060.45 A Little Revenge: Nine Upend Nashville

[Trebro]

A Little Revenge: Nine Upend Nashville

by Valerie Davies, for the Yellow Springs World

Sometimes, it's the little things that matter within a larger, losing season. Tonight, the Yellow Springs Nine, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, got "a little revenge" by beating the Bluebirds 5-4 in a game that saw several former Nashville players contributing to the win, while former Nine Phil Cole failed to stop his old teammates.

Cesar Aybar started at shortstop and went 4 for 5, including two RBIs. Batting just .229 on the year, Aybar has struggled when asked to be a starter versus a backup, though his defense has kept the Nine in games. He slid over to third later in the game.

"It felt good to show Nashville fans what they're missing," said Aybar, in a locker room interview. "I've had my ups and downs but I know I can play this game well. It was great to show that tonight.

But the real feel-good story is catcher Jesus Rodriguez. Pinch-hitting in the 8th inning, J-Rod knocked a single up the middle that center fielder Crissy Tingle couldn't get to in time to stop Felix Abernathy from scoring, giving the Nine a 4-3 lead that ended up being key to a 5-4 victory.

He was all smiles after the game, speaking freely to reporters from both the Yellow Springs and Nashville press corps. I asked him what it was like to be the key to victory, maybe for the last time.

"I don't want to think about it being the last time, Valerie, but I will say this: It felt damned good."

Majd bin Nawaf also went one for five with a run scored, but his season remains a washout. His agent Marcus "Bot" Scorus won't let him do interviews without observation and veto rights, which neither I nor the World will ever agree to.

This was one small game, just the team's 56th win. It won't change Nashville's onslaught to the playoffs as perpetual Brewster favorites. It won't prevent a 9th consecutive losing season, one of the longest streaks in the league. It won't make anyone re-think their opinions of GM Rob McMonigal, who's mocking taunts of a specific journalist when the team seemed ready to compete again feels like a hollow boast.

But for one evening, it made two men, one at the start of their career, and one at the end, feel really good about themselves. And sometimes that's all that matters.

[Dington]

Gotta throw em a bone every once in awhile so they keep coming back. Cole has been just slightly above average since hoping the Bluebirds. Pretty on par with how his season with YS was going.

[Trebro]

Gotta throw em a bone every once in awhile so they keep coming back. Cole has been just slightly above average since hoping the Bluebirds. Pretty on par with how his season with YS was going.

I think Cole is what he is - a 4th starter. Maybe 3rd if everything breaks right. Will be curious how his scouting numbers look over the off-season. Especially given the game seems to be more aggressive now about downgrading folks.

[Dington]

I needed him to be a #3 and he did just fine. Better than Kelly would have done. He fell off hard this year.

[Trebro]

I needed him to be a #3 and he did just fine. Better than Kelly would have done. He fell off hard this year.

Exactly why I wanted to trade him now before he lost further value.