We’re back (from vacation)
Just some thoughts on a few things from a slack-jawed local sports blogger (no Josh Hamilton ESPN rehash here, folks) who is still trying to recover from a week eating and watching baseball in his hometown of Chicago.
Anyway, let’s dive right in.
The Valley League’s expansion to 12 teams is a good, yet risky, move by the wooden-bat summer league. The goods?
Well, it evens up the league which eliminates what is a scheduling nightmare for those in charge of, well, making schedules. It also opens up more roster spots so maybe, just maybe, a few more local boys can grab spots on one of the teams.
The risks? Well, let’s be honest here folk, gas prices won’t every go back to the way it used to be and when those pumps reach $4 a gallon (if they haven’t already as you read this) gassing up all those team buses will be a major financial burden on the teams and the league.
But we like risks. You should know that by now. We loved it when ex-Waynesboro baseball coach (and Waynesboro Generals owner) Jim Critzer would send a kid home from second on a single. We love squeeze plays with one out in the bottom of the third, we loved the Lonesome Polecat that people in Crozet still sing songs about. We loved it when Devon Brown put her head down and bullied her way through the lane (no matter what wannabe sports writers looking for Web hits had to say.) Heck, we love all risks. And we like this one too.
With the addition of the Rockbridge Rapids (Another great nickname for a VL team, by the way. Now Staunton remains as the only lame ones with a cliche name like the “Braves.“) the league is taking a chance that attendance will go up along with the price of gas. Now baseball fans in Rockbridge won’t have to drive up to Augusta County’s two cities to watch baseball. It’s true what they tout, the Valley League is a super cheap way for a family to spend a night watching baseball. The more towns you offer it to, the better off the league will be.
But seriously, the other smart (and risky) thing to do would be relocating Fauquier and Haymarket. That’s too long of a drive for the teams in the Valley (not the league, but the actual Shenandoah Valley). Seriously, if you want to keep calling in the Valley League, let’s make it a true Valley League. Does Lord Botetourt need want a team? Send Fauquier down there.
Think Nelson County could support a team? Or how about Troutville? Send Haymarket down that way. Now, fans can see follow their favorite team on the road without dropping half a paycheck on gas and the league will save some money on the whole thing too.
Good moves? Of course.
Risky? You bet, but in this day and age, is there any other way?
Thought so.
And another thing: Humor me a bit as write about one facet of my vacation. Anybody thinking about taking a sleeper car train trip should do it. I was nervous about the whole thing, you know lack of room and all, but the wife and I were very comfortable in a “roomette” and would do it again in a heartbeat. And the train food? Sure, it’s no four-star, but it wasn’t bad at all.
Paging Fort Defiance, paging Fort Defiance: Did you send that letter to Terry Waters yet? Just asking.
Another question: How on the gods’ green earth was this Vienna team ranked No. 1? Seriously, who’s ranking these teams? Obviously people that haven’t seen the Generals. Obviously people who don’t know that Brandon Sizemore could run for City Council in Waynesboro and probably beat the pants of the current wonks in charge. Because all the Generals (and Luray for that matter) did was beat this supposed No. 1 Vienna squad.
The “No. 11” ranked Generals took their game 1-0. “No. 5” Luray hammered this team, 12-4.
Yeah, so much for being “No. 1,“ eh?
