Postgame thoughts (June 18, 2011)

Nick Shaw's bat patiently waits for him to recover from fouling a ball off his foot in Saturday's game at Cedar Rapids.

Kernels 6, Rattlers 5
Boxscore | Game Story

• Well, that was anti-climactic.
• Cody Hawn had three hits and two RBI tonight.  The way that he has been hitting the ball lately, it looks like Hawn will have a big second half.  He is 14-for-36 (.389) with seven RBI in his last nine games.  A lot of those balls that weren’t falling earlier in the season are starting to find holes.
• For example, his RBI double in the third.  It was a line drive to left-center.  Kernels left fielder Justin Bass made a full out, parallel-to-the-ground dive for the ball.  The ball went in and out of Bass’s glove and Hawn got a double.
• That’s two ejections for Dusty Rhodes this season.  You can read about the call that set him off in the game story.  All I will say is that I wouldn’t mind seeing the replay of that play and maybe send it in with response to the incident report.
• HEY! for Franklin Romero! scoring all the way from first on an errant pickoff throw to third.  Frankie got a head start and the Kernels were in that “No Doubles Defense”, but he was flying around the bases.
• Judging by the way the team hung out in the dugout for a minute or two after the game ended, they did not know that Quad Cities won tonight to knock them out of the playoffs. A lot of guys just hung out on the rail and watched the Kernels celebrate the win.
• Every one on this team talked about making the playoffs as a goal.  Making it in the first half would have been a bonus and a big one.  To see this group of guys fall short, is tough to see.
• The great thing about the Midwest League schedule is that there are another 70 games to try to make that goal of the playoffs.
• It’s not going to be easy, and I have a feeling that there are going to be a few roster moves before the start of the second half on June 24, but the goal remains the same for this Timber Rattlers team in the second half
• Make the playoffs!
• Hopefully as the second half champion for a shot at Quad Cities in the first round.  That would be fun.
• First, end the half strong on Sunday afternoon with Austin Ross on the hill.