Home Sweet Home! (posted April 17, 2010)

Please accept my apologies for omitting my blog yesterday. After hoping on a plane at 6:25AM leaving Omaha, the Sounds and yours truly, arrived in Nashville between 10 and 10:30AM yesterday morning. Once we got our bags from the baggage claim, we made our way to the bus and I was relaxing and smiling because the team has started off winning seven of their first eight games.

I arrived home and played catch up like any other announcer coming from out of town. I checked my mail and paid any bills that needed to be paid and of course, there was laundry and ironing (which I am still doing this morning as of this writing).

The weather was outstanding on the road and I can say the very same here in Nashville. It’s nice that it is spring and the Boys of Summer are back in town to play ball.

Last night, the Sounds had their home opener at Greer Stadium and for a lot of the staff, it was their first home opener with the club. Everyone and I mean everyone did an outstanding job getting things ready. There was a crowd of 8,122 at the venerable ballpark and there were 2010 Sounds Magnetic Schedules to be given out, a spectacular fireworks show after the game, kids were running the bases and it was also a spectacular ballgame. The ONLY disappointment was the result of the game, but the effort has ALWAYS been there.

The Sounds trailed much of the game against the Iowa Cubs, the team that was swept by the Sounds in Des Moines the week before. I-Cubs Catcher Chris Robinson and left fielder Jason Dubois made Sounds’ starting pitcher Chris Waters pay when they hit some pitches that were right down the middle of the plate and were deposited over the left field wall.

However, after trailing 4-2 in the ninth, the Sounds loaded the bases and pinch batter Ray Olmedo came through with a base hit to left field that drove in two runs and that tied the game at 4-4. Unfortunately, with the winning run on third and two outs in the ninth, Norris Hopper struck out and the threat ended. It would stay that way until the eleventh inning. Sounds’ reliever John Axford had no troubles in the tenth, but in the eleventh, he ran into trouble for the first time this year. Iowa got to him for three runs in the inning on an RBI single by Shortstop Darwin Barney and added insurance when Second Baseman Bobby Scales doubled in a pair of runs to make it 7-4, Iowa. That would turn out to be the final score. Just like what has been their fashion all year, the Sounds threatened again in the bottom of the eleventh. Hopper came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, as he hoped to redeemed himself for the missed opportunity in the ninth. However, he struck out again and the Sounds lost the home opener. Still, despite the loss, this 2010 edition of the Sounds, is showing they are capable of being in every ballgame and they continue to be resilient, even in defeat. If all of this is a prelude to what we hope and expect to see for the season, then I certainly like what I am seeing and I know the Sounds’ fans did last night. I even liked when the fans were on their feet during the rallies. They really got into it.

Despite playing in an old park, this Sounds team has a lot to offer on the field and speaking of the field, Groundskeeper Thomas Trotter and his staff have done a tremendous job manicuring the field and continue to keep it in excellent shape. Keep up the great work, guys. There is also entertainment going on even away from the field with more promotions coming up at Greer Stadium.

After being pre-empted from regular radio last night due to the Predators’ hockey playoff game, I’m happy to say that we will be back on radio again on 104.5 The Zone (WGFX-FM) at 6:30PM for Game 2 of the series against Iowa at Greer Stadium tonight. If you have not formulated your plans to come out to the ballgame, I encourage you to do so because of the great play and there will be another post-game fireworks show at Greer Stadium tonight. Great seats are still available for tonight’s game and for the rest of the homestand, which features two additional games against the Iowa Cubs after tonight’s game and four games with the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Redhawks, starting this Tuesday, April 20th. Check on the Sounds’ website for more ticket and promotional information. As always, every game will be broadcast on the internet atwww.nashvillesounds.com.

On a side note, Sounds’ rightfielder, Brendan Katin had to leave the game in the fourth inning. Why? I don’t know. I never got the answer, but I will when I get to the ballpark today. Hopefully, it is nothing serious because Katin is one of the best hitters in the Pacific Coast League and he has been off to a very good start this year.

Well, see you at the ballpark tonight or otherwise, if you can’t make it, then tune in to 104.5 The Zone and the Sounds’ website for the broadcast! Until then, take care and have a nice day!

• Posted on April 17, 2010 at 11:02 am