I’m happy that I joined the Pacific Coast League just in time to see the venerable and historic old ballpark on near the border of Nebraska and Iowa, situated off I-80 and 13th Street near downtown Omaha, called Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium.  For many years, this ballpark has been the home of the College World Series and the home of the Omaha Royals, the Kansas City Royals’ AAA affiliate since 1969.  The Omaha Royals were successful in 1969 when they were in their first year of existence in the American Association and won the championship that year.  Over the years, many future Royals players have passed through this ballpark as well as many future major league stars in general, who were fortunate to play in the College World Series.

For the Nashville Sounds, this is their swan song for their final games ever to play at Rosenblatt.  The Sounds have won four of their first five games played here this season and even though this ballpark has seen better years, I enjoy the view from the broadcast booth and the field is still in great playing shape.  I enjoy the downtown view of Omaha from beyond the left field corner. 

Johnny Rosenblatt has been gone since 1979, but his impact on baseball in this town is just as big as the blazing fastball from an Omaha native, the Cardinals’ pitching great Bob GIbson, who has a street named after him right behind the left field wall.  Rosenblatt played semi pro ball and worked in a dairy during the off-season. He would become the dairy’s General Manager and instrumental behind the ballpark’s beginning, which was in 1948.

Starting next year, the O-Royals will move to a new ballpark in nearby Sarpy County and I heard nothing but great things and look forward to get to broadcast in it.  There will also be a new downtown ballpark in Omaha for the College World Series and other local amateur games.  For the Royals, it’s kind of a blessing since they won’t have to be on the road every year for almost three weeks.  I wish the best for both the Royals and Amateur Baseball and future College World Series classics.  It will be a nice transition for both.

Tonight is Game 2 of a 4-game series with the Sounds and the Omaha Royals at Rosenblatt Stadium. Broadcast is at 6:50PM on nashvillesounds.com.  Hope to see the Sounds make it two in a row after their thrilling come-from-behind, 10-inning win over the Royals here in Omaha last night.  Brendan Katin was the hero with his two-run homer that broke a 4-4 tie in the tenth.  Mat Gamel had an outstanding night at the plate with three hits including a three-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Sounds a 4-3 lead until the Royals came back to score a run and tie it in the eighth.  The Sounds are now 4-3 in extra inning games in 2010.  Keep it up, fellows.  Go get ‘em tonight.

It is so funny how the daily routine of baseball can alter, especially when it comes to one person.  Last week, in one game against the Albuquerque Dukes at Greer Stadium, Adam Heether hit two home runs in that game.  Unfortunately, it would turn out to be the last game for the former Sounds Third Baseman as he was placed on waivers the following day and picked up by the Oakland Athletics.  Of course, I was sorry to see Adam go, but it was nice to see him go out with a bang.  In a way, it’s a blessing in disguise for Heether because he is from California and grew up as an A’s fan, but he will get a chance to perhaps move up quicker in the A’s organization since they could use a guy like Heether with his bat and glove.  Now with Mat Gamel activated on Nashville’s roster and Casey McGehee being the regular third baseman for the parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, it was going to be difficult for Heether to move up the Brewers’ hierarchy.  I believe in the long haul, it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Heether since he is back out West.  He was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento, where the Sounds were on their previous road trip.  Adam, you’re a great guy and a fine talent and I wish you nothing but the best! You will be missed!

It’s too bad that I don’t have John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back” song that he performed back in the mid 1970s when “Welcome Back Kotter” was a hit TV show on ABC-TV then.  This is the appropriate song for the man that I am about to discuss about.  For Brendan Katin, it is a wonderful welcome back after all.  He got off to a great start with his powerful bat this season until he went down with a knee injury on Friday, April 16th, in the home opener against the Iowa Cubs at Greer Stadium.  Katin would eventually undergo knee surgery and rehab his knee in Florida.  He came back on this road trip in Round Rock, Texas and already, his impact is being felt.  Katin had three hits (including an RBI triple) this past Saturday in the Sounds’ 9-6 win over the Express at the Dell Diamond and despite Nashville losing to Round Rock, 8-2, last night, Katin crushed a long home run over the centerfield wall.  It is the kind of lift that the Sounds have needed since they’ve been basically playing .500 ball since their 7-1 start this year. 

Brendan certainly has the tools to make it to the major leagues.  The only thing he needs to do to get that chance is being consistent.  Katin will certainly give you more than 20 home runs and 70-90 runs batted in per season, but cutting down on the strikeouts and being consistent is what will get him to that next level.  Like everyone else on the team and in baseball, I wish Katin the very best in getting that opportunity.  He also has the attitude and determination to do it.

It is so nice to be back in Texas (where I lived in San Antonio for a decade).  Nice to see some old friends and even ones from my hometown in New York, who transplanted to the Lone Star State.  The only thing that I don’t welcome is the oppressive heat that is common in Texas during this time of the year and throughout the summer.  Still, I go through it and focus on doing my job in Round Rock (which I consider one of the best places I’ve ever been in during all of my years in baseball).

Tonight, Sam Narron will get the nod for the Sounds.  He pitched for them in the past and was just re-signed by Milwaukee after performing well for Camden in the independent Atlantic League.  Camden is Camden, New Jersey, where the ballpark is just right across from Philadelphia via the Ben Franklin Bridge.  Narron was released by the Tigers’ organization in early April and I wish him the best in his latest chapter of his baseball career.

The broadcast can be heard over nashvillesounds.com at 6:50PM tonight.  Hope you tune in and hope the Sounds can get back on another winning streak and be consistent themselves!

This past Sunday, one of the Sounds’ relief pitchers, Tim Dillard, did a wonderful impersonation of the late great sportscaster, Harry Caray.  When I think of Caray, I think of his catch phrase “HOLY COW!”.  Well, after what I have witnessed on this current homestand for the Sounds against the Iowa Cubs and the Albuquerque Isotopes, I would like to borrow the phrase and shout out “HOLY COW!” because of the great comebacks that the Sounds have made on this homestand.  Even when they experienced their only loss on this homestand to Iowa on Sunday, I still liked and appreciate the effort that the ballclub made in nearly pulling out that ballgame.

The Sounds have done a great job being “Houdini” since they’ve been able to escape trouble.  They were one out away from losing both ballgames last Friday and Saturday nights against the Iowa Cubs until both Third Baseman Adam Heether and First Baseman Joe Koshansky won games with back-to-back walk off home runs.  The Sounds also had broken a scoreless deadlock on Memorial Day when they exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth and defeated Iowa, 8-0.

Well, last night in the opener against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Greer Stadium, it was no exception.  Veteran Seth Etherton started for the Isotopes and was masterful for seven solid innings and not allowing a single run on the board.  However, the Topes’ relievers, lefthander Juan Perez and righthander Scott Dohmann could not seal the deal as the Sounds scored one run in the eighth and four in the ninth and defeated Albuquerque, 5-4 when Norris Hopper beat out an infield hit to second base with the bases loaded and two outs in the inning.

For the Nashville Sounds, getting hot and winning four of five on this homestand could not have come at a better time since the Omaha Royals are among the hottest teams in the Pacific Coast League as of this writing and they have won eight of their last nine as their is a 1 1/2 game difference between the First Place Sounds and Second Place Omaha in the PCL’s American Conference Northern Division.

This is all happening IN SPITE of the many recent rosters moves that have affected the Sounds since a number of players have been called up to the parent club.  I feel no resentment at all about this because even though I want to see the Sounds continue to compete and win, it is great for the guys to get called up to the Brewers as they need more help than the Sounds do.  Don’t forget that this is what Minor League Baseball is all about.  It’s about getting these guys to the majors for not only for them to live out a dream, but to help the parent club as they try to get back into the thick of things regarding the National League’s Central Division. 

Kameron Loe was supposed to start last night, but got the callup to Milwaukee instead.  He pitched one perfect inning of scoreless baseball and fanned two against the Florida Marlins down in Miami.  Kameron had an “out” clause in his contract as he could have been a free agent by June 5th if he was not placed on the parent club’s roster.  However, help is much needed for the Brewers and Loe did pitch well enough and was at the right place at the right time when he was called up to the Brewers.  I wish Kam nothing but the best for years to come.

Reliever Mike McClendon took Loe’s place instead and even though he did not do a brilliant job, McClendon still pitched creditable enough ball to keep the Sounds in the ballgame before they made their comeback.  People must realize it is not easy to accept a last-minute starting pitching assignment, but McClendon has the attitude and professionalism to be ready for everything.  He certainly has the potential to pitch in the majors and has been lights out in the Sounds’ bullpen.  How long will he be in the rotation remains to be seen, but I know he will do better in his next assignment.  He is also a great guy off the field as well.

Tonight, the Sounds will start RHP Mark Rogers, who got called up from AA Huntsville.  He was 2-4 with the Stars when Rogers got promoted to Triple-A Nashville.  He may make one start here in Nashville and possibly sent back to Huntsville.  However, things can change depending how Rogers does tonight and we all wish him the best.  Catcher Martin Maldonado was also called up from Huntsville with Ben Johnson being placed on the DL.  I wish Johnson a quick return to active duty real soon.

Don’t forget to tune in to 104.5 The Zone for tonight’s broadcast of Game 2 of the Sounds-Isotopes series as it will start at 7:00PM sharp.  Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you out at Greer Stadium if you can make it out here.  Bring your radio if you do since I always enjoy providing people with company.

How will tonight’s game end?  Will find out more.  Like in the old Batman series from the 1960s, it’s the SAME BAT TIME (7:00PM)…SAME BAT CHANNEL (104.5 The Zone).  Well, you ge tthe idea!