“So put me on a highway
And show me a sign
And take it to the limit one more time”
-Eagles
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Frequent comment contributor “der Zuschauer” pointed out the IronPigs success recently. They’ve clinched at least a .500 record. They’ve remained alive in the playoff race into the final weekend of games–and into the final home stand. I have to say, if you had offered me–on April 1–a guarantee that we would be .500 or better and still alive for the playoffs during Labor Day Weekend, with a chance to bring home some IronRail hardware as well….I probably would have taken it. Yes, we had prospects to begin the season. But, we also had a very young AAA team, with a lot of unknowns. Continued competitiveness would have signaled to me that the team was fun to watch and never gave up. Indeed that’s exactly what we got.
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I with I could say the same about myself. I love walk-offs, and am very sorry to have missed last night. I, too, left around the sixth inning when we were down 4-0 and it seemed the team didn’t have much fire. I didn’t either. Kudos to them–particularly the top half of the lineup and the bull-pen for holding it down and getting it done.
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So we’re still alive I said! What do we need? Well, first and foremost, of course, we need to win. We need a win to clinch a winning record on the season. We need a win to keep hope alive for the playoffs. And, mostly, we need a win to take home the coveted IronRail trophy! Raul Valdes is on the mound and I like our chances! What else do we need? We also need Norfolk to drop at least one of their games in a doubleheader versus Durham. And, we need Buffalo to beat Rochester.
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A Photo of the IronRail from the @IronPigs Twitter. Is the trophy in the house? I hope so. Love to see it get passed around at the Tiki Bar tonight!
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What else is going on? Wall Calendars tonight for the first 7,000 adults. There’s an Elvis tribute. And, there’s a Tiki Post-Game Party! Sunday is a late start 5:35PM with Lunch Bags for 2,000 kiddos. I may be hosting a small tailgate if you’d like to stop by before the game. Monday is the fan appreciation day, again, and there will be some special giveaways and probably half-price concessions (not beer) after the middle of the game or so. It’s a 1:35PM start, and I’m planning a little post-game tailgate for any who are interested. Stop on by. Look for the flags.
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Finally, I went on “Piggy Patrol” yesterday with Dan and Cheryl. We got some nice footage and a couple of interviews. Episode III of the Vast Valley of Sports is in the editing room as I type. Look for it soon!
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See You at the Park!
@kram209
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
Last night’s game was about as exciting as I’ve ever seen — if you don’t count the first 6 innings. Why Dave Miley yanked a guy pitching a one-hitter after 6 innings is beyond me. Heck, Chase Whitley was one hit short of a perfect game! If I were Chase, I’d still be ticked off today.
I will point out once again that Freddie Galvis has a way of coming through in the clutch. He may not have a spectacular batting average, but he always seems to hit when it counts, and his triple in the 7th inning really started the big rally. I hope the Phillies call him up after Monday. He deserves it. (Note to Reuben: Let Rollins break his records, then trade him or bench him. It’s time for the new wave of younger Phillies.)
And Michael Martinez? I’ve become a believer. The guy’s been on fire for weeks now, and when he came to the plate in the 9th last night I just knew the ‘Pigs were going to win. He didn’t just hit the ball, he smoked it. He should be on his way back up to the Phillies after Monday’s game. He’s earned the chance.
The same, of course, goes for Cesar Hernandez who’s been nothing short of spectacular this season. I’m convinced that one day the Phillies will have the best double-play combo in baseball with Galvis and Hernandez.
Am I satisfied with this season? Probably not. I expected us back in the playoffs this year — as division winners, too, not as the wild card team. I expected us to have the best average attendance in the league again, and I’m disappointed that isn’t happening. And I expected us to win the RailRider trophy outright, and with ease. We may win it, but thanks to those two games we lost at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, it won’t be by the margin it should have been.
I think the only thing that prevented these expectations from becoming reality was the ‘Pigs’ parent club, once again. Every time we turned around, our best pitchers and hitters were being promoted to take the place of injured Phillies. Ethan Martin, Dominic Brown, Cody Asche, Eric Kratz, Tyler Cloyd, etc. Let’s hope Ryne Sandberg can mold a younger, stronger Phillies team in the next couple of years so this doesn’t have to happen anymore.