Before I wrap up last Sunday’s game in Davenport, I thought I’d finish up with the 2006 MWL ASG. While none of the players from that game are active today, it should be noted that White Sox manager, Will Venable played in that game for the Fort Wayne Wizards.

While the QC have made several structural improvements to the ballpark in the past twenty years, they’ve done little to keep up with the Jones’ in other fields. For whatever reasons, their marketing, merchandising and game day departments have lagged in a deplorable manner. While the staff is polite, they don’t appear to be having fun-to the extent they don’t appear to have a “spirit crew”. Thankfully, I had a filling breakfast at a local diner because the meager and uninspired concessions kind of put a damper on the overall experience. However, the $1 can of Keystone Light was cheaper than the bottles of water and much colder (for 47 seconds).

Over the years, The Quad Cities have had working relationships with numerous organizations and since 1977 have won 7 league championships. The most recent was 2021 with Kansas City. Several players from that team are currently playing in the ML.

Once I learned that the weather was going to be alright, I did a little research on the two teams playing. I like to see which players are among the league leaders and how the starting pitchers have fared recently.

Coincidentally, both starting pitchers (Jacob Odle, Peoria and David Shields, QC) had more strikeouts than innings pitched. That’s what every team wants these days. In Odle’s last start, he struck out 7 but lasted only 4.1 innings, probably because he walked 3 batters and ran up his pitch count. As is the case with Sundays in the minor leagues (these days), one of the starters likely will have already faced the same team earlier in the week. Such was the case with Shields. Being an inquisitive sort, I tried to speak with him before the game but he was too busy stretching. Editor’s note: In the pre-netting days, I would have been able to speak with players before the game sans media credentials. I wanted to know what his approach would be considering how well he pitched earlier in the week.

While both pitchers were relatively ineffective on Sunday, their backstories and futures are quite different. Odle is a 22-year-old righty drafted in the 14th round of the 2023 draft by the Cards. He really hasn’t hit his stride yet. Shields, a 19-year-old lefty taken in the 2nd round of the 2024 draft by the Royals (he was selected as a 17-y/o). The past season alone, he’s already earned MWL pitcher of the Week awards twice.

Looking back on the game, I wish I had access to film of the first inning because I have no idea how Odle was able to strike out 3 of the first 4 Bandits batters. After watching him struggle through the next inning and a third, I’m convinced he has no flipping idea where the ball goes once it leaves his hand.

Amazingly, he only allowed 3 earned runs in 2 innings after walking four, hitting one, throwing one wild pitch and several others that were saved by catcher, Heriberto Caraballo. The initial 1-0 lead didn’t hold up because the bullpen was equally as wild.

For his part, Shields wasn’t that sharp but was let down by some awful fielding and poor fundamentals. Editor’s note: In the past decade or so, I’ve noticed a decline in fundamentals at the Hi-A level. I believe it coincides with the overall change in developmental philosophy. More analytics v. teaching fundamentals and this includes the failure to take an extra base on balls hit over outfielders’ heads.

After taking a 3-1 lead, the Chiefs immediately bounced back to temporarily tie the game at 3. With mediocre performances from both bullpens, the Bandits eventually took a lead and held off a last-minute salvo to win the game 8-6.

Even though there is a roadblock at backstop for Kansas City, the most promising player on either team is Ramon Ramirez (no relation), a 21 y/o catcher. The native of Venezuela is hitting .300 and had driven in 70 runs in only 74 games. He somehow managed to get two hits Sunday despite getting beat up behind the plate.

Even though the home team was victorious, it was hard to tell if the 2,400+ fans were happy with the outcome or they just enjoyed the pleasant environs the way I did.