Playoffs? Playoffs? Who said Anything 'bout Playoffs?

Published on August 19, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Stars fans, if you believe in miracles and fantastic finishes, then that's what you're going see if the Huntsville Stars are going to return to the playoffs. Currently the good guys are eight games out with 14 games in the season.

Now before you start shaking your head that it'll never happen, I have one thing to ask.

Any New York Mets fans out there?

How soon we forget 2007.

Let's do the math and figure what has to happen: -The Stars will have to sweep the first place Carolina Mudcats at home beginning Saturday night. That would allow the Stars to pick up five games with only nine remaining. The Stars are only 5-12 against Carolina this season, including 1-4 at home, but when you compare the runs in those 17 games the Stars have outscored the Mudcats, 72-71. In fact, eight of those 17 games were one-run games with the Mudcats taking six of those eight. There is nothing that is certain when it comes to the results between these two teams, and facing the ‘cats here at The Joe makes for a must-win situation and the in-stadium energy of October baseball. By the way, the Stars are 9-2 at home this season on Saturdays. The home stand begins this Saturday.

-The Stars will have to pick up three more games in the other nine games remaining in the season (outside of the Carolina series). Playing at Birmingham for the next four nights can help us get another two of those games made up as the Northern Division's first place Carolina Mudcats are hosting the Southern Division's first place and red-hot Mississippi Braves. You have to believe that the Braves are going to inflict some damage there. Just for kicks, less just say the Braves take three of the next four at Carolina and we win three of four at Birmingham; there are two of the three games of the deficit that would be made up.

-Tennessee is ahead of us in the standings by one game. They must lose one more game than we do to force things to really get interesting.

-Then there are the final five games of the season. We go to Chattanooga. The last time in there we smacked those yahoos around for four straight games before Mat Gamel had to peel off for the Futures Game in New Yawk, and you know as I do, once Gamel, the ever-loving peacekeeper was gone, all bets were off...that was the game that has been come to be known as the night "we put y'all in the brawl." Sure, we lost that game, got toasted in fact (13-4), we had 22 players fined, four suspended, a franchise record in fines I might add, but had it not been the night before the All-Star break and players shuffling around, I have to believe we would've taken the Lookouts to the woodshed, not the hospital for ice packs and stitches. The previous four games at Chattanooga leading into the brawl game looked like this: Stars won all four by the scores 5-4, 15-4, 9-8 and 10-3. We had 37 combined hits in two of those games. I have to believe that if it came down to going into Chattanooga and beating the dogsnot out of the Lookouts (on the field...in the game of baseball, I mean), that Don Money would have our guys ready when push comes to shove. There's no love there. Who we kidding? I think our guys would relish the chance to go in there and sweep the Reds affiliate right out the front gate of their own stadium. Right down the hill, straight towards the river, do not pass Go...then jump on the bus and come back to H-ville ready for the playoffs.

-And the thing that can push us over the top and make this a three team race is the fact that after Carolina plays a five-game set against 1st place Mississippi and after a five-game set at Huntsville, they must travel 10 hours back home to play Tennessee, the team that is going to go in there and take their karma down a few notches.

That's a lot of things that have to happen, but this is Minor League Baseball where craziness becomes the norm and unpredictability becomes routine. It's going to be close, very close and there is no wiggle room for errors. We have to play flawless baseball. But, it could happen. Ask those 2007 NY Mets about self destruction. Carolina has a great chance to wear down. If you've already written off our chances, you need to put the football season on hold for another two weeks because like John Belushi said in Animal House, "Over? Nothin' is over unless we decide it is...was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO! And it ain't over now!...Who's with me?"

Eric, start printing playoff tickets. I'm calling the shot. Miracle on Ice? Forget that noise. This will be known as the Beeracle on Grass.

To the mailbag.

What's with the mural in the portal entering the stadium (seating bowl)? Mellissa Meeks, Artist and Owner of Rather Be Painting, located in Historic Five Points, 508 Andrew Jackson Way in Huntsville AL...has been working away on various baseball theme murals for the Huntsville Stars at the Joe Davis Stadium. Her plan, Murals to Promote Community Awareness (MPCA), are a combination of beautification, fundraising for non-profit organizations, awareness to debilitating conditions and diseases and a way to showcase the city of Huntsville.

The first mural being painted is Gabrielle's Vision. The project is near and dear to her, the little six year old child, Gabrielle who is fighting to save her eyesight. This mural is to depict the impact of Juvenile Rheumatory Arthritis and to bring awareness of the inflammatory eye disease, Uveitis, which can cause blindness in children, especially if they are not properly screened. I reference Gabrielle's Vision Non-Profit Organization website: http://www.GabriellesVision.org.

With other local artist's participation, and possibly corporate sponsorship...we would love to see art murals that are created for local children's and adult foundations, and non-profit organizations that deeply impact our community with their contributions to better enhance adult and children's wellbeing, health, economic and social environment. Melissa will be placing pictures and more information about participating artists and foundations/organizations soon to her website: http://www.ratherbepainting.com and click on the "Murals to Promote Community Awareness" webpage.

Mellissa has received several applications for consideration from both the non-profit organizations, and artists. If you are an artist that would like to donate some of your talent and time to paint at the stadium, and depict a foundation or non-profit organization at the same time, then, please contact Mellissa at Mellmee@bellsouth.net or (256) 797-1785. And if you are a foundation or non-profit organization, please contact her to learn how to begin the creative process of getting murals developed that will highlight the essence of what your foundation/organization represents!

We would like to add that Mellissa's project is picking up national attention. Not only does it provide funding and draw attention to local causes, but it also showcases Huntsville. Name another stadium where residents use artwork to better its community and quality of life. I can't think of one either.

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Southern League Stories from August 19, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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