We knew it was coming but that knowledge didn't make make it hurt less. That the story showed up on the front pages today even though it happened at mid morning yesterday just makes it a lot easier for baseball fans in Southeastern Connecticut to say 'I read the news today, oh boy.'
Turns out, the past season of the Connecticut Defenders at Dodd Stadium in Norwich was also the last season for the team in Norwich. For 2010 Double A baseball, Richmond, Virginia, has a team in what I assume will become the reconfigured Southern Division.
We can't be surprised. For the fans in the stands, it's all magic. But it's a business for everyone on the field, and beyond the fence back in the clubhouse. I'll feel a twinge of embarrassment when I come across a resume for Cutter and Tater, the mascot and the former mascot that all the kids loved, somewhere on Monster dot com, but a gig's a gig.
And it'll feel sore for a while and then after the snow that covers the seats and the fields and the left field berm has melted next March, it'll be more than a little painful to realize the Boys of Summer have a new address and its zip isn't 06360. I'm gonna miss the notion that "the ball goes up, the ball goes down. Swings his bat all around."
If it's all the same to you, I'll just close my eyes and listen to the cheers.
Remember when we used to shout 'Go Defenders!'
How could we know they would?
-bill kenny
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