Playing Catch-Up

Here are some stories I have been meaning to get to for the last few days. If you have seen some of them, they are old. If not, enjoy.

From RattlersReport.com

Brett's Sunday column is: Rattlers coaches like idea of another Appleton summer

GRAND CHUTE — If it was up to Jim Horner, he'd have his Appleton area apartment all lined up for 2007.

Instead, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager will have to spend part of his off-season in the dark as he waits to learn what his future holds.

"Love to," he said when asked of his desire to return to the Rattlers dugout. "I loved it. I loved everything about this year. If I get the opportunity to come back, I would love to."

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Count first-year pitching coach and Wisconsin native Lance Painter as another who hopes to get a second crack with the Rattlers.

Like Horner, Painter found the going rough at times as he handled a staff that struggled with its command and is leading the league in walks (531) and among the bottom in team ERA (4.54).

Still, the experience produced more positives than negatives and gave him and his family an opportunity to catch up with relatives and friends.

"My family loved the fact that we were near my side of the family, so they could see grandma, aunts and uncles," said Painter, who spent 10 years as a major league pitcher, was a prep standout at Glendale Nicolet and played at the University of Wisconsin. "More than anything, I guess I was a little surprised by the fact that we had to repeat mechanics consistently all year long.

"But yeah, I enjoyed it. There were some tough moments, obviously. The losing was difficult at times this year. I know we're here to develop guys, but you also like to put a winning team out there. That was the biggest disappointment. But I would enjoy coming back."

Brett also has a story about the last home game of the year that also takes a look back at the 2006 season; Rattlers send fans off on high note

GRAND CHUTE — Putting a cap on the Sharpie and finding refuge from the hordes of autograph hounds, Robby Hudson took stock of the past four-plus months and smiled.

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers infielder may never play in Appleton again, but he'll never forget the area, either.

"I haven't been part of a place like this where they love their sports so much," Hudson said following the Rattlers' 3-2 Midwest League victory over the Clinton LumberKings on Sunday in their home finale. "Coming to Appleton was an awesome experience."

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A crowd of 5,332 ventured into Fox Cities Stadium to spit seeds, collect autographs and cheer the Rattlers on one final time before calling it another baseball year.

That gave Wisconsin an attendance mark of 209,033 in 65 dates — an average of 3,216 per game — and the third straight season it has hit the 200,000 plateau.

The Rattlers, who sprinkled in a handful of new promotions this season like showcasing the team in 1960 Fox Cities Foxes jerseys and caps during Friday games and allowing fans to play catch on the field prior to Sunday matchups, were buoyed by a strong late-season surge in which they averaged 5,323 fans in their final eight contests.

"You never like the season end," Rattlers president Rob Zerjav said. "It's fun for what we do. We like to entertain the crowd, and it's going to be a long, cold winter until we get going again. We'll be planning (for next year) and we're still open. But it's tough when you don't have the games everyday to reinforce what you're doing."

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Yeah, you get buried the first half with a (low) average," Horner said. "That's why numbers aren't that important because you see them getting better everyday. Sometimes you take a couple of steps backwards with guys. But hopefully, when you go forward, you go two or three steps forward instead of just one step."

Count starter Paul Fagan as someone who took a giant step forward on Sunday.

The left-hander came in with a 5-13 record and a 5.12 ERA but exited with eight strikeouts and two walks in a solid seven-inning no-decision.
It was the third time in his past four outings Fagan has earned a quality start and left him feeling positive about what he has accomplished this summer.

"It's been a learning season for a lot of people," he said. "I've learned a lot, and I know a lot of other guys here have learned a lot. It's been a struggle this season. But everybody's learning, and I don't think we'll make the same mistakes next year, wherever we'll be."

Also, if you go to the main RattlersReport.com site, Brett has a podcast up discussing the 2006 Rattler season.