A few things for a Sunday night

Just settling in to do a little writing and watch the Red Sox-Yankees game. But, I here a few other links to some other pieces of the web that I found this morning and forgot to put in the Sunday Reading post earlier today.

Jay had the latest edition of the Rattler Alumni Report up on the Timber Rattler web site on Friday.

There is plenty of news about Rattlers who are on the DL, Justin Ruchti (WI '04) getting released, and Jamal Strong (WI '01) getting signed by the Yankees.

The news, as always, is the signings in the independent leagues:

Curt Ledbetter (WI '06) with Travese City, George Sandel (WI '04) with Edmonton, Gary Harris (WI '03) with Lincoln, and Josue Matos (WI '99) with Sioux Falls.

Plus, Jay has added a Who's Hot and Who's Not section. It's color coded!

The Burlington Hawkeye has the answer to why the Bees are playing so well. Stirrups, baby!

New Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore has been working hard to change things in the organization since coming over from the Atlanta Braves.

One of the changes is an on–field dress code for all of the organization's teams. All of the Royals' affiliates are required to wear stirrups and cuff their pants.

The changes harken back to baseball of the early 1900s when stirrups were first worn. According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum web site, most Major League teams wore the look. Recently, stirrups have disappeared from the field.

The re–introduction of the style has given the Royals a uniform look, and a more polished style than teams whose players wear their pants hanging loose.
...
The Royals' policy is that players have to show six inches of stirrup stocking.

I like it.

I'll mention this again later, but the Rattlers will be celebrating Jackie Robinson Day next Sunday.

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will be celebrating Jackie Robinson Day at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Sunday, April 29th. Major League Baseball celebrated the day on April 15th when the Timber Rattlers were on the road, so April 29th was chosen to recognize the man who broke the color barrier 60 years ago. A commemorative program will be available and the players will be wearing a helmet decal to celebrate the day. A special ceremony will also be held prior to the game.