Taking Names and Keeping Score
Caught in a whirlwind
Charlie Anderson
It is hard for me to believe but here it is the second week of July and is seems like only yesterday that the summer baseball and softball programs were getting started.

At this moment there are only three teams connected to the Thomasville city program still playing with the North Clarke 14 year old All-Stars, still involved in the District 7 tournament in Jackson, having qualified for the State Tournament in Enterprise starting July 20; the Thomasville Dixie Majors (17 - 19 year olds) set to start Sub-State play on Friday, July 13, in Auburn; and the Thomasville Dixie Pre-Majors (15 & 16 year olds) slated to host the 2007 World Series beginning here in Thomasville on Friday, July 27. All of the other teams, girl's softball and the baseball teams in the other age brackets are finished with their season and have put the equipment away for another year.

Beyond that the Thomasville Travelers are past the halfway point of their season as are most all of the other amateur leagues in and around the country. In professional baseball most levels of the minor leagues are already in the second half of their season while the rest of them and the Major Leagues have come to the halfway point this week.

Before we know it, the pennant races in each of the Major League divisions will be down to a two or three team race and the rest of the field will be taking a hard look at their current payroll, rosters, and minor league farm system to see what needs to be done to improve their chances for next season.

The teams in contention in the Major League races will be carefully scrutinizing the reports from their Major League scouts looking for some key players who might be available via a trade to fill a void on their team and help them get over the hump going down the stretch run. There will be a number of Major League Managers and subsequently members of their coaching staffs that will be feeling the pressure to win as the season moves into the second half, particularly in some of the large market areas such as New York.

Players who are in the last year of their current contract and in particular those who have already planned to file for free agency after the season, will be watching the scoreboard and reading the box scores hoping the numbers they are accumulating will be what they need to further their cause and support their arguments in future contract negotiations.

Meanwhile on the horizon football season is growing ever closer with the most ardent fans of the game passing up stories about what's to come in the last half of the baseball season for any information about the football season ahead. At this point, their withdrawals, from not having had enough football to satisfy them for several months, have reached a fever pitch and any news is welcomed. It doesn't really matter if it is about their favorite team, their biggest rival or the doormat in the conference, they just need something to reassure them football is on the way.

No matter where you are or which sport interests you the most the next several weeks are going to be somewhat like being caught in a whirlwind. As one season winds down and another begins whatever breezes there are blowing in the dog days of summer and the beginning of fall (and I sure hope there are some) maybe coming from all the activity among the sports fans changing seasons.

Until next time.....be safe!

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