The Lincoln Saltdogs are close to moving the oohs and aahs up a little in the order this weekend.
KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, July 3, 2009 12:00 am
The Lincoln Saltdogs are close to moving the oohs and aahs up a little in the order this weekend.
Sure, there are the city fireworks Friday and Saltdogs fireworks Saturday and Sunday.
Saltdog manager Marty Scott wants to give fans some excitement before it gets dark and the games are over.
"We made some big changes a little more than a week ago, won seven in a row, lost one we shouldn't have and dropped another," he said. "But we want to win every game to finish out the first half of the season right."
Out of the hunt and buried in last place, Lincoln made major changes to the lineup and started a win streak on June 23.
"We want to win the championship and that means we have to win the second half," said Brandon Jones, who took over at third base two weeks ago.
Jones is hitting .333 since leaving Sioux City. He has yet to commit an error and has proved to be a true stopper, Scott said.
"I got to know him a little when we played Sioux City earlier this year and I was coaching third and he was playing third," he said. "We'd talk between innings. We lost Juan Richardson to injury, tried a couple of guys at third and really needed to get a true third baseman there and Brandon became available.
"It's worked out well for us and him."
Jones, who was an all-star in the Frontier League for the Southern Illinois Miners last year, played previously with the Kansas City T-bones of the Northern League.
"I know of Lincoln and some of the guys here and I've always had great respect for this organization here and they way they operate," Jones said. "And the fact we're winning now is no surprise. I thought this club was a hit away and a pitch away from winning a lot of games.
"You'll see us in the second half. We're going to be champions."
Jones and Scott said they look forward to playing in Lincoln on the holiday weekend.
"It means big crowds and lots of fireworks and I'm a kid at heart and still love the fireworks," Jones said.
Scott added: "You'll see me coming out after the game to watch. I'm a baseball fan and a fireworks fan."
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.