9/3/10 Yakima Bears update
September 3, 2010 by Roger Underwood
Next game
Opponent: Boise Hawks.
When, where: 6:15 p.m. today, Memorial Stadium, Boise, Idaho.
Radio: KUTI (1460).
Website: www.yakimabears.com
Probable starters: Yakima RHP Kevin Eichhorn (0-0, 0.00) vs. Boise RHP Edward Figueroa (1-3, 4.75).
Notes
WALTERS WATCH: Shortstop Zach Walters was named the Bears’ player of the month for August and awarded a commemorative watch from Dunbar Jewelers.
Walters batted .362 during the month with two homers and 15 runs batted in.
HOW BAD HAD IT BEEN? Not only had the Bears not made the Northwest League playoffs since 2000, during their 10 years as an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate they have had just one winning team prior to this year (45-31 in 2003).
That was also the only season other than this one that a Yakima team won as many as 40 games (the 2010 Bears began play Thursday 40-32) — or a modest four games over .500.
As for the league’s seven other franchises, here’s when they last participated in postseason play: Tri-City 2009, Spokane 2008, Boise 2007, Salem-Keizer 2009, Everett 2002, Vancouver 2005, Eugene 2000.
The Emeralds and Bears, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, met in a best-of-five series for the 2000 title and Yakima won the deciding fifth game at Yakima County Stadium.
The Bears as a Dodgers affiliate also won the league championship in 1996 and fell to Boise in the title series in 1994 and 1991.
Box score
NWL Standings
Filed under All, Yakima Bears/NWL
