First off, I’d like to apologize for the four-day gap between posts. I’d like to make a habit of one post per day, at worst missing one day occasionally. Expect more consistency moving forward.

The two topics that I’ve been concerning my time with lately are the flooding in Waterloo and the MLB Draft. Let’s start with the flooding.

Waterloo Bucks play-by-play announcer Tim Harwood sent me some photos this morning of the current state of the flood that has hit the Cedar Valley and thus Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa. Click on the links to the photos. You’ll see them, and, whether you’ve ever been to Riverfront Stadium or not, you’ll know that what you’re seeing is both absurd and devastating.

Outside the Park 
Riverfront Stadium Field

The water is apparently still rising and will be through tonight. Waterloo’s Sunday/Monday series against Brainerd was rained out Sunday and flooded out Monday. As of yesterday, apparently the field still hadn’t seen the wrath of the flood but obviously sometime later in the day that changed. Still, the field was condensed with water and was deemed too wet to play by both field managers.

That series began Waterloo’s season-long eight game homestand. Their lone off day during that stretch was scheduled for today. Their home series for tomorrow and Thursday against Madison was officialy moved to Madison yesterday. Their Friday/Saturday series against Wisconsin and Sunday/Monday series against Madison remain in jeopardy. I’ll have details on this topic as the week continues.

MLB Draft 

I’ve nearly finalized my complete Northwoods League draft list. I’ll post it either today or tomorrow. At this point, and it will grow by a few names as I continue to gather my last pieces of information from the teams, I have 139 current or former NWL players that were drafted last Thursday and Friday. In comparison, last year that number was 120, two years ago 96, and three years ago it was 73.

One other note for today, the suspended game from opening night at Eau Claire when the Express were hosting the Woodchucks will be completed tonight in Eau Claire prior to the scheduled game. The action begins at 6:35 PM Central.

Curt Carstensen
Director of Operations
Northwoods League