It’s been a great ride this month. The season is winding down to its Labor Day finale, and our Buffalo Bisons, once left for dead in this years’ playoff race, actually found themselves in the thick of things for the lone wild card spot in the International League Governor’s Cup tournament. Even more interestingly, no fewer than five teams are contending for the wild card—Buffalo, Rochester, Ottawa, Louisville and Toledo are all bunched together in the standings, and while Rochester has opened up a comfortable lead, it is possible that the successful finisher will not be decided until the final day.

Four teams qualify for the postseason—each of the three division winners, and the fourth entrant is the best second-place finisher. Charlotte is a lock for the South Division, and going into this week of play, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leads in the North, while Indianapolis clings to a tenuous lead in the West.

Nonetheless, for the Bisons, this past week of play has been frustrating. The team has squandered leads and lost four times, but none loomed larger than this past Monday at home against the Red Barons. The Bisons led both games of the doubleheader only to end up with two devastating losses. “Sure it’s frustrating,” said third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. “Everyone in this clubhouse is very much aware of the standings and where we sit.” Manager Torey Lovullo continues with his “game-by-game” approach. “After a rough night like this, all we can do is come out tomorrow and try to execute our game plan.”

Next week’s four-game series against Rochester should be the final make-or-break for the Herd’s 2006 season. Without a strong performance this week against the Red Barons and some help in the standings, playoffs in Buffalo may be a moot point.

TOUR FOR THE CURE COMES THROUGH DUNN TIRE PARK

Earlier this month we got to connect with and welcome yet another marathon road-tripper to Dunn Tire Park. Freelance documentary filmmaker Cass Sapir of Providence, Rhode Island is making the trip to every major and minor league ballpark this season to raise funds and awareness of childhood cancer. His “Tour for the Cure” hopes to raise $100,000 for Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and “The Jimmy Fund.”

The Bisons gave Sapir a warm Western New York welcome, inviting him to throw a ceremonial first pitch and donating team memorabilia for their raffle booth in the concourse. Following the game, Sapir got a chance to meet fellow New Englander and Bisons first baseman Lou Merloni in the clubhouse.

Sapir’s travel Web site is at www.tourforthecure.org and is full of fun-filled information. Oh, and you can make a donation to the cause via Paypal right on the site.

WICHITA WRANGLERS ON THE MOVE?…UPDATE

Last month we reported on the goings-on over in Wichita, where Rich Baseball’s Wichita Wranglers might be relocating to Springdale, Arkansas. Well, the July 11 referendum to raise the sales tax for ballpark construction did pass, but only by a 15-vote margin out of more than 5,000 votes cast. Now officials from Springdale want a firm commitment from the Rich’s that they have their team, yet no formal announcement has been made. One of the sticking points in the negotiations has been that Rich Baseball is insisting on assuming year-round control of the new facility. Springdale Mayor Jerry Van Hoose was in Buffalo earlier this week to meet with Rich officials and try to get the deal done. “We’re running this thing pretty close here,” said Van Hoose, emphasizing the need to sell bonds and get construction underway soon in order to be ready in time for the 2008 season.

Despite the supposed bad feelings being generated back in Wichita, Rich Baseball is apparently making a strong commitment to that city to keep baseball. They will continue their highly popular National Baseball Congress tournament in place at Lawrence Dumont Stadium, and are taking a role with city officials to identify and bring an independent Northern League team to replace the departing Wranglers. But those efforts did not stop Wranglers Media Relations Director Randall Kamm from quitting in disgust on July 31, after Rich Baseball President Jon Dandes informed the staff via teleconference that the move to Springdale was imminent.

Stay tuned…more to come!

AROUND THE BASES

• The Bisons August 31 home finale is a sell-out and will feature the second-largest fireworks show of the season. The team is planning a weeklong Fan Appreciation week for the final homestand.

• You gotta love Rochester Red Wings GM Dan Mason. When the city cut police traffic control personnel outside Frontier Field after a day game this month, Mason donned the orange vest and personally went out onto the street to pitch in and direct cars leaving the parking lots.

• Ben Francisco did hit a double in this Monday’s makeup game from June 25, so his official hit streak from June 15 to July 9 winds up being 25 games, second best in the Bisons’ modern era.

• And Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a home run in that makeup game as well. Bisons media guru Brad Bisbing correctly pointed out that for statistical purposes this becomes Kouzmanoff’s first official home run at AAA. Hope somebody retrieved the ball for Kouz!