Avery Holton has your immediate reaction to the end of Round Rock's 2010 season.
Holton:
The Round Rock Express, the most successful professional sports team in the Austin area, lost Monday to end their second-worst season in franchise history but left the field to the applause of staffers and fans who have a new sense of optimism about the future...For the record, the Express, who haven't posted a winning record since 2006, finished last in the 16-team Pacific Coast League with a 4-0 loss to an Albuquerque, N.M., team playing for beer money.
Manager Marc Bombard, who doesn't seem too pleased:
"It's pretty disappointing. The players are disappointed, the staff's disappointed, but you do the best with what you have."
Reid Ryan:
"Fans here don't necessarily care who the team is connected to, but they do care about the players and about enjoying the game. That's tough to do when your team isn't winning."
Random Season Ticket Holder:
"I think we're ready for a change. I haven't heard a single season ticket holder complain about the move. I just think everyone's ready for something new."
Meanwhile, we get some possible clues as to where the Astros' Triple-A team will play next year:
Houston is expected to sign a player development contract with the Nashville Sounds, making the Music City the Astros' new Triple-A home next season. Milwaukee, currently the parent club for Nashville, is expected to take over the vacant spot in Oklahoma City.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
