Field of Dreams Week!

 So last year, I wrote about the Field of Dreams game between the White Sox and Yankees, and spent a majority of the time complaining about MLB's issues with Iowa.  For those unaware, MLB.tv have a tough record with the state of Iowa and blacking out a large slice of their games every day due to every team that reasonable can claim Iowa has claimed Iowa in their viewing area.  (Once again, who wouldn't take Iowans if they could!)

This year, the Cubs take on the Reds on Thursday at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville.  Its a matchup that looked good on paper before the teams decided this year didn't count, but it is still going to be fun to watch.  Game is on Fox and replayed on Fox Sports early the next morning.

What's more important is that I have more Field of Dreams cards to collect next year!  This year across flagship set and in some other sets, Topps has inserted images from that game last year.  Some are easily accessible like the Craig Kimbrel from Series 1, but often they are the photo variation on the base card or in Gypsy Queen.  Those are much less easy to find.

Besides the cards, I think this is a good event for both Iowa and MLB.  We have a prime time game to showcase the state and the game in the dead period before NFL season starts and its special enough to tune into.  I hope MLB keeps it to one game a season to keep it special.

Now, who are we cheering for?  The Reds have three Iowa Connections.  Freddie Benavides was a coach for the Clinton Lumberjacks and Eric Jagers is from Bettendorf and Des Moines Area CC, both are coaches with the team.  Connor Overton played for the Sioux City Explorers, and is a relief pitcher. 

The Cubs have three connections. Eric Stout and Zach McKinstry, former Waterloo Bucks and players with the team. Matt Dermody is from Norwalk and played for the Hawkeyes.

However, if we stretch that to players who played for Iowa minor league teams...

Cincinnati: (11 + 3 = 14)

Clinton - Art Warren, Robert Dugger

Iowa - Ross Detwiler, Austin Romine, Albert Almora

Quad Cities - Ronnie Dawson, Michael Papierski, Colin Moran, Donovan Solano, Tommy Pham

Burlington - Mike Moustakas

Chicago : (41 + 1 + 3 = 45)

Iowa Cubs - 41 players

Clinton : Jesse Chavez

For time and space considerations, here's the players who haven't played for Iowa:

No Iowa: Yan Gomes, Jonathan Villar, David Robertson, Drew Smyly, Kervin Castro, Brandon Hughes, Mychal Givens, Chris Martin

Note: Connection are players who played with the team at some point this season, not the current active roster

So, go Cubs!