Inside Pitch

ROCHESTER -- Monday's 9-6 season- and affiliation-ending loss to the Rochester Red Wings was definitely a microcosm of the Buffalo Bisons' season. When the team had good pitching, it didn't hit enough. When it scored some runs, it didn't pitch enough. Too many routine plays in the infield were adventures. And Wings slugger Garrett Jones was just a ridiculous Bison killer (.400 in 65 at-bats and five homers, including Monday's walkoff shot)

Lots on my mind at this point thinking back on these last 14 seasons. Quite a ride to go on as I covered all 63 postseason games the Bisons played in that period. Went to far-flung places like Omaha and Durham, to that magical 1997 night in Iowa when 36 years of frustration ended with a raucous championship celebration, to the fun and frolic of the 1998 Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas, to the unforgettable championship night in 2004 in Dunn Tire Park.

So many great players like 90s mainstays Jeff Manto and current manager Torey Lovullo. And who will ever forget the star-studded 2004 champions, with names like Grady Sizemore, IL MVP Jhonny Peralta, Ryan Garko, Brandon Phillips and Fausto Carmona? So many great managers like Buffalo Hall member Brian Graham, 90-game winner Eric Wedge and '04 champion skipper Marty Brown. The good times were still rolling in 2005 with a 2-0 lead in the IL semifinals against Indianapolis. But the Bisons came home and lost three straight in Dunn Tire to blow that series and haven't sniffed the postseason since.

Now comes a lot of uncertainly. We'll find out if it's Blue Jays or Mets in a couple of weeks. But we'll never forget the great moments with the Tribe. Whoever it will be, Buffalo's new parent has some huge shoes to fill.

---Mike Harrington