RIVER BANDITS INSIDER: Plenty of positives to start the season (2024)

Quad Cities River Bandits relief pitcher Brandon Johnson says he can sense something special brewing for the local Class A Midwest League franchise this season.

“It’s funny, when we came into this year in the first meeting some of the players talked and we said that this is going to be `Vibe City,’ not just Quad Cities,” said the 23-year-old Alabama native who is off to a 3-0 start. “We want the vibes as high as they can possibly be.”

So far, the vibes have been on high frequency in the young 2024 season.

The 11-4 River Bandits jumped to the top of the Western Division standings thanks to a nine-game winning streak that was snapped with a 4-2 Sunday afternoon setback to Peoria.

Still, the best start in the MWL has been solid.

“It’s been nice to get off to a good start,” said QC manager Brooks Conrad, whose last two QC clubs have struggled putting wins on the board.

This good start, though, has been fun to see by the manager.

“It kind of validates what we’re here trying to do,” he said. “Make no mistake, we’re here to develop and get you guys better, but when you cross those lines, the goal is to win every night. It doesn’t matter what the circ*mstances are, what the win streak is, what the losing streak is. We’re here today and the goal is to win that night. We don’t want to vary from that.”

“We’ve been playing pretty good team baseball,” said infielder Jack Pineda during that win streak. “Everyone has stepped up and done their jobs.”

The pitching staff has been carrying much of the load so far as the offense tries to get the bats warmed up. QC goes into an extended road trip to South Bend and Beloit 11th in the 12-team league in runs scored with 57 in 14 games – an average of just over four runs per game.

QC is also batting just .190 with runners in scoring position and ranks 10th in most offensive categories, but leads the MWL with six triples.

“The bats haven’t broken out like I think they really can,” said Conrad, whose team carries a .225 batting average that is worst in the league. “Once that happens, it’s going to be really good.”

QC’s pitchers have been phenomenal out of the gate, ranking either first or second in every major pitching category except walks allowed (4th with 53).

“Obviously, pitching has been our biggest highlight,” said Conrad. “… Our pitchers are the reason we're where we’re at right now.

“At this point in the season, we haven’t strung together hit after hit after hit and put up a lot of big innings and big numbers and struggled with runners in scoring position overall, I think. But we’ve been able to manufacture enough and our pitchers have given us a chance to stay in games.”

Overall, the skipper has been happy with the product on the field and the players as they adapt to the new season.

“I like their competitiveness and I like that they’re really taking that to heart,” he said. “The goal is to win every night and they are interested in doing that. I like the way that they prepare. I like their aggressiveness on the bases.”

QC leads the MWL in stolen bases (36) and caught stealing (11).

On the road: QC embarks on its first of two two-week road trips on Tuesday. The Bandits are in South Bend for six games and then follow that with another six-pack in Beloit.

A difference for this trip is that the team will stay on the road for all 13 days as opposed to breaking up the trip with a return home in the middle.

Conrad said this isn’t a new approach.

“If it’s close enough to come home for a day, we will,” he said. “Sometimes we come home and sometimes we won’t, it just depends on where we are.”

The extended road stays are usually necessitated by visits to Eastern Division teams that require longer bus trips.

“You just have to pack a few more clothes,” said the manager of dealing with the day-to-day logistics of an extended trip. “That’s about the only difference.

“… It’s still 12 baseball games that we have to go compete in and try to win.”

Streaking: While the team’s nine-game winning streak was snapped, one QC player is still working on an individual streak as this road trip commences.

Pitcher Ben Kudrna, one of Kansas City’s top young prospects, shook of a shaky season opener with two stellar outings in which he has pitched 11 straight shutout innings. He is scheduled to pitch again on Wednesday.

Catcher Carter Jensen had two impressive streaks end this past weekend. He had a nine-game hitting streak going and had reached safely in 13 straight before going 0-for-4 in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Peoria.