I’m hearing from a number of longtime Texas Panhandle residents — many of them lifelong residents — who say the same thing.

Sod Poodles is not another name for prairie dogs.

Yet the owners of the minor-league baseball team that will play ball in Amarillo, Texas, beginning next April might be leaning toward naming their team the Sod Poodles.

And it’s over the apparent objections of those who contend that the finalist name — despite contentions from team owners — really has no historical reference to the critters that still populate the Caprock.

I’ve done a 180 on the name. The first time I heard the list of finalist names … I hated all of them. I might even have hated Sod Poodles the most. The name I hate the most at the moment, though, is Jerky.

Now? I understand the marketing ploy that the Elmore Group — owners of the team that is moving to Amarillo — is trying to use. They want a cute name. They want a name that will have fans talking about the label, the team. They want to gin up interest among baseball fans.

I think they have accomplished their mission.

For the record, I want the Amarillo Sod Poodles to play hardball next year.