Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#331 Post by Leones »

...rampaging Codgers... Now there's an mental image I'm just going to have to deal with I suppose....
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#332 Post by Sandgnats »

:lol:
Leones wrote:...rampaging Codgers... Now there's an mental image I'm just going to have to deal with I suppose....
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#333 Post by Borealis »

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Has Aurora Hit Bottom in Series Loss to K-Zoo?
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

September 9, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - The quirky 2024 schedule did Aurora no favors, as a four-day break served them no benefit after opening September by being blasted by Crystal Lake 14-1. Aurora kept the 1's rolling after the break with a 3-1 and a brutal 17-1 loss to the Badgers before Mike Provost kept the 'Train Rollin' with a 4-0 win in the series finale that allowed the Borealis to enter their series with Bakersfield (beginning tonight with 'Tugboat' on the mound) with a little face saved.

The Aurora starters did very little - 'Massacre' not making it out of the 3rd, with 6 RA against the 'Gnats, Romano was a 'satisfactory' 5 IP with 3 RA, and 'Terror' allowing 5 runs in 4 IP, while 'Yogi' through a CG 5-hitter with 1-run, while the Badger duo of Tong and Kennedy combined for 13.2 IP, 14 hits and 2-runs.

Then there was the 'pen, where rookie Lando Lagerveld pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 10 runs (7 earned) and 'Sawmill' and Rivera showed why they've got both feet out the front door - each allowing 4-runs in the Badger blow-out.

Aurora's bats continue to perplex - the lack of the big hit, and the abundant double plays - 126 thus far, a number that has the team potentially challenging the teams all-time mark of 163 (2019, oddly enough, the first title season of this historic run), has the team's total run number down from #1 not so long ago, down to 6th in the SL and 12th all of the PEBA.

And then Mike Provost comes out and nearly throughs a CG 1-hitter to end the first week of September with something positive. It was the 13th time this year Provost gave up no runs, but of late, he's mostly struggled - he had allowed 22 runs in his previous 6 starts, but in his first 21 starts he allowed just 25 runs. Provost will have 5 more starts on the year - the key starts v. Palm Springs and Toyama (he'll miss the last Crystal Lake series), and Aurora needs their Ace to pitch down the stretch as he has over the past four seasons.

One plus has been the play of Harley Schneider. He's started 9 games since signing with Aurora as a free-agent prior to the roster freeze and he's15-38 (.395). Yes, he's had zero XBH and, yes, he's struck-out an un-Aurora 12 times (hello Manny de los Santos anyone), but his already accrued WAR of 0.3 is better than McIntyres -0.3 (74 games) and Toro's -0.1 (57 games).

Part of Aurora's slide this summer was River Pope's .253 July average coupled with missing half of August, but once he returned from the DL he ended August at .375 and thus far he's 5-13 in September. Any chance of Aurora turning their fortunes around start with their lead-off man doing what he does best - hit.

Hitting is what Aurora needs now - and in a major way. With Mike Britt gone for the year (after hitting only a single HR in July), three players in particular need to pick up the pace and peek at the back of their baseball card: Nick Giles, Mike Hale and Paul Carlisle. Collectively they are sitting at .240 and no player more than Hale takes on the face of Aurora's offensive slide. After hitting .284 over the past two seasons with 67-2B, 20-3B and 94 SB, Hales .236, 16-2B, ONE 3B and just 17 SB - although partly in his defense there, Octavio Rios seems to have decided against using Aurora's most potent weapon.

Aurora's next 10 games are against Bakersfield, Yuma and Reno - a combined 36-game below .500 and 11-21 against Aurora thus far (the Borealis have won 7 games against each). These 10 games will set the stage for the final 16 - of which the first 10 are against probable playoff teams Crystal Lake, Palm Springs and Toyama.

The three-time Champs can hit. They've proven it in the past. The can pitch. Ditto the past. But time is beginning to run out on their season. Sure - they seem a post-season lock despite their poor play, but another scorching run by the Codgers and the Desert Hills is no guarantee, and if we get to that point, a wild card may not be in the works, either.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#334 Post by Borealis »

With Runs at a Premium, Borealis, Evas Split First Two
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

October 19, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - The 2024 Playoffs began for the Aurora Borealis with the SL #1 seed hosting the Shin Seiki Evas after the Evil Evas comeback win in the Wild Card round over Palm Springs, 3-games to 2. On a mild night on the Front Range - game time temperature of 48°, and 59,671 fans filling Northern Lights Park, Aurora's Ace, Michel Provost took the mound to open the series. Kyoichi Yoshimura would start for Shin Seiki - bringing a 12-14 record and a season's 3.84 ERA into the game - suggesting advantage-Aurora, but much to the contrary, a tough pitchers duel was in the cards.

Provost would allow only a pair of singles through the first five innings, while Yoshimura would no-hit Aurora into the 4th, when with 2-outs Paul Carlisle would single and Gabe McIntyre would beat out a grounder to short for an infield hit. Teddy Loetzsch would follow with a line drive single - which was hit too hard, with the throw home beating Carlisle to the plate, preserving the tie. Provost would allow a pair of singles before being relieved in the 9th by the 'Javelin', and Yoshimura would do likewise before he was lifted with 1-out in the 8th.

The game would go to extra innings, with Peterson pitching through a pair of walks in the 10th. Mcintyre would open the 10th with a single and move over to second on a grounder to first. Juan Castro - pitching in relief for the Evas, would walk Rusty Butler intentionally - and don't think Octavio Rios will not be hearing it from fans and press alike for his handling the catching position this series as all wanted to know where was Jesus Negrete during this series. Nick Giles would follow with a line single that looked for the world to be a game winner, but Dave Yarborough uncorked a throw for the ages, nailing the lumbering McIntyre at the plate and preserving the tie and denying the Borealis of a walk-off win.

John Gray would relieve Peterson in the 11th and be perfect, allowing the Borealis to attack Castro again. Mike Hale led off with a single, only to have German Hernandez throw a strike to second to nail the former SB King - a key play as Paul Carlisle's 2-out single would have certainly have driven home the winning run. That said, another potential game-winning rally fizzled into the rapidly freezing air.

The Evas had few chances in this game, as Aurora's pitching was working as advertised, but in the 12th, Luis Renteria -who had all of 99 AB for the Evas and 1 HR, turned on one and sent it deep into the night for what would end up the lone run of the game. Gray would finish the 12th otherwise unscathed, and Teddy Loetzsch would start the bottom of the inning with a double, but Castro would finish his 3-inning stint with a huge 'W' for Shin Seiki, as they overcame an excellent night of pitching for a 1-0 win and a 1-0 lead in the series.

Game 2 promised to be a repeat performance as the even higher brow match-up of 'Tugboat' and 'Black Jack' was on tap for 58,738 - a game that would barely pass the two-hour mark. And here's what you need to know: Dave Yarborough's leadoff single in the 7th would be the only hit the Evas would get off Randy Smith - and for the game, along with a leadoff walk in the 8th. Shin Seiki wouldn't even sniff third base.

Meanwhile, Connor Hurst would pitch 8 innings himself, scattering 6 hits - no more than 2 in an inning (the 2nd), but a 4th inning pitch that got too much of the plate to Jesus Negrete sailed over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead that would hold for the game. 'Javelin' would pitch a perfect 9th, with a pair of Ks to earn Aurora a series tying 1-0 win, sending the series to Japan and Genesis Park tied 1-1.

With the shift from the pitching friendly NLP to the more offensive Genesis Park - and considerably warmer - temperatures are expected in the mid-60's, the onus is on Arturo Jimenez and Eduardo Romano to pick up at least a win before Provost takes the mound in Game 5. Aurora's best chance in this series is to get back to The Front Range with the series lead, and counting on another excellent outing from Provost is paramount to that goal. Shin Seiki will counter in Game 3 with their Ace, Yakamochi Sustaini.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#335 Post by Borealis »

Runs a Plenty, But Evas Take Series Lead Back to The Front Range
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

October 23, 2024: Shin Seiki, Japan - The Dome of Genesis Park and it's air conditioned 68° greeted the Borealis and portended to a shift to high-octane offense - not a good sign for an Aurora team whose offense dragged as the season progressed, while the Evil Evas led the SL with 206 HRs.

'Massacre' would take the mound for Aurora and before he threw a pitch he was spotted the lead - River Pope would open with a double and Mike Hale would single him home for the 1-0 lead. Jimenez faced the Evas twice on the season, coming away with a pair of wins, giving up no runs in 16.2 IP - including a complete game, 4-0 win at Aurora on August 16. Although he's walk one in the first, surrender a double and a walk in the second and a pair of singles in the third, he still entered the fourth with a 2-0 lead after a Ferringo triple and Schneider single in the third.

Shin Seiki Ace Yakamochi Suitani may have been down, but certainly not out, as he would look near perfect for the remainder of his outing - a Rusty Butler double in the 7th being his only other hit allowed in his 7 innings. Meanwhile, despite being shut-out, the Evas bats were anything but done in the game.

Jimenez, whose career has been one of struggles with control, would walk Yarborough to start the 4th, then he'd watch 1B Mitsunari Suzuki foul off three excellent third strike pitches, before Jimenez lost control of the fourth attempt at a strikeout, and instead watch that pitch head deep into the Japanese night to toe the game at 2.

And the Evas weren't done.

In the 5th, five singles and a walk - with only a FC to break-up the monotony, would chase 'Massacre' as Shin Seiki dropped 3 on Jimenez at take a 5-2 lead - a lead that would hold, despite the fine 3.2 IP work in relieve by Eric Perkins. Suitani would retire after his 7, relieved by 'Ogre' Ueda who would surrender a pair of hits, with 'Hack' Nakamoto getting the final out and the save - giving the Evas a 2-1 lead in the series.

Eduardo Romano and Hideyori Tanaka prepared for Game 4 watching the roof open to the 64° air - and on this night, perhaps the fresh air was to Aurora's advantage. Things began shakily for Tanaka as he dropped the toss covering first on a ball hit by Hale, then his inability to get off the mound and cut off a scribbler to short allowing Schneider to reach base with 1-out looked to shake the young lefty, but he'd right his ship and pitch out of the first with no further damage.

Romano would not be so lucky.

Matsusuke Hamada would leadoff for Shin Seiki with a double and long-time nemesis Ryogo Takeuchi would launch a 2-0 ball for a 2-run homer - sending the 53,669 black-clad fans into a greater frenzy than they started the game with. Aurora would strike back: Ferringo and Hale would sandwich a Pope fly out, and Harley Schneider would triple home the two, then Paul Carlisle's grounder to short would get Schneider home with the go ahead run and suddenly Aurora was up 3-2.

Romano, though, who had trouble keeping the ball in the park all season - 22 HRA, 3 of which were to the Evas (all at Northern Lights, oddly enough) would cough up another gopher ball, this time to German Hernandez in the bottom of the third and just like that, the game was tied at 3.

In the fifth, the offenses continued to swing hot bats - though after Pope and Hale singled in the 5th, Schneider's double play ball ended that threat, while Romano surrendered three singles which added up to 2-runs and a 5-3 Evas lead. Romano, who was 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA against Shin Seiki - and 2-0, 0.64 at Genesis Park, would be pulled after 4.2 IP and 5 ER.

But 'Terror' Diaz, Aurora's Contraction Draftee, would join with John Gray and 'Stork' to pitch the final 4.1 innings, holding the Evas to 2 hits, while Aurora's bats were just getting started. A leadoff walk to Butler and a catching error that allowed Nick Giles to reach base chased Tanaka set up a 2-run double from Hale off of reliever Akio Sai that tied the game at 5. Nick Giles would drive in a run in the 8th with a 2-out single off Sakamoto, and in the 9th Aurora would score 4 more runs - Hale with a 2-run homer the big hit off Juan Castro and Aurora would finish the game a 10-5 winner. Hale would finish with the best individual game of the series, going 4-5, with a homer and 4 RBI, and 2 RS.

And so the Borealis got what they wanted - Game 5 with a 2-2 series score and 'Train Arollin' on the mound. Fans back on the Front Range were already counting their chickens - unfortunately after the first inning it was clear no chickens were hatching tonight.

Kyoichi Yoshimura walked River Pope on four pitches to start the game, only to instantly turn the difficult to double up Mike Hale into two outs. A Schneider pop-up ended the inning rather quickly.

Provost would not be so lucky.

Matsusuke Hamada drove a 3-2 pitch for a lead-off homer and, after Richard Kelly singled with 2-outs, Benton Hawkins crushed a ball 446' and with a pair of homers of Provost in the first, the Evas were up 3-0. The teams would trade hits and nothing else into the fourth when former-Bear Phil Anderson would strike a solo homer off Provost for a 4-0 lead. The three homers in the game were the most on the season for Provost who, obviously, hasn't done that too often. Provost would last into the 6th, before being chased by a 2-out double by Mitsunari Suzuki. Michel would finish with 5.2 IP, 8 H and 4 RA, and most importantly for Aurora, what would be his second loss of the series.

Yoshimura, meanwhile, would go 8 innings, giving up 4 H and a run - a Giles single and Pope double the lone blemish, matching his 7+ shut out innings in Game 1. Gabe McIntyre would homer off of Ueda in the 9th, but this game was never in doubt, as the failures of Provost clearly seemed to take the wind out of the usually stoic Borealis.

So the teams head back to Northern Lights Park, the Evil Evas up 3-2 and a 'Tugboat'-'Black Jack' rematch on tap. Smith faced the Evas twice this season - once on the road and once at home, with 13.1 IP, 12 H and 2 ER. Coupled with his fine effort in Game 2 (8 IP, 1 H, 0 R) - and Hurst's fine effort as well, Game 6 looks to be quite the nail biter.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#336 Post by Borealis »

Aurora Forces Game 7; Bats, Arms Fail to Deliver
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

October 26, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - The past three seasons - and four of the past five, the last outs of the PEBA season have been recorded by the pitchers of the Aurora Borealis as the team has run-off on a historic run - not only of PEBA-ean history, but of American baseball history - only the Yankees of the late 40's-early 50's, who won 6 of 7, and the Yankees of '36-'41 who won 5 of 6 can claim a better run. Along the way, the Shin Seiki Evas - the Japanese behemoth who came to the PEBA in the 2021 season and were dispatched by Aurora during their 2021 and 2022 championship runs. In 2024 the Evil Evas have turned the table.

The only question will be, is this their own championship run?

Randy Smith and Connor Hurst would square off in Game 6, coming off their outstanding 1-0 duel in Game 2, and they would be equal to the challenge - 'Tugboat going 7 innings, allowing just a run on 6 hits - a Hamada homer in the second, while 'Black Jack' would go even better: 8 IP, 3 hits and just a lone 2nd inning run - a Negrete double and a Schneider FC that would bring him in from third.

The game would go to the 10th as the 'Stork' and 'Javelin' would pitch a perfect three innings, while Ueda and Sakamoto would carry the game into the bottom of the 10th, where Pope, Ferringo and Loetzsch would string three, 2-out singles together for the game winning rally and a 2-1 win, in 10 innings, to tie the series at 3, sending it to a Game 7.

Game 7 saw the advantage in the Evas court - Yakamochi Suitani on the mound - despite his 0-3 season record v. Aurora with a 5.01 ERA - and an even worse 9.58 at Northern Lights Park. His Game 3 work being the proof in the celestial pudding.

Arturo Jimenez' positive vibes for the night, built from the rapid 59,250 fans on a cool Colorado night, lasted all of 1-pitch as Matsusuke Hamada had his second lead-off homer of the series. Hamada would end up being the true pest in Aurora's side as another solo homer in the 5th, off Jimenez, would be his fourth of the series in which he hit .345 with 6 RBI. That would be the third of four runs Jimenez would surrender in his 6.2 IP - a time frame in which Aurora managed just 3 hits - the only 3 hits Aurora would manage for the game against Shin Seiki's Ace - arguably one of the best pitchers in the Sovereign League.

Diaz would come in relief of Jimenez, and 'Terror' would allow 3 hits and 2 runs, but it was clear early on that Aurora's gas tank was empty and they weren't going anywhere against Suitani as the Evil Evas would win the series on the tails of a 6-0 shut-out win in Game 7.

And so the Evas - not the Borealis, will begin the SL Championship Series against another club trying desperately to win a title - more so than the Evas could possibly desire - the Crystal Lake Sandgnats. While the two battle for the right to play in the PEC against either Arlington or Florida, the Borealis will pack their bags and head home, searching for the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Was the loss of Mike Britt's bat the lone cause of the offense's inconsistency? Possibly. Or was it the general lack of offense from the right-side of the infield and the pathetic power production of the club - finishing dead last in HRs and 12th in XBH? Was the calculated dealing of Gunner MacGruder to West Virginia for a #1 draft pick a deal that backfired and left Aurora shockingly pitching 'thin'? Hard to say.

But what one can be certain of is the Aurora Borealis will not be 'four-peating' and will have some extra weeks to begin the building of the 2025 squad - and for a team with a bucket of available cash after a record setting year at the turnstiles, you can bet changes are in the air.

So good luck to the Evas and 'Gnats in what should be a thrilling series. The Evas, seeking their first PEC in their four seasons and the 'Gnats seeking their first trip since the 2010 season - and only their third in 16 playoff appearances.
Last edited by Borealis on Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#337 Post by Borealis »

Borealis Bid 'Sawmill' Adieu
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

November 2, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - The end of one of the greatest tenure's in PEBA history has come to an end. Perhaps it lasted a year too long. Maybe it ends with a tinge of bad blood. Certainly we see an era close on one of the best in Aurora history.

The Borealis said goodbye to Martin Francisco.

'Sawmill' ends his career on the Front Range - and quite possibly his PEBA career at #28 All-Time on the Wins list with 120 and his 3.49 ERA ranks 40th All-Time, but those rankings don't paint the picture of longevity, tenacity and value he gave the Borealis during his 10 seasons of a 113-61, 3.45 record - trailing only Kojima (132), Artie Tillman (129) and Mike Provost (118) on Aurora's personal Wins list.

'Sawmill' was the 11th overall selection in the 2010 draft by the Arlington Bureaucrats (out of Louisville), and by the end of his third full professional season found himself on the Big League roster. Drafted as a starter, Francisco found himself mostly as a reliever his rookie season, pitching 63-games in relief, finishing with a 4-5 mark, 4 saves and a respectable 3.94 ERA. But things were about to change.

After that 2014 rookie season, GM Will Topham came a calling and he struck a deal with Arlington who, after a tough playoff loss was found looking to upgrade their catching position. Hot prospect (at the time) Roger Bruce and minor league pitching prospect Anderson Young were sent east in exchange for the young right-hander. Bruce, just finishing his own 10th season, never panned out for Arlington and has finished 2024 with Canton (after stints in WV, Florida and a micro-stint with Shin Seiki). Young never met the promise Aurora saw in him when they acquired him from San Antonio (for 'King' George Thompson).

Meanwhile, Francisco immediately made a difference for his new team. His first year with Aurora - the 116-win 2015 team that lost 3-1 to Omaha in the Divisional series, saw him post what would be a career best 19 wins, 6 losses and 2.53 ERA - which he would virtually match in 2019 during the first of the Borealis' 4-title run. But that season would end in heart-break as a torn ligament in his elbow at the start of the post-season would keep him out of the line-up for virtually the entire 2020 season - a year in which he'd make 6 starts.

But 'Sawmill' would rise from the ashes and in 2022 go 17-7 with a 2.96 ERA and then the following year - in what would be his last effective year for Aurora, on August 9th, he'd pitch a Perfect Game against the Duluth Warriors. Some might suggest it was all downhill from there.

With the loss of Gunner MacGruder for the bulk of 2024 with his own arm injury following his trade from Yuma, Aurora gambled with signing their 35-year old former-Ace to a 1-year extension worth $10.6M in the hopes he had gas left in the tank for one more competitive season, but alas, he never found his groove and found himself as the last man on the staff and bounced to the DFA list once or twice.

'Sawmill' made 16 career starts in the post-season for Aurora and though his record of 5-8 may suggest getting roughed up more often than not - as might his 3.98 ERA, but he'll be remembered for his clutch work in the 2021 post-season, where he won 2 of 3 starts with a 2.79 ERA.

So this morning the Borealis released Francisco before his contract officially expires after the PEC, so 'he can get a head start on free agency, should he choose to do so', as Will Topham put it. "We are extremely grateful for all that Martin has done for this franchise over the year. Cerebral and as competitive as they come." Topham said "We, as an organization, have yet to retire numbers during the early years of our fine League, but when that day comes... He wasn't flashy, but a steely '22' will hang somewhere in Northern Lights.'
Last edited by Borealis on Sat Feb 11, 2017 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#338 Post by Borealis »

Provost Brings Home Gold, Again
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

November 12, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - Only 'Fireworks' and Conan have done it. Put your name next to those PEBAian Legends and you've certainly have accomplished something.

That something? Win the League Golden Arm Award three straight years.

Sure, he's a ways to go to catch Markus Hancock's amazing run of 6 awards in 8 seasons (and 7 total), but 'Train Rollin's 4th Golden Arm in 6 seasons is nonetheless impressive. And frighteningly enough, ask those around the Borealis and they'd tell you Michel Provost didn't have his best of seasons.

Yep. Shake your head at that one. Roll your eyes. Clean your glasses. That's the same guy who posted a 2.01 ERA - and that was his second-best season number in his career. Ditto the 221 K. His 0.81 WHIP tied his career best set in his break-out 2019 season when he had those career bests of 1.52 ERA and 258 K, and the first of his Golden Arm Awards.

Yeah... The guy had a crappy season.

And reindeer really fly.

Perhaps his detractors on The Front Range cling to the 10-loss season and say - he's slipping. Maybe it's the massive $105M contract over the next 3-seasons that have expectations beyond reasonable - what? Should he win 40 in 33 starts? But the truth is, how good would his numbers been if you subtracted just 3 GS in which he surrendered 19 ER in 16 IP? A mind boggling 1.38, that's how good.

And for the record - in 8 of those 10 losses Aurora scored a total of 10 runs, shut out once (and a second time in a ND loss) and 4 times scoring but 1-run. His there shut outs were tied for tops in all of PEBA, his 5 CG second best and his 8.8 WAR was a full 2.2 better than the runner up.

During his three year run - that included the '22-'23 Rodriguez Cups, Provost has posted a 57-21 record, a combined 2.41 ERA with 645 K and just 47 BB. To put those last two numbers into perspective, the top 5 All-Time K/BB ratio's belong to Provost - and 6 of the Top 10 are a 'Train Arollin' - and three of the remaining spots in the Top 10 belong to 'Fireworks'.

So where does the soon to be 33-year old (in May) from a small town in Alberta go from here? Well, aside from living up to his monster contract - a contract that has a player opt-out after the 2027 season (forgoing another $35M salary) and a team option for 2029, Michel Provost will go into the 2025 season as the undisputed leader of the Borealis, leaving the equally talented 'Tugboat' in his substantial shadow. Some would say that's right where Randy Smith prefers to be.

Looking at the historical record, Hancock's 7 awards lead's the pack, with Provost sitting second with 4. Conan's 3 consecutive is tied with 'Moondog' - though his three were not consecutive, with Gunner, the 'Mayor', Victor Matos, and long forgotten 'Pip' Roach all owning 2 Golden Arms.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#339 Post by Borealis »

Contract Season Begins Shaping Aurora's 2025
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

November 21, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - So clearly the definition of 'games finished', from a contractional stand point, does not mean, as the average fan might think, Saves.

And with that, one of the longest-tenured players in the game - and only Arlington's Rob Raines has stayed with one team longer, has seen his contract vest with 25 'games finished'.

Bryant Burris will return to the Borealis for (at least) another season as his $7M 2025 salary was guaranteed by a matter of semantics.

It was expected that this was going to be his last year on The Front Range - 'Javelin' had been brought in to save, all but assuring the once anticipated march towards the All-Time Save record was dead. But as Adrian Petersen began to falter some mid-season, Burris - who had been pitching well in the set-up role, was moved back to his customary spot in the closer position. Needing 24 Saves to tie the record, Bryant would manage 16 saves - 8 short of Raul Pinto's 388 career saves (Palm Springs Jim Ratzlaff has the second-best active number at 274 - and with him starting for the Codgers, that doesn't look to change much). But apparently in legal contract language 16 S = 25 GF.

It must be that New Math.

For Burris - the lone remaining member of the Aurora organization who was with the club at the time of former-PEBA Commissioner John Rodriguez, Sr's death (and subsequent takeover by the Topham Clan), his 57 appearances was the lowest total of his career - the 66 the previous two seasons being the previous low, as was (not surprisingly) the 59 IP (66.1 and 66.2 were the previous lows). But despite those lows, his WHIP of 1.10 was the lowest since the 'Vulture' days and his 'first stint' as closer in the middle '20-teens'.

Whether Burris gets the chance to get those last 9 saves - and even if he comes out of spring training on the 25-man roster, is yet to be determined. Either way, it's a certainty that the 37-year old closer's days in professional ball are likely to be numbered.

Also with a vesting contract - but this one failing to vest, is RP Ron Latour. Later, who signed a 3-year $5.5M deal with Aurora in 2022, had his salary for 2025 dependent on making 35 appearances, but his 22 games fell well short - but not due to any shortcomings on his part. In 27 IP he posted a 2.67 ERA with an adequate 1.33 WHIP. Lather's problems were simply getting a chance to get into the game. With Aurora starters typically going deep into games, it's usually the set-up men and closures who get the bulk of the IPs in the 'pen.

But Aurora like's the 26-year old from British Columbia and have since signed him to a new 2-year deal averaging $3.65M, with a team option for a third year - despite a shaky 2023 that has his career numbers at 2-3, 3 S, 4.09 ERA. Barring a tremendous spring, it's not expected that Lathers role on the team will change much.

Also with a non-vesting contract was former-bullpen hot-shot Gerardo Rivera who managed to get into all of 7 games in 2024 and pitch pathetically so: 9 IP, 13 H, 11 R, 3 HR. It was clear early on that Rivera had been placed in the same basket as 'Sawmill' - the 'not returning in 2025' basket. Rivera, who came to Aurora as part of the 'Zoom Zoom' for Miguel Galvez deal (boy, did that turn out to be a dud!), appeared in 194 games for Aurora and had one exceptional year on The Front Range - 2021 when he was 3-3 with 6 S and a 1.95 ERA setting up for Burris. By the end of 2023, it was clear his usefulness had passed.

The contracts of Burris, Latour and Rivera were not the only ones that needed addressing as outfielders River Pope and Mike Hale both had team options and not surprisingly both were picked up.

For Pope, it was really a no brainer. The 2016 1st round draftee won his second SL Batting Crown with a .347 average that was a full 30-points better than Palm Springs 2024 Royal Raker winner 'El Niño'. It was the fifth straight year since becoming a starter that Pope has hit better than .300. River will earn $9.25M with one year remaining on his contract - another team option worth $9.5M. Word is he's looking for Provost money in some early, exploratory extension talks.

Hale, on the other hand, has been an enigma for the Borealis. The last two seasons he's been the SL All-Leather winner at CF - a position he excels at with his pure speed, glove and arm. The 3rd overall pick in the 2017 draft had tied the league record for triples in a season (14, subsequently passed) and led the league in steals with 62 in 2021. After hitting well over .280 the past two years with well over 40 SB, it was expected that he was on the verge of meeting the high expectations of his draft slot. 2024 was anything but. He struggled to a .248 average and managed just 1 triple and 22 SB - a combination of a lower OBP and unexpected reins by Manager Octavio Rios. Hale will be making $2.8M in the last year of his 3-year contract and reportedly is seeking in the neighborhood of $17M per.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#340 Post by Borealis »

'Stork' Stays in the Fold
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

December 2, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - One was the 23rd player taken in the 2011 Draft - just as Aurora was primed to draft him, the other was the 24th player taken. Both have spent their entire careers with the team that drafted them, and both saw their contracts expire after the 2024 season. That's where the similar storylines ends... so it seems.

As 'Moondog' York has been allowed to walk, his career-long team Florida choosing not to extend him and letting him walk, the 'Stork', Ryan Holbrook, has signed a new 2-year deal with Aurora for $5.51M per - the second season being a team option with a $1.38M buyout.

While the 35-year old York is seeking a long-term deal rumored to be in the neighborhood of $14M per, Holbrook signed his team-friendly deal for the same salary as in 2024, eschewing Aurora's attempts to sign him to one of PEBA's unique '1-year hometown deals' - Holbrook apparently insisted on a 2-year deal.

Over the past three seasons Holbrook has seen his appearances decline, but that said, he still appeared in 48 games, threw 49 innings and posted a 2.02 ERA - the lowest of his career, allowing just 1 HR (fewest in his career) and a respectable 1.18 WHIP, with a 3:1 K/BB.

For his career, Holbrook has mostly pitched in the set-up role, getting some serious time as a closer in 2018, earning 20 Saves, at a time in which Bryant Burris went through a prolonged slump. Today the left-handed Holbrook continues to excel in the set-up role opposite the right-handed Burris and up-and-coming John Gray. 'Stork's career numbers include a 54-38 record and a 2.86 ERA with 696 K and 185 BB.

There is no reason to suspect Holbrook will do nothing but continue in the set-up role. Now the question is, will Aurora pursue the long-coveted 'Moondog'?
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#341 Post by Borealis »

Arbitration Hits Hard, Questionable Contracts Offered
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

December 3, 2024: Aurora, Colorado - Arbitration is one of those archaic processes that leaves a team buzzing on a sugar high or lying in insulin-shock. Teams are left making players feel unloved, players leave teams feeling the 'union greed' and some find the back-end of the unemployment line. For Aurora, they felt the first two and shockingly none of the last.

This years arby list was a reasonably lengthy one, with 8 players eligible this season - 4 pitchers and 4 position players; 4 of who were key members of the team: 'Massacre', Jesus Negrete, Felix Pena and John Gray.

We can start with the two relievers who signed the team offers before their hearing, leaving the Borealis Brass heaving a sigh of relief. Gray, who had an outstanding season, was 8-1 with a 2.59 ERA with 5 Saves and 22 Holds - tied for 2nd best in the SL. Over the past three seasons of being a main cog in the 'pen, Gray has 79 Holds, including a 2022 best of 28. Over 87 IP he struck out 127 and walked just 26. Fortunately for the Borealis, the to-be-28-year old who was a 4th round pick in 2015 chose to sign the $2M offer and eschew arbitration.

For Felix Pena, the circumstances were different. The 25-year old righty, acquired from San Antonio back in 2018 for SP Frankie Chavez (who finally retired this year after being out of the game for three seasons) - missed more than half the season after suffering an UCL rupture that he is still recovering from - the team hopes he'll be ready to go come spring training. During his two month-and-a-half stint,, Felix appeared in 19 games with a 1.82 ERA, with 42 K in 34.2 IP. Like Gray, Pena was an vital cog in Aurora's late inning bullpen rotation. His loss was a crucial one. He agreed to a $2.4M contract in avoiding arbitration - for Aurora, with the unknown of his status for 2025, it's a great deal!

While we are on the subject of pitchers, let's look at the second largest award of the day - that being the $10.625M deal awarded to 'Massacre', over the team's $9M offer. Jimenez was the 11th player selected in 2015 - out of Moody HS, and and it took him four-full seasons in the minors before he got his call to the Front Range. Arturo has spent most of his time in the rotation, but has had periods where he's been demoted to the 'pen when bouts of wildness has gotten the better of him. He did begin 2024 in the 'pen, but when it was apparent 'Sawmill's skills had eroded too much, he was placed back into the fold and had an outstanding year - 17-10, 2.89 ERA and in just shy of 200 IP (199) he struck out 205 batters - a career best (good for 4th in the SL), and walked just 60 - by far his best career number if you look at in terms of BB/9 (2.7). Arturo will be a free agent after 2025 and his 'strained' relationship with management over bouncing back and forth in the 'pen, and his 'not seeing eye-to-eye with the manager leaves one to wonder if this will be his last season in Aurora.

To finish the pitcher portion of this discussion, 'Terror' Diaz, Aurora's first selection out of Tempe (now Long Beach in the WIL) in the Contraction Draft, was awarded a $2M deal from the Arbiter, beating the $1.2M the team had been seeking. Diaz split time between the rotation and the 'pen, making 18 starts and 12 relief appearances. He arguably pitched better as a starter, but overall he was 12-5, with a 3.86 ERA. Diaz' status is a tad uncertain, as the rotation of Provost, Smith, Jimenez, Romano and (possibly) Perkins seems set - barring any additions via trade or free agency.

The largest award - and believed to be perhaps the largest in team history, was the $15,912,500 that Jesus Negrete will be making this coming season. The team had offered $11.65M. Negrete, who came to Aurora in trade with Reno for John Lawson (who looks like he's about to break through for the Zephyrs) and a 1st round pick, has been an enigma for Aurora. So potential. Such talent. And yet, injury cost him the bulk of 2023 - and the playoffs, and the first part of 2024. This year he hit .258 with 14 HR and 56 RBI - certainly not the numbers Aurora was looking for when they brought him aboard. In awarding Jesus the near-$16M deal, Boy Wonder GM Will Topham was overheard asking - 'What was he thinking? Was he simply looking at his ratings on EA Sports PEBA 2024?'

Also beating the team from the catching position - albeit for much less money, was back-up Rusty Butler who was awarded $2.73M for his career best season. The team had offered $1.2M. His .275 average was his best since his first season at AAA in 2017. The addition $1.5M is a small hit to the team that may be paying Butler to play elsewhere - and for that matter, Negrete may as well, as the Two-Headed Monster v2.0 down at AAA Thornton is for all intensive purposes ready to give the Big Leagues a shot. Which begs the question, 'Why was Butler even offered a contract?'

Also winning at the arby table, and also leading to the question regarding an offer at all, Juan Toro - one of the longest tenured members of the organization - he was a 5th round pick in the 2011 draft - he and the 'Stork' are the only remaining members of that draft class, and he's the nephew of long-time Aurora manager of the same name. Toro has made himself useful by playing just enough defense at multiple spots while providing just enough punch from the plate. His .326 in 2021 was so solid that'Gypsy' John Foster was benched during Aurora's drive to the playoffs. It will certainly be interesting to see exactly what happens with Toro come this spring. Aurora's scouts continue to view him favorably.

Lastly - and Aurora's lone 'win' in the process was the $765K awarded to Gabe McIntyre, who was seeking $1.275M. McIntyre, the 11th selection in the 2018 draft had a very disappointing 2024 with a .226 average - after hitting .287 and .273 the previous two years; both respectable averages, but kind of hollow when you dig deeper into the numbers. Gabe was to be the 2B, with Pablo Medrano at 1B, but he performed so poorly that Aurora went out and signed free agent Harley Schneider - who hit .308 with 3 HR and 31 RBI in just 31 games - all greater than what McIntyre posted in his 86 games! The powers that be continue to be impressed by McIntyre's work on the field - but this year he needs to translate that potential to something more tangible not he diamond.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#342 Post by Zephyrs »

John Lawson and Orlando Alarcon will both be playing for the Zephyrs this season. Both of which are former Aurora 2nd round picks.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#343 Post by Borealis »

Zephyrs wrote:John Lawson and Orlando Alarcon will both be playing for the Zephyrs this season. Both of which are former Aurora 2nd round picks.
We hated leaving Orlando exposed, but... Someone always is... We had hoped he'd sneak through, but when I looked at the draft pool, he came up as the top pitcher - #Sad...
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#344 Post by Borealis »

Three 2025 'Keys' Reach Deals on Extensions
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

January 23, 2025: Aurora, Colorado - A quite end to the 2024 year has come and gone - a winter meetings that for the second straight year saw very little activity, though purportedly not for a lack of effort on Aurora's part, and as Spring Training games lie but 5+ weeks away the Aurora Borealis continue to shape the roster for the coming year and those that follow.

The key free agents may be flying out the door with contracts that suggest teams have money to burn, and it's the Borealis who continue to be sideline dwellers - reportedly losers on the 'Mayor' and 'Moondog' sweepstakes. Both would seem odd choices for Aurora, until you recall GM Will Topham's general mantra - 'you can never have enough pitching'; especially when you consider the strong moves GM Kevin Vail has struck in his 'bound and determined to win' off-season blitzkrieg.

While we await to see whom Aurora may sign - if they even have anyone in their headlights - considering their interest in Corona and York one may think that Velazquez and Ueda might be on their radar. As for position players, there have been no hints of interest in any of the current free agents - big boppers such as Cortez, Hurley and Espinoza all posting strikeout numbers that are simply distasteful to the Aurora coaching staff - despite the teams desperate need for power. It is rumored they have sent out some trade inquiries, but there is nothing concrete to report. Is it possible we'll see the return of 'Gypsy' John Foster?

Meanwhile, Aurora announced today the signing of extensions to three key players: RF Paul Carlisle and RP's John Gray and Felix Peña.

Carlisle, who has received tidy arbitration deals over the past two seasons: $6.875M in 2024 and $9.4M for the coming season, has agreed to an $11M deal for 2026, and thus setting up a big 2026 off-season decision regarding free-agency for the former-2017 2nd round pick out of Rice. Carlisle ended 2024 hitting a career-low .267 and a career-best 24 HRs (for the second straight season. He just finished shy of driving in 100 for the second straight season.

John Gray has been an outstanding member of the bullpen since his 2021 call-up, with each season since seeing an increased work-load, finishing 2024 with 87 IP - with 127 K and just 26 BB. Gray won 8 games out of the 'pen, losing just 1 with a 2.59 ERA. The 2015 4th round selection out of Seton Hall Prep was awarded $2M for the upcoming season in his first arbitration year and his 1-year extension for 2026 with net him $2.4M.

The biggest surprise of the day was the signing of Felix Peña to a 2-year extension, with a team option for a third year, that will average $3.5M over the full three years. Peña, who was just awarded $2.4M in his third trip through Arbitration, is still in the process of rehabbing a ruptured ligament in his elbow that cut short his 2024 season back in mid-June. Felix, acquired from San Antonio in the Franky Chavez deal in a 2018 Spring Training deal, posted a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 IP before his injury. He is considered doubtful for Opening Day and is likely to begin the year on a minor league rehab assignment.

With the three extensions, Aurora is left with just three key players on their roster who are unsigned for 2026: 'Massacre' Jimenez, Jesus Negrete and Mike Hale. 'Massacre', Aurora's to winner with 17, was awarded $10.6M and it is expected that Jimenez' days are numbered with Aurora - barring a managerial change, as the free agent-to-be famously does not see eye-to-eye with Octavio Rios. Negrete, a player with the power potential Aurora seeks, was just awarded a $15.9M arbitration deal and it's believed Aurora has already been seeking suitors, with the hopes of getting Manny Castro and Domingo Gutierrez into the line-up. Perhaps the biggest question mark is the fate of Mike Hale, who is finishing out his second contract extension with the Borealis, will make $2.8M in 2025 and is expected to fetch a sizable payday in free agency. Reports are that the team and his agent are 'galaxies' apart.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#345 Post by Borealis »

Borealis Add Ex-Codger Boswell to the Mix
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

February 8, 2025: Aurora, Colorado - Will Topham put it bluntly at today's press conference: "We've reached a point in the Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance where the 's' is baseball has become a '$'. And in the Sovereign League, you can't be afraid to spent money." This from the GM that has already dolled out $35M a year for Mike Provost, $23M for each of the next three seasons for Randy Smith, and today he announced the Borealis have signed former-Palm Springs infielder Theron Boswell to what could be a 6-year deal averaging $23.3M.

"Our original goal this offseason was to beef-up the pitching staff. You can look at it like this way: the power bats, which we really need, were asking for far too much money, for far too long and either had (potentially) their best years behind them or struggled with consistent contact - which as you all know, is a real pet peeve in this organization."

So, as it turns out, Aurora focused their attention on pitching and have confirmed that their initial target was Palm Spring's Miguel Cantu, who signed with the champion Crystal Lake Sandgnats. Aurora then turned their attention on a pair of pitchers they had long tried to acquire: Manuel Corona and Chris York. It was rumored that the 'Mayor' had been negotiating with Shin Seiki as well, before both he and 'Moondog' chose to sign with West Virginia.

In Boswell Aurora picks up a middle infielder with excellent defensive skills, a hitter who makes contact, drives the ball, and should fit in with Aurora's line-up behind the Pope/Ferringo/Hale group. Early expectations have Boswell fitting into the 3-hole, in front of Britt. Theron's contract provides him with an option to opt-out after the 2026 season and the final 2-years are team options with $5.85M buy-outs.

Boswell hit .247 last year for the Codgers, with 17 HR and 83 RBI - both of which being career highs. One area the team hopes to see improvement is his average of 90 K over his 6 full seasons. The staff looks no further than 'odd man left out', Nick Giles, who they liken Boswell in his ability to put the ball in play, though they feel that Boswell has a much better command of the strike zone.

And what of Nick Giles? He's $18M cheaper and has one more guaranteed year to his contract ($6.5M in 2026), and the similarities between the two are striking. Giles may find himself traded or depending how the spring goes, Boswell may find himself at second if 2024 late-season signee Harley Schneider doesn't live up to his expectations.

In the meantime, Aurora has added another big-money contract to their balance sheet - arguably a risky, dangerous move in an attempt to 'keep up with the Jones'' and find themselves back in the winners seat. With players arriving for Spring Training in Grand Junction, data collection on that question is about to begin.
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