Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

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Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#1 Post by Borealis »

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April 7, 2012: Duluth, Minnesota - Welcome to 'Aurora Storialis', my on-line view of all that is Aurora Borealis Baseball. I'm Ray D. Enze and I am thrilled to be back covering Aurora and the Planetary Extreme baseball Alliance. This blog will feature updates, thoughts and storylines on the 2012 season.

The Aurora Borealis opened their 2012 season with a three game series with the Bakersfield Bears. Bakersfield and Aurora met in the first round of the PEC last season and each game was a tight, exciting game. The 2012 season continued that theme as Bill Bradley and Pedro Barron faced off on Opening Day. Both starter was rock solid, though neither got a decision, as second-year player Bradley matched the veteran Barron pitch for pitch. Barron left the game in the 6th after a collision with Aurora catcher Wilson Berry. Both players will miss a number of games, leading Aurora to bring AAA catcher Bob Keller up. Berry will not be placed on the DL, but being short a catcher is never a good plan, so enter Keller. A 2008 draftee, Keller is viewed as a definite big league prospect, thought to be Berry's replacement. With Wilson signing a new 3-year, $8.5 million contract, Keller may be expendable.

Five Bakersfield relievers held Aurora in check, shutting the Borealis out on only 7 hits. Fellow second year player Bryant Burris pitched two clean innings, but Angel Lara, one of Aurora's top post season performers coughed up 2 runs on a two-run HR by Pat Lilly. Game two provided us a chance to see George Thompson and the Borealis fans didn't leave Northern Lights Park impressed. Thompson left off where he was in the post season, walking 7 and giving up all four runs in a 4-1 loss to the Bears. Once more Aurora managed but a single run. Lara and Ramos pitched 3.2 innings to give Aurora a shot, but once more Bakersfield's bullpen was too strong. Game three saw Aurora get yet again only 7 hits, but this time they did more with them in a 4-1 win, getting Aurora into the win column for the first time. Game three featured rookie Francisco Chavez in his PEBA debut and he did not disappoint, as he went 6+, giving up a single run.

On Friday Aurora began their series with Duluth and the Warrior pitchers are certainly not Bakersfield's, as Aurora banged out 19 hits and 16 runs. Kojima pitched well enough to win, 6+ innings giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. With Octavio Pexego leading the way, 4-5, 3 runs, 2 HRs and 6 RBIs and Jose Rivera, 3-6, 3 runs and 3 RBIs, Aurora had a 6-0 lead before the Warriors got on the scoreboard.

The coming week has the Borealis taking on Duluth and Canton on the road before returning home for four games with the Codgers. Duluth sits at 0-3 after their shellacking by Aurora and Canton has opened 2-2. Palm Springs has started quickly at 4-1 after taking 3 from Yuma and their opener with Crystal Lake.
Last edited by Borealis on Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Aurora Storyialis - The Borealis Blog

#2 Post by John »

Great to see yet another blog pop up here in the forums! Love the name of this one, too. ;-D
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Re: Aurora Storyialis - The Borealis Blog

#3 Post by Hitmen »

PEBA Commissioner wrote:Great to see yet another blog pop up here in the forums! Love the name of this one, too. ;-D
I spend way too much time on the forums, so the more to read here, the better. And I agree, the name is catchy. :)
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Re: Aurora Storyialis - The Borealis Blog

#4 Post by Bill »

Hitmen wrote:I spend way too much time on the forums, so the more to read here, the better. And I agree, the name is catchy. :)
Well put, plus your graphics rocks. It reminds me of the jersey vote that got away. Which I suppose I should not be discussing here after the beat down you gave us this week.
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Re: Aurora Storyialis - The Borealis Blog

#5 Post by Borealis »

Warriors wrote:
Hitmen wrote:I spend way too much time on the forums, so the more to read here, the better. And I agree, the name is catchy. :)
Well put, plus your graphics rocks. It reminds me of the jersey vote that got away. Which I suppose I should not be discussing here after the beat down you gave us this week.
Come on Carve... get with the program and wear your Aurora jersey to today's game!
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Re: Aurora Storyialis - The Borealis Blog

#6 Post by Borealis »

Week 2

April 15, 2012: Aurora, Colorado - The Borealis got back on track during the second week of the season with a stellar 6-2 record compiled on the road versus Duluth, Canton, and at home in a series with division rival Palm Springs. After a 2-2 start to the season, beginning with a dismal two games in Bakersfield where the Aurora bats were AWOL, Aurora plastered Duluth 16-4. But then the missing bat syndrome returned as Duluth starter Randall Krieger held Aurora to 3 hits in 6.1 innings, giving up a single run, a 2-out solo HR by Salvador Bernal, in a 2-1 victory. Artie Tillman pitched excellently himself, going 6 innings with only 2 hits and no walks. Bryant Burris, in relief in the 8th gave up doubles to Jose Gonzales and former Borealis Steve Williamson to tie the game and game winning single to Powell Clark for his first blown save of the season.

Second Year Ace of the staff, Bill Bradley closed the series with Duluth with a stellar 6 IP giving up 4 hits and striking out 9 for his first victory of the season. That marked 12 scoreless innings for the young pitcher. Aurora battered the Warrior pitching for 8 HR and hit at a .306 clip as a team, while the pitching staff, led by Tillman, Bradley and Kojima held Duluth to a .223 average. The pitchers were supported by Octavio Pexego who hit a cool .500 (6-12) with 3 HR and 8 RBI. The enigma that is Royal Raker Mark Richardson continued to mystify as he was 5-12, but scored only 1 run and drove in only 1 - and no extra base hits.

The Borealis swept 3 games at Canton as Mark Richardson seemed to like what the Longshoremen were serving up as he popped 3 bombs, though he only drove in 4. George Thompson had a better start than his first assignment, going 7.1 with 4 hits, 8 K and more importantly only 3 walks. He has walked 13 in his other 2 starts. Rookie Francisco Chavez looked good in his second start, prompting Manager Juan Toro to quip, "Chavez, he- a is like-a driving along-a da edge of da cliff-a. You feel-a like you may-a fall off, butta you steer-a da car right", a reference to Chavez' going 6 innings in each of his starts, giving up 7 hits in each, walking 3 in each, yet giving up a total of 3 runs.

Chavez will close out the four game series with Palm Springs today, facing Codger Pablo Barbosa, who has struggled in each of his first two starts, despite Palm Springs winning both starts. Aurora has won 2 of the 3 games thus far in the series, taking game 1, 6-1 before losing game 2, 4-1. Game 3 was a classic. George Thompson had a No-Hitter going into the 9th, but with a 3-0 lead Thompson walked Ollie Morris after having him 0-2, then he hit Michael Smith with a 1-2 pitch, Shannon Davis fouled off three 1-2 pitches before Thompson hung one over the plate that Davis hit for the first Codger hit - and a game tying 3-run homer; oh to have strike three that inning and Thompson would have finished his No-No. Aurora missed chances in the 9th and 10th to win the game, but in the bottom of the 11th Mark Richardson singled and Pexego drove him in with a game winning double, making a winner of The Vulture.

Aside from the series closer Aurora has three at Yuma before heading off to Illinois to face Crystal Lake, where Bradley, Thompson and Chavez are scheduled to go for the Borealis. Yuma is off to a good start, having won 5 games thus far. It took the Bulldozers a month to win 5 games last year. Crystal Lake has started 6-5 and have three with Kalamazoo before squaring off with Aurora. Should the 'Gnats rotation hold it will be Stewart, Sanchez and Takeda going for Crystal Lake.
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#7 Post by Borealis »

Week 3

April 23, 2012: Kalamazoo, Michigan - The Aurora Borealis used the disabled list 15 times for injuries that were expected to last 2 weeks or longer, and that does not include the injuries to Miguel Garcia, Salvador Bernal and Kojima during the post season. During the 2012 spring training 2012 Al Edwards and Steve McDonald went down and were DL'd for the start of the season, but as the games turned from exhibitions to meaningful, it looked as if the Borealis had the old injury bug behind them. Not so fast, my little chick-a-dees. Wilson Berry injured himself in a collision with Pedro Barron, and although he did not go on the Dl, he did miss significant time, and now John Knight, who had a break out season last year strained an oblique and is expected to miss 3 weeks.

Knight, batting .250 early on in 2012, will be replaced by the red-hot Cory 'Can Anybody at AAA Get Me Out' Pierce, who's hitting .481 with a OPS of 1.307. Pierce will be placed right into the line-up, initially believed to be the vacated leadoff spot that Knight leaves behind. Although not your typical leadoff guy - read that as No Speed, in a line-up of 3-4-5 hitters, some one needs to hit leadoff. Aurora Manager Juan Toro was quoted as saying, "I-a don't know-a if Cory issa de right-a man por da job-a. We have-a a guy whos-a Ice Cold in-a da clutch right-a now. To-a many strike-a-outs. Maybe he-a hitta da leadoff." Do we read that as Mark "Ice Cold" Richardson will be hitting leadoff soon in Knights stead? A look shows that Mark has had a propensity of strikeouts in key situations, a disturbing trend that began in the 2011 post season. One thing's for sure - Richardson has the speed for the spot.

Al Edwards time on the DL has come to an end and he has been brought into the fold at Aurora, presumably to stay. The much sought after Edwards has been itching to make it full time with the big club and now the task is finding playing time for the talented infielder. One expects that he will move about the infield, spelling Quinones, who seems to have taken hold of the 1B position, Rivera at 2B (and then McDonald when he returns from the DL) and White at 3B. He may also spell Richardson, but short is not Edwards best spot and that job may still remain Rivera's. Giving Pexego an occasional day off at DH is also expected to be Edwards role.

It's suspected that Aurora would still like to deal Alexandre Poirier, who's seen very limited time thus far. Aurora has been carrying only 4 outfielders and it's no secret that they would very much like to be able to keep Pierce on the major league roster.

The team flew into Kalamazoo after their game with Crystal Lake to enjoy the day off before taking on the Badgers who have been hit with their own injury bug, most notably Raul Garcia. Aurora will have their annual team golf tournament at the prestigious Kalamazoo Country Club. Last years winner, pitching coach Thomas Williams is expected to take the crown again.
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#8 Post by John »

Cory Pierce is quickly becoming the Kila Ka'aihue of the PEBA.
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#9 Post by Borealis »

PEBA Commissioner wrote:Cory Pierce is quickly becoming the Kila Ka'aihue of the PEBA.
As is Al Edwards!

If either can show that their ability matches their potential, then someone like Salvador Bernal, in the OF, and Augusto Quinones, in the infield, may lose their job.

Bernal, a FA next season, is not likely to return. Quinones, like Poirier, has another year on his contract, so either may be trade bait.
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#10 Post by Borealis »

Aurora Game of the Week

April 15, 2012: Aurora, Colorado - Francisco Chavez may one day be the star-studded starter that the Borealis hope for, but before he gets there they will have to put up with a few growing pains. Today's game was case in point numero uno.

Palm Springs sent Pablo Barbosa to the mound to counter Chavez. Barbosa had not exactly set the PEBA on fire to start the year, having given up 16 hits and 9 runs in 11 innings. His start versus Aurora looked to be more of the same.

After Chavez struck out two to start the first, Jose Rivera doubled and 'Ice Cold' Richardson hit a 2-2 pitch to plate two. Barbosa walked the bases loaded in the second. With two out Rivera singled in one, but Richardson struck out to end a potentially big inning. Chavez was pitching well, but in the fourth Jose Moran followed a Jose Gonzalez double with a 2-run single and suddenly the game was tied. Hector Castillo and Shannon Davis combined to give the Codgers a 4th run in the 5th and suddenly Chavez and Aurora were down 4-3.

Meanwhile Barbosa settled down and after a leadoff double by Pexego in the third, he retired 11 straight before Martin Bido singled with 2 out in the 6th. That chased Barbosa and brought in Manual Martinez. Martinez was as ineffective as Barbosa was to start the game. Singles by Bernal and RIchardson around a walk to Knight loaded the bases and was followed by a 2-run RBI single by Octavio Pexego. Salvador Bernal put the finishing touches on Aurora's victory with a solo home run in the 8th. Burris, Garza and Suarez pitched the final 3.2 innings giving up a solo hit. Bryant Burris (1-1) picked up the win, while Juan Suarez earned his 4th save.

After the game Chavez spoke to the press around his locker. "I just had difficulty putting hitters away there. I felt good early on, but, I don't know, the zip and placement just... I just lost it there in the 4th." That said, Chavez still threw nearly 70% strikes. Pitching Coach Thomas Williams said, "It's not unusual for young pitchers to have moments like that. Frankie threw strikes, and in the end, that's his job." Chavez' next opportunity to throw strikes will be next Sunday at Crystal Lake.
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#11 Post by Borealis »

Week 4

April 30, 2012: Reno, Nevada - If there is a lesson to be learned from this past weeks games it is two things: Aurora is going to be hard pressed to defend their division title if they don't start scoring some runs against Bakersfield and that Corey Pierce can hit.

Pierce the 26 year old OF from Detroit who got into 54 games and hit 4 HR, driving in 16, last season as Chris Weaver was on the DL got his chance this season with John Knight on the DL. Thrust into the starting line-up Pierce was awe-inspiring. He went 9-17, scored 7 with 4 HR and 11 RBI, including two grand slams. Corey is making a huge statement regarding his role on this team, not for next season as the Borealis plan, but this season. After AAA seasons of .316, .358, .295, and after 20 games here in 2012, .481, keeping the young left hander at AAA is clearly a waste. Pierce's main competition does not come from the talented Aurora OF, but from the crowded infield. Pierces infield counter part, Al Edwards, also got a shot this week, but after hitting a HR in his first AB of the season he slumped to a .125 average and was promptly shipped back to AAA when Steve McDonald got off the DL. John Knight looks to be on the DL for perhaps another 2 weeks, giving Pierce a chance to show his week was either a fluke or the real deal.

For the second time in April the Borealis hosted the Bakersfield Bears, and for the second time the guests were rude guests, taking 2 of 3 for the second time. Bakersfield, who started last season so poorly before righting themselves and making it to the playoffs, have begun 2012 with a respectable 14-11 record, 2 games back of Aurora. For a second time Bill Bradley squared off with Pedro Barron and the Mexican National once again got the better of Slappy and his 'mates. After a 2-0 loss on opening day Bradley didn't have his best stuff, but it really didn't matter as Barron limited Aurora to 1 run on 6 hits. A Corey Pierce grand slam bailed out a disturbing start by George Thompson, something that is becoming a major concern, as Aurora won game 2 8-6, scoring more runs than they have in their other 5 games with the Bears combined. It is worth noting that Barron has been very strong thus far. After missing 3 starts due to injury he his 1-0 with a tidy 1.35 ERA in the three starts he has. Aurora's inability to solve him being the main reason for those good numbers.

Aurora heads into May with a stretch of games with Reno, Omaha, Duluth and Yuma before taking on the scorching-hot Knights in an early season showdown between the favorites for the division crown. Winners of 17 in a row, Tempe's offensive ranking is looking more like Aurora's was last season, and if they keep that up for the season with the starting pitching they have, they will be a tough challenge to Aurora's divisional dominance. It'll take the Aurora starters getting their act together to give them any chance against Tempe. If George Thompson continues on his 1 BB per inning pace and if John Roach can't figure out the mystery of his problems, this could turn out to be a long season for the Borealis.
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#12 Post by Borealis »

Aurora’s Shining Stars: April
Players of the Month


May 1, 2012: Reno, Nevada – Aurora finished the first month of the season with a stellar 17-9 record, but there is room for concern, as this is a tad off their incredible start last season (18-5, .782). With Tempe off to a surprisingly fast start, the Borealis find themselves 5.5 games back. Still, a .653 winning percentage is nothing to dismiss, and as we take a look back on the first month of the season, there is much to be pleased with.
Batter of the Month: Cory Pierce’s hot start aside (4 HR in 20 AB), the top hitter for Aurora has clearly been “El Chupacabra”. Octávio Pexego has had a quick start to the season himself and has very quietly put up Royal Raker numbers: 36-for-100, 10 2B and 5 HR. His 24 RBI are second on the team to Augusto Quiñones (26).

Pexego, who came to Aurora in a mid-season trade with San Antonio last year, has been a model citizen despite his checkered past. An end of the season injury kept Octávio out of the playoffs, and with Mark Richardson’s failures, his bat was sorely missed.

Pexego was brought to Aurora to bat in the 4-hole as a DH and he seems to have thrived in that spot. In a bit under a season’s worth of AB (470) with Aurora, he already is at his 162-game average (596 AB) for 2B, HR and RBI, with BA, SLG and OBP all greater than his averages. Octávio is signed through the 2013 season and is three years younger than Chris Weaver, who becomes a free agent after this season. It is possible we’ll see Weaver walk and El Chupacabra replace him as Aurora’s big money man.

Pitcher of the Month: Whereas the BotM is cut and dry, there are many possible candidates for Pitcher of the Month of April. What you use as criteria will be the deciding factor.

Juan Suárez? The “Vulture” made eight appearances, pitching eight innings and saving seven games. He gave up 3 H and 3 BB while striking out 11, not giving up a run. Typically, you can expect an Aurora victory when he comes into the game – the Vulture has only nine blown saves in 104 opportunities in his Aurora career.

Similarly, one could argue for Francisco Garza, who in 11.2 IP has allowed eight base runners and one run.

Bryant Burris? Last season, his K/BB ratio was 2.27. Thus far, after working hard in winter ball on his control, he is up to 5.2. A tad more work and he’ll be devastating with that 98 MPH fastball.

This month’s winner? Kojima, although Artie Tillman is a close second in the balloting. Kojima won all five of his starts while holding opponents to a .190 BA. The Japanese national – who just signed a 3-year, $13.8 M extension before the season started – averaged 6.1 IP per start and posted a 1.95 ERA. He also struck out 29 batters in his 32 IP.

Kojima had a season he’d rather forget last year, with an ERA that was about a run and a half greater than his previous seasons in Aurora and an OAVG about 20 points higher. The starting pitching may be the weak spot on this Aurora team, but if Kojima’s performance in April is any indication, he’s back on his game and his spot in the rotation may not be a place to worry about.

Minor League Players of the Month: At AAA Thornton, En-guo Guao has continued where he left off last year. The future CF for Aurora was 32-102 with 6 2B, 1 3B and 2 HR while driving in 16. Aurora’s biggest concern with Guao is his eye. He’s drawn 17 BB thus far, but he’s also struck out 19 times; he’s recognizing a strike, but can he hit it? Guao has great speed and the Borealis look for him to start displaying that in AAA, as they perceive Guao as a potential leadoff hitter.

At AA Gatineau, there is no question, as the leading story in the Aurora minor league system is catcher Scott Vinson. Besides hitting .375 for the month, it is the power Vinson has displayed that’s catching people’s attentions. Last season, in 396 AB at San Luis Rio Colorado, Vinson hit 5 HR. After one month (64 AB), he has eight, and his 27 RBI lead the team. One area the team would like to see some improvement is throwing out potential base stealers, as his 28% CS% ranks in the middle of the pack at AA. Vinson’s performance with the bat has definitely thrust him into the lead as top catching prospect in the system.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#13 Post by John »

Nice to see En-guo Guao developing well. I've been excited about him since signing him out of Taiwan to a major league contract. At just 22, he's transitioning fabulously to AAA. He could be a special player.
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#14 Post by Borealis »

Week 6

May 14, 2012: Aurora, Colorado - The Planetary Extreme Playoffs don't start until October, but it'll be October in May as a big series with early bragging rights will take place at Northern Lights Park as the Tempe Knights come to town, and perhaps for the first time (and in all likelihood it IS the first time) in franchise history they are not only ahead of the Borealis, they are in first place. Markus Hancock and Company ride high onto the Front Range, despite a recent slide that see's them losers of 7 out of their last 12. With a pitching staff that ranks 4th in the Sovereign League and arguably the best offense (Yes, Arguably, lest we forget our own Borealis) Aurora will have their hands full. This series will come down to pitching and each teams staff is expected to be challenged. Tempe's starters rank 2nd in the SL, while Aurora's is 5th, and walks have been a major problem all season for the Borealis starters, and no where is that more evident than with tonights starter, George Thompson. There is concern within the Aurora management that Thompson is not 100%. After signing Thompson to a contract extension prior to spring training, Aurora expected much more from the current #2 All-Time strikeout leader (he is also #3 all-time on BB).

Aurora hopes will rely on getting to the Tempe bullpen. A Battle of the 'Pens would seemingly favor the top ranked Aurora 'pen as Tempe's relievers have struggled all season, coming in ranked 9th thus far. Juan Suarez, Bryant Burris, and Francisco Garza (who word is has opened negotiations with the team again) have combined for 49 IP, 35 HA, 9 RA, 17 BB, 71 K for an ERA of 1.10. Tempe's counterparts, Ikeda, Truscott and Lozano have gone 60.3 IP, allowing 62 H, 31 R, walking 24 while striking out 46 for an ERA of 4.62. One would expect if Aurora gets the lead going into the late innings they should come home with the W. Tempe fans may have to sweat out their wins, although they probably have chalked up a victory in game 3 with Hancock on the mound.

Offensively the teams are evenly matched, but a few points stand out. Aurora enters the game with a greater slugging percentage and striking out fewer times. With Aurora's pitching tops in the SL in K's, Tempe's slight advantage in BA is negligible, especially when you consider the big advantage Aurora has in OAVG. A big part of this is PEBA leading George Thompson. It'll be imperative that Tempe take advantage of the walks they receive. A strong outing by Thompson may mean doom for Tempe in game 1.

We'd be neglect to mention a few outstanding items from the past week:
- Bill Bradley seems to have righted himself after a shaky start, striking out 30 in 2 CG this week v. Duluth and Yuma. 'Slappy' will miss the Tempe series. It is expected that Aurora will tweak the rotation, taking advantage of coming off days to align the rotation so that Bradley can pitch in the upcoming series with Crystal Lake (2), Bakersfield and Tempe as May gives way to June.
- Aaron Pierce continues his hot start to his PEBA career as he hit .455 with 2 HR for the week. Chris Weaver and Jim White continued their strong seasons, and Wilson Berry looks to finally be on track as he came in with a .467 for the week with 3-2B.
- at AAA En Guao is 11th in the RML in BA while Ken Coleman leads the league in H, HR, RBI, and XBH. He also is the league leader in strikeouts. Tony Gordon leads the league in K/9 with nearly 2.5 K/9 lead over the competition. His total ranks 6th. It's believed he's an early candidate for winter ball to work on his stamina. Pat MacComie is 2nd in saves with 8.
- at AA the seasons top story is Scott Vinson who leads the CAAL with a .380 average. Michael Burton gives Gatineau a 1-2 punch at the top of the standings, coming in with a .357 average. Vinson is the early leader in SLG, OPS, RS and HR, while Burton is the hits leader with 60, to go along with 7 HR and 30 RBI. Bruce Gilbert (2.79) is 6th in ERA and Lesley Robinson (3.16) is 11 in ERA. Gilbert also ranks 8th in K.
- at A ball another Aurora 1B prospect is lighting things up as Rod Johnson is batting .456 in the early stages of the BCL season. 'Hugo' Reyes is 4th at .386, Christian Madden is 8th at .357, and Ty Newall is 9th at .356. Newall has a nagging injury that'll keep him out of the line-up for a week, but it shouldn't hamper him in the future. Mark Newton has been the top pitcher so far at A ball, 3rd in the BCL ERA at 2.14 with the lowest OAVG and best K/BB average.
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Re: Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

#15 Post by Borealis »

Breaking News!

May 14, 2012: Aurora, Colorado - Aurora Outfielder John Knight was activated from the disabled list shortly before this evenings game with Tempe. After a lot of diliberations Aurora management decided upon sending pitcher Francisco Chavez back to AAA Thornton to free up a spot on the roster. GM Will Topham cited two off days this week as reason for this move, giving a potentially taxed bullpen a chance to recover before their next series. Auroras desire to keep Cory Pierce in the line-up was the driving force behind the move. The demotion is expected to be temporary and Chavez will take his regular turn at AAA tonight. John Roach will take Chavez' turn tomorrow night v. Tempe.
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