Aurora Storialis - The Borealis Blog

[Borealis]

Yuma(??) Provides Reason for Concern
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

September 5, 2033: Yuma, Arizona – Aurora held Yuma to 9-runs over their 4-game series. The Arroyos had 17-hits, making the Arroyos' average line score 2.25 R and 4.25 H. That would spell an Aurora sweep, right? Especially averaging 8-hits per game, right? With the starting pitching allowing 6 R in 26.1 IP? And yet, Aurora found themselves on the losing end of three of those four games - losing 2-1, 3-1, and 2-1. It's not hard to imagine what a difference Gabriel Rodriguez may have made in the game.

Four times in game 1 the Borealis had runners in scoring position. Twice with doubles that couldn't get a runner in from first, with Aurora's lone run coming in the 8th with a Dean Walden homer (his 15th). In the game 3 loss, again a double couldn't get a runner home from first, and another time they had the bases loaded with an out and yet they failed to score. Aurora would finally get the hit with runners in scoring position by only stringing three straight singles. Yet Aurora still had a 1-0 lead in game 3 when Pedro Morales struggled with his control in the 8th - loading the bases and giving Yuma the chance to make a big inning out of a (bases loaded) double. Game 4 saw David Tate face Aurora for the second time in three starts and stymie the Borealis for a second time - despite surrendering 6-runs in 4.1 IP against Niihama in that sandwiched game. While Aurora once more needed to string three singles together to score just a run, it was Yuma who was able to make good use of a double - this time a 2-run double for all the scoring in a 2-1 Arroyo win.

Aurora did manage three doubles in the first two innings in their game 2 win, a 3-2 victory that earned Henry Cluett a 7-inning workout and required a basses loaded sac fly in the 9th to get the tie breaking, game winning 3rd run.

For those who wonder already the impact of the loss of G-Rod, his .803 OPS is 2nd best on the team, and his 44 RBI are 4th, in much fewer games than the leaders. Aurora will need to find more offense from what's on the roster - and an 0-10 with 6 K from Alex Bothwell isn't going to cut it. Nor is a 3-16 from 'Litterbug'. Oddly enough, the most successful hitter against Yuma in the series was Teddy Loetzsch - who was 5-10 with a pair of doubles. He was 4-11 in the series that Aurora struggled to win 3 of 4 just a week and a half ago. And for those of you who may have forgotten, Aurora needed extra innings to win two of those games (after Yuma used late runs to tie those games), and an outstanding 11 K, shut out performance by Batista to win the third.

Over these past 8-games, Aurora's pitching has held Yuma to a .168 average, and despite 72 K (9K/G), the Arroyos have managed four wins. Studying Yuma's pitching, in an attempt to understand this perplexing outcome, we see a team that is middle of the road and down in most categories - but the one that is most eye-opening is they are 2nd in BABIP (.260), thanks to a defense that is 2nd in defense - and 1st in ZR - they get to balls and make the plays - their 71 E are tied for 2nd in the SL with Toyama, just an error behind Bakersfield. By contrast, Aurora's top rated pitchers have a middle of the pack defense behind them.

What's on Tap
Looking ahead and using the above lesson as an indicator, This weekend's match up (after three games at home with Okinawa) at Crystal Lake could be problematic. The 'Gnats pitching - right behind Aurora's, get's to pitch to the top defensively efficient team with the 4th best ZR. It's also worth noting that despite hitting just .214 in 6-games against CL, Aurora has won 4-of-6, thanks to the pitchers holding the 'Gnats to a .230 average.

It will be Neely, Diaz and Cluett against the 53-84 Shisa, who thus far have split 6-games with Aurora, losing 2 of 3 in Japan last month. Neely had 8-shut out innings against Okinawa in one of Aurora's wins, while Diaz allowed 5-runs in 6 IP for the loss, and was one of the losers in the series at Northern Lights back in April. Henry Cluet picked up a loss in that April series, despite a complete game in which he allowed 2 ER. It'll be Clark, Batista and Neely against the 'Gnats Browning, McNeil and MacCowan. Clark had a 7-inning ND in a July meeting, allowing just an unearned run. Batista allowed 2 ER in a 5-inning ND in June (both of these games were 5-4 Aurora wins). Neely picked up a win in a July match-up, allowing just an earned run in 7 IP.

The poor performance against Yuma has put a hitch in Aurora's hope of snagging the top seed in the SL, and they have fallen 2-games behind Neo-Tokyo as a result. The match-up with Crystal Lake - who have their own issues, having fallen four back of Fargo in the Great Lakes, will be critical as Aurora will right away come home to face Toyama, who have fallen 3.5 back of the Akira. Neo-Tokyo will have their hands full, themselves, as they have four at Shin Seiki and then four at home with a Bears team that picked up 3-games on Aurora over the past four days - and may be smell a hint of blood.

If nothing else, what we do know is this Sovereign League race is far from over.

[Borealis]

Bounce Back Puts Borealis on Cusp
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

September 12, 2033: Aurora, Colorado – Aurora may have learned a lesson about complacency as they traveled up the spine of the Rockies, tails between their legs after an embarrassing show in Yuma. Perhaps it was the water, but however you cut it, Aurora came back to life - kinda, at least they scored more runs as they spent three-days on The Front Range entertaining the Shisa, before they headed north to face-off with Great Lakes contending Crystal Lake.

The series with the Shisa was a weird one - and I'm not even starting with the fact that all three games were 4-3 wins for Aurora.

Game 1 was a back-and-forth affair - Aurora scoring in the first on 'Litterbug's leadoff double, scoring on Raul Munoz' RBI single off Shisa starter Ronald Turton. But Okinawa would fight back with solo runs in the 4th and 5th - Jose Torres - you remember him, cast away to Japan? Well, he's hitting better with Okinawa (if .218 is actually better) and he has 6 HR - the latest off Richard Neely to tie the game. Torres' homecoming would be quite the day for him, as he was 4-5 on the day. Then in the 5th, Okinawa turned a leadoff double into a run with a pair of properly placed groundouts - something Aurora couldn't do in the 2nd inning. Bothwell, who has struggled of late, would homer in the 6th to tie it - an inside the park homer, if you can believe that - but Okinawa would grab the lead in the 9th, off Ryan Tate - Jose Torres again involved, his double setting up the go ahead run. Aurora would tie the game in the bottom of the 9th - with a huge assist to Shisa hot rookie Francisco Fernandez. McIntyre singled with an out, as did Joyce - but Fernandez bobbled the ball, allowing McIntyre to race to third - where he scored on a Teddy Loetzsch sac fly - sending it to extras. Both teams had chances in the 10th, but failed to score. It was in the 12th that Aurora would break through - again, with the help of the Shisa. Arundale would hit his second double of the game with 1-out, and with Pedro de la Cruz pinch-hitting, he moved to third on a slow roller to third, bringing up the leading hitter in the SL - Raul Munoz. Munoz would never get the chance, as on his first pitch attempt, Marty Bernard balked - a walk-off balk win for the Borealis.

Julio Diaz was on the mound for game 2 and it wasn't his sharpest outing. He'd allow three-runs over 6 IP - leaving with a 3-0 deficit in the 7th as Jesus Solis, recalled from Thornton, surrendered a 2-out, RBI triple to Hyung-ki Ka. Aurora game right back to get into the game. Robert Hawkins, getting his first career start got his first career hit - a lead-off double in the bottom of the 7th - and after getting his first career stolen base (of third), he scored on 'Litterbug's RBI single. Ed Madore would single, followed by a single from Gutierrez - and Aurora had cut the lead to 3-2. Solis would right himself in the 8th, and aside from a Randy Love error in the 9th, Pedro Morales was perfect. Not perfect, for the 2nd night in a row - in the 9th, was Josh Cheney. Love would redeem himself for the 9th inning blunder with a lead-off single - and an out later, he would race around third on a double from Madore. Domingo Gutierrez would single - Madore stopping at third long enough for Raul Munoz to get his second sac fly in as many nights - and Aurora, once again, came back late to beat Okinawa.

Henry Cluett was on the mound for game 3, and over 7-innings he'd allow 7-hits and a pair of 6-inning runs that cut an Aurora 3-0 lead to 3-2. Aurora managed the three in a 2-out rally in the third - Arundale started it with another double - his third of the series, with singles by Madore, Walden and Fuentes - a 2 RBI hit after Munoz walked to load the bases. Aurora scored an insurance run in the 7th - Roy Duke scoring on a wild pitch, which turned out to be huge, as Ryan Tate would allow a run in the 8th - Gerald McKnight an RBI single, scoring Fernandez, who scored earlier. The 'Hyena' finally got a shot at a save in the series (after the pair of walk-off wins), knocking down the Shisa in order, with two strikeouts, earning his 15th save. For Cluett, it was his 12th win.

After sweeping Okinawa, with a large helping hand from the Shisa, Aurora went to The Lake, and it wasn't long before the Sandgnats became their own worse enemy and hand Aurora a win. Make no mistake - Brian Clark was pretty good son this day, pitching his first career complete game, allowing 2-runs on 5-hits, but 'Gnat starter Jon Browning had no chance. He would allow 5-unearned runs in the 4th - and that would be pretty much the game. Despite walking Willis to start the 4th, he would get Walden and Munoz would reach on a FC, with Willis out at second. Fuentes would get a 2-out single - Munoz racing to third - and that's when the crap hit the fan for Crystal Lake. Ed Madore hit what for all common sense was a third out fly to Carpenter in right - except... he dropped the ball. Munoz scored and Fuentes went around to third. Next up, Gutierrez, who chopped one to third, but Kobayashi bobbled it - error #2, Fuentes scoring. Brian Coleman walked - loading the bases, and then Randy Love walked - Madore scoring, followed by a single from Arundale, scoring Gutierrez and Coleman - chasing Browning. Fred Womack came on - just intimate for Bugler to botch the third out at second - loading the bases again.Walden would strike out - ending a nightmarish inning for the 'Gnats. Carpenter would redeem himself some - a 9th inning homer off 'Slug', but this one was in the bag.

Armando Batista was solid in his game 2 start - Despite a River McCausland homer in the 2nd, as Aurora would take the lead in the 3rd (a walk and singles from 'Litterbug' and Munoz), then extend in in the 5th - an Eddie Brown error at first extending a 2-out rally that featured a Willis double and RBI singles from Arundale and Bothwell. Aurora added a 4th run in the 6th, thanks to 2-out singles from Love and Willis. Crystal Lake would get themselves close, scoring their 2nd and 3rd runs in the 7th - as with 2-out, Flores singled and Woods doubles home the former-Borealis and chase Batista. Ryan Tate came on and for the 2nd third straight game, he was responsible for runs scoring 0 this time a Barry Wallace single on Tate's second pitch. Tate would allow another in the 7th, and two more in the 8th - the second looking like the game-tying hit, but Arundale would throw out Brown at the plate - keeping the score at 4-3. Aurora would get insurance in the 9th - not as much as they's like - Munoz doubles, Bothwell was walked and Walden singled to load the bases for Gutierrez. Domingo moved everyone up a base with an RBI single - and with Gabe McIntyre up, it looked like more to come, but his scorching liner up the middle was snagged by Kyle Weaver, Loetzsch grounded out - and Aurora had to settle for just the extra run. And that was just enough as Twia got two groundouts on two pitches, then struck out Wallace for his 15th save, while Batista earned his 9th win.

In game 3, the easiest thing to say was Richard Neely deserved better. He allowed just 5-hits - but one was a triple in the second - where both teams scored a run on a sac fly, and then in the 3rd, two singles and a McCausland 3-run homer gave the 'Gnats a 4-1 lead off of 4 of the 5-hits that Neely allowed. He was otherwise perfect, aside from a Jon Woods single - the other hit he surrendered. Pedro Morales would relieve Neely and allow just a hit over two-innings, keeping it close for the Borealis to come back - which they tried. Willis and Munoz doubled in the 5th to cut the lead to 4-2. In the 6th, the highlight was Gabe McIntyre's 14-pitch battle with 'Nitro' - fouling off 8-pitches in earning a walk - a feat that would end MacCowan's night. A single and steal by Willis in the 7th lead to Walden's 2-out RBI single, but that was it - the best Aurora could manage in another 4-3 game (this a loss) were solo singles in the 8th and 9th. It was truly tough luck for Neely, who lost his 12th game, despite a 2.61 ERA - quite the odd feat for a team on the verge of the playoffs.

With the loss of G-Rod and the offense he had been providing, Aurora needed others to pick up the slack, and finally it seemed to be happening. Stewart Arundale was 12-28 with 3-2B, 4 R and 4 RBI as he was a major driver of the offense. Willis, 5-13, also with 4 R and 2-2B and Randy Love - 5-13, with a double and a pair of runs and RBIs were big contributors. It's encouraging to note that Arundale, who had a torrid close to the 2032 season, seems to be in repeat mode - for the month of September he is hitting .341 and .320 since August 1st. Munoz, who also drove in 4-runs, was 9-27 with a pair of doubles and has his league-leading average at .331 - 30-points better than Jeff Grier, with Dean Walden in 3rd at .294.

Munoz may not get much of the attention when it comes to the Royal Racker voting, but he does lead the league in hits at 176 (Arundale did last year with 185) and he's 5th in doubles and, perhaps more impressively, he's 7th in TB - behind a collection of players all near or over 30 HR - aside from Clarence Carpenter (who has 19 HR).

What's on Tap
After a needed day off, it's Toyama coming to town with Diaz, Cluett and Clark scheduled to pitch for the Borealis against Ch'oe, Okada and Gonzales. It should be a doozy of a series - Toyama's top rated offense against Aurora's top rated pitching. Aurora has faced the Win-D's twice - outslugging Toyama in both series - sweeping both. I would not expect another sweep. Then Aurora runs up to Wisconsin for three with Madison - who have pretty much had Aurora's number, winning 5 of 6 back in June, in series that would remind Aurora fans of the more recent series with Yuma. Aurora will then return home for their last series against a contender - The Evil Evas come to town. Both the Evas and Win-D's trail Neo-Tokyo by a slim margin (2 GB for Toyama, 2.5 for SS) - and the Akira lead Aurora by just a half game in the race for the top spot - so these are critical games for all four squads. Neo-Tokyo have Yuma and Duluth on their agenda for the week, for what it's worth.

Over in the Great Lakes, where aside form Madison, Aurora has no direct interest, Fargo seems to have grabbed the bull by the horns, a bit, taking a 4-game lead over Crystal Lake and a 5.5-game lead over Kalamazoo. Fargo will have a lot to say about all three aspects of the SL races - GL, RS and the top seed - after the week's start with Tempe, they play Shin Seiki, Bakersfield, Neo-Tokyo and Crystal Lake heading into a season ending series with Madison.

Did someone say it was a Dog Fight in the SL? Yes... Yes it is...

[Borealis]

Not Easy, But Borealis Are Back in the Playoffs
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

September 26, 2033: Reno, Nevada – The Aurora Borealis can breathe a sigh of relief.

After putting together possibly their worst teams in franchise history over the past two seasons - which included back-to-back seasons missing the playoffs for the first time - and finishing 11-games out of first in 2032 (a franchise-worst result), Aurora has fought back to the top of the Desert Hills with a collection of vets - both grizzled Auroran's and traded for, and youngsters, that not only gives one hope for the now, but also the future. Yes, Aurora is back in the post-season, and the remaining question that likely remains is: will they host the Great Lakes Champs, or visit them. And with Fargo just a half game ahead of both Crystal Lake and Kalamazoo - and the 'Gnats and Dinos facing off for three starting today, and Kzoo finishing with The Evil Evas, just throw your hands in the air with a huge 'Beats Me', sit back and watch the action.

And that doesn't even count the craziness that has been the Rising Sun all season - though with their strong play of late, Neo-Tokyo is looking likely to be the cream of the Sovereign League crop.

Getting to this point wasn't easy, as inconsistent play kept getting in Aurora's way. With three critical series on Septembers docket, Aurora took care to adjust the rotation to their advantage as they faced Crystal Lake, Toyama and Shin Seiki. It didn't seem to work out against Toyama, as Henry Cluett had his worst outing of the year - allowing 6-runs over 5.2 IP - including a three-spot in the first that Aurora was never able to recover from. Brian Clark was outstanding in his game 2 start against the Win-D's, holding them to 4-hits and a run, with Fujii and Twia shutting the door. Alfredo Gonzales had perhaps his best outing of the year for Toyama - after Aurora pounded him back in early July - holding Aurora to just 4-hits as well.

Losing 2 of 3 to Toyama wasn't so bad - despite Aurora outscoring the Win-D's 34-19 in Aurora's 6-wins in 6-games earlier in the season. What was bad was what was to follow - the Madison Malts - winners of 5-of-6 thus far against the Borealis - and it just got worst. After being outscored 18-6 in their first six meetings (including a series in June in which Aurora lost 2-1, 2-0, and 2-1), Aurora continued their losing ways - 4-3, 3-1, and 2-1. Neely (4-0) and Diaz (3-0) each gave their teams deficits that they just couldn't over come, and in game three, with Man Sim having another spot start, to extend the rotation and give guys a rest, and handing the bullpen a slim 1-0 win. It was Fujii who just couldn't keep a run from scoring in the 8th (and inherited runner scoring on a sac fly) and Twia not getting over Robert Hawkins dropped fly to lead-off the 9th, and allowing Madison to score the winning run with a two-out single.

That lost week left Aurora with a 12-game lead with 14-games to play - a Magic Number of 2 - two-wins, two-Bakersfield loses, or a combo - and The Evil Evas coming to town - Aurora's last series of the season with a contender. Aurora would jump on Roberto Rivera for 4-runs over 4.2 IP, and thanks to a 3-3 day and 3 RBI by Alex Bothwell, Aurora would win game 1, 5-2 - Cluett righting his personal ship (for the time being) with a 6.1-inning performance allowing 4 H and a run, and the 'Hyena' picking up save 17. With the Bears off on that day, Aurora clinched a tie for the title, and had it in their own hands - a win, and they were Desert Hills Champs once more. Game 2 was a rough one - to start, as Brian Clark wasn't as sharp as he'd like, and he would be gone before the end of the 6th, having allowed a pair of runs - and when Jesus Solis (destined to be let go, it would seem) allowed two more runs in the 7th, it seemed like this day was to be a loss to Aurora's rivals - but after a Fuentes double led to a run in the 6th and Dean Walden singled home Love in the 7th, suddenly a 2-run deficit wasn't so far to go. In the 8th it was once again Fuentes, who led off with a 10-pitch battle with Ricardo Montoya that might have set the inning's tone. Montoya would walk Madore on a full count and then battle Gutierrez over 8-pitches before he tripled home Fuentes and Madore to tie the game! Montoya would throw 26-pitches in the inning and Aurora fouled off 12 of them - he wasn't fooling anyone. Randy Love would hit the ball deep enough to bring Domingo home from third with the go ahead - and winning run as Ryan Tate, in his second inning of work, would strikeout the side in the 9th for the win that put Aurora into the playoffs.

Armando Batista would have a sub-par day in game 3 - only the second time he allowed more (4) than 3-runs in a game since he became a regular starter back on June 4. The Evas beat him up pretty well - 8-hits, 4-runs over 4.1 IP, but Warren Manning would shut Shin Seiki down on a hit over 3.2-innings - giving Aurora a chance. Aurora managed 3-runs in the 7th, to inch closer - but closer would be the best for the day. Aurora would finish the season 6-3 against The Evil Evas - one of their best regular season marks in what has become one of the top rivalries in all of the PEBA.

A let-down was sure to happen, and once again, it was a club that a team like Aurora - with championship aspirations, should beat - Yuma, who got in the way. Aurora would split the four-game series - oddly with each game being a shut out: 1-0 and 6-0 win's in the middle, sandwiched by 2-0 and 9-0 wins by the Arroyos. Highlighting the series for Aurora was Man Sim - looking to regain the organization's trust with a recent string of starts, pitching 8-shut out, 2-hit, innings - with Raul Munoz hitting a 2-out RBI double in the 9th for the walk-off 1-0 win. Henry Cluett, on the other hand, had another disturbing start in the series finale, allowing 6-runs over 4 IP as young Joel Carson perplexed the Borealis .

Despite having the 2nd best average in the SL, at .265 - just slightly better than last years SL-leading .262 and 2031's 2nd best .263, it isn't the offense - with the 15th fewest homers (76) that leaves them 8th in runs, that leads this team - it's the SL leading pitching staff that has a 2.59 ERA that has allowed opponents to hit .223 (2nd lowest), while allowing just 110 HR (2nd best) 280 BB (best) and struck out the 4th most in the SL (1186). As the Borealis returned to the formula that was the cornerstone of their championship years, we note that it was the promised 'youth movement' that has them on the brink of another title.

26-year olds Henry Cluett and Armando Batista, and 24-year old Brian Clark have combined for a 37-16 record and a 2.43 ERA. Thanks to 'Slug' (0.89), their combined WHIP is under 1.00. Clark's 1.88 ERA leads all of the PEBA with one start to go. In the bullpen, where their combined 2.34 ERA is tops in the SL, youth has really taken hold. 26-year old Ryan Tate began the year unsure where he'd fit in, then found himself in the closer role, earning 23 saves - before a pre-All Star injury led to his dropping into a set-up role, has a 2.36 ERA, while 23-year old Yellel Twia has fulfilled the promise he showed as he raced through the minors - earning 17-saves while posting a 0.84 ERA. Then there is Pedro Morales (1.98) and Orinosuke Fujii (1.64) who have combined for 114 IP, with 131 K, 54 BB and just 4 HR. All four have pitched the vast majority of the innings from the 7th on.

Down on the Farm
Mokule-ia, who won their division despite a 54-56 record will face Osakayama (TOY, 56-54) in the Divisional round of the Surf and Snow league. The Oceanic were 3-6 against the Swamp Dragons this season and are lead by Akihiro Tada (5-7, 2.72), Luis Quintero (6-4, 2.98) and Tony Alvarado (2-5, 2.45) who spent the first part of 2033 at Montserrat (3-2, 1.40). Offensively the Oceanic are led by Pedro Diaz, who after hitting .344 with the Mystique, is hitting .293 with 4 HR for Mokule'ia; Noburu Yamasaki, Aurora's 9th round pick this year, hitting .291 with 4 HR; and this years top pick, Toshinobu Nakao, hitting .269 with 3 HR and 32 RBI.

What's on Tap
Lost in the luster and grime of the week was a mild groin strain to Shane Willis, who will sit over the next 5-days as Aurora hopes it's a 'non-issue'. Willis was doing his part to pick up the pace once G-Rod went down, hitting .368 with 13-2B. Of particular interest heading into the last week is Raul Munoz' chasing the batting title, hitting .329 and leading Jeff Grier by 28-points - and Munoz has 190 hits - with an outside chance of finishing with 200, with 9 more hits than another Neo-Tokyo star, Tomas Martinez. Munoz would be the second Borealis in a row to lead the SL in hits - 'Litterbug' did so last year with 185.

Aurora is on the road for the final 7-games: four in Reno and three in Tempe, with Man Sim and Mark Powers scheduled to make starts this week - meaning each of Aurora's regular starters will have one more appearance. With 93-wins, there is the outside chance of finishing with 100-wins, but it seems that that dream was dashed by Madison and Yuma, so Aurora will focus a little more on work and health - though with that said, Aurora has a 2.5 game lead over Fargo for the 2nd seed, and the Borealis would like to get that. Fargo has three key games with Crystal Lake, and then Madison. The 'Gnats and Badgers are just three games back, so with Aurora's struggles with teams they should beat, nothing should be a given this week.

[Borealis]

Borealis Seize 2-Seed, Fargo Looms
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

October 3, 2033: Aurora, Colorado – The Aurora Borealis had the division sewn up and their first playoff spot in three seasons secured - but with the Sovereign Leagues' top spot residing in Tokyo, Aurora had their sights on the 2nd seed and at a minimum the home field in the Divisional Round, but to do that, they would have to hold on to their 2.5 game lead over the Fargo Dinosaurs - who had their eyes on both the seed and their division title - The latter accomplished with a 4-2 week that held off the 'Gnats (4-3) and Badgers (an awful 1-6 end to the season). The former would not fall Fargo's way, as Aurora would finish the season 5-2 with series wins over Reno and Tempe.

And so, after a two-season hiatus from the playoffs and a four-year stretch without a division title, the Aurora Borealis returned to the spot they have held in 17 of the PEBA's first 26-seasons - a top the Desert Hills, making their 21st playoff appearance. Whether they can parlay that into their 8th PEC appearance, or extend their Rodriguez Cup record to 6, is to be seen, as this years collection of playoff teams look to be the strongest - possibly ever.

The season ending results set up a fourth playoff series between the two clubs: 2010, when Aurora beat Fargo 3-1 en route to the Organization's first Rodriguez Cup, in the Rodriguez' final season (no one had anticipated the death of the family's patron and PEBA Maverick, John Rodriguez, Sr, which facilitated the transfer of the Organization to Golden Entertainment and CEO Michael Topham). In 2014, the 104-win Borealis were a wild card (Bakersfield won 108) and they swept the 104-win Dinosaurs in three-games.

Fast forward 14-years, and Aurora and Fargo faced one another again in the Divisional series - and this was a series Aurora would like to forget. The 96-win Borealis - six-games better than Fargo, were slapped about by a Dinosaur club that was about to win their first Rodriguez Cup. The Dinos had no respect for their host's in games 1 & 2 - blasting Aurora's 'pen in a come from behind win in the opener, and beating 'Tugboat' up in game 2, before a furious Aurora rally came up short in the 9th. All three games in Fargo went into extras - after Aurora had leads in all three games. Despite Aurora winning 2 of the 3 games in Fargo, it was a failed bullpen that would haunt Aurora - seemingly, for years to come. Aurora would lose game 6 with 'Tugboat' on the mound, again - giving the Dinosaurs the springboard to a championship.

There are only four players who were part of that 2028 series who are still with the Borealis: catchers Domingo Gutierrez and Manny ‘Fido’ Castro, and infielders Teddy Loetzsch and Gabe McIntyre – though McIntyre took a detour to Japan after the 2028 season, spending three-seasons with Toyama before returning to Aurora as a free agent – twice! Fargo on the other hand has outfielders Pat Watson, Lorenzo Castenieda, and shortstop Bob Wade, along with pitchers Nathan Dempster, Noburu Imai, and Ernesto Molina. Interestingly enough, also on that Fargo team was reliever Warren Manning, who now plies his trade for Aurora – though he did not pitch in that series.

The Borealis seek a little redemption for a series the club felt they should have won – and with Fargo bringing home the Rodriguez Cup, a title they may have taken as well. It’s a different Aurora team in 2033. Back in 2028, that team had Mike Britt and Paul Carlisle, who both hit 30 homers – the 2033 version finished with a total of 81, and with the likes of Jose Torres (23 in his breakout rookie year he struggled to replicate) and ‘Fido’ with 15, the 2028 squad nearly doubled the 2033 figure, with 151 homers (which would have tied for 9th in '33). Aside from the homers, the two were close in average (.265 v. .268 in ’33) – but that’s where the similarities end, as the more offensive 2028 team really was the beginning of the end of a fantastically successful era in Aurora Baseball.

This year’s squad was led by the League-leading hitting of young Raul Munoz, who finished the season with 198 hits and a .327 average with 38-2B and 13 HR – and a sore knee that the training staff expect to heal enough to start the series – leading the team to pray for a wild card series to go the distance. Also swinging a significant bat was Dean Walden – picked up from Niihama in a start of the season deal, who hit .288 with 30-2B and 15 HR. Also contributing to Aurora’s success was mid-season free agent signee, Alex Bothwell, whose 14 HR kept the team number from looking REALLY bad.

It’s with a stronger group of pitchers that distinguishes this group from 2028 – almost as much a difference as the hitting. The 2028 team had an ERA of 2.86, while this year it’s 2.61, allowing 50 fewer earned runs and bettering the 2028 WAR by nearly 2.5 points. 2028 was a veteran led team – JT with nearly 200 K and ‘Tugboat’ still dealing in his prime – with Bob Burns, John Gray, Felix Pena and a collection of 28-31 year old’s in the ‘pen – a veteran staff, to say the least. That is not the case in 2033, where a rotation is headed by a 3-year vet, a 2-year vet and a near rookie – and a bullpen that is dominated by four rookies at the back-end who helped lead Aurora’s bullpen to a SL best 2.37 ERA and .202 OAVG – 2nd best in the SL.

The team was led by 25-year old Brian Clark, who was 16-4, with a 1.81 ERA. In a mode that would make Michel Provost smile, he struck out 192 batters while walking just 27 - a 7.1 K/BB ratio that was 5th best in all the PEBA and 3rd to Roberto Rivera (7.8 ) in the SL. Clark's ERA was tops in the PEBA, outpacing Bakersfield's Jeffrey Mendoza in the SL (2.02). 26-year old Henry Cluett was 14-6, with a 2.61 ERA - which ballooned a bit with a couple of poor outings down the stretch - paradoxically allowing 6-runs to Toyama and 6-runs to Yuma. Cluett struck out 165 and walked 35. Armando Batista, who began the season in the bullpen, ended up with 21-starts and was 9-6 with a 2.83 ERA.

Yellel Twia – long having been groomed as the future-closer, found the future and finished the season with a 1.12 ERA and 20 saves. Ryan Tate, who early on found himself in the closer role ended the year with a 2.30 ERA and 23 saves – both combining for WHIPs under 1.00 and OAVG under .200.

As Aurora is well aware, Fargo is a dangerous team – and this year is no different. 5th in average, 5th in runs, 5th in homers – and 4th in walks and they don’t strikeout much. It will be a challenge for an Aurora squad which allowed the fewest runs with the 2nd lowest average and 2nd fewest homers. Although Aurora’s overall defensive ratings don’t shine, Fargo is much further down the SL defensive charts, perhaps providing a glimpse at a weakness the Aurora bats can take advantage of. The series may turn on how this match-up plays out.

Keep an eye out for Augusto Castaneda, who had a .272 average, but was used primarily against RHP, where he hit .313 with 11 HR in 58 games. Long-time nemesis, Lorenzo Castenieda had a bit of a down year – hitting .271, but he seems to turn it up when he sees Aurora Blue on the mound – hitting .313 in 11-games. Rookie Tony Mireles had a fine first full year, hitting .267 – but with 14 HR and a .455 SLG. Of course, then there is Pat Watson, and as the saying goes – as goes Watson, so goes Fargo. Pat hit .272, with 17 HR – but he also missed another 10-weeks of time to injuries – an all too common theme for him – missing all but two games against Aurora (0-4).

Fargo’s pitching, on the other hand, statistically lies in the middle – 8th in ERA, 10th in runs allowed, 11th in hits and walks, and just 7th in strikeouts. The one area where Fargo pitchers did excel, somewhat, was their standing of 5th fewest home runs allowed – a statistic that isn’t likely to effect the homer challenged Borealis. Fargo’s pitching will be challenged by an Aurora club that is tops in average, tops in hits, and though they don’t hit for much power, they don’t strike out – so they put the ball in play and apply pressure on the defense with sound baserunning (also rated tops by the cryptic rating measures used by OSA).

It’s hard to believe that Fargo’s young ace, Owen Barse, just finished his fourth full season – with a 2.94 ERA with 269 K in 217 IP – and certainly to be a challenge. Equally amazing was he did not face Aurora all season. The Borealis won’t miss him this time, as they seem certain to see him twice. Another fairly young arm – Fernando Romero, also posted a 2.94 ERA, with 100 K in 200 IP, and then there’s the vets – Ernesto Molina and Noboru Imai. Both have historically had Aurora’s numbers – but there have been days when it’s been reciprocal. Neither were their typical dominant selves this year – but it’s fair to think that this series will come down to the two games that Barse pitches – and how Aurora’s starter – Cluett or Clark, that is still up in the air, does against the Dino’s potent offense.

It'll be a series full of intrigue, as these teams - so disparate, and yet so equally matched - and with a recent competitiveness, that it's hard to pick a winner (and we won't). The winner will have a challenge - be it Neo-Tokyo, Toyama or The Evil Evas. One thing you can guarantee is that the Sovereign League Champs will be a tough out in the PEC.

[Borealis]

Aurora Manages Split
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

October 15, 2033: Fargo, North Dakota – Pitching was on display in the opening games of the Divisional Series match-up between the Borealis and Dinosaurs at Northern Lights Park - with that possibly changing as the scene turns towards Jurassic Park for games 3, 4 and 5.

Game 1 was a classic pitching match-up as Henry Cluett and Owen Barse squared off - and they did not disappoint. After a quick top of the first, Aurora would find Stewart Arundale standing on third with 2-out, but Dean Walden would strike out - one of 8 on the day for Barse - and in indicator of things to come. Fargo would take advantage of Aurora's failure with Augusto Castaneda leading off with a 1st-pitch single in the second, and after stealing second, he's score on Tont Mireles' RBI single. When Fernando Valdez quickly followed that with a single - with Mireles scampering around to third, Fargo looked to be in for a big inning - but Cluett struck out Prat and enticed Ben Darke to ground into a 5-4-3 double play, and the damage was mitigated.

Unfortunately for Cluett and the Borealis, that was all the damage Fargo needed as Barse has his A-game going.

Both teams would have runners on over the 3rd and 4th innings - with Arundale once again getting into scoring position in the 3rd, but then the pitching clamped down - both 'Professor Plum' and Owen Barse would sail through the 5th, 6th and 7th with only a walk to Shane Willis in the 5th marring those innings - and he would be promptly picked off, ending any possible threat for Aurora. That would be the end of Cluett's day, with 7 IP and only 6 H and that lone run. Over his 96-pitches, he'd strike out 5. Barse would do Henry one better - with 8 IP, while allowing just 4 hits and 8 K. Orinosuke Fujii and Yellel Twia would shut Fargo down over the final two - setting the stage for Dan Boorman in the bottom of the 9th.

In the Bottom of the 9th, it looked like Aurora might break through - Munoz, nursing a sore knee, singled with 1-out, but Dean Walden would strike out (the third on his day) for the second out. 'Red Hook' would extend the rally with a single, but Boorman would get Domingo Gutierrez to fly out to end the game and give Fargo the lead in the series - stealing a game on the road.

Brian Clark was on the mound in game 2, facing off with Fernando Romero - and neither would be quite as good as their teammates the day before - but neither would be around by the time this one was decided. There were a few baserunners in all over the first three-innings, but it was the 4th when the scoring began - and it was Bob Wade - one of the elder-statesmen of the Dino's, who jumped on the first pitch he saw in the 4th - hitting a screaming liner down the line and far down the tunnel in the left field corner for a 1-0 lead. Aurora wasted no time getting even. Munoz would get a 1-out single, advancing to second on a wild pitch - he would score from second - leaking oil all the way with the bum knee, when Alex Bothwell singled him home - taking second on the throw; a key moment. Looking to set up the force, Domingo Gutierrez would be walked, bringing up Teddy Loetzsch. It wasn't the best of years for the Aurora shortstop, but in this moment he channeled his better years, lining a double down the right field line, scoring Bothwell with the go ahead run.

This would be the kind of back and forth day that is exciting for fans, and ulcer-creating for managers. Fargo would tie it in the 6th - longtime-Bear, and former-Auroran, Carlos Saenz would double off Clark, and Wade would pick up his second RBI - a single, tying the game. Both teams would have runners in the 7th - and Fargo in the 8th, but in the bottom of the 8th, Shane Willis would triple to lead-off. Looking just for a sac fly - and the fans all on their feet, and the infield drawn in, 'Litterbug' would strike out. Fargo elected to walk the SL batting champ, Munoz, bringing up the struggling Walden. Dean would hit a 2-hopper - right at Wade - Willis forced to hold at third, as Fargo got out #2, with Munoz heading over to 2nd. That brought up Bothwell - and he'd come through. He lined a ball to right - Willis scoring easily, but Munoz was given the green light - maybe a pinch-runner would have been a good idea here, because Munoz' knee made him an easy out at home. But Aurora was back on top - 3-2, as the game went to the top of the 9th.

The 'Hyena' came on for the save, and he all he managed to do was allow 4-singles - but Castaneda would probably cost Fargo the win with his lead-off single - as he was out trying to stretch it into a double - But Fargo would tie the game, and when Boorman plowed through Coleman, Loetzsch and McIntyre, Aurora's hopeful win was heading to extra innings. Aurora was 12-4 in extras in 2033, and Fargo was 12-6.

Aurora would have the first good chance to take home game 2 - Howard Joyce (a defensive replacement for Willis in the 9th) would double, but Arundale and Walden left him stranded. That was when it looked like the game was going to go south for Aurora. With Ryan Tate on in the 11th, Lorenzo Castanieda singled with one out, and then Pat Watson - healthy and in the line-up, hit a towering shot - a 2-run homer and for all appearances, Fargo was on it's way back to the Dakota's with a 2-0 lead. But Boorman - who would throw 4-innings, would crack. Coleman with a 1-out single - and Loetzsch following with another scorching double down the line to right - and Aurora had the tying runs in scoring position. When Gabe McIntyre followed with a single - and 'Fido' providing a sac fly, giving Aurora a pair of runs to extend the game.

Both teams heaved some salvos in the 12th and 13th, and after Pedro Morales shut down Fargo in the 14th, it was time to go home. Howard Joyce got his second hit since his insertion into the game - a single - followed by singles by Arundale and Munoz, who brought Howard home with the winning run - in walk-off fashion. Morales would get the win on a cool evening, in a game that lasted five hours in front of a sellout crowd that mostly stayed to the end.

So the teams move on the Fargo with the series tied - and 26-year old Armando Batista and 35-year old Ernesto Molina - long the ace of the Dinosaurs and one of the top arms in the League. Molina, showing his age a bit (perhaps) was 15-8 with a 3.90 ERA. Batista - who opened the year in the 'pen, was 9-6 with a 2.83 ERA. This will be a huge moment in the young Aurora pitcher, in what will be a key game against a quality pitcher. Game 4 will have Noboru Imai - long a nemesis of Aurora's, against Richard Neely, who had the odd accomplishment of having an ERA under 3.00 (2.94) and yet lose 15-games. Neely had a rough start against Fargo back in May, but in his other two starts he allowed a total of three runs. Games 3 & 4 will be critical for Aurora, as game 5 brings us back around to Barse and Cluett.

[Borealis]

Fargo Jumps Borealis and Sends Them Home
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

October 19, 2033: Fargo, North Dakota – They would play three games in Fargo, and in the first two - the ones Aurora needed to win, with the unhittable Owen Barse on the mound for game 5, Aurora had leads. They had the chance - if their top rated pitching staff could do the job. Instead, the more powerful team - the Dinosaurs, flexed their muscles and put it to the Borealis pitching - especially the relievers, with the result being Fargo sweeping away Aurora at Jurrasic Park, advancing to face the winner of the Neo-Tokyo-Toyama series for the Sovereign League crown.

Armando Batista was on the mound for game 3 and he did his job - handing the bullpen a 2-2 game after 6 IP. Aurora had taken a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the 4th - Willis, Arundale and Munoz with consecutive singles in the third to score a run, and a Gabe McIntyre double to plate Alex Bothwell leading to the second. Fargo got even in the bottom of the 4th, as Nakashima homered to start the inning, and after Tony Mireles subsequently walked, Carlos Saenz (yeah... that guy who did nothing for Aurora) doubled him home to tie the game. Batista did well to get three ground balls with no more damage. Ernesto Molina was in charge - and nearly finished his night with the game tied, but in the 8th 'Litterbug' singled to start the inning, and after a wild pitch, he stole third - but with 2-out, he was still there, needing a 2-strike single from Gutierrez to re-take the lead.

Meanwhile, Orinosuke Fujii relieved Batista in the 7th, with a perfect inning, and then Pedro Morales with a near perfect 8th (a 2-out walk), bringing in Ryan Tate - who had been the best closer in the league prior to the All-Star game, and a struggler through the second half. Tate coming on with Yellel Twia having difficulties recovering his strength after games 1 & 2, immediately met trouble. Augusto Castaneda - who would be the series MVP, led off with a single, and after Jeff Prat struck out - with Castaneda stealing second, Lambert battled Tate and finally laced a single to tie the game. Lorenzo Castanieda would single to chase Tate from the game. Man Sim came on to face Pat Watson, and got him on a fly out as the Fargo star was swinging for the stars, but Kevin Kirkpatrick singled on a 1-0 pitch - bringing home Lambert with the walk-off win.

Game 2 saw the Borealis collect a dozen hits - only to see Fargo do them better by one - and though Aurora was able to chase Noboru Imai with 5-runs over 6-innings, Richard Neely, and Mark powers in relief, were anything but a mystery to the Fargo hitters. The key moment for Neely came in the bottom of the 5th, with Aurora clinging to a 2-1 lead. with 2-on and an out, Juan Hernandez battled the Aurora starter for 11-pitches, before doubling home a run. Clearly upset over his inability to get Hernandez, who fouled off six pitches, he would groove on to Pat Watson - who hit Neely's first pitch 442 feet. Castaneda would next triple and Castaneda would single - giving Neely the not appreciated Pitchers Cycle in the span of four batters - his day was done and Aurora was down 5-1.

Aurora would claw back. Dean Walden would homer in the 6th and they'd score 3 in the 7th - Doubles by Love and Arundale, a Willis walk and Munoz single would tie the game - then with two outs, Munoz took off on a steal attempt and Fernando Valdez' throw would hop into the outfield - with Arundale racing home with the go ahead run. A lead that was short lived when Ben Darke homered off Power in the bottom of the inning. Powers was left in the game in the bottom of the 8th - long enough to cause problems - a pair of singles. Fujii came in and he allowed a Prat single to take the lead and a Bob Wade double to put it away.

Aurora would have a chance in the 9th - Arundale and Munoz would single, but Walden would hit into a double play, giving Dan Boorman his second save of the series.

And so, Aurora had their backs against the wall with Barse on the mound - and when Mireles doubled with 2-out in the first, plating the first run - the fact that a second run was thrown out at the plate to end the inning didn't seem to matter. After Barse shut out the Borealis 1-0 in game 1, the inevitable was in motion.

Cluett was not the sharpest as he allowed three runs, and it wasn't until the 8th that Aurora managed just a run - all they'd get - a pair of singles and a sac fly. Too little, too late. Aurora was sent home with their tail between their legs.

Frustration was evident at the end of the day, as you examine the stats sheet. Raul Munoz was 10-21 - with 3 BB, and he scored 1-run. Stewart Arundale, who followed his path from last year, with strong play down the stretch, was 9-23, and Alex Bothwell was 7-21 - though without the homer that could have made the difference. It was 'Red Hook's 5th postseason run - and by far his best - as in the previous four tries with Bakersfield, he failed to even sniff the .200 level (.176 being his previous best). Really killing Aurora was the bottom of their order. Love (3-17), Loetzsch (3-19), Walden (3-21) and Gutierrez (1-17) could not take advantage of the frequent table setting of the top half of the order (Willis, Arundale, Munoz and Bothwell were a combined 32-84). Despite the shaky efforts of the pitching staff - especially the 'pen, Aurora had their chances. Losing their first two games by a run, just 1-hit could have significantly changed the look of the series.

And thus the Borealis' season comes to a close. It was an unexpected season as they returned to the top of the Desert Hills. Although it's hard not to imagine how things would have progressed if Gabe Rodriguez had been available - but after stumbling in the Fargo visiting clubhouse, re-injuring his hand and now requiring more surgery, he will hopefully be ready for spring training, one thing is certain - they won't sneak up on folks next year. What we did learn is this team has a solid, young core, and yet they still have a lot of holes to fill and a lot of questions to be answered this offseason - and next.

[Borealis]

The Offseason Asks 'What's Next'?
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

November 9, 2033: Aurora, Colorado – Aurora headquarters at Northern Lights Park is quite now - the players have all gone their ways, and just a skeleton crew is left working on maintainance - maintainance of the park and maintainance of the team, as the clock ticks into the offseason - with arbitration, the Winter Meetings and the Rule 5 draft all aligning on the horizon for the Borealis. Let's break that down and see where the club stands.

The easiest place to start is with arbitration, where in a rare occurrence, there are only two players who qualify this season - RP Jesus Solis and INF Roy Duke. Both have minimal estimates - Solis just under $1M and Duke just over - certainly nothing to break the bank of a club that expects to have plenty to spend. Neither have impressed in 2033. Solis, once the darling of the Organization until he tore his rotator in 2032. He returned strong in the second half of '31 and looked like a keeper through '32 (ERAs with Aurora of 1.91 and 2.80 over that season and a half), but this year he struggled - a 6.07 in 10-games with the Borealis. His minor league numbers were better - 2.88, but post injury, his control has been shaky. I suspect the team might provide him with one last chance - they think his stuff is still pretty good, and his velocity remains strong. They may still have a need for a long-relief/filler type in the 'pen.

Roy Duke continues to disappoint - and if Aurora's infield struggles continue, his versatility will at least provide useful. He has not come anywhere close to being the hitter he was in 2020 - when he hit .280 and stole 69 bases - this year he hit .196 for the Borealis over 35 games. I would not be surprised in the least if both Duke and Solis were released at some point as a result of the offseason roster build. I'm pretty certain this expense is simply an insurance policy.

There are a number of pending free agents on the roster - most of who we wouldn't expect to be hanging around, but some, certainly, Aurora would like to keep. We can start with SP Julio Diaz, who had signed a 4-year deal worth $9.5M a year prior to spring training 2031, which had a player option for the last season - and Julio has opted out. Julio had a rough first year with the Borealis, but the past two have been extremely solid, and this year he had an 8-12 mark with a 3.34 ERA, striking out 129 and walking just 24 in 169.2 IP. Aurora wouldn't mind resigning him to a short term deal - but word is he's asking for too many years, and that it's not the value that Aurora rejects to. I would think that at 35-years of age, too many years is usually a deal breaker for Aurora. There's a spot Aurora will need to fill.

Perhaps the biggest loss, will be the big shoes that 10-year starter, SS Teddy Loetzsch will be leaving behind. Dead set on testing free agency, an infield that has been in disarray for many years now (except at 1B) is even more so. Loetzsch season was a disappointing one - something closer to his career numbers would have helped the Borealis a lot - particularly in the Fargo series, where he was 3-19. He's been a cornerstone of the team for a long time - he is 6th All-Time in games played for Aurora - 1,182, behind River Pope, Steve McDonald, Paul Carlisle, Jose Rivera and 'Big Whiskey', Mike Britt, who appeared in 1,910 games for Aurora.

For those of you keeping score, Britt finished with 2,377 games played, as he announced his retirement after the end of the PEC - good enough for 4th All-Time, as were his 435 HR and his 1,417 RBI are 3rd best in PEBA history. Don't be surprised it the Aurora Organization doesn't follow their recent history and bring 'Big Whiskey' home to coach.

Gabe McIntyre, in his third time around with the organization will be allowed to walk (asking too much for too long); Brian Coleman's contact was bought out as Aurora had a team option; and Alex Bothwell (Way Too Much and for Way Too Long - and said to me, just like that - with emphasis) was never expected to last long here. Adrian Fuentes, who I think all would suggest Aurora way over paid - if for no other reason than the usage they got out of him, declined his $15M option and will head to free agency. Warren Manning, like Fuentes, a deadline acquisition, has been very vocal that he looks to parlay his season with Tempe into a big pay day - like 10x current salary big pay day. Aurora showed him the door.

That leaves Randy Love, who is the one player acquired in FA or by trade this year that they'd like to hold onto. Word is they. are close - but just can't pin it down. Both sides have been mum during the early negotiations - but contract length seems to be a bigger issue than cost - especially for a team with money to spend.

Aurora did execute two team options - catcher Domingo Gutierrez, who will earn $7.5M after his .273 season. He has a vesting option for next year - 100 games, a likely outcome, unless he were to once again lose the starting job to 'Fido' Castro - as the two look to continue playing musical chairs for at least one more year. Castro, himself, has a player option for 2035 - as the team has an option on the year as well. The team also executed an option on the contract of pitcher Man Sim, who had a perplexing year. His season ending ERA of 2.59 doesn't tell the whole story. After a shaky 10 starts, he was demoted to the bullpen in favor of Armando Batista, and in the 'pen he was more reliable and once he got a few starts at the end of the year - he allowed just 4-runs in 4 GS. Sim will probably be given a shot at returning to the rotation in the spring - filling in Diaz' open spot - and perhaps will be pitching for an extension (although, he's technically going to be arbitration eligible).

Looking ahead that leaves just Duke and Ed Madore as the only infielders not named Raul Munoz who had playing time at the major league level last year. If Loetzsch indeed leaves, and if Love does likewise, this is the clear area of need for the Borealis in 2034. They have one, maybe, reasonable option at AAA - Hector Moran who plays 2nd or 3rd - but with an iffy arm and iffy range, pick your poison, but he takes care of the ball and is excellent around the bag on the DP - so he's probably best at 2B - but the 2nd round pick out of Stanford in 2029 hit just .236 last year and .241 at AA in '32. There are perhaps better options further down - 3B David Simmons, picked ahead of Moran in the '29 draft - who has been a slow developer - though Aurora scouts continue to have faith. He hit .244 at SLRC with 17 HR. Then there is Josse Aleman, acquired in a trade with San Antonio, who hit .233 at AA, but with 12 HR and with great speed and is all you could want defensively in a shortstop. Yen-ti Yi, acquired from New Orleans in a post-Rule 5 trade, hit .267 at SLRC after three outstanding seasons at Rookie ball. He had 10 HR and is a decent option on either side of the bag at second. Lastly there is David Hoffman - a pretty good 2B drafted 18th overall in '32, he hit .249 at SLRC, with 13 HR. His biggest issue may be cutting his strikeouts dow dramatically.

No matter how you cut it, that collection of possibilities are at least a full season away (aside from Moran) - so that don's help us in the now.

Assuming that G-Rod comes back healthy - and we really won't know until he starts rehabbing come spring training, the outfield is in good shape - both in the now and the future. With Howard Joyce recently signing an extension for next year, and Dean Walden around for at least two more years (if Aurora wants - they hold an option on 2035), CF is at least serviceably covered. 'Litterbug' has shown the last two seasons that he can fulfill, to some extent, the expectations that made him a #1 pick - and with a 2-year contract for $2.4M per, he's in place, and Shane Willis is still about for at least the coming season - he can opt out next offseason. Could Aurora use help in the outfield? Sure, who wouldn't like a big bat, but what they have is better than most teams in the League, and isn't even in the same universe of need as the infield. Plus, with Angel Silva, Tony Munoz, Jose Gonzalez and (further out) last season's top pick, Toshinobu Nakao, lurking - they outfield should be set for quite some time.

Behind the plate, Aurora looks like they'll continue in a status quo mode - with Pedro de la Cruz, in the wings - and headed to winter ball to hopefully see his defensive skills improve enough to be worth putting behind the plate - assuming he can provide the offense to really make it worth while.

What we did see this season was that the pitching staff is in pretty good shape and should be for quite some time. The emergence of Aurora's top three starting pitcher prospects: Henry Cluett, Brian Clark and Armando Batista already has the club looking ahead at the long-term salary structure of the club. As mentioned, Man Sim, who has a year left, will likely get a chance back in the rotation - but there are whispers that Ryan Tate - who was outstanding out of the 'pen for most of the year, might return to the starters role if Sim struggles. Richard Neely is under contract for at least two more seasons before he can opt out. Aside from the 10-games he pitched for Aurora after arriving in a trade with San Antonio, he may have been Aurora's most consistent pitcher - and he had the loss BB/9 in the SL this year.

Of course, everyone wants that big arm in the rotation - and if he could build up his arm strength some, 'Slug' could be that guy, but there is no one in the system that fits that bill. 'Haggis' Uige has seen his numbers balloon as he's moved upward in the system, and he's not an overpowering arm - so he might be a future bullpen guy. The most interesting option is down in A ball - 'Machete' Gutierrez, who has a nasty cutter that tops out at 99 mph - he could be that big arm - but from a starting perspective, he has just two pitches and might be better served as a key bullpen arm - especially if Tate returns to the rotation. Otherwise, the coaches and scouts alike agree - he's ready - if he can tame his control - did I mention the nasty cutter? You have to go way down in Rookie Ball to find another arm that is a potential star - Victorio Guerra - who averaged just over a strikeout an inning in his 15 starts for Montserrat - but he has a ways to go - look for him in... 2036? Maybe... But it would seem fair to say that the needs of the starting rotation pale by those of the infield.

Despite their catastrophic collapse in the postseason, the 'pen was the biggest surprise. Four rookies were thrust into the limelight - and quite quickly were depended upon for all the key innings - Tate, 'Hyena' Twia, Fujii and Pedro Morales were outstanding - ERAs of 2.30, 1.12, 1.45 and 2.07 (in order). And that doesn't include 2nd year man Paul de Kook, who had a 2.25 ERA. That was five stellar performances this year. Not stellar was Mark Powers, who looked lost all year - lost his closer role, lost a set-up job, lost confidence and lost his way. Despite finishing with a 3.67 ERA, he just seemed to always be in trouble. In trying to restore faith in their otherwise stellar arm, they signed Mark to an extension instead of allowing him to go into the offseason with arbitration on the horizon - and all the nastiness that means.

But there is room for help in the 'pen - even if it's just a numbers game - and 'Machete' may. be that man. With the success of Tate, Fujii and Morales - all starters turned relievers this year, Aurora may go that route right away. Otherwise, the in-house options look like Solis, Jose Suarez, who had an inning-and-third with Aurora, but posted a 1.98 ERA with 14 saves for a really bad Thornton team. Rumor is the team has given up on Rafael Benitez. Still, this part of the club looks to be in fine shape - could use an arm, but most teams could use an arm in their 'pen.

Looking towards the offseason, Aurora has money. The club has $63M less money invested into salaries than they did in 2033. The big question is will Aurora use that monetary capital to fill many spots or just a couple. Having traded their valuable draft capital away (picks 1, 2, 3 & 4 dealt - with a 3 & 4 received) and there being a high likelihood that they won't move some of the top prospects mention, I'd suspect they'll be flexing their wallet to fix the infield - but will that be a short-term need or long-term?

[Sandgnats]

Looking forward to seeing where Big Whiskey starts his coaching career.

[Borealis]

New Year Starts with Bang
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

January 4, 2034: Aurora, Colorado – It was certainly a quite fall. There was a single arbitration case (Jesus Solis for $850K), no winter meeting trades, and as the 2033 calendar year came to a close Aurora was found looking ahead to 2035, signing a series of 1-year contract extensions to their core, young group who would have otherwise been looking to make an appointment with the arbiter after the coming offseason.

Most significantly, Starting Pitchers Henry Cluett ($6.15M) and Brian Clark ($10.75M) saw dollar signs - and not to be left out, Raul Munoz checked in with a '35 extension worth $3.6M, providing Aurora with the opportunity to plan ahead for the 2035 fiscal year, knowing their core group is under contract. Reliever Mark Powers ($8M) and Howard Joyce ($1.25M for each of the next 2-seasons) add to that collection.

Looking ahead to that 2035 season, Shane Willis will have an option heading into that season - as will Manny Castro - though Aurora holds a team option on the year as well (Pedro de la Cruz will have a lot to say about that option). It 2034 could be 'Fido's last year with the Borealis.

The Rule 5 draft then came along, and Aurora selected a player and lost a player. Former-West Virgina farmhand Shojiro Matsui will be coming to The Front Range - a decent infielder who is limited to 2B, who scouts feel is close offensively. Unlike another former-Allegheny, who Aurora picked in the Rule 5 (Roy Duke), keeping Matsui will be a challenge - Duke played around the horn and had value in that manner, despite struggling at the plate. Like Duke, Shojiro hasn't played about A Ball, all suggesting that Matsui will be a luxury Aurora won't be able to afford. With Yen-ti Yi and David Hoffman - two 2B in the wings, it'll be interesting to see what Aurora does with Shojiro.

Lost by the Borealis to Kalamazoo is RP Kenny Goodman, who just couldn't find a spot on a deep 40-man roster. He was mid-season free agent signee who pitched in 16 games (with 5 GS), posting a 3.02 ERA at Mokule'ia. The jump from A Ball is a tough one, the jump from Short A could see Goodman back in the Aurora system.

The Big news - that which is most important to the major league club, was the signing to a free agent contract by Randy Love and Guillermo Justavo - both expected to contribute to the latest merry-go-round version of the Borealis Infield.

Love, who cam to Aurora in a trade deadline deal with London, sighed potential 4-year deal worth $10M per year - with a player opt out after year 2, and team options for years 3 and 4. Both sides felt it was a pretty fair deal for the 31-year old infielder. At the moment, Love - who hit .256 for Aurora in 54-games (and .257 in 94-games for London) is slated to open the year at short - not his best position, but with Teddy Loetzsch signing with the Scottish, it is the first time - arguably since the inaugural season, that Aurora had had to search for a shortstop.

Aurora fans will remember Justavo from his time with Duluth and his two stints with Neo-Tokyo. After a pair of weak seasons in 2032 &32 at Amsterdam, Guillermo played in 54 games for the Akira last year hitting .263 with 5 HR. Justavo's deal is for a possible three seasons at $4M each - with Aurora holding options for the next two seasons. Guillermo is a decent enough 3B - but he has a history of struggling to turn two - something that could hurt Aurora down the line.

And that'll be a key. For a team that relies as heavily on it's pitching, defense has to be supreme - and though both these signings bring in 'good pros', neither will be top notch in the field - nor at the plate. They simply continue a trend that now has gone on for 4-5 years: a patchwork infield.

Will there be more defensive help on the horizon? Pitching? We can feel confident in thinking the outfield is set. Spring training is two months away, so there's time...

Lastly, the club has reached agreement with 'Big Whiskey' - Mike Britt, who will begin his coaching career at A Ball SLRC as a hitting coach... Owner Michael Topham, Jr continues to be AWOL - no one having seen him since the winter meetings, where he was representing the club along with his step-brother, Aurora GM Will Topham.

[Borealis]

Berry Brings Infield Depth
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

January 20, 2034: Aurora, Colorado – In what had already been a busy free agent season for the Aurora Borealis, today the club announced the signing of veteran infielder Wynn Berry, formerly of the New Orleans Trendsetters, to a guaranteed 1-year deal with a team option for a second year.

Wynn was the 2nd round selection of the Reno Zephyrs back in 2020, out of Katy High. Reno took their time with Berry, letting him develop at Short A Angoon, before splitting time over the next few seasons - Escondido-Red Deer, Red Deer-Glendale, before making his debut with the Zephyrs in 2027. He ended up playing only 73 games for Reno - hitting just .220. He signed a free agent contract with West Virginia, but never played a game for the Alleghenies, as they traded him to Canton. Getting his first chance to play, he hit .267 for the Longshoremen - who promptly shipped him to Crystal Lake after the 2029 season. Wynn had a pair of solid seasons with the 'Gnats - .283 and .275 in '30 and '31, but he struggled in 2032 - to which the 'Gnats shipped him to New Orleans in a mid-season deal. Last year in 95 games, he hit .251 for the Trendies.

The 32-year old Berry is an excellent fielder, whose lone knock is he lacks more than adequate range. He has above average speed, but is excellent on the base paths and has 250 SB and has been caught just 25 times. What may not shock you is he has a general lack of power, but he puts the ball in play.

Berry is primarily a 2B, but he plays an above average 3B and shouldn't be lost at short. With the excellent defensive Juan Hernandez on the roster, covering short, Berry and Randy Love shouldn't have too many opportunities to cover the short stop position. What we may expect, with Hernandez and the fourth new member on the infield - Guillermo Justavo (who may get time at DH), being one-dimensional players, both Wynn and Love will find themselves sharing 2B and taking turns on the left-side of the infield.

What the signing of Berry does, is put to question the roles of Ed Madore, Roy Duke, and recent Rule 5 pickup Shojiro Matsui. The Borealis like Matsui, and wouldn't mind it so much, carrying him for the mandated year - but he is also a unidimensional player - just at 2B. We may see a trade in his future - either a release and trade with West Virginia, or perhaps with one of the rebuilding clubs who could afford to thrust him into the line-up for some sorely needed draft capital.

However the other parts hash out, Aurora began the offseason with a 1B and a pair of back-up infielders - and in the span of 3 weeks, they have a starting infield - and possibly too many bodies. What we may be able to say is that the infield might be stronger than last season, and if that is indeed true, that's a real positive sign.

[Borealis]

Infield Search Brings Gabe 4.0
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

February 25, 2034: Aurora, Colorado – This may go down as one of Aurora's biggest offseason talent grabs - following an infield exodus that left the cupboard near bare. The end result is plenty of bodies - but will they produce enough - or stay healthy enough, to help move the team in the right direction and another shot at a 6th Rodriguez Cup.

First was the wave of Guillermo Justavo, Juan Hernandez and the return of Randy Love. Then came along Wynn Berry to add some depth and perhaps some spiciness to the infield rotation. But, there was a problem: Who was going to play the back-up role to 1B Raul Munoz? The defending SL Batting Champ needs to have some days off - right?

So the 3rd wave came about - a series of infielders who manage to play a quality defense at 1B as well as other spots on the infield. Bring on board Ronald Amery, Bernard de Jong, and Bruce Adams. Amery has spent the past three seasons with San Juan and AAA Santo Domingo - hitting just a buck-90 for the Coqui. Amery's offense may be bad, but his defense - across the field - in or out, is outstanding and he's a potential terror in the base paths - he was 19-21 at San Juan and 37-40 at Santo Domingo in stolen bases. He is on a straight minor league deal. de Jong has spent the past four seasons with Amsterdam, Arlington and Madison after being drafted in the 11th round of the 2021 draft by Palm Springs. He is a career .254 hitter in the big leagues and plays stellar D on the right side of the infield and possesses great speed. Adams, also drafted in 2021 - a 5th round pick by New Orleans, has most recently been with Kentucky, Crystal Lake and Madison. Although he lacks speed, he's - stop me if you heard this before - great defensive skills on the infield (read that 1B) and is a career .233 hitter. Unlike Amery and de Jong, Adams is on a conditional contract, and could become a free agent come May.

But Aurora didn't stop there, as today the team announced a fourth engagement with Gabe McIntyre, who after demanding a long-term, $10M+ deal from the club after the end of the past season, agreed to a $3.6M deal for 2034, with a team option for 2035 at the same terms - giving the club a known commodity to back-up first, another option up the middle, and a cheap contract that the team could just eat if McIntyre plays as poorly as he did in 2033.

The former-11th overall pick in 2018 really struggled last year, barely crossing the Mendoza Line, finishing at .206 in 50-games - thanks in a large part to a never-ending string of injuries: 4-weeks with an oblique strain, 6-weeks with a broken collar bone, 4-weeks with back spasms. Do the math and that's half the season. He did manage a .318 average in 16-games at Thornton.

The addition of McIntyre continues to clog an infield that has gone from barren to overloaded - but in Aurora's defense, they spent last offseason and the trade deadline focused on infield help - which aside from Randy Love, is now gone. As is Teddy Loetzsch. With 27 men on the 26-man roster - 11 of which are pitchers, and you can anticipate there may be a 12th for Opening Day, the position player segment will need to get parred down to 14. Of the 16, one will no doubt be Robert Hawkins, but which of the infield will go? And what of that collection in the minors?

And more to the point - does Aurora have yet another infield move in their mind?

We are a week away from spring training - so answers will be coming very soon.

[Borealis]

Mostly Bland Results, Mostly Bland Spring
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

March 31, 2034: Grand Junction, Colorado – For a squad that has gone through a bit of a youth movement based rebuild, as have the Borealis, and possessing a collection of vets who may or may not be in the last year of their contracts, the spring went pretty much as one might have expected - the only competition was really in the infield - and that being between the abundant number of free agent signings who joined the club this offseason.

While the club finished with a 13-11 mark - tied with Reno for the best in the Desert Hills, Madison continued their surge towards that first ever playoff spot with a 19-5 spring, while Shin Seiki and the improving Ghosts shared the Rising Sun lead at 15-9.

The Borealis outfield went into the spring as a known commodity - and they didn't disappoint. Shane Willis, essentially in a contract year, with an opt out in his contract whose $23M salary begins to decline next season and has a pair of team options for 2036-37, hit a robust .455 and was 9-9 in the stolen base department. G-Rod hit .312, 'Litterbug' .286, Howard Joyce .282. The lone eye sore on the expected opening day 5 was Dean Walden, who despite having to play for pay (Aurora has a team option for next year), hit .182.

There were some interesting outcomes in the outfield: Ken Jordan checked in at 6-16. Bruno Miller 5-18. Future hopeful, Jose Gonzalez struggled some, to finish at .242, while CF back-up plan, Robert Hawkins, managed just a pair of hits in 10 AB. All were sent to the minors to prove their worth should an injury come.

The most compelling story may have been behind the plate where both incumbents - 'Fido' Castro and Domingo Gutierrez both struggled mightily, perhaps showing their age - neither hitting close to .200, while rookie-lying-in-wait, Pedro de la Cruz hit .286 with 4-2B and 2 HR; Castro had 2 and 1, while Gutierrez had no extra base hits. Pedro has pretty much shown all he can in the minors and is ready to step in - in some capacity, be it catcher (his skills are somewhat lacking) or DH, while Castro's contract for next year features both player and team options and Gutierrez' has a vesting option requiring him to play in 100 games - in his nine seasons he's topped that three times - the three seasons he won the starter's job - including last year. An injury to either would thrust de la Cruz into the limelight and likely make Gutierrez a free agent. Most folks feel that Castro's departure is a forgone conclusion. For now, it's likely that the returning vets will platoon behind the plate.

Raul Munoz finished the spring with an easy, 'I'm getting into shape' .281 with a homer and a team leading 8 RBI. 1B? Check. Then it get's very interesting. Aurora brought in established vets (does that sound familiar Aurora fans) Wynn Berry, Juan Hernandez, Guillermo Justavo and brought back Randy Love and for the... is it fourth time... Gabe McIntyre, to compete for the spots on the infield that don''t begin with 'first'. For McIntyre, he was a likely fit, for he plays outstanding defense - especially as a back-up at first - which no other of the infield options do. Then again, Gabe hit .225 - but he did have a homer and 6 RBI.

Wynn Berry finished second to Willis on the squad, hitting .423 - nearly 3-times better than what Justavo, the man brought in to play 3rd, hit (.143). The end result there is Wynn looks like the Opening day starter at third. Also swinging the hot spring bat was Randy Love, whose .310 earned him the likely nod at 2B and Juan Hernandez' .262 and outstanding defense at short leave Ed Madore - who hit .345 - on the outside looking in - thanks to his possessing an option. Not possessing an option and really sealing Madore's fate is long-time back-up infielder, Roy Duke, who had an outstanding spring himself - hitting .381.

There were some other outstanding performances this spring that earned tickets back to the minors. Yen-ti Yi, last years Rule 5 pick from New Orleans, was 6-17 with a homer and this years edition - Shojiro Matsui, selected from West Virginia's roster (as was Duke), hit .286 - also with a homer. I would expect Aurora to make a deal with the Alleghenies to retain the rights to Matsui and then ship him down to AA or AAA for more seasoning. It gives Aurora a glut of 2B at that level - Matsui, Yi, David Hoffman (Aurora's top pick in '32) - but hopefully someone will pan out. A number of journeymen minor leaguers where signed - ostensibly because they can cover 1B, none did much in their brief opportunities, some have been shipped to the minors and some to 'greener pastures'.

The starting rotation was outstanding. Eliminate one of 'Slug's starts (Brian Clark allowed 5-runs to The Evil Evas in his third outing) and Armando Batista's 2.25 ERA was the highest. 'Professor Plum' and Neely allowed 3-runs and Man Sim just one. The group looked to be in mid-season form. Ryan Tate was given a pair of starts - he allowed a run in each as he pitched just 5.2 innings, and 'Haggis' had a pair - giving up 3 runs to the 'Gnats and a solo run to the Dinos - both over 4 IP. He was not expected to make the roster this year, and his 7+ ERA made it academic.

Most of the 'pen looked strong - 'Machete' appeared in the most games (10) and did not allow a run, while striking out 20 and walking just 1 in his 13.2 IP. Also pitching a scoreless spring was Jesus Solis - who was the cat working on his 9th live, pitching 8-scoreless innings over 5-outings. Without an option and the scouts telling the coaching staff that he still has it, Solis may once more find himself with the Borealis. Should he do so, it'll be at the cost of 'Chatahoochee' Fujii, who had a rough spring - 11.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R off of 5 HR.All of last year he allowed 3 HR with a 1.45 ERA. The soon to be 25-year old may find himself back in the minors - with whispers he may find himself back in the rotation once more.

Mark Powers, Pedro Morales (who missed significant time with a nagging injury) and Paul de Kook all finished their spring work with ERA's under 2.00. 'Hyena', who also had a bit of gopherballitis (3 allowed in 17.1 IP) finished with a 2.60 ERA - but struck out 21 while walking 0 - a very hopeful outcome. There were a couple of minor leaguers who picked up a cup of coffee who did well: Kipchoge Olushegun (2 R in 5 IP) and Kenko Hirose (5 R in 11.1 IP). Major league hopeful 'Big Cedar' Suarez allowed 6 R on 12 hits in 12 IP in his 5 appearances, which in this crowded bullpen earned him a ticket to ride the FasTrax. Young Tony Alvarado, earning spring time due to his 40-man roster status, appeared in 4-games and went 3-innings and allowed 3-hits and 3-runs. He walked 5 and struck out 5. He will end up at AA.

The 26-man roster shapes up as:

SP: Clark, Cluett, Batista, Neely and Sim
RP: Tate, Morales, H. Gutierrez, Power, Solis, and de Kook
CL: Twia
C: Castro and D. Gutierrez
INF: Munoz, McIntyre, Berry, Duke, Hernandez, Justavo, Love
OF: Arunddale, Rodriguez, Willis, Howard and Walden

Looking back on the spring, the biggest surprise - and expectation filler, has to be the efforts put out by Hector Gutierrez. No runs over 13.2 IP and 20 K, 1 BB have to thrust him into the Wunderkind conversation going into opening day.

Big Picture Expectations? Aurora won their division handedly last year - only to be rudely shown the exit by Fargo. Bakersfield added Pat Willis and Reno returns a powerful line-up that won the division two seasons ago. By all accounts, an improving young base should keep Aurora in the mix for what should be a closer race than 2033 was. Should Munoz put up another season of Royal Raker numbers and Clark and Cluett post Golden Arm numbers - all three reasonable outcomes, it'll come down to the 'new infield' and the bullpen - can that young group that carried the team in 2033 repeat it's efforts in 2034?

Opening Day is here! And the Borealis are once more ready to be in the thick of an exciting pennant race in the Sovereign League!

[Borealis]

Borealis Open With Bang!
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

April 10, 2034: Somewhere over the Pacific – You'll excuse us if we sound a little giddy. Traditionally April is a rough patch for the Borealis. Just look at last years 2-4 start against K-zoo and Reno and enough said. The 2034 season has started in quite a different manner for the defending Desert Hills Champs - to the tune of a 7-0 sweep of the Opening Week that featured three shut-outs, two games allowing just a run and the other two games allowing just a pair.

Opening Day at Northern Lights was quite an affair as a full house crowded into the park on the shores of Cherry Creek to watch Henry Cluett work his magic against the Shisa for 7-innings. 'Professor Plum' would allow three hits and struck out 9 as Okinawa had no chance on this day, with Cluett at his best. Kosami Suzuki kept the Borealis at bay until the 4th, when Randy Love worked a lead-off walk. Raul Munoz picked up his first hit of the year, a single that chased Love to third, where Dean Walden singled Love home and Juan Hernandez doubled both Munoz and Walden home with his first Aurora RBIs. And that's all Cluett would need. Aurora would add a run in the 7th - Wynn Berry walking and eventually scoring his first run on a 'Litterbug' sac fly, setting the stage for the much anticipated debut of 'Machete' - Hector Gutierrez. He would retire the Shisa in order - striking out four in the process. On the hitting side, Shane Willis picked up where the spring left off with a 3-4 day.

Kyung-suk Kim fared better in his start for Okinawa - He would go 'the distance' - in this case, 8-innings and allow the Borealis just 2-runs, but Aurora's pitching was once again, too much. Brian Clark made his season's debut - going 6-innings and allowing 5 H and a pair of walks, but he held the Shisa scoreless. So did Morales for and inning and Tate for an inning. It wasn't until the 9th that Okinawa broke the seal on their season scoring thanks to a walk and two singles off Twia. Aurora took the lead in the first with their first homer - a Willis lead-off homer, and plated what would ultimately be the winning run - a Randy Love double and Dean Walden RBI single.

Okinawa improved in game three of the series - they scored two runs - Jose Torres hit his first homer of the year to tie the score after Willis' leadoff triple gave Aurora another 1st inning lead, but Aurora answered their former 1B's effort with four runs of their own - a walk and an error set up the big inning that saw Willis double, Munoz single and Rodriguez triple - making the score 5-1. Armando Batista threw 7-strong innings, striking out 6 and walking none - allowing just the Torres homer amongst 5-Shisa hits, then 'Machete' come on and was greeted by Jose Contreras - whose homer gave the young Aurora arm an ERA. Twia threw a perfect 9th for his second save - completing a 3-game sweep for Aurora to open the season.

Tempe came to town as they begin their third season back in the PEBA, and the pitching that swept Okinawa continued to be outstanding. This time it was Richard Neely's turn in the rotation and though he went just 5 - and a Kiyonuri Suzuki homer in the 5th being the only damage he'd allow - Tate and Morales would both pitch two shut-out innings (Morales shakily so). Meanwhile Aurora pounded out 10-hits: Arundale 3-5 and Munoz 3-4 with a homer, and they took advantage of three Knights errors for a 7-1 win.

Poto LoschiLosurdo was greeted with a barrage - 9-hits and 5-runs before he was carted off in the 4th - but Gunner Carney and Victor Andres stopped the bleeding and gave the Knights a chance - except that aside from the two runs Man Sim allowed in his last inning (the 6th), Aurora's 5-run outburst was enough. Wynn Berry and Randy Love had back-to-back 2-out doubles as Aurora scored three in the 3rd and five-straight singles in the 4th from Castro, McIntyre, Joyce, Justavo and Arundale plated another pair - they call that a big inning in Aurora. This time it would be Solis, Gutierrez and Twia pitching scoreless innings - Twia's, despite 2-hits allowed, earning him his 3rd save.

Game three was a delight for the fans as it provided the return of JT - John Turner, who was outstanding in his second outing for Tempe - after getting beat around a bit by Shin Seiki in the Opener. Turner would go 6-innings and allow just a run - Willis, with his second lead-off triple of the season would score, but alas for the Knights, Henry Cluett and the Aurora 'pen continued to chug along. Cluett would go 6-innings, himself, and allow just 2-hits and struck out 5 with no walks. Then Tate... Powers... 'Machete'... Twia and lastly Solis, getting the last out in the 9th after Roberto Diaz led off with a single and Pat Barry doubled him to third. 'Hyena' would strike out the next two, with Solis getting Mark Edwards to fly out to end the game.

It didn't get any easier for the Knights in the series finale, as Brian Clark was sharp as a tack - 7 IP, 2-hits, 6 K and no walks. Paul de Kook would pitch the final two, allowing just two singles. Tempe's bats looked hopeless in this one. Meanwhile, Shane Willis continued his assault on the leadoff spot with yet another extra-base hit - this time a double, scoring on a Randy Love sac fly - and that was all Aurora needed. Five singles (again) in the 4th would add three more runs to the tally - a 4-0 white wash, a sweep of the Tempe Knights and a sweep of the opening week for Aurora.

It was certainly a crazy week for the Borealis - they hit .300 - thanks to Stewart Arundale's 10-28 and Shane Willis who was 10-25, with 6-runs scored, 3-2B, 2-3B and a homer. Munoz was 7-22 with a homer. Not So Neat? Domingo Gutierrez 2-17 and Juan Hernandez 3-17. Henry Cluett and Brian Clark both threw 13-innings, both were unsecured upon and both are 2-0 - Cluett with 14 K and no walks. Clark has 10 and 2. The bullpen allowed 2-runs in 19.1 IP.

What's on Tap
Aurora travels to Niihama-shi to face the Ghosts before the season's first off day, and then they are home for three with Duluth before the seasons second off day - that feels unlucky... Speaking of unlucky - then they will entertain their nemesis from last year - Madison, at Norther Lights, before heading on the road to face Crystal Lake.

[Borealis]

Aurora Streaking Out of the Gate
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

April 21, 2034: Crystal Lake, Illinois – They Even Beat Madison!

In a manner that is unlike more Aurora clubs in the past, where April would play out in a mild manner - with May being the breakout month, Aurora took their unbeaten opening week and expanded upon it with a series win over Niihama-shi and sweeps over Duluth and Madison to head into a tough weekend series at Crystal Lake - against am 11-5, first place club.

Aurora would win 2 of 3 against the Ghosts, and a game of poor defense kept Aurora from another perfect week. Game 1 saw the Borealis pound out 13-hits in a 6-3 win in which Armando Batista pitched into the 6th allowing 2-hits and a run to earn his 2nd win of the season. Stewart Arundale and Raul Munoz each had three hits and Munoz drove in three. Errors by Juan Hernandez, Munoz and Richard Neely would lead to 3-unearned runs in the Ghosts 5-4 win - snapping Aurora's season opening unbeaten streak at 8-games. Munoz would homer to open the 2nd and Walden would likewise homer in the 2nd frame - a 2-run shot, but Neely couldn't pitch around the defensive mistakes. In the rubber match, Niihama-shi starter Jin-hyun Park would allow 7-runs over the 1st and 2nd inning - he, too, had to pitch around defensive mistakes, as Aurora out strike for 11-runs on 15-hits for an 11-3 win. Munoz, Howard Joyce and Guillermo Justavo all had 3-hits, while Randy Love was 2-4, with 3 R and 3 RBI. Shane Willis, who was 2-6 had yet another 1st inning XBH. Man Sim picked up his 2nd win, allowing 2-runs on 7 H in 5.2 IP.

After an off day, Aurora was back home for a series with Duluth to start a 10-day stretch against their Great Lakes foes. Henry Cluett faced off with Bob Hodge, and both were outstanding. For Cluett, it wasn't the cleanest of games - he would allow just a run, but 2 of the 3 walks he allowed were in the 7th inning - to which a 2-out passed ball by Domingo Gutierrez allowed the Warriors to tie the game at 1. Aurora had taken a 1-0 lead in the 2nd when Raul Munoz led off with a double, scoring on a pair of productive outs. Shane Willis would win the game for Aurora with a solo homer in the 8th, giving Cluett his 3rd win after 8-innings of 5-hit, 3 BB and 5 K, ball. 'Hyena' would pitch a perfect 9th for his 4th save. Brian Clark was nearly perfect in game 2 as 'Slug' threw 8.1 perfect innings before Pedro Perez tripled with 1-out in the 9th. Twia would earn his 5th save to give Clark his third win - and maintain a perfect 0.00 ERA. Batista would earn his third win as well, in game 3 - giving Aurora's top 3 starters all perfect 3-0 records. Armando would pitch 6-innings, allowing 2 R on 3 H, while Aurora would beat up Manuel Gonzales for 7 R on 6 H - including a Dean Walden 3-run homer in a 6-run 4th that included a 2-run double from 'Fido' to chase the former-Leone.

Aurora would have another off-day before entertaining their biggest nemesis form last season - the Madison Malts, who embarrassed the Borealis. This time around Aurora beat the Malts in every possible way. Way #1: Richard Neely gave the Malts a 1-0 lead in the first - but after that, was tough, while Aurora beat up Paco Martinez with 6-runs over 5-innings - including yet another 1st inning XBH by Willis - this one a lead off homer, and G-Rod chasing Martinez with a 3-run shot (his first) in the 5th. Munoz and Hernandez would double as part of a 3-run 7th as Aurora would beat up Madison 9-1. Way #2: Jorge Lorenzo out pitched Man Sim in many ways - more innings, fewer hits allowed, but the area that most counts: runs, went Aurora's way as Sim and the 'pen (Morales and Twia) held the Malts scoreless, while Lorenzo allowed just 1-run: 'Litterbug's 1-out triple and Randy Love's 2-out RBI single giving Aurora a 1-0 win. Way #3: Henry Cluett would have one of his worst starts in his career - lasting just 2.2 IP, while allowing 8 H and 5 R, leaving the game with a 5-1 deficit to Madison, but Atasuke Inoue - the Malts starter, couldn't keep the lead. Shane Willis would triple as part of a 2-run 5th and Dean Walden would homer in the 6th to cut the lead to 5-4. Aurora would tie the game in the 8th, the Malts would take the lead in the 9th - only to see Aurora tie it in the bottom of the 9th. The game would go 12-innings, where Juan Hernandez would lead offf the bottom of the 12th with a walk-off homer - giving Aurora the dramatic sweep.

The 8-1 stretch of games gave Aurora a 15-1 record and a 6-game lead over Reno and 6.5 over Bakersfield. For the 9-game stretch, Dean Walden was 14-29 with 5-2B and 4 HR for a team leading 11 RBI. Stewart Arundale was 12-32 with a double and a pair of triples and Raul Munoz was 13-35 with 5-2B and a homer. Shane Willis had a double, 2-3B and 2 HR. Not So Neat was the efforts of Gabe McIntyre (0-11) and Domingo Gutierrez (3-23). Uncharacteristically, the offense out-homered their opponents 10-4. The pitching staff posted a 1.84 ERA, with Man Sim leading the way with a 1.46 in his two wins, while the bullpen allowed 5-runs in 28.1 IP (1.59 ERA).

What's on Tap
Aurora continues their 13-consecutive game stretch to end April by facing a tough 3-series stretch with Crystal Lake (11-5), Toyama (10-6) and Reno (9-7, for four games).

[Borealis]

Streak Ends With Thud!
Ray D. Enzé, NLN baseball blogger

May 1, 2034: Aurora, Colorado – Well... that was fun...

After a 15-1 start out of the gate - which Aurora would extend to 16-1 with a 5-0 shut out win, thanks to Brian Clark (now 4-0, with no ERA) and the hot bats of Raul Munoz (3-5 and .371 at the time) and Dean Walden (3-4, 2 RBI and a .426 average), the 'excrement' hit the fan, as Aurora would win just one more game on the month - a 4-1 win against Toyama crafted by 'Professor Plum' and perfect innings by 'Machete' and 'Hyena', Randy Love's 3-4 and 'Fido's homer. That would be 8 losses in the final 9 games in April, giving Aurora a 17-9 mark and just a half-game lead over Bakersfield and 2-games over Reno.

It would be a brutal stretch in which Aurora would score more than 2-runs just once (a heart break 4-3 loss to Reno, Ryan Tate allowing the winning run in the 8th), would score 2-runs just once (the first game of the bad spell, a 5-2 loss to the 'Gnats) and shut out twice to Reno (2-0 and 1-0 - despite out hitting the Zephyrs).

In losing 2 of 3 to Crystal Lake, Batista and Neely both allowed 4-runs in their starts - but despite outhitting the 'Gnats, Aurora would muster just a single XBH in the two losses (Randy Love's 5th double on the year). Young Manuel Velasquez, after pitching in the 'pen in his first two major league seasons, ran his record to 4-0 as a starter, with a 1.84 ERA. He would avoid trouble into the 7th - but Manuel Serrano and Kyle Weaver would finish the job. Free agent signee Manuel Lopez would prove his value in the third game of the series as he'd up his record to 3-1 with a 0.90 ERA as he held Aurora in check for 8-innings, with Weaver picking up his 6th save.

Man Sim and Brian Clark both struggled against Toyama in the second series, Sa-yoor Ch'oe shutting the Borealis down - their lone run coming off an 8th inning triple from G-Rod, while the Win-D's supported Ch'oe with a Borealis-like attack - 10-hits, 1-2B. The second loss - and second 6-1 loss to Toyama, saw Daniel Hernandez keep Aurora in-check on 6-hits into the 8th, while the offense was more Toyama-like - 3-2B and a homer by Salinas (off 'Big Cedar').

Losing road series 2-1 to Crystal Lake and Toyama isn't a reason to be concerned - but a four game sweep at home - to Reno, and how it happened, was something to be concerned. Aurora would lose their 3rd straight 6-1 game as Batista had yet another rough outing, while Angel Valdez held the Borealis to just 4-hits into the 8th. Ji-il Yun, the second pitcher to have been primarily a reliever in his PEBA career to beat the Borealis, scattered 7-hits in 8 IP. Richard Neely would hold the Zephyrs scoreless into the 7th, but a pair of walks - back to back - and the only walks of the game, were followed by a Kato double to plate the games only runs in a 2-0 Reno win. Aurora would take a 3-1 lead in game three, in part thanks to Gabe McIntyre's first homer of the year, but Man Sim would allow Reno to tie (in part an Alexander Bawden homer) and Tate would allow just two singles - but get hung with the loss. The last game of the month - maybe the most frustrating game, saw Henry Cluett throw a complete game 3-hitter - and lose! On a suicide squeeze, no less, with former-Aurora farmhand, Federico Oliveras getting the bunt down.

The 1-8 stretch to bring on May (and hopefully better luck) had the Borealis hitting .218 and scoring just 13-runs, while CL, TOY and REN hit .250 and scored 35 runs - despite just getting 4 HR (to Aurora's 3). Randy Love was the lone regular to not be bothered by the opponents - he was 12-28 with 2-2B and a homer. On the other side, Wynn Berry was 2-22, Dean Walden 3-28, Juan Hernandez 4-25, 'Litterbug' 6-33 - as was Shane Willis. Cluett was the only starter to finish with an ERA under 4.75 (1.12), while only Powers, Gutierrez and Twia threw scoreless ball in the 'pen - who in 20.1 IP allowed 7-runs, while walking 9 with an OAVG of .262.

All in all a rough stretch.

What's on Tap
May.

Phew... May has traditionally been a good month for the Borealis, things warming up on The Front Range, and May also brings perhaps the toughest stretch of the schedule to date - May 15-24 with series with Bakersfield and Fargo at home, followed by a road trip to Tokyo. But the month begins with Aurora visiting the Desert portion of the Desert Hills, Yuma and Tempe, followed with series with Kalamazoo and Palm Springs. Clark, Batista and Neely will square off with Yuma at Northern Lights beginning tomorrow.