Familiar Faces Survive Spring, Change Slowly Creeping
by Francis Ferry, NLN beat writer
March 31, 2041: Grand Junction, Colorado – For the 2041 version of the Aurora Borealis, it may be more about who is not here to open the season as it is who is. While much of the team will look familiar, there are some who are jettisoned – at least for now, and the slow introduction of the talent wave of the future.
Gone is Brian Clark, as he was shipped off to Hartford in exchange for Thibault Dejean – denying ‘Slug’ at a shot at his 100th win in Aurora Blue. Shipped to the waiver/DFA wire is his partner in crime – Henry Cluett, who is just 9 wins from 4th All-Time in Aurora – tying the Tillerman, and 12 from catching Kojimafor 3rd on the list – to even be sniffing Provost and ‘Tugboat’ territory is a testament to his success. The numbers game has begun for Aurora’s bullpen spots – and two of whom are caught in that game have run out of options – Carlos Colon, and Tekle-Mariam Louahla. Both of those the Borealis would love to hold onto, but they already have Abay Icharia, Martin Gutierrez, Yellel Twia and Toshikuni Kichida locked into the middle relief roles, with Barry Rodriguez the primary set-up guy and of course ‘Machete’ in the closer role – for now.
It’s an historical moment for Hector Gutierrez, as opening day marks the 7th consecutive season the left-hander opens as Aurora’s closer – breaking the tie at 6 with Bryant Burris, who would overall be the Opening Day closer in 8 of 9 seasons. ‘Machete’ has 248 career saves (2nd All-Time), compared to Burris’ 383 (65% of Burris’ team record), but at 531 IP, he’s covered just 47% of the big San Diegan’s overall workload in his outstanding 15-year career. The past couple of seasons have been rugged for the closer – too many untimely late- and extra-inning homers costing too many games, but this spring he’s started well, allowing 2-runs in his 10-innings of work – not surprisingly on a 2-run homer.
Colon, who came to Aurora from Niihama in the Ricardo Zamora trade gave up 11 H in 11 IP, 2 HR and 8 R. To be fair, the 6.55 ERA is deceptive, as one homer was a grand slam and the other a 3-run job, thus his ERA was otherwise 1.00 (1 R in 9 IP). He did strike out 18 and walk just 2 in his 11 IP – Aurora still has high hopes. Tekle may have posted a 3.00 ERA over his 12 IP, allowing 4 R off of 2 HR (both solo shots).
That leaves Aurora with one roster spot for sure – if Aurora settles on a 12-man staff, or two spots if they go with 13-pitchers. One has to believe one spot will end up with Cluett pitching in relief – if not claimed, and one of the 6-starters this spring heading to Thornton – Jung Yi, Xisto Tamayo or ‘Uni’ Pak – two will be at the major league level and one… AAA does seem likely. Thus far this spring, Pak has been the most consistent with 19 K in 11 IP and a 1.64 ERA as 3 of the 5 R he has allowed were unearned. He did walk 5-batters. Tamayo – the likely suspect to head to AAA, struck out 20 and walked 3 in 15 IP – the most of any starter, though he did allow 3 HR. Only one of his 5 R did not come the way of the longball. Also benefiting from having an option was Rafael Ruiz, who allowed 4 R in 11 IP, striking out 15, walking 4.
In a perfect world, the starting rotation will include Clymo, Batista, Yi, Dejean and Pak – as the team looks to break up the three lefties currently slated for the rotation. Gutierrez will close, with Barry Rodriguez, ‘Werewolf’ and Icharia getting the late innings and Martin Gutierrez, ‘Hyena’, Colon and Louahla in line for the middle-inning relief.
Behind the plate, Pedro de la Cruz was allowed to walk (as still homeless) as the team focuses on Lan Qing– the two-time All-Leather catcher, with ‘Bojo’ – Henry Bojorquez, the 7th round pick in 2038, moving into the back-up role. ‘Bojo’ has the defensive skills, though just an above average arm, and he hit .278 this spring with 4-2B and a homer – .100 points better than Qing.
This will be an interesting storyline on the year. The offensive differences here are small – as the scouts see it, Qing providing a bit more power, ‘Bojo’ possibly putting the ball in play a bit more, while Qing is indisputably the better defender – and the pitchers love throwing to him. Qing is also in the last year of his contract, and word is he has already broken talks off with the club over an extension that is commiserate with his offensive skills. GM Will Topham has already been on record saying ‘He wants to be paid, we are willing to see that happen, but he’s just being difficult over the fine points’ – we are left to believe that means the structure of the deal, as the GM uncharacteristically takes his contract frustrations publically.
Qing is playing a dangerous game. ‘Bojo’ will get at-bats and innings behind the plate, and just as Qing came from back-up to pushing de la Cruz out the door, Lan is at risk of having pay-back slam that door in his back. After all, Bojorquez was drafted with this moment in mind. Lying in the grass and waiting are Vicente Carvajal (opening at AA) and Dan Hanson – last year’s 56th overall pick, who will begin at A Ballto test the waters, before perhaps heading back to Short A, results not withstanding. Vicente is viewed by the scouts as ‘just about there’ and Aurora’s plans include him splitting time at AAA as the club anticipates Qing’s departure.
On the infield the news was three-fold: Robert Godefroy and Mark Newton working defensively at 3B to increase the club’s flexibility, the on-going battle between Fernando Rodriguez and Gijsbert Verbhoven for a roster spot, and the arrival of 2037 3rd round draftee Pedro Lujan who was making his first spring training visit.
Lujan had a break-out year in 2040, hitting .332 in an injury-shortened season, but it was enough for the club to vow to skip AA this year, get him spring AB’s and plop him at AAA and start the waiting game. He hit .353 with 5-2B, a 3B and homer, so the club feels good about that. With Godefroy and Newton both having options, don’t be surprised if Lujan doesn’t make his debut this year. Pedro may be just a 2B (coaches say there’s no way he plays short, despite his pestering), but Aurora has ample infield flexibility to accommodate that.
While Mark Newton and Godefroy did not have the most outstanding spring numbers, they both took to 3B well, and the club will no doubt get them both into the line-up at that position. Robert is an outstanding defensive player – much as Jose Aleman, and we may well see the two pairing up around 2B – especially in the late innings where they will form an acrobatic double-play combo.
The battle between Rodriguez and ‘van Gogh’ was likely to be settled by the option that Gijsbert has, but Fernando hit .351 on the spring, while Verbhoven struggled at .136. Was there frustration in Gijsbert’s efforts? The rumor mill had his name associated with another club – a club that seemingly has made decisions to go in a different direction. The club loves ‘van Gogh’, but one has to ask if they realistically have a place for him.
Raul Munoz (.240 this spring) will continue to be the man at 1B, where he will be the starter for the 11thstraight Opening Day – and whose own future is in doubt as he can opt out of the last tow years of his contract after the season. Stay tuned. Mark Newton, coming off a fine rookie season will open at 2B and Fernando Rodriguez will be rewarded for an excellent spring as the starter at 3rd. Jose Aleman, not surprisingly will begin at short. Robert Godefroy will begin as the roving back-up and will get plenty of spot starts and late-inning time.
On the outfield side of things, Declan Ingall made another spring appearance, hitting .259 and showing he’s likely to get a shot this year, while ‘Vowels’ Ueda hit .294 with 5-2B in 34 AB. The 49th pick in the 2038 draft has hit at every level, and after a .333 year at SLRC in 2040, he is expected to also make that jump the the Sun Dogs. Both outfielders feel like they are on the immeditate cusp while Aurora waits and decides what to do with Rocky Kowalski (.218 this spring), and look to see if the .212 posted by ‘Litterbug’ is an indication that his going on 12-year career is finally on the slide. Arundale’s quiet career has at the same time seen him creep up the Aurora All-Time lists, as this year he’s inline to potentially pass River Pope in games played; pass Pedro Ferringo in hits, singles, doubles and Total Bases; pass Teddy Loetzsch’s career triple mark of 82; and inch closer to Steve McDonald’s SB total, which is second to Angel Silva.
Silva, now sporting a nifty extension, finished the spring and will once more begin the year in CF, while Aurora’s two encumbant Japanese outfielders – Nishikawa (who had an outstanding rookie year) and Daikawa struggled mightily. This is when you point out it was Spring training. Kowalski started strong – with 4 HR, but the past two weeks he fell back, leaving Aurora with more questions about his future.
We are likely to see Nishikawa start out with the bulk of the playing time in RF, Silva in CF and Arundale and Kowalski splitting time in LF. That leaves Diakawa the roving back-up and late-inning defensive replacement for ‘Litterbug’ and Rocky.
Also leading to more questions about his future is Pedro Macias – who hit .161, with just 2-2B. Brought in to provide great power, the club has been very disappointed in his efforts and is found lamenting the David Simmons trade (who hit 24 HR last year). It’s a contract year for Macias and one wonders what he will provide Aurora with this year. Of course, the better he performs, the pricier he will be. After watching his average drop from .312 to .246 to .229 and his homers from 23 to 15 last year, a strong season would be tempting for the Borealis – a club desparate for power.
Expect to see Macias splitting time exclusively as a DH with Kowalski or anyone else swinging a hot bat.
Thus, here we are – Opening Day with the Borealis opening on the road with a pair at Tempe, the defending division and Sovereign League Champs. The Apollos made big news during the offseason, most notably dealing for 3B Antonio Hererra from Duluth and C Leonardo Ortega from New Jersey, which will in all likelihood keep them atop the Desert Hills and on pace with the wheeling-dealing Rising Sun crowd that have been in full Arms Race mode.
Where does that leave Aurora – a club that stubbornly hangs on to their title of being the only team not to finish below .500 – much less at .500. One would think in that same verby place – clinging. Palm Springswas clearly a stronger team than the Borealis last year – and despite not making many moves, they look to maintain that edge. Any hopes of a post-season berth will lie in the hands of a canabilistic Rising Sun keeping everyone’s records suppressed. Otherwise, you’re looking at wild cards coming from a cluster that includes Kzoo, Crystal Lake, an improving Fargo, Palm Springs and 4 of 5 Rising Sun clubs.
Finishing above .500 for the 35th consecutive season sounds like the most reasonable bet.