“Ice Cold” Red Hot on Aurora Benching
NLN Exclusive
By Francis Ferry, NLNbeat writer
September 22, 2014: Reno, Nevada – Aurora Borealis shortstop Mark “Ice Cold” Richardson chose the occasion of his 31st birthday to lash out at Aurora management – singling out manager Roberto Rosado and GM Will Topham as sources of anger.
“I was brought here to lead this team. How do you lead from the bench?” was the hotly phrased question that a clearly frustrated Ice Cold posed after Aurora’s 10-2 pounding of Bakersfield yesterday afternoon – a game in which Richardson was a 9th inning defensive substitution. ”I just don’t understand what this team is trying to accomplish. Am I not a former Royal Raker? I’ve hit 17 HR and driven in 71 this year. Why am I on the bench?”
Perhaps the .249 AVG – the lowest average on the team – and .394 SLG has something to do with the benching? Then again, perhaps the emergence of Orlando Lopéz, originally brought up to DH and now boasting a .315 AVG and .455 SLG, has more to do with it.
Aside from a pair of starts in place of a dinged up Al Edwards, Richardson’s last start was August 27th. He’s played in only eight games since. During that time, Ice Cold is 1-for-9. Lopéz is 30-for-84 over the same stretch, a .357 clip, with a 10-game hitting streak.
“I blame the GM. He hasn’t handled the entire system very well. Look at the line of second basemen knocking on the door here. You’d think with an All-Star infielder like me and young guys like Steve, Al and Josie, he’d have dealt for greater depth. Instead, all he talks about is John Foster this, Riley Cole that, and then he brings in Orlando Lopéz… and benches me! Listen, we finish this season and then the playoffs are upon us and it’ll be time to go with your proven stars. Let the kids ride the pine.”
Lest we remind anyone, Mark Richardson is a career .244 hitter in the post-season. His failures in 2011 are well documented and cost this team a championship.
“I think [manager Roberto Rosado] is hell bent on having only his guys here. I told Stevie, ‘Look out bro.’ Rosado is just a front man. He has no spine at all, and he manages that way. Why is Suárez in a setup role? Because he was told to do so. Why was Wilson benched so quickly? Why am I on the bench? Because he was told to do so! Who traded Alex away? Who let Pexego and Quiñones go?
“If you don’t want me here anymore, trade me. I’ve plenty to offer this team, or any other team in the league. Trade me anywhere. Yuma, Reno, freakin’ San Antonio. Hell, even back to Florida is better than how they’re treating me here, after all I’ve done for this franchise!”
Point taken. There’s just one problem, Mark – the two years, $27.45M left on your contract. I’m certain we have not heard the end of this saga.