NLN: BREAKING NEWS

by Francis Ferry, NLN beat writer

October 3, 2011: Aurora, Colorado – On the eve of the playoffs, there is some disturbing news coming out of the Aurora Borealis camp.  Reports coming out of San Francisco, perhaps just rumor, suggest a potential shake-up in both the hierarchy of Golden Entertainment and the Aurora franchise.  The big question is how they may relate to each other.

First, out of San Francisco is talk that Michael Topham is prepared to step down as President and CEO of the theater and entertainment operation in order to put his full attention on the Aurora team.  Topham, 51, who has run the Golden brand for the past 10 years and has seen a recent renaissance of the family business, spoke of his plans for stepping down during his press conference before the season started.  Said Topham at the time: “I will begin to slowly…  I do not see that transfer being complete for at least another 5 years.”

It is presumed that COO Christian Topham would take over the helm of Golden should Michael Topham step down.  A side effect of these rumored changes has been the direction of growth for Golden’s stock.  After a sharp climb in value since the purchase of the team in March and a slow, steady increase in value through the summer to a high of $103.27, shares of Golden Entertainment have turned south, closing Friday at $92.65 over concerns about future projects, including the planned Gold Casino in Las Vegas.

The other bit of news also revolves around ownership, but this is more pure rumor than fact-based speculation.  This rumor is centered squarely on Chris Rodriguez and his relationship with the Aurora Borealis.  The press and public have become used to Rodriguez referring to the Borealis as “his team”, and he has been openly critical of the new ownership of the team after his father’s death.  In particular, Chris has been very hard on young GM Will Topham, 18, and his moves this season.

Word coming out of both Aurora and San Francisco suggest that what was once believed to be 100% ownership of the Aurora franchise by Michael Topham is anything but 100%.  Reports are surfacing that Chris Rodriguez may actually own as much as 25% of the team founded by his father.  Numerous press outlets are known to have attempted to track down the validity of this rumor, but neither Rodriguez nor Topham have responded to inquiries about this story.  Calls to the Rodriguez family lawyer have not been returned.  It is believed that Topham was sold complete value of the team prior to John Rodriguez, Sr.’s death.  How Rodriguez would have received any share of the club is currently a mystery.

Fans in Aurora don’t need any more reason to feel nervous these days, as a date with the Bakersfield Bears is on the horizon.  This will be the third time Aurora and Bakersfield have faced off in the first round of the playoffs.  In 2008, a 3^rd-seeded Bears team swept the Borealis.  In 2009, the top-seeded Borealis beat the Bears 3-1 on their way to their first Rodriguez Cup.

The loss of Octávio Pexego and Bill Bradley will rob the Borealis of two major cogs in their title hopes.  Bradley’s loss becomes Miguel García‘s gain, as he’ll step in after a fantastic last third of the season following his promotion.  How Pexego’s loss will be handled is still to be seen.  Whether it’s Poirier, Rivera or Quinones, the DH spot is up for grabs.  How this pending drama affects the club is anyone’s guess.  Manager Juan Toro, speaking to the press about the playoffs said, “Ida know if it-a cause a problem.  This is-a experienced team in-a the post season.  They will a rise to da ocassione.  Like-a they-a say: ‘The milk sink below da cream in-a da cow.’”

The Aurora Borealis completed their 2011 campaign with a 115-47 record after finishing the season with series against Palm Springs (1-2) and Bakersfield (1-2).  A 2-4 final week of the season is deceptive, as the Borealis looked to give players some time off and extend the rotation so the playoffs begin with a fresh rotation.  They’ll begin their run towards a second Rodriguez Cup Wednesday with their first round match-up with Bakersfield.

The series promises to be a tough, low-scoring affair, as the two teams just finished a low-scoring series of 1-run games – Bakersfield outscoring Aurora 10-9.  For the season, Aurora won the series 12-6, although 6 of those victories came in the first month of the season when Bakersfield started 9-16.  Bears pitching held the Borealis to a .253 AVG, while their hitters managed a paltry .233 against Aurora.  Bears pitchers checked in with an ERA of 4.43, while Aurora’s was 3.78.

Pat Lilly hit .321 with 4 HR and 11 RBI in 10 games vs. Aurora, while Jude Pew hit .261 despite 6 HR and 13 RBI in 18 games, and Josh Emery swatted a cool .348, 4 HR and 9 RBI in 18 games.  Artie Marsh hit .338 in 18 games.  In 11 games, Mark Richardson hit .375 in 11 games.  John Knight’s role in this series may be up for debate, as the OF hit a meager .154 in 13 games.  Steve McDonald checked in at .350 in 11 games.  Pexago’s bat (.409 in 6 games) will, needless to say, be missed, as Bakersfield’s big guns managed quite well against the Borealis and Aurora’s bats were considerably more… pedestrian.

At the minor league level, the Borealis affiliates pulled off an odd trick.  One team, the SS-A Oceanic won the one-game Pacific Pennant.  AAA Thornton lost in the Ambassador’s Cup, AA Gatineau lost in the Canadian Alliance finals, and Hi-A San Luis lost in the first round.  GM Will Topham has gone on record as saying there will be some movement of players during the offseason.  “Losing players like Longchamps and Leon show that we have too many young players in the lower levels who are not getting a chance at AA and AAA.  I envision that movement to begin at the top.”