Sports Talk Aurora
KOA Radio 850
Saturday, April 11, 2015

KOA 850 drive-time sports personality Heywood Charmichael shares the airwaves with Aurora broadcast team George Crocker and Mark Gunter as they talk Aurora Borealis and field a few calls from their listening audience.

Heywood: …and I tell you, folks, it’s a great mystery how a team this good could have fallen so flat on its face in the PEC.  What do you think, folks?  Do ya think that Rosado was a poor choice to lead this club?  He definitely has a different managerial style from that of Juan Toro.  Hey, let’s talk Borealis baseball, people.  Joining us here today from Canton, Ohio, where the Borealis take on the Longshoremen, are Mark Gunter and George Crocker.

Crock: Yo, yo, yo… Heywood, ma man!  What’s happening, dude?

Heywood: Georgie Porgie, it’s doin’.  And how’s tricks with you, Money?

Gunt: (coldly) It’s going well, Heywood.  I’d say Aurora’s off to a tepid start so far.

Heywood: You said it.  There were a lot of angry fans out on the Front Range after that sweep by Charleston.  I hope the slow start doesn’t discourage the fans.  What do you think the crowds will be like at Northern Lights?  Hostile?  Loud?  Will we see crowds like last year, with numerous no-shows?  Come on, people!  I challenge you fans to get out there and support this team!  Let’s sell out this upcoming home stand.

Crock: Last year was totally schizophrenic, dude.  That’s what it was.  The whole year was a schizo-bi-polar roller coaster of a season for everyone involved.  There were times I felt as if I was Mark Gunter.  I talked like Marky. I walked like Marky. I chewed gum like Marky. Then, all of a sudden, I discovered that I actually was George Crocker… hey, that’s me!

Gunt: Thank God…

Heywood: Well, ain’t that special… (pregnant pause) Mark, many fans were calling for Rosado’s head.  Speak to me about the job he’s done thus far.

Gunt: Well, I have to tell you, my first impression is…

Crock: He’s a bunt-a-holic!  Man bunts all the freakin’ time.  I think Toro would bunt three times all season.  This guy…

Gunt: Aurora did lead the Sovereign League in sac bunts last year – well, tied with Duluth and Canton.  Only Florida had more.  George has a point here.  Up a run, down three… there seemed to be no rhyme or reason behind the decisions.  He’d bunt anyone…

Crock: Damn straight… He even had Cory Pierce bunting once, and Steve McDonald had nine!  I don’t know about you guys, but the Magic 8 Ball tells me Stevie Mac swings away every time!  And man, oh man, he’s already doing it again!

Gunt: It wasn’t just the bunting.  It was poor decision-making in the running game.  His use of the bullpen was really questionable.  He’d overwork a guy while others go two weeks without work.

Heywood: Well, things don’t seem to have changed much.  He’s let the starters go very deep into the game this first time around.  Poor “Sawmill”.  First game out and he’s left in the game to take a loss when we all could see he’d run out of steam.

Crock: Lovin’ it… absolutely lovin’ havin’ Sawmill on the team!  Now that’s a move I can wrap my arms around and dance the Macarena with!  The Boy Wonder has finally made a move that has moved the Earth for me!  This guy is going to be so good.  He’ll mow through the Desert Hills.  He’ll slice and dice the Great Lakes.

Gunt: For a change, I have to agree with George on this one.  I believe Francisco is just coming into his own.  He’s shown greatly improved control this spring despite the three walks in his first start.

Heywood: Let’s take a call here.  We have Sam from Boulder on the phone and he wants to talk about Francisco.  Where you calling from, Sam?  Atop the Flat Irons?

Sam: Nah, just here in my dorm at CU.  What will they end up doing with Sawmill?  “Slappy” had a great start the other night – I listened to the Thornton game and he was dealin’.  Aurora ain’t going to go with six starters like Thornton, are they?

Heywood: Great question, Sam I Am.  Bradley’s return will cause a bit of a lineup dilemma.  What do you think, guys?

Gunt: Well, Francisco has the advantage of having experience in the pen.  I suppose that makes him the obvious choice to drop out of the rotation.  The other Francisco – Frankie Chávez – has some pen experience as well, but I believe the team is wedded to him starting.

Crock: Maybe the Tillerman?  He hasn’t pitched in relief much in his career.  How about Kojima?  I could see him ridin’ in from the bullpen atop his bike… ZZ Top blastin’ on the speakers…

Heywood: Nah, I think Kojima stays a starter, if he even sticks around… but that’s a different story.  I don’t think it’ll be Silva.  I’m very interested in seeing how he does this year.  He was pretty sharp last year, but he was coming off 100-plus winter league innings.  He should be well rested this year.  If his opening start yesterday was any indication, he could be very good.

Gunt: Silva was dealing yesterday.  I’m guessing we’ll see a trade or Francisco goes as the swingman.  If he gets off to an amazing start, then we may have a problem here.  Thanks for the question, Sam.

Heywood: Speaking of Kojima, Eli from Durango is on the line.

Eli: Man, Koji had a rough start Opening Day.  I hear he’s broken off talks with the team over a contract extension.  Do you think that had anything to do with his poor performance on Opening Day?  What’s going to happen with him?

Crock: Ko-ji-ma… man, he’s like the greatest pitcher in PEBA history!  Don’t listen to those Hancock fans!  He’s like a superpower all into his own.  He’ll be fine as fine can be.  You watch.  It was just a minor setback.  Watch, he’ll pitch a three-hit shutout tonight!

Gunt: Well, Eli, I would hope that he wouldn’t take his personal issues out onto the mound.  I’ve heard those same rumors, but I can’t verify them.  Let’s just say that for what he has brought to the table week in and week out, Kojima is underpaid, and the Tophams have not exactly had the most open purse strings.

Heywood: I do believe they started discussions about an extension, but I’ve heard no more.  I tell you what, Eli: Kojima is a total pro.  He’ll bounce back tonight.  Truthfully, take a look at what’s down in the minors.  There ain’t any pitching help ready to step in and replace Kojima.  Free agent-wise, you have the Crystal Lake trio.  “Nails”, Stewart and Cruz look to be the top options next year, and they’re all old!  I think Kojima signs before the season ends.

Crock: Dude!  Have you been up to Thornton?  Have you seen Nathan O’Reilly pitch?  The guy’s a regular horse!  If he can just get a handle on his control… And Chris Graves?  Mark my words, Heywood-you buy me a Coke!  They have some horses ready to step in!

Heywood: Ah, yeah… actually, I have, Georgie.  Living in Louisville, I’ve been over to the park many times while Aurora’s on the road and, frankly, I ain’t impressed!  Guys, we have Bob from Denver on the line and he has a money question for us.  Mark, you might want to field this one. (snickers)

Gunt: (annoyed) Whatever… what ya got for us, Bob?

Bob: Why would they begrudge guys their dough?  I mean, we have Steve McDonald – I think he’s the best player in the league.  Are they going to pay him and keep him around?  What are they doing with that money?  The Rodriguezes would have paid these guys their worth!

Gunt: For what it’s worth, Bob, I think the Rodriguezes got out just before salaries began to escalate around the league.  I actually think we will see the Tophams begin to spend some money, but I’m afraid it may not be with the pitching or the infield…

Crock: Totally!  Bob-O, I tell ya: This team has some awesomeness sitting on the farm waiting to blow yer mind!  Drive yourself up to Thornton and check out “Gypsy” Foster.  This guy is going to be Old McDonald with power.  I love Stevie – don’t misquote me – but Foster’s going to be the GBB MVP this year, and he’s a gotta-play next year!  Monster, I tell ya!  He’ll be a monster!  He’s gonna be the 2016 Wunderkind and the 2017 Royal Raker.  You heard it here first, boys and girls!

Heywood: Bob, I have to say I agree with Crocker.  Is there a better player… is there a guy who is the epitome of Borealis Baseball other than Steve McDonald?  No way!  But I’ve been to Thornton and I love the potential of another infielder, Riley Cole…

Gunt: And don’t forget Mike Britt at Gatineau…

Heywood: Man… Britt’s going to be just sick!  Joe Horn thought that kid was going to be good… he had no idea he’d be this good.  Point is, Bob, the infield is going to just get better.  I think the money will go into the outfield and the mound.

Bob: So, are they going to hold onto Knight?  His contract is up, just like McDonald’s.

Gunt: I’d be shocked if they kept Knight.  I think McDonald has a better chance of sticking around.  Knight is too inconsistent and injury-prone.  His agent is seeking $20M a year.  That’d be over a quarter of the budget on two players.  That’s why I think they’re gone.  My understanding is En-guo is asking for double what Pierce is making, and they have to think about Brad Cain, as well.  Knight’s $20M could cover both Cain and En-guo.  McDonald’s could go into a deal for Edwards or the rotation…

Crock: Maybe they hold it!  Maybe they make a big deal for a super arm!  I say let’s bring a politician into the fold!

Heywood: There ya go, Bob.  Aurora has the dough.  They may be the richest franchise, and it sounds like they are going to spend it to keep the young core together.  We have time for one more question before we sign off for the pre-game stuff.  We have Melinda in Fort Collins and she wants to know about the draft.  What’s up, Melinda?

Melinda: I’m great, Heywood.  I’m so excited for the home opener.  I just totally love Rod Johnson!  I have season tix right behind first.  I hope he gets to play there a lot!

Crock: You go, girl!  He sure is the hot rookie these days!  Want me to set you up?  I’ve got friends who have friends whose friends know Rod… we can make it happen for ya.

Gunt: Come on… please, George.  What do you want to know about the draft, Melinda?

Melinda: Well, Aurora has this massive load of picks.  What are they up to?  Couldn’t we trade those for a top line pitcher?  I think that’s all we need.  If we had an arm like Hancock, or the Mayor, or Robles… why didn’t they make a move for “Yogi”?

Heywood: Melinda, you are so spot-on about a pitcher.  Any of those guys would put Aurora over the top.  I’m not sure why they didn’t make a move for Yogi.  We know about Hancock, and I don’t think the Bears will be shipping him here!  I hear that Gloucester is simply reluctant to let Corona go.

Gunt: Aurora could deal those selections, but they’d have to find a willing team.  Keep in mind that with that collection comes a huge chunk of change needed for signing bonuses.  So who do you deal with?  The Fishies have no money… Duluth?  Would the Warriors deal Barker?  They have the finances available to pay draft bonuses, but I think there’s no way they deal “Zoom”.  I know Aurora would love him.  Didn’t they almost have a deal for him back in 2012?

Crock: Yep-a-doodle dandy they did, Markie-Mark!  Then they had a sudden ownership change or somethin’, and it was toodle-loo…

Heywood: Melinda, I think we’ll see Aurora stand pat here, maybe make a deal or two before the draft or the deadline, but I really think they’ll plan on drafting a whole lineup with that collection!  Well folks, it’s time to let these two go.  Have a great call, guys.

Gunt: Thanks, Heywood.  The message here, fans, is don’t worry.  This club is in fine shape.  Get out there and support your team!

Crock: Besides, with a matchup with Canton-cannot over the weekend, Aurora is in a can’t-lose spot!  Ha!  Ha!  Love it!  Llllll-ove it!