NLN EXTRA
by Francis Ferry, NLN baseball beat writer

October 12, 2015: Aurora, Colorado – A hushed crowd assembled in what normally would be a boisterous pressroom at Northern Lights Park. With yet another early exit by the Borealis from the PEBA post-season – this time at the hands of a hungry Omaha Cyclones team – the press assembled not for an update from manager Roberto Rosado and GM Will Topham but for a postmortem.

By the time Aurora owner Michael Topham approached the podium, the crowd had grown anxious. The normally punctual owner was 20 minutes late. “Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for being so tardy. I’ve been busy addressing another crisis at Golden that has been consuming our time. I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting.

“I need not overstate the obvious,” began the Borealis owner. “The conclusion of the 2015 season was an utter disaster from our point of view. We have been here now for five years. For five years, we have made the playoffs, and for five years, we have met like this following a loss. A loss to Florida in 2011. Losses to Tempe in 2012 and 2013. Last year’s dismal effort versus Charleston, and now this. Our last four season-ending series have seen us win a collective total of three games!”

The senior Topham looked to his left towards the younger Topham, Aurora’s GM, then continued to address the press. “We commend Omaha and their staff. Jason has done a great job molding that team into a contender, scrapping their way upward to be in this position. They were determined. They wanted it. Where was our desire? Where was our determination? Have we here at Aurora just become content to pile up wins during the regular season and call it a day?” The grim look on his face suggested the answers to those questions – non-existent, non-existent, and I hope not.

“We’ve sat down and discussed what’s next.” Topham motioned towards his son. “There is a core group here that should have won a title by now. The time is now. Baseball is a game and a business, but it is also a passion. The time is now for this team to show some passion, step forward, take charge, take responsibility, and do more than look pretty piling up top record after top record.”

The assembled group of reporters sat in a stunned silence. The usually calm owner seemed to be emitting the same passion he was calling for. “This is the last chance for many of these players to don the Aurora Blue and chase a title. Some are already gone – others will find that 2016 may be their last chance here. We are prepared to field a very different team in 2017 should next year end in the same disappointing manner as this year.”

Topham glanced behind himself as if called by an eavesdropper, then stepped aside and spoke briefly with an unseen individual backstage. “Sorry… The first change we’ve made is an internal realignment of the organization’s coaching staff. We have relieved Roberto Rosado of his duties as manager of the Aurora Borealis and reassigned him to the same position with Thornton.” A mumbled sound rose from the group as Topham continued with the announcement. “We are very disappointed in how Roberto handled the roster and pitching staff during the series with Omaha. Over all these past two seasons, we felt the team has underachieved under his wing. We felt it was time for a change, and this time it would be a change from within.”

After sipping a little water from a bottle, he continued. “Hitting coach Don James will take over the full-time duties of manager. He is on a one-year contract to be reevaluated at the end of the 2016 season. Should the overall quality of the team’s play improve as we approach September, then we will look into something longer.” With that he gave the crowd a brief yet respectful nod and stepped aside to speak with Golden Entertainment CFO Edward Castle in a back corner.

Will Topham stepped forward and continued to address the crowd of reporters. “Well… um, yeah… James’s spot as batting coach will be taken by former Thornton manager Kata Hayagawa, who has done a marvelous job with our AAA teams.” For the first time since taking over the reins of the organization, the young GM looked nervous. “Dad mentioned potential change on the horizon. This… this managerial change is just one part. On the field, we’ll see some changes. Perhaps the biggest change is no secret at all. We have ended negotiations with John Knight’s agent and he will be allowed to seek a deal through free agency. We’ll of course offer him arbitration, but that is more procedural than anything else. If Knight is wearing Aurora Blue in the spring, I’ll be most surprised!”

“Kojima will walk, though not necessarily by our choice. We are really sorry that our relationship ends this way, but for now, his agent refuses to discuss things. We may make a free agent offer, though the injury issue clouds the decision. We do expect him to be elsewhere in 2016, perhaps even back in Japan.

“We’ve a few guys for whom next season will be make or break, and we are putting the team on notice. Steve McDonald, despite his new deal, En-guo, Orlando López, Al Edwards, Artie Tillman, Ángel Lara – these guys may be leaders on this club, but something has to change. As Dad says, falling short of our goal is no longer acceptable. We will win in 2016 or there will be changes, and if that means a sub-par year in 2017 so that we can contend in 2018, so be it.” The nervousness was gone; Will Topham now possessed a gleam in his eye. “We believe we have the pieces developing in the minors and that these players are more than capable of keeping us competitive well into the future.”

His confidence seemingly regained, the young GM began to field questions for the crowd of reporters. His father looked on grimfaced from the wings as he continued his discussion with Edward Castle on an unknown topic that clearly had the elder Topham quite distressed.