We welcome you back to the Bomber Blast Report.  Our local cub reporter has been away documenting ballplayers from Transylvania which proved to be a complete waste of time.  But that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

What's happened in the last month or so...Hmmm.

Franchise record 9 game winning streak!  If you've followed the follies of the South Carolina ballclub, it would have thought to have been impossible to have that kind of streak this season. Right now the Bombers have won 10 of 11, and 11 of 13.  All of a sudden the thought of losing 100 games in our inaugural season seems like it can be averted.  A final record of 10-12 would do such.

This streak has also given the Bombers some separation from the Nottingham squad and looks like the Bombers will get no better than the 3rd overall draft pick in the entry draft.  However, that is now in jeopardy as we're just 2 games behind the Jacksonville Jacks squad.  While the #3 overall pick would be better than the #4 pick, we could use all the positive momentum we can garner going into the off season.

Then there is the power rankings.  In August, after losing 12 of 14 games, we saw that not only did our Power Ranking drop from #22 overall - where we've been hovering most of the season to #23 and being passed by Nottingham.  This was a major concern to the GM and Ownership.  The run the Bombers are on now has seen then jump all the way to 19, and if the squad can continue playing good ball, a jump to 15th overall is definitely within reach (currently at 83.0, #15 Greenville is sitting at 86.4).

Team rankings in Batting are starting to come around...ALOT, and this is encouraging to the fans.  The highest ranking for the Bombers are the Bombs!  We rank 2nd in HR's (with 168) and that has won quite a few games for us, as reported in the ABL Dugout with come-from-behind, game winning Grand Slams.  We're 6th in Slugging and 6th in Extra Base Hits.  These stats become important as our Avg (10th) and OB (10th) lag.  This means to us that when we have a runner on first, with our power, he can be considered in scoring position, which makes us a dangerous offensive team.

Pitching is still way behind where we'd like it.  Ranked 11th and 12th in all but one category (K's - 10th), but during this streak, we're seeing very good starting pitching which is accentuated by out back end of the bullpen closing out games.  Waiver pickup Bob Robinson is becoming a fan favorite and he has a 2.25 ERA with 11 saves. 

Starting Pitchers Jeremy Rogers, 25 and Mike Joyce, 22 now have .500 records (8-8 and 4-4 respectfully) and this is another in the small steps that lead to bigger things.  Cecil Gibbons, 21 years old, and the SP for the first ever South Carolina Bomber game sits at 6-13.  While some consider this a disappointment, management has stuck by Gibbons and has already named him the Opening Day starter for 2013!  These are the pitchers we're going build around and make this a Championship caliber team.

Finances.  This is a bit of a disappointment to Ownership.  That, and attendance.  We were seeing an average of 20,000 fans coming to games in July and August and having a half empty ballpark, regardless of whether we'd lose money or not was not acceptable.  Seeing fan interest wan to 60 was also disappointing to management.  GM Altman was called in and asked his thoughts, and management was fully behind him.

Ticket prices for the last month were dropped to $17 from $20 and an immediate impact was reported.  Attendance was up 50% to about 30,000 fans.  An increase in gate revenue generated approximately a 20% increase in revenue (400,000 per game - $20 @ 20K, to 510 per game - $17 @ 30K).  The new prices have been in effect for the last 5 home dates, and with 10 home dates remaining, we're expecting to reduce our operating deficit to around 3 Mil.  "This policy will remain in effect until the end of the season", ownership said.

Payroll Paring will take place at the end of the season and the Bombers are expecting to shave off approximately 10 Million to spend on viable free agents in the off season.  Ed Bell's 8 Million contract come off when he files for Free Agency.  Altman says he'd like to keep him, but it will be at a cost significantly less than the 8 million he was last asking  while rehabbing from his Tommy John surgery.

All Star, and Rookie of the Year Candidate in the Thurman Munson League Stephen Jackson continues to excel.  He's been steady all season and has played in 134 of 140 games.  The 25 year old is hitting at a .314 clip with 21 HRs, 72 RBI's and an OPS of 921.  His 45 doubles are amazing and combined with his 21 dingers, has 66 extra base hits.  The best part of this for Bomber Fans is that hes' under team control thru 2017, and management will make him a Bomber for Life.