Well, It's Time.

Earlier this month, the Bombers moved one of their prized pitching studs to strengthen what has shown to be weak areas at the ABL Level, SS, 2B, RF, CL, getting a SP back as well.

Well, now it's the kids time to shine!  They will be getting ABL playing time this year setting them and the Bombers for next season!

Coming into the 2014 season CF and RF were concerns for the Bombers, especially when Juan Marin was traded off because of salary.

CF was given to rookie Martin Evans, who appears to be a finalist for Rookie of the Year in a class where there is no clear cut favorite.
LF was Stephen Jackson who the team is committed to building around. He's a fan favorite and does everything manager Gary Altman asks of him. This year he's slumped a bit we're expecting a big step up the last two months of this season that will parlay itself into next season.
RF was to be manned by Free Agent signing Miguel Torres, but Torres didn't hit consistently enough to maintain the job, and found himself riding the pine.

Roy O'Quinn was recently acquire in the Rogers trade (you'll be hearing this often), and will be playing LF for the Bombers for the remainder of this season and to start next season as well.  O'Quinn is finding himself to be a nuisance to opposing pitchers who make mistakes in the strike zone.  He's hit 9 HR's and has 23 RBI's in 35 games.  Over the course of a full season O'Quinn would be pushing close to 40 HR's..

Coming up next year could be 2012 1st Rd Draft Choice Ken Forryan, who will be pushing someone for playing time!

DH Orlando Bustamante has been the model of consistency here in South Carolina and fans absolutely adore him.

Fernando Guzman, 1B suffered thru a little sophomore slump and found himself starting the season in AAA.  He's back in the ABL now and is expected to deliver the results that management expected from him all along.

Stephen Cook, another key piece received from Texas is poised to take the SS position from Angelo Casas, the 2013 TML Gold Glove Winner at SS.  Casas struggles at the plate is more what forced this trade than any one other thing.  (Dobson in AAA, 23, is still developing - no rush to call him up).

3B Gunner Smart is having himself another steady and productive season. and is also a fan favorite.

C Stu Yarbrough also made his ABL debut this season and displaced Jayson O'Neill as the Bomber backstop.   Yarbrough offers more power, an equal batting average and superior defensive skills.  Our scout has been bitching to get Stu called up, and Altman finally relented and has been rewarded ever since.  All Stu needs to do is raise his average, and he's only 21 years old.

Offensively 2B becomes the focal point.  Rumors surrounding Mario Antonio will be that his team option will not be picked up at the end of the season.  Supposedly there is an agreement in place between the player's agent and the GM but no one will confirm.

Next year's candidates are going to be Mike Rogers, Rick Grant, Walt Dobson and Anthony Bailey.

The rotation next season looks like it could be one of the best 1-5's in the league.  No pressure there.  We'll settle for consistent.
Martin, Yamaguchi, Gibbons, Nicholson make up a great 1-4.  Then for the 5th spot we have Ratzlaff, Mike Joyce, Tom O'Halloran,  Jeremy Fisher, and in AA Aaron Harris (2013 1st Rd Draft Choice). 

The bullpen has help coming.  Charlie Arnold is under contract one more season.  Mike Hamilton has proved formidable in filling in for Arnold or setting him up.  John Ward and Joseph Williams performed great for the first 4 months of the season, however, when fatigued, they get clubbed.  Nick Jones and Kevin Rutledge are expected to mature and add depth to this bullpen.  But there is also potential help at AAA.  Jose Parra, Jose Carreon are two studs that should make the club sometime in 2015!  Stuart Lang and Glen Rush as well as Japenese veteran Hiroaki Ine are poised for a possible call up this season.  Based on those pending promotions, Bryan Mifflen, Eric Potter, Millard Joseph and Roger Marshall can all be brought along very deliberately. 

If none of them will be the solution next season South Carolina is poised to see their budget increase by 10M and have cash reserves of another 10M, making an impact FA signing within the realm of chance.