As last reported, in June snapped 20 consecutive months of losing baseball when the Bombers 15-13.
So far in July, with 4 games remaining, the Bombers have played .636 ball (14 of 22) and have assured themselves of a second consecutive month of winning baseball.
The last 4 games of July are against San Francisco, who lead the Billy Martin Division by 2 games. These are the first of 14 remaining games between the Earthquakes and Bombers and pundits are predicting the division lies within these divisional match ups.
The South Carolina Organization recognizes their outstanding players in this Blog from the last couple of months. Players listed below have already received gold watches and $1000 donated in their name to the charity of their choice.
ABL All Star Game saw a first for any South Carolina Player to date...A starting position player. Gerald Pugh, a Rule V selection back in December was the starting 2B in the mid season classic, which was won by the TML 7-2. Joining Pugh was Bomber DH Orlando Bustamante who has had a career season so far for the Bombers.
Leland Ray, currently with the ABL Squad won the Player of the Week award on June 1st, in the Blake Camden League (AAA), for his performance with the Bronx Bombers. Ray is currently in his second stint of the season with the Bombers being called up because of injuries.
Mark Buchanan, currently on the 14 day Disabled List won the May Rookie of the Month Award in the Thurman Munson League. It was Buchanan's first full month in the ABL this time around and he hit .300 with 6 HR's, 18 RBI's and 14 RS to secure this prestigious honor.
Jorge Rosas, while with the Long Island Ducks (AA) slammed 4 HR's on June 9th. Rosas went 4-5 with 6 RBIs' in this game. The 20 year old has since been promoted to AAA Bronx and working his way up to possibly joining South Carolina this season. This game helped lead Rosas to the Ford Frick League Player of the Week Award.
Stephen "Action" Jackson, ripped 5 hits in a game on June 10th vs. Texas Gunners, going 5 for 6 in the 9-8 victory.
Robert O'Neil, was voted the June recipient of the Ford Frick Player of the Month for June. O'Neil parlayed this to also being selected to the to the AA All Star Game.
Eric Carlton, collected the Blake Camden Player of the Week Award for July 20th for his efforts. Carlton went 8 for 13 (.615) with 3 HR's and 6 RBI's to earn the award.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
And It's Finally Happened!!!
Champagne was popped in the General Manager's office after the game on June 30th against Jersey.
You see, when South Carolina won 10-7, that secure a 15-13 record for the month of June, and the Bombers first winning month with a full compliment of games, snapping a losing streak of 20 consecutive losing months.
The Bombers did get a scare losing 8 consecutive games (3 to So Cal, 3 to Seattle, and 2 to Boston) and 10 of 11 games in June. Remove that 11 game stretch and South Carolina had a 14-3 record and could very well have been in 1st Place.
The Bombers DID reach the Penthouse of the Billy Martin Division in June, just prior to the skid, which was another first for this franchise.
In the next blog will be a recap of the first half, individual player awards and who from South Carolina will be headed to the All Star Game.
You see, when South Carolina won 10-7, that secure a 15-13 record for the month of June, and the Bombers first winning month with a full compliment of games, snapping a losing streak of 20 consecutive losing months.
The Bombers did get a scare losing 8 consecutive games (3 to So Cal, 3 to Seattle, and 2 to Boston) and 10 of 11 games in June. Remove that 11 game stretch and South Carolina had a 14-3 record and could very well have been in 1st Place.
The Bombers DID reach the Penthouse of the Billy Martin Division in June, just prior to the skid, which was another first for this franchise.
In the next blog will be a recap of the first half, individual player awards and who from South Carolina will be headed to the All Star Game.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
...And So It Continues
Almost a third of the season in the books and some tendencies are starting to emerge.
The Ugly
In the first three full seasons of the ABL the Bombers have managed to have a losing month in 18 of the 19 months. The only month that South Carolina had a winning month was an abbreviated October 2014 when only 5 games were played and we went 3-2. While it DOES count, it's not really what we're looking for, obviously.
So far, things have gotten better as we've had two near misses so far in 2015, and thankfully, with no one taking a leadership position in the division, we're just 2 games back being 5 games under 500 (22-27).
In April, the Bombers were 10-12. In May, 12-15. So, looking at full months of game play, the Bombers have played under 500 in 20 of 20 months.
#LookingToCorrectThisInJune.
The Bad
Pitching still is not where we'd like it, nor where we thought it would be, at least in terms of rankings.
RA, 8th
SP ERA, 9th
BP ERA, 8th
Defense, 12th
Management understood that a hit would take place because CF'er Martin Evans would be relegated to a 4th OF'er slot on the depth chart's. His GG caliber Defense is utilized in late innings.
Gunner "Get" Smart defense has eroded as well. His experiment at 1B didn't work primarily since Fernando Guzman failed to transition to 3B.
2013 1st Round Pick Aaron Harris has pitched well enough this season in AAA to now be noticed on a week to week basis for promotion into the starting rotation with the hopes of getting the SP ERA more in line to where management wants to see it.
Cecil "Gibby" Gibbons will be coming off the DL after tonight's SIM and then be headed for a rehab assignment. Jeremy "Pin Cushion" Fisher appears to be the logical demotion upon Gibbons return.
Dave "Nickles" Nicholson is running out of time to get his act together as well. So far, 1-7 with 6.17 ERA is unacceptable and he's been working feverishly with PC Lou Fountain.
The Good
Orlando Bustamante, has put together a season so far that he has thrown his hat into discussion for TML League MVP honors. There is still a lot of baseball yet to play, but by far Bustamante is having a career season. Bustamante is leading the TML in batting average (.361), Hits (73), 3rd in Slugging (.594), OPS (.986), 3rd in WAR (2.5), 8th in HR (11), 5th in RS (38), and 2nd in Total Bases (120).
There are some other players on other teams having outstanding seasons too, but it's clear Bustamante is carrying the load in South Carolina.
Stephen "Action" Jackson started the season going 4-6 with a HR and Double in a game and a half and then was put on the shelf for 3 weeks due to an injury. When Jackson came off the DL he practically picked up where he left off. He's hitting .318, and OB of .402 and a slug of .486 for a OPS of 888. He's about 30 PA's shy of qualifying for any of the hitting categories right now. We'll expect him there by the end of June, barring any further injuries.
The Ugly
In the first three full seasons of the ABL the Bombers have managed to have a losing month in 18 of the 19 months. The only month that South Carolina had a winning month was an abbreviated October 2014 when only 5 games were played and we went 3-2. While it DOES count, it's not really what we're looking for, obviously.
So far, things have gotten better as we've had two near misses so far in 2015, and thankfully, with no one taking a leadership position in the division, we're just 2 games back being 5 games under 500 (22-27).
In April, the Bombers were 10-12. In May, 12-15. So, looking at full months of game play, the Bombers have played under 500 in 20 of 20 months.
#LookingToCorrectThisInJune.
The Bad
Pitching still is not where we'd like it, nor where we thought it would be, at least in terms of rankings.
RA, 8th
SP ERA, 9th
BP ERA, 8th
Defense, 12th
Management understood that a hit would take place because CF'er Martin Evans would be relegated to a 4th OF'er slot on the depth chart's. His GG caliber Defense is utilized in late innings.
Gunner "Get" Smart defense has eroded as well. His experiment at 1B didn't work primarily since Fernando Guzman failed to transition to 3B.
2013 1st Round Pick Aaron Harris has pitched well enough this season in AAA to now be noticed on a week to week basis for promotion into the starting rotation with the hopes of getting the SP ERA more in line to where management wants to see it.
Cecil "Gibby" Gibbons will be coming off the DL after tonight's SIM and then be headed for a rehab assignment. Jeremy "Pin Cushion" Fisher appears to be the logical demotion upon Gibbons return.
Dave "Nickles" Nicholson is running out of time to get his act together as well. So far, 1-7 with 6.17 ERA is unacceptable and he's been working feverishly with PC Lou Fountain.
The Good
Orlando Bustamante, has put together a season so far that he has thrown his hat into discussion for TML League MVP honors. There is still a lot of baseball yet to play, but by far Bustamante is having a career season. Bustamante is leading the TML in batting average (.361), Hits (73), 3rd in Slugging (.594), OPS (.986), 3rd in WAR (2.5), 8th in HR (11), 5th in RS (38), and 2nd in Total Bases (120).
There are some other players on other teams having outstanding seasons too, but it's clear Bustamante is carrying the load in South Carolina.
Stephen "Action" Jackson started the season going 4-6 with a HR and Double in a game and a half and then was put on the shelf for 3 weeks due to an injury. When Jackson came off the DL he practically picked up where he left off. He's hitting .318, and OB of .402 and a slug of .486 for a OPS of 888. He's about 30 PA's shy of qualifying for any of the hitting categories right now. We'll expect him there by the end of June, barring any further injuries.
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