Monday, March 31, 2014

Down the Home Stretch

The Bombers find themselves in rarefied air at this juncture in the season.   South Carolina is no longer chasing the rest of the TML for a playoff position because they find themselves holding the top Wild Card spot!

Yeah, well, it is JUST a 1 game lead, but as GM Altman said, "better to be a game up than a game down".

But just because the team is playing well at this point, Altman decided to do a little tinkering with the roster to gear up for the post season.

A couple of injuries occurred right at the roster deadline, and being that the races for the post season are so tight, Altman was forced to put Cecil Gibbons (SP) and Roy O'Quinn (OF) on the DL.  Needing a SP to replace Gibbons, Dave Nicholson was put back on the 40 man roster and promoted and will get a start vs. SF.  He's pitched well of late, going 8+ innings in his last 4 starts and we're hoping that kind of production continues.  Nicholson being added back on the 40 man roster gives the big club another chance to see him before deciding what to do with him in the off season.  His contract expires at the end of the season.

The next move was to purchase the contract of 24 year old OF'er Dave Lewis.  He had an awesome debut against division leader New Jersey going 4 for 11, with a HR and double.  He has a .417 OB and a .727 Slug.  At AAA this season he hit 29 HR's, 116 RBI's and a .311 AVG and .932 OPS.  At 4* / 4/5* he's nearly full developed and we're thinking that his energetic enthusiasm carries the club to the playoffs - preferably as the Billy Martin Division winner.

The last move made was a shocker for the bear writers covering the team.  1B Fernando Guzman was optioned to AAA on 8/29 and rookie Adrian Ortiz was called up and immediately inserted into the lineup.  Ortiz in 12 AB's has 1 HR, a 333 AVG and a modest .667 Slug.

Finally,Stephen Jackson finished off his REHAB assignment at AAA Bronx and to make room for him, the Bombers designated for assignment team veteran Orlando Bustamante.  Anonymous sources within the Bomber organization have said this was a numbers game and plan on bring Bustamante back to the team when he clears waivers, and be added back to the 40 man roster.

Tonight's games sees the conclusion of the SC - NJ series, then SF for 3 and GEO for 3.
With Jacksonville, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Eureka all within striking distance, we're going to need to get hot and hope these kids can play up to snuff.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

SC GM Press Conference

July 2018 - Maple - Sight of the 2018 All Star Game

GM Gary Altman starts off the press conference by congratulating Starting Pitcher John "Flipper" Martin and Closer Gary Payne on their election to the 2018 All Star Game.  This is Payne's 3rd trip to the mid-summer classic and first with South Carolina.  For Martin, this is his 2nd Consecutive Appearance.  

Before the game, some roster moves prior to the game, JR Murphy had his contract purchased and will make his ABL debut on Sunday against division rival San Francisco.  When Altman was asked why he was brought up with so much time before he was going to be used, his answer was simple.  "We wanted to give Murph a little more time to get acclimated to the ABL life style."  Murphy was a 4th Rd Pick in 2015 and is 24 years old.

To make room in the rotation and roster for Murphy, Altman designated Jeremy Fisher for assignment and demoted Soto and his league leading 10 wins back to the bullpen.  When questioned about Fisher, Altman said that "Fisher is a good pitcher - just not right now!"  When it was announced that Soto was being moved back to the bullpen the press corps grumbled.  Altman, clearly red faced responded back to the press, "Soto is just 21 years old.  While he does have 10 wins, and while he did win 7 of them as a Starter, he's also owner of a 6.47 ERA, WHIP of 1.59 and averaging just over 5 innings per start.  Not quite the 20 game winner you're portraying him to be!

Soto, as a reliever was 3-0, with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.  Right now he's more suited for the bullpen, to be in a prominent role, and the Bombers are better for it!"

Before storming off, Altman did make one last statement.  Clearly agitated with what should have been a nice moment for the Bomber All Stars, Altman pointed his finger at the press and said, "You want a quote, how about this for a quote.  South Carolina will win the Billy Martin Division and make the playoffs this October!

We have the #1 Bullpen (ERA), #2 Pitching Staff (Runs Against), #3 in Defence (efficiency), and we're 4th in OB, AVG and HR's.  The only thing our offense is not doing is scoring enough runs.  But that will change.  Anderson is headed to a Rookie of the Year Award, Rosas and Woods haven't hit the first half and we're going to correct that either in house or via trade.  But we're going to the post season!  Write That!"

And with that Altman stormed off.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Review of 2013 Draft

Since it's quickly approaching Draft Day, I figured I might as review what appears to be the Bombers best draft, the 2013 Draft.

So without any further ado, here goes....

Round 1 - SP Aaron Harris.  Harris made his ABL Debut just 2 years after being drafted, in 2015, going 1-1 with a 12.76 ERA.  He had an expected rookie campaign of 14-9 but a 5.09 ERA.  2017 saw a setback, but in 2018, he's been stellar, going so far 3-2, with a 3.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.40.
For his career, he's 20-21.

Round 2 - CF Bernardo Cisneros.  Cisneros made his ABL Debut in 2016 playing in 85 games and hitting a respectable .275 with 11 HR and 36 RBI's.
In 2017 he played in 157 games with 18 HR and 89 RBIs and a .276 avg.
So far in 2018 he's hitting 291, with an 820 OPS, 6 HR and 17 RBI's

Round 3 - MR Millard Joseph.  Peaked as high as AAA and sits now in A Ball with no real potential.  Still just 26 and odd's makers are putting him as a long shot to hit the ABL.

Round 4 - 3B Katsumoto Matsui.  Matsui now finds himself in AA with the Eureka Organization, as part of the trade bringing Cal Henry to South Carolina.

Round 5 - MR Bryan Mifflen.  Miflen, 28, sits in AAA and is on the verge of being called up.  Had a strong 2017 season in AAA, 8-0, 2 saves, and a 2.71 ERA.  This season he's 5-1, 6 saves and a 4.43 ERA.  What's held him back is a current WHIP of 1.88

Round 6 - MR Jim King.  King, 27, is also on the verge of being promoted.  He's been in AAA since the latter part of 2016, and this season seems to have found himself.  Right now, King is 0-4 with 3 saves and a 3.60 ERA and a WHIP of 1.34.

Round 7 - CF Leland Rey.  Rey made his ABL Debut in 2015, primarily as a defensive specialist and is a bench player.  A career .254 hitter and should hold a job with his defense as long as doesn't get greedy.

Round 8 - 1B Brett Caines.  Caines sits in AA fully entrenched behind the trifecta of Bryant, Guzman and Ortiz (AAA).  Has no future in our organization.

Round 9 - C Morgan Cairns.  Starting C in ABL.  Made his ABL Debut in 2016 when the previous incumbents O'Neill and Yarbrough were faltering.  His produced with his bat and has an average defensive ability.  In 2017 SC acquired Oditon from SEA and Cairns was moved to 2nd in the depth charts.  But with Oditon's bat still struggling, Cairns was inserted in the lineup full time and is only hitting .311 with an .811 OPS.

Round 10 - MR Pancho Ochoa.  Peaked at AA and was recently demoted to A ball because of his struggles there.  No ABL future for Ochoa.

Round 11 - MR Tom Smith.  Smith sits in AA.  While initially showing promise in A and AA with sub 2.50 ERA's, he's since been at 7.71, 7.86 and 6.46.  Still has tons of potential (3.5*) and the organization has not given up on him...yet.

Round 12 - SP Wei-Quo Xian.  RETIRED in 2014 while in AAA.  Kind of a bizarre scenario as he went from A Ball and a 1.86 ERA to AA and a 4.26 before a promotion to AAA.  He struggled in his initial doctrinarian to AAA,, but the management team had faith that his second full season would hold a lot of promise.

So to recap, the 2013 Draft has seen 4 current graduates to the ABL, and possibly 3 could make it, before this draft is put to bed.