By all accounts this was an excellent season for the South Carolina Bombers.
Here are the positives:
Setting a franchise record in Wins (93)
Franchise record for attendance (3,983,097)
#1 Ranked bullpen in TML
Finishing the regular season going 21-7 (mo. of September)
Capturing their 2nd Billy Martin Division title,
Winning a playoff round (vs. Cabo) in 5 games,
Pushing the defending and eventual World Series Champion Kansas City Tornado's to a do or die 7th game
Seeing Mike Woods win his 1st Gold Glove
Seeing Lowell Anderson win the TML Rookie of the Year Award.
Here are the few negatives:
Losing Jorge Rosas in the TML Championship Series (probably cost the Bombers a trip to the World Series)
Yeah....that's just about it.
But there are some things to work on in the offseason.
First was slashing payroll, and tremendously. The Bombers between declining options, declining arbitration and not tendering new contracts say the Bombers save about 36 million off their payroll. Oditon, who's production wasn't great had his option for 8MM declined, yet was resigned for 2.75 MM. Bustamante (14.3) and Bryant (10.6) were let go as well.
Then there was the spending.
Aaron Harris, SP, was extended for 5 years at 34 MM
Mike Woods, SS, was extended for 5 years at 21.5 MM, and
Bernardo Cisneros was extended for 5 years at 27 MM
Rumors are very strong coming out of South Carolina that Jorge Rosas is in negotiations to buy out two seasons of his free agency. Rumored offer was 5 years at 66 MM.
If Rosas signs, the Bombers will have spent 148 MM this off-season securing their own players.
Looking at the Bombers future, as it sits right now, the payroll for a team coming off a 93 win season stands at 62MM for next season.
The infield of Adrian Ortiz (25 years old), Rosas (23), Woods (26) and Ken Abbott (24) has the makings of being together for at least 6 more years, and Ortiz and Abbott were called up in Aug and July respectively.
The outfield projects to be Dave Lewis (R) (24), Bernardo Cisneros (27) and Lowell Anderson (25).
The Starting Pitching looks to remain relatively the same. John Martin (28), Aaron Harris (27), Jason Adams (26), JR Murphy (R) (25) and probably Cecil Gibbons in the last year of his contract (4MM).
Gary Altman announced that Lorenzo Soto (25) will not be looked upon to start next season at all. His bullpen numbers were strong, and he best suits the team in that area. Soto will join Closer Gary Payne - at 33 years old, the oldest player on the team, Cal Henry (27), Jose Parra (23), Joe Ward (28).
There are moves that could be made to improve the team, add depth and strengthen key elements of this franchise, but Altman refused to elaborate as to which direction the team was headed, except to say, "We ran very efficiently, have a surplus of cash to spend this offseason and will look to add a quality bat for the DH position, and there are some really good bats out there in Free Agency".
To say we're looking forward to 2019 is an understatement.
