NABO48 w/ MLBPA ... Updated for '26

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RP Mario de la Cruz moves to the 60-day IL, SP (L) Kyle Wells gets promoted to Birmingham to take his place on the 26-man roster.

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0-6 Last week. 2-5 this week. The struggling Boars fall to 4th place and may be in serious trouble.

G34 - @ GEO - Rookie SP Dave Angeli was below average in his start (6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HRA) before handing it off to ST Ross Stevens who pitched fantastically in his work (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). But, it was not enough as the Boars bats could not get going, suffering a 3-hit shutout loss to rival Georgia Generals.

G35 - @ GEO - The Birmingham batters were mostly quieted again as SP Javier M Martinez Jr turned in consecutive horrible starts (4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)The bullpen of ST David Heronemus and RP Trevor Moore held Georgia to 1 run over the last 3 innings, but the damage was already done, leading to the Boars losing their 8th straight game. Birmingham banged out 11 hits, but could only plate 2 runs, leaving 10 runners on base. DH Dave Roberson, LF David Castro, C Andy Dahl, and SS Jacob Lombard each had 2 hits for the team. 1B Bobby Sharp and and CF Jon Curd combined to go 0-9, with each batter leaving 5 men on base.

G36 - @ GEO - The Boars snap their 8 game losing streak, and of course they did it in come from behind fashion. Georgia scored 3 runs in the 1st inning off SP Mike Melchor, but then M2 went on to pitch rather well after that (6.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Melchor left the game in the 7th, tied 4-4 and ST Tony Harris held the Generals scoreless for 1.2 innings, giving the team a chance to take the lead ... and they did. when CF Anthony Pack Jr hit a go ahead double in the top of the 9th. CL Jon Gauer threw a clean 9th to earn his 8th save, with Harris taking his 1st win of the season (1-3). The Boars hit 4 doubles inthe game and LF Matt Baker added his 3rd HR of the season as he tries to regain his productive form from last season.

G37 - @ GEO - Once again the bats found it difficult to get going, as the Boars were beaten 6-1 in the final game of the series. SP Masahiro Takiuchi had an uncharacteristically bad game (5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA) and rookie RP Kyle Wells allowed a lone run in his 3 innings of work. 1B Danny O'Neal provided 2 hits for Bama, with SS Jacob Lombard driving in their only run.

G38 - vs Gotham Gargoyles - Birmingham finally returned home after a long, dreadful road trip, only to be dumped 18-5 by the Beasts of the East. SP Fred Steward was bad (4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 3 HRA) and the bullpen was even worse ... once again allowing 9 runs in a single inning, allowing 3 more HR. The "good news" is that the bats were not quiet, as the home team got HR from DH Dave Roberson (8), C Jefferson Quero (1), and RF Elijah Beverly (1). Birmingham has now gone 1-9 in their last 10 games.

G39 - vs Gotham - SP Dave Angeli and SP Justin Snipes were engaged in a serious pitcher's duel through 4 innings, tied 0-0. Gotham struck first in the 5th inning with 3 runs, but Birmingham came back with 5 runs of their own in the bottom frame of the same inning, highlighted by run scoring hits by LF Matt Baker, 2B Zachary Kortz, and 1B Danny O'Neal. ST David Heronemus would struggle in his hold, but was bailed out by CL Jon Gauer in the 9th to minimize the damage. RF Elijah Beverly hit his 2nd HR in as many nights, and SS Jacob Lombard's bat has been a productive force, going 2-3 with 3 RBIs, including his 3rd HR of the season.

G40 - vs Gotham - SP Javier M. Martinez Jr pitched his 3rd straight bad game (4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) as Gotham sent Birmingham back to their recent losing ways, dropping 10 of their last 11 games. LR Kyle Wells relieved and allowed just a single run in 3 more innings of relief, while ST Ross Stevens allowed a run in his 2 IP. DH Dave Roberson keeps his great season going with 3 more hits, including a double and his 9th HR of the season. 1B Bobby Sharp added a 2 RBI single toward the cause.

WEEK W-L : 4-2-0
SEASON W-L : 21-19
COMEBACK W-L : 10-5

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BOW: DH Dave Roberson. I didn't screenshot for some reason, but we can probably pencil in Roberson for Batter of the Week, for the rest of the season.

The following batters have had meetings with the GM/Manger being informed that the next week (week 7) will determine their starting position and/or their spot on the roster (demoted to 3A).

3B Jacob Maddox - 123 AB - .179/.268./.285 ... .553 OPS
2B Zachary Kortz - 136 AB - .228/.291/.316 ... .607 OPS
LF Matt Baker - 143 AB - .231/.288/.343 ... 631 OPS

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Just like with the batters, the following pitchers have had meeting with the GM/Manager where it was explained directly that Week 7 is their last chance to keep their role or roster spot.
RP Dustin Chandler - 0-1 8.71 ERA, 2.52 WHIP
RP Trevor Moore - 0-0 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP
SP Javier M Martinez Jr - 1-3 7.85 ERA, 1.69 WHIP

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Birmingham bounces back from 2 terrible weeks to go 4-2 last week, moves up to 2nd place ... but the standings will likely change week to week, for the entire season, as this division is packed with a dominant team (Carolina) and 3 above average teams with flaws.

G41 - @ Havana - W, 10-6
Both starters gave up runs early and then settled into a highly competitive game, remaining tied 3-3 after 6 innings. The Boars put up a 3 spot in the 7th. O'Neal walked with the bases loaded and C Andy Dahl singled home 2 more after that. Birmingham scored to more in the 8th to add some cushion, but RP Dustin Chandler allowed 3 runs in the bottom frame to allow Havana to pull the score 8-6. The Boars added to more in the 9th and Gauer finished it off in a non-save situation, BIR wins 10-6.

SS Zachary Kortz - 3-3, R, HR (2), 1 RBI (15)
C Andy Dahl - 2-4, HR (4), 2 RBI (12), BB
2B Bryce Rainer - 3-5, HR (1), 2 RBI (2)

G42 - @ Havana - W, 7-3
Takiuchi gave up 2 runs in the 1st and a solo HR in the 9th, and nothing in between, on his way to a CG victory. The Boars tied the game in the 3rd and took the lead inthe 4th and did not look back.

SP Masahiro Takiuchi - 9 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HRA, W (3-1, 3.25)
CF Anthony Pack Jr - 3-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI (11)
DH Dave Roberson - 2-5, HR (10), 2 RBI (23)

G43 - @ Havana - L, 6-7 (Siiiiiiiix, Seeeeveeeeen)
Starting pitchers, Steward (BIR) and McKernan (HAV) battled through 5 innings, both allowing 2 ER, but the Boars allowed 2 unearned runs to cross the plate, so they trailed 4-2. The teams battled to a 5-5tie after 7 innings. Birmingham scored a run in the 9th to take a 1-R lead, setting the stage for Gauer to get the save ... but he allowed 2 runs, and took the loss instead.

DH Dave Roberson - 4-4 (.344), R, 2B (12), 2 BB
CF Jon Curd - 3-5 .276), R, 2 RBI (10)
3B Danny O'Neal - 2-4 (.323), 2 RBI (26)

G44 - @ Toronto - W, 4-3 (10)
A good pitching battle between Angeli and Bower saw the Boars trailing 3-2 after 8 innings. Birmingham tied the game in the 9th on a PH double by Bobby Sharp, and the Boars won it in the 10th on a HR from LF Matt Baker. ST Tony Harris and CL Jon Gauer held TOR scoreless for the final 3.2 innings.

SP Dave Angeli - 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, QS, ND
ST Tony Harris - 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
CL Jon Gauer - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, W (2-1)

G45 - @ Toronto - L, 6-9
Javier M Martinez Jr allowed 6 runs, including 4 HR, in his 3.1 innings of work, and the Boars could not overcome it. BIR's bullpen of Wells and Steven gave up another 3 runs in their 4.1 innings of work.

RF Elijah Beverly - 4-5 (.279), R, 2 2B (12), RBI (14)
C Andy Dahl - 3-4 (.290), 2 R, HR ((5), RBI (13), BB
3B Danny O'Neal - 1-4 (.319), 2 R, HR (4), RBI (28)

G46 - @ Toronto - W, 8-2
SP's Mike Melchor and Hunter Brown engaged in a classic pitcher's duel through 7 innings, tied 1-1. The Boars scored 7 runs over the last 2 innings to seal the victory.

SP Mike Melchor - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, QS, ND
3B - Danny O'Neal - 3-4 (.329), 2 R, 3 RBI (31), BB
RP David Heronemus - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, W (6*-1, 3.94)
* Heronemus leads the Eastern League with 6 pitcher wins.

WEEK W-L : 5-2-0
SEASON W-L : 25-21
COMEBACK W-L : 11-6

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With the way reliable Bobby Sharp has been hitting and with 3B Jason Maddox struggling all year, except for one amazing week, Sharp has been starting at 1B and Danny O'Neal has moved over to 3B for some games. O'Neal is nowhere near the defender GG winner Maddox is, but overall it makes the offense better.

At this point I feel like we should profile whoever finished runner-up to Roberson, as O'Neal and Dahl had very solid weeks.

Glove first, SS Jacob Lombard, has been the welcome surprise of the season ... as is Danny O'Neal, but to be fair O'Neal showed his stuff in August and September of last year, and we're just relieved that he kept hitting when given the change to be an every day player.

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Pitcher of Week 7 - SP Mike Melchor

We were very fortunate, looking back, last year to use the same 5 SP in the rotation all season, leading the league in QS. It really saved our bullpen too. This year, possibly due to GM's tinkering, thinking he had upgrades in the minors ready to blossom, the team's pitching is not as good.

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A 2-5 week, sees the Boars drop to 5th place in the competitive Smokey Mountain Division, but Birmingham remains 2 games back.

G47 - @ New Orleans - L, 4-6
As usual, Birmingham and New Orleans, played a very close, back and forth, game. The Necromancers took an early 3-0 lead, but the Boars tied it up with 3 runs in the 7th, and took the lead with a run in the top of the 8th. Naturally, New Orleans tied the game up 4-4 in the 8th, scoring a run off ST Tony Harris. In the bottom of the 9th, Harris gave up a PH walk-off 2R HR to Tim Rinaldo, his only HR this season.

SP Masahiro Takiuchi - 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HRA, QS, ND
2B Zachary Kortz - 1-4 (.230), R, 2B (9), 2 RBI (17)
LF Matt Baker - 2-5 (.238), RBI (18)

G48 - @ New Orleans - L, 3-5
New Orleans LF Jim Hoffman got the Necros out to an early 3-0 lead. The Boars came back to score 3 runs in the last 2 innings, capped off by a 2 run Home Run by RF Elijah Beverly, but Birmingham could not complete the comeback, losing the first 2 games of the series.

3B Danny O'Neal - 2-3 (.337), HR (5), RBI (32)
RF Elijah Beverly - 1-4 (.263), HR (3), 2 RBI (16)
SP Fred Steward - 6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, L (4-4, 3.96)

G49 - @ New Orleans - L, 3-4
Elijah Beverly's 2R HR gave the Boars a 2-1 early lead (2R HR's in consecutive at bats, going back to last game). New Orleans tied the game up 2-2 in the 5th, driving Angeli from the game. ST David Heronemus entered the game and gave up a 2R HR to Charlie Condon in the 6th inning. Birmingham would score a run in the 8th to get to within a run, they lost 4-3.

RF Elijah Beverly - 1-4 (.262), HR (4), 2 RBI (18)
C Andy Dahl - 2-4 (.272), R, 2B (9)
SP Dave Angeli - 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, ND

G50 - @ New Orleans - W, 7-2
Elijah Beverly hit a 2R HR for the 3rd consecutive game to give Birmingham and early lead. SP Justin Goss was very good in his ML debut, throwing 7 IP with just 2 ER allowed. 1B Bobby Sharp's bases clearing double helped the Boars score 4 runs in the 8th to secure the victory. Birmingham still lost the competitive series 1-3.

SP Justin Goss - 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HRA, QS+, W (1-0, 2.57)
RF Elijah Beverly - 2-3 (.269), HR (4), 2 RBI (20), BB
1B Bobby Sharp - 1-4 (.304), 2B (3) 3 RBI (15)

G51 - vs District (DC) - W, 3-1
Mike Melchor and Jason Kopecky engaged in a fnastatic pitcher's duel, tied 1-1 through 7 innings. Defense played a big part in the battle, with Birmingham turning two inning-ending double plays, and DC throwing out a runner at 3rd to end the inning. Harris and Gauer pitched scoreless final 2 inning for Birmingham, while DC's reliever, Matthieu Langushi, gave up a 2R single to Jason Maddox, giving the Boars a 3-1 8th inning lead, and eventual win.

SP Mike Melchor - 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, QS+, ND
3B Jason Maddox - 2-3 (.182), 2 RBI (23)
CL Jon Gauer - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, SV (10)

G52 - vs District (DC) - L, 2-3
Another well pitched, competitive game, between Curt Balash and Masahiro Takiuchi. Both starting pitchers threw 8 innings. Balash gave up 2 runs, and Takiuchi gave up 3. Victor Castillo's 8th inning solo HR gave the Delegates the evenetual 3-2 win.

SP Masahiro Takiuchi - 8 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HRA, QS+, L (3-2 3.32)
RF David Castro - 2-4 (.318)
DH Dave Roberson - 1-4 (.327), HR (11), RBI (25)

G53 - vs District (DC) - L, 1-5
Jason Burke was dominant for DC into the 6th inning, while Fred Steward labored over 6 innings, and that was the difference in the game. Steward gave up 2 home runs in the 3rd, and that ended up being the difference in the game.

3B Danny O'Neal - 2-4 (.335), R
RF Elijah Beverly - 1-2 (.267), RBI (21), BB
SP Fred Steward - 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA, L 4-5, 5.06)

WEEK W-L : 5-3-0
SEASON W-L : 27-26
COMEBACK W-L : 11-8

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For some reason, I was under the impression that prospects only develop a certain, lesser amount, while in the minor leagues and only "really" develop once in the major leagues ... so, I've been rushing prospects to "The Bigs" quickly. I forget exactly what triggered it, maybe the drastic fall in potential for the #1 pick last year (SP Dave Angeli), but I started reading around watching some vids on how different people handle their minor leagues. Well, as many of you know already, I was wrong about players needing to advance to ML to develop, so I tried to "fix it", so to speak.

I traded for Justin King, so that I could send Justin Goss down to the minors to develop for a couple of years, rather than ruin him like I may have done with Angeli. It cost me a prospect, but still. I considered trading C Jefferson Quero, who I just signed for 40/2 in the offseason because C Andy Dahl is better than Quero, and so is our C Vinny Andrade from last year (started season on IL, is also better than Quero). I did not feel like that was realistic, so we're going to at least hang on to Quero until the offseason, then we might dump his contract, and take the hit in "popularity".

I also thought about trading Angeli, who our scouting system downgraded to a "marginal SP", while OSA still has him as a "future anchor of rotation", but I also thought that would be unrealistic, and an easy cop out, for me not really knowing exactly how minor league player development worked. I pretty much was promoting guys once they had an OPS+ or ERA+ above 100-110 range.

WEEK W-L : 6-3-0
SEASON W-L : 32-28
COMEBACK W-L : 12-9