9 Sep 2056
Boise, Idaho
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by Fish McWilliams
SP David Molina
Molina Surprise and Fardos Update
A surprise awaited Charm City on the 5th as Boise was late with their lineup. When it showed, David Molina was on the hill. "We really weren't trying to trick anyone," says GM Ben Teague. "We wanted to make absolutely sure Molina was good to go. Since minor league teams have already reached the playoffs, there weren't enough innings there so we decided to ease him back into his role in the rotation." The lefty is certainly under a pitch count limit as he went 3.1 innings allowing only 1 hit and striking out 4 before being pulled at 43 pitches. One Spud who is not likely to pull off the same surprise off the IL is 1B Bastião Fardos. His recovery from injury went better than expected as he has checked out with the docs. However, Fardos was placed on the 60-day IL since he was forecast to be out until after the regular season. That means the earliest he can return is the first week in October. If the Spuds manage to make the playoffs, Fardos could make a contribution but it would be after the wild card round.
Kubo Negotiations and Mastinsky
Boise and SP Toshikuni Kubo (51 G, 3 GS, 5-3, 1 SV, 103.2 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, +1.4 WAR) are reportedly in tense negotiations on a contract to keep Kubo with the Spuds. That may be the motivation in moving Kubo to the rotation to better assess what Kubo provides. He's been one of the best arms in the Boise bullpen, but he's taken to the rotation just fine. In 3 starts, Kubo has gone 21.1 innings allowing 8 hits and 4 runs to go with 13 strikeouts. Negotiations with another pitcher on the last year of his contract seem to be unlikely. Starter Gavrilovich Mastinsky (29 G, 27 GS, 8-11, 145.1 IP, 4.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, +1.3 WAR) has informed management of his intention to test free agency.
Minor Teams Still Alive in Playoffs
The last version of "Tater Skins" analyzed the prospect of playoffs at each level of the Boise organization outside of rookie-level Mazatlan who didn't reach the postseason. All minor leagues are in the postseason now and a few Spuds affiliates are still playing. AAA Salt Lake City is in the first round of the playoffs and up 1 game to none over Albuquerque. The AA Weymouth Irish bowed out in the first round to Winston-Salem. Tulsa, in the A-level playoffs, made it to the Garden Cup (round 2) where they trail the Toledo Liberty 1 game to none in a 3-game series. The short-A postseason has reached the Supremacy Series but Hot Springs were taken down by Coco Cay in the 2nd round.