The following report is from Will Bigby, lead baseball correspondent for Treasure Valley Sports.* * * * * * *
After an 11-5 loss to Long Beach last night, Boise manager Barrett Callahan held a closed-door meeting with Spuds pitching coach Bob Blaisdell and the entire pitching staff. The loss capped a week in which the Spuds went 1-6 on the road against the Surfers and Valencia Stars.
As media gathered outside the clubhouse for post-game reactions and interviews, multiple sources have claimed to have heard what has been described as "metallic clanging off the wall," some suggesting a chair was thrown during the private meeting.
If tempers are flaring, it can be expected after the week Boise pitchers had, giving up 59 total runs in seven games and seeing the team's run differential drop from +19 to -7. The biggest issue seemed to be giving up the long ball, as Boise allowed 14 home runs during the week, in an addition to a lack of strikeouts-to-walks.
| IP | ER | HR | K-BB | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTERS | 33.1 | 29 | 9 | 3 | 7.83 |
| BULLPEN | 25.2 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 9.47 |
"After tonight's game, I had a private meeting with our pitching staff and coaches to address the team's recent performance. As a whole, we've underachieved despite a winning record. The pitching this season, for the most part, has been well-short of our standards and frankly, the players should be embarrassed. Look, we're not the most talented team and we can't rely every night on Frenchy bailing us out. When our guys toe the rubber, we need their best. Guys either need to step up or changes will be made. I believe getting back home, in front of our fans, is going to play a huge part into getting our pitching staff to where we believe they can be."
Changes were made prior to tonight's game against the Kernels, as reliever Samuel Cant was waived and designated for assignment and reliever Marcos Sánchez was sent down to Triple A Salt Lake City, with plans to stretch him into a full-time starter. Taking their spots on the active roster is reliever António Sánchez after two weeks of rehab assignments in AAA, and hard-throwing veteran lefty Mario Contreras, who last pitched in the BBA in 2037.
