Tides Shut Down Bulls

 

As we all know, pitching matters. Their was better than ours. Box.

Bulls Win Game 1

 

Durham took back the lead in the 7th. Norfolk’s pitching fell completely apart in the 8th. The Bulls scored 5 runs on just 2 hits in that inning. Box. Story.

Game 1; International League Championship

Although little noted by local media, which is a bit odd since a local media mogul owns the Bulls, the Durham Bulls are in Norfolk, Virginia playing the Norfolk Tides for the International League Championship. Although this is far from the first time the Bulls have been playing for a championship, this will be the first time in the new IL Triple-A format.

IL Matchup

The Bulls have played the Tides 21 times this year, and have not done well. They’ve lost 15 games and won only 6. On their last visit to Harbor Park, August 22-27, they won 2 of 6. So history isn’t on the Bulls’ side. Plus, the Rays are not leaving the Bulls alone. They’ve called up outfielder Raimel Tapia and pitchers Calvin Foucher and Chris Devenski. 

The Bulls are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but lost their last 2.

The Tides have been, mostly, left alone by the Orioles. The only recent big transaction was back on the 20th. They were on the road in Buffalo last week. They are 5-5 in their last 10. 

On paper, the Bulls have a slight edge, but ...

Matchup: Bulls vs Tides, September 26, 2023
As of September 24	W-L	Rk	RDiff	OPS	ERA	WHIP	uERA
Durham Bulls (Rays)	48-27	1	129	.828	4.56	1.425	.588
Norfolk Tides (Orioles)	42-33	5	46	.821	4.62	1.465	.432
RDiff-Run differential;  Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings

Each year as the Bulls go into the playoffs (and that’s most years) what I get to say is that it’s all about the managing and coaching. The Bulls have been blessed with excellent managing and coaching crews over the years and, after a tough opening month, that’s been the case this year. But playoff success is, in my opinion,  about moment-to-moment decisions. For that, we simply don’t know. 

PCL Matchup

Meanwhile, out in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Dodgers (LA Dodgers) are playing the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers)  for the PCL championship. 

Matchup: Express vs Dodgers, September 26, 2023
As of September 24	W-L	Rk	RDiff	OPS	ERA	WHIP	uERA
Round Rock Express (Rangers)	45-30	1	87	.825	4.72	1.48	.507
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LA)	40-35	5	50	.814	4.58	1.42	.603
RDiff-Run differential;  Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings

Durham Bulls Win 2nd Half

 

The Durham Bulls' brilliant end-or-season run resulted in a championship of the second half of the International League. And what a run it has been. Standings.

Let’s start with game 130 on 1 September. On that date, the Bulls were 11 games over 500 and tied with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Starting then, the Bulls played 19 games and won 16 of them. They are now 23 games over .500 with two games to play in the regular season. That’s simply remarkable. In that time the team ERA has dropped from 4.77 to 4.55 and the team OPS has risen from .816 to .829. Again, remarkable. Their run differential soared from +57 to +132, beyond remarkable.

They’ve got two more games down in Gwinnett to finish the season and then off to Norfolk for the first playoff game on Tuesday against the first-half champions, the Norfolk Tides.

My assumption is that we will be able to watch on MiLB.com and listen on the radio. At least that’s what I do, muting the streaming. 

My guess is that today’s storm may disrupt the East Coast games, but will not affect final standings..

Bulls Win; Maintain Lead

 

The Durham Bulls won, but so did the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. The Buffalo Bisons lost to the Norfolk Tides, dropping them into a tie. Standings.

Bulls Still in First Place; Season Near End

The Durham Bulls had a very satisfying last week in Durham, winning 4 out of 6 against the Louisville Bats. They are now in Lawrenceville, Georgia for their final six games of the season. They are in great shape to win the second half of the International League season, but neither Lehigh Valley nor Buffalo is letting up their own runs at the championship.

Standings

What ar their competitors up to? The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies) (42-27) are hosting the Worcester Red Sox (38-30). They are evenly matched teams, with the Sox holding a remote shot at the championship. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays) (39-28) are hosting the winner of the first half of the season, the Norfolk Tides (Orioles). The Tides have their own shot at ending in first place. 

Every game by the five top teams this week will matter.

Could not have been happier to see Tristan Gray finally get to the big leagues last week. After 326 games over three seasons with the Durham Bulls, he got his call. He joined the Rays in Baltimore and did his thing, hitting a home run and a single in 5 at-bats. It was a temporary assignment and he’s already back with the Bulls, but maybe later on this season? 

Matchup

Matchup: Bulls vs Braves, September 18, 2023
As of September 17	W-L	Rk	RDiff	OPS	ERA	WHIP	uERA
Durham Bulls (Rays)	44-25	1	104	.829	4.65	1.44	.613
Gwinnett Stripers (Braves)	35-32	11	15	.744	4.92	1.45	.473
RDiff-Run differential;  Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings

The Bulls match up well against the Strippers, who are not having a good year except as a defensive team. They have undergone a lot of roster turmoil, over 40 transactions just this month. Perhaps that has to do with Atlanta’s proximity, but it has to be tough. In comparison, the Bulls have had 27 transactions this month. The Bulls can close the deal in just a couple of games. We’ll keep an eye out. 

Six in a Row

 

Standings

Six wins in a row. Maintaining lead in International League. Superb work by the bullpen crew. Really fun to watch veteran speed merchant Billy Hamilton (recently hired by Rays) at work — bunt for single, sacrifice bunt moved runner to 2B, roamed center field.