Talkin' Broncos

It's 2:49 a.m. and I can't sleep.

All that I can think about is how important tonight's game is going to be. OK, it's not all I can think about but one of the main things.

The Broncos are 18-16. The Colts are 19-16. Pretty darn close.

If the Broncos win, they move a half-game ahead of San Angelo for second place in United League Baseball with 12 games remaining. As has been discussed before, that would mean the Broncos would take the lead for qualifying for the postseason since the top two teams after the first half of the season make the playoffs.

It's a pretty big deal and would be huge for Broncos GM Jose Melendez and Manager Dan Shwam.

Why?

It would afford necessary rest. While you don't want to completely lose momentum, rhythm or focus, if injuries occur (and the Broncos have had more than their share through 34 games), then you could rest players and use the chance to evaluate the young talent.

Simply put, the Broncos could worry about having a fully healthy club for the playoffs instead of stressing about qualifying.

Melendez said he's almost certain he won't go the route of "playing safe and cautious" but he would at least have the option.

So it's a big deal.

Also, there's this: following today's game, the Broncos will have a shot at facing Amarillo, the league's top team, in a three-game series at Veterans. But more importantly, afterward, they'll have six-game road swing to Edinburg -- one of the league's worst teams -- and Alexandria -- a so-so club which Laredo has proven to have success against. Even if the Broncos lose two of three against Amarillo (which isn't too bad of a guess since the Dillas are winning at about a .667 percent clip), and grab 4 of 6 games on the road trip, it would be a great chance to end the first half on a high note.

If Laredo can get to 24 wins or so through the first half of the season, that would be huge considering all the injuries, transactions and poor pitching they've had to go through.

It would also be a nice story, as one of the league's absolute worst teams in 2007 made a complete turnaround to qualify for the playoffs after just half of the season.

Pretty uplifting, huh?

But first things first, and they have to take care of business tonight.

Andy Schon reportedly had a stomach virus on Thursday and Melendez was unsure of his status late Thursday night.

If healthy, the Broncos will have as good of a shot as any going against Colts ace Luke Massetti. And after a pitiful performance in Game 1 of the series, to win two straight against a strong Colts team would be what the doctor ordered heading into an intriguing Amarillo series.

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Melendez said Arnoldo Ponce's quad injury is nothing too serious and expects him to be ready to play by Friday.

The true concern is in regard to Edgard Clemente, who reportedly has been playing with a bum shoulder for awhile now.

It's no coincidence that the Broncos' offense, until last night, was dead with him out of the lineup. He's a pure slugger and can add pop at any moment.

The more I think about it, the more I'm amazed the Broncos are two games above .500 with all the injuries they have.

Prior to Thursday's game, Laredo had gone through 16 pitchers and 16 position players. 11 pitchers have started at least one of 34 games.

With all the instability and constant movement -- even more so than usual for minor league baseball -- it speaks to Shwam's managing ability and Melendez's sound evaluation of talent to plug in guys who are ready to play and can perform through any circumstance.

Consider this: with it getting to crunch time and with games becoming more and more meaningful with each passing day, the Broncos have had to scrap their rotation and come with a new one.

The lineup of: Santo Hernandez, John Odom, Gregorio Martinez, Sean Donlin and Andy Schon (1-5) is gone.

In is: Schon, Donlin, Martinez, Hernandez and Richard Bartlett.

The revised rotation will officially start up today, though it has been in the works since last Saturday.

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In case you skipped all the way down here just to see how long this blog is and how I could possibly be even thinking about minor league baseball at (now) 3:19 a.m., here's a short synopsis.

The Broncos are hurt. But not down.

The next four games are big. Big, big, big, and their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs after the first half rides on these contests.

32 players have worn the Broncos' colors through 34 games this year.

Yet they are still just a half-game back of second place in United League Baseball, and can move into second outright with a win tonight.