2007 Birmingham Barons

The 2007 Birmingham Barons open their 2007 campaign on April 5 with a home game against the Carolina Mudcats. The Barons compete in the South division of the Southern League along with the Jacksonville Suns, Mississippi Braves, Mobile BayBears and Montgomery Biscuits. They play their home games at Regions Park in Hoover. All games are broadcast on WYDE-FM "The Source" and are called by Director of Broadcasting Curt Bloom.

This marks the Baron's 22nd season as the Chicago White Sox AA affiliate, and their 20th year in Hoover. The minor league contract was extended by 4 years to 2010 on July 20, 2006. It is the first season under new owners Don Logan and his sons Jeff and Stan. Rafael Santana was announced as the Barons new manager on January 18, 2007.

Roster

Pitchers

• Adam Russell (6-6, 4.28 ERA)
• Gio Gonzalez (6-3, 3.93 ERA, 106 strikeouts, 4th in MiLB)
• Jack Egbert (7-6, 3.00 ERA, 85 strikeouts, 2nd in Southern League after Gonzalez)
• Wes Whisler (4-8, 5.36 ERA)
• Kris Honel (2-2, 4.50 ERA), moved out of starting rotation week of June 25
• Ryan Wing (3-1, 1.68 ERA), moved into starting rotation week of June 25
• Tim Bittner
• Dewon Day, promoted to Chicago May 28
• Fernando Hernandez, Jr
• Oneli Perez
• Edwardo Sierra, promoted to Charlotte May 22
• Carlos Vazquez, promoted to Charlotte May 4
• Corwin Malone, received from Charlotte May 15
• Carols Torres, received from Winston-Salem May 30

Catchers

• Eric Hollis, activated from DL May 4, returned to DL May 15 and activated May 28
• Donny Lucy
• Jeremy Frost

Infielders

• Jason Bourgeois, promoted to Charlotte June 1
• Chris Getz, placed on DL May 30
• Chris Kelly
• Michael Myers
• Micah Schnurstein
• Robert Valido, assigned to Winston-Salem June 25
• Victor Mercedes, received from Winston-Salem June 1
• Jeremy West, retired June 25
• Kenny Perez, received from Charlotte June 25
• Shawn Garrett, signed as free agent June 26

Outfielders

• Cory Aldridge
• Thomas Collaro
• Ricardo Nanita
• Sean Smith
• Adam Shabala signed as free agent June 25

Coaches and trainers

• Rafael Santana, manager
• Richie Hebner, hitting coach
• Rich Dotson, pitching coach
• Joe Geck, athletic trainer
• Adam Tischler, conditioning coach

Southern League All-Stars

Pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Jack Egbert, right fielder Thomas Collaro, catcher Donny Lucy and second baseman Chris Getz were selected on June 27 to suit up for the 2007 Southern League All-Star Game in Pearl, Mississippi.

Results (27-34)

April (14-11)

• 5-9: Won 4 of 5 vs Carolina Mudcats (3-5, 4-2, 10-0, 6-4, 5-0), finishing 1 game back
• 11-14: Won 4 of 5 at Mobile BayBears (5-1 in 7, 5-2 in 7, 5-2, 2-3, 7-5), taking the division lead
• 16-20: Won 3 of 5 vs Montgomery Biscuits (2-1 in 10, 10-1, 4-6, 2-3, 3-2), keeping the division lead
• 21-25: Won 0 of 5 at Mississippi Braves (5-6 in 11, 1-2, 0-2, 1-4, 2-5), falling 4 games back
• 26-30: Won 3 of 5 vs Huntsville Stars (1-0, 6-3, 4-2, 0-8, 4-6), remaining 4 games back

May (5-15)

• 2-6: Won 1 of 5 vs Tennessee Smokies (3-4 in 11, 5-0, 1-16, 0-1, 3-10), falling 5 games back
• 7-11: Won 2 of 5 at Jacksonville Suns (6-3, 1-4, 1-4, 11-12, 2-1), falling 6 games back
• 12-16: Won 1 of 5 vs Mississippi Braves (1-2, 3-14, 3-4 in 11, 0-7, 6-4), falling 9 games back
• 17-21: Won 1 of 5 at Montgomery Biscuits (4-7, 5-2, 2-6, 1-5, 3-4), falling 10 games back
• 22-26: Won 3 of 5 at Carolina Mudcats (12-4, 5-3, 1-2, 9-2, 2-5), remaining 10 games back
• 28-31: Won 2 of 4 vs Jacksonville Suns (3-10, 3-5, 3-2, 5-3), remaining 10 games back

June (11-17)

• 1: Won 1 vs Jacksonville Suns (7-2), climbing to 9 games back
• 2-6: Won 2 of 5 at Knoxville Smokies (6-3, 3-10, 1-8, 7-5, 3-4), falling to 11 games back
• 7-11: Won 3 of 5 vs Mississippi Braves (3-6, 3-12, 3-2, 12-3, 9-6), climbing to 10 games back
• 13-17: Won 2 of 5 at Huntsville Stars (2-3, 4-2, 9-2, 2-3, 2-3), remaining 10 games back

First Half Record: 32-38 (5th place, 10 games back)

• 18-23: Won 1 of 6 at Chattanooga Lookouts (0-9, 0-6, 0-1, 8-3, 7-8, 1-8), falling to 5 games back for the 2nd half
• 24-29: won 2 of 3 vs. Jacksonville Suns (3-2, 1-6, 5-1, ), climbing to 4 games back

Notable games

The Barons got off to a fast start, winning 10 of their first 12 games, but dropped a five game series to the Mississippi Braves in late April and have struggled ever since. The Barons lead the Southern League in fielding errors.

On April 14 Barons utility man Jason Bourgeois hit two triples versus Mobile. Two days later he scored the winning run with a walk-off homer in the 10th. The next day he stole three bases versus Jacksonville, and on May 7 he got four hits in another game against the Suns. Two days later he scored an in-the-park home run.

On April 27, Barons ace Gio Gonzalez struck out 13 Huntsville batters.

The team suffered its worst loss on May 4 with a crowd of 6,150 on hand. In the midst of a dense fog the Tennessee Smokies scored 16 runs and held the home team to one score.

On May 22, Michael Myers hit a grand slam against Carolina on the way to a 5 RBI night. His was the first grand slam hit by a Baron since 2005. Two nights later Gio Gonzalez struck out 12, adding to his current total of 94 strikeouts (3rd in the minor leagues).

On June 10, second baseman Victor Mercedes hit for the cycle against the Mississippi Braves, the first Baron to accomplish the feat since Reggie Jackson did it on July 8, 1967.