2nd round

The first round featured 3 game 5s, two of which went to extra innings. Here are the results:

- Houston defeated Cincinnati in 5 games.
- Salem defeated New Orleans in 3 games.
- New York defeated Louisville in 5 games.
- Nashville defeated Las Vegas in 5 games.

It'll be hard to top the excitement of the first round, but we'll most certainly try. Here are the matchups and what to look for.

ROUND 2: NATIONAL LEAGUE

#4 Salem Sacrifices vs. #1 Trenton Traffic

-Season series: Trenton 6-4

- Key matchup: Both pitching staffs vs. speedsters. Salem has several guys who can run, Frank Gant in particular. Trenton's pitchers must keep them off the basepaths and force the Sacrifices's big hitters to come up without RBI chances. Trenton's ability to score depends on Ken Davis, Artie Neugebauer, and Carlton MacDougal getting on base before their big boppers. Whoever gets their guys early in the lineup on base more should score more. As good as those guys are, they'll all be facing tough pitching. Incidently, the Traffic offense scored the 2nd most runs in the NL.

-Prediction: I'm not predicting my team's own series. But since I went 1 for 4 in the first round, my office phone was ringing off the hook all day from people asking me to predict that Salem would win. Seems they were all in the 609 area code...


#3 Houston Oilers vs. #2 Montreal Maroons

Season series: Houston 7-3

Key matchup: Houston's offense vs. Montreal's pitching. As ballyhooed as the Maroon offense has been, their team ERA was 4th in the National League. Leo Miller only hit .235 against the Dragons, but had a .381 on-base percentage. He left it up to the rest of the lineup to drive him in and they delivered in Round 1. I'm not sure the same formula would work again.

Prediction: Montreal in 4.


ROUND 2: AMERICAN LEAGUE

#5 Nashville Sounds vs. #1 Milwaukee Manic Maulers

Season series: Milwaukee 6-4

Key matchup: Milwaukee pitching vs. Tyler Post/Kris Clinton/Bud Klein. Post is the leadoff hitter and Clinton and Klein are RBI guys down in the order. MVP candidates Paxton Forrest and Gregg Black will get their hits, but the Maulers have to keep the other guys off the basepaths, Post in particular. Post only hit .238 against the Gamblers with a .273 on-base percentage. Even with Forrest and Black in the lineup, they can't win if Post keeps up those numbers.

Prediction: Nashville in 5.


#6 New York New York vs. #2 Monterrey Sultans

Season series: Monterrey 8-2

Key matchup: Benitez/Hubbard vs. Monterrey's lineup. I noted in the first round matchups that for NY, Parnell was a known quantity and Benitez and Hubbard would have to step up in order for New York to advance. Hubbard gave up 2 runs in 7 1/3 innings in game 3 and was a hard-luck loser. Benitez won game 5 by pitching 9 innings giving up 3 runs and waited for Louisville's bullpen to implode in the 11th and was solid in game 2 as well despite losing. If these two pitch like they did in the Louisville series, New York has a chance. If not, it will be a short series.

Prediction: Monterrey in 3.