First round match-ups will be as follows:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
#4 Anaheim Chiles (86-76, AL West champs) vs. #5 Nashville Sounds (88-74, AL South Wild Card)
Season series: 5-5
All-time series: Nashville 11-9
Preview: As good as these teams are offensively, I think it will come down to whichever team pitches better. Nashville has a deep lineup in terms of power hitters and Anaheim has speed in front of big-time slugger Alex Vazquez. Both teams have question marks in the pitching department. Nashville's starting staff is very shaky- even veteran ace Ham Bruske checked in at 10-11 on a good team. Anaheim's starting pitching behind Ajax Drabek and Roland Casey is probably better; their question mark is at the end of the game, as Alex Brantley had a horrible year.
Prediction: When in doubt, pick the team with starting pitching. Anaheim in 5.
#3 Louisville Legends (94-68, AL East champs) vs. #6 Toledo Mud Hens (85-77, AL North wild card)
Season series: 7-3 Louisville
All-time series: 15-5 Louisville
Preview: As good as Ernest Montgomery and the Legends are offensively, the rebuilt Mud Hens are probably better at the plate. Toledo had 5 guys with over 95 RBIs this season on their way to the second most runs in the AL. So why does Louisville dominate this series? Well, in part because Toledo (then Pawtucket) was putrid last season, but also because the Louisville pitching staff seems to find a way to limit Toledo's offense: in 6 of the 7 Toledo losses they scored less than 5 runs.
Prediction: I know this goes against my reasoning for picking the Anaheim/Nashville series, but my gut says A. Not all the top seeds will win and B. Toledo's offense is going to break through against the Legends pitching staff. Toledo in 4.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
#4 Atlanta Bandits (84-78, NL East champs) vs. #5 Salem Sacrifices (93-69, NL West wild card)
Season series: 6-4 Salem
All-time series: 13-7 Salem
Preview: Atlanta was a team that seemed to be a year or two away and wound up winning the division. Even the most avid Bandits fans are probably scratching their heads as to how exactly that happened, as they scored 44 fewer runs than they allowed. But they won the games down the stretch that they had to win. Their reward is the defending World Series champs in the first round, who have both more offensive weapons and the dynamic duo of Salmon and Dunwoody. Atlanta has a good, if less heralded, rotation with Alex Sanchez, Cory Schneider, and Larry Springer; all had very good years.
Prediction: Salem just has too much for the upstart Bandits. I think Atlanta's starting pitching is good enough to take a game, but I don't see them scoring enough runs to end the reign of the champs. Salem in 4.
#3 Houston Riverdogs (92-70, NL South champs) vs. #6 Chicago Cubs (88-74, NL North wild card)
Season series: 6-4 Houston
All-time series: 14-6 Houston
Preview: Quick, what's the only NL team to win back-to-back division titles in The Bigs? That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Houston. They survived both a name change and ownership change to land in the playoffs again. Chicago, like Toledo, was a terrible team in season 1 but rose from the ashes to make the playoffs. This will probably be billed as a battle between Houston's Brian Satou and Chicago's Sean Simpson, but that's mostly to sell seats and TV ads. To figure out who's going to win this, we're going to have to dig deeper. Satou and Miller would seem to give the Riverdogs an advantage on offense, but Chicago scored more runs due to their depth in the lineup, aided by mid-season pickups Denny Moss and DeWayne Castillo. If, however, we see pitching duels, the advantage would probably favor Houston, as they can throw Matty Eusebio and J.R. Guerrero at least 3 of the 5 games and have Tex Howell finish.
Prediction: If Stephen Tucker was healthy I'd probably take the Cubs. As it stands, Houston could have the starting pitching advantage in every game, and that's tough to overcome. Chicago's offense is good, but not that good. Houston in 4.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Award Voting
With Season 2 drawing to a close, it is time to look at the potential award winners. Gives a chance for the owners to campaign for their players and quickly cites who has the best chances.
AL
MVP:
Topping the list is Gregg Black, who also won the award in Season 1. Right there challenging Black for the award is Burt Stevenson! Who will the owners decide between the two? The next three are very good in their own right, but really pale in comparison to these two.
Cy Young:
Vin Solano is the odds on favorite with a 23-2 record, a WHIP of 0.97 and and ERA of 2.09. Although there are 4 other good candidates, Vin pitched the best IMHO.
ROY:
Kenneth Graves heads a great list after being called up at the end of last season he stayed with the club for season 2 and posted an impressive 18-5 record.
James Dixon also had impressive numbers and one of the reasons the Chiles are in the playoffs. He will one day probably secure the SS position but spent the season as a roving utility man and RF.
Jared McMahon a shut down closer with a 2-4 record and 41 saves in 46 opportunities.
Josh Gant had a good season despite having a manager that couldn't decide where to let him pitch. Sporting a 14-5 record and 3 saves in 10 opportunities with 11 starts.
Al Carrasco is a prototypical Gambler, power and can play multiple positions mostly LF and RF.
FOY:
Quinton Hughes chimes in with a loss and 48 saves in 54 opportunities.
Jared McMahon posted a 2-4 record and 41 saves in 46 tries.
Larry Stokes had one loss and 39 saves in 43 tries. Was not utilized as just a 9th inning man makes his stats just as impressive.
Wesley Cora posted a 5-6 record with 38 saves in 40 tries. Has tendency to blow extra inning games.
NL:
MVP:
Osvaldo Johnsonwas last years MVP just like Black. However didn't play as many games as last season but put up almost he same numbers if not a little better in some categories and is the best maybe IMHO.
Did the pitching/defense in the NL improve so much that the next 3 on the list, though not cream puffs, actually took a step back in their dish ability. Averages were up, but production was down. Which brings me to the last one on the list whose numbers really improved but is on the same team as Osvaldo, Eddie Greer. Playing in his shadow, or maybe the other way around, probably helps each other be better.
Cy Young:
Javier Henriquez starts this bunch off with a 22-6 and 3 CGs. Pretty impressive for a 22 year old.
Jim Arnold is a great complement to have on the same team with a 23-5 record but no CGs. Maybe KJ will tell ya which one to vote for.
Matty Eusebio with a 16-5 record and 4 CGs. Does a pitcher with the better offense win the award? That is what this boils down to with these 3.
ROY:
Alex Sanchez leads the list with a record of 17-10 in 35 starts with very impressive numbers and at the tender age of 24.
Sean Simpson had a great year at the dish, but IMHO is not really suited for a full time 2B and will probably be relegated to the OF in future years. He will soon compete for that coveted MVP award.
FOY:
Dude Huskey with 0-5 record and 51 saves in 58 tries. Pretty impressive for a non-playoff team.
Tex Howell with a 1-0 record and 35 saves in 36 tries in 45 games. Very
impressive numbers for an 11 duration guy.
Vic Trevino with a 0-3 record with 39 saves in 44 chances.
Trevor Watson with a 5-3 record and 37 saves in 41 chances and 57 appearances.
Bert Price with a 7-6 record with 38 saves in 41 tries in 59 games.
AL
MVP:
Topping the list is Gregg Black, who also won the award in Season 1. Right there challenging Black for the award is Burt Stevenson! Who will the owners decide between the two? The next three are very good in their own right, but really pale in comparison to these two.
Cy Young:
Vin Solano is the odds on favorite with a 23-2 record, a WHIP of 0.97 and and ERA of 2.09. Although there are 4 other good candidates, Vin pitched the best IMHO.
ROY:
Kenneth Graves heads a great list after being called up at the end of last season he stayed with the club for season 2 and posted an impressive 18-5 record.
James Dixon also had impressive numbers and one of the reasons the Chiles are in the playoffs. He will one day probably secure the SS position but spent the season as a roving utility man and RF.
Jared McMahon a shut down closer with a 2-4 record and 41 saves in 46 opportunities.
Josh Gant had a good season despite having a manager that couldn't decide where to let him pitch. Sporting a 14-5 record and 3 saves in 10 opportunities with 11 starts.
Al Carrasco is a prototypical Gambler, power and can play multiple positions mostly LF and RF.
FOY:
Quinton Hughes chimes in with a loss and 48 saves in 54 opportunities.
Jared McMahon posted a 2-4 record and 41 saves in 46 tries.
Larry Stokes had one loss and 39 saves in 43 tries. Was not utilized as just a 9th inning man makes his stats just as impressive.
Wesley Cora posted a 5-6 record with 38 saves in 40 tries. Has tendency to blow extra inning games.
NL:
MVP:
Osvaldo Johnsonwas last years MVP just like Black. However didn't play as many games as last season but put up almost he same numbers if not a little better in some categories and is the best maybe IMHO.
Did the pitching/defense in the NL improve so much that the next 3 on the list, though not cream puffs, actually took a step back in their dish ability. Averages were up, but production was down. Which brings me to the last one on the list whose numbers really improved but is on the same team as Osvaldo, Eddie Greer. Playing in his shadow, or maybe the other way around, probably helps each other be better.
Cy Young:
Javier Henriquez starts this bunch off with a 22-6 and 3 CGs. Pretty impressive for a 22 year old.
Jim Arnold is a great complement to have on the same team with a 23-5 record but no CGs. Maybe KJ will tell ya which one to vote for.
Matty Eusebio with a 16-5 record and 4 CGs. Does a pitcher with the better offense win the award? That is what this boils down to with these 3.
ROY:
Alex Sanchez leads the list with a record of 17-10 in 35 starts with very impressive numbers and at the tender age of 24.
Sean Simpson had a great year at the dish, but IMHO is not really suited for a full time 2B and will probably be relegated to the OF in future years. He will soon compete for that coveted MVP award.
FOY:
Dude Huskey with 0-5 record and 51 saves in 58 tries. Pretty impressive for a non-playoff team.
Tex Howell with a 1-0 record and 35 saves in 36 tries in 45 games. Very
impressive numbers for an 11 duration guy.
Vic Trevino with a 0-3 record with 39 saves in 44 chances.
Trevor Watson with a 5-3 record and 37 saves in 41 chances and 57 appearances.
Bert Price with a 7-6 record with 38 saves in 41 tries in 59 games.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Last series of the season and...
Quick update of the playoff picture:
AL:
#1: Milwaukee (clinched AL North, clinched 1st round bye)
#2: Monterrey (clinched AL South, clinched 1st round bye, 2 games back of Milwaukee)
#3: Louisville (clinched AL East, clinched #3 seed)
#4: Anaheim (clinched AL West, clinched #4 seed)
#5: Nashville: Magic number of 1 to clinch wild card spot, magic number of 3 to clinch #5 seed
#6: Toledo: Magic number of 2 to clinch wild card spot, 1 game back of Nashville.
Also alive: Cleveland- 2 games back of Toledo
NL:
#1: Fargo (clinched NL North, clinched #1 seed)
#2: Houston (clinched NL South, magic number of 3 for #2 seed)
#3: Arizona (clinched playoff spot, magic number of 3 to clinch NL West)
#4: Atlanta (magic number of 3 to clinch NL East)
#5: Salem (clinched playoff spot, magic number of 2 to clinch 5 seed, 1 game back of Arizona)
#6: Chicago (magic number of 1 to clinch playoff spot)
Also alive: Toronto- 3 games back of Chicago.
AL:
#1: Milwaukee (clinched AL North, clinched 1st round bye)
#2: Monterrey (clinched AL South, clinched 1st round bye, 2 games back of Milwaukee)
#3: Louisville (clinched AL East, clinched #3 seed)
#4: Anaheim (clinched AL West, clinched #4 seed)
#5: Nashville: Magic number of 1 to clinch wild card spot, magic number of 3 to clinch #5 seed
#6: Toledo: Magic number of 2 to clinch wild card spot, 1 game back of Nashville.
Also alive: Cleveland- 2 games back of Toledo
NL:
#1: Fargo (clinched NL North, clinched #1 seed)
#2: Houston (clinched NL South, magic number of 3 for #2 seed)
#3: Arizona (clinched playoff spot, magic number of 3 to clinch NL West)
#4: Atlanta (magic number of 3 to clinch NL East)
#5: Salem (clinched playoff spot, magic number of 2 to clinch 5 seed, 1 game back of Arizona)
#6: Chicago (magic number of 1 to clinch playoff spot)
Also alive: Toronto- 3 games back of Chicago.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
With a week to go...
There is "a week" (8 games) left to go and the playoff picture (in some cases) is getting a little clearer.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL East: the Louisville Legends (88-66) have clinched their second straight division title. They will likely be the 3 seed when the playoffs start. They cannot get a first round bye and have a 5 game lead on Anaheim for the #4 spot. New York New York (79-73) trail Cleveland by 3 games for the last spot. While not mathematically eliminated, it doesn't look promising for the plucky New York team to repeat last year's surprise playoff run. Huntington (77-77) is technically still alive, but two wins by Nashville puts them out of the race for good.
AL North: Milwaukee (104-50) has wrapped up both their second straight division title and a bye. They have a 1-game lead over defending AL champion Monterrey for the #1 seed. Toledo (83-71) is tied with Nashville; they hold the two wild card spots momentarily. Cleveland (82-72) is one game back and will travel to Toledo for a 3-game series after two more games with Anaheim. That series with Toledo could very well be an eliminator series. The most interesting AL race.
AL South: Much to everyone's surprise, Monterrey (103-51) wins a second straight division title. They're looking for home-field advantage, but Milwaukee currently holds that. Nashville (83-71) can't slack off, as they currently hold a playoff spot but are only one game in front of the #7 spot, which gets you a chance to make early tee times.
AL West: The only team to win an AL division that didn't win in season 1, congrats to the Anaheim Chiles (83-71). They'll likely be the 4 seed and their 1st round opponent is still up in the air. Everyone else is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
National League:
NL East: Yikes. Insanity rules here. Trenton appeared to be cruising to a 2nd straight division title and suddenly lost 14 out of 16 games, enabling upstart Atlanta to pass them. But after grabbing the division lead, Atlanta promptly lost 3 straight. Meanwhile, the previously left for dead Norfolk Destroyers won 5 straight, leaving us with a 3-way tie at 78-76. Norfolk still has to go to Trenton and host Atlanta. It is almost mathematically impossible for the second place team for win a wild-card berth, adding to the drama coming down the stretch.
NL North: A little more cut and dried than the East (then again, just about anything would have to be, wouldn't it?). Fargo (100-54) will be the #1 seed in the NL and highly dangerous. Chicago (trying to prove the preseason predictions of a certain blog writer wrong) holds the last wild card spot at 84-70, but Toronto is not far behind at 82-72. Both teams have the same two teams (Cincinnati and Fargo) on their schedule to finish.
NL South: Houston (89-65) has emerged as the dominant force in this division and have a 2 game lead for the #2 spot, which could be important come playoff time. Everyone else in this division is just fighting for draft position for next season.
NL West: Defending World Series champs Salem and archrival Arizona are tied at 87-67. They'll both finish with Boise and Salt Lake City and have no more games with each other. If things break right, they could end up meeting in the playoffs, which would just further inflame the rivalry. Here's hoping it happens.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL East: the Louisville Legends (88-66) have clinched their second straight division title. They will likely be the 3 seed when the playoffs start. They cannot get a first round bye and have a 5 game lead on Anaheim for the #4 spot. New York New York (79-73) trail Cleveland by 3 games for the last spot. While not mathematically eliminated, it doesn't look promising for the plucky New York team to repeat last year's surprise playoff run. Huntington (77-77) is technically still alive, but two wins by Nashville puts them out of the race for good.
AL North: Milwaukee (104-50) has wrapped up both their second straight division title and a bye. They have a 1-game lead over defending AL champion Monterrey for the #1 seed. Toledo (83-71) is tied with Nashville; they hold the two wild card spots momentarily. Cleveland (82-72) is one game back and will travel to Toledo for a 3-game series after two more games with Anaheim. That series with Toledo could very well be an eliminator series. The most interesting AL race.
AL South: Much to everyone's surprise, Monterrey (103-51) wins a second straight division title. They're looking for home-field advantage, but Milwaukee currently holds that. Nashville (83-71) can't slack off, as they currently hold a playoff spot but are only one game in front of the #7 spot, which gets you a chance to make early tee times.
AL West: The only team to win an AL division that didn't win in season 1, congrats to the Anaheim Chiles (83-71). They'll likely be the 4 seed and their 1st round opponent is still up in the air. Everyone else is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
National League:
NL East: Yikes. Insanity rules here. Trenton appeared to be cruising to a 2nd straight division title and suddenly lost 14 out of 16 games, enabling upstart Atlanta to pass them. But after grabbing the division lead, Atlanta promptly lost 3 straight. Meanwhile, the previously left for dead Norfolk Destroyers won 5 straight, leaving us with a 3-way tie at 78-76. Norfolk still has to go to Trenton and host Atlanta. It is almost mathematically impossible for the second place team for win a wild-card berth, adding to the drama coming down the stretch.
NL North: A little more cut and dried than the East (then again, just about anything would have to be, wouldn't it?). Fargo (100-54) will be the #1 seed in the NL and highly dangerous. Chicago (trying to prove the preseason predictions of a certain blog writer wrong) holds the last wild card spot at 84-70, but Toronto is not far behind at 82-72. Both teams have the same two teams (Cincinnati and Fargo) on their schedule to finish.
NL South: Houston (89-65) has emerged as the dominant force in this division and have a 2 game lead for the #2 spot, which could be important come playoff time. Everyone else in this division is just fighting for draft position for next season.
NL West: Defending World Series champs Salem and archrival Arizona are tied at 87-67. They'll both finish with Boise and Salt Lake City and have no more games with each other. If things break right, they could end up meeting in the playoffs, which would just further inflame the rivalry. Here's hoping it happens.
Monday, June 23, 2008
The NL and Their Murky Playoff Spots
And just when you thought is was safe to go home, here comes the NL playoff picture. The playoffs are worse here than the muddied AL fighting for two or three spots. The NL has 10 teams fighting for 5 spots and that makes it hard to decipher everything that could happen at the moment.
The Fargo Dirtbags are sittin pretty happy at the moment needing about 10 wins to wrap up the NL North and the #1 seed, barring another team suddenly winning 20 in a row that is. Even with that happening they would only need to win 12 at the most and that is a little under .500.
The Trenton Traffic is getting serious competition from the Atlanta Bandits who cut the Traffic lead to 5 games all of a sudden in the NL East. The Bandits also leap-frogged over the Norfolk Destroyers with their sudden emergence.
The Houston Riverdogs have barked their way to a 5 game win streak that has the Memphis Short Grass and San Juan Dead Bunnies eating their dust.
The Salem Sacrifices still lead the NL West, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have cut their slim lead in half to 2 games.
The Chicago Cubs, Toronto Toros, Atlanta Bandits, Norfolk Destroyers, and Memphis Short Grass all have a shot at a playoff spot at this time.
The Cubs, Toros and the Short Grass all have excitingly bad schedules as they play most of the other playoff hopefuls, so they are in charge of their own destinies.
The Bandits and Destroyers have to play their division mates and one of the two has a good chance at making the playoffs.
The NL will have a very wild finish overall. With few playoffs spots taken at the moment, the war begins.
The Fargo Dirtbags are sittin pretty happy at the moment needing about 10 wins to wrap up the NL North and the #1 seed, barring another team suddenly winning 20 in a row that is. Even with that happening they would only need to win 12 at the most and that is a little under .500.
The Trenton Traffic is getting serious competition from the Atlanta Bandits who cut the Traffic lead to 5 games all of a sudden in the NL East. The Bandits also leap-frogged over the Norfolk Destroyers with their sudden emergence.
The Houston Riverdogs have barked their way to a 5 game win streak that has the Memphis Short Grass and San Juan Dead Bunnies eating their dust.
The Salem Sacrifices still lead the NL West, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have cut their slim lead in half to 2 games.
The Chicago Cubs, Toronto Toros, Atlanta Bandits, Norfolk Destroyers, and Memphis Short Grass all have a shot at a playoff spot at this time.
The Cubs, Toros and the Short Grass all have excitingly bad schedules as they play most of the other playoff hopefuls, so they are in charge of their own destinies.
The Bandits and Destroyers have to play their division mates and one of the two has a good chance at making the playoffs.
The NL will have a very wild finish overall. With few playoffs spots taken at the moment, the war begins.
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