#5 Baltimore Revolution (112-50) vs. #4 Minnesota Storm (77-85)
BALTIMORE- News flash... the Baltimore Revolution are really, really good. The back-to-back WS Champs are in fine shape going into the Season 16 postseason. They do find themselves in unfamiliar waters though... the Wild Card Round. They have mananged to secure one of the two AL byes since Season 10. Their streak of nine consecutive division titles also ended this year. The Revolution were once again the class of the league though, despite finishing one game behind the Whiskey Jacks for the league's best record. Baltimore ranked 1st in the AL in SLG (.494), OPS (.847), stolen bases (240), lowest team WHIP (1.29) and lowest team OBA (.248). They ranked 2nd in runs scored (1002), AVG (.292), OBP (.353) and home runs (296). The team also ranks 3rd in lowest team ERA (3.84) and 4th in fewest errors (83). They also led the SPL in most All Stars with 10 this season. Their staff is a solid rotation, 4 veterans deep. Damaso Solano (16-5, 2.63 ERA) simply doesn't age. He had yet another All Star season, the 12th of his career. Tony Espinosa (18-4, 3.42 ERA) has assumed the leadership mantle and embodies the confidence that exudes from the entire staff. Billy Ray Howington (20-7, 3.99 ERA) has his second consecutive 20-win season, leading his team in that category and in innings pitched with 204; while earning his 3rd career trip to the All Star Game. And the pitcher who had the best year in Baltimore may not be any of those guys. CL Eugene Scott (50 saves, 1.93 ERA) became the first pitcher in SP history to have three 50+ save seasons. In the field, there are a pleuthora of players who had stellar seasons. RF/LF Jung Lee Martin (.272 AVG, 12 HR, 53 RBI, 72 SB) and Aurelio Diaz (.323 AVG, 34 HR, 111 RBI, 62 SB) combined for 134 stolen bases. That total is higher than the team total of every team in the AL except five. 1B Bruce Donovan (.344 AVG, 69 HR, 164 RBI) nearly won the AL Triple Crown, leading the AL in home runs, RBI and finishing 2nd in AVG. He also broke the Baltimore franchise single season record for home runs, RBI and hits. Needless to say, the Revolution certainly enter the postseason as one of the favorites to win it all.
MINNEAPOLIS- The Storm had a historic season in the Land of 1,000 Lakes... sort of. They ended the 12 consecutive division title reign of the St. Louis Redbirds in the NL North. This season's surprising collapse of one of the SPL's most historic and successful franchises left the divisional crown up for grabs. The only problem was that nobody seemed to want it. The Storm stumbled down the stretch, losing 7 of their last 10. The rest of the division didn't do much better and the squad from the Twin Cities, with their 77-85 record, had won the NL North and the right to square off against the reigning champions in the Wild Card Round. The numbers show that Minnesota doesn't seem to have the chops to compete in the tough SPL playoffs. The team was very average offensively, ranking 8th (822) in the AL in runs scored. Their pitching staff was toward the bottom of the AL rankings: 12th in team ERA (5.12) and 15th in WHIP (1.54). Maybe the biggest factor, against the fastest team in the AL, will be their CS% (.213) which ranked 13th in the AL. This isn't to say that the Storm don't have anybody. They do have a number of solid players. Most of them don't pitch though, and that will be a problem. The 2nd year CL out of New York, Cam Brock (36 SV, 2.65 ERA) might be the best young reliever in the league. He was named to his 1st All Star squad this season. Alfredo Moya (10-10, 3.81 ERA) is probably the team's best starting pitcher, and the only guy on the roster who has a chance at going pitch for pitch with the likes of Solano and Espinosa. Storm lifer, and face of the franchise, Adrian Boyer (.301 AVG, 33 HR, 106 RBI) had the best season of his career and earned his 4th career All Star nod. Veteran 3B, Tracy Bold (.290 AVG, 29 HR, 95 RBI) had a workman-like season. Last season's AL RoY, Davey Quixote (.245 AVG, 33 HR, 94 RBI) had a bit of a sophmore slump. Although he hit for power, his AVG and OBP plummetted from last season.
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Humphrey Metrodome: BAL: Tony Espinosa (18-4) vs. MIN: Alfredo Moya (10-10)
Game 2: Humphrey Metrodome: BAL: Damaso Solano (16-5) vs. MIN: Mitchell Mathews (13-13)
Game 3: Camden Yards: MIN: Brian Swann (8-13) vs. BAL: Billy Ray Howington (20-7)
Editors' Pick:
The Revolution won the season series 8-2 against Minnesota, outscoring the Storm 71-35 in those ten games. They outclass their opponent in hitting, pitching and defense. There is no reason to think the outcome of these postseason contests will be much different. Anything can happen in a best-of-five series though, so Baltimore would be wise not to sleep on the Storm. Baltimore wins in three.
#6 Philadelphia Stomp (86-76) vs. #3 Anaheim Hitmen (90-72)
PHILADELPHIA- Each of the last three times the Stomp have made it into the postseason, they have advanced into at least the ALDS before being eliminated. This includes last season, when they eliminated the Hitmen in a 5-game series on their way to the ALCS. This season's race for the final WC spot in the AL was pretty tight. The Stomp secured their berth, holding off Honolulu and Scottsdale, late in the season. The Stomp offense was middle of the pack in the AL this season, ranking 7th in runs scored (825), OBP (.336); 6th in OPS (.785) and 8th in HR (240). Their offense, which was an area of concern going into Season 16, was given a big boost with the early season acquisition of DH Jim Andrews (.306 AVG, 45 HR, 110 RBI). The powerful Andrews was quickly inserted into the cleanup spot after he arrived from Scottsdale. The move proved a smart one, as the Stomp probably don't make the postseason without his presence in the lineup. He gave valuable protection to Crisobal Johnson (.280 AVG, 17 HR, 77 RBI) and Rick Jamison (.286, 29 HR, 100 RBI). The Stomp also have one of the key ingredients for a deep playoff run, great starting pitching. Their dynamic duo of Randy Meulens (15-8, 4.27 ERA) and Gary Scott (12-9, 3.77 ERA) turned into a trio with the call-up of RoY favorite Quilvo Lee (18-5, 2.65 ERA). Despite his youth, and more accomplished team mates, Lee may already be the best starting pitching on the Stomp. Despite the veteran laden and talented starting rotation, the Stomp pitching staff ranked only slightly above average in the AL; 6th in runs allowed (746), WHIP (1.38) and ERA (4.39). This certainly wasn't Scott's or Meulens' or Lee's fault though. It was mostly due to a bullpen that struggled all season long and the very disappointing season of Jared White (6-12, 6.15 ERA). The Stomp, thanks to the cannon arm of Jamison, led the AL in CS% at .365. If the Stomp can get hot, they have all of the pieces to make a deep run.
ANAHEIM- In one of the most competative divisions in the league, the Hitmen managed to win their 5th AL West crown in the last 8 seasons. This is also their 8th straight trip to the postseason. Despite that, many fans are feel that the team underperformed this season. Other fans feel that the team was simply on cruise control until the postseason starts. The team continues to win with a recipe of home runs and solid pitching. They were 4th in the AL in runs (858) and 1st in HR (304). The pitching was solid too, ranking 5th in the AL in fewest runs allowed (727), WHIP (1.34) andd ERA (4.09). The lineup boasts 7 players who hit 25+ home runs; 6 of those guys had 30+. It the usual suspects powering the offense: Orber Martin (.282 AVG, 49 HR, 111 RBI), Ryan Bradford (.264 AVG, 43 RBI, 125 RBI) and Cristobal Roque (.268 AVG, 43 HR, 98 RBI). During the playoffs, the Hitmen will be heavily dependent on their top two pitchers; ace Julian Belliard (15-10, 2.81 ERA) and Tomas Valentin (15-8, 4.11 ERA). Belliard especially had a spectacular season, and it he gets hot is the kind of pitcher that can carry a team deep into the post season.
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Angel Stadium: PHI: Quilvo Lee (18-5) vs. ANA: Julian Belliard (15-10)
Game 2: Angel Stadium: PHI: Randy Meulens (15-8) vs. ANA: Tomas Valentin (15-8)
Game 3: Citizens Bank Park: ANA: Junior Velazquez (10-11) vs. PHI: Gary Scott (12-9)
Editor's Pick:
On paper, the Hitmen would seem to have the slight edge. They have homefield advantage and their regular season numbers would indicate they are a slightly better team that the Stomp. However the Stomp's depth at starting pitching gives them a big edge. And, call it a hunch, but we think that the pitching edge will be just enough for Philly to break the Hitmen's hearts for the second season in a row. Philadelphia wins in five.
National League
#5 Chicago Gray Stockings (90-72) vs. #4 Memphis Belles (77-85)
CHICAGO- For the second season in a row, the defending NL Champs had their pitching rotation riddled with injuries. This season, Wayne Spence and Lonnie Bard were both lost about just after the All Star break. With two-fifths of the starting rotation, and over 400 innings worth of work riding the pine, the Gray Sox struggles much of the latter part of the season to keep arms fresh. It also led to the Gray Sox not having one of the top 5 NL pitching staffs for the first time since the move to Chicago in Season 9. Despite these struggles, the team continued to win at a steady pace, and secured their usual spot as the top WC seed in the NL. The pitching, though diminished, was still solid. It ranked 6th in the NL in fewest runs allowed (651) and 7th in ERA (3.89). Carter Maybin (17-6, 3.53 ERA) showed no ill effects from last season's shoulder injury and his offseason elbow surgeries, logging 214 innings. Veteran lefty, Ralph O'Neill (10-6, 2.81 ERA) was also very good. He now gets the chance to pitch against the organization that he had played 11 seasons for before his trade to Chicago. What the Sox may be lacking on the hill, they made up for in the field though. They were one of the top fielding teams in the NL, making the fewest errors in the whole of the SPL with only 63. The offense though, was a pleasent surprise. They rank 6th in the NL in runs scored (733), 3rd in OBP (.329) and 4th in OPS (.741). The lineup is pretty solid throughout, with no easy outs, and boasts 7 players with at least 18 home runs. The catalsyts though were MVP candidate Russ Charleston (.336 AVG, 29 HR, 79 RBI) who finished 3rd in the NL in AVG, David Cedeno (.280 AVG, 34 HR, 84 RBI) who continues to be a pleasent surprise after his acquisition from Oakland/Arizona two seasons ago, Butch Ramirez (.275 AVG, 38 HR, 93 RBI) and Alex Molina (.293 AVG, 24 HR, 85 RBI). Despite the short-handed rotation, many Gray Sox players are confident of success in the playoffs due to their run last season. In similiar circumstances, they rode a red-hot Wayne Spence all the way to the World Series. This year, they hope to ride Maybe to the same destination.
MEMPHIS- When the new owners came into Memphis and started to shed payroll and enter into a rebuild, nobody thought this team would be playing after the regular season. But Richmond's unexplained fall from the top of the NL gave the Belles a great oppertunity. They managed to hold off an Atlanta team that is slowly on the rise, and despite a losing record at 77-85, capture the organization's 8th division title. The team stayed competative this season by going to basics. They kept the game close with a strong pitching staff and exceptional defense. While the offense was terrible, they were always in the game because they were always low scoring affairs. The Belle offense was ranked dead last in the NL in runs scored (499) and in home runs (81). The team only has two players with double digit home run totals. Memphis lifer, Hugh Scott (.305 AVG, 26 HR, 92 RBI) and Reid DeHart (.291 AVG, 11 HR, 65 RBI) are really the only two hitters worthy of mention.
Everyone else is on the field for their glove (the team has 3 Gold Glove winners this season) and their speed. The Belles led the entire SPL in steal with 250. This will be the area where they might be able to exploit Chicago, as Molina's arm is only average at best. The pitching however, was really good. it ranked 4th in the NL in fewest runs allowed (607), 2nd in WHIP (1.20) and 3rd in ERA (3.47). What is even more amazing, is that the pitching was good with a bunch of guys that you've never heard of. While Nick Street (13-10, 3.03 ERA), Bob Wolf (10-12, 3.36 ERA) and Whitey Decker (6-8, 2.42 ERA) all had really solid seasons, they aren't exactly household names. Part of the reason that the pitching was so good, is that the defense was even better. They ranked 3rd in the NL in fewest errors (79) and 2nd in +/- play ratio (+75; 92 '+' plays, 17 '-' plays). Furthermore, journeyman catchers Shane Daniels and Michael Potvin combined to throw out an NL best 36.4% of stolen base attempts.
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: AutoZone Park: CHI: Carter Maybin (17-6) vs. MEM: Nick Street (13-10)
Game 2: AutoZone Park: CHI: Ralph O'Neill (10-6) vs. MEM: Whitey Decker (6-8)
Game 3: US Cellular Field: MEM: Bob Wolf (10-12) vs. CHI: Pedro Franco (10-16)
Editors' Pick:
With these two teams playing, one thing should be for certain, don't expect any freebees. These teams just don't make alot of errors. Unfortunately for Memphis, they also don't score alot of runs. And, even with Chicago depleted by injury, they are still the back-to-back NL Champs and a battle tested playoff squad. The games should all be close, but the Sox should score just a few more runs. Chicago wins in four.
#6 Cleveland Lake Shores (88-74) vs. #3 Vancouver Tragedy Twins (93-69)
CLEVELAND- For the 3rd straight season, the Lake Shores have made it into the playoffs as the 3rd place team from the brutal NL East. This season was probably the hardest though. As the regular season started to wind down, the Lake Shores were only a distant contender for the Wild Card. The Sharks and the Wiley Coyotes were battling for the final playoff berth with the Lake Shores largely forgotten about. Cleveland then started playing their best baseball at just the right time. They 19-4 in their last 23 games, including winning 11 straight at one point. And they needed every one of those wins. They finished the season tied in a dead heat with the LA Sharks and made their way into the playoffs with a tie-breaker win. The Lake Shores now come into the postseason as one of the league's hottest teams. The player who carried them was fan favorite Oswaldo Canseco (.294 AVG, 53 HR, 135 RBI) who finished 2nd in the NL in total HRs. During the last month of the season, when the Lake Shores were red-hot and needed every win they could get, it was Canseco who led the way. He hit .367 with 13 HR and 31 RBI during the last 30 games of the season. This team is most certainly an offensive team. They rank 4th in the NL in most runs scored (750) and 1st in HR (236). While the pitching is pretty middle of the road, 8th in fewest runs allowed (702), the defense is probably the best in the SPL. They are 2nd in fewest errors (77) and 1st in +/- play ratio (+87; 97 '+' plays, 10 '-' plays). If you are watching Web Gems, you're probably just watching Lake Shore's highlights. Randall Bryant (.264 AVG, 39 HR, 86 RBI, 73 SB) has established himself (along with Ted Westmoreland) as one of the top two young outfielders in the league. Bryant and Canseco combine with Matt Wolf (.329 AVG, 12 HR, 65 RBI) and Glen 'Super Mario' Dawkins (.276 AVG, 30 HR, 89 RBI) to form a very formidable middle of the order. What this squad is lacking is really good starting pitching. The team has had instability in the rotation all season long, with 7 different pitchers getting 17 or more starts. The two most consistent have been Yorvit Izquierdo (16-8, 3.08 ERA) and Marc Allen (16-6, 3.85 ERA). The bullpen has been pretty solid this season, so if the Lake Shores can get some innings from the starters, this team might be able to make some noise.
VANCOUVER- The Tragedy Twins are a newcomer to the ranks of the NL elite, displacing their declining division rivals in Los Angeles. Last season, they were the NL's #2 seed and advanced to the NLCS. This season, they finished with the 3rd best record in the NL and hope to advance deep into the playoffs once again. This team's offense is built largely around the long ball, ranking 2nd in the NL in home runs (232) and has 8 players with 18+ home runs this season, despite a team batting average of only .249 which is well below the NL average. The main cog in the Twins attack is the young slugger Karim Oliva (.259 AVG, 38 HR, 88 RBI). The pitching has been solid, but not spectacular. It ranks 7th in the NL in fewest runs allowed (668) and 5th in WHIP (1.26). The team had to overcome the loss of young, up-and-coming pitcher Dickey Barkley who was off to a very stong start before blowing out his elbow and requiring season ending surgery. The Twins, though they lack a true ace, do have a fair amount of pitchinng depth and were able to win despite missing Barkley who they had high expectations for. Johnnie Lukasiewicz (18-7, 3.48 ERA) had a wonderful sophomore season, and seems to be trying to grab the role of staff ace. Howie Mack (15-7, 2.89 ERA) also had a great year. Benny Bonilla (9-13, 4.16 ERA), on the other hand, was disappointing. He hopes to make it up to the fans and his team mates with his post season pitching. Another area of concern though, has been fielding. At times, the Twins have been shaky in the field and rank 12th in the NL in fewest errors (109).
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Nat Bailey Stadium: CLE: Yorvit Izquierdo (16-8) vs. VAN: Johnnie Lukasiewicz (18-7)
Game 2: Nat Bailey Stadium: CLE: Arlie Kingland (6-6) vs. VAN: Howie Mack (15-7)
Game 3: Jacobs Field: VAN: Benny Bonilla (9-13) vs. CLE: Marc Allen (16-6)
Editors' Pick:
Two pretty well matched teams. You should see plenty of fireworks too with the top two home run hitting teams in the NL squaring off. You have to wonder which Cleveland team will show up to this series. Will it be the emotionally spent team, exhausted from the grind of simply getting into the playoffs? Or will it be the hottest team in the SPL that won 14 of it last 15 games down the stretch? Its hard to argue with the Lakes Shores winning ways lately, and we're betting it'll be the latter. Also, anytime a team is a one-trick pony offensively, as Vancouver is, relying heavily on the home run; it raises a red flag. Cleveland's winning ways and balanced offense carry the day. Cleveland wins in four.
