AMERICAN LEAGUE
#4 Scranton Wild (80-82)
vs.
#2 Honolulu Rainbow Warriors (97-65)
THE MATCH-UP- The Scranton Wild have pulled off two huge playoff upsets, defeating the two top teams in the AL, both in five games. While the Revolution and the Whiskey Jacks are left stunned in their wake, the fans in Scranton are going 'Wild' for their upcoming ALCS appearance versus the Warriors. The irony for this team is that if you look at their postseason numbers, it doesn't look like they should be beating anybody. Their fielding has been steady, but certainly not spectacular. Their hitting has been heavily limited by both Norfolk and Baltimore. So far in the playoffs, no one single Wild positional starter is hitting over .300. The team as a whole is hitting .246 with an OPS of .725. The pitching has been steady as well, but not stellar. The team ERA in the playoffs is 4.45. The two members of the staff who have really been getting it done though are Theodore McInerney (now famous for giving up Felix Wagner's 600th career home run) who is 2-0 in two starts with an ERA of 2.40. Jim Olsen is leading the team in innings pitched, while throwing in relief. In his six appearances, he has tossed 20.1 innings with a 2.60 ERA. The Warriors had the tough task of facing a red-hot Camels team that was riding a 13 game winning streak. Theses two teams, division rivals, knew each other really well. The Camels extended their winning streak before losing three straight, and the series. The Warriors were able to reset their rotation and watch Game 5 between Scranton and Norfolk. The Wild hasn't been the only team struggling with their offense, as the Warriors were even worse. Their team average is .206 this postseason with an .639 OPS. The big question, which we'll find out in the ALCS, is was it just a case of the Warriors facing the AL's best pitching staff from Scottsdale, or was their offense actually struggling. Bill Howell was their only consistent hitter, hitting .353 with 1 HR and 4 RBI in the series. While Earl Ward only hit .231, his hits were big ones. He had 2 home runs and led the team in RBI with 6, including a 2-run double in the 11th inning of the series clinching victory in Game 4. Their pitching was very impressive versus the Camels, recording a team ERA of 2.37 in the series. While the Warriors haven't been a perennial playoff team, only making the postseason twice since Season 14, they did make it to the LCS in both those appearances and that experience should pay dividends in the series. The stronger squad from Hawaii should win the series, as the clock strikes midnight on Scranton's Cinderella story. Honolulu wins in five.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
#6 Pittsburgh Polar Bears (97-65)
vs.
#1 Vancouver Tragedy Twins (107-55)
THE MATCH-UP- The Bears were able to exact a bit of revenge against their most intense rivals, by defeating the Gray Sox in a tidy four games. Pittsburgh and Chicago have met in the playoffs many times in recent seasons, and the last three times it was Chicago getting the victory. This season, it was Pittsburgh. That wasn't the only way in which this season was different for Pittsburgh. This is an older, aging team. Unlike past seasons, they're probably not the most talented team in the NL. Their streak of 12 straight division titles ended this year, and they didn't secure the bye. While this team may not have had the regular season success its used to, it is a very dangerous postseason team. The pitching staff (for the first time in a decade is without the services of Jimmie Brownson) still boasts two perennial All Stars who are multiple Cy Young Award winners. They showed off against Chicago too. The Gray Stockings were the #2 scoring offense in the NL this season, and the Pittsburgh staff had a team ERA of 3.68 in the series. Benji Armas was 1-1 in his two starts, with 14.1 innings of work and a 3.14 ERA. Ramon Yamamoto was dominant, going 2-0 in his two starts, with 15 innings thrown while only allowing a single run... an ERA of 0.60. This will only further cement Yamamoto's reputation as a great postseason pitcher. In his career, he is 14-6 with a 2.64 ERA in the playoffs. The offense was steady in the NLDS, but Eugenio Estrella deserves special mention as he was a one man wrecking crew. He hit .407 with 3 home runs, a double, and 9 RBI. While the Gray Sox did test the Pittsburgh pitchers, Vancouver may be even tougher of a test. The Twins ranked 3rd in the NL in runs scored (behind only Pittsburgh and Chicago), 1st in home runs and 3rd in steals. The combination of speed and power has been brutal all season long for NL opposition and may prove a particular problem for Pittsburgh. The Polar Bears only throw out a league average 22% of base stealers, and gave up the fourth most home runs in the NL. The Twins are not just a offensive team though. Their pitching staff surrendered the fewest runs in the NL with the NL's best team ERA of 3.49. The complete team that has been assembled in Vancouver has led the franchise to its best regular season record and their second trip to the NLCS in its Vancouver history. If they win the pennant, it will be the franchise's third but the first since the move to the British Columbia. The Twins are on the verge of breaking in among the royalty in the NL, and need to knock of the kings of the NL to do it. This seems to be their year though. Vancouver wins in six.
