American League
#4 Salem Volcanoes (84-78) vs #1 Charlotte Dukies (101-61):
Any time the #1 seed is in a series they are likely to be the favorite. Especially when they are faced with the team that had the fewest wins of any of the AL playoff teams. But don't overlook this series, or the Volcanoes (they did just upset the favored Norfolk Whiskey Jacks) because this series is going to be much closer than it looks at first glance. The Dukies boast one of the best 1-2 punches in the league in veteran Harold Pacquette and this season's breakout pitcher, young All Star Frank Huang. Salem though, is one of the few teams that can match them at the top, and may even have the overall edge when comparing 1-2 pitchers. The Volcanoes will trot out 8-time All Star and Cy Younger, Victor Delgado and Pacquette's old LA Sharks team mate and WS Champion Esteban Hernandez. With neither team having a significant pitching edge, the offenses will likely decide the outcome. The Dukies have the edge here, with the two best hitters in the playing in Charlotte. Darwin Crawford and Chad Brown anchor the middle of the Dukies order. The Volcanoes order doesn't really have any single hitter who can carry a team, or force the other squad to pitch around them. The oft overlook fielding edge also goes to Charlotte. The Dukies were one of the best fielding teams in the AL, while Salem was below average in this department. Charlotte wins the series in five games.
#6 New Orleans Jazz (97-65) vs #2 Philadelphia Stomp (100-62)
This could be the most compelling and interesting of the second round match ups. The defending AL Champs from Philly will compete against a perennial playoff team in the New Orleans Jazz. The offenses are pretty evenly matched, though the teams score in different ways. The Stomp were 5th in AL in runs scored while the Jazz were 6th. The Stomp though, only run selectively and rely on the long ball, with the second most home runs in the AL. Philly has 9 players with 15+ home runs on the season, including 5 with 25 or more. The Jazz, by comparison, have 8 players with 15+ home runs, but only 1 with 25 or more. The Stomp had a .788 OPS on the season, the Jazz were at .760. The team from NO relies on speed. They led the AL in stolen bases. Randall Bryant and Miguel Cayones in particular, excelled in that department combining for 133 steals and only getting caught 8 times. Those two alone had more steals than the entire Stomp roster. Three other players had 20 or more steals, and seven total players were in double digits. The pressure will really be on Jamison (who has an above average arm) to keep the Jazz from running wild. The team threw out base stealers at a 33.5% rate during the regular season, which is very respectable. Both teams play above average defensively, so no advantage there. The key may be in the starting pitching, where the Stomp have an edge. The Jazz will rely upon steady veterans Darrin Koloff and Victor Rodriguez. While both are solid, neither is multiple Cy Young Award winner Quilvio Lee. The Stomp also have Korean rookie sensation Dante Kobayashi and the proven Alving Aramboles as their 3rd starter. The Jazz will likely go with rookie Jackie Bowker, who is an unknown quantity in the playoffs. Should be a great series, but Quilvio Lee will likely be the difference maker. Philadelphia wins in five.
National League
#4 Iowa City Badgers (87-75) vs #1 Little Rock Mockingbirds (102-60)
The Mockingbirds were the most consistent team in SP for the entire season. They had the best record in the NL for the entire season. And for good reason. Its a complete team. The Badgers are a team that has been in the playoffs for the last few seasons, and finally broke through to the NLCS last year. This year, they are trying to take one step further. The top of the rotation is pretty evenly matched, though Iowa City may have a slight advantage with Hipolito Matos, who is the best pitcher on either team. In the field, the advantage lies with Little Rock. The Badgers are an average defensive team, while the Mockingbirds were one of the top defensive teams in the NL. The Badgers also struggled keeping other team's base runners in check, which will be a problem in this series. The Mockingbirds were one of the top scoring teams in the NL, though they didn't do it with power. They did it with excellent on-base skills and speed. The Mockingbirds led the NL in both batting average and OBP. They also led in SB. They led in stolen bases with a 78% success rate too. It is that offensive prowess that really sets the Mockingbirds apart from the Badgers. Little Rock wins in four.
#3 Cleveland Lake Shores (92-70) vs #2 Vancouver Tragedy Twins (102-60)
These two teams are very closely matched in a number of ways. The pitching is very similar, with the Twins team ERA was 3.55 and the Shores were at 3.63. Pretty comparable. The fielding is pretty similar too with both teams fielding at a .987 rate for the season. The Lake Shores might have a bit of an edge, as they've racked up a few more '+' plays than the Twins, but that edge is slight. The difference in these teams is with the sticks. The Twins led the NL in runs scored and home runs. They also possess solid speed, ranking 4th in the NL in stolen bases. The Lake Shores are solid offensively, ranked slightly above average, but not as prolific as their opponents. On paper, the Twins certainly look to be the favorites. But momentum can't be quantified and Cleveland has been the hottest team in the league down the stretch. They've won 23 of their last 30 games. They are red-hot. Their momentum may carry them right past the NL powerhouse Twins. Cleveland wins in five.
