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Taking a few minutes for a position-by-position "Insider's" take on the 1st Round Match-up between the Stout Division Champion Colonials and the Porter's Best Muckdogs.
CATCHER
VS 
VIR: Jonah McCarthy - .250/.340/.344 - 11 HR - 70 RBI -- New Year's Day brought a new Catcher to Virginia and huge cleats to fill as Jonah McCarthy came over from the Carolina Tobs as a more economical Catching option for the Cap tight Colonials than Superstar Rod Phillips. While McCarthy was never expected to replace the offensive and defensive numbers that Phillips provided, his numbers are a little deceiving as his slow start in Williamsburg don't tell the full story of an overall solid post-All-Star run.
BAT: Jared Kirby - .299/.398/.498 - 22 HR - 98 RBI -- After the worst season of an otherwise grand career, Jared Kirby had just celebrated his 37th birthday, was without a job and full of questions. Was this the end for the potential Hall of Famer? Would Carolina call him back for another season in the sun on a 50-60 win team? That's when the Batavia Muckdogs brought the 4-time All-Star to upstate New York to be a leader on a young contender. How would he respond to this role? With an All-Star appearance... his his highest triple-slash since 1987... and 145 games behind the dish for the Porter Champions.
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - While McCarthy may hold a small advantage defensively, this one is a no-brainer. Kirby is a legit star and gives the Muckdogs a solid and consistent bat wherever he is needed in the lineup.
FIRST BASE
VS 
VIR: Anibal Roman - Anibal Roman - .239/.324/.332 - 0 HR - 45 RBI -- A member of the Colonials' last Brewmaster's Cup team, was the go-to utility infielder coming into the '94 season. After a slow start, he spent a few weeks spelling struggling rookie 2B Antasio Colon and looked to potentially be taking that position come playoff time. That all changed 10 days ago when feast or famine slugger Toyoshige Yamauchi blew out his hamstring and was shelved for the playoffs. Roman slides into the starting position and, while he lacks ToYo's power, he has the potential to be a table-setter in this series.
BAT: Derek Cambell - .274/.338/.461 - 16 HR - 45 RBI -- Coming over from Indianapolis in a Winter Meeting deal with the Clowns for Doug Little, Campbell was doing what Campbell does by going deep for the Muckdogs. Unfortunately, two injuries kept the 28 year old lefty on the shelf for 8 weeks and limited him to only 310 ABs for the Porter Champs. Now healthy, Campbell provides another big stick for the 'Dogs.
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - Two different sides of the coin in this match-up. While Campbell is returning from an injury, Roman will be thrust into the starting lineup due to injury. Neither player is really an ideal option at 1B, a position that is typically loaded with All-Stars. However, while Roman provides some speed and defense, Cambell will hit you some bombs and actually is more a mirror image of the Colonials injured Yamauchi. But with the quality of the pitching in this series, it may be difficult for either player to be a major contributor - in fact - the one who is could be THE difference maker. On paper, that seems more likely from Campbell.
SECOND BASE
VS 
VIR: Antasio Colon - .221/.303/.343 - 7 HR - 43 RBI -- Colon came into the 1994 season as Baseball America's #1 Prospect and in the conversation for IL Refreshing New Brew. He enters the playoffs as a player who would be relegated to a pinch hitting role if Yamauchi has not been injured. Colon still has great potential, but it may be a year too early to factor into this post-season.
BAT: Helespontico Jarava - .330/.400/.433 - 5 HR - 48 RBI -- Brazilian-born Jarava may be the best young player in the Import League that you don't know. Injuries limited his '94 season to just 107 games, but his 150 hits in just 255 ABs has to the leave the Muckdogs excited for the future. Though not a prototypical lead-off hitter with his aversion to running, Jarava may be evolving into the perfect #2 hitter and a future batting title winner.
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - Colon isn't ready to be an everyday starter, but is thrust into the role. Jarava, on the flip-side, is not only ready to be a starter, he's ready to breakout into a legit Superstar.
SHORTSTOP
VS 
VIR: Hector Chavez - .371/.451/.566 - 27 HR - 96 RBI -- What does a second batting title, league leading numbers in hits, total bases, runs created and VORP, and a 4th straight 50 SB season get you? In Virginia, it still gets you second billing to the living legend you share the dugout with. For our money, Hector Chavez, not Woodbury, is the 1994 Stout Slugger and the best player in the IL.
BAT: Jermaine Ednams - .272/.333/.418 - 19 HR - 77 RBI -- At the risk of being insensitive, what the hell happened to Jermaine Ednams? While another 100+ run and 19 HR season is nothing to sneeze at, this is Jermaine Ednams we're talking about. Scouts and statisticians have to assume this season is a flier... but the .145 point drop in OPS, 45 point drop in OPS+ and a VORP that has been cut in half, Muckdog management has to hope the "old" Ednams will show up in the post-season.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - If Ednams plays like 91-93 Ednams, this call isn't as easy to make. However, based on 1994, Chavez should win the Stout Slugger and may very well be the overall best player in the series.
THIRD BASE
VS 
VIR: Yoritoki Maeda - .278/.347/.456 - 20 HR - 138 RBI -- The "plate cleaner" for the Colonials, Maeda is an RBI machine reaping the rewards of batting behind the two players who have shared the last 6 Stout Sluggers. While many experts still believe Maeda isn't hitting to his full potential, the 4 time All-Star and 2 time DWI winner may be the player to watch this post-season.
BAT: Cormac Dye - .276/.365/.433 - 7 HR - 36 RBI -- Dye, a Virginian, bounced around waivers a few times before coming to rest in the Muckdogs organization. He responded to the Muckdogs confidence, by putting up BLB numbers that finally look to be in line with his early minor league career. Dye played all 4 IF positions for the Muckdogs this season, but his questionable glove needs to be tightened up against a Colonial team that can't be given extra outs.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - Dye should certainly be a factor in this series, but Maeda has been a fantastic playoff performer during the Colonials cycle at the top. A .346/.405/.548 triple slash in 74 post-season games makes Maeda a consistant "Mr. October" type player in Virginia.
LEFTFIELD
VS 
VIR: Sekien Suitani - .243/.326/.387 - 11 HR - 55 RBI -- This Independence Day, Sekien Suitani gained his freedom from Pawtucket management in an under the radar move to attempt to provide a more consistent contributor to the left side of the Colonial outfield. While his numbers have not been spectacular, an inside source with Virginia told us that management's decision to make the move for Suitani was based on history. While they wouldn't site specifics, it's important to point out that Suitani put up similar season numbers in 1992, but broke out in an epic 7-game playoff series once the post-season began.
BAT: Hsuang-tsung Nan - .218/.328/.314 - 8 HR - 54 RBI -- Nan's big bat earned him an All-Star appearance in 1993 and looked to be an exciting cog in the young Muckdog machine. Unfortunately the wheels kind of came off this season leaving the 25-year old Canadian with some less than impressive numbers. That being said, Nan has been great since Septemeber 1st and was a big part of Batavia's final push to their first Porter title.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH - If Suitani can turn in a similar post-season that he did in '92 with Davenport, he gives the Colonials a significant advantage. However, Nan's on a role the last 6 weeks may be the big difference here. With a lot of unknowns and similar season, this looks like a deadheat going into Game 1.
CENTERFIELD
VS 
VIR: Jerry Daly - .293/.391/.470 - 20 HR - 78 RBI -- Jerry Daly may be the scariest player in the IL right now. Forget the fact that Daly will run in any count, from any base, at any time... an attitude that snared him 76 stolen bases in 106 attempts. But what has to be most frightening, Daly, at only 24, appears to be getting better.
BAT: Joe Rojas - .294/.349/.430 - 13 HR - 75 RBI -- Joe "No Not THAT Joe Rojas" Rojas is starting to shorten the gap between his skills and the Mississippi 1B of the same name. While he lacks the one great skill that sets him apart among budding stars, he does everything well and is an important left-handed bat at the bottom of the Muckdog lineup in the short-porched Colonial Park. His strong defense will be essential being asked to play in the expansive centerfield as well.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA- Rojas is a nice player that will certainly be important this entire series, but Daly is the most exciting player in the BLB right now and is emerging into one of the Top 10 offensive weapons in the BLB.
RIGHTFIELD
VS 
VIR: Mel "Doorbell" Woodbury - .333/.477/.574 - 28 HR - 111 RBI -- He's the logo. He's a genetic freak. What else needs to be said?
BAT: Gerard Wouters - .269/.353/.493 - 30 HR - 100 RBI -- Perhaps the new posterchild for a guy who needed a change of scenery, the move from Chicago to Batavia spring-boarded Wouters' already great numbers into his best BLB season at age 31. Now locked into a new long-term deal, Wouters is the veteran centerpiece of the young Muckdog team that looks to lock down the Porter for the next few seasons.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - Wouters wins this match-up against almost any other team in the league. Hell, you can make an argument that he wins this one. But, Mel Woodbury is the straw that stirs the drink in Virginia. When his bat went cold last season in the Import League Championship, the Colonials went home. Woodbury is a legend and gets the check-mark against anyone.
ROTATION
VIR: Starters' ERA - 3.32 (3rd in IL) - Top 4 Combined 49-19
BAT: Starters' ERA - 3.31 (1st in IL) - Top 4 Combined 49-37
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - Though some will argue that Batavia's rotation numbers give them the advantage, we see a few significant factors in giving the Colonials the edge. #1) The Muckdogs are very southpaw heavy. 4 of the 5 starters that got 30+ starts this season are left-handed. While that seems like a great advantage on paper, the Colonials have beat the heck out of left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a 40-18 record against LH starters. #2) Experience. The Colonials Top 4 are 25-12 in post-season starts. Batavia's Top 4 are 2-1... Top 5 makes it 2-2. One of the starters has never even seen the post season. #3) Rest. BLB history has shown a bad pattern of starting pitchers with 30+ starts getting dinged up in the playoffs. All of Batavia's starters have 30+, while Virginia limited their Top 4 to 27 starts a piece and gave both Herrera and Morgan the last week off.
BULLPEN
VS 
VIR: Bullpen ERA - 4.52 (12th in IL)
BAT: Bullpen ERA - 3.33 (1st in IL)
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - The Colonials were awful in the 'Pen this year. Outside of a good season from Ivan Olivio and an emerging run by new Set-up guy Al McGinnis, Virginia was throwing batting practice late in games. Conversely, while Ken Bayer wasn't the lights out dynamo that we saw in other seasons, the Muckdogs bullpen was great from top to bottom and will lock any offense down when they're given the ball with a lead.
***
BOTTOMLINE: This is easily the best 1st Round series in the playoffs this year and either one of these teams could be viewed as the "team to beat" in the race for the Brewmaster's Cup. The Colonials won the season series 7-5 which seems to be another indication that we're looking at a long series full of knockdown, drag out games. We anticipate pitching being the real story in this one. Can the Muckdogs' starters get the ball to the bullpen with a lead? Can the Colonials 'pen hold a lead if they are delivered one?
PREDICTION: Colonials in 6
CATCHER
VS VIR: Jonah McCarthy - .250/.340/.344 - 11 HR - 70 RBI -- New Year's Day brought a new Catcher to Virginia and huge cleats to fill as Jonah McCarthy came over from the Carolina Tobs as a more economical Catching option for the Cap tight Colonials than Superstar Rod Phillips. While McCarthy was never expected to replace the offensive and defensive numbers that Phillips provided, his numbers are a little deceiving as his slow start in Williamsburg don't tell the full story of an overall solid post-All-Star run.
BAT: Jared Kirby - .299/.398/.498 - 22 HR - 98 RBI -- After the worst season of an otherwise grand career, Jared Kirby had just celebrated his 37th birthday, was without a job and full of questions. Was this the end for the potential Hall of Famer? Would Carolina call him back for another season in the sun on a 50-60 win team? That's when the Batavia Muckdogs brought the 4-time All-Star to upstate New York to be a leader on a young contender. How would he respond to this role? With an All-Star appearance... his his highest triple-slash since 1987... and 145 games behind the dish for the Porter Champions.
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - While McCarthy may hold a small advantage defensively, this one is a no-brainer. Kirby is a legit star and gives the Muckdogs a solid and consistent bat wherever he is needed in the lineup.
FIRST BASE
VS VIR: Anibal Roman - Anibal Roman - .239/.324/.332 - 0 HR - 45 RBI -- A member of the Colonials' last Brewmaster's Cup team, was the go-to utility infielder coming into the '94 season. After a slow start, he spent a few weeks spelling struggling rookie 2B Antasio Colon and looked to potentially be taking that position come playoff time. That all changed 10 days ago when feast or famine slugger Toyoshige Yamauchi blew out his hamstring and was shelved for the playoffs. Roman slides into the starting position and, while he lacks ToYo's power, he has the potential to be a table-setter in this series.
BAT: Derek Cambell - .274/.338/.461 - 16 HR - 45 RBI -- Coming over from Indianapolis in a Winter Meeting deal with the Clowns for Doug Little, Campbell was doing what Campbell does by going deep for the Muckdogs. Unfortunately, two injuries kept the 28 year old lefty on the shelf for 8 weeks and limited him to only 310 ABs for the Porter Champs. Now healthy, Campbell provides another big stick for the 'Dogs.
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - Two different sides of the coin in this match-up. While Campbell is returning from an injury, Roman will be thrust into the starting lineup due to injury. Neither player is really an ideal option at 1B, a position that is typically loaded with All-Stars. However, while Roman provides some speed and defense, Cambell will hit you some bombs and actually is more a mirror image of the Colonials injured Yamauchi. But with the quality of the pitching in this series, it may be difficult for either player to be a major contributor - in fact - the one who is could be THE difference maker. On paper, that seems more likely from Campbell.
SECOND BASE
VS VIR: Antasio Colon - .221/.303/.343 - 7 HR - 43 RBI -- Colon came into the 1994 season as Baseball America's #1 Prospect and in the conversation for IL Refreshing New Brew. He enters the playoffs as a player who would be relegated to a pinch hitting role if Yamauchi has not been injured. Colon still has great potential, but it may be a year too early to factor into this post-season.
BAT: Helespontico Jarava - .330/.400/.433 - 5 HR - 48 RBI -- Brazilian-born Jarava may be the best young player in the Import League that you don't know. Injuries limited his '94 season to just 107 games, but his 150 hits in just 255 ABs has to the leave the Muckdogs excited for the future. Though not a prototypical lead-off hitter with his aversion to running, Jarava may be evolving into the perfect #2 hitter and a future batting title winner.
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - Colon isn't ready to be an everyday starter, but is thrust into the role. Jarava, on the flip-side, is not only ready to be a starter, he's ready to breakout into a legit Superstar.
SHORTSTOP
VS VIR: Hector Chavez - .371/.451/.566 - 27 HR - 96 RBI -- What does a second batting title, league leading numbers in hits, total bases, runs created and VORP, and a 4th straight 50 SB season get you? In Virginia, it still gets you second billing to the living legend you share the dugout with. For our money, Hector Chavez, not Woodbury, is the 1994 Stout Slugger and the best player in the IL.
BAT: Jermaine Ednams - .272/.333/.418 - 19 HR - 77 RBI -- At the risk of being insensitive, what the hell happened to Jermaine Ednams? While another 100+ run and 19 HR season is nothing to sneeze at, this is Jermaine Ednams we're talking about. Scouts and statisticians have to assume this season is a flier... but the .145 point drop in OPS, 45 point drop in OPS+ and a VORP that has been cut in half, Muckdog management has to hope the "old" Ednams will show up in the post-season.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - If Ednams plays like 91-93 Ednams, this call isn't as easy to make. However, based on 1994, Chavez should win the Stout Slugger and may very well be the overall best player in the series.
THIRD BASE
VS VIR: Yoritoki Maeda - .278/.347/.456 - 20 HR - 138 RBI -- The "plate cleaner" for the Colonials, Maeda is an RBI machine reaping the rewards of batting behind the two players who have shared the last 6 Stout Sluggers. While many experts still believe Maeda isn't hitting to his full potential, the 4 time All-Star and 2 time DWI winner may be the player to watch this post-season.
BAT: Cormac Dye - .276/.365/.433 - 7 HR - 36 RBI -- Dye, a Virginian, bounced around waivers a few times before coming to rest in the Muckdogs organization. He responded to the Muckdogs confidence, by putting up BLB numbers that finally look to be in line with his early minor league career. Dye played all 4 IF positions for the Muckdogs this season, but his questionable glove needs to be tightened up against a Colonial team that can't be given extra outs.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - Dye should certainly be a factor in this series, but Maeda has been a fantastic playoff performer during the Colonials cycle at the top. A .346/.405/.548 triple slash in 74 post-season games makes Maeda a consistant "Mr. October" type player in Virginia.
LEFTFIELD
VS VIR: Sekien Suitani - .243/.326/.387 - 11 HR - 55 RBI -- This Independence Day, Sekien Suitani gained his freedom from Pawtucket management in an under the radar move to attempt to provide a more consistent contributor to the left side of the Colonial outfield. While his numbers have not been spectacular, an inside source with Virginia told us that management's decision to make the move for Suitani was based on history. While they wouldn't site specifics, it's important to point out that Suitani put up similar season numbers in 1992, but broke out in an epic 7-game playoff series once the post-season began.
BAT: Hsuang-tsung Nan - .218/.328/.314 - 8 HR - 54 RBI -- Nan's big bat earned him an All-Star appearance in 1993 and looked to be an exciting cog in the young Muckdog machine. Unfortunately the wheels kind of came off this season leaving the 25-year old Canadian with some less than impressive numbers. That being said, Nan has been great since Septemeber 1st and was a big part of Batavia's final push to their first Porter title.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH - If Suitani can turn in a similar post-season that he did in '92 with Davenport, he gives the Colonials a significant advantage. However, Nan's on a role the last 6 weeks may be the big difference here. With a lot of unknowns and similar season, this looks like a deadheat going into Game 1.
CENTERFIELD
VS VIR: Jerry Daly - .293/.391/.470 - 20 HR - 78 RBI -- Jerry Daly may be the scariest player in the IL right now. Forget the fact that Daly will run in any count, from any base, at any time... an attitude that snared him 76 stolen bases in 106 attempts. But what has to be most frightening, Daly, at only 24, appears to be getting better.
BAT: Joe Rojas - .294/.349/.430 - 13 HR - 75 RBI -- Joe "No Not THAT Joe Rojas" Rojas is starting to shorten the gap between his skills and the Mississippi 1B of the same name. While he lacks the one great skill that sets him apart among budding stars, he does everything well and is an important left-handed bat at the bottom of the Muckdog lineup in the short-porched Colonial Park. His strong defense will be essential being asked to play in the expansive centerfield as well.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA- Rojas is a nice player that will certainly be important this entire series, but Daly is the most exciting player in the BLB right now and is emerging into one of the Top 10 offensive weapons in the BLB.
RIGHTFIELD
VS VIR: Mel "Doorbell" Woodbury - .333/.477/.574 - 28 HR - 111 RBI -- He's the logo. He's a genetic freak. What else needs to be said?
BAT: Gerard Wouters - .269/.353/.493 - 30 HR - 100 RBI -- Perhaps the new posterchild for a guy who needed a change of scenery, the move from Chicago to Batavia spring-boarded Wouters' already great numbers into his best BLB season at age 31. Now locked into a new long-term deal, Wouters is the veteran centerpiece of the young Muckdog team that looks to lock down the Porter for the next few seasons.
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - Wouters wins this match-up against almost any other team in the league. Hell, you can make an argument that he wins this one. But, Mel Woodbury is the straw that stirs the drink in Virginia. When his bat went cold last season in the Import League Championship, the Colonials went home. Woodbury is a legend and gets the check-mark against anyone.
ROTATION
VIR: Starters' ERA - 3.32 (3rd in IL) - Top 4 Combined 49-19
BAT: Starters' ERA - 3.31 (1st in IL) - Top 4 Combined 49-37
ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA - Though some will argue that Batavia's rotation numbers give them the advantage, we see a few significant factors in giving the Colonials the edge. #1) The Muckdogs are very southpaw heavy. 4 of the 5 starters that got 30+ starts this season are left-handed. While that seems like a great advantage on paper, the Colonials have beat the heck out of left-handed pitching this season to the tune of a 40-18 record against LH starters. #2) Experience. The Colonials Top 4 are 25-12 in post-season starts. Batavia's Top 4 are 2-1... Top 5 makes it 2-2. One of the starters has never even seen the post season. #3) Rest. BLB history has shown a bad pattern of starting pitchers with 30+ starts getting dinged up in the playoffs. All of Batavia's starters have 30+, while Virginia limited their Top 4 to 27 starts a piece and gave both Herrera and Morgan the last week off.
BULLPEN
VS VIR: Bullpen ERA - 4.52 (12th in IL)
BAT: Bullpen ERA - 3.33 (1st in IL)
ADVANTAGE: BATAVIA - The Colonials were awful in the 'Pen this year. Outside of a good season from Ivan Olivio and an emerging run by new Set-up guy Al McGinnis, Virginia was throwing batting practice late in games. Conversely, while Ken Bayer wasn't the lights out dynamo that we saw in other seasons, the Muckdogs bullpen was great from top to bottom and will lock any offense down when they're given the ball with a lead.
***
BOTTOMLINE: This is easily the best 1st Round series in the playoffs this year and either one of these teams could be viewed as the "team to beat" in the race for the Brewmaster's Cup. The Colonials won the season series 7-5 which seems to be another indication that we're looking at a long series full of knockdown, drag out games. We anticipate pitching being the real story in this one. Can the Muckdogs' starters get the ball to the bullpen with a lead? Can the Colonials 'pen hold a lead if they are delivered one?
PREDICTION: Colonials in 6
).... It's the team that hates Diesel vs the team that hates pot-smoking metrosexuals.... OK THAT one is a push.
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