2010 Playoffs WC Round - Next Sim TBD

[Matt]

Next SIM: Sun 03/15

- Files due by 11 am ET | 8 am PT, any later and you run the risk of missing the sim
- HTML and utility in a bit
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Roster:
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[Pat]

Spoiler

1/2 on the predictions. Congrats to the winners. Exports in. Good luck to Carolina. Should be an epic series.

[umd]

Spoiler

Good game Jistic. I don't hold out much hope of beating PHI, but we'll cross our fingers and hope for some luck.

[Sully]

Spoiler

Schubert got us going early, and we held on. Great season, Mike.

Export is in. Good luck, funclown. Hope we can make you earn that trip to the LCS.

[Pat]

Spoiler

Good game Jistic. I don't hold out much hope of beating PHI, but we'll cross our fingers and hope for some luck.

Spoiler

As long as you got Brummett, you have a chance in any series.

[Ryan]

Spoiler

Schubert got us going early, and we held on. Great season, Mike.

Export is in. Good luck, funclown. Hope we can make you earn that trip to the LCS.

Spoiler

Go get 'em Sully!

[Carlos]

Good games. The results already make it clear how this extra round can change the playoff landscape.

[funclown]

Spoiler

Schubert got us going early, and we held on. Great season, Mike.

Export is in. Good luck, funclown. Hope we can make you earn that trip to the LCS.

Export in.

Reason for optimism- 1) were probably the most balanced in the BLB, we do nothing great yet do everything well. 2) veterans with rings , Vega, Oshman, Montalbo and 7 other players with playoff experience. 3) losing one game at home won't sink us like the past.

Reason we lose- 1) paper tiger. not ONE top player on this team. think Maine did this a few years ago...and got bounced. 2) History/ Fate , this teams feels a lot like the following teams: 92 Pawtucket, 05 Death Valley, 06 PiTT, 08 Maine, this list goes on. If you won over 105 games and your name isn't Clay you go home. 3) 1st seed curse. See history, a lot of stats are just stacked against us.

We lose in 5.

[Carlos]

Denver beat LA in 5 last year. I can only hope we do it again, but LA still has two guys going Games 1 and 2 that are probably better than our two guys. Then it starts getting dicey for the both of us.

[Sully]

Denver beat LA in 5 last year. I can only hope we do it again, but LA still has two guys going Games 1 and 2 that are probably better than our two guys. Then it starts getting dicey for the both of us.

Both teams played great down the stretch. Should be a great series, Washington and Carolina too.

[funclown]

Denver beat LA in 5 last year. I can only hope we do it again, but LA still has two guys going Games 1 and 2 that are probably better than our two guys. Then it starts getting dicey for the both of us.

That JR Lowe injury was big. LA is going to need great pitching and throw your runners out like Windy City did to have any chance.

[Pat]

I wanted to do a recap/preview for the playoff games but I don't think I will have time.

As for ILDS Washington vs. Carolina...

Starting Pitching = This easily goes to Carolina. The combo of Ian Fink and Al Moon are head and shoulders better than any of my starting pitchers. The depth is there too as William Eddy and William Gregg are probably as good as my two best SPs, especially with #2 SP Troy Martin out with an injury for the series. Washington is also making a surprise move in starting BJ Carpenter who only got four starts during the season after being acquired from Indy and spending most of his time in Triple-A. Carolina had the IL #1 ERA for SP...Washington was ranked 4th.

Relief Pitching = This is a bit closer. Carolina ranked 3rd, Washington ranked 4th. The Bats did address the pen with a mid-season trade for Denver closer Tony "Vulture" Perez who went on a tear, posting 32 Ks, 2 BB in 23.1 IP in DC. The Washington RPs rank 6th. The Carolina RPs rank 7th. Washington has 10 pitchers on the playoff roster while Carolina has 11...that one extra RP could come in handy. I'm calling this slight edge to Carolina.

Defense = Carolina ranked 2nd in the IL, Washington ranked 4th. The Bats had studs in certain spots, but also liabilities at 1B, 3B and LF. The Tobs don't have has many defensive studs but their only liability is in RF with Manny Mireles. Slight advantage to Carolina.

Lineup = Washington scored 812 runs, best in the IL. Carolina scored 766, which was actually good for 2nd in the IL. Washington finished 1st in OBP, SLG, OPS, R, H, XBH, Ks, 2nd in AVG, BB, 3rd in SB and 4th in HR. Carolina finished 1st in HR, SB, 2nd in R, 3rd in SLG, 4th in OPS, AVG, 5th in OBP, 6th in BB, 9th in XBH. Washington has a legitimate threat #1-#8; the Bats #8 hitter, Manny Reyes, had 102 RBI. Carolina has a good handful of stud hitters in Ricky Murillo, CJ Jone and Bobby Montoya, but the edge goes to Washington.

Bench = How much does bench come in to play? Quite a bit in a IL series. Washington has four players as defensive replacements and arguably the best pinch hitters/runners in the IL. The main player off the bench is OF Jamie Urmson who is a former Carolina product. He's a defensive replacement, the #1 pinch runner and in 348 ABs this year he hit at a .814 OPS, including .914 vs. LHP. He will see plenty of time. Carolina acquired IF Roberto Crespin for his defensive replacement ability and has a handful of solid bench bats as well. Edge however goes to Washington.

Prediction: What will win? Pitching or hitting? The Bats went 5-2 against Carolina during the season. Washington has homefield and were a much better team at home. However, Carolina is one of the few teams to actually have a better road record than home. Carolina has the clear SP advantage while Washington has the better lineup. The bullpens, defenses and benches, are all pretty similar. This should be a lengthy series and I fully expect it to be back and forth. I'll take Carolina in 7. Washington doesn't have a Fink, a Moon, or a Murillo. And that will prove to be the difference.

[Pat]

Other predictions:

Pawtucket in 6.
Denver in 7.
Philly in 6.

[Sully]

Pawtucket in 6
LA in 7
Washington in 5
Philly in 6

[mike]

100 wins, bounced in 1 game. Insanity.