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As the Virginia Colonials prepare to embark on their first ever foray into the BLB Playoffs, we take time to break down their 1st Round Matchup against the Bock Division Champion Davenport Brawlers.
Lineup:
Since the Brawlers sport a rotation featuring only right-handed starters, the Colonials will trot out the same lineup each day. Let’s take a look at how the Stout Champions stacked up against the Brawlers this season.
#1 Dale O'Hegarty (SS) - R – .238/.400/.310/.710 – The Brawlers’ Staff handled O’Hegarty fairly well, though he did manage to draw 12 free passes in their matchups.
#2 Rod Phillips (C) – S – .255/.294/.426/.720 – The Colonials young switch hitting Catcher struggled in his 12 appearances against Davenport though he did hit one of just 7 HRs against the Bock Champs.
#3 Everardo Gremades (1B) – L – .400/.556/.600/1.156 - Gremades only got 6 whacks at the Brawlers during the regular season, but his impressive numbers will be needed to power the Colonials lineup in this series.
#4 Mel Woodbury (RF) – L - .222/.317/.333/.650 – The Brawlers can proudly hang their hat on being the team that tamed Mel Woodbury like no other. Though he missed three games with Davenport due to injury, in their 9 chances, they cooled the ’88 IL Stout Slugger like no other.
#5 Danny Nelson (CF) – R - .275/.293/.500/.793 – The revitalized Nelson hit 3 of his 30 bombs this season off of D’Port pitching. They’ll need that continued power stroke from “Mr Virginia” if the Colonials hope to escape Round 1.
#6 Yoritoki Maeda (3B) – R - .306/.432/.500/.932 – Maeda’s coming out season was over-shadowed by the team’s playoff run and key injuries to fellow infielders Nino and Poling, but Maeda’s bat may tell the biggest tale in these playoffs.
#7 Florian Toselli (LF) – R – .429/.474/.571/1.045 – “Little Italy” as his teammates call him, Toselli was a major sparkplug in ’89 and his success against Davenport this season will need to continue in October.
#8 Doug MacPherson (2B) – R - .000/.000/.000/.000 – MacPherson went 0-7 in plate appearances against Davenport this season. He’ll share time with Cristian Martinez in this series.
Starting Rotation:
The Colonials ride into the playoffs on the arms of their rotation. They have not been outstanding the last few weeks, but clearly the strength all season. It took many, many, many losses to build this pitching staff… and it’s finally paying dividends.
Game 1 – Pancho ‘Ironfist’ Herrera (RH) – 1-1 – 2.25 ERA – 0.50 WHIP – 13K/0BB - The IL Pale Ale Candidate and Staff Ace will take the ball in Game 1. The last time he faced the Brawlers at home (5/30/89) he turned in a CG scattering 4 hits and striking out 7.
Game 2 – Jerry Collins (LH) – 2-0 – 0.73 ERA – 0.57 WHIP – 11K/0BB – Perhaps a surprise to see Collins moved into the #2 spot, but his success against the Brawlers this year and the team’s want to throw a lefty against D’Port at Colonial Park made the 22 year old All Star the logical choice.
Game 3 – Jerry Morgan (RH) – 0-0 – 5.25 ERA – 1.58 WHIP – 8K/6BB – Two no decisions in two tries for “the other Jerry” as he struggled with his control against the cornfed Brawlers. He’s got the stuff to break out in the playoffs and may be the key to a series win.
Game 4 – Nate ‘The Skull’ Magness (LH) – 3-0 – 1.69 ERA – 0.84 WHIP – 18K/4BB – The crafty lefty and Virginia fan favorite slides down to the 4 hole to play perhaps the most important role in the rotation… Gladiator. The Colonials feel like Game 4 is likely the first time they see Russ McEvoy. Magness’ perfect record against the Brawlers this season, bulldog attitude and fearless nature will allow him to take the mound on the road and go blow for blow.
Bottomline:
I’m in no real position to make a prediction, nor will I. Davenport is arguably the hottest team in the IL right now and does not look like the same team I handled in 9 out of 12 games this season. Russ McEvoy was a playoff stud last season and could almost be looked at as a lock for two wins. We’ll need to play solid defense (something we struggled with) and stay healthy. This team has no depth left with Poling and Nino out. We’ll need everything we’ve got to get out of Round 1 and play for the IL Pennant.
As the Virginia Colonials prepare to embark on their first ever foray into the BLB Playoffs, we take time to break down their 1st Round Matchup against the Bock Division Champion Davenport Brawlers.
Lineup:
Since the Brawlers sport a rotation featuring only right-handed starters, the Colonials will trot out the same lineup each day. Let’s take a look at how the Stout Champions stacked up against the Brawlers this season.
#1 Dale O'Hegarty (SS) - R – .238/.400/.310/.710 – The Brawlers’ Staff handled O’Hegarty fairly well, though he did manage to draw 12 free passes in their matchups.
#2 Rod Phillips (C) – S – .255/.294/.426/.720 – The Colonials young switch hitting Catcher struggled in his 12 appearances against Davenport though he did hit one of just 7 HRs against the Bock Champs.
#3 Everardo Gremades (1B) – L – .400/.556/.600/1.156 - Gremades only got 6 whacks at the Brawlers during the regular season, but his impressive numbers will be needed to power the Colonials lineup in this series.
#4 Mel Woodbury (RF) – L - .222/.317/.333/.650 – The Brawlers can proudly hang their hat on being the team that tamed Mel Woodbury like no other. Though he missed three games with Davenport due to injury, in their 9 chances, they cooled the ’88 IL Stout Slugger like no other.
#5 Danny Nelson (CF) – R - .275/.293/.500/.793 – The revitalized Nelson hit 3 of his 30 bombs this season off of D’Port pitching. They’ll need that continued power stroke from “Mr Virginia” if the Colonials hope to escape Round 1.
#6 Yoritoki Maeda (3B) – R - .306/.432/.500/.932 – Maeda’s coming out season was over-shadowed by the team’s playoff run and key injuries to fellow infielders Nino and Poling, but Maeda’s bat may tell the biggest tale in these playoffs.
#7 Florian Toselli (LF) – R – .429/.474/.571/1.045 – “Little Italy” as his teammates call him, Toselli was a major sparkplug in ’89 and his success against Davenport this season will need to continue in October.
#8 Doug MacPherson (2B) – R - .000/.000/.000/.000 – MacPherson went 0-7 in plate appearances against Davenport this season. He’ll share time with Cristian Martinez in this series.
Starting Rotation:
The Colonials ride into the playoffs on the arms of their rotation. They have not been outstanding the last few weeks, but clearly the strength all season. It took many, many, many losses to build this pitching staff… and it’s finally paying dividends.
Game 1 – Pancho ‘Ironfist’ Herrera (RH) – 1-1 – 2.25 ERA – 0.50 WHIP – 13K/0BB - The IL Pale Ale Candidate and Staff Ace will take the ball in Game 1. The last time he faced the Brawlers at home (5/30/89) he turned in a CG scattering 4 hits and striking out 7.
Game 2 – Jerry Collins (LH) – 2-0 – 0.73 ERA – 0.57 WHIP – 11K/0BB – Perhaps a surprise to see Collins moved into the #2 spot, but his success against the Brawlers this year and the team’s want to throw a lefty against D’Port at Colonial Park made the 22 year old All Star the logical choice.
Game 3 – Jerry Morgan (RH) – 0-0 – 5.25 ERA – 1.58 WHIP – 8K/6BB – Two no decisions in two tries for “the other Jerry” as he struggled with his control against the cornfed Brawlers. He’s got the stuff to break out in the playoffs and may be the key to a series win.
Game 4 – Nate ‘The Skull’ Magness (LH) – 3-0 – 1.69 ERA – 0.84 WHIP – 18K/4BB – The crafty lefty and Virginia fan favorite slides down to the 4 hole to play perhaps the most important role in the rotation… Gladiator. The Colonials feel like Game 4 is likely the first time they see Russ McEvoy. Magness’ perfect record against the Brawlers this season, bulldog attitude and fearless nature will allow him to take the mound on the road and go blow for blow.
Bottomline:
I’m in no real position to make a prediction, nor will I. Davenport is arguably the hottest team in the IL right now and does not look like the same team I handled in 9 out of 12 games this season. Russ McEvoy was a playoff stud last season and could almost be looked at as a lock for two wins. We’ll need to play solid defense (something we struggled with) and stay healthy. This team has no depth left with Poling and Nino out. We’ll need everything we’ve got to get out of Round 1 and play for the IL Pennant.