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The defending Brewmaster's Cup and three-time Import League Champion Colonials start "the second season" after quietly breaking their BLB record for regular season wins by going 121-41 in 1992. The Colonials were prepping all week for the Bock Champion Davenport Brawlers, only to be surprised to see themselves matched up against the pesky Wild Card winning Batavia Muckdogs. The two teams split the season series 6-6 with each team going 4-2 at home. Can't ask for much more parity than that.
The Colonials biggest obstacle in the first round, however, may not be the Muckdogs as much as the infamous injury bug that seems to plague them at playoff time every season. This year, they'll start their quest for the Cup without two franchise cornerstones in Team Captain Dale O'Hegarty and Starter Nate "The Skull" Magness. O'Hegarty, who may be available if the Colonials reach the Brewmaster's Cup again will leave a sizable hole in the top of the lineup while Magness, who was having a career season (13-5, 2.94 ERA in 21 starts) won't even start long tossing until after Christmas.
Coming in on a 17-game win streak and a 23-5 September - did the Colonials peak at the wrong time?
Will the injuries be too much to overcome?
Are these Colonials still hungry enough for another run?
Can Batavia Muck it all up?
Time will tell.
STARTERS
1) Jerry Daly (CF) - .289/.380/.459 - 125 R - 66 SB - Last year's IL Refreshing New Brew took over the Leadoff Spot from O'Hegarty before the injury and torched the basepaths in 1992. His .208 average in the 1991 playoffs will not be acceptable if the Colonials hope to repeat.
2) Rod Phillips (C) - .264/.445/.395 - 146 BB - Phillips was a bit of an enigma in 1992. He got on-base at a great clip (leading the IL in BBs), but it took him most of the season to pull his batting average over .250. His power numbers also struggled, as did his defense. Arguably the team's best player in their '91 run, Phillips 1.095 OPS during last year's run would be a huge boost towards a repeat.
3) Hector Chavez (SS) - .350/.430/.559 - 33 HR - 58 SB - A leading contender for the IL Stout Slugger, Chavez was a breakout Superstar in 1992 and will have to be an offensive force to get the job done again this season. Chavez made the move to SS due to O'Hegarty's early season injury and the organization made the decision to make the move permanent prior to this latest one (sorry Jermaine Ednams). Chavez has been solid in his 32 Post-Season games, but has struggled with his Power.
4) Mel "Doorbell" Woodbury (RF) - .326/.449/.559 - 25 HR - 118 RBI - An epic 5th straight Import League Stout Slugger will likely come up short in 1992 due to a month long hand injury that limited Woodbury to just 134 games. He did turn in an impressive 1.008 OPS to lead the IL and his 25 bombs pulled him into 2nd all time on the BLB List. In his 39 career Post-Season games wtih Virginia and Philly, Woodbury ranks 2nd on the All-Time Post-Season HR List as well with 14 long balls including 5 in his shortened 1991 run to his first ring.
5) Yoritoki Maeda (3B) - .274/.381/.433 - 22 HR - 129 RBI - A key cog in the record setting '92 campaign, Maeda will be leaned on heavily this post-season. At just 26, Maeda already has 46 games of Post-Season experience due to Virginia's three straight deep runs.
6) Toyoshige Yamauchi (1B) - .243/.313/.460 - 21 HR - The rookie Rule V pick who bounced from Mississippi to Carolina to Virginia during the Winter. Yamauchi, who still has a lot of growing and maturing to do, did display the power that every expected. He platooned at 1B most of the season before wrestling away the permanent starting position mid-Summer. This will be the 24 year old's first Post-Season.
7) Doug MacPherson (2B) - .241/.319/.363 - 9 HR - 54 RBI - In and out of the starting lineup all season, MacPherson expected to be a Pinch Hitter in the quest for his 2nd ring with the Colonials. Instead, the Dale O'Hegarty injury has thrust MacPherson into the starting lineup and a tough assignment at 2B. The 29 year old has ridden the bench for all three of the Colonials playoff runs since '89.
8) Lonnie Scott (LF) - .225/.299/.328 - 13 HR - 73 RBI - The biggest hole in the Colonial lineup is, thankfully, one of their greatest defensive strength. Lonnie Scott was a clutch Pinch Hitter in last Post-Season, but will be expected to bring more to the table if Virginia hopes to repeat.
THE ROTATION
Pancho "Ironfist" Herrera - Triple Crown ('Nuff said) - Herrera is the best pitcher... perhaps player... in the BLB. Over the past 4 seasons he's gone "Pale Ale - Missed to Injury - Pale Ale (Triple Crown) - Likely Pale Ale (Triple Crown)". With the injuries to the offense, the pitching has to be THAT good. Herrera is 6-0 in his Post-Season career.
Jerry Morgan - 15-3 - 2.83 ERA - 199K - On 80% of the other teams in the BLB, 26 year old Jerry Morgan is the ACE. On the Colonials, he's a lights out #2. He was great in last year's playoffs and will be counted on heavily in '92.
Jayson McQueen - 13-4 - 3.10 - 158 K - The Closer turned Starter turned Closer turned Starter is officially locked into the Starting Role for the rest of his Colonial Years. With the injury to Nate Magness, McQueen has perhaps the most important role - the lone Lefty in the rotation. With the talented southpaw sticks on the Muckdogs, McQueen will play a huge role taking the ball on the road and potentially in Game 7. Frightening to many fans is how mediocre McQueen has been in the Post-Season as a Starter.
Gus Jenkins - 14-2 - 2.35 ERA - Though many "experts" expect Jenkins to be robbed of the IL New Brew Award despite his 14-2 record, he'll go for the bigger prize being given the coveted 4th Starter spot for the Champs. He beats out Arlen Spencer and fellow rookie Ismael Bernal - who will both be in the 'Pen. This is Jenkins first Post-Season.
KEYS TO THE SERIES
- The Colonials have to hit early and often. They've gotten into the habit of getting in pitching duels early then beating up Bullpens. That's not an option against Batavia as they sport one of the most lethal 'Pens in the BLB.
- Stay healthy. Obviously that's the goal of every team, but the Colonials really can't afford to lose another player with 2 All-Stars already watching from the OWner's box.
- Error Free. Defense wins Championships... it also defends them. The Colonials are solid at most positions, but the right side of the IF has been suspect and with the Muckdogs strong lefty bats, clean pick-ups will be a priority.
PREDICTION
While it's alway in fashion to play the humble Lou Holtz game and spend all of your column space lauding the other team and talking about your holes... I won't do it. The Colonials are still the best team in the BLB.
VIRGINIA in 6
The defending Brewmaster's Cup and three-time Import League Champion Colonials start "the second season" after quietly breaking their BLB record for regular season wins by going 121-41 in 1992. The Colonials were prepping all week for the Bock Champion Davenport Brawlers, only to be surprised to see themselves matched up against the pesky Wild Card winning Batavia Muckdogs. The two teams split the season series 6-6 with each team going 4-2 at home. Can't ask for much more parity than that.
The Colonials biggest obstacle in the first round, however, may not be the Muckdogs as much as the infamous injury bug that seems to plague them at playoff time every season. This year, they'll start their quest for the Cup without two franchise cornerstones in Team Captain Dale O'Hegarty and Starter Nate "The Skull" Magness. O'Hegarty, who may be available if the Colonials reach the Brewmaster's Cup again will leave a sizable hole in the top of the lineup while Magness, who was having a career season (13-5, 2.94 ERA in 21 starts) won't even start long tossing until after Christmas.
Coming in on a 17-game win streak and a 23-5 September - did the Colonials peak at the wrong time?
Will the injuries be too much to overcome?
Are these Colonials still hungry enough for another run?
Can Batavia Muck it all up?
Time will tell.
STARTERS
1) Jerry Daly (CF) - .289/.380/.459 - 125 R - 66 SB - Last year's IL Refreshing New Brew took over the Leadoff Spot from O'Hegarty before the injury and torched the basepaths in 1992. His .208 average in the 1991 playoffs will not be acceptable if the Colonials hope to repeat.
2) Rod Phillips (C) - .264/.445/.395 - 146 BB - Phillips was a bit of an enigma in 1992. He got on-base at a great clip (leading the IL in BBs), but it took him most of the season to pull his batting average over .250. His power numbers also struggled, as did his defense. Arguably the team's best player in their '91 run, Phillips 1.095 OPS during last year's run would be a huge boost towards a repeat.
3) Hector Chavez (SS) - .350/.430/.559 - 33 HR - 58 SB - A leading contender for the IL Stout Slugger, Chavez was a breakout Superstar in 1992 and will have to be an offensive force to get the job done again this season. Chavez made the move to SS due to O'Hegarty's early season injury and the organization made the decision to make the move permanent prior to this latest one (sorry Jermaine Ednams). Chavez has been solid in his 32 Post-Season games, but has struggled with his Power.
4) Mel "Doorbell" Woodbury (RF) - .326/.449/.559 - 25 HR - 118 RBI - An epic 5th straight Import League Stout Slugger will likely come up short in 1992 due to a month long hand injury that limited Woodbury to just 134 games. He did turn in an impressive 1.008 OPS to lead the IL and his 25 bombs pulled him into 2nd all time on the BLB List. In his 39 career Post-Season games wtih Virginia and Philly, Woodbury ranks 2nd on the All-Time Post-Season HR List as well with 14 long balls including 5 in his shortened 1991 run to his first ring.
5) Yoritoki Maeda (3B) - .274/.381/.433 - 22 HR - 129 RBI - A key cog in the record setting '92 campaign, Maeda will be leaned on heavily this post-season. At just 26, Maeda already has 46 games of Post-Season experience due to Virginia's three straight deep runs.
6) Toyoshige Yamauchi (1B) - .243/.313/.460 - 21 HR - The rookie Rule V pick who bounced from Mississippi to Carolina to Virginia during the Winter. Yamauchi, who still has a lot of growing and maturing to do, did display the power that every expected. He platooned at 1B most of the season before wrestling away the permanent starting position mid-Summer. This will be the 24 year old's first Post-Season.
7) Doug MacPherson (2B) - .241/.319/.363 - 9 HR - 54 RBI - In and out of the starting lineup all season, MacPherson expected to be a Pinch Hitter in the quest for his 2nd ring with the Colonials. Instead, the Dale O'Hegarty injury has thrust MacPherson into the starting lineup and a tough assignment at 2B. The 29 year old has ridden the bench for all three of the Colonials playoff runs since '89.
8) Lonnie Scott (LF) - .225/.299/.328 - 13 HR - 73 RBI - The biggest hole in the Colonial lineup is, thankfully, one of their greatest defensive strength. Lonnie Scott was a clutch Pinch Hitter in last Post-Season, but will be expected to bring more to the table if Virginia hopes to repeat.
THE ROTATION
Pancho "Ironfist" Herrera - Triple Crown ('Nuff said) - Herrera is the best pitcher... perhaps player... in the BLB. Over the past 4 seasons he's gone "Pale Ale - Missed to Injury - Pale Ale (Triple Crown) - Likely Pale Ale (Triple Crown)". With the injuries to the offense, the pitching has to be THAT good. Herrera is 6-0 in his Post-Season career.
Jerry Morgan - 15-3 - 2.83 ERA - 199K - On 80% of the other teams in the BLB, 26 year old Jerry Morgan is the ACE. On the Colonials, he's a lights out #2. He was great in last year's playoffs and will be counted on heavily in '92.
Jayson McQueen - 13-4 - 3.10 - 158 K - The Closer turned Starter turned Closer turned Starter is officially locked into the Starting Role for the rest of his Colonial Years. With the injury to Nate Magness, McQueen has perhaps the most important role - the lone Lefty in the rotation. With the talented southpaw sticks on the Muckdogs, McQueen will play a huge role taking the ball on the road and potentially in Game 7. Frightening to many fans is how mediocre McQueen has been in the Post-Season as a Starter.
Gus Jenkins - 14-2 - 2.35 ERA - Though many "experts" expect Jenkins to be robbed of the IL New Brew Award despite his 14-2 record, he'll go for the bigger prize being given the coveted 4th Starter spot for the Champs. He beats out Arlen Spencer and fellow rookie Ismael Bernal - who will both be in the 'Pen. This is Jenkins first Post-Season.
KEYS TO THE SERIES
- The Colonials have to hit early and often. They've gotten into the habit of getting in pitching duels early then beating up Bullpens. That's not an option against Batavia as they sport one of the most lethal 'Pens in the BLB.
- Stay healthy. Obviously that's the goal of every team, but the Colonials really can't afford to lose another player with 2 All-Stars already watching from the OWner's box.
- Error Free. Defense wins Championships... it also defends them. The Colonials are solid at most positions, but the right side of the IF has been suspect and with the Muckdogs strong lefty bats, clean pick-ups will be a priority.
PREDICTION
While it's alway in fashion to play the humble Lou Holtz game and spend all of your column space lauding the other team and talking about your holes... I won't do it. The Colonials are still the best team in the BLB.
VIRGINIA in 6
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