Playoff time
With the Frontier League playoffs upon us, let’s examine the Wild Things’ series with West Division champion Gateway. Here are three reasons why the Wild Things could win the series and three reasons why they could lose:
Why they could win:
1. Pitching - If there is one knock against Gateway, then it’s the Grizzlies’ pitching staff is not as deep as Washington’s, especially in the bullpen. Gateway does not have a left-handed pitcher on its roster, and if you’ve been following the Wild Things this year, then you know they’re a left-handed oriented team that has struggled at times against lefties. Also, Justin Staatz, who had difficulty throwing strikes as a reliever for Washington, is in a setup role for Gateway.
2. They’re due – Hey, Washington has to win a playoff series sometime, right? After losing five consecutive times in the playoffs, this organization is due.
3. Overconfidence – If there is one thing the Wild Things know about the playoffs, then it’s regular-season records mean nothing. Gateway won 63 games – more than any Wild Things team has produced – but that means nothing now. The first team to find a way to get three wins moves on.
Are the heavy-hitting Grizzlies overconfident? Probably not, but here are some interesting quotes from Gateway manager Phil Warren that appeared in the Belleville News-Democrat:
“My biggest concern for the entire playoffs is taking care of ourselves and doing the things we know we can do. Not to take anything away from the other three teams that are in this with us, but if we do our job and take care of ourselves, we'll come out fine.”
And: “Someone in the front office made the comment that this offense is unbelievable. I told him, ‘I agree with you, but enjoy it while it's here because you may never see one like this in the Frontier League ever again.’”
Why they could lose:
1. They always fall short in the playoffs – Do you believe in curses? The last four years, it has been one series and out for the Wild Things in the playoffs. They’ve been swept, they’ve gone to a fifth and deciding game, only to suffer the worst home loss in franchise history. They’ve suffered a lack of hitting. It seems a black cloud is hovering over this franchise when it’s playoff time.
2. Power difference – Gateway shattered the league record for home runs in a season. The Wild Things have more power in their lineup than they’ve had since the days of Josh Loggins, but if these games become high-scoring affairs, Washington doesn’t have the firepower to match the Grizzlies.
3. Home-field disadvantage – Washington is not a good road team. The Wild Things haven’t won a road series in more than a month. They need to win at least one, and probably two, games at GCS Ballpark, where the Grizzlies have been almost unbeatable.
Why they could win:
1. Pitching - If there is one knock against Gateway, then it’s the Grizzlies’ pitching staff is not as deep as Washington’s, especially in the bullpen. Gateway does not have a left-handed pitcher on its roster, and if you’ve been following the Wild Things this year, then you know they’re a left-handed oriented team that has struggled at times against lefties. Also, Justin Staatz, who had difficulty throwing strikes as a reliever for Washington, is in a setup role for Gateway.
2. They’re due – Hey, Washington has to win a playoff series sometime, right? After losing five consecutive times in the playoffs, this organization is due.
3. Overconfidence – If there is one thing the Wild Things know about the playoffs, then it’s regular-season records mean nothing. Gateway won 63 games – more than any Wild Things team has produced – but that means nothing now. The first team to find a way to get three wins moves on.
Are the heavy-hitting Grizzlies overconfident? Probably not, but here are some interesting quotes from Gateway manager Phil Warren that appeared in the Belleville News-Democrat:
“My biggest concern for the entire playoffs is taking care of ourselves and doing the things we know we can do. Not to take anything away from the other three teams that are in this with us, but if we do our job and take care of ourselves, we'll come out fine.”
And: “Someone in the front office made the comment that this offense is unbelievable. I told him, ‘I agree with you, but enjoy it while it's here because you may never see one like this in the Frontier League ever again.’”
Why they could lose:
1. They always fall short in the playoffs – Do you believe in curses? The last four years, it has been one series and out for the Wild Things in the playoffs. They’ve been swept, they’ve gone to a fifth and deciding game, only to suffer the worst home loss in franchise history. They’ve suffered a lack of hitting. It seems a black cloud is hovering over this franchise when it’s playoff time.
2. Power difference – Gateway shattered the league record for home runs in a season. The Wild Things have more power in their lineup than they’ve had since the days of Josh Loggins, but if these games become high-scoring affairs, Washington doesn’t have the firepower to match the Grizzlies.
3. Home-field disadvantage – Washington is not a good road team. The Wild Things haven’t won a road series in more than a month. They need to win at least one, and probably two, games at GCS Ballpark, where the Grizzlies have been almost unbeatable.
posted by Chris Dugan at
10:56 AM
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