That's offensive
The most surprising aspect of the Wild Things’ four-game winning streak in the playoffs has to be the offensive production. Thirty-nine runs in the four games, including three straight games with double-digit runs. At least one home run in every playoff game. This by a team that was sixth in the league in runs scored and ninth in batting average during the regular season.
Nobody in the visitor’s clubhouse Tuesday night at Standard Bank Stadium knew how long the offensive outburts will continue, but they certainly have come at the right time.
“This is probably the best we’ve hit the ball on a consistent basis,” Washington manager John Massarelli said. “We’ve played well offensively in a series during the regular season but not over a couple of weeks. When our offense is consistent, that’s when we play our best because our pitching and defense is usually solid.”
Shortstop Ryan Bethel added this: “It’s 1 to 9; everyone can hit. What’s nice about this lineup is that in any situation everybody can get the big hit. We don’t have to rely on one person to carry us.”
Massarelli is right. When the Wild Things score, they are tough to beat. Their pitching ranked second in the league – to Windy City – and only one team committed fewer errors.
“Washington, how they differ from all the other teams in the league is how balanced they are," Windy City manager Andy Haines said after Tuesday’s game. “Balance is the key word with them because they are not reliant on one aspect of the game. They're not going to make a lot of mistakes so you have to go out and beat them.”
Nobody in the visitor’s clubhouse Tuesday night at Standard Bank Stadium knew how long the offensive outburts will continue, but they certainly have come at the right time.
“This is probably the best we’ve hit the ball on a consistent basis,” Washington manager John Massarelli said. “We’ve played well offensively in a series during the regular season but not over a couple of weeks. When our offense is consistent, that’s when we play our best because our pitching and defense is usually solid.”
Shortstop Ryan Bethel added this: “It’s 1 to 9; everyone can hit. What’s nice about this lineup is that in any situation everybody can get the big hit. We don’t have to rely on one person to carry us.”
Massarelli is right. When the Wild Things score, they are tough to beat. Their pitching ranked second in the league – to Windy City – and only one team committed fewer errors.
“Washington, how they differ from all the other teams in the league is how balanced they are," Windy City manager Andy Haines said after Tuesday’s game. “Balance is the key word with them because they are not reliant on one aspect of the game. They're not going to make a lot of mistakes so you have to go out and beat them.”
posted by Chris Dugan at
8:36 AM
3 Comments:
A couple notes:
Bethel's homerun was the first for either team in four games played at Windy City between them.
Sutton now has six rbi in the playoffs.
Knapp had one triple in 310 regular season at-bats.
Eric Fussell (WC) allowed Washington just one run in 14 innings during two regular season games. The Wild Things scored four runs on five hits in 13 batters Tuesday night.
Chris,
Just stopped by to tell you how jealous I am that you still get to write baseball in the middle of September. Keep up the great work, tell Mazz that I'm rooting for the Wild Things (for maybe the first time ever) and -- for what it's worth -- I'm teasing your blog daily in the Chillicothe Gazette.
By the way, was Tom Cochran really as good for the first 6 1/3 Wednesday as it looked in the box score?
Phil,
In all the games I've covered – Wild Things, Pirates etc. – Wednesday night was the first time I thought one of the pitchers had stuff good enough that a no-hitter was possible, which is saying something when you consider the caliber of hitters in the Windy City lineup. I covered a Pirates game in 2001 when Todd Ritchie (!) took a no-hitter into the 9th against the Royals and he wasn't dominating the game that night like Cochran was Wednesday.
By the way, nothing like that tradition-rich Pirates-Royals series, huh?
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