November 3, 2001

2001 BDBL Playoff Preview

As I watched Tino Martinez take Bung-Hole Kim deep into the Bronx night last Wednesday, I was struck by a disturbing, yet oddly peaceful, revelation: the Stamford Zoots are the New York Yankees of fantasy baseball.

They are the team everyone loves to hate.  They can be a little cocky at times, but in general they are more confident than arrogant.  They never seem to look all that good on paper, but when a piece of shiny hardware is on the line, they always seem to get that lucky break or clutch performance when they need it.   They win, but they don't win by much.  And no matter how far they may fall, no one ever counts them out. 

In the past four years, the Yankees have won eleven of their last eleven playoff series.  In two BDBL seasons and nine CBL seasons, the Zoots have won nine out of nine playoff series.

The Yankees have Mariano Rivera.  The Zoots of old had Dennis Eckersley.  The Yankees feature dominating starting pitching, from David Cone to Andy Pettitte to Orlando Hernandez to Roger Clemens to Mike Mussina.  The Zoots revolve around pitchers like Frank Viola, Teddy Higuera, Danny Jackson, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz.  The Yankees have Jim Leyritz, who hit a pair of unlikely home runs for them in the post-season.  The Zoots have Luis Alicea, who did the same.  The Yankees won a crucial playoff game because a 12-year-old boy stuck his glove in front of Tony Tarasco and turned a fly out into a home run.  The Zoots won a crucial playoff game because they exploited a bug in "Earl Weaver Baseball."  The Yankees are owned by the blustering, obnoxious, egomaniacal tyrant George Steinbrenner.  The Zoots are owned by Paul Marazita.  The similarities are simply too eerie to ignore.

Though the Zoots have won back-to-back BDBL championships, they haven't exactly dominated in the post-season.  Two years ago, Stamford went the distance in all three of their playoff series, and they were outscored by their opponents in all three series.  A year ago, the Zoots squeezed into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, one win away from possible exclusion from the playoffs.  The Division Series went the distance, where the Zoots took Game Five by one run.  The Championship Series was the only BDBL playoff series featuring the Zoots that did not go the distance.  Stamford won Game Six of that series by a score of 1-0.  Then, of course, they lost the first three games of the World Series against the world-beating Chicago Black Sox.  Needing to sweep all four of the next four games, the Zoots did just that - a feat no Major League team has ever accomplished.

This season, just like the 1998 Yankees, the Stamford Zoots made their competition look foolish. They shattered the BDBL record, winning a mind-boggling 112 games to finish with a perfect .700 winning percentage.  Will they make it three in a row?  Will the BDBL be subjected to another year of hearing about the "Zoots Mystique" and the ability of their crafty veterans to rise to the occasion when the games really count?  Will the Zoots, like the present-day Yankees, become the three-time defending champions?  We'll find out soon enough.

After a while, you can't help but feel sorry for poor Phil Geisel.  Twelve years ago, Geisel finally managed to lead his team into the playoffs after two years of almost comical failure.  There, he faced Paul Marazita and the Zoots in the CBL World Series.  Geisel's "Ironmen" thumped the Zoots by a score of 9-1 in Game One, but lost the next three games of that best-of-five series by scores of 3-1, 3-2 and 3-1.  The definitive blow of the series came in Game Two, when Geisel refused to pitch around pitcher Frank Viola in the sixth inning (a standard practice in the highly-flawed "Earl Weaver Baseball" game.)  Viola's double scored the go-ahead run of that game and evened the series at one apiece. 

In their first year in the BDBL, Geisel's Litchfield Lightning overcame impossible odds by beating the Los Altos Undertakers in the OLDS despite fielding only half a roster.  They then took the eventual champion Zoots to seven games in the Championship Series, but lost Game Seven when Stamford's diminutive second baseman, Luis Alicea, took Denny Neagle yard for two solo homers in an eventual 2-1 loss. The next season, Litchfield won 102 games, but failed to capture the division crown once again.  As a result, they were forced to face the Zoots yet again in the playoffs.  There, they fought a tough battle that culminated in the most exciting moment of the playoffs.  Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth of Game Four, the Lightning were one out away from elimination when Erubiel Durazo stepped to the plate with Barry Bonds on first.  Durazo delivered a walk-off, two-run homer off Stamford reliever B.J. Ryan, forcing a fifth and deciding game.  Unfortunately, like Carlton Fisk's dramatic homer in the 1975 MLB World Series, Durazo's homer proved to be nothing but the high point in a losing cause.  A three-run homer by Lance Berkman put Litchfield ahead 5-2 in the sixth inning of Game Five, but the Litchfield bullpen failed to hold that lead.  Eventually, Stamford won 6-5 thanks to a two-run base hit by Rafael Palmeiro off Litchfield's lefty specialist, Rheal Cormier in the sixth.

...All of which brings us to the present.  For the third year in a row and the fourth time in fantasy baseball history, Phil Geisel will attempt to dethrone the two-time defending champions.  This year, the Lightning relied mostly on their hitting and relief pitching to get to the post-season.  Their offense is centered around Barry Bonds, who led the Ozzie League in average (.350), OBP (.481), slugging (.745), home runs (54), extra base hits (90), walks (132) and runs created (193.2).  Bonds was supposed to suffer a little against left-handed pitching, but instead hit .305/.378/.660 with 19 homers against them this season.

Sandwiched around Bonds are Will Clark (.368/.499/.635) and Lightning legend Edgar Martinez (.333/.431/.593).  Clark, a 16th-round draft pick last winter, was one of the top first basemen in the league this year, but he will probably sit against Randy Johnson and any other lefties Stamford throws at him.   At age 68, Martinez's last season as the Lightning third baseman was his best ever.  He smashed 42 homers, walked 100 times, scored 127 runs and drove home 130.  Leadoff hitter Eric Young (.270/.332/.387) led the league with 67 stolen bases (22 caught stealing), scored 103 runs and hit an astounding 59 doubles.  Newcomer Derek Jeter (.297/.372/.409) fit in perfectly in the #2 spot ahead of Bonds.  And Preston Wilson (.264/.344/.462 with 35 doubles, 26 homers and 199 strikeouts) provided ample protection in the middle of the lineup.

In the pen, lefty Arthur Rhodes (7-3, 2.88, 5 SV) and right-hander Steve Karsay (9-4, 3.13, 17 SV) did a tremendous job setting up closer Jeff Shaw (7-4, 4.55, 21 SV).  As a whole, Litchfield's bullpen posted a 4.38 ERA, good for seventh in the BDBL.  The Achilles Heel of the Lightning may turn out to be their starting rotation.  Denny Neagle (15-6, 3.72), Mac Suzuki (11-12, 4.59), Darren Dreifort (8-13, 5.71) and Pete Harnisch (4-6, 5.02) will have a tough time keeping pace with Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown and Brian Bohanon.

Another problem for Litchfield could surface when the Zoots begin their endless parade of situational relievers.  Typically, the Lightning bench consists of utility infielder Luis Lopez (.290/.330/.350), former Stamford cleanup hitter Luis Polonia (.278/.333/.424), Cowtipper Killer Tomas Perez (.278/.316/.333) and Mike Lamb (.273/.315/.337).  Clark will also be available on the bench when Stamford throws a lefty starter, but with lefty relievers Mark Buehrle, C.J. Nitkowski and Tom Martin around, Clark will probably never see the light of day in those games.

For the Zoots, the key to this series is the same as it's ever been: Johnson and Brown.  The composite line for these two aces in the BDBL post-season over the past two years looks like this: 13-8, 3.49 ERA, 157 IP, 131 H, 63 BB, 152 K.  Johnson (24-6, 4.38) had one of the most bizarre seasons in BDBL history.  He led the league in wins and strike-outs (348), but gave up a whopping 43 homers and allowed 80 walks and 272 hits in 258.2 innings.  In ten starts this season, Johnson was hammered for five or more runs (and in four starts, he allowed seven or more!) 

Brown, on the other hand, was as solid as ever.  He quietly put together another all-star season, placing second in the league in ERA (2.94) while allowing just 199 hits and 61 walks through 235.1 innings.  He yielded five or more runs in a game only five times all season, and never allowed more than six runs in any start.  Ryan Dempster (14-5, 3.96), acquired from the Chicago Black Sox early in the season, also put together a solid, yet quiet, season for the Zoots.  However, it's likely that his spot in the rotation - at least for the Division Series - will be taken by the surprising Brian Bohanon instead.  Bohanon, acquired in exchange for the legendary Kip Wells, went 16-7 for Stamford and led the league in ERA at 2.66 - over two runs fewer than his ERA with the Rockies in 2000.  Since Litchfield was just 23-27, and batted 21 points lower, against left-handed starters this season, it's virtually guaranteed that Bohanon will get the start.

The question is whether or not Stamford manager Paul Marazita will continue to employ a three-man rotation in the playoffs with the OLDS expanding to a best-of-seven format.  Marazita has used the three-man rotation with great success in the past, but if the Zoots are up 3-0 or 2-1 heading into Game Four, it's possible that Dempster could get the call.

One reason the Zoots might want to go with a four-man rotation is that their bullpen was surprisingly weak this season.  Aside from Buehrle (4-1, 2.36, 625 OPS vs. lefties), Stamford could count on very little out of their pen this season.  Mike Fetters (0-0, 2.19) gave a solid performance after coming over from the Hammerheads organization, though it was in only 24 innings of work.  Closer Jose Paniagua (3-3, 4.57, 16 SV, 4 BS) was somewhat of a disappointment, and was hammered by right-handed hitters (948 OPS).  And fan favorite Bung-Hole Kim (6-5, 5.28) was as horrible as he's been in the MLB World Series, giving up 19 homers in just 73 innings and blowing five saves.

The big story in Stamford this year was not their pitching.  For the first time in franchise history, the biggest story in Stamford was their offense.  The big difference, of course, was replacing Mike Lowell (.228/.300/.447) with Phil Nevin (.316/.390/.545) and Rusty Greer (.224/.332/.304) with Tim Salmon (.304/.426/.540).  In the past, Marazita's mid-season acquisitions of Johnson and John Smoltz turned a good pitching staff into a great one.  This year, Marazita's mid-season pick-ups of Nevin and Salmon turned a good offense into one that is capable of competing with any other playoff team in the league.

From one-to-eight, the Stamford lineup is as solid as you'll find anywhere else.  Omar Vizquel (.309/.411/.410) and Edgardo Alfonzo (.314/.399/.509) set the table at the top and Salmon, Nevin, Magglio Ordonez (.317/.384/.544) and Rafael Palmeiro (.256/.356/.514) drive them home.  On the bench, the Zoots have more options than just about anybody.  Ken Caminiti (.299/.402/.594) or Nevin are available, as are spot-cleanup-hitter Fernando Seguignol (.357/.410/.589), Chad Curtis (.343/.420/.480), Shane Spencer (.297/.328/.486), Henry Rodriguez (.291/.355/.574) and Bubba Trammell (.282/.364/.487).  And don't forget about the powerful catching duo of Brad Ausmus (.307/.388/.457) and Mighty Joe Oliver (.314/.372/.627).

As thrilling as this series will be, it will also be somewhat bittersweet.  After this series has ended, who knows how many years will pass until these two great warriors meet again in the playoffs?  The Lightning will be losing Martinez to free agency, and will return a pitching staff of Mac Suzuki and Pray For Rain.  The Zoots will be losing Johnson, Palmeiro, Vizquel and Salmon, and are already using the "R" word when talking about next season.  And the third member of the "Glander Three", the Salem Cowtippers, will be losing several key players and will feature a pitching staff worse than the 2001 Lightning.  This could be the swan song for the "Glander Three Era."  Enjoy it while it lasts.

They say pitching wins playoff games.  If that's true, then who do you favor in this series?  On the one hand, you've got the Akron Ryche, featuring probable EL Cy Young Pedro Martinez (23-3, 3.23 and a 36/334 BB/K ratio) and Tim Hudson (12-13, 3.52).  On the other hand, you've got the South Carolina Sea Cats with their two first-round draft picks, Tom Glavine (20-6, 2.70) and Roger Clemens (18-7, 3.17).  Based on that alone, this series has the potential to be the lowest-scoring playoff series in league history.

The big difference between the two pitching staffs surfaces in the Game Three match-up of former Los Altos Undertaker Woody Williams (10-5, 3.56) for Akron and "Pray For Rain" for South Carolina.  The options for the Sea Cats's #3 starter aren't pretty: Gil Heredia (14-10, 5.18), Jesus Sanchez (10-5, 5.56) or Mark Redman (2-9, 5.70).  As a result, South Carolina is almost forced to use a three-man rotation in the playoffs, a strategy that could hurt the effectiveness of their twin aces.

Fortunately for the Sea Cats, the options for Akron's #4 starter aren't much prettier.  Assuming Akron goes with a four man rotation, that task will likely go to either Russ Ortiz (5-3, 5.18) or Sidney Ponson (10-9, 5.75).  Osvaldo Fernandez (4-1, 4.04 in 12 starts) or Jarrod Washburn (9-1, 4.41) would both be more palatable options, but both are limited to five innings per playoff series.  With Akron's bullpen, however, they may be able to get away with that.

The Ryche bullpen starts with closer Trevor Hoffman (1-1, 3.86, 11 SV in 16 innings as a member of the Ryche).  Setting him up are Mark Wohlers (2-0, 2.60, 5 SV), lefty Ray King (2-2, 3.54, 6 SV), Mike James (4-4, 3.97, 6 SV), Jason Christianson (6-1, 4.07, 3 SV) and Latroy Hawkins (7-4, 4.15, 7 SV).  The Akron bullpen was so deep this year that eleven different pitchers recorded saves for the Ryche.

South Carolina's bullpen features former Zoot Donne Wall (6-3, 3.02), who led the team in saves (27) despite walking more batters (28) than he struck out (23).  Former Undertaker Mike Remlinger (3-0, 3.05 in 20.2 IP as a Sea Cat), Rich "El Guapo" Garces (6-9, 3.47, 6 SV) and Jose Jiminez (1-5, 3.51, 7 SV) are the main setup guys for Wall.

The Sea Cats and Ryche are ranked one and two in ERA, and they are also very similar offensively.  Akron scored 36 more runs than South Carolina and had an OPS fifteen points higher.  But South Carolina hit 62 more homers than Akron and walked 40 more times.  The biggest difference is in the splits.   Akron crushes left-handed pitching (.335/.401/.493 vs. LH, .293/.368/.471 vs. RH), while South Carolina is slightly better against right-handers (.279/.363/.484 vs. RH, .268/.342/.396 vs. LH).  Glavine, South Carolina's only lefty starter, faced the Ryche only once this season and was crushed for five runs on eleven hits through five innings.

But the fact that Akron crushed lefty pitching this season is a little unusual, since their three best hitters - Darin Erstad (.364/.420/.574 with 40 2B, 10 3B, 28 HR, 149 R and 124 RBI), John Vander Wal (.325/.443/.589) and Ryan Klesko (.306/.430/.547) - are all left-handed.  From the right side, Akron features newly-acquired Jay Buhner (.348/.443/.571 as a Ryche), Mark Quinn (.338/.396/.580) and Mike Lieberthal (.318/.386/.472).

The Sea Cats also rely heavily on their trio of left-handed hitters, Bobby Higginson (.317/.403/.421 with 42 2B, 42 HR, 123 R and 122 RBI), Jim Edmonds (.286/.413/.594 with 49 HR, 120 R and 120 RBI) and Ray Lankford (.249/.371/.524 with 28 HR).  Like the Ryche, the Sea Cats added some balance to their lineup via trade.  Paul Konerko (.293/.353/.414 as a Sea Cat) and Glenallen Hill (.286/.323/.648 with 11 HR in 91 AB's as a Sea Cat) were picked up mid-season to go with established righties Barry Larkin (.319/.393/.477), Ron Gant (.296/.378/.553) and Mike Sweeney (.293/.377/.454 with 27 HR and 105 RBI).  A big bonus for the Sea Cats will be the ability to start catcher Mitch Meluskey (.300/.417/.525) every day.

Though Akron won 15 more games than the Sea Cats this season, the differences between these two teams aren't as great as you'd think.  The key to this series is the performance of the #3 and #4 pitchers for both teams.  This is the first post-season appearance for both D.J. Sheppard and Tony DeCastro, two founding members of the BDBL, and it looks to be a memorable one.

"Prediction: 4th place.  Like Cal Ripken, the Gillette Swamp Rats break a record that was once thought to be unbreakable: the BDBL record for losses (114) in a season, currently held by division rival New Milford.   New Milford, seizing a unique opportunity to erase one of their many embarrassing records, goes on a mission in Chapter Six, sweeping all six games from Gillette."
- Mike Glander, January 25, 2001

Of all the bad predictions I've made through the years, that one has to be the worst ever.  And it may just come back to bite me on the ass.

In retrospect, you really can't blame me for making such an awful prediction.  John Bochicchio's Gillette Swamp Rats had lost 92 games in the 2000 season, and headed into the draft with a total of $13 million in penalties and $22 million tied up in contracted salary to underachievers Juan Gonzalez, Andy Ashby and Jose Lima.  Because of their $50 million cap, they weren't able to draft a player until the 11th round.   And when they did, they spent $2 million each on a 40-year-old hitter (Andres Galaragga) and a "32 year old" pitcher (Rolando Arrojo) who is probably closer to 40 than 30.  They continued to stockpile "veteran" talent throughout the remainder of the draft, acquiring the likes of Craig Paquette (32 years old), Todd Pratt (34), Hector Carrasco (31), Rheal Cormier (34), Hal Morris (36), Jeff Reed (38) and Heathcliff Slocumb (35).

Yet despite facing so many obstacles, the Gillette Swamp Rats won 97 games and a division title.  How on earth did they do it?  That's a good question.

Well, for starters, the Swamp Rats led the BDBL in "Pythagorian Difference", which, depending on your personal beliefs means that either: a) they won 15 games more than they "should have", b) they were 15 games luckier than normal, c) they were a great clutch team, d) they were a very well-managed team, or e) they featured a great bullpen that kept games close enough to win.

Let's look at the last theory: the bullpen.  Gillette led the Ozzie League in fewest losses when leading after seven innings.  They played 31 games in which they were tied after seven - by far the highest total in the BDBL.   And in those games, they were eleven games over .500 (21-10).  They had ten come-from-behind wins in which they were trailing after seven - the fourth-highest total in the BDBL.  They played 47 one-run games - the fifth-highest total in the BDBL - and won 70 percent of those games (the highest percentage in the BDBL).  They played 19 extra-inning games and won 12 of them.  They set a BDBL record for saves with 61.   And they had the third-lowest percentage of blown saves in the league.

The Gillette pen starts with closer Jeff Nelson (5-6, 3.41), who set a BDBL record for saves this season with 51.  Former Zoot Bobby "Shotgun" Chouinard (4-2, 2.89) and Slocumb (3-0, 3.49) provide middle relief from the right-hand side, while former Lightning Cormier (7-1, 4.22) handles the left-hand side.  A key late-season acquisition for Gillette was former Undertaker Jeff Tam, who posted a 0.92 ERA for the Swamp Rats in 29.1 innings.  Tam, who was planted on the Swamp Rats roster from the Los Altos Undertakers (along with several other players) with the sole purpose of keeping the Cowtippers out of the World Series, held righties to a 318 OPS as a Rat.

Gillette's playoff rotation will include Ashby (13-5, 4.26), Arrojo (12-9, 4.08), Paul Abbott (16-10, 4.57) and Chuck Finley (9-3, 4.46 as a Rat.)  The key to the series for Gillette is whether or not these four pitchers can pitch as well against Salem's offense in the post-season as they did in the final season series between these two teams.

Offensively, Gillette was ranked lower than Salem in every category.  Gillette finished ninth in the OL in runs scored, with 161 fewer than Salem.  They also had the ninth-lowest OBP and ninth-lowest slugging percentage.   The Cowtippers hit 70 more homers and drew 273 fewer walks.  Johnny Damon (.325/.383/.518 with 45 2B, 10 3B, 22 HR, 132 R and 95 RBI) is the sparkplug of the Gillette offense.  Galarraga (.322/.382/.495), Gonzalez (.281/.326/.498) and Los Altos import, Albert Belle (.330/.382/.484), provide power from the right hand side, while Darrin Fletcher (.303/.358/.418), "Dirty Al" Martin (.298/.348/.459) and yet another Undertakers double-agent, Brad Fullmer (.222/.302/.481), provide the punch from the left.  Damon and Fletcher actually hit better against lefty pitching than against right-handers, which means Salem lefty Mike Sirotka (who can't get lefties out to save his life) won't be seeing the light of day in this series.

Simply put, the Salem offense is one of the best in the league.   Despite playing in the league's toughest hitter's park, the Cowtippers led the Ozzie League in average (.285), OBP (.375), slugging (.473), runs (949), triples (44) and walks (787).  The Salem lineup features five players with OBP's above .400 and three players with 45 or more home runs and 140-plus RBI's.  Jeff Bagwell (.308/.412/.572 with 45 HR, 129 R, 144 RBI and 104 BB), Gary Sheffield (.327/.447/.702 as a Cowtipper), Bobby Abreu (.309/.421/.524 with 73 extra-base hits, 127 R and 111 BB) and Sammy Sosa (.294/.373/.567 with 46 HR and 148 RBI) are the heart of the Salem lineup.  Jason Kendall (.335/.426/.473) is the spark at the top, and Travis Fryman (.341/.420/.541 with 27 HR and 103 RBI) provides invaluable protection for the Big Four.   Jeff Kent (.248/.333/.428 as a Cowtipper) is as useless as Bud Selig's hairpiece, but there's always a threat that he might actually start playing the way he's supposed to.

On the bench, Salem will have Lance Berkman (.323/.462/.617) and Armando Rios (.299/.404/.485) from the left side, and Adam Piatt (.305/.426/.486) and Keith Osik (.305/.396/.442) from the right.  It's a far cry from their 2000 bench, but in theory, Salem shouldn't need to go to their bench as often as they did last year.

On the mound, Salem led the BDBL in ERA at 3.75.   Their playoff rotation consists of Mike Mussina (19-12, 3.51), Bruce Chen (10-4, 2.71), Frank Castillo (16-2, 3.41) and Eric Milton (13-7, 3.52).  And their bullpen centers around closer Keith Foulke (9-3, 1.90, 16 SV) and setup men Derek Lowe (7-2, 3.42, 15 SV) and Mike Myers (5-3, 3.00, 3 SV, 39 BB in 48 IP).  While they haven't exactly been the most consistent bullpen in the league, they have generally gotten the job done.

As they say, anything can happen in a short series.   In the last four games of the season between these two teams, the Gillette Swamp Rats took three of four from the Salem Cowtippers.  The difference in those four games was the bullpens of Salem and Gillette.  That same difference could very well lead to another Division Series loss for the Cowtippers.

Could the Eck League playoffs have worked out any better?   In the one Division Series, you've got the two teams with the best pairs of starting pitchers in the league.  And in the other Division Series, you've got the only two 1,000-run offenses in BDBL history going toe-to-toe.  It just doesn't get any better than this, does it?

The Law Dogs offense was simply ridiculous this season.   Playing in the greatest hitter's park in baseball history, Law Dogs GM Chris Luhning loaded up on power hitters.  As a result, the Dogs broke nearly every record in the BDBL record book, including average (.321), OBP (.398), slugging (.580), runs scored (1,282) and homers (364).  From one to eight, there is no weakness in the Kansas lineup.  The heart of the order is Luis Gonzalez (.341/.409/.674 with 53 HR and 155 RBI), Troy Glaus (.308/.424/.642 with 49 HR and 128 RBI) and Jermaine Dye (.336/.413/.606 with 37 HR and 141 RBI).  The rest of the lineup is virtually indistinguishable: Ivan Rodriguez (.417/.454/.783 in 180 AB's as a Dog), Chris Stynes (.374/.427/.576), Miguel Tejada (.364/.434/.628 with 26 HR in only 387 AB), David Segui (.356/.418/.599 with 29 HR and 124 RBI), J.D. Drew (.332/.431/.592) and Carl Everett (.300/.383/.597 in 243 AB's).  On the bench, the Law Dogs have several options, including Tony Clark (.306/.402/.597), Shane Halter (.302/.388/.512), Jose Canseco (.325/.422/.640) and Fernando Tatis (.239/.399/.422).

But just when you thought no offense could ever be more absurd than that one, along come the defending EL champions.  The heart of the Black Sox lineup includes near-Triple Crown winner Carlos Delgado (.375/.491/.787 with 58 2B, 55 HR, 166 R, 128 BB and 175 RBI), Nomar Garciaparra (.378/.427/.624 with 51 2B and 133 runs scored), Andruw Jones (.300/.354/.506 with 31 HR, 138 R and 106 RBI) and Scott Rolen (.297/.357/.552 with 33 HR and 106 RBI).  It doesn't stop there.  Surrounding that core of sluggers is Pat Burrell (.321/.411/.552), Richard Hidalgo (.343/.426/.635 as a Black Sox), Todd Hundley (.310/.383/.660 with 29 HR in only 300 AB's) and Delino Deshields (.282/.385/.531 as a Black Sox.)

That Black Sox offense also produced more than 1,000 runs this season - 1,054 to be exact - which would have broken the record they set a year ago if not for the Law Dogs.  Of course, what makes those totals even more impressive is the fact that they don't play in a ballpark that is modeled after the moon.  Granted, Bank One Ballpark isn't exactly a pitcher's park, but it's a far cry from Coors.

With similar offenses, the difference in this series might turn out to be the pitching.  The playoff rotation for Kansas will likely be Darryl Kile (18-4, 4.67), Jeff D'Amico (5-1, 3.15 in seven Kansas starts), Scott Schoeneweis (15-3, 4.34) and Albie Lopez (5-4, 4.18 in 12 Kansas starts).  Thanks to three impact trades made by the EL's reigning GM of the Year John Gill, the rotation for Chicago will look like this: Al Leiter (7-0, 4.59 in 14 Chicago starts), Rick Ankiel (7-2, 3.27 as a Black Sox), Rick Helling (16-8, 4.41) and James Baldwin (12-7, 4.47).    With two of the toughest left-handed starters on the planet, it would be nice for the Black Sox if the Law Dogs lineup were susceptible to lefties.  Unfortunately, they crush them to the tune of a 1017 OPS (note: in comparison, Kansas's OPS against righties is "only" 963.)

In addition to the offenses and starting rotations being so similar, the bullpens for these two teams are virtually indistinguishable.  Kansas has lost seven games when leading after seven innings.  Chicago has lost four.   Kansas is 13-7 when tied after seven.  Chicago is 14-5.  Kansas is 22-10 in one run games.  Chicago is 21-10.  Kansas is 8-4 in extra-inning games.   Chicago is 9-3.

It's hard to imagine a playoff series pitting two more similar teams.  And it will be a real treat to watch these two teams beat the crap out of each other for four-to-seven games.

Every year, I say it would be hard to top the playoff series from the previous year.  But the potential for another classic BDBL playoffs is unquestionable.  In the OL championship series, we could see another head-to-head "instant classic" match-up between Paul Marazita and Mike Glander.   Needless to say, those games are always fun to watch (but not so fun to play.)   Then again, we could see a Litchfield-Gillette series, featuring two Griffin Division teams battling it out for a third straight year.  Or we could see Litchfield-Salem, which is always a treat.  No matter what combination you use, the potential for a classic series is imminent.

In the Eck League Championship Series, there is only one certainty: we will witness the league's best pitchers go head-to-head against the league's best hitters.  For Chicago GM John Gill, this is a chance to get back to the World Series and redeem himself for last year's unprecedented choke against the Zoots.  For Kansas GM Chris Luhning, it's a chance for all his hard work to finally pay off.  For Akron GM DJ Sheppard and South Carolina GM Tony DeCastro, this is the culmination of three years of planning and effort.

No matter what happens over the next four weeks, one thing is for certain: it will be a lot of fun to watch.  Best of luck to all of the playoff teams.  You've worked hard to get here.  Now go out and enjoy it.