American League 1st Round Preview

#4 El Paso Diablos (85 – 77) vs #5 New Britain Rock Cats (95 – 67)

This is a battle of two completely different teams. New Britain is no stranger to the play offs having made them 3 out of the last 4 seasons. El Paso completed the worst to finish turn around while winning the most games in franchise history and only making the play offs for the 2nd time in team history.

Tale of the Tape

#4 El Paso (85 – 77)

Offensively El Paso hit .257 for the season as a team which put them slightly under the American League average of .260. The team ERA for the season was 3.94 which was below the American League ERA average of 4.28

#5 New Britain Rock Cats (95 – 67)

Offensively New Britain hit .264 for the season as a team which put them slightly over the American League average of .260. The team ERA for the season was 3.79 which was below the American League ERA average of 4.28

Edge: New Britain Rock Cats – while El Paso has had a good season I don't envision them getting past New Britain unless they figure out how to win a couple of home games. While home advantage would seem to be a good thing El Paso was the only playoff team in the American League to post a losing record at home during the regular season.



#3 Florida Tropics (94 – 68) vs #6 Colorado Springs Sky Sox (84 – 78)

Another battle between one team with plenty of playoff experience and another with relatively no playoff experience. Florida has made the playoffs 6 seasons running while this is Colorado’s first trip to the playoffs for just the second time in the last 6 seasons.

Tale of the Tape

#3 Florida Tropics (94 – 68)

Offensively Florida hit .260 for the season which put them right at the American League Average. The team ERA for the season was 3.66 which was below the American League ERA average of 4.28.

#6 Colorado Springs Sky Sox (84 – 78)

Offensively Colorado hit an American League high .271 for the season as a team. However the team ERA was 4.69 which is over the American League average of 4.28.

Edge: Florida Tropics – While Colorado is a great offensive team they have the worst team ERA of all the American League playoff teams. Colorado faces another issue in that they are just under .500 on the road and the only team with a losing road record. All in all for Colorado to continue their season they need their pitching to come together and learn to win on the road.

Top SP

I'm going to refrain from making comments on these pitchers.These are the ratings that I feel most comfortable with and ranks players close to where they belong.

1. Julian Tejeda (SEA) 82.86
2. Les Gunderson (CHY) 81.86
3. Zachrey Hogan (JAC) 81.43
4. Sogard Hoffman (CHR) 81.43
5. Damian Woo (FLA) 80.86
6. Buck Stark (NB) 80.29
7. Rick Burkhart (TEX) 79.29
8. Kelvim Justic (PIT) 79.14
9. Shep Blanks (CHY) 78.14
10. Art Maddox (CLB) 77.86

Top RF

1. Ken Melancon (CHR) 76.86
   Doesn't strike out much. Has a good eye. Dominates LHP while doing well against RHP. Has some power. Can't play defense at all. Has a solid arm though.
2. Michel Miro (LA) 76.29
   Miro will strike out more than you'd like, but he has a lot of power. Drives the ball well and can work a walk. Good range and strong arm, struggles with the glove.
3. Al Mondesi (SEA) 76.14
   Won't strike out much at all, but does drive the ball well. Can work a walk and hit for some power. Good defender.
4. Jim Carroll (LR) 76.00
5. Seth Myers (TOR) 75.86
6. Jhonny Manzanillo (NB) 74.86
7. Denny Spencer (MNT) 72.57
8. Sean Stearns (CLB) 72.57
9. Carlos Baez (LV) 72.14
10. Alex Zhang (RIC) 71.57

Top CF

1. Steve Piper (FLA) 75.43
   Piper has solid range and a good glove. He makes strong contact with some power. He drives the ball and runs the bases well. He can get on base via the walk.
2. Carl Ripken (SEA) 73.14
   Ripken doesn't possess the great range and glove of some CF, but he makes up for it with lightning in his bat. He will strike out some, but has lots of power. He can drive the ball. Average eye.
3. Sven Sherman (PIT) 72.71
   Sherman has tremendous range, but lacks a great glove. He has good power, but will strikeout. He can drive the ball although he struggles against LHP.
4. Orlando Hernandez (HON) 71.71
5. Jorge Garces (LA) 71.57
6. Daniel Urbie (CH2) 71.00
7. Shawn Shields (ARI) 70.29
8. Enrique Gonzales (CLB) 69.43
9. Esteban Perez (PHI) 69.14
10. Trenidad Cervelli (RIC) 68.86

Top LF

1. Alex Blanco (OTT) 80.71
   Blanco drives the ball extremely well. Has good range and glove. Good eye. Solid at making contact. Good power.
2. Hayes Brown (LA) 76.00
   Tremendous defensive LF, Brown drives the ball equally well against LHP and RHP. Solid eye. Doesn't strike out too much. Solid power.
3. Hideki Koh (FLA) 75.43
   Good power. Drives the ball extremely well. Doesn't have a great eye. Solid range. Solid eye.
4. Shawn Brooks (CLE) 72.43
5. David Chavez (NB) 72.00
6. Phillip Shields (TEX) 71.43
7. Bob Jones (JAX) 71.00
8. Geraldo Olivares (CHY) 70.57
9. Dusty McDonald (ATL) 70.14
10. Vic Chavez (OTT) 70.00

Top SS

1. Cesar Cruz (NB) 78.44
   Cruz can hit for solid power. Has a good eye. Hits well against LHP. Does strike out a little more than you'd like. Solid but not spectacular defensively.
2. Rigo Rosado (SYR) 76.89
   Dominates LHP, doesn't strike out much. Average eye. Lacks idea range or arm accuracy. Good glove, strong arm.
3. Robert Miller (SEA) 76.22
   Has terrible range, but a solid glove and good arm. Dominant against LHP. Solid eye and solid power. Decent against RHP. Makes decent contact.
4. Shawn Roth (CSP) 75.67
5. Jack Jurrjens (FLA) 75.56
6. Philip Latham (TOR) 73.44
7. Dante Crummack (PHI) 73.33
8. Rickie Burgess (ROC) 73.00
9. Craig Tracy (ATL) 72.67
10. Gregg Hill (LAA) 71.67

Top 3B

1. Clay Swisher (OTT) 81.29
   An elite player, Swisher hits for tremendous power, drives the ball well. He won't strike out much at all. He has 2 "weaknesses"...his eye isn't good and he doesn't have top notch range. He has a great glove and a great arm.
2. Peter Carmona (FLA) 79.29
   Carmona doesn't strike out too much. Has good power. Good eye. Dominant against RHP. Solid against LHP. Solid rang, good glove, strong arm, lacks accuracy.
3. Rich Eaton (NB) 78.14
   Eaton makes solid contact. He does have decent power. Solid eye. Dominates LHP. Solid against RHP. Good glove, range, strong arm, struggles with accuracy at times.
4. Kory Sterns (NO) 76.57
5. Arthur Davenport (OTT) 76.29
6. Pasqual Blanco (HON) 75.43
7. Jorge James (ARI) 75.14
8. Andres Santos (ATL) 74.71
9. Alan Anderson (LA) 74.29
10. Carlos Jimenez (NY2) 74.00
11. B.J. Grabow (CH2) 73.43