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2009 Alaskan Championship Series Preview
2009 Alaskan Championship Series Preview
Bethel Mushers (52-45) vs. Juneau Senators (59-37)
Lineup Comparisons
C - Tim Rowsell, BET (.263/.296/.407) vs. Bob Russo, JUN (.233/.329/.432) - SENATORS +
1B - Carl Preston, BET (.259/.344/.473) vs. Jeremy Offredi, JUN (.262/.313/.332) - MUSHERS ++
2B - Duncan Sutherland, BET (.251/.315/.470) vs. Ralph Collette, JUN (.299/.384/.491) - SENATORS ++
3B - Tom Morse, BET (.298/.340/.447, 95 AB) vs. Ross Dunsmore, JUN (.234/.302/.348) - EVEN
SS - Terence Ostrom, BET (.224/.282/.324) vs. James Labbee, JUN (.252/.317/.309) - SENATORS + (due to Labbee's much better defense)
LF - Kelyn Birley, BET (.302/.389/.517) vs. Wynn Dunsmore, JUN (.312/.381/.519) - EVEN (Juneau slugger Doug Beard will come back from injury after three games - he hit .318/.416/.535)
CF - Mike Wilson, BET (.327/.366/.405) vs. Olivier Theriault (.286/.340/.500, 42 AB) - MUSHERS + (RF Wells will move to center once Beard returns)
RF - Calvin Curry, BET (.272/.407/.393) vs. Ken Wells (.279/.387/.486) - SENATORS +
Overall: slight edge to Senators
Bench Comparisons
Juneau has two important weapons on the bench: 1) All-Star Art Johannson, who was actually released by Peninsula shortly after making the All-Star team and was then signed to a league minimum deal by Juneau - he hit .373/.476/.642 in 67 AB this year; 2) Greg Coyle, who hit .236/.336/.394 in 127 AB.
Bethel's depth weakness is catcher, where they have no backup worth the name. For pinch-hitting, though, they can turn to a variety of good hitters: 1) George Poor (.292/.333/.563 in 48 AB); 2) Lloyd Flannery (.349/.394/.523 in 86 AB); 3) Sean Heath (.250/.337/.442 in 156 AB).
Overall: slight edge to Bethel
Rotation
1. Newt Langille, BET (4.02, 11 HR/45 BB/97 K in 134 IP) vs. Scott Northeast, JUN (3.34, 14/31/87 in 146) - SENATORS +
2. Davis Crawford, BET (4.27, 11/41/44 in 135) vs. Louis Mays, JUN (2.05, 11/36/121 in 145) - SENATORS ++
3. Vincent Robinson, BET (3.95, 5/15/23 in 55) vs. Gunner Seltzer (5.40, 5/42/42 in 93) - MUSHERS +
Overall: decent edge to Juneau
Bullpen Comparisons
Juneau has a good setup man in Stephane Landry (3.48, 4/17/35 in 41), but their closer Brad Morris was more lucky than good this year (1.91, 3/20/26 in 42).
Bethel probably has more options in the bullpen, including a good mix of lefties and righties. Setup men Austin Oakley (4.87, 6/13/36 in 44) and John Oram (2.63, 5/11/37 in 41) and closer Loren Coleman (1.49, 2/15/35 in 36) give the Mushers a decided edge in this category.
Summary
Were it not for their injuries, the Senators would be heavy favorites. As it is, Bethel could challenge them, but Juneau still looks to be the better team on paper and should take the series in 5 or 6.
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