[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Friday, Oct. 1, 2010

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

New York Heroes (98-64) vs Wichita Brigade (101-61)

NEW YORK LEADERS

Team Leaders AVG R. Connor .319 D. Higham .313 J. Viox .303 J. Burkett .295 F. Jones .293	Team Leaders HR R. Connor 26 D. Wright 23 J. Burkett 17 F. Jones 15 I. Meusel 12	Team Leaders RBI 2 tied with 108 I. Meusel 108 D. Wright 108 J. Burkett 96 F. Jones 84
Team Leaders W J. McCormick 24 B. Byrd 21 H. Howell 20 B. Drake 9 2 tied with 6	Team Leaders ERA B. Byrd 3.18 J. McCormick 3.35 B. Drake 3.44 H. Howell 4.21	Team Leaders K B. Byrd 221 J. McCormick 166 H. Howell 158 B. Drake 150 B. Fuentes 71

WICHITA LEADERS

Team Leaders AVG M. Moynahan .342 F. Chance .317 F. Isbell .301 G. Davis .297 S. Strang .272	Team Leaders HR G. Davis 19 O. Burns 17 R. Cano 16 F. Chance 10 3 more tied with 10	Team Leaders RBI F. Chance 101 G. Davis 92 M. Moynahan 92 R. Cano 80 F. Isbell 72
Team Leaders W E. Chamberlain 19 A. Orth 17 J. Hughes 15 R. Waddell 13 J. Gaines 10 Season Series: Wichita won 7-6	Team Leaders ERA A. Orth 3.44 J. Hughes 3.83 R. Waddell 4.14 E. Chamberlain 4.51	Team Leaders K R. Waddell 272 E. Chamberlain 152 A. Orth 129 J. Hughes 111 J. Gaines 84

The Wichita Brigade look to defend their PBL Championship against a New York team that performed pretty much as it did last year, strong and with balance. New York lost the NLCS to Wichita in 6 games last season, and the big difference last year was Rube Waddell, who won 27 games and the league's Outstanding Pitcher award but was far less dominant this season. The emergence of Bill Byrd and development of Jim McCormick are reasons many feel New York has a better chance than last season, when they were taken out in 6 games. The growth of David Wright and a strong rookie season from Irish Meusel, who both drove in 108 runs, give New York's offense some added punch.

There's one name missing, though. New York first baseman Roger Connor broke his arm on September 20 and is out for the season. His replacement has yet to be named, but there's nobody who will match Connor's production and clutch hitting. The loss of Connor is terrible at best, devastating at worst.

Of course, Wichita has the ring. When the chips are down, many feel, Waddell will step it up again. And Wichita has its own strong rookie, 2B Mike Moynahan, who won the Northern League batting title. Add Al Orth's improvement and Wichita is still plenty formidable, as its 101 wins attest.

Prediction: Last year, Wichita did everything a little better than New York. Were both teams healthy, it would seem to be reversed this time around. But Connor's injury changes everything. The mortality of Rube Waddell is offset by the loss of Connor, meaning Wichita should manage to repeat last year's performance Wichita in 6.