[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Orlando Orcas (89-73) vs Los Angeles Idols (90-72)



ORLANDO LEADERS

Team Leaders AVG S. Crawford .337 P. Browning .303 H. Wagner .268 B. Freeman .251 P. Chacon .243	Team Leaders HR S. Crawford 27 B. Freeman 21 R. Ludwick 16 P. Browning 15 W. Cruise 12	Team Leaders RBI S. Crawford 128 P. Browning 88 B. Freeman 84 R. Ludwick 68 H. Wagner 58
Team Leaders W B. Hoffer 19 L. Cheney 14 T. Keefe 14 R. Munger 13 A. Javery 12	Team Leaders ERA B. Hoffer 3.46 T. Keefe 3.94 L. Cheney 4.34 A. Javery 4.65 R. Munger 4.67 LOS ANGELES LEADERS	Team Leaders K B. Hoffer 167 T. Keefe 154 R. Munger 128 L. Cheney 124 A. Javery 113

Team Leaders AVG C. McVey .368 M. Donlin .358 F. Tenney .316 V. Stephens .292 H. Stovey .259	Team Leaders HR M. Donlin 32 F. Tenney 30 H. Stovey 28 C. McVey 14 J. Morneau 13	Team Leaders RBI F. Tenney 135 M. Donlin 121 H. Stovey 115 C. McVey 80 V. Stephens 74
Team Leaders W J. Clarkson 17 B. Lawrence 15 B. Rhines 15 S. Kazmir 13 R. Lopez 9	Team Leaders ERA J. Clarkson 3.89 B. Lawrence 4.66 B. Rhines 4.73 S. Kazmir 5.53	Team Leaders K J. Clarkson 178 S. Kazmir 164 B. Rhines 135 B. Lawrence 105 L. Corcoran 95

Season series: Orlando won 7 of 12

That season series figure is what Orlando is hanging to in a series where it seems most people expect them to get mauled. That doesn't make much sense though, not only for reason of the season series, but because only one game separated the two in the standings.

The Idols' offense is intimidating, averaging 5.74 runs per game. The top two in batting average in all of baseball (Cal McVey at .368 and Mike Donlin at .358), two of the top five RBI men (leader Fred Tenney at 135 and Donlin at 121) and three of the top seven (Harry Stovey drove in 115). Add McVey's ridiculous .505 average in September, and the task at hand for Orlando seems daunting. That's not even mentioning the red hot Justin Morneau or Mr. Consistent, second baseman Sammy Strang, who hit .320 with 20 homers yet went virtually unnoticed.

Add to that the fact that L.A. found some pitching in the last month. John Clarkson (3-1, 2.32), Scott Kazmir (3-0, 3.09) Larry Corcoran (3-2, 3.32) and Brian Lawrence (2-3, 3.52) each finished well.

So why should Orlando believe? Skipper Eddie Dyer called the "house money" line a "load of crap," so there goes that argument. Still, the pressure is certainly on Los Angeles here. But remember, as great as their offense is, it's not as though the Idols were a dominant team. This isn't a 100-win powerhouse, particularly considering they share a division with arguably the PBL's worst franchise in Las Vegas.

If Tim Keefe's 5-1 September is a sign he's found himself, he and 19-game winner Bill Hoffer will keep things from getting out of hand. And Sam Crawford (.337-27-128) is capable of putting this team on his back. Pete Browning (.303-15-88) and Buck Freeman (.251-21-84) have shown the ability to raise their game. But a lot of pressure sits on Honus Wagner, arguably the PBL's greatest disappointment since the inaugural draft three years ago. He's gone good month-bad month all season long en route to 103 runs scored despite a pedestrian .268 average. He's an unquestioned catalyst when right. Here, he'll need to be.

A better, more powerful threat, could take Los Angeles out. But right now, they are hitting on too many cylinders for Orlando to get it done. Prediction here is Idols in five.