The Wisconsin Wire 3.4 - The Hunt for October

[elligator]

It's been a long six years since the Wolves managed to produce a winning season and have made the playoffs. Madison accomplished both this year. Leading the JL Midwest much of the season with a losing record, Madison rallied in August and September to the tune of 31-23 and finished the season with an 83-79 record. Fortunately for the Wolves, in the Midwest that was also good for a comfortable lead in the division.

So, as the Madison faithful line up to purchase playoff tickets, the Wolves make ready to invade Baltimore and face the JL best Monarchs in a seven game series. Based on record, this looks like a mismatch, but considering how the teams finished in the last two months - Madison at 31-23 and Baltimore at 25-31 (including a dreadful 9-18 in September) - things are not as bad as they seem. Madison's offense has really come on during the season and we have seen several break-out stars on the Wolves, including RF John Catron (.272, 44 HR, 134 RBI), 2B Jarvis Murphy (.335, 44 2B, .410 OBP), and the budding superstar and certain JL Rookie of the Year and perhaps the frontrunner for the Sawyer Silk Award as well, SS Bopper Kengos, who hit a league leading .365 with 35 2B, 33 HR, 117 R, and 123 RBI.

Baltimore lacks the explosive power of the top-to-bottom Wolves lineup, but the Monarchs have some seriously good hitters of their own: 1B Kurt Bouley (.338), 2B Mark Bruner (.364), 3B Billy Gauthreaux (.326), and RF Mike Clarke at .359. In fact, the Monarchs boast no less than NINE hitters batting over .300 with more than 100 at-bats on the season, and a team batting average at a mind-boggling .303 for the season.

That said, it's pitching that really separates the two teams. Baltimore's top four of LaSalle, Cordero, Kestle, and Cushing are clearly superior to Madison's Foodie, Walton, recent waiver claim Cisneros, and the recently signed John Davis. On second thought, on paper, this is still a mismatch. The Wolves have to be hoping that the Monarchs will continue their bad stretch of September into the playoffs.

One interesting note between the two teams. Madison and Baltimore were involved in a major deadline deal last season in which three major players in this series were swapped. Madison acquired 3B Masaichirou Bunjiro and LF Alphonso Torres for SP Rick "Rat Breath" Cushing. Bunjiro has been nothing but brilliant since he was acquired (.317, 35 HR, 89 RBI this season). And Torres, despite his defensive shortcomings, can really light it up as well (.299, 31 HR, 91 RBI this season). Cushing on the other hand, despite his great talent, has only locked down the 4th spot in the Monarchs rotation (13-9, 4.35 ERA).

Prediction? Top to bottom, Madison's offense is clearly more talented than Baltimore's, but the reverse is true for Baltimore's pitching versus Madison's. The key will likely be who wins the battle of strengths: Madison's offense versus Baltimore's pitching. Baltimore is going to score some runs on a patchwork Wolves rotation. But, Madison's hitters are hot and they are capable of blowing games wide open. It's an old and respected adage in baseball: good pitching beats good hitting...here's the test.

[lchronister]

I think your series will be much higher scoring than ours, but I'm not sure your pitching staff can stop the offensive juggernaut that is Baltimore. Hell, we certainly couldn't, not often enough at least

[elligator]

I think your series will be much higher scoring than ours, but I'm not sure your pitching staff can stop the offensive juggernaut that is Baltimore. Hell, we certainly couldn't, not often enough at least

I'm not sure we can stop them either...but at least they aren't major long ball threats. They are however a batting average juggernaut, and their best OBP guy is on the DL... His sub? Has a 20 contact. Good grief.

The good news for us is that after starting the year 1-5 against Baltimore, we finished up in August and September 4-2 against them.

[lchronister]

I'm not sure we can stop them either...but at least they aren't major long ball threats. They are however a batting average juggernaut, and their best OBP guy is on the DL... His sub? Has a 20 contact. Good grief.

True. They may have to single you to death.