- VISIT - 
This sim’s most intriguing series is a preview of what might be a Cartwright showdown. There is, as they say in the business, a lot of baseball yet to be played, but the Rockville Pikemen set firmly atop the Atlantic division as we type today, and the Calgary Pioneers seem to control their destiny in the Frontier. We’ll see what San Antonio has to say about things.
Projected Starters
The pitching match-ups are always subject to change, but it appears that the rotations will be:
Game 1: Yun Zhang (12-7, 3.65) vs. Jefferson Pierce (15-2, 3.37)
Game 2: Arthur Dempster (10-4, 3.84) vs. Edwin Gilliam (10-7, 3.81)
Game 3: Dwight Dunn (7-5, 5.26) vs. Jose Arellano (9-11, 5.54)
Game one is a strong match-up of solid-young Yun Zhang against one of the better names in the game, Jefferson Pierce. With a big rush at the end of the year, the 28-year-old Pierce would still seem to have a dark horse’s shot at a Nebraska trophy. Game two will see 34-year-old Dempster--a guy who already has more than his share of those awards--match wits with Edwin Gilliam in a battle that could be even more of a treat.
Looking at the ERAs of Dunn and Arellano make one's mind wander a bit. If game three turns into a bullpen match up, well, we probably wouldn’t mind too much. One expects Danny Leach will make his mark in at least two of the games, which generally spells doom for the opposition. Rockville’s bullpen has posted the second bast ERA in the Johnson League. But Calgary is no mortal team, either—and their bullpen ERA sits third—barely a breath behind.
So, the bottom line here is that a whole ration of hitters might be making trips to the manager’s office to complain of flu-like symptoms this week.
Pikemen To Bring the Lumber?
If it comes to a slugfest—which given the tiny confines of Calgary’s Stockyard ballpark, it could—one wonders if the visiting Pikemen might actually have the upper hand. The Rockville offense leads the Johnson in runs scored, and, well, just about any category you want to mention beyond strikeouts. Of course, the Pioneers lead that column.
Led by Daniel Pepper’s 31 and Julio Barajas’s 26, eight Pikemen have more than ten homers. Five have belted more than 20 doubles. In many ways, Calgary is Francisco Medina’s team. He’s blasted 40 homers to date. At 29, though, Medina leads a collection of young hitters who won’t make a lot of press, but who simply Get Things Done.
Bottom line, there are reasons these teams are at the top of their respective tables, and the fact that each fields a fleet of professional hitters goes a long way toward explaining some of those reasons. There are no real holes in these lineups.
Which Team is Hungriest?
It is perhaps of interest to look backward for a moment, and note that the Pioneers are a proud franchise that has not made the post season for three years, while Rockville is a blue-blood who is in line to extend their post-season run to 11 years. They haven’t won a Landis since their 2036-2037 double-dip. The Pikemen took two of three games in their home park earlier in the season.
It may also be of note that of the two, the Pioneers are the club most likely to be hearing footsteps, as Rockville’s five and a half game lead over New Orleans is certainly more comfortable than Calgary’s two game gap over San Antonio. Will Pressure bring out the best or the worst?
Bottom line here is that this is no time for either to be coasting. Both teams need to approach their schedule as if they are fighting for a post season bye lest they lose that advantage on the quest to a meaningless Landis.
I’d say we strap on the old feed bags, pull the tab on a Brewski, and check it out.
