2039/7 Playoffs? Playoffs?!
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 10:37 am
We're talking playoffs? Yes! Tropics fans have waited 11 seasons for another trip to the postseason, and it finally happened. Buoyed by a strong, maybe over performing pitching staff, and a resurgent offense the team backed into postseason play as a Wild Card team. Their reward? A battle against rival California, a team that they played pretty well during the regular season. Could they do the unthinkable and actually win a playoff series?
The answer is yes. In fact it took 4 games to do so. Taking nothing away from California, somehow the Tropics scored 22 runs in those 4 games. That same sneaky good offense is why they were here in the first place. The whole second half they played as they were supposed to. Manny Aguilar was the MVP of the series as he clubbed four homer's against the vaunted California staff. A key move was to start Felix Membiela against lefties. He ended up hitting a decisive home in game four. From there the club had to play Yellow Springs, a team with superior offensive skills.
The only real way to beat YS9 is to obviously score runs, but to also throw left handed pitchers at them. If able to do that, they're only a .500 team vs LHP. So the key change was to have Dominic Lawrence take a turn in game three. Lawrence had a decent year in AAA, and had a few great long relief appearances in a row. He did his job, starting game three and giving up two runs in eight innings. The rest of the staff, not so much. Every single other starter got lit up and the Tropics fell in six games. At least they put up a fight.
So where now? Well the playoff weren't an embarrassment. Not many key players are expected to leave, if any, and they have young replacements waiting. We'll see how expansion goes. There is a lot of money to spend on the weaknesses that were exposed. I would say the fan base is stirred up and will anxiously await 2040. Of course with the current GM there is always the chance that it will all get screwed up. Either way, there is a buzz on the islands unlike there has been in years.
The answer is yes. In fact it took 4 games to do so. Taking nothing away from California, somehow the Tropics scored 22 runs in those 4 games. That same sneaky good offense is why they were here in the first place. The whole second half they played as they were supposed to. Manny Aguilar was the MVP of the series as he clubbed four homer's against the vaunted California staff. A key move was to start Felix Membiela against lefties. He ended up hitting a decisive home in game four. From there the club had to play Yellow Springs, a team with superior offensive skills.
The only real way to beat YS9 is to obviously score runs, but to also throw left handed pitchers at them. If able to do that, they're only a .500 team vs LHP. So the key change was to have Dominic Lawrence take a turn in game three. Lawrence had a decent year in AAA, and had a few great long relief appearances in a row. He did his job, starting game three and giving up two runs in eight innings. The rest of the staff, not so much. Every single other starter got lit up and the Tropics fell in six games. At least they put up a fight.
So where now? Well the playoff weren't an embarrassment. Not many key players are expected to leave, if any, and they have young replacements waiting. We'll see how expansion goes. There is a lot of money to spend on the weaknesses that were exposed. I would say the fan base is stirred up and will anxiously await 2040. Of course with the current GM there is always the chance that it will all get screwed up. Either way, there is a buzz on the islands unlike there has been in years.
