09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

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Al-Hoot

09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

Post by Al-Hoot » Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:30 pm

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CAROLINA KRAKEN
1st place, FLA
84-78 (.519)
RS: 777
RA: 776

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LAS VEGAS HUSTLERS
1st place, FLP
101-61 (.623)
RS: 943
RA: 691

Is a preview of this series even necessary?

Carolina Nation says yes. The Kraken took 8 of 12 from the reigning MBBA champions
Las Vegas, with one of the four losses taking 17 innings to execute. Carolina finished
its season winning three in a row versus threatening Montreal.

Las Vegas oddsmakers feel that the Hustlers stand ready to execute the Kraken. LV
finished 2009 with an 18-9 record in September.

Vegas pitching, tops in the FL in ERA and stingiest in home runs and walks allowed,
is led by Davey Acheson (21-5), Kim Rodas (20-8), and Perry Eccles (16-8). Christopher
Stoller
(12-15), Golden Arm winner in 2006, -7 and -8 had his first losing season since
2000; this year he allowed a career-high 150 runs, 22% of the team's runs allowed. Lefty
Paul Hogan (0.93 whip) converted 43 of 48 save opportunities.

Carolina's 37-y.o. Allen Izatt returned from a month-long injury in time for two key late-
September outings. Izatt, 9-10, 4.38 overall, was 2-2, 3.31 in 6 starts with the Kraken.
Daniel King and Harold Feldmann were both 14-12 while #1 man Will Craig was 10-10. Jon
Sorenson (1.08 whip) converted 42 of 44 save opportunities, or half the team's wins. In all,
the staff was a strong point, ranked 4th in ERA (4.36).

**

Darius Campbell Jr., a platoon DH, hits clean up for Carolina (versus righties). That his 12
home runs in 200 at bats since being acquired on Free Slurpee Day was second-highest on
this power-stripped team tells you why the Kraken were willing to part with what some might
consider their best starter. Lance Pere forewent his annual month-long injury but started only 129
games anyway due to a team clogged with 1b-3b-dh: his 13 dingers and 67 ribbers led the team.

Pere's 497 at bats were 2nd-most on a team which featured a fluid line up. Six other infielders
had between 260 and 440 at bats. This includes rookie inf Fred Moran whose 65 rbis placed
2nd. His 10 dingers were 10% of the team's total of 103. Platoon-3b Marv Stupples of EBA fame
added another tenth of the team's homers. Aging ss Kenji Masaki hit .305 in 439 at bats, not
enough to qualify him for the team lead.

That honor went to cf Billy Lowe, who hit .297. Lowe led the FL with 14 HBP and the Kraken with
10 triples and 606 at bats; he was third on the team with 62 rbis. Lowe is a left-handed hitter
who hit 60 points higher versus left-handed pitchers. Fourth on the team in rbis with 58 was
platoon-C Rafael Ávila, a 215-pound beef jerky eater who makes ~$12.5m for playing 3/4 time.
That's on the piano. He also plays 3/4 time behind the plate. His Latino cohort Pedro Rodríguez
starts against righties. A guy named Buck (Hooper) placed 5th in rbis with 56. His 100 starts
were second-most for any outfielder. Marquez Rayas is a defensive liability in left, while
Jason Vanega--when given the opportunity to play--does so with .361 BA vigor.

Lowe (96) and Pere (58) were the pair of Kraken whose run totals were higher than the 50s.
In all, Carolina scored 777 runs, a divine number, and one more than the team allowed. The
Kraken were 13-14 in both August and September, but 2-1 versus Vegas in those months.

**

The Hustlers offense was 3rd in OBP (.355) despite being 11th in base-on-balls (LV batters
walked ~140 fewer times than Kraken ones). Otherwise the offense was 2nd in about every
other FL batting category. Compared to the Kraken, who were 12th in HRs, XBHs, and SLG%
and struck out 1148 times (2nd worst). The Hustlers struck out 230 less times and their .461
team slugging outclassed Carolina's, whose .398 was 22nd in the MBBA. Still, the Kraken
proved problematic for Team à la Sin.

**

Seung-Yeop Lee, "the poster child for the MBBA adopting the DH rule," started 46% if his 114
games at first and led the Vegans with 30 home runs and 106 rbis. Add 40% to those numbers
for a full season (you can do it, you're a baseball fan, after all--or should that be, before all?).
Lee struck out 69 times and walked 26 times. {He puts the ball in play.}

Platoon-of/dh Ben Hargrove (.357, 89 rbis) received enough playing time this year to qualify
for the league title (FL runner up Salvador Hernández had 73 more at bats). Meanwhile
full-time OFer (splitting time between left and right) Joe Garland started 154 games (2nd on
the team) and was 2nd with 98 rbis. 2b Donald Noboru was 3rd with 92.

3b-1b Rubén Venegas (155 GS) and SS-3b Roman Empire (157 GS) also split time at different
positions and were among 6 Hustlers who drove in 80+ rbis (Pop Quiz: How many did Carolina's
leader have?). Venegas and Empire also scored more than 100 times, as did Noboru.

C Roark Dempsey, the 362nd!! overall pick in 1998) started 142 games, whacked 36 doubles, and
drove in 73. Clifford Martin, a defensive whiz, started 64 games at SS, while Grant & Washington
platooned with Pacheco in center field. Grant ranked 3rd with 21 home runs--in 331 at bats.
[hr]
Las Vegas won 101 games, the most in the FL, and dominated the next highest-winning team,
division rivals Long Beach, 12-6 this season. With a home field advantage and everybody healthy,
the Hustlers will be tough to take down in a 7-game series. But it can be done. Even by Carolina.
With Darius in the line up, anything is possible.

Feel free to comment--about anything. ;)

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Re: 09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

Post by trmmilwwi » Sun Mar 31, 2013 10:11 am

I'll comment on Free Slurpee Day!! Sign me up!

Seriously though... great preview. Darius versus the evil empire (screw the yankees, they have nothing on Vegas!).
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Re: 09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

Post by scottsdale_joe » Sun Mar 31, 2013 10:59 am

great preview.
go kraken.
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Re: 09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

Post by nerfHerder » Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:01 pm

Great preview. Hard to decide who to pull for. Two good guys. I'll take Carolina, Vegas has been there before.
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Re: 09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

Post by JohnC » Mon Apr 01, 2013 3:34 pm

I always hate being the #1 seed in the playoffs. Looks like LV got through. Congrats on a good season though Ben.
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Re: 09 Doubleday Preview: Carolina v Las Vegas

Post by Greeney03 » Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:40 pm

Way to go, Ben! I hope you win the series!
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