scenario Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 (edited) Article below is from milb.com... linked to source Myrtle Beach Pelicans (88-51) vs. Winston-Salem Warthogs (70-68) Best-of-3 series begins Wednesday, Sept. 3 The last time either of these teams was in the playoffs was 2005, and the Warthogs were quickly swept by the Kinston Indians, managing just two runs in two games. Winston-Salem last won a championship in 2003, and the Pelicans haven't triumphed since 2000. Myrtle Beach will certainly enter as the favorite, having won the Southern Division by 9 1/2 games in the first half and two games in the second half. However, the Pelicans can't sleep on Winston-Salem, who had a 19-11 record in August. HEAD-TO-HEAD In a season that has been this dominant for the Pelicans, it should be no surprise that even the second-best team in their division has posed little problem. Myrtle Beach is 14-6 against the Warthogs this season, with the pitching staff striking out 150 Winston-Salem batters in 20 games. Winston-Salem's staff hasn't had the same success, posting a 5.08 ERA against the Pelicans. Rocket Wheeler will no doubt send Ryne Reynoso to the mound against the Warthogs -- the right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA against Winston-Salem in three starts. The Warthogs pitchers, on the other hand, have struggled against Myrtle Beach. The lone exception is Matthew Long, who allowed just two runs in 10 2/3 innings. He'll need to stop Gorkys Hernandez at the top of the lineup to have any success, as Hernandez hit .368 against the Warthogs in 15 games. Catcher Tyler Flowers was also dominant, with a .472 on-base percentage against Winston-Salem. On the opposite side, keep your eye on outfielder Salvador Sanchez, who had eight extra-base hits against Myrtle Beach this season in just 17 games. PLAYERS TO WATCH Myrtle Beach: Their 152 team home runs, which led the league by 36, is proof of the Pelicans' talent at the plate. Perhaps the most encouraging performance has been from catcher Tyler Flowers, who has logged 86 games behind the plate while hitting 16 homers and drawing 98 walks. Outfielder Gorkys Hernandez might not be the team's best power threat, but he's a bona fide leadoff presence with a .349 on-base percentage and a team-high 20 steals. On the mound, the team promises to be reinvigorated by LHP Cole Rohrbough, who has some of the best stuff in the Atlanta system. Rohrbough has pitched 145 1/3 innings in two seasons in the Braves organization and struck out 193 batters. Winston-Salem: There might not be a better combined power and speed threat in the Carolina League than Warthogs center fielder John Shelby. The outfielder has a solid baseball pedigree from his father, John, who played 11 seasons in the Majors. The younger Shelby shows just as much potential, with 58 extra-base hits and 33 steals this season. The White Sox are also high on RHP John Ely, their third-round pick in the 2007 Draft. Ely's 134 strikeouts lead the team, and with just 46 walks on the season, he promises to not give away free passes. Also keep an eye on RHP Jacob Rasner, acquired with John Danks when the White Sox traded Brandon McCarthy. Rasner has been hot and cold all season, but it's been all hot in August, with a 1.57 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. Edited September 2, 2008 by scenario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scenario Posted September 2, 2008 Author Share Posted September 2, 2008 (edited) The Warthogs finished the season winning 15 out of their last 19 games, including a 3-game sweep of Myrtle Beach the last time we played them. I like our chances. Edited September 2, 2008 by scenario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 I want to point out that Rasner has an above average arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Wasn't Rasner actually part of the catcher we traded and not really part of the Danks deal????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scenario Posted September 2, 2008 Author Share Posted September 2, 2008 (edited) QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Sep 2, 2008 -> 03:51 PM) Wasn't Rasner actually part of the catcher we traded and not really part of the Danks deal????? Nope. The other guy you're thinking about is John Lujan who we got in exchange for Chris Stewart. Rasner was the 3rd guy the Sox got (with Danks and Masset) for BMac + David Paisano. Edited September 2, 2008 by scenario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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