Southern League playoffs start Thursday 9/4

[scenario]

Milb.com preview below...

 

Mississippi Braves (73-66) vs. Birmingham Barons (74-63)

Best-of-5 series begins Thursday, Sept. 4

 

In 2007, the M-Braves were beaten in the first round of the playoffs by the Montgomery Biscuits. To avoid this fate in 2008, they'll have to defeat a Barons team that limped to a third-place finish in the second half after cruising to the playoffs with a 40-30 record in the first. The Braves have not won a title since relocating from Greenville after the 2004 campaign. The Barons, meanwhile, are one of the most esteemed franchises in Southern League history. The club's current incarnation has won five championships, the most recent of which came in 2002.

 

HEAD-TO-HEAD

 

The Barons won the season series, 11-10, but that hardly tells the whole story. Birmingham won eight straight against the Braves to start the season, but then dropped 10 of the final 13.

 

1B Brandon Allen hit the Braves well in the five games he played against them, compiling a .313 average and .750 slugging percentage. Third baseman Javier Castillo collected 11 RBIs over 52 at-bats, while 2B Victor Mercedes knocked in 10 over 72. Right-hander Justin Cassell went 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA in a team-leading 29 innings, while closer Jon Link notched seven saves in eight opportunities. ... CF Jordan Schafer has been a one-man wrecking crew against the Barons, hitting .404 with 13 RBIs over just 52 at-bats. 3B Van Pope has been no slouch either, accumulating 11 RBIs in 51 at-bats while hitting .373. Ace right-hander Todd Redmond faced off against the Barons five times and went 1-2 with a mediocre 5.34 ERA. Luis Valdez converted four saves in as many attempts.

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

 

Birmingham: Allen has been a key offensive contributor since arriving from Class A Advanced Winston-Salem, as the 22-year-old Texan has slugged .614 over 153 at-bats. CF Miguel Negron leads all current Barons in runs (72), hits (143), walks (63) and stolen bases (25). ... Cassell's 3.11 ERA is the Southern League's best, as are Link's 35 saves. Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira and lefty Joseph Torres have been effective out of the bullpen, accumulating ERAs of 2.01 and 2.68, respectively.

 

Mississippi: Kala Ka'aihue leads all current Braves in games played (126), runs scored (63), total bases (172), doubles (23), home runs (14) and RBIs (61). Schafer has driven in 51 runs over just 297 at-bats. ... Redmond leads the Southern League with 13 wins, while his 3.52 ERA is tied for fifth with teammate Kris Medlen. RHP Tommy Hanson has gone 8-4 with a 3.03 ERA over 18 starts with the Braves and has struck out 114 batters in just 98 innings.

Edited September 2, 2008 by scenario

[JPN366]

The Barons finished the second half tied for second place and with an above .500 mark. Just to flesh out your excellent preview, Victor Mercedes is clutch, and clutch is everything. With two outs, a full count, and the team's back against the wall, he's the man you want at the the plate. His nickname is "Mr. Magic." That's why he hits out of the two hole, he is in no way a prototype two hitter. Big BA is a a beast. In 41 games, he hit 14 HR and had 31 RBI. He almost equalled his numbers at W-S in dramatically less time. And, he went from a hitters park to a pitchers park. Granted, he did a lot of damage on the road, which bodes well for a playoff run. And honorable mention to Lee Cruz, who had a forgetable first half in W-S & Kanny. He came to B'ham in June and absolutely raked. He went from fourth outfielder to cleanup hitter.

[joejoedairy]

Thanks for the previews. So we are playin braves farm teams in both playoffs ay.