Austin vs. Jersey; First Round CLDS Breakdown

After a 2 year absence the Austin River Sharks are back in the playoffs.  For the 3rd straight year the Jersey Shore D-Bags will be participating in the playoffs, though this is the first time as a division winner.  With a better regular season record Jersey Shore will have home field advantage when the two play this series starting next week.  Jersey finished with a record of 119-43, the best in the CL and best in the BSA.  Austin won the CL Central division with a record of 88-74, 7 games better of that of the 2nd place Kansas City Cougars.

This season the two teams played each in 3 separate 3-game series, 9 games total, 2 of those series being held in Austin and 1 being in held in Jersey.  Jersey pretty much had their way with Austin winning that season series by an 8-1 margin and winning all 6 games played in Austin.  The one game that Austin did come away with a victory came in July and was one of closer Mungo Saenz's two losses on the season.

Let's break down the teams:

Offensively

As we can see here and it's clearly no surprise that Jersey has the overwhelming majority offensively.  Austin's offense struggled this season and will be without the injured Jerome Miles for the playoffs.  Jersey is stacked at most positions and there are very few easy outs in this lineup.  If Austin is going to win this series it probably will not be by out-slugging Jersey.

Pitching

Compared to the offenses the pitching side is fairly even.  The starters were nearly dead even for the season while Jersey's pen was a little bit better.  Both teams feature top end closers and very good back ends, if it gets to the back end of either bullpen, it will be tough to make a comeback.  The Austin starters need to hold the Jersey bats at bay, if this happens, like Toronto did last year, it's anyone's game.

The Starters vs Austin

Greg Schaefer: 2-0, 0.55 ERA, 16.1 IP, 7H, 1ER, 1BB, 13K
Rob Goodship: 1-0, 4.20 ERA, 15.0 IP, 17H, 7ER, 3BB, 10K
Dan Macias: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.1 IP, 6H, 0ER, 1BB, 4K
Drew Schaefer: 0-0, 2.30 ERA, 15.2 IP, 14H, 4ER, 5BB, 10K

Art Ellis being injured most of the season did not get a start against Austin.  For whatever reason neither did Jose Ramos, who will be the Game 1 starter.

Lineups:

Jersey plans to go with the usual lineups with Ibarra included playing CF.  He has only been up for 17 games but will get the start, at least to begin the series.

vs RHP

LF Peterson Larson
SS Lawrence Schroeder
2B Mike Bryant
DH Matt Doyle
RF Dave Dodd
C Warren Goyer
CF Fransisco Ibarra
1B Alberto Perez
3B Adam Morrow

vs LHP

3B Adam Morrow
SS Lawrence Schroeder
2B Mike Bryant
DH Matt Doyle
C Warren Goyer
CF Fransisco Ibarra
RF Dave Dodd
1B Alberto Perez
LF Peter Larson

Jersey Hitters vs. Austin's Top 5 SP:

vs Daniel Ramos

Morrow 4-7      .570
Perez 4-8         .500
Larson 5-11     .455
Romero 1-3     .333
Schroeder 1-3   .333
Doyle 2-8       .250
Bryant 3-14     .210
Goyer 0-3      .000
Dodd 0-6         .000

vs. Chuck Phillips

Goyer  2-3        .666
Romero  8-19   .421
Schroeder  2-5    .400
Dodd    2-5        .400
Doyle    7-22     .318
Morrow  7-22   .318
Ryan     3-10      .300     1 HR
Lopez 2-7         .286
Perez  3-14       .214
Rodriquez  2-14    .143
Bryant 3-23       .130  1 HR
Larson   0-11     .000

vs. Fransisco Rivera

Morrow  6-12     .500
Lopez   3-6         .500
Dodd   6-14        .429   2 HR
Perez    6-16       .375
Ryan     3-9         .333   1 HR
Schroeder  3-10  .300   1 HR
Doyle    5-17      .294
Bryant   5-20      .250
Larson  3-18       .167
Goyer   1-7         .143
Torres   0-9         .000

vs Ron Eager

Bryant   7-21    .333
Taylor  5-15    .333
Ryan         3-11  .273  1 HR
Rodriguez  2-8   .250  1 HR
Lopez  1-5   .200
Larson    3-17    .176   1 HR
Perez   1-6       .167
Romero  2-17   .118
Goyer  0-3   .000
Morrow  0-4   .000
Doyle  0-9    .000

vs Bill Allan

Torres       3-6     .500  2 HR
Ryan       2-4       .500  1 HR
Bryant   7-15       .467  1 HR
Morrow   4-11    .364
Rodriguez  3-11   .273  1 HR
Dodd     2-9        .222  1 HR
Doyle   3-14        .214
Goyer  2-10        .200   1 HR
Schroeder  2-10  .200
Larson   1-5         .200
Perez  2-12         .167
Romero  1-7       .143  1 HR

Some success against some starters, some struggles against others.  With Austin with 5 men in the rotation it will be interesting to see which 3 or 4 Jersey does see.  The veterans or the new guys.  Whoever the bats to see, expect to see the Bags come out swinging in full force like they have all season long!  Expect a mid-series report later this week!

GO D-BAGS