Tonight is G1 of the NYPL Playoffs, featuring your Tri-City ValleyCats hosting the Batavia Muckdogs, NYPL affiliate of, yes, the St. Louis Cardinals. Let's do the Tale of the Tape:
Batavia: 45-29, 8-2 in their last ten games.
Tri-City: 38-36, 6-4 in their last ten games.
Batavia posted a .273/.352/.400 line in 74 games (the AVG and SLG were 2nd in the League, while their OBP was first). Tri-City posted a .244/.321/.361 line, for an OPS 71 points lower than the Muckdogs.
However, it's Tri-City who had the better year from the pitching staff. Tri-City's 3.43 ERA was third in the NYPL (Batavia - 3.85) while their WHIPs are comparable - Tri-City: 1.30; Batavia: 1.32.
Tri-City's pitching staff enjoyed a 2.90 K:BB ratio, while Batavia came in at 2.34. The ValleyCats did give up a league-worst 49 homers, with Batavia allowing 12 fewer round-trippers.
Head-to-Head: Batavia took the only series meeting between the two this season, 2-1, July 4-6. Tri-City won the first game 8-6, and dropped the second game 9-6, and the third game 5-4.
Batavia players to keep an eye on:
2010 5th Round pick Nick Longmire - OF: .287/.372/.483. 25 of his 76 hits have been for extra-bases.
2009 17th Round pick Jonathan Rodriguez - 1B: .258/.337/.500. His 12 homers have him tied for third in the NYPL. Comes in to the playoffs hitting .381/.422/.786 in his last ten games.
Game 1 Starting Pitcher John Gast: In eight games (last six have been starts), he has a 1.54 ERA / 1.00 WHIP, with 36K:8BB in 35IP.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
