Minor League Playoff Thread

[JMUalumni]

It's getting close to that time of year again, minor league playoffs.  I am a big fan of having some of our prospects get playoff experience, even if it is just the minor league level.  At any level, whether it be the CWS in NCAA or the Mills Cup in Carolina League, playing in the big games is experience that comes in a very limited supply and ensuring that the goal is winning at every level can only be a good thing for the development of the guys in the organization.  So, with only a few weeks remaining, here is how the playoff prospects of our organization's minor league affiliates is shaping up:

Syracuse Chiefs 65-63 (15 games remaining)
-  3rd place (11.5 GB) in the International League North
-  7 GB Columbus for International League Wild Card
-  Needs to go on a miracle winning steak AND get help from Columbus and Buffalo

Harrisburg Senators 67-60 (15 games remaining)
- 8.0 GB behind Altoona in the EL Western division, but top two teams in each division make the playoffs
- Currently tied with Bowie (67-60) for the second divisional spot
 
Potomac Nationals 30-25 2nd Half (13 games remaining)
- Top team from each division in the 1st and 2nd halves of the season make the playoffs (Frederick won the first half)
- Potomac is currently leading their division by 0.5 games and needs to keep winning to have a chance

Hagerstown Suns 24-32 2nd Half (14 games remaining)
-  Hagerstown did not win the first half and currently lie 8.5 GB the race for the second half playoff spot
-  Hagerstown has almost zero chance of making it this year, which means that some Suns players may get promoted for the P-Nats playoff push

Vermont Lake Monsters 31-28 (16 games remaining)
-  Currently one game up on Tri-City (31-30) for the division lead
-  May still have a shot at the wild card if they give up 1st

GCL Nats 21-31 (4 games remaining)
-  13.0 GB for the division lead and 7.5 games out of the wild card.  They aren't making the playoffs this year

DSL Nats 36-35  (4 games remaining)
- 10 GB for the division league, not making the playoffs

So as it stands, Harrisburg, Potomac, and Vermont are all positioned to make a run at their respective league championship.

[RL04]

It's getting close to that time of year again, minor league playoffs. 

Harrisburg Senators 67-60 (15 games remaining)
- 8.0 GB behind Altoona in the EL Western division, but top two teams in each division make the playoffs
- Currently tied with Bowie (67-60) for the second divisional spot
 

Senators already selling playoff tickets.

[JMUalumni]

Senators already selling playoff tickets.

Looks like Potomac is too on their website.

Bill Rhinehart with a grand slam in the 5th inning to put Potomac back on top 5-4 in a crucial game with Wilmington.

[Potomac Cannons]

If Potomac makes it it will be despite Gary Cathcart.  I'm not sure I've seen anyone with less of a clue about his own roster than this guy.

[CALSGR8]

If Potomac makes it it will be despite Gary Cathcart.  I'm not sure I've seen anyone with less of a clue about his own roster than this guy.

Who?

[Potomac Cannons]

Who?

The manager.

[CALSGR8]

  Oh sorry.   

[JMUalumni]

Potomac and Harrisburg are 1.5 games up on the final playoff spots, Vermont is 0.5 games up.  Hopefully all three can hold out in the stretch run.

[JMUalumni]

Apparently Derek Norris was absent from the lineup the last few nights because he was in Kansas attending the funerals of one of his best friends.  He is having a awesome day for the P-Nats, going 3 for 4 with a walk, including the single he just hit to put the go ahead run on for Potomac in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Marvin Lowrence just jacked a three run shot to tie up Harrisburg with Trenton.

[CatsEye]

If Potomac makes it it will be despite Gary Cathcart.  I'm not sure I've seen anyone with less of a clue about his own roster than this guy.

               This is his first year as manager, and his players keep changing like musical chairs, plus the rehabs -it's a chaotic mix of players to get on the roster at times. And if he did not have a clue, they would not be holding down 1rst place toward the end of this half. Eh?   

[Potomac Cannons]

               This is his first year as manager, and his players keep changing like musical chairs, plus the rehabs -it's a chaotic mix of players to get on the roster at times. And if he did not have a clue, they would not be holding down 1rst place toward the end of this half. Eh?   

How bad were they the 1st half?  Exactly.  He's gotten some healthy players, and gotten guys like Rosenbaum moved up to the roster, but he's still horrendous with in game management.  Recently he had #3 hitter, and uber prospect Derrick Norris, bunt in the bottom of the 9th with the tying run on 2B and no one out.  That's just moronic.  With that said, the job done by hitting coach Matt Nokes has been pretty phenomenal. 

[JMUalumni]

How bad were they the 1st half?  Exactly.  He's gotten some healthy players, and gotten guys like Rosenbaum moved up to the roster, but he's still horrendous with in game management.  Recently he had #3 hitter, and uber prospect Derrick Norris, bunt in the bottom of the 9th with the tying run on 2B and no one out.  That's just moronic.  With that said, the job done by hitting coach Matt Nokes has been pretty phenomenal. 

I like Nokes a lot and think that he may get moved to Harrisburg or Syracuse with the job he has been doing at Potomac.  His work with Tyler Moore, in particular, has been impressive.  Menhart has also done a good job with the pitchers over the last 4 years with the P-Nats.  With that said, I'm not a big fan of Cathcart and liked it better when Knorr and Jewett were managing.  Though both of those guys got bumped up the ladder and should benefit next year from the emerging upper level talent coming their way at Harrisburg and Syracuse.

[JMUalumni]

UPDATE:

HARRISBURG (72-61) - 6.5 GB the first place team Altoona, but maintains a 1.5 game lead on the 3rd place team for the wild card spot.  Harrisburg has a four game series against New Hampshire, which is the 2nd best team in the Eastern League and could be a potential opponent for the Senators in the playoffs.  They then end with a 5 game series versus Binghampton (64-69).

POTOMAC (64-66) - 1.5 games up on Wilmington for the second half title and a place in the Mill Cups playoffs.  They have two remaining four game series versus Salem (away) and Kinston (home).  Both Salem and Kinston are battling each other for the final playoff spot from the Carolina Southern.

VERMONT (32-32) - Tied with Connecticut for the division title, with Tri-City lurking just a half a game behind.  Due to two cancellations, Vermont will end up playing two less games than Connecticut (34-34).  They have 9 games remaining.  It's the division or bust for them, as they currently lay 5.0 GB in the wild card standings.

[JMUalumni]

Potomac has a doubleheader against Salem tonight.  They are already up 5-0.

Also, Marcus Jones was activated and placed on Potomac's roster.  He is an excellent defensive outfielder and probably will get some shots at the plate with the weak outfield the P-Nats have.  I've always rooted for him to succeed despite his inability to show much with the bat, because he is a DC native.  He has been hampered by injuries over the past two years and a lack of consistent playing time.

Interesting aside, Derek Norris faced the pitcher, Zach Hammes, that hit him in the head awhile ago.  He grounded out in this at-bat.

[JMUalumni]

P-Nats take the first game of the DH 5-3.

Harrisburg is in a pitching duel with New Hampshire, 0-0 in the 7th.  Ryan Tatusko has been pitching excellent for the Sens since coming to the org.  6.0 innings pitched, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 SO.

[Potomac Cannons]

P-Nats take the first game of the DH 5-3.

Harrisburg is in a pitching duel with New Hampshire, 0-0 in the 7th.  Ryan Tatusko has been pitching excellent for the Sens since coming to the org.  6.0 innings pitched, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 SO.

If either pitcher from Texas becomes even a decent bullpen arm then that trade was a steal.

BTW, just noticed that Clint Everts was the NH starter in that game with Harrisburg.

[JMUalumni]

If either pitcher from Texas becomes even a decent bullpen arm then that trade was a steal.

BTW, just noticed that Clint Everts was the NH starter in that game with Harrisburg.

Yeah I saw that Everts was starter.  I agree, though, that if either becomes decent it is a steal.  And so far, both guys are looking pretty good.

[Potomac Cannons]

Norris with a solo homer in the top of the 1st in game 2.

[JMUalumni]

Norris with a solo homer in the top of the 1st in game 2.

Hell yeah   Winning both of these games in the doubleheader, as the visiting team nonetheless, would be huge for the team and their playoff chances.

[JMUalumni]

Another game goes down to the wire.  Harrisburg is tied 0-0 with NH going into the bottom of the 9th and Corey VanAllen on the mound.

[JMUalumni]

Not a good night for the Harrisburg and Vermont.  Harrisburg blew a lead and gave away a late run to lose and fall behind Bowie in the playoff race.  Bowie is entering an easy series next week and Harrisburg has a 5 game series against one of the best teams in the Eastern League, Binghampton.  Vermont is on the verge of losing (0-8 right now) and will fall 2.5 GB Tri-City.  Vermont will likely have to win out their schedule to make it and Harrisburg is going to probably have to take at least 4 out of 5.

At least Potomac won and bearing a meltdown in the final games, should make the playoffs.

[CALSGR8]

Yay Pnats!

[JMUalumni]

A Potomac win or Wilmington loss tomorrow gives the P-Nats the second half title and a playoff spot. 

Harrisburg drew even with Bowie after sweeping today's doubleheader against Binghampton.  There will be a 1 game playoff b/w the two teams if they end the season tied.

Vermont was officially eliminated tonight.

[Potomac Cannons]

Potomac up by 1 in the 5th.  Norris walked and Moore drove him in.  Holder looking good.

[CALSGR8]

PNATS IN THE PLAYOFFS!  Start off with 2 games in Frederick and then Sept 10th in PW.  RATS!  Im going to the NATS game that night!!!