SPIBL 2009 World Series Preview

by Mike Sorochen

San Francisco Sea Lions (107-55) vs. Toronto Sharpshooters (102-60)

Position by Position Comparison

Fist Base - San Francisco is led by MVP candidate Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez batted .323, swatted 32 homers, and drove in 113 runs. He also plays a Gold Glove caliber first base. Toronto's first baseman is the veteran Derrek Lee. Lee is also an above average fielder, but no longer hits at an elite level, finishing with a .259 average, 19 homers, and 72 RBI's. Advantage: Sea Lions

Second Base - Dustin Pedroia has developed into one of the most feared "pests" in the game. His 215 hits were 2nd best in SPIBL this year. He also scored 93 times and drove in 61 runs himself. Toronto's Placido Polanco did not match his career best .355 batting average from a year ago, but he still batted a respectable .287, and continues to play a near-flawless second base. However, Pedroia is the more complete player at this stage of their careers. Advantage: Sea Lions

Third Base - Perhaps the biggest "hole" in the San Francisco lineup, third base is manned by the Jack Hannahan/Brandon Inge platoon. While they provide solid defensive play, their bats are complete sieves, combining for a .203 average between then. Meanwhile, Toronto features playoff stalwart Chipper Jones, who staved off Father Time for at least one more season, batting .327 and swatting 21 dingers. Advantage: Sharpshooters

Shortstop - San Francisco's "Captain", Derek Jeter, had a fairly lackluster season (for him) in 2009. While batting .300 yet again (his 6th time doing so), Jeter managed only 29 extra base hits for the entire season, and was plagued by a variety of defensive lapses. As further evidence of Jim Kies' brilliance, Cristian Guzman came into Toronto last offseason as an unheralded pickup, and responded by torching the National League for a .336 average (2nd in the NL) and 73 RBIs. While Guzman had the better season, Jeter has the reputation for delivering in the postseason. Advantage: Even

Catcher - Yadier Molina was one of the biggest surprises in SPIBL in 2009. Molina ran away with the batting crown, batting a SPIBL best .362 while driving in 77 runs, and serving as a rock behind the plate. Meanwhile, Toronto traded seasoned veteran Jorge Posada early in the season, and went with a committee of John Baker, Kevin Cash, and anybody else who could squat. Advantage: Sea Lions

Left Field - San Francisco's Ryan Braun had a disappointing sophmore campaign in 2009. While he still managed to hit 28 homers and drive in 91, he was not the dominant middle of the order threat he was in 2008, and was only given 521 plate appearances. Toronto rolled out the enigmatic Milton Bradley in left field for 149 games, and Bradley responded with a career best 38 homers and 93 RBIs. Advantage: Sharpshooters

Center Field - The Sea Lions enjoyed the bounty of their depth in centerfield, and employed a Curtis Granderson/Matt Kemp platoon. The two combined for 26 homers and 99 RBIs. Toronto employed its own platoon, with lefty Jim Edmonds and mid-season pickup Vernon Wells splitting at-bats. Granderson/Kemp have more game-changing skillsets. Advantage: Sea Lions

Right Field - Randy Winn is the consumate professional, and provided a steady level of production in right field for San Francisco. Toronto's Nick Markakis is one of the rising stars of the game, and offers an enticing package of average/power/ patience/ defense/arm. Advantage: Sharpshooters

Starting Pitching - San Francisco was tops in the AL (and 2nd overall) in team ERA, with a sparkling 3.17 ERA. Toronto was right behind them, with 3.37. San Francisco is led by Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander, who won 18 games, and had an AL second best 3.30 ERA. Tim Wakefield enjoyed another fine season, winning 15 times and sporting a 3.43 ERA. Other starters in the mix include youngster Rich Harden (13-5, 2.81 ERA), Chien-Ming Wang (8-1, 2.83 ERA), Mike Mussina (16-9, 3.73 ERA), and Jered Weaver (11-8, 4.19). Toronto's staff is similarly deep. Defending NL Cy Young winner Carlos Zambrano led the team with 18 wins, but Jake Peavy (16-3, 2.54), Derek Lowe (17-6, 3.13), and Joe Saunders (16-12, 3.79) all had very good seasons. These rotations are pretty deep and evenly matched. Advantage: Even

Relief Pitching - The Sea Lions enjoyed phenomenal relief in 2009. Closer Bobby Jenks saved 39 games, and gave up only 36 hits in 62 innings. "Household names" such as Andrew Brown, Joe Nelson, Jerry Blevins, Tim Byrdak, and Edwar Ramirez were employed in "mix-and-match" situations which optimized their results. Toronto used its trademark "bullpen by committee" in fine form this year. Joe Nathan saved only 24 games, but sported a nifty 1.81 ERA in 64 innings. Midseason acquisition Grant Balfour was a revelation in the setup role, and mowed through the Minnesota and Anaheim lineups during the postseason. Veterans Takashi Saito, B.J. Ryan, Scott Down, and Huston Street all have end-of-game experience on their resumes, and will likely not shrink under the weight of postseason pressure. Advantage: Sharpshooters

Bench - The Sea Lions did not employ their bench much in 2009, but do have some veteran experience there. Willie Harris is the jack-of-all- trades, and should see a bit of pinch running/pinch hitting/defensive substitution action in the Series. When not DH'ing, Jim Thome will provide a serious power threat from the left side of the plate. Toronto's use of their bench may be one of the biggest reasons why they've enjoyed such a successful run in SPIBL. Mr. Kies always seems to find the best and most optimal situations in which to use guys like Taylor Teagarden, Ryan Freel, Russell Branyan, and Hideki Matsui. Look for Branyan or Matsui to make their presence felt by the end of this Series. Advantage: Sharpshooters

Management/Intangib les - One of the "original" franchises, San Francisco has proven itself to be one of the winningest teams in league history. However, the Sea Lions have been unable to get "over the hump" in the postseason to-date. Look for Paul Dougherty to pull out all the stops, and his team should be very loose for this series. The Toronto Sharpshooters are the most successful franchise in SPIBL. Three World Championships in a row, and another on the doorstep. After losing to the eventual SPIBL champion Detroit Outlaws in the Divisional Round in 2006, Toronto has not lost a postseason series since. Toronto is seemingly pressure-proof; despite being the heavy favorite in every matchup they have, THEY.JUST.KEEP. WINNING. It ultimately comes down to this: "To be the Man, you've got to beat the Man." Advantage: Sharpshooters

Prediction: This Series promises to be a very good matchup. Both teams have excellent pitching, and versatile lineups that should cause problems for each other. Both teams are managed by gentlemen who know how to push statistical advantages, and one's ability to hold homefield advantage could be the deciding factor in this series. This Series will go seven games, and will come down to a Bobby Jenks/Chipper Jones at-bat at the end. PREDICTION: Toronto in 7 games.