Our First Ever Stretch Run

It's been a great season; far better than I could have expected following the turd of a 2002 season. We won't be breaking the league record for ABs in a season, but we're gonna come damn close (We're on pace for 2761, 101 less than in 2001). The talent level is at an all-time high. We actually have a homerun race!

But on top of all that, we've had one hell of a playoff race. And isn't that what it's all about? Five teams battling it out, week it and week out, to earn a spot to the playoffs, and then earn a spot in the Series at The Sac, and then win?

Until last Sunday, EVERY SINGLE TEAM had a chance to make the playoffs. This, my friends, is unprecedented. And after that gameday (the 2nd-to-last of the season), only one of the teams was eliminated. Which leaves us with three teams that will battle for the last two spots.

The Road Warriors are in, that much is clear. And not only are they in, but they're going to be waiting at The Series. Which two teams will duke it out for the honor of facing the tough Warriors in the finals? As it says in the title, it will all be decided tomorrow. Two doubleheaders, two nitecaps, and two teams into the playoffs. By 3:00 pm, the matchups will be set, unless of course every game ends up going nine innings or something. The way this season has gone, don't be surprised.

So what I'll be doing now is laying down the law for ya. I'll explain what needs to happen for each team if they're going to be one of the two teams to make it. And we'll start where the party is, The Sac, and the doubleheader between the Whites and the Horsemen.

This is the biggest doubleheader of the year. These two rivals have had many classic bouts, but none have meant as much as the two games they will play Saturday. Well, none of their regular season games. The past two seasons, the Series at The Sac has come down to the Whites and the Horsemen. This year it won't, and if things work out a certain way, one of these two teams might not even make the playoffs.

Last week the Horsemen came up big with a sweep of the Holy Whites. Had they been swept instead, I probably wouldn't be writing this column since the Holy White/Wiffolution playoff battle would have already been set.

Don't count on a doubleheader sweep this time around.

If the Horsemen get swept, and Wiffolution picks up a split over at The Byrd House, then both teams will be tied entering the nitecap. Then, if both either win or lose and they're still tied (at either 16-20 or 17-19), Wiffolution will get the nod. Why? During the season, they were 5-3 against the Horsemen, and head-to-head is the first tie-breaker.

If Wiffolution sweeps the Road Warriors (stop laughing), and the Horsemen get swept, then no matter what happens in the nitecaps, Wiffolution is in.

That being said, one might assume that while the Horsemen are hoping for another sweep, they might be morally satisfied with a split. Then again, if they split, and Wiffolution sweeps, they're tied again and live or die on the nitecap.

If the Horsemen sweep the doubleheader, they're automatically in.

Likewise, the Holy Whites sweeping guarantees then a spot in the playoffs. If they split, they're still 16-16 and at least a half game up on the Horsemen and Wiffolution. However, if they split with the Horsemen and Wiffolution sweeps the Warriors, what we'll have entering the nitecaps is a team that's 16-16 and two teams that are 17-18. The Whites face Wiffolution in the nitecap, the Horsemen take on the Road Warriors. If the Whites lose, then they had better hope the Horsemen lose, or else both teams will pass them.

If the Whites get swept, they drop to 15-17. If Wiffolution then splits, the Whites are still a half game up going into the nitecap, which will determine who makes the playoffs. Win or go home, in other words.

As far as what the Horsemen and Holy Whites hope for at The Byrd House, I'm sure both would say that they're just going to stay focused on their games. Truth be told, both teams will be hoping for a Road Warriors sweep.

As Matt Plummer stated shortly after his second straight walk-off homerun last Sunday, "It looks like Wiffolution's fate is in its own hands."

Simple theory, but more true here than ever before.

To put it bluntly, Wiffolution has not had much success against the league's top team. Coming into this doubleheader, they've faced off seven times with the Warriors taking all but one. In those seven games, the Warriors have outscored Wiffolution 40-17.

Don't think that Wiffolution has a real long memory. The four worst losses (8-0, 8-0, 5-1, 7-5) came when Wiffolution was only fielding Jeff Morrison and Dean Evans. The only time Matt Plummer has played against the Warriors was on opening day, when Wiffolution dropped two tight ones, 3-1 and 6-4, and a few weeks ago, when Wiffolution won 6-3. Obviously, the team is much different with Plummer in the lineup. And this time around, Dave Cain won't be present to push around the Wiffolution arms. Dave was 15-32 with 7 HRs and 15 RBIs in those four losses mentioned above, telling you that he has no problem against either Morrison or Evans. Instead, the Warriors will sport Uhland, who is apparently on a rigid mission to take the HR title, Pat Plummer, who broke out at the Warriors' last gameday, and rookie of the year hopeful Curtis Henning, arguably the best pitcher on the staff who was NOT there during Wiffolution's only win against them.

So really, the league can expect some tighter contests here, which is suitable since three teams have their season on the line.

As stated before, if Wiffolution gets swept, they're done and the Whites and Horsemen move on to the playoffs.

If Wiffolution splits, they need to hope that either the Whites or the Horsemen got swept over at The Sac. If both doubleheaders end in splits, Wiffolution can still sneak in if they win their nitecap and the Horsemen lose since they have the better head-to-head record. If the Whites end up swept by the Horsemen (and Wiffolution splits), then that Wiffolution/Holy White nitecap will be one for the books.

Wiffolution is the only team of the three who, without doubt (and assuming they don't get swept), will live or die on their last game. If either the Horsemen or Whites sweep, then one of those two teams is in, no matter what.

In any case, Matt Plummer was right. Wiffolution will decide whether or not they make the playoffs. And isn't that how it should be? A team out on the field, deciding with a swing of the bat or a perfectly placed fastball, whether or not they'll be playing for the coveted prize? Of course it is.

I think this is another case of something or someone or some group of people smiling upon the league. In any scenario, players (well, non-Road Warriors that is) will be playing each game tomorrow as if it's their last, because it just might be. They'll enjoy the heat, they'll get burnt, they'll hit a homerun or two (or six), and who knows, they might give up a few. But they'll compete, hold their own, and be better for it.

And then the playoffs will start.

• WB2K Preview (2-21-00)
• 2000 Bi-Weekly Report (4-25-00)
• Heat Rises in June (5-25-00)
• June 4, 2000 Summaries (6-6-00)
• June 18, 2000 Summaries (6-19-00)
• 2000 Bi-Weekly Report (7-7-00)
• July 16, 2000 Summaries (7-16-00)
• 2000 Bi-Weekly Report (9-29-00)
• 2001 Bi-Weekly Report (3-5-01)
• 2001 Bi-Weekly Report (4-5-01)
• 2001 Bi-Weekly Report (5-18-01)
• 2001 Bi-Weekly Report (8-16-01)
• 2001 Bi-Weekly Report (11-25-01)
• 2001 Bi-Weekly Report (12-15-01)
• Gameday Previews #1 (2002)
• Gameday Previews #2 (2002)
• Gameday Previews #3 (2002)
• Gameday Previews #4 (2002)
• Five Down, Ten to Go (5-7-03)
• That Special Homerun Derby (7-9-03)
• Rozak Nation (7-26-03)
• Our First Ever Stretch Run (8-29-03)