Saturday, August 3, 2013

First Round Preview: Mystic vs. Ocean States

#2 Ocean State Waves (24-20) vs. #3 Mystic Schooners (22-22)
Sunday: Old Mountain Field

Monday: Joe Wolfe Field
Tuesday (if needed): Old Mountain Field 

Series Possibilities (top three pitchers from each team)
Ocean State/Mystic
James Bessell vs. Kurt Sowa 
Jimmy Duff vs. Jeffery Stoddard
Brendon Allen vs. Anthony Galan


Ocean State Waves (No. 2 Eastern seed)
Record: 24-20. Manager: Rian McCarthy  Home Field: Old Mountain Field
Season In A Nutshell: The Waves inaugural season couldn't have gone better. Ocean State stayed with the division leading Newport Gulls a majority of the season, breathing down their necks and even tying for first in the beginning of July. The Waves fell behind Newport at the end of the season, dropping back by six thanks to a late surge, but they still belong near the top of the East.
Who’s Hot (Last 10 Games):
• OF Evan Ocello (.351, 13H, 8R. HR in 37 AB)
• C Pat Quinn (.333, 8H, HR, 4R in 24 AB)
• RP Oliver Powers (0-0, 0.00ERA, 5IP, 1 SV, 5K)
Hitting
One of the best hitting teams in the league, Ocean State is hitting .267 and is tied for third in average. Led by a trio of the best hitters in the league (Michael Gerber, Caden Bailey, Christian Muscarello), the Waves are deep 1-9 in their lineup. 
Power
The fifth highest home run park factor (amount of home runs at fields compared to league averages) has Ocean State ranked second in home runs with 30. Four of them have more than four home runs, including Gerber who is tied for the league lead in home runs with seven. 
Speed
Last in the league in stolen bases, the Waves speed isn't exactly their strength. With just 36 stolen bases, Ocean State only has two serious base stealing threats; outfielder Evan Ocello (16 stolen bases) and infielder Caden Bailey (7 stolen bases).
Defense
Near the middle of the pack with a .961 mark, the Waves have a combination of talented defensive fielders and sub par players. They've committed 63 errors, a mark that is close to the league lead. 
Starting Pitching
A 3.43 team ERA puts them near the middle of the pack, but the Waves have had nine pitchers start games for them, and the ERA show show much depth they have. The trio of Bessell, Duff and Allen lead the way, combining for a sub-par 4.30 ERA but are 7-6. 
Bullpen
French Austin (11 appearances, 0.75 ERA) leads a dominant bulpen which includes Oliver Powers, Zachary Soulier and John Murray. A combined 1.54 ERA between the four of them makes them the perfect group to hold onto any leads the Waves offense can get them. 
Outlook
Ocean State is one of the best teams in the league, due to good hitting, average starting pitching and a solid bullpen make them a threat to go far into the Eastern Division playoffs. One of those teams that haven't lost a lot of players (see Vermont), the Waves have a solid chance to win a championship in their inaugural season.


Mystic Schooners (No. 3 Eastern seed)
Record: 22-22. Manager: Phil Orbe  Home Field: Fitch High School
Season In A Nutshell: The Waves inaugural season couldn't have gone better. Ocean State stayed with the division leading Newport Gulls a majority of the season, breathing down their necks and even tying for first in the beginning of July. The Waves fell behind Newport at the end of the season, dropping back by six thanks to a late surge, but they still belong near the top of the East.
Who’s Hot (Last 10 Games):
• OF Nico Darras (.429, 15H, 7R in 35 AB)
• OF Brandon Cipolla (.297, 11H, HR, 7RBI in 37 AB)
• P Anthony Galan (2-0, 1.98 ERA, 18IP, 9K)
Hitting
Mystic is hitting just .236 as a team, third to last in the NECBL. They strikeout almost eight times a game, and even the third most home runs in the league make them lineup that have a couple of players to work around. Tyler Boyd and Brandon Cipolla are two of the most dangerous power hitters, but Nico Darras leads the way with a .340 average, the only above-300 average on the squad.
Power
A powerful lineup and the third highest home run hitting park in the league (Fitch Senior High School has a 1.67 park factor)has resulted in 22 home runs, third in the league. Tyler Boyd, tied for the league lead in home runs with seven home runs is the anchor, with Brandon Cipolla's five second on the team.
Speed
The Schooners aren't slow, or fast. Mystic has swiped 60 bases, right around the middle of the league. The big threat on the basepaths is Keaton Flint, who's taken 10 bags this summer as well as the duo of Anthony Turgeon and Adam Touhey, both with eight.
Defense
Like most of the stats I've gone through in the sections above, Mystic is a middle of the pack team, and its no different on defense. A .964 mark puts them in fourth (out of eight teams due to ties) and have commited just 58 errors, also in fourth place.
Starting Pitching
A 3.59 team ERA is headlined by having six pitchers throw at least four starts. Anthony Galan (4-2, 3.04) and Kurt Sowa (3-2, 3.05) lead the way with eight and seven starts, respectively, while Jeffery Stoddard and Michael Eckerle have made 11 between the two of them. Combined, the four cornerstones to the Schooners pitching are 9-8, with 139 innings between them.
Bullpen
Better than the starters, the Mystic bullpen is led by Alex Gouin, who has a 1.11 ERA and two saves over 13 appearances. Gouin, Connor Gleason (4 saves), Orlando Gonzalez III (2.51 ERA over 10 apperances) and A.J Turnier (2.81 ERA over 11 apperances) make up a bullpen that shuts it down when needed to. When winning after seven innings, the Schooners are 17-4.
Outlook
Mystic may not have the highest average, or the best pitching but they are a middle-of-the pack average with only a couple of weaknesses, an advantage of not being peaky in a couple of categories and low in the others.

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