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2019 DelMarVa Championship Series Preview
Lewes Braves vs Norfolk Cavaliers

Schedule:
Game 1: Lewes Braves @ Norfolk Cavaliers
Game 2: Lewes Braves @ Norfolk Cavaliers

Game 3: Norfolk Cavaliers @ Lewes Braves
Game 4: Norfolk Cavaliers @ Lewes Braves
Game 5*: Norfolk Cavaliers @ Lewes Braves

Game 6*: Lewes Braves @ Norfolk Cavaliers
Game 7*: Lewes Braves @ Norfolk Cavaliers
* If Necessary

Teams Overview
Lewes Braves
The Lewes Braves won the Southern Division with a record of 100-62, the second best record in all of the DBL. They then took out the New Castle Colonials in the Conference Champions to win the Delaware Conference and advance to their second League Championship. In 2015 the Braves beat the Washington Senators to claim their only title, and the only title for a Delaware Conference Team.

The Braves got here with solid pitching and timely hitting. They are built very much like the Cavaliers, leading the Delaware Conference in Runs Against (632), Starters ERA (3.61), Bullpen ERA (3.17) and placing 2nd in Defensive Efficiency (.706).

Their pitching staff is lead by 16 game winner Jarred Perry, Perry is 35 years old and has been pitching in the DBL since 2013. He has 109 carrer wins vs 64 losses and has won at least 15 games each year. He doesn't like to walk people, actually set a career high this season with 22. Following Perry is 15 game winner Paul Randolph and 16 game winner Jesus Garcia.

The bullpen is lead by ex-Cavalier closer Carlos Rodriguez. Rodriguez set a career high this year with 48 saves, and has been with the Lewes Braves since 2016. One thing the Braves have going for them are lefties out of the pen. The bullpen for the Braves will contain 3 lefties, Mike Banks, who pitched in 84 games this season, holding his opponents to a .201 average, Manny Sanchez who will be used as the set-up man, who gave up only 65 hits in 81 innings and Terry Taylor, who has split time as a starter and a set-up man this year.

The Braves proved they are more than just a good pitching team against the Colonials in the Conference Championship, scoring 7+ runs in 4 games. On the season the Braves offense was 3rd in Runs Scored (831), 4th in Batting Average (.265), and 2nd in OBP (.350), hit 159 HR's good for 5th, and were third in steals (111). All stats that match up well with the Cavaliers.

The offense is lead by Leonard Davis and Charles Culligan. Davis hit .290 on the season, driving in 103, with the help of his 38 HR's. Culligan hit right behind Davis and drove in 97, hitting 31 HR's. And Jake Judkins added 20 HR's for htis powerful team. The starting team is primarily left handed, with 4 starters hitting from the left-hand side.

Going into the Championships the Braves to do have some key injuries. They are missing 2 from their starting rotation. Rod Cantrell is an-ex 19 game winner and was off to a 9-6 start this year before going down. Youngster Cristobal Diaz went down with a shoulder injury in May, but was impressive in his first 7 starts going 2-3 with a 3.20 ERA. And finally Grant "Junkyard Dog" Wright. The 39 year old outfielder hit .352 on the season, as well as collecting 125 walks and scoring 104 runs. Wright was used primarily as the lead-off man.

Norfolk Cavaliers
For the Cavaliers they were the class of the MarVa Conference, which included a 117 win season, and taking down the Annapolis Admirals in 5 games in the Conference Championship game. They will attempt to win their 4th Championship in 4 years and 5th in 6 years. The Cavaliers have overcome a bunch of injuries this year, the latest a concussion to Mauro Candelaria during the Conference Championships. Candelaria will be replaced on the roster by pitcher Luis Gonzalez who shined in last years Championships. Taking over at 2B for the Cavaliers will be Pat Hall.

The Cavaliers are lead by pitching holding their opponents to a league low 518 runs, with a rotation with that doesn't like to give up runs 3.17 ERA (1) and a bullpen that gets even stingier 2.31 (1), and all this is possible because of their solid defense, best in the league at .714.

The Game 1 start goes to 20 game winner Matt Hollis, who is the favorite to win the Golden Arm Award. Hollis will be followed by Arturo Ramriez who won 13, during his injury plagued season, then 17 game winner Ron Reilly and starting game 4 will be team ace Miguel Contreras. You can't go wrong with this rotation.

In the pen the Cavaliers will go by committee. With Dalton Whitaker and Will Rose out for the Championships, the pen of 8 will be used when the time "feels right". Closer Derek Carter came in during the 8th inning last series, and lefty specialist took home a save. Anything will be possible during this series as well. One of the reasons that Luis Gonzalez was added to the roster was to give me the Cavaliers another lefty in the pen to go along with Elmer. The highest ERA for a full-time member of the Cavaliers bullpen was 2.11. So making it to the bullpen doesn't mean its goig to get easier.

Offensively, the Cavaliers likes to score runs, crossing the plate a league high 943 times. Surprisingly, the Cavaliers posted the 2nd best batting average in the MarVa Conference (.293), and with the patient hitting style of the Cavaliers, the lead the league in OBP (.358), they stole the most bases (190) and hit 163 HR's (5th best). Lead by new comer Francisco Reyes (.305-53-148) and Silver Slugger candidate Jeff Lewis (.342-16-106). The Cav's also have 3 lefties that will play an important role in this series, Kent Davis (.332-6-82), Ed Duke (.299-29-110) and King Brock (.293-30-119).

The Cavaliers were haunted by injuries all season, and they will be without some key players during the Championship series. As mentioned close Dalton Whitaker and set-up man Will Rose will be out. The #4 man in the rotation Shawn Brock, who is eligible, but hasn't pitched in 4 months is out, starting CF Javier Janchez, starting 2B Mauro Candelaria and top utility man Maik Wassink will all be missed.

The Braves and Cavaliers did not play each other this year. The Braves play in the Delaware Conference which does not implement the DH. When the Cav's head to Lewes they will have a decision to make about getting King Brock in the game. Is it worth a hit in LF to sit Sergio Galvez a defensive stud?

Position by Position Comparison:
CF: Felipe Marquez vs Kent Davis
Marquez has a bright future in the DBL at 21 he made his debut this season. Davis hit a career low .332 this year. Both players are fast and play solid defense.
Edge: Cavaliers

RF: Leonard Davis vs Jeff Lewis
Davis had a career year this year hitting 38 HR's. Lewis had an MVP type year. Both are quick and play solid defense.
Edge: Push

LF: Melvin Riley vs Sergio Galvez
Melvin hit 15 HR's and drove in 82, career highs in both categories. Galvez played in 60 games, hitting .283 with 18 extra base hits. Galvez is a gold glove candidate and can steal bases, which Riley is solid in the out-field and a good base runner.
Edge: Braves

3B: Dave Moore vs Joe Chambers
Moore didn't have a great year this year for the Braves, hitting only .248-9-59, a big drop from the previous year. He isn't a good defender and he is slow on the base paths. Joe Chambers is a rookie, who can run pretty good, play solid defense and has been a streaky hitter.
Edge: Cavaliers

SS: Matthew Keys vs Arturo Rodriguez
Keys is a fast runner (32 SB), who when he gets on base (.317 OBP) will try to steal. He plays above average short and is reliable. Arturo is a gold glove shortstop, who can steal a base when needed and seems to come through with timely hits, and can hit a HR every now and again.
Edge: Push

2B: Joaquin Torres vs Pat Hall
Torres is a gold-glove winner at SS and plays 2B just as good, and is on the down slope of his career. He is a slow baserunner and a below average hitter. Hall signed on late with the Cavaliers to help fill some injury voids. He isn't a 'star' but he does everything well. The highlight of his season, possibly career was game 5 in the Conf Champ.
Edge: Cavaliers

1B: Charles Culligan vs Francisco Reyes
Charles had a career year showing the form that brought him to the fore front of the 1B talent 4 years ago. He is a power hitter who drives in a lot of runs, can run the bases and has won a gold glove before. Reyes is one of the games top HR hitters of all time and finally looks to have gotten comfrotable in the Cavalier orange. He hits for average, he hits for power, doesn't strikes out and plays solid D (.995 FPct/813 TC).
Edge: Cavaliers

C: Jake Judkins vs Ed Duke
Judkins isn't as refined as Duke behind the plate, and only threw out 25% of the base stealers. He did however have a break out offensive season, he set career highs in HR's, RBI's, Runs and AVG. Duke is a solid hitter and he keeps getting better behind the plate. He threw out 37% of the base stealers this season. He has pure power (29 HRs) and will hit for average (.299). He slumped late in the season.
Edge: Cavaliers

DH: Robert Johnson vs King Brock
Johnson is an aging veteran who had a good year off the bench for the Braves. He hit .282-6-31, but is a shadow of what he once was. King is an RBI machine, driving in 119 in 131 games this year. He is red hot heading into the Championship series. He has developed into one of the game top power hitters, collecting 33 2B's and 30 HR's. In 491 AB's Brock struck out only 54 times.
Edge: Cavaliers

Bench: Braves vs Cavaliers
The Braves do not have a deep bench, but the do have a gold glove 2B on the roster and a solid back-up catcher. However, Don't expect these guys to hit the ball too much. The Cavaliers don't have much more than the Braves, but they do have more speed, more flexibility and a .322 hitter in Mike Ford.
Edge: Push

SP: Jarred Perry/Paul Randolph/Jesus Garcia/Bartolo Machado vs
Matt Hollis/Arutro Ramirez/Ron Reilly/Miguel Contreras
The Braves had the best staff in the Delaware Conference with all their starters winning 13+ games. The Cavaliers had the best staff in the MarVa Conference, with all their starters winning 13+ as well. Both teams have great starting rotations, but the Cavaliers get the edge. Why? K's/BB's: Lewes: 1060/504, Norfolk: 1220/403.
Edge: Cavaliers (slight)

Relief: Carlos Rodriguez/Mike Banks/Joe McMillan vs
Derek Carter/Jamie King/Elmer Hawkins
Both bullpens were tops in the games, but the Braves have more experience and one of the games best closers. The Cavaliers are without their closer and top set-up man, and have a bullpen full of youngsters.
Edge: Braves

Prediction: These two teams match up really well together and the Braves are coming into the Championship on a high beating the favored Colonials. However, overall I just think the Cavaliers are going to be too much for the Braves. I do expect this to be a brawl with each team getting a couple of wins. In the end the Cavaliers will prevail. I believe home field advantage will be huge for them during the 4 games, since when the DH is being used the Cavaliers offense is going to be too strong. In the end the Cavaliers will hoist the trophy for the 4th time in a row, but it will take a battle.
Cavaliers in 6