Sal, the Barber Presents . . .

[Orcin]

Just in case these other guys, Cummings and Horton, start to get a big head...

The Lion is the man who throws a complete game. He doesn't need any help.

[Sal, The Barber]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Just in case these other guys, Cummings and Horton, start to get a big head...

The Lion is the man who throws a complete game. He doesn't need any help.

Allow me to step out of character to respond to this ...

Cummings and Horton in a way have been better than Lyons. They both have better ERAs, for example. But Lyons often goes 8, 9 innings. A few starts ago, he went 9 and 2/3! Cummings rarely gives you more than 6 (and he's the 5th starter, so I'm not complaining). Just different ways to value pitchers.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

Cummings and Horton in a way have been better than Lyons. They both have better ERAs, for example. But Lyons often goes 8, 9 innings. A few starts ago, he went 9 and 2/3! Cummings rarely gives you more than 6 (and he's the 5th starter, so I'm not complaining). Just different ways to value pitchers.

I'm curious... what is the stamina rating on each of these guys?

Also, do they all have three good pitches or maybe four? My theory is that the starters with four pitches over 60% rating (whatever your scale) AND good stamina go deeper into games. I wonder if Lyons supports or debunks my theory.

Also, I think the guys with better movement and control go deeper because they pitch to contact, as opposed to stuff guys that get more Ks but throw more pitches.

[Sal, The Barber]

Originally Posted by Orcin

I'm curious... what is the stamina rating on each of these guys?

Also, do they all have three good pitches or maybe four? My theory is that the starters with four pitches over 60% rating (whatever your scale) AND good stamina go deeper into games. I wonder if Lyons supports or debunks my theory.

Also, I think the guys with better movement and control go deeper because they pitch to contact, as opposed to stuff guys that get more Ks but throw more pitches.

Bryant = 43
Cummings = 65
Horton = 87
Koch = 64
Lyons = 55

That's stamina ratings for the starting rotation. Here's some more info:

Bryant 64K; 109IP; 5.3k/9; 4.38ERA
Cummings 58K; 117IP; 4.5k/9; 3.47ERA
Horton 75K; 136IP; 5.0k/9; 3.65ERA
Koch 76K; 122IP; 5.6k/9; 4.19ERA
Lyons 102K; 154IP; 6.0k/9; 4.21ERA

All of these guys are ground ball pitchers, and, except for Cummings, they strike out a fair share of hitters. The big gap is in Lyon's Ks and innings.

Bryant has an 85 MOV rating; he throws 5 pitches, 2 are above avg.
Cummings has 3 pitches, all avg.
Horton has an 67 MOV rating; 4 pitches, 1 above avg, 1 below.
Koch has 64 MOV; 5 pitches, all avg.
Lyons has a 82 CON rating; 4 pitches, 1 above avg, 1 below.

My eyes tell me that Horton has been our best starter so far. I'd rate Lyons second and Cummings third. Koch fourth.

But there is a lot about Lyons that screams ace, and if we get to the playoffs he's the one who'll pitch the deciding game.

[Sal, The Barber]

24 July 2002
Cheyenne, WY

The eyes of Cheyenne GM Boo Bentley suggest that he hasn't been sleeping. Manager Terry Taylor's hair appears thinner, a bit more grey visible in his moustache.

Taylor had little to say after today's Cheyenne loss. But what did you expect him to say? The Cowboys gave up two unearned runs in the first inning. Then, in the eighth, they loaded the bases with no outs. Pedro Ibarra struck out. Jim Thompson struck out. Carlos Campos grounded out. They were down one run entering the inning; they were down one run exiting it.

The Cowboys have now lost three straight; they lost 3 of 4 to Omaha, just as they lost 3 of 4 to Kansas City last week. In between those two series, they shut out Oakland. The Oaks are at the bottom of the division. KC and Omaha sit at the top of theirs. That's the difference.

Bentley hasn't been sleeping because he's been on the phone with every GM in the Association, looking for offense. He finally made a trade this morning, swapping third basemen with Oakland. Oh, Bentley had to throw in outfield prospect George Bass, but, still, Cheyenne fans liked the deal. I like the deal. Bentley picked up Kelly Judson, a young third baseman who can hit. He is batting .329. He walks. He can run. He's not quite as good defensively as Tim Barr, and he doesn't have as much power, although he has the same number of HRs. Judson jumped immediately to the top of the Cowboys' order, and he went 1-4 in his debut.

But one player isn't going to turn the Cowboys' fortunes around all by himself. Ibarra and Thompson have got to come through with no outs and the bases loaded. Shawn Clark can't make a lazy error to cost the team two runs. The bullpen has got to return to lock-down mode.

It's easy to blame the offense for the recent struggles; they haven't scored more than 4 runs in a ballgame in 3 weeks! But multiple facets of the Cowboys' game are subpar at the moment. Taylor needs some caffeine and some focus. He needs to isolate areas to work on and put his boys back to work. Bentley needs to sleep. The club needs no more personnel changes; it needs an attitude adjustment. Let Taylor do that. And then let's see what happens.

There is good news. The rest of the Pacific Division has been struggling right along with the Cowboys. The lead is still 7 games.

[Sal, The Barber]

18 August 2002
Sioux City, IA

The dog days of the baseball season have set in, and, frankly, there has been little to report about Cheyenne baseball recently. Well, that's not entirely true. There is some news but not enough of it on any given day to make what I consider a full-blown story. Today, however, was different.

But before I recount today's events, allow me to throw in a few tidbits from the last couple of weeks.

1. The Cowboys lose 2 of 3 to Seattle; Seattle is 6 games below .500, yet the Rainiers have beaten Cheyenne 8 out of 12 this season. Why? I have no explanation for it.

2. Kelly Judson is one heck of a hitter. This may be the most lopsided trade imaginable, even though Boo Bentley had to give up his starting 3rd baseman and a prospect to get Judson. I thought we might miss Tim Barr. Hardly. And I don't mean to suggest anything bad about Barr; he's a very good defensive third baseman. But Judson has made us forget. This guy is hitting .330 at the top of the order, and he's not a lead-off guy. Don't tell Judson. This guy is gonna hit .330 for 10 years.

3. Cheyenne swept the 4-game series with Boise, winning games 2-1, 3-1, 2-1 and, get this, 17-3. There's much to be said about all this. 2-1 is the way the Cowboys win too often. They should be scoring more runs against a bad team like the Braves. At the same time, it's been awesome to see them win these close, low-scoring ballgames. They've got good pitching, and it is on display in games like these. What happened in the 17-run blowout? I have no clue. It suggests the Cowboy offense is better than it's performed, doesn't it?

4. Cheyenne lost both games to Hollywood and didn't score a run. What gives? You score 17 one day and are then blanked for 2 days. The Hollywood club is no better than Boise. I guess you have to expect inconsistency with a young ballclub. But if there is an undoing this season, this is it.

And this brings us back to today, the opening of a 4-game series with the Sioux City Soos. The Magic Man John Cummings took the hill today and was staked to a 3-run lead. Don't know what it is about Cummings, but the boys hit when he's on the mound. Still, Cummings didn't like the big lead and promptly gave back 2 runs. In fact, Cummings struggled through five innings and left with a 4-3 lead. Cheyenne got 2 in the top of the sixth, and then Basilio Mangoni gave one back in the bottom of the inning. Down the stretch they came, Cheyenne 6, Sioux City 4. Lee Martin pitched 2 scoreless innings, and we went to the ninth still up 2.
Frankie Howard came in to lock it down. The Soos had the heart of their order up, Bruce Charles (.284 27HR), Freddy Soto (.301), and Brenton Hill (.340). All three of those guys are lefthanded hitters, and, as you know, we have no lefties in the 'pen. So you gotta turn to Frankie there; he's the closer after all.

Frankie walked Charles after going to a full count. He went to 3-2 on Soto and walked him too. Frankie wasn't happy, and he wasn't taking his time either. With Taylor and staff screaming for the outfield to back up, Howard delivered. Hill drilled the first pitch and shot a frozen rope into centerfield. In the midst of backing up, John O'Flanagan had to stop and get it going forward at full blast. Johnnie O lurched and lunged and leaped forward, caught the ball, threw to second, Campos tossed to first, and at some point we all realized: TRIPLE PLAY!

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

In the midst of backing up, John O'Flanagan had to stop and get it going forward at full blast. Johnnie O lurched and lunged and leaped forward, caught the ball, threw to second, Campos tossed to first, and at some point we all realized: TRIPLE PLAY!

That is so cool. I have not seen one in all of the games that I managed.

[Sal, The Barber]

15 September 2002
Cheyenne, WY

They weren't the first team to do so, but, today, the Cheyenne Cowboys clinched a playoff birth. The Cowboys clinched while winning their 88th game; there are just 10 games left. This will be the first playoff appearance for Cheyenne; it comes in this, the 4th year of existence of the Association.

Among individual players this season's highlights are:
• Pedro Ibarra .325 19 89
• Jesus Soto .286 36 96 19SBs
• Kelly Judson .323 11 53 22SBs
• Carlos Campos .296 16 76
• John Cummings 15-3 3.95
• Roy Horton 15-9 3.81
• Francis Howard 2.20 36SVs

As a club, Cheyenne has played steady ball since their hot June. The division race was never close. And give Cheyenne credit, they've beat up on second-division teams. Yet the forecast going forward is mixed. Kansas City was the first club to clinch a playoff spot. The Monarchs took 2 out of 3 from Cheyenne the last time they played. When stars Pascal Merlet and Austin Flournoy pitched, the Cowboys lost; when the Monarch's fifth starter pitched, the Cowboys won. Didn't matter who was on the mound for Cheyenne.

Kansas City ranks first in runs scored and in home runs. Their starting pitching ranks first in runs against and ERA. The only thing KC doesn't do is steal bases. The Monarchs are first in the current Association power rankings.

Surprisingly, however, Cheyenne sits second in the power rankings. The Cowboys rank first in defensive efficiency; they rank second in bullpen ERA, and they are third in home runs and runs against. And the offense, the team's supposed season-long weak link, ranks eighth.

All in all, it has been a successful season for Cheyenne, for GM Boo Bentley, and for owner Matt Ellis. It's almost too bad that the club will draw Kansas City for the Western League pennant. Getting by that tough KC pitching staff will be a stiff challenge for the Cowboys, and most, as a result, don't give Cheyenne much of a chance.

We'll preview the series once the regular season ends, and we'll root root root for the home team. But let's keep expectations modest. Cheyenne has yet to prove that they can consistently beat the best pitchers in the Association. Here's hoping, however, that they surprise us.

[Sal, The Barber]

20 September 2002
Hollywood, CA

The Cheyenne Cowboys have not won a ballgame since clinching the division. That's five losses in a row. Six if you count John O'Flanagan. O'Flanagan tore a ligament in his thumb and is probably lost for the season.

The Cowboys' starters have been terrible lately. To start the losing streak, Miguel Flores, in Sacramento, who is filling in temporarily for the injured Jason Bryant, gave up 4 runs in the first inning. The next day, Roy Horton did the same. Reliever Basilio Mangoni gave up a grand slam on day three of the losing streak, and even though the Cowboys scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the score, they let the game slip past them in the twelfth.

On to Hollywood where Paul Lyons gave up a 3-run second inning, and Cheyenne never recovered. And then today's spectacular 10-8 loss where Cheyenne scored five first inning runs. Ben Koch gave them all back by the end of the second inning, however, and Hollywood won on a two-run HR in the ninth off of Frankie Howard.

Right now, Cheyenne is playing about as badly as they can play. They have five games left in which to settle the reeling ship. There are tough decisions on the horizon regarding the playoff roster, too. With guys playing for playoff spots, you'd think there would be a little more precision and polish to their game. But, at the moment, they all just stink.

[Sal, The Barber]

25 September 2002
Seattle, WA

When the Cowboys broke their five-game losing streak last Saturday there was reason to believe they'd use the final four games of the season to prep for the playoffs. The losing ended in part because Roy Horton pitched a 3-hit, complete game beauty.

But then we were off to Seattle to play the final four games against a team that has stifled us all year. Following Horton's example, the Cowboys got three strong starts from Cummings, Bryant, and Lyons; they lost each of those ballgames, however, 1-0, 2-1, and 2-1. Ben Koch followed with another strong start, and Cheyenne did win the final game of the season, 9-2.

Before today's game, no reporter would have garnered the courage to ask Boo Bentley if he thought he had enough offense now. Not because Bentley can't take a joke but because that joke is no longer funny. The offense has been horrible since John O'Flanagan has returned to the DL, but it isn't like Johnnie O is their best hitter or biggest offensive catalyst. It's just coincidence.

Still, while the Cowboys finished the season with a win, a big, scored 9 runs win, they finished September brutally. It does appear that the starting pitching is back on track. We can only hope the offense is there, too.

[Orcin]

Good luck in the post-season, Boo!

[Sal, The Barber]

29 September 2002
Kansas City, MO

A preview of the starting pitching match-ups. KC's fourth starter might be Flournoy; at the moment, however, KC manager Michael Ritchie is saying he'll use Anderson again in game four. This series is best of seven.

P. Lyons 11-10 4.06 vs. K. Anderson 16-6 2.70
R. Horton 16-10 3.82 vs. P. Merlet 19-5 3.09
J. Cummings 15-4 3.33 vs. R. Henry 16-10 3.84
B. Koch 9-15 3.98 vs. A. Flournoy 17-5 2.51

Lineups:
3B Judson .319
RF Clark .227
LF Soto .285
1B Ibarra .323
C Byrd .293
CF Reyes .237
2B Campos .293
SS Beck .259

CF Whitfield .206
RF Miller .279
C Andryshyn .318
LF Carr .312
1B Leclerc .286
3B Gomez .254
SS Martin .324
2B Edmonstone .310

Cheyenne's CF John O'Flanagan is on the DL; KC's 1B John "Wolfman" Erickson is also on the DL. Both have thumb injuries. Erickson is KC's best offensive player. Johnnie O is probably Cheyenne's third best.

KC's Carr has 42 and Leclerc has 38 HRs; Erickson hit 48. Our HR leader is Soto with 38.

KC won 103 games this season; Cheyenne won 90. KC was 10-4 vs. Cheyenne in the regular season.

If you're a Cheyenne fan and a betting man, sit this one out.

[Sal, The Barber]

30 September 2002
Kansas City, MO

Remove all the sharp cutlery from within Boo Bentley's reach. Make sure he's not wearing a belt. Take his shoelaces. Game one of the Western League Championship Series was that kind of game. Water torture. You can't blame Bentley for wanting to put himself out of his misery.

The Cowboys got off to a positive start. Kelly Judson singled to open the ballgame. He went to second on a Carlos Campos grounder. Jesus Soto singled, but Judson, who has good speed, was held at third. Bentley may have been scratching his head about that decision. The Cowboy third base coach, however, never seemed to think twice about sending Judson. Pedro Ibarra then grounded into a double play, letting KC starter Ken Anderson off the hook.

Ibarra's failure to deliver Judson from third came back immediately to haunt Cheyenne. Miller doubled and scored on a Jake Carr single. No hesitation on the part of the KC third base coach to send Miller home. KC took a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

But Paul Lyons matched Anderson for six innings, and we had a pitchers' duel. Carlos Campos doubled to lead off the 6th, but the meat of the Cowboys' order stranded him there--Pedro Ibarra left the game in the 4th after being hit by a pitch.

In the top of the 7th, the Cowboys tied it in an unlikely manner. Carl Reed hit a home run. After seven innings, the score was tied 1-1, and both starting pitchers were gone.

In the bottom of the eighth, Basilio Mangoni walked the first two Monarch hitters. He struck out power hitting Jake Carr, but Terry Taylor went to the bullpen anyway. Julio Garcia came on and walked the bases loaded. Garcia then got Andryshyn, who has been a thorn in the Cowboys' sides all season, to hit a grounder to second base. But they couldn't turn the double play (Andryshyn is a catcher, by the way, and he runs like one), and the go-ahead run scored. Garcia got the next hitter, but Cheyenne went to the ninth down a run, facing the Monarch closer.

Top of the ninth. Byrd flew out. Reyes and Beck each singled. Reyes, of course, stopped at second. Vasquez pinch hit and doubled. Reyes scored from second base; Beck stopped at third! Kelly Judson was walked to load the bases with one out. Cowboy closer Frankie Howard was ready in the pen. Carlos Campos hit a ground ball to third; KC came home and forced Beck at the plate. That brought up Jesus Soto. The one guy Cheyenne fans hoped would be up at a moment like this. He struck out.

In the bottom of the inning, Howard gave up a lead-off double, a fly out, and an infield hit. With runners on first and third and one out, Taylor brought the infield in. KC leadoff man Ted Whitfield was at the plate and with his speed, Taylor gambled, they'd be unable to turn a double play. Howard got just what he wanted, a grounder to third. But Judson booted it, and the winning run scored on an error.

"Missed opportunities" were the two words Cheyenne manager Terry Taylor used to sum up the game. Boo Bentley chose two different words: "bad luck."

The series resumes tomorrow.

[Sal, The Barber]

1 October 2002
Kansas City, MO

"Feels like someone doesn't want us to win." That's how Boo Bentley described it today after Cheyenne lost game two of the LCS 5-4 to Kansas City. KC scored on an error, a two-run homer by their pitcher, and on a two-out single, triple, then double in the bottom of the eighth inning. KC stole a victory when facing sure defeat.

And don't think KC doesn't feel that it's got a fight on its hands. Already the Monarchs resorted to some trickery. After posting Pascal Merlet as their game two starter, KC manager Michael Ritchie went with Austin Flournoy. He didn't pitch great, but he did hit a two-run home run in the second inning. Will Byrd did the damage for Cheyenne; he had two hits and 3 RBI.

The Cowboys got some more bad news when they learned that Pedro Ibarra will be out for the remainder of this series and probably the next one, if there is a next one for Cheyenne, with a broken thumb. Thumb injuries are too plentiful in this series. Jim Thompson started at first base today, and he'll start there for the rest of the series. Thompson isn't a bad player, but taking him off the bench weakens this club significantly. No Ibarra and no O'Flanagan really limit the Cowboys' power potential. And with the kind of luck Cheyenne has experienced so far, it must feel like they're rolling boulders up hills.

The series goes back to Cheyenne now for games 3, 4 & 5.

[Sal, The Barber]

3 October 2002
Cheyenne, WY

There's magic in John Cummings' presence on the mound. That's why we've come to call him "The Magic Man." Once again, Cummings' presence sparked the Cowboy bats. Jesus Soto hit two 2-run home runs to pace Cheyenne to a much-needed win in the LCS. Cheyenne won the game 6-2 and trails in the series, 2 games to 1.

Cummings pitched only five innings, but he gave up a sole home run to Mike Miller in the first inning. Soto had already hit his 2 home runs by the time Cummings was pulled for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth.

Cheyenne was more aggressive on the bases, stealing 2 and getting Will Byrd thrown out at home when trying to score on a fly to right. Cowboy management talked about baserunning as one change they planned to make; they intended to get more aggressive, and today they did.

In any case, the prevailing luck of the series turned around with Cheyenne's win. They have another chance tomorrow at home to take KC and tie this thing up. Ben Koch takes the mound versus either Rusty Henry or game one starter Ken Anderson.

[Sal, The Barber]

4 October 2002
Cheyenne, WY

Cheyenne won a slugfest today and evened the Western LCS in the process. They got big games from Shawn Clark, Jesus Soto, and Jim Thompson.

Ben Koch started for the Cowboys and didn't pitch well. He gave up a two-run home run to Nelson Leclerc in the first inning; Leclerc has two hits in this series, and they're both home runs. Koch walked four and gave up a single run in the third and two more in the fourth. He pitched only 3 and 2/3 innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, trailing 5-1, Cheyenne got the bats going. Clark walked, Soto singled, and Thompson hit a 3-run blast 426 feet to centerfield. Miguel Flores set the Monarchs down in the top of the fifth, and Cheyenne added a 2-run homer by Shawn Clark in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.

In the sixth, the Cowboys capitalized on relief pitcher Alex Wilhelm's wildness, taking three bases on balls right from the start. Campos grounded out to score one; Beck flew out to score another. Pinch hitter Alex Bryan singled to plate a third run. It was 9-5 after six innings.
Javier Gomez pitched the final three innings, shutting down KC. The Monarchs threatened to score in the ninth but came up short. Cheyenne added two more runs on another Jesus Soto home run. The final score was 11-5.

Cheyenne has used its first two home games to tie the series. KC started Rusty Henry and will go back to game one starter Ken Anderson tomorrow. Tomorrow's game is the last home game for Cheyenne in this series. Paul Lyons starts for the Cowboys.

[Sal, The Barber]

5 October 2002
Cheyenne, WY

What a ballgame! Lyons versus Anderson promised a pitching duel, but that never materialized. But neither did the hitters take the game over. At points, though, we saw great pitching and equally great hitting. The good news is that the Cowboys came out ahead.

Cheyenne jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a single by Judson, a double by Soto, and a single by Clark. KC's catcher Andryshyn took a run back in the top of the second with a solo blast off of Lyons. And in the third, two errors by the top-ranked defense in the Western League gave KC a tie.
In the bottom of the third, Soto and Thompson combined again to produce a run; Soto tripled, Thompson doubled. But Lyons gave up another solo shot, this time to Leclerc, and going into the bottom of the fourth the score was 3-3. At this point, it looked like a game the offenses were taking over.

And Cheyenne scored again in the bottom of the fourth. A double by Carl Reed. A single by Judson. 4-3, Cheyenne. That, too, turned out to be the end of road for Anderson. Four innings. Not what Monarchs' fans expected.

But Lyons remained shaky. Ted Whitfield hit a third solo HR off of Lyons to tie the game again. The Cowboys' Terry Taylor, however, stuck with his lion. And Lyons pitched a shut down 6th, 7th, and 8th. He allowed only 1 hit over those three innings. Lyons waited patiently for his club's bats to pick him back up.

The Cowboys did. In the bottom of the eighth, Thompson and Clark singled; Byrd walked. There was one out. Jorge Reyes pinch hit and drew a walk, scoring Thompson from third. Bernardo Vasquez, hitting for Lyons, drew another walk, scoring a second run. The Cowboys went to the ninth up 6-4 with Frankie Howard on the mound. He set KC down 1-2-3, and Cheyenne took their third straight and their first LCS lead.

[Sal, The Barber]

7 October 2002
Kansas City, MO

"Shocked." That's the word you hear uttered most frequently from KC players and coaches alike. Shocked. Up two games to none, KC inexplicably lost four straight games and the LCS.

Or maybe not. Down two games to none, Cheyenne took four straight from KC with superb pitching and a little offense too. "Skip Taylor just emphasized the positives" after the first two games, said Shawn Clark. "We really should have won those first two games, too," added Taylor. "We didn't need to make changes. We just needed a break." They got it. Or, maybe, KC got it. They are the club whose season is now "broken."

Cheyenne goes on to play the Eastern League champ who is yet to be determined. Halifax and Altoona play game seven tomorrow to determine who is next on the schedule for the Cowboys.

Kelly Judson got today's game off to a good start with a lead-off home run. Cheyenne followed with two more runs in the third inning when, with two outs, Jesus Soto doubled, and Jim Thompson hit a 450 foot blast. That was all the scoring Cheyenne would do, and, it turns out, they didn't need to do any more.

Roy Horton pitched 8 and 1/3 innings. He gave up a run-scoring double to Leclerc in the fifth, but was otherwise almost unhittable. Terry Taylor let Horton bat to lead off the ninth, indicating to everyone that he intended to let Horton pitch the ninth. Horton took the hill and gave up a lead-off double. Then he threw a wild pitch. Taylor went to the mound but only to chat. Horton got Carr to fly out. The run, though, scored. With it now 3-2, Taylor came back out to lift Horton. Frankie Howard came in to strike out Leclerc and get Andryshyn to fly to right for the ballgame. And the series!

Shawn Clark hit .368 in the series. Jim Thompson, filling in for Pedro Ibarra, hit .400 and added 2 HRs and 6 RBI. Jorge Reyes, another injury replacement, hit .429. And Jesus Soto led the club, as expected; he hit .450 with 3 HRs and 7 RBI. But it really was the pitching that beat KC. Cummings' ERA was 1.80 in the series, Horton's 2.51, Lyons' 2.57.

The Cowboys will relax tomorrow and watch the Altoona/Halifax showdown. Then who knows? They've never played in a World Series and didn't expect to be in one this season. "Let me wake up tomorrow," Terry Taylor said when asked about his plans for the series, "and then we'll figure out what comes next."

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by Sal, The Barber

"Shocked." That's the word you hear uttered most frequently from KC players and coaches alike. Shocked.

This word was heard around Cheyenne too.

Congratulations and good luck in THE series.

[Sal, The Barber]

8 October 2002
Altoona, PA

The Halifax Mooseheads will play the Cheyenne Cowboys in the 2002 World Series. The Mooseheads beat Altoona today, 5-1, scoring 4 runs in the top of the 13th inning.

I know almost nothing about the Halifax ballclub. It would seem that they score a lot of runs because they have two players (catcher Sinke 118 and first baseman Hall 112) with over 100 RBI. However, they finished 4th in runs scored in the Eastern League. They do not hit home runs or steal bases. Their pitching appears to be quite good.

The Series is a best 5 out of 9. There is an off day after every 2 ballgames, which makes it rather easy for the ballclubs to use only 3 starting pitchers. The Series opens in Halifax. Cirillo Pozzi (13-5 3.77) is slated for the Mooseheads against Paul Lyons.

The Mooseheads are led by their infield. C Sinke, 1B Hall, and 2B Vernon Brown lead the offense. Brown started the year in AAA but now anchors the lineup, batting in the third spot.

Cheyenne is again the underdog in this series but not as great of an underdog. Halifax is riding some magic of their own, as they came back to win the final two games of the series against Altoona. Should be a great Series!