Season 12, Round 2: Heros and Chumps

New York over Burlington (3-0)
Hero: After Burlington's shocking upset of St Louis, New York took advantage of the rest obtained over their bye and quickly dispatched Burlington in 3 games. Norberto Santos paced the offense for the Moose Knuckles from the top of the order. In addition to his steady play at the hot corner, Norberto batted .357 in the series (5-14) with scoring 3 runs and driving in 3 runs. Santos doubled to lead off game 1, and scored to give Omar Vargas all the run support he'd need in a 2-0 victory. He followed that up by launching a bases clearing 3-run double in the bottom of the 2nd to lead New York to an early 3-0 lead, a game eventually won in thrilling fashion with a walk off single in the bottom of the 9th. Finally, in the clinching game 3, Santos lead off the game again with a double, crossing home plate a few batters later, setting the pace for an easy 7-3 victory.
Chump: Delino Rodriquez. Following a long and grueling season, and a tough 5 game set vs St Louis, its obvious Delino is ready for the postseason. New York's tough pitching staff did Delino no favors, constantly pounding him inside, leading to many weak grounders, pop ups and a handful of strikeouts. Just 1 hit in his 12 appearances, no walks and 11 runners stranded on the bases. A sub standard season, based upon his prior success ends with a sub standard series and a trip back home to freshen up for next year.

Salem over Syracuse (3-2)
Hero: An exciting 5 game set that saw Cy Young hopeful Pablo Bonilla save the day in all 3 of Salem's victories. 2.2 innings of 1 hit relief in game 1 allowed Salem to win on a walk off error in the bottom of 12. 3 nights later, with Salem facing elimination, Bonilla got the ball with a 4 run lead in the 7th. Bonilla shut down the door, save a solo shot to open up the 9th before handing the ball to McCraken for the final out and set the stage for a deciding game 5. With the series on the line, Salem holding on to a slim 3-1 lead, Jesus turned things over to Bonilla to close the door in game #5 and send The Witch Doctors back to the ALCS. For the series, Bonnilla carried a WHIP just a shade north of 1, and an ERA of 1.6, not to mention the two huge 2+ innings of work in game 1 & 3.
Chump: Paul Gibson. the .318 average over the series looks pretty good, however 4 of his 7 hits came in the 11-2 game 2 laugher, leaving him 3-17 in the other 4 games. However, the biggest reason for this award came at the end of game #1. In a tight extra innings affair, Salem got runners on the corners with no body out. However, Tanhill bounced back to strike out Tony Trevino and getting an easy pop out out of George Fossum. When Garcia hit it softly back to Gibson at 2b, Syracuse fans felt certain they were heading for the 13th inning. However, Gibson botched job allowed Garcia to reach 1st safely, scoring pinch runner Terry Lewis and sending Salem home a winner.

Fresno over Austin (3-0)
Hero: Connie Lemaster, the hero of their round 1 series over Boston, returns as hero again in round 2. How does a pitcher top a 1 hitter in the postseason? By throwing 8.1 innings of 6 hit, 3 run (2 earned) ball against the potent Austin lineup. As if that wasn't enough, LeMaster gave himself all the run support he'd need in game 1 with a sacrafice fly to the gap in the 4th and a 3 run homer down the left field line off of eventual hall of famer Chad Lamb. Is a perfect game in grasp for Connie as he keeps attempting to outdo himself each round?
Chump(s): Chad Lamb and Corban Walters. Two aces, once traded for one another in a huge blockbuster, 4 world series rings between them, multiple all star appearances, Cy Young nominations and victories would spell the resume of many a hall of fame inductee. As if Lamb's lack luster game 1, including the 3 run shot to his oppossing pitcher wasn't bad enough, facing elimination Walters couldn't even escape the 2nd inning. A double, single, fly out, walk, fielder's choice to plate a run w/ the bases loaded, another double, then a triple and finally a wild pitch gave Fresno a 6-0 lead from which they'd never look back.

Pittsburgh over Las Vegas (3-1)
Hero: The Killer C's (Carlos Fuentes, Carlos Alveraz, Chet Turner, Clyde Valent). Its hard to differiant b/w the 1st and the last at the top of Pittsburgh order. Certainly Las Vegas wishes they would have stayed home. A combined 24-64 at the plate (.375 avg), 18 runs (75% of the team's runs scored), 17 rbi and 7 home runs.
Chump: Julian Hall. I think its safe to say this is a series Hall would love to forget. Following an outstanding rookie campaign, with the bright lights of the playoffs at full glare, Hall wilted under the pressure and failed to deliever for Las Vegas. That's failed to deliever anything other than a single walk and weak ground out to 1b scoring a runner from 3rd with 1 out. Otherewise, he was 0-16 at the plate despite only 2 strikeouts over the entire series. You'd have thought that a few of those other 14 outs would find a hole somewhere, anywhere, but not with Pittsburgh flashing the leather.