2003 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #23

A six-game series between the Chicago Demolition and Southlake Steelers promises to feature dominant pitching, middle-of-the-order power, and several Cy Young–caliber arms.
Both clubs arrive with deep rotations and elite bullpens, setting up what could be one of the most tightly contested series of the season. This could determine who wins the American League and gets the number one seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs
Chicago enters the series with a lineup capable of producing runs in bunches. First baseman Carlos Delgado anchors the offense with 32 home runs and 94 RBIs, while slugging .297 across 128 games.
Shortstop Edgar Renteria provides table-setting production, hitting .281 with 91 runs scored and 19 stolen bases, giving Chicago a dynamic presence at the top of the order.
Outfielder Hideki Matsui adds another power threat with 20 homers and 86 RBIs, while Shannon Stewart leads the club in batting average among everyday players at .319 with 86 runs scored.

Chicago’s pitching staff is just as formidable. Veteran ace Pedro Martinez leads the rotation with a 16-7 record, 1.63 ERA, and 175 strikeouts in 182.2 innings, making him one of the most dominant starters in the league.
Supporting him are:
• Roger Clemens – 14-5, 3.50 ERA
• Jason Schmidt – 13-4, 2.23 ERA
• Kevin Millwood – 10-9, 3.80 ERA

Out of the bullpen, Billy Wagner has been nearly unhittable, posting 28 saves and a 1.60 ERA.

Southlake Counters with a Deep Rotation and Shutdown Bullpen.
Ace Mark Prior has dominated opposing hitters, going 18-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 183.1 innings.

Meanwhile, Sidney Ponson has been nearly flawless, compiling a 5-0 record with a microscopic 0.79 ERA and four shutouts in just seven starts.

Southlake’s bullpen could prove decisive in close games:
• Guillermo Mota – 1.28 ERA with 6 saves
• Shigetoshi Hasegawa – 1.79 ERA
• John Smoltz – 25 saves with a 2.28 ERA
Combined, the trio gives Southlake one of the league’s most dominant late-inning units.

Offensively few teams combine contact hitting and power like the Steelers. It begins with Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki who is the catalyst for the offense.
• .327 AVG
• 178 hits
• 101 runs
• 24 stolen bases (80% success)
His 94.4 runs created lead the team and make him one of the most valuable table-setters in the league.

Southlake’s lineup becomes dangerous once runners reach base.
Hank Blalock has delivered during a breakout season:
• 36 HR
• 99 RBI
• .616 SLG
• .969 OPS

Blalock’s .320 isolated power highlights his ability to change games with one swing.

Close behind is Nomar Garciaparra, who continues to be a clutch run producer:
• 30 HR
• 95 RBI
• .541 SLG
• 82.9 runs created

Together, the pair forms one of the most productive power duos in the league.

The atmosphere is electric and we are about to see baseball at its best.

Chicago isn’t afraid of the Cy Young candidate and goes after him early. A walk to Alomar, a single by Delgado and another walk to Salmon loaded the bases with just one out. Prior threw a sinker to Matsui and was able to coax an inning ended double play out of him to end the threat without yielding a run.

The Stealers offense also came out with no fear. A leadoff single by Beltran and a two out bomb by Blalock would put Southlake on the board first 2-0.

Chicago would rally in the third inning, with walks to both Kinkade and Renteria to start the inning. A wild pitch would move up both runners. Prior would blow one past Alomar for the first out of the inning. With first base open the Stealers elected to not face the ever-dangerous Delgado and gave him a free pass.

With the bases loaded again against Prior, he would feel the pressure and drilled Salmon in the middle of the back to bring across the first run for the Demolition. The crowd increased their volume, giving Prior a boost of confidence. He channeled his old days at USC and blew a fastball past Matsui for the second out. He wasn’t out of the jam just yet as Chavez came to the plate. Prior was able to get him to pop up a curve ball for the final out of the inning, holding on to a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the 4th the walk would once again hurt Prior. With two outs his gave up his 5th of the day to Kinkade. A Renteria double next would score him to tie the game at 2 a piece.

For Chicago, Schmidt was cruising along, giving up just two hits through 5 innings. But back-to-back singles to lead off the 6th inning was the end of his day. Adams came in to close out that inning keeping the game tied at 2-2.

While Chicago went to their bullpen, the Stealers continued to ride the arm of Prior. Chicago looked like they had something brewing with a Batista lead off single in the 9th inning. This had the South lake bullpen stirring. But Mark Prior was able to get the next three batters.

With Wagner on the mound and two outs in the 9th inning it looked liked we were heading to extra innings. Catcher Tom Prince hitting .090 strode to the plate and when Wagner hung a curve ball he deposited it into straight away centerfield for the unlikeliest of home runs and a 3-2 Stealers victory.

Final: Stealers 3-2
WP: Prior (19-2)
LP: Wagner (2-4)

Chicago’s vaunted offense decided to make the game starter irrelevant and came out swinging. The put up 4 runs on Southlake starter Wade Miller who lasted just 2 innings. The big blow was Salmon’s 15th homerun of the season to start scoring and begin the rally.

The Stealers bullpen came in early and held Chicago in check the rest of the game. Meanwhile, the Stealer bats tried to chip away at the score, but the Demolition bullpen was equally up to the task at hand as they went 4.2 innings giving up just one hit and no runs to close out the game and put the Demolition back into contention in the AL Central

Final: Chicago 4-3
WP: Donnelly (6-3)
LP: Miller (9-7)
S: Wagner (29)

Chicago looked to put this game away early. A single by Renteria, a double by Stewart, and single by Delgado plated the first run with runners on the corners and no outs. But Tejera would settle in and strike out the next three batters.

The Stealers would take advantage of two errors in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. They would manufacture a run in the third when Suzuki drew a two out walk, stole second base and scored on Nomar’s single.

Blalock would extend the lead in the 4th with his 37th home run of the season to lead off the inning. Delgado would get that run back with a two out solo shot of his own in the top of the 5th inning.

With the lead through 5 innings, the Stealers would lean into the strength of their team – the bullpen. Mota would work a clean 6th and 7th innings. A one out double, by who else, Delgado would bring Smoltz out of the pen. The Stealers closer was up to the task as he put the next five Demolition hitters to rest with ease and secure the Stealers at least a series tie.

Final: Stealers 3-2
WP: Tejera (6-6)
LP: Clemens (14-6)
S: Smoltz (27)

Chicago would strike first when a two out double by Renteria would score former Stealer Alomar. They threatened again in the 6th when Renteria would walk, steal second and advance to third on a ground out. However, the Stealers intentionally walk Delgado and Salmon flew out to end the inning and keep the score 1-0.

Pedro meanwhile was simply being Pedro. He went 6.2 innings giving up just two singles, walking no one and striking out 9 hitters. He made the Stealers offense look like little leaguers. The Demolition bullpen was just as solid as they pitched 2.1 innings giving up just one hit.

Ponson gets his 6th complete game of the season for Southlake, gives up just one run, and yet still gets tagged with the loss.

Final: Chicago 1-0
WP: Martinez (17-7)
LP: Ponson (13-6)
S: Wagner (30)

Southlake scores first when Blalock doubles and comes home on Encarnacion’s base hit. For Chicago, Delgado would do Delgado things, as he gave the Demolition the lead in the 4th with a two-run bomb. It was his 35th of the year.

Southlake evened the score after Diaz started with a triple and was brought home by Ichiro’s sacrifice fly. That lead was short lived as once again Delgado hit a double and scored on Johnson’s single in the 6th inning.

Some sloppy defense in the 7th allowed Chicago to put this game away. Two errors and a passed ball led to two more runs and a 5-2 lead for the Demolition.

The Stealers could not put anything together the rest of the game as the bullpen was lights out for Chicago.

Final: Chicago 5-2
WP: Waechter (1-2)
LP: Miller (9-8)
S: Donnelly (6)

In what was to be a classic showdown, it did not disappoint. Pitching dominated on both sides as 4 of the 6 games were decided but a single run. No team scored more than 5 runs in any game. Pedro was Pedro in what was a masterclass in pitching and Delgado did Delgado things all series long when the Demolition needed it.

Southlake had a chance to put the division to bed but they cant be too disappointed as the split allows them to maintain their 6-game lead with just 27 left to play in the regular season.

These are two teams who are both headed to the postseason and this may have just been a preview of what would be an incredible matchup to see. The two teams meet once more in Chicago for a 5-game series in two weeks. All five games have already been sold out.