2003 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
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| PREVIEW – The 2003 Mid-West Winter League (MWWL) American League Championship Series is a true heavyweight clash. The AL East champion Corktown Bootleggers (101-61) host the powerhouse Chicago Demolition (103-59) in a best-of-seven showdown that promises to be a razor-thin, thrilling battle. Chicago enters the series oozing with momentum. Despite being forced into the Wild Card round, the 103-win Demolition just pulled off a brilliant sweep of the historic 113-win Southlake Stealers. Chicago’s roster boasts an absolute minefield of an offense anchored by Carlos Delgado’s monster 43-HR, 115-RBI 2003 campaign and the incredible consistency of rookie sensation Hideki Matsui. However, their true equalizer is a legendary starting rotation spearheaded by the two-headed monster of Pedro Martinez and Jason Schmidt, backed by “The Rocket” Roger Clemens & Kevin Millwood.
Corktown counters with an equally terrifying offense built on patient, high-impact muscle. The Bootleggers’ lineup is anchored by the prime 2003 superpowers of Alex Rodriguez, Scott Rolen, and the disciplined, high-OBP bat of Jason Giambi. On the mound, Corktown relies on workhorse stability, featuring reliable arms like Steve Trachsel, Miguel Batista, and Freddy Garcia. Keys to Winning the ALCS The Bridge to Billy Wagner: Chicago’s starting staff is elite, but if Corktown can run up pitch counts and force early exits, the series shifts to the bullpens. Chicago must successfully bridge the middle innings to closer Billy Wagner. Defending the Home Dirt: Because of the usual 2-3-2 format, Corktown holds the home-field advantage for Games 1, 2, 6, and 7. However, Chicago wielded the MWWL’s best road record during the regular season. If the Demolition can steal just one of the first two games in Corktown, they shift the entire axis of the series back to Chicago for a three-game homestand. |
| GAME #1 – Pedro Martinez 22-7 (1.34) vs. Miguel Batista 17-7 (3.38)
A classic October nail-biter unfolded in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, as the Chicago Demolition edged out the Corktown Bootleggers 4-3 in a thrilling, error-filled opening clash. Chicago wasted absolutely no time striking first against Corktown starter Miguel Batista. Edgar Renteria led off the ballgame with a double off the wall, quickly coming home on a Hideki Matsui RBI double. Carlos Delgado immediately followed with a laser into left field to drive in Shannon Stewart, jumping Chicago out to an early 2-0 lead. However, the game’s earliest turning point happened on that exact sequence and served as a major defensive statement for Corktown. As Stewart scrambled home to score, left fielder Jose Cruz Jr. unleashed a bullet to the infield, cutting down Carlos Delgado trying to stretch the single into second base. That fundamental outfield execution stopped a rampant Chicago rally right in its tracks and kept the game within reach. Corktown finally chipped away in the bottom of the third against a dominant Pedro Martinez, using a John Olerud sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the sixth, Tim Salmon extended the Demolition lead back to two with a towering solo home run off reliever Tom Martin. The bottom of the seventh saw the game descend into chaos. Two costly outfield errors by Chicago’s Bobby Higginson allowed Darin Erstad to reach and Scott Rolen to score. Moments later, pinch-hitter Ron Calloway tied the game 3-3 with an RBI single, completely erasing Martinez’s stellar 8-strikeout performance. The game was ultimately decided in the top of the ninth against Damaso Marte. With Stewart on first after an error, Hideki Matsui lined a clutch, two-out RBI double down the third-base line, driving Stewart home for the game-winning run. Billy Wagner entered in the bottom of the frame to lock down the final two outs, securing a massive road victory for Chicago. Final Score: Chicago 4 – Corktown 3 Win: John Franco 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #2 – Roger Clemens 14-6 (3.48) vs. Steve Trachsel 19-11 (3.14)
An absolute masterclass from “The Rocket” carried the Chicago Demolition to a 3-1 victory over the Corktown Bootleggers, putting Chicago in a commanding position in this League Championship Series. Chicago struck early and heavily in the top of the first inning off Corktown starter Steve Trachsel. Edgar Renteria led off the game with a double, and a costly fielding error by second baseman Eric Young quickly loaded the bases. Tony Batista drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Moments later, Tim Salmon blasted a two-run single over the head of center fielder Jose Cruz Jr., instantly handing Roger Clemens a 3-0 cushion. The game’s absolute defensive highlight occurred in the bottom of the third inning, completely stifling a budding Corktown rally. Brad Ausmus lashed a deep hit into the right-field gap that slipped past outfielder Bobby Higginson all the way to the wall. Ausmus rounded second and aggressively tried to stretch it into a triple, but a spectacular relay from Shannon Stewart to Roberto Alomar nailed Ausmus at third base. The perfect execution kept Corktown entirely off the board and kept the bases empty. From there, Clemens was virtually untouchable. The veteran right-hander absolutely stifled the Bootleggers’ bats, racking up an incredible 11 strikeouts over 7.2 brilliant innings, allowing just three hits along the way. Corktown mounted a frantic, ninth-inning rally against Chicago’s bullpen. After Jason Giambi drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Henry Mateo, Mateo stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. John Olerud then delivered a clutch RBI double down the right-field line off closer Billy Wagner, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Cruz Jr. followed with a walk to put the tying run on base, but Wagner clamped down, forcing a flyout from Yorvit Torrealba and a game-ending groundout from Young to secure his second save of the series. Final Score: Chicago 3 – Corktown 1 Win: Roger Clemens 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #3 – Pat Hentgen 16-10 (3.35) vs. Jason Schmidt 16-8 (2.72)
The Chicago Demolition took full control of the American League Championship Series, cruising to a dominant 7-1 blowout victory over the Corktown Bootleggers to push their series lead to 3-0. Jason Schmidt was absolutely sensational for Chicago. The right-handed ace masterfully stifled the Corktown lineup over six scoreless innings, yielding just three hits and executing critical escape acts when the Bootleggers threatened early. The game exploded open in the bottom of the second against Corktown starter Pat Hentgen. After Tony Batista walked and Tim Salmon doubled, a passed ball by catcher Brad Ausmus allowed Batista to slide home for the game’s first run. Charles Johnson then immediately hammered a crushing two-run home run to deep center field, instantly vaulting Chicago to a 3-0 lead. Chicago definitively put the game out of reach during a chaotic, three-run bottom of the sixth. An intentional walk and a dropped throw by reliever Ugueth Urbina pushed the lead to 4-0. With the bases still packed, Edgar Renteria lashed a hard liner into the left-field gap. Jose Cruz Jr. quickly tracked it down on the hop, but Bobby Higginson aggressively rounded third and slid home safe ahead of the throw. The heads-up baserunning allowed a second run to score on the play, extending the lead to an insurmountable 6-0. Corktown finally erased the shutout in the top of the eighth when Alex Rodriguez launched a solo home run off reliever Doug Waechter. However, Chicago quickly answered in the bottom half of the frame with a towering solo shot from Bobby Higginson off Mike Gallo. Kevin Gregg entered in the ninth to strike out pinch-hitter Ron Calloway with two runners on, slamming the door on any potential miracle comeback. Final Score: Chicago 7 – Corktown 1 Win: Jason Schmidt 1-0 (0.00) |
| GAME #4 – Miguel Batista 17-7 (3.38) vs. Kevin Millwood 15-6 (2.47)
Game 4 of the American League Championship Series provided an unforgettable, high-stakes tactical chess match, culminating in a dramatic 4-3 victory for the Chicago Demolition over the Corktown Bootleggers to wrap up a hard-fought series sweep. Chicago established control immediately in the bottom of the first inning. Following consecutive walks issued by a wild Miguel Batista, Tony Batista turned on a fastball, launching a towering three-run home run to left-center field. The Demolition extended their cushion to 4-0 in the fourth on an Edgar Renteria sacrifice fly that plated Tim Salmon. Corktown persistently threatened against Chicago starter Kevin Millwood but repeatedly suffered from execution failures, culminating in two critical momentum-killers. In the top of the sixth, trailing 4-0, Jose Cruz Jr. scored on a Gary Matthews Jr. double down the line. Darin Erstad attempted to scramble home right behind Cruz to slice the lead to two, but a flawless relay from Renteria to catcher Charles Johnson cut Erstad down at the plate. An inning later in the seventh, the Bootleggers once again put their first two runners aboard, only for reliever Brendan Donnelly to induce a crushing, inning-ending double play from John Olerud. The contest reached a fever pitch in a wild ninth inning against elite closer Billy Wagner. Operating with a comfortable three-run cushion, Wagner was immediately stunned when Eric Young launched a leadoff solo home run. After rebounding to secure the next two outs, Wagner surrendered a dramatic, two-out solo blast to Jason Giambi that barely cleared the right-field wall, suddenly narrowing the margin to 4-3. With the bases empty and the stadium roaring, dangerous slugger Alex Rodriguez stepped into the batter’s box as the tying run. Recognizing the immense threat, Chicago Manager Stray Corrado made the ultimate high-risk tactical gamble, ordering Wagner to intentionally walk Rodriguez—putting the tying run directly on base—in order to bypass A-Rod and establish a platoon matchup against the left-handed John Olerud. The strategic gamble paid off perfectly. Wagner buckled down and induced a routine, fly ball to center field off Olerud’s bat. Shannon Stewart drifted back, squeezed the ball for the final out, and secured the pennant for Chicago Demolition. Final Score: Chicago 4 – Corktown 3 Win: Kevin Millwood 1-0 (1.50) |
| SUMMARY – The Chicago Demolition put an absolute exclamation point on their postseason run, completing a dominant four-game sweep of the Corktown Bootleggers to capture the American League Pennant. In a series defined by critical defensive plays and high-stakes tactical chess, Chicago outmaneuvered the AL East champions at every turn.The Demolition showcased their elite roster depth from the opening pitch of Game 1. Chicago’s offense relied on clinical, early-inning strikes, underscored by Tony Batista’s crushing three-run homer in Game 4 and timely hitting from Hideki Matsui. On the mound, the legendary rotation of Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Jason Schmidt completely stifled Corktown’s high-powered bats, racking up dominant performances before passing the baton to a resilient bullpen.
Defensive execution ultimately proved to be the ultimate separator. While Corktown suffered from costly defensive miscues, Chicago’s pristine outfield execution repeatedly slammed the door on any potential momentum shifts, cutting down key Bootleggers runners on the basepaths in games 1, 3, and 4. With the American League trophy firmly in hand, the red-hot Demolition now march forward into the World Series, where they await the winner of the National League Pennant clash between the Baltimore Blue Crabs and the Flora-Bama Mullets. |