1987 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

NLCS PREVIEW:
The National League LCS  pits the Manhattan Gas Hornets (108-54) against the Long Beach Titans (105-57). The Gas Hornets, winners of the East by 10 games, were able to ease their way into the playoffs, holding on to their edge throughout most of the season in spite of great play from Valdosta (98 wins) and Michigan (93 wins). The Titans however, had to fight hard right to the end and finally taking the West by a 4 game margin over Steel City (101-61). If you look at the last 10 games of the season it sums it up with the Titans going 7-3 and the Sluggers going 3-7.
The Titans bombed their way through the  division series dispatching Steel City in 3 games (and outscoring them 22-8. The Gas Hornets got by Valdosta in 4 games.
On paper the Titans look to have most of the edges in this series (as noted below).  They also have some MWWL Post Season experience – this is the 2nd straight year in the NL LCS and 4th trip total winning the NL pennant in 1974 and 1978. They hope to repeat the NL Championship and finally prevail in the World Series.  For Manhattan, this marks their first time in the NL LCS as they are relative newcomers to the MWWL.  They don’t want to wait however, so they are working to make a big run now.
Team Comparisons:
Batting: LBT 1st in NL with a .280 avg and 848 run, 4th in HRs with 191; MGH 2nd in NL with .260 avg and 786 runs, 5th in HRs with 183
Pitching: LBT 1st in NL with 2.90 era and OBA with .219; MGH 3rd with 3.13 era and 2nd with .221 OBA
Fielding: MGH 2nd in NL with .983 and T1 in UER at 63; LBT 6th with .978 and 4th in UER at 66
Season series:  Manhattan squeaked through with a 6-4 record in the 10 games played.

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