1998 WORLD SERIES PREVIEW
Mid-West Winter League Commissioner’s Office – Report submitted by Ken Kuryliw – Winnipeg Goldeyes –January 14th, 2022
The National League champions Manhattan Gas Hornets (107-55) face the American League champion Corktown Bootleggers(119-43). Manhattan got to the finals beating Michigan in four and Newark in six, while avoiding disaster Corktown beat Floosmoor in five and easily got by long-time powerhouse Chicago in five games.
Looking at the two teams Corktown has never made the finals while Manhattan won it all in 1987. Each team led their league in wins.
CATCHERS – Huge advantage Manhattan
Corktown has Brad Ausmus (.292 5 58) and Sal Fasano (.189 3 14) vs Manhattan’s Jason Kendall (,376 18 98 and 114 runs) backup Paul Bako (.325 1 22). Equal defense but Jason Kendall‘s bat is a huge advantage for the Gas Hornets.
FIRST BASE – Equal
Manhattan’s Tino Martinez .298 41 139 and Corktown Andres Galarraga (.297 33 137). Both are very similar great gloves and bats.
SECOND BASE – Slight advantage Manhattan
Corktown Mark Lewis (.283 10 54) and Denny Hocking (167 5 24) act as the defensive replacement. Manhattan has Ray Durham (.278 18 67). Neither is a great glove at the keystone but a slight advantage to Manhattan.
THIRD BASE – Hugh advantage Corktown
Manhattan doesn’t really have a third baseman as reserves Alicea, Giovanola and Matt Franco combined for a below-average glove and only 11 homers and 66 RBIs. Corktown has the great Scott Rolen with a gold glove and (.291 42 125 with 165 runs!).
SHORTSTOP – Advantage Corktown
Two of the best shortstops of all-time meet here. Manhattan has Derek Jeter (.334 22 89 with 126 runs) and a strong glove. While Corktown somehow has better as Alex Rodriguez (.328 42 155 with 149 runs scored) was amazing at the plate and ok in the field.
OUTFIELD – Huge Advantage Corktown
Corktown has Ray Lankford (.289 27 105 with 139 runs), Ellis Burks (.321 25 92), (Albert Belle (.320 46 157) and Brian Jordan (.317 19 100). Manhattan had Garret Anderson (.286 15 80), Gregg Jefferies (.296 4 43), Matt Stairs (.291 24 89), and Mark Whiten (.295 5 35). The difference here is huge for the AL champions.
STARTING PITCHING – Slight advantage Corktown as they are in the AL and lack of starts don’t matter in the playoffs
Corktown used a number of starters to make it through the year Ramon Martinez (6-3 2.91 in 15 starts), Omar Daal (18-3 3.81 in 172 innings), Hideki Irabu (13-5 4.01 in 152 innings), Steve Parris (6-2 3.73 in 10 starts) and Doc Gooden (5-3 5.24 in 19 starts) and Trachsel (11-4 3.65 in 23 starts) and Baldwin (12-3 2.94 in 20 starts).
Manhattan Wakefield (19-4 2.78 in 31 starts) Matt Morris (10-6 4.18 in 21 starts), Rick Reed (14-7 3.22 in 31 starts), Brian Moehler (17-6 in 29 starts), and Sterling Hitchcock (10-6 3.71 in 28 starts)
RELIEF PITCHING – Advantage Corktown
Corktown 37 relief wins, 44 saves 3.05 era in 481 innings. Manhattan 32 relief wins 42 saves 3.41 era in 427 innings. Corktown’s Ugueth Urbina was great 6-2 1.41 in 76 innings, while Troy Percival was a disappointing 3-3 4.37 with 17 saves in 23 tries and Turk Wendell was very set up at 9-2 with 7 saves in 95 innings.
Manhattan closer John Wetteland (6-5 2.57 with 21 saves) was solid and Matt Mantei (7-2 3.67) and Ricardo Rincon (5-1 2.22 era).
OVERALL HITTING – Huge advantage Corktown
It is not close as Corktown scored 1187 runs hitting .298/.382/.517 while Manhattan 939 runs .285/.357/.445.
OVERALL FIELDING – Very Slight advantage Manhattan
Manhattan is very slightly better in the field resulting in 12 less unearned runs and errors allowed.
OVERALL PITCHING – Advantage Corktown as they had the same numbers but in tougher AL facing the DH. Manhattan 3.57 team era vs Corktown a 3.51 team era.
OVERALL – This could be a short series as the 119 game-winning Corktown should overpower Manhattan with the huge hitting advantage and better pen. Corktown does not have exciting pitching but it should be enough, match Manhattan as they don’t have great pitching either. Las Vegas says Corktown in five games.