Stray
2002 WORLD SERIES PREVIEW
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 PREVIEW – Mullets vs. Quakes – A Clash of Leagues!
Baseball fans across the Mid-West Winter League are buzzing with excitement as the Flora-Bama Mullets, champions of the National League, prepare to face off against the formidable California Quakes, winners of the American League, in the much-anticipated 2002 World Series! Both teams finished the regular season tied for the best record in their respective leagues, with the Quakes at 116-46 (.716) and the Mullets at 108-54 (.667). This promises to be an epic seven-game battle. Let’s break down the key matchups. |
2002 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
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| PREVIEW – The American League Central and West Division Champions, Harper Woods Expos (97-65) and California Quakes (116-46), meet up in the American League Championship Series. California enters the series with the overall advantage in defense and offense. The Quakes led the Expos in pitching during the regular season, with the Quakes and Expos holding team ERAs of 2.77 and 3.91, respectively, but held only marginal advantages both defensively and offensively. California’s defense boasted a .983 fielding percentage while giving up only 62 unearned during the regular season, while the Expos nearly matched this with a .983 fielding percentage and 63 unearned runs. Similarly, the Quakes slightly edged the Expose in offense, batting .288/.352/.447 with a 5.6 R/G versus the Expos .272/.331/.433 line and 5.3 R/G. To advance to the World Series, the Quakes would need a big showing from their superior pitching staff, while the Expose would need their superior sluggers and perennial all-stars, L. Walker and T. Helton. |
2002 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
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| PREVIEW – The 2002 NLCS features the #1 Blarney Drive Bandits (109-53) against the #2 Flora-Bama Mullets (108-54).
The Bandits are powered by the number one offense (6.1 R/G) in MWWL that mashed a league leading 260 homeruns. On the pitching front, their three big lefties dominated all year racking up 62 total wins. They are the number one seed for a reason and their only minor weakness might be their depth in the pen and on the bench. The Mullets leaned on their premium defense (MWWL best 47 UER) and their league leading “swing and miss” pitching (MWWL best 1250 SO) to rack of 30 one run wins during the season. Their offense has some muscle (205 HR), but it doesn’t have the same star power as the Bandits and relies on platoons. The left-handed platooners will definitely be tested in this series. The Mullets won the head to head series 7-5 games but the odds makers have the Bandits favored with the Big Unit fully rested and ready to go three games if needed. |
2002 MWWL AWARDS
The curtain has officially closed on the 2002 Mid-West Winter League (MWWL) season, and with it comes the much-anticipated announcement of the 2002 MWWL Awards! This year’s honors celebrate not only the league’s brightest stars but also the unforgettable moments and remarkable achievements that defined an extraordinary season. For a comprehensive list of all the 2002 MWWL Award winners, fans are encouraged to visit the 2002 MWWL Awards Voting Page.
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MWWL AWARD WINNERS REVIEW
2002 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
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| PREVIEW – The Houghton Penguins (90-72) advances from the Wild Card Series to face the American League West Division leader, California Quakes (116-46). California enters the series with the overall advantage in every key category. The Quakes led the Penguins in defense, with a .983 fielding percentage and 62 unearned runs versus the Penguins .975 fielding percentage and 112 unearned runs; the Quakes pitched to a 2.77 ERA versus the Penguins’ 3.45 ERA; and the Quakes batted .288/.352/.447 and a 5.6 R/G versus the Penguins’ .252/.327/.444 line 5.2 R/G. The Penguins will need a big series from their star, Albert Pujols. |
