PREVIEW – The National League Championship series pits Manhattan (107-55, tops in the NL) vs. Newark (104-58, 3rd best in NL). These two teams split the season series 6-6 and the Bears built their record in a tougher division and bumped off the previous league champs – Winnipeg – in the division series, so they are a team to be reckoned with.

The Bears topped the NL in scoring with 966 runs, the Gas Hornets were 3rd with 939. These two teams were 1 and 2 in batting. The Bears with a whopping .293 average (as a team for the season, .369 OBP and .475 slugging). They hit 206 homers and out doubled the Gas Hornets by 71 (383 to 312). Manhattan was 2nd in hitting and no slouch at .286, .357 obp and .445 slugging. They did best the Bears in triples (27 to 21 and stolen bases with 138 (to 69). They like to run. Pitching goes to the Gas Hornets with a 3.57 era (T1 in NL) to 3.66 (T3 in NL). They are pretty even but the Bears did lead the NL with the most WPs – odd fact, will it play a role in the series. The Gas Hornets also led in fielding at .983 (T3 in NL) to .978 (9th in NL) and Manhattan gave up almost half as many unearned run (57 to 96). So will fielding play a role.

All told – the two teams match out pretty even – as the season series attested – so will it be home field that decides things, or who will get the hot bat. Both teams got through the division series in less than 6 games, although the Bears needed 6 to dispatch the Goldeyes – but the Goldeyes don’t give up anything easy.