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FLORA-BAMA MULLETS @ CALIFORNIA QUAKES

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.

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Chicago Demolition @ Flora-Bama Mullets

The upcoming MWWL World Series clash between the Chicago Demolition and the Flora-Bama Mullets promises to be a thrilling showdown. The Mullets, with a record of 109-53, boast a formidable defense and pitching staff, ranking second in both defensive efficiency (.986) and ERA (3.58) in the league. Meanwhile, the Demolition, with a 101-61 record, have shown their prowess in scoring, leading with 897 runs this season. Both teams share a batting average of .273, but Chicago has a slight edge in on-base percentage (.346 vs. .333). Given Flora-Bama’s superior defensive and pitching stats, they might be considered slight favorites, but Chicago’s offensive strength makes this series too close to call definitively. Expect a tightly contested series with both teams having a strong chance to claim the title. Continue reading →

Long Beach Titans @ Chicago Demolition

Written by Greg “Sarge” Stauffer 10/30/2023 – 9:00 AM ET

The Long Beach Titans’ journey to the World Series is far from that of an underdog or an unexpected entrant. Despite entering the postseason as a Wild Card team, their exceptional performance throughout the year, with 100 wins, ranks them third in the MWWL. Remarkably, they had to face the formidable Blarney Drive Bandits, the best team in the league, 22 times during the regular season.

This Titans team has demonstrated its prowess by sweeping the Goldeyes in the Wild Card Round, defeating the league’s top Blarney Drive Bandits in just five games, and orchestrating a remarkable comeback by clinching games 6 and 7 of the League Championship against the Gas Hornets.

In the words of Skipper Peter Kilmarx regarding their series against the Blarney Drive Bandits, “We achieved success against Blarney Drive by effectively countering Randy Johnson‘s pitching and securing victories in both of his starts. Our offense, while not as potent as in the regular season, delivered crucial hits when necessary. They are a highly skilled team, and if we were to face them again, they could very well win four out of five games.”

The Titans’ success can be attributed to their formidable batting lineup, with a remarkable team batting average of .306, accumulating 1142 runs and boasting no fewer than 11 players with double-digit home runs. Notably, Dave Justice, who had faced personal challenges in 1998 and 1999, displayed the form that earned him the MWWL Rookie of the Year award in 1990. He recorded an impressive .299 batting average, crushed 52 home runs, and led the team with 140 RBIs.

Despite their offensive prowess, the Titans did not neglect their pitching staff, ranking third in team ERA within the MWWL. Their depth is evident with six pitchers achieving double-digit wins. The latter innings of tight games are securely managed by their robust back-end bullpen, anchored by Rod Beck and Curt Leskanic, who consistently perform exceptionally well.

In conclusion, the Long Beach Titans are a strong, resilient team that should not be underestimated.

Representing the American League, we have the Chicago Demolition, a force to be reckoned with in the 2000 MWWL World Series. Having come close in 1998 and 1999, they have finally broken through and secured a place on the center stage.

Their ace and likely Cy Young winner in 2000, known for leading a formidable regular-season staff, compiled an impressive record of 26-3 with a minuscule 1.62 ERA and 216 strikeouts. Opposing teams managed a mere .167 batting average against him. The pitching rotation also features luminaries such as Roger Clemens, the scheduled starter for Game 1, and Kevin Millwood. These three powerhouses can smoothly transition to the pen, where Justin Speier and Nelson P. Cruz combined for 31 saves.

On the offensive front, the Demolition flaunted five players with batting averages exceeding .300 and nine players with double-digit home runs. The standout performer is MVP candidate Carlos Delgado, who boasts a remarkable slash line of .377/.514/.708, culminating in an astonishing OPS of 1.222.

When asked about returning to the grand stage, Manager Corrado expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s about time, as it has been a decade since our last appearance in the World Series. We are thrilled to be here. The Titans are a formidable opponent.”

Let’s delve into a detailed comparison of this year’s MWWL World Series opponents: Continue reading →

Manhattan Gas Hornets @ Corktown Bootleggers

PREVIEW – The MWWL World Series features NL Winner, Manhattan Gas Hornets (107-55) vs. the Corktown Bootleggers (119-43). Manhattan took on Newark in the NL LCS winning in 6 games while Corktown defeated Chicago in 5. Both teams come in fairly rested, but both teams will also be with a key player. Luis Alicea – the main Gas Hornet 3bman will be missed (hitting .284/.420/.460 – surprising plug in their offense). And the Bootleggers will be without Ramon Martinez (6-3, 2.94 era in his 15 starts). He was expected to be their “ace” in the postseason. For Corktown, this is their 1st trip to the World Series, for the Gas Hornets, it’s their 2nd, winning the whole thing in 1987! Manhattan performed well in the NL, 3rd in scoring 939 run, Manhattan was 2nd in hitting at .286, .357 obp and .445 slugging. Power wise, they 383 doubles, 27 triples, and 184 homers. Corktown however, bested most of those stats batting /.298/.382/.517 with 361 doubles, 43, triples and 283 homers – a significant difference. And they were 1st in scoring, 2nd in batting, 2nd in pitching, and 5th in fielding in the AL. All around, the best the AL had to offer! About the only offensive stat Manhattan beat out the Bootleggers was stolen bases – 138 to 39. But we are possibly seeing the difference between the DH and non-DH, well maybe somewhat. Even in the DL AL, the Bootleggers posted better number than the Gas Hornets in the pitching category – 3.51 era to 3.57 for Manhattan. And while Corktown hit more homers than Manhattan – they also gave up fewer (140 to 165) which can be a big factor since they hit more! Manhattan has a big ask in taming the Bootlegger bats and besting their pitching, but both teams are poised to give it their best shots. Will Manhattan be able to fire things up and fly fast under the radar in their championship quest, or will the booze running Corktown Bootleggers get the better of things in the series? FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW – check out Ken’s World Series Preview!

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