1988 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
The playoff field is almost identical to last year, with only the Condors replacing the Knights.
To make one thing clear well ahead: there is no reason the Blue Sox wont make this a three-peat. While they will miss SP Chris Lacys awesome arm (torn flexor tendon) and C Travis Langes bat (torn thumb ligament), they still have an awesome team including the best pitching staff in either league. And their offense ranked consistently in the Top 3 in all but two categories, led by 3B Horace Henry (.297, 16 HR, 100 RBI).
The Stars are in for a challenge. They have the #1 offense in the country, spearheaded by RF Gabriel Cruz (.295, 30 HR, 140 RBI). The rotation is flawless, the pen has some small issues, but Richard Cunningham, acquired from the Raccoons, has thrived in the closer role, collecting 22 SV and a 3-0 record with a 0.86 ERA after the July trade. MR Kent Battle will miss the FLCS, but could return for the World Series. The only concern could be middle infield, where Pete Ross and Sergio Martinez are injured and wont be available.
For the CLCS, the Indians had the best pitching in the Continental League, but have three starters on the DL (Harris, Miranda, Acevedo), and this alone could break them. Their outfield is strong at the plate and they have a slugging shortstop, but apart from those their offense is meh. The Condors combine decent pitching with good to very good hitting, but also have key players on the DL like C John Fleury.
The Indians make back-to-back appearances and their fourth overall with one title. The Condors make their third appearance and are the only team without a title. The Blue Sox play in the playoffs for the fifth time (all in the last six years) and are twice-defending champions. The Stars also make their third consecutive appearance and fourth overall, they have one title (1983 against you-know-whom).
My guess: Blue Sox in seven, Condors in five, and then Blue Sox over the Condors in five.
---
Blue Sox @ Stars
5-4
(Blue Sox lead 1-0)
a first-inning 4-spot propels Nashville, but the Stars almost came back to tie it
Condors @ Indians
3-4 (11)
(Indians lead 1-0)
TIJ Jon Butler (age 41) blew the save in the ninth and the Indians walked off in the 11th on an RBI single by reliever(!!!) Tim Hess.
Blue Sox @ Stars
2-3 (11)
(series tied 1-1)
NAS Luis Guzman 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K; DAL Bill Smith 8.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K; the Stars walk off on a 2-base throwing error by NAS SS Mike Grimes
Condors @ Indians
4-3
(series tied 1-1)
TIJ Jose Macias 8.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K;
Stars @ Blue Sox
5-3
(Stars lead 2-1)
Indians @ Condors
2-3
(Condors lead 2-1)
TIJ Thomas Martin 2-4, 2 RBI;
Stars @ Blue Sox
1-6
(series tied 2-2)
NAS Carlos Lopez 9.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K;
Indians @ Condors
2-5
(Condors lead 3-1)
TIJ Israel Gomes 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K; TIJ Sean Bergeron 2-3, HR, 4 RBI;
Stars @ Blue Sox
5-8
(Blue Sox lead 3-2)
DAL Jorge Rosa was incinerated early, but the Stars tried to come back in vain again; NAS Antonio Rodriguez 3-4, 2 RBI;
Indians @ Condors
1-2
(Condors win 4-1)
TIJ Claudio Rojas 3-4;
Blue Sox @ Stars
5-6 (10)
(series tied 3-3)
unsung heroes Guzman and Smith from game 2 lined up again, and Guzman was socked early, but the Blue Sox clawed back to tie the game. Cunningham won the game in extra innings; NAS Horace Henry 3-5, HR, 2B, RBI; DAL Gabriel Cruz 3-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI (including the walk off home run);
Blue Sox @ Stars
5-10
(Dallas win 4-3)
both starters were blown up early the Dallas pen held on and let the offense do the work; DAL Miguel Fuentes 3-3, BB, HR, 2B, 3 RBI; DAL Raϊl Herrera 3-3, 3B, 3 RBI;
---
1988 WORLD SERIES
The Condors lost outfielder Preston ODay to injury in the CLCS, taking a piece out of their lineup, but ODay has never been the guy to key on.
Condors @ Stars
4-5 (10)
(Stars lead 1-0)
this one swayed back and forth, and DAL Richard Cunningham blew the save in the ninth, fell behind in the 10th, but won the game on an error by TIJ 2B Juan Valentin, the second walk off error for the Stars in this playoffs; TIJ Seitaro Ogawa 3-5, HR, 2 RBI; TIJ Felix Velez (PH) 1-1, HR, RBI (tied the game in ninth inning);
Condors @ Stars
2-3
(Stars lead 2-0)
another walk-off win, this time on small ball; DAL Neil Ford 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K; TIJ Woody Roberts 8.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K;
Stars @ Condors
6-1
(Stars lead 3-0)
DAL Bill Smith 9.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; DAL John Harris 3-4, 3B, 3 RBI; DAL Xiao-wei Li 3-4, BB, 2B, RBI;
Stars @ Condors
2-3
(Stars lead 3-1)
TIJ Cipriano Ortega 2-4, 3B, RBI;
Stars @ Condors
4-10
(Stars lead 3-2)
the Condors jump back in with a 6-run seventh against a helpless Dallas bullpen; TIJ Seitaro Ogawa 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI;
Condors @ Stars
9-5
(series tied 3-3)
the Dallas pen collapses yet again in the seventh; TIJ Seitaro Ogawa 3-5, 2B, RBI; TIJ Juan Valentin 3-6, HR, RBI;
Condors @ Stars
0-10
(Stars win 4-3)
QUIT THIS NONSENSE!! The Stars wreck Jose Macias with a 5-run first inning and never looked back in a quickly dull game seven; DAL Bill Smith 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K; DAL Miguel Fuentes 2-3, BB, 2B, 3 RBI;
1988 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
DALLAS STARS
(2nd title)
Who remains from the 1983 championship team that defeated the Raccoons? Shockingly few. The team was almost entirely rebuilt in the last few years around RF Gabriel Cruz, who remains one constant. Besides him? Two pitchers, SP Jake Wallace and MR Joaquin Bastos. Thats all. Those 1983 and 1988 World Series winners are 90% different teams.