Switching now to the MGL:
Phoenix Speed Devils:
As has often been noted here, the Phoenix Speed Devils play in the most extreme hitter's park in the WPK in the form of Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
And so some of their offensive numbers should probably be taken with a grain of salt. On the other hand, the pitching staff is probably underrated as a result. Young starting pitchers like Jonathan Riechman, Rick Smiley, and even team captain Bobby Ratcliff, who at age 26 was acquired from Milwaukee in a trade prior to mid-season and pitched much better for Phoenix than he had for the Cadets, are all quite talented.
On the downside, the Speed Devils are without the services of a pair of pretty good starters in Kyle Elkins (who won 17 games a few seasons ago) and Ricardo Becerra (who was 14-12 with a 3.35 ERA last season) as well as their 1983 1st overall draft pick and former #1 rated prospect in the WPK Colin Radke.
The fact is that the biggest challenge the Speed Devils probably have entering the post-season is the large number of injured players they have, including starting third baseman Jason Puglisi, who led the league in home runs two seasons ago, and is dealing with a sprained knee that has him listed as day-to-day for 2 weeks or so.
But great hitting ballpark or not, the Phoenix lineup between 2 and 5 is possibly the most dangerous heart of an order in the game. And while the bullpen is mostly weak, if they can get it to the closer Steve Hensgens with a lead late they are in good hands.
EDIT: And I just realized that there are so many significant injuries for the Speed Devils, that I completely forgot to even mention 25-year old righty Jake Greene, who might have the highest ceiling of all of their young starting pitchers.
The Detroit Falcons:
The Detroit Falcons, in their very first post-season appearance, are the clear underdog of the four teams remaining.
But the mostly young rotation is probably under-rated, with Rick Ernst leading the league in K/9 with 8.6 and 23-year old Andrew Carr a team leader and a guy with a high ceiling and great control.
Being without their talented young closer, Mike Brown, is a blow. They do have a veteran presence out there in former starter and 3-time All-Star Jose Hernandes and they also have a promising young future starter in the 'pen in 22-year old Nick Wood.
But the defense behind the pitching staff is below average and the lineup isn't going to scare many opponents. And most of their starting position players are either approaching 30 or already over that age. Their minor league system is ranked 19th out of 24 in the WPK.
The window of opportunity for a Detroit championship is likely very small. And it will likely take some heroics, a bit of magic, and a whole lotta luck for Detroit to claim their first WPK championship.