Tastes Great Division Series
Honolulu Hawaiians (97-65) at Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (96-66):
The home field advantage of the spacious Pig Pen (single 2/2, homerun 2/2) could be significant. The Hawaiians had 23 more regular season wins at home in claustrophobic Pietruska Park (single 20/20, homerun 20/20) than they did on the road, the second highest home/road win split of any NASBL team (behind only MSU's bipolar 31 win difference). Key matchups: The hot-hitting Hawaiians offense (league-leading .300 team batting average) versus the tough to hit Iron Pigs pitching staff (.241 opponents batting average, lowest in the league). The suspension of Hawaiian uber-utility player Yunel Escobar (.319/9/71 in 108 games) could put a kink in HHA's offensive gameplan, but with perennial Gold Glover Scott Rolen (.269/11/61 in 123 games) finally healthy, Honolulu may pick up more on the defensive end than they lose on offense. Lehigh Valley may also see a change at 3b, albeit a voluntary one. With HHA's all right-handed rotation, rookie Mark Reynolds (.301/.383/.484 overall, but .417 vsL) may give way to little-used former 1st rounder Hank Blalock (.244/6/23 in 197 ab's).
Less Filling Division Series
Dallas Fort Worth Spurs (83-79) at Pocono Chin Music (87-75)
True to their name, the Chin Music were 4th best in the NASBL in strikeouts, and 3rd best in ERA. The perenially strong Pocono rotation led by John Smoltz (3.31 ERA, best in the LF) and Johan Santana (248 strikeouts, also tops in the LF) look to provide the lightning, while woodsman Prince Fielder (league-leading 57 hr's) brings the thunder with the lumber. Key matchups: Veteran DFW sluggers Barry Bonds (.271/.406/.617 in 389 ab's) and Ken Griffey Jr (21 hr's, 2nd on the team) need to play like the future NASBL Hall of Famers they are. While the presence of The Johan on the mound would seem at first glance to be able to neutralize the two Spur southpaws, a closer examination reveals that KGJ actually hit significantly better (.320 ba and .500 slg) against his own kind.
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