NASBL Post Season Kicks Off

The 2013 NASBL post season is set to kick off with a pair of compelling matchups.

Less Filling - Dallas Fort Worth Spurs (96-66) at Grundy County Grizzles (84-78)

Jack Howard's Grizzlies were able to bear down and win their 3rd division title out of the past 4 years, thus earning homefield advantage for the 1st round of the playoffs.  The Grizzlie's less than dominant final record may be a bit deceiving, as Grundy County led their division nearly from coast to coast.  Grundy moved into 1st place with a win in the 7th game of the season, and never relinquished the top spot in the standings.  GCG's offense is keyed by the righty/lefty power attack of long-time Grizzly Miguel Cabrera (.301/36/116) and mid-season acquisition Josh Reddick (.244/36/83), while the rotation has a north/south flavor of its own in the resurgent Bartolo Colon (11-8, 3.61) and another in-season acquisition, lefty Cole Hamels (11-13, 4.13). 

Grundy will pit their balanced attack against 2-time NASBL Champion Red Robbins' wildcard DFW Spurs.  Like their opponents, the Spurs present a balanced power attack on offense (22 HR each from lefty/righty outfielder duo / NFL running back descendants Andrew McCutchen and Jason Heyward, and 22/23 HR from lefty/righty first-base duo Anthony Rizzo and Michael Cuddyer.)



Tastes Great - Springfield Isotopes (96-66) at EdCouch New Potatoes (104-58)

Ed Killmer's New Potatoes made quite a splash in their first year in the league, leading the NASBL in scoring with 898 runs and finishing 2nd in run prevention behind only the 111-win Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  Fittingly enough, the New Potatoes offense is keyed by 2013 #1 overall draft selection Mike Trout (.328/25/111), while 2nd year closer Kenley Jansen (4-6, 2.98, 33 saves) put on his own admirable display of kid-power in the 9th inning.

Up against the New Potatoes will be Doug Sherlag's perrenial powerhouse Springfield Isotopes.  Like their 96-win wildcard brethren in the Less Filling conference, the Topes will march an army of 20HR hitters at their opponents, in that familiar left-right-left-right cadence.  AJ Pierzynski (27), David Wright (21).  Brandon Moss (21), Carlos Gonzalez (20).  On the hill Springfield will rely heavily on Cy Young candidate Clayton Richard (16-2, 2.32), while Springfield's brace of no-hitter hurlers Chris Capuano and Trevor Cahill will head to the pen to support an already strong corps led by setup man David Hernandez (5-2, 1.31) and closer Aroldis Chapman (5-4, 2.98, 31 saves).



Good luck to all!