Governors' Cup Playoffs Begin Tonight
Published on September 3, 2008 under International League (IL1) News Release
The International League postseason begins tonight as four clubs battle for the 2008 Governors' Cup title. Two division champions will meet at Louisville Slugger Field as the host Bats from the IL West welcome in the IL South champion Durham Bulls for Game 1 this evening at 7:05 p.m. The Bats won a franchise record 88 games this season, outdistancing the rest of the West Division by 13.0 games. Led by IL Manager of the Year Rick Sweet, Louisville is in the postseason for the first time since 2003. Durham posted a modest
74-70 record this year, the lowest win total of any of the four playoff clubs, but it was good enough to secure the South Division title by a comfortable 9.0-game margin. After visiting Louisville for Games 1 and 2 tonight and tomorrow, the Bulls will return home for the final three games of the series (as necessary). Durham enjoys home field advantage due to the League's predetermined playoff format, but that may not be a positive for the Bulls, the only one of the four playoff teams with a losing record at home (33-39). Louisville, on the other hand, owns the IL's best road record (44-28). Durham took five of the eight games played between the Bats and Bulls this season.
The other first round matchup gets underway in Pawtucket, Rhode Island at the same time tonight. For the first time in 17 years, the Triple-A affiliates of the Yankees and Red Sox will meet in the postseason. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre enters the series as North Division Champions, pulling out a season-long struggle over Pawtucket by 2.5 games. That means that after Games 1 and 2 in Pawtucket, the series will conclude with the final three games (as necessary) at PNC Field in Moosic, Pennsylvania. Home field advantage could prove to be the difference in this series, as both clubs were at the top of the IL this season with a home record of 20 games over .500. The Yankees and Red Sox met 16 times in the regular season, resulting in an even 8-8 split. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre finished tied with Louisville for the League's best record at 88-56, the third straight season the franchise has had the circuit's best regular season record. The PawSox, meanwhile, won at a franchise record .594 clip this season (85-58).
Playoff Participants Look to Climb Governors' Cup List
Compared to other IL cities, fans in the home towns of the four 2008 playoff teams have had relatively few opportunities to celebrate Governors' Cup Championships. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is the only one of the four to have never won a Governors' Cup. Pawtucket's most recent title came 24 years ago. Durham and Louisville have both won the Governors' Cup this decade, but the total number of championships between the four 2008 contenders is just five.
2008 International League Governors' Cup Playoff Preview
September 3, 2008
Page Two
Breaking Down the Contenders
Durham Bulls
For the eighth time in 11 years, the Durham Bulls are in the postseason. This is the seventh division championship for the Bulls since 1998. Manager Charlie Montoyo's club seemingly has the most playoff experience of the four teams still alive, especially considering that many of his players were part of the Double-A Montgomery club that won back-to-back Southern League Championships in 2006 and 2007. The 2008 Bulls are a team full of contradictions. Durham was 33-39 at home, but went 41-31 on the road. The pitching staff posted the League's 11th-best ERA (4.24), but also owns the most shutouts (15). At 74-70, the Bulls have the worst record of the four playoff teams by 11.5 games, but they went 5-3 against first round opponent Louisville.
Louisville Bats
Louisville was the IL's hottest team in August, winning 23 of 30 games while posting the League's highest batting average (.281) and the 2nd-lowest earned run average (3.69). Overall in 2008 the Bats have been an offensive juggernaut, finishing as the IL's 2nd-highest scoring team with 717 runs. Manager Rick Sweet has also relied heavily on his bullpen, which easily led the League with 56 saves this season. When the relievers weren't saving games, they helped keep the team alive long enough for the offense to do its job. The Bats have the IL's best record when tied after seven (14-5) and eight (13-3) innings. Only 2 of the other 13 IL clubs posted winning records against Louisville this season, but one of those was Durham.
Pawtucket Red Sox
Like Louisville, Pawtucket is in the International League playoffs for the first time since 2003, but the PawSox enter the postseason with arguably the League's best combination of hitting and pitching. Manager Ron Johnson's club scored the most runs in the IL (752) and surrendered the fewest (579). The PawSox also paced the circuit with a .983 fielding percentage. Pawtucket is the only IL team to post a winning record each month this season, though the Red Sox are a modest 16-14 since August 1. While they split the season series with the Yankees, Pawtucket dropped five of the last seven meetings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as the teams battled for the division crown.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees won the IL North with an 88-56 record, becoming just the second team in the last 74 years to post the International League's best regular season mark for three consecutive years. Manager Dave Miley's pitching staff led the way, posting the League's best ERA (3.67) while allowing the fewest number of hits (1,171). The bullpen was particularly stingy, as the Yankees lost just twice in 74 games in which they led after seven innings. The Yankees were at their best in close games, as evidenced by their IL-best 26-13 record in one-run affairs. Despite their success in recent years, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2001 and has never won a Governors' Cup Championship.
2008 Governors' Cup Playoffs
Scranton/WB Yankees vs. Pawtucket Red Sox
Season Series Split 8-8
Game One: Wednesday, September 3 @ McCoy Stadium - 7:05 p.m.
Game Two: Thursday, September 4 @ McCoy Stadium - 7:05 p.m.
# Game Three: Friday, September 5 @ PNC Field - 7:05 p.m.
# Game Four: Saturday, September 6 @ PNC Field - 7:05 p.m. *
# Game Five: Sunday, September 7 @ PNC Field - 5:05 p.m. *
* denotes "if necessary" / # denotes game can be seen free on MiLB.TV (www.MiLB.com)
Playoff History - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre d. Pawtucket (3-1) in 1992 Governors' Cup First Round
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (88-56) Pawtucket Red Sox (85-58)
Manager: Dave Miley (2nd season SWB/3rd Yankees) Manager: Ron Johnson (4th season)
Affiliate: New York Yankees Affiliate: Boston Red Sox
Qualified: North Division Champion (+2.5) Qualified: Wild Card (+10.5)
Last Time in Playoffs: 2007 Last Time in Playoffs: 2003
Gov. Cup Playoff Record: 7 yrs., 17-23 (.425) Gov. Cup Playoff Record: 12 yrs. / 30-44 (.405)
Last Governors' Cup: N/A Last Governors' Cup: 1984
Team Batting Avg.: .263 / Team ERA: 3.67 Team Batting Avg.: .269 / Team ERA: 3.69
Probable Starting Pitchers Probable Starting Pitchers
G1: LH Chase Wright (2-1, 2.41) G1: RH Charlie Zink (14-6, 2.84)
G2: RH Ian Kennedy (5-3, 2.35) G2: RH Devern Hansack (6-10, 4.08)
G3: LH Kei Igawa (14-6, 3.45) G3: RH Adam Mills (0-5, 4.00 with Double-A Portland)
G4: RH Phil Hughes (1-0, 5.90) G4: RH Bartolo Colon (3-1, 2.27)
G5: RH Victor Zambrano (0-1, 18.00) G5: RH Edgar Martinez (8-3, 3.89)
Yankees 2008 Leaders: Red Sox 2008 Leaders:
Batting Avg.: B. Gardner (.296), J. Miranda (.287) Batting Avg.: J. Thurston (.316), J. Bailey (.301)
Home Runs: C. Ransom (22), B. Broussard (13) Home Runs: J. Van Every (26), J. Bailey (25)
Runs Batted In: C. Ransom (71), E. Duncan (60) Runs Batted In: C. Carter (81), J. Bailey (75)
Stolen Bases: B. Gardner (37), J. Christian (22) Stolen Bases: S. Danielson (19), J. Thurston (19)
Victories: K. Igawa (14), J. Marquez & J. Karstens (6) Victories: D. Pauley (14), C. Zink (14)
Strikeouts: K. Igawa (117), I Kennedy & S. Strickland (72) Strikeouts: D. Hansack (128), C. Zink (106)
ERA: K. Igawa (3.45) ERA: C. Zink (2.84), D. Pauley (3.55)
Saves: S. Strickland (12), J. Veras (9) Saves: C. Smith (15), H. Jones (8)
Players to Watch: Players to Watch:
LHP Kei Igawa T-2nd in IL with 14 wins, 4th with RHP Charlie Zink IL Most Valuable Pitcher 2nd in
3.45 ERA in 26 outings. League in wins and ERA.
OF Shelley Duncan 2007 IL All-Star has 12 homers 2B Joe Thurston IL All-Star finished 3rd in the
in 58 games this year. League with a .316 average.
OF Justin Christian Hitting .306 with 22 stolen bases LHP Hunter Jones Seven wins, eight saves this
in 74 Triple-A games. year, all out of the bullpen.
RHP Phil Hughes Top Yankees pitching prospect OF Chris Carter IL All-Star hitting .407 since
battling back from rib injury. return from DL Aug. 26.
RHP Scott Strickland 12 saves since becoming closer C George Kottaras Leads all IL catchers with
in late June. 22 homers & 65 RBI.
2008 Governors' Cup Playoffs
Louisville Bats vs. Durham Bulls
Durham won Season Series 5-3
# Game One: Wednesday, September 3 @ Louisville Slugger Field - 7:05 p.m.
# Game Two: Thursday, September 4 @ Louisville Slugger Field - 7:05 p.m.
# Game Three: Friday, September 5 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park - 7:05 p.m.
# Game Four: Saturday, September 6 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park - 7:05 p.m. *
# Game Five: Sunday, September 7 @ Durham Bulls Athletic Park - 5:05 p.m. *
* denotes if necessary / # denotes game can be seen free on MiLB.TV (www.MiLB.com)
Playoff History - Durham d. Louisville (3-0) in 1998 Governors' Cup First Round
Durham d. Louisville (3-1) in 2003 Governors' Cup First Round
Louisville Bats (88-56) Durham Bulls (74-70)
Manager: Rick Sweet (4th season) Manager: Charlie Montoyo (2nd season)
Affiliate: Cincinnati Reds Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays
Qualified: West Division Champion (+13.0) Qualified: South Division Champion (+9.0)
Last Time in Playoffs: 2003 Last Time in Playoffs: 2007
Gov. Cup Playoff Record: 5 yrs., 11-15 (.423) Gov. Cup Playoff Record: 7 yrs. / 30-15 (.667)
Last Governors' Cup: 2001 Last Governors' Cup: 2003
Team Batting Avg.: .270 / Team ERA: 3.96 Team Batting Avg.: .264 / Team ERA: 4.24
Probable Starting Pitchers Probable Starting Pitchers
G1: LH Matt Maloney (11-5, 4.68) G1: LH David Price (1-1, 4.50)
G2: RH Homer Bailey (4-7, 4.77) G2: RH Mitch Talbot (13-9, 3.86)
G3: LH Adam Pettyjohn (15-6, 4.59) G3: RH Jeff Niemann (9-5, 3.59)
G4: LH Bobby Livingston (4-4, 4.98) G4: RH Wade Davis (4-2, 2.72)
G5: To Be Determined G5: To Be Determined
Bats 2008 Leaders: Bulls 2008 Leaders:
Batting Avg.: D. Anderson (.290), A. Rosales (.287) Batting Avg.: D. Johnson (.307), C. Richard (.293)
Home Runs: K. Barker (21), 4 tied with 11. Home Runs: C. Richard (26), D. Johnson (25)
Runs Batted In: K. Barker (77), D. Anderson (71) Runs Batted In: C. Richard (88), D. Johnson (83)
Stolen Bases: C. Dickerson (26), L. Bolivar (18) Stolen Bases: F. Perez (43), J. Ruggiano (20)
Victories: A. Pettyjohn (15), M. Maloney (11) Victories: M .Talbot (13), B. Hendrickson (10)
Strikeouts: M. Maloney (132), H. Bailey (96) Strikeouts: M. Talbot (141), J. Niemann (128)
ERA: A. Pettyjohn (4.59), M. Maloney (4.68) ERA: J. Niemann (3.59), M. Talbot (3.86)
Saves: J. Adkins (30), D. Herrera (6) Saves: S. Dohmann (20), D. Thayer (9)
Players to Watch: Players to Watch:
RHP Jon Adkins 31-year-old closer paced the DH Dan Johnson Among League's top seven
League with 30 saves. in average, homers, & RBI.
OF Drew Stubbs 2006 1st round pick hitting .293 1B Chris Richard Tied for 3rd in the IL in both
since joining Bats in mid-Aug. homers and RBI.
INF Adam Rosales Plays all infield positions; RHP Jeff Niemann 7th in IL in ERA; undefeated
hit .436 in month of August. in six August starts.
LHP Adam Pettyjohn Only IL hurler in last three years 3B Joel Guzman Hit .417 with three home runs
to win 15 games in a season. against Louisville.
1B Kevin Barker Slugger hit four homers in last RHP Scott Dohmann Bulls' closer has allowed just
three regular season games. two runs in last six weeks.
International League Stories from September 3, 2008
- Solo Shots Shoot Down Bats in Game 1 Loss 3-0 - Louisville Bats
- Indians Enjoy Best Attendance Since 2000 - Indianapolis Indians
- Governors' Cup Playoffs Begin Tonight - IL1
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