Final Rosters for 2012 Stretch Run

[BoomerFan]

Today (8-13-12) is the transaction deadline for the Frontier League, which means player rosters are finally set for the last 18 games of the season and the playoffs. Each team will finish with 6, 3 game series to decide the Divisional Champions and 2 at-large Wild-Card positions.

With final rosters soon to be in place, the playoff contenders are:

Traverse City Beach Bums, currently best in the East @50- 28.
Observation: The Bums have been the best team all year, their middle of the line-up has been the most productive in the League; Bullpen hasn’t been overly challenged during regular season, perhaps only question mark.
Prediction: A lock for 1st place, in the East.

Southern Illinois Miners, currently 2nd place in East @ 46-32
O: The Miners made the best late acquisition, by trading for Javier Herrera, who is third in the league in hitting at .338 with 64 RBI’s.
P: Will earn a Wild Card slot.

Windy City Thunderbolts, currently 1st place in West @ 46-31
O: Best starting rotation in the Frontier League, but has 4 series with other playoff contenders during the final stretch.
P: West champions, if they can win 3 out 4 key series involving Boomers, Grizzlies, Miners and Crushers, teams who are also fighting for a playoff position. If they lose 3 out of 4 of these series they might not make it to the playoffs.

Schaumburg Boomers, currently 3rd place in West @44-34
O: Clutch hitting and solid pitching has brought the Club this far in their inaugural season.
P: If the Boomers can win their Windy City and Southern Illinois series, and score some runs in other match-ups, they can slip into a playoff position.

Gateway Grizzlies , currently 2nd in West @45-33
O: Grizzlies have made an impressive climb in the standings since the All-Star break, winning 20 and losing only 10.
P: Provided they don't get swept by the Thunderbolts or the Beach Bums and can win their other series they will make the playoffs. Heck, they’re already selling Playoff tickets, so the front office has confidence.

Lake Erie Crushers, currently 3rd in the East @ 43-35
O: Crushers had a slow start, losing their first 6 home games, since then they have played well at home and steady on the road.
P: Long shot to make playoffs, unless they can beat the Thunderbolts and Miners on the road during the last 2 series of the season.

[Mike B]

Thanks for the analysis. Except for Traverse City, the race for West Champion and Wild Cards will go down to the wire. I think there may be a
playoff for the Wild Card. Traverse City is the #1 seed as East Champion.
Expect a dog fight between Windy City, Schaumburg, and Gateway for West
Champion. Throw those 3 teams, Lake Erie, Southern Illinois, and Florence for the Wild Cards. I'm guessing Gateway to win the West with Lake Erie
and Southern Illinois as Wild Cards.