TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Naturals Texas League Championship Preview

Published on September 15, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


Naturals' Manager Brian Poldberg would agree with the adage that at any level, the playoffs are a whole different animal. Northwest Arkansas certainly is hoping that adage holds up in the Texas League Championship Series and the fifth trip in franchise history to Midland, TX goes better than the previous four.

The Texas League Championship, which gets started Tuesday, is a best-of-five series between the Naturals, who upended the Springfield Cardinals in three games, and the Midland RockHounds, who beat San Antonio in four games. Both teams are the second-half division champs of their respective divisions.

With a 3-9 record against the RockHounds this season, including three-game sweeps both on the road and at Arvest Ballpark, the Naturals certainly would seem to have their hands full. But their impressive display against Springfield, including a .288 team batting average and 20 runs scored over the three games, coupled with a 2.33 ERA by the pitching staff, indicate that perhaps the Naturals are peaking at exactly the right time.

Those numbers come close to matching Midland's regular season run production against the Naturals. The powerhouse offense, who at one point near the first of June was on a 1,000 run pace, scored an average of 7.1 runs per game against Northwest Arkansas and batted .304 as a team against the Naturals' staff. The offense took a substantial hit, however, when Chris Carter, the 2009 Texas League Player of the Year, was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento on August 26th. Carter, who had 24 homers, 101 RBI, and a .337 batting average on his resume, led all RockHounds with 11 RBI against the Naturals in 12 games. He also batted .326 with a .474 on-base percentage against Northwest Arkansas.

As a whole, Midland's offense averaged 5.97 runs per game before Carter was promoted, and, including the playoff series with San Antonio, has seen a dip to 3.94 runs per game afterwards, and only 3.5 runs per game in the playoffs. No doubt taking a potential triple-crown winner out of a lineup has ramifications. Despite that, Midland remains very potent on offense, especially in their home park which can be tough when the wind blows out to the outfield. The 'Hounds offense led the loop in batting average (.288), on-base and slugging percentages, doubles, triples, and walks, not to mention runs. Their 811 runs fell short of the 1,000 run projections as of early June, but still managed to outscore every other Texas League offense by over 100 runs.

The Oakland Athletics' affiliate is also well managed, by skipper Darren Bush, voted in by the league's broadcasters, managers, and beat writers as the 2009 Texas League Manager of the Year. And their pitching, while ranked last in the league, still posted a 4.63 ERA, improved from one season ago, and has some arms that have success against the Naturals this season.

The Naturals success in the post-season thus far has started with pitching, and that is going to have to continue in order for Northwest Arkansas to see another celebration. For game one, the Naturals hope to get off to a good start by throwing Anthony Lerew, who not only is coming off his complete game, 73 pitch performance against Springfield, but also owns the best start of the season against Midland, a seven-inning, one run effort at Arvest Ballpark on August 12th in an 8-1 Naturals victory. Game two starter Rowdy Hardy has thrown the ball very well in both of his post-season starts (last Friday and last season against the Travelers), and Blake Johnson, slated to start game three, had perhaps his best month as a Natural in August and pitches much better at Arvest Ballpark, where game three will be held. The travel day will allow the Naturals to potentially return Lerew for a game five at Arvest Ballpark.

Midland counters in game one with Arnold Leon, who held the Naturals to one run in two starts this season. Leon did not pitch against San Antonio and has had well over a week without game action. They'll turn to Graham Godfrey, who the Naturals have also had difficulties with, in game two. Poldberg said earlier today on local radio that the key is going to be to attack these tough starters early, to get Midland on their heels and out of their game, and then let the pitching and momentum take over. Midland likes to work the count and slow the pace of the ballgame down, things that are difficult when a team is down early.

ANYWHERE BUT MIDLAND OR SAN ANTONIO: The Naturals have only three victories in two seasons (12 games) on the road at Midland. They've suffered second-half three-game sweeps in both seasons, and two of their three wins came in May of 2008. The outlook wasn't so rosy in San Antonio, either, as the Naturals have a 3-9 record at San Antonio as well. All of this from a team that has racked up more home victories in two seasons than any other Double-A club in the entire country besides the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago White Sox' Double-A affiliate in the Southern League.

NICE TO SEE YOU: Midland veteran right-hander Kyle Middleton is a former Royals' farmhand who pitched in the Texas League for Wichita from 2004-2006, and in Corpus Christi in 2007 and 2008. He didn't make an appearance in the regular season against the Naturals, but has been a solid arm for them down the stretch, going 3-1 in August.

PROSPECT WATCH: Midland top prospects according to Baseball America include 2B Jemile Weeks (#9), C Josh Donaldson (#13), RHP Tyson Ross (#15), OF Corey Brown (#16), RHP Jared Lansford (#27), OF Matt Sulentic (#28), and RHP Arnold Leon (#29).

ROTATION:

Game 1 (Tuesday, 6:30): Naturals RHP Anthony Lerew (10-6, 4.09) vs. Midland RHP Arnold Leon (2-3, 3.51)

Game 2 (Wednesday, 6:30): Naturals LHP Rowdy Hardy (4-4, 3.43) vs. Midland RHP Graham Godfrey (11-8, 3.50)

Game 3 (Friday, 7): Naturals RHP Blake Johnson (8-8, 4.57) vs. Midland RHP Kyle Middleton (5-2, 2.69)

Game 4 (Saturday, 1): Naturals LHP Everett Teaford (3-7, 5.11) vs. Midland RHP Tyson Ross (5-4, 3.96) *if necessary

Game 5 (Sunday, 6): Naturals RHP Anthony Lerew (10-6, 4.09) vs. Midland TBA

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

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Texas League Stories from September 15, 2009


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