American Association SUNDAY Insider: Down the stretch they come, West Division edition.
Last week we took an in depth look at how the East Division is shaping up down the stretch. Much like the East, we know who will likely be the four teams that will make the playoffs, but in what order is anyone's guess. For a while it was resigned to be Sioux City, Kansas City and Sioux Falls in the top three, but Fargo-Moorhead has been on a roll, and the race for the top four should be quite delicious.
Sioux City Explorers
On a visit to the a St. Paul Saints game, I was asked by Sean Aronson about the Sioux City Explorers. The best way I could describe them was a modern day 1985 St. Louis Cardinals. Five Cardinals that season wound up with 30 or more stolen bases with Vince Coleman leading the way with 110. Seven Cardinals reached double digits. Led by Austin Davis (43), D'Shawn Knowles (38), Zac Vooletich (35), and Henry George (35), the Explorers have stolen 211 bases. The hitting stats don't look flashy but when the Explorers get on base, it's likely they will be in scoring position in no time at all. Angel Macuare, Kyle Marman, Austin Drury and Jared Wetherbee have formed an incredible top four of the rotation. Chase Jessee has been great setting up closer Miguel Cepeda. Give this team a proven slugger, a fifth starter and some additional bullpen depth and Sioux City could see their first ever league championship. Even without the X's should be able to make a run.
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
It would have been easy to write off this team after a real sleepy start, but since the All Star Break, there has been no hitter team. To throw some cold water on their hot streak, until their win at Sioux City on Friday night, the RedHawks had not had a win over a team with a winning record during their hot streak. After the three game showdown at Lewis and Clark Park, the RedHawks have their next nine games at Newman Outdoor Field, with three against Sioux City, Cleburne and Gary SouthShore. Pitching wise the RedHawks nearly mirror the Explorers with Tyler Jandron, Jake Dykhoff, Kolby Kiser and Kyle Crigger. Also the RedHawks match Sioux City with their back of the bullpen combo of Parker Harm and closer Garrett Alexander. The offense has been a work in progress, but with the veteran bats of Dillon Thomas, Jose Sermo and Juan Fernandez in the mix, the RedHawks have the weapons to score lots of runs. Going into Saturday the RedHawks are five games behind Sioux City. Do not count out them out, especially if they can reel off five of six against the X's
Kansas City Monarchs
The Monarchs have been a bit of an enigma. When you look at their rosters from top to bottom, there is not another team in the West that boasts the experience the Monarchs have in the field. Like Monarch teams of the past, it's an offense that revolves around the long ball. Jorge Bonifacio and Robbie Glendinning each have 15. I found it interesting watching on Friday night as Bonifacio battled Sioux Falls closer Charlie Hasty. Hasty kept trying to go with fastballs against the MLB vet. You could tell with each foul ball Bonifacio was getting his timing down, until Bonifacio turned on one and launched it over the left field fence. John Nogowski and Micah Pries are both capable of going on power surges but have yet to do so. Though you can't argue with Pries hitting .346. Julian Garcia leads the starting staff that has been good but it capable of more. Hunter McMahon has emerged as an elite closer with nine saves after taking over the role after Tyler McKay was signed. After their series with Sioux Falls concludes, the Monarchs do not play a team with a winning record the rest of the season. That alone gives them a puncher's chance of passing the field.
Sioux Falls Canaries
The Canaries have five batters in double digits with home runs. Josh Rehwaldt and Calvin Estrada are having MVP like seasons. That being said, the Canaries are having trouble scoring runs as of late, 21 runs in their last eight games before a 15 run outburst on a Monarchs bullpen night. If there is a team that should be looking to make a deal to shore up their offense, the Canaries fit the bill. Jairus Richards with his combo of power and speed would be a great fit at the top of the order, which has been a weakness since Drew Mount went down with a season ending injury early in the season. Starting pitching outside of Thomas Dorminy and Tanner Brown has been a crapshoot. Cade Torgerson and Seth Miller have had their problems. Cole Lalonde with no pro starting experience is the next one to receive a shot at being in the rotation. Ryan Zimmerman has been good after stumbling out of the gates. Will the Canaries make a move to bolster the rotation? The bullpen even with signings and injuries causing shake ups has been good, but is very right handed heavy. Could Torgerson help that by returning to the pen, or could the Canaries go out and find a lefty for the pen? It will be crucial for the Canaries to find their mojo by the end of the season as they will be Sioux City six times and end the season with four against Fargo-Moorhead. It's a matter of this team playing its best baseball come playoff time. Regardless of where they end in the top four, they will be a dangerous team to face in the first round.
Winnipeg Goldeyes
I don't think anyone saw this kind of season coming on for the Goldeyes. Sure, there was the rough start that came with once again opening the season with a long road trip. But they were able to overcome that to make it to the Miles Wolff Cup Finals. Sure they lost Dayson Croes to the Giants organization and Landen Bourassa missed a month of the season, but it seemed like there were still enough parts to get back into title contention. Instead the Goldeyes are sitting in fifth place. If fourth place Sioux Falls were to go 10-11 the rest of the season, the Goldeyes would have run the table to catch them. Max Murphy keeps rolling on hitting .272 with 14 home runs and 53 runs driven in. However Murphy and Ramon Bramasco are the only two regulars for the Goldeyes batting over .270. James Bradwell has been the highlight of the year throwing nine no hit innings on Thursday. But in keeping with the season, he received no run support and got a no decision. Mitchell Lambson has been an innings eater throwing four complete games, but he may have hit a wall as of late as his ERA has ballooned to 4.76. The Goldeyes traded Andy Armstrong, but will they make more moves to build for next season?
Lincoln Saltdogs
Lincoln has been a team that has a long history of success in Independent Baseball. Their battles with St. Paul in the early days of the American Association are legendary. As someone that respects the history of the league, it's a bit sad to see how Lincoln has declined these last few years. It would take a collapse from Sioux Falls and the Saltdogs winning every game the rest of the way to make the playoffs. Not likely. Raul Espinosa is the only Saltdog in double digits for home runs and his average has dipped to .199. Drew DeVine and Danny Bautista Jr. are the only two regulars hitting around .300. The pitching has not been a good story. Greg Loukinen leads the team with six wins, but has an ERA north of five runs a game. Closing games have not been much of an issue as the Saltdogs have not led much in the ninth, Dutch Landis leads the Saltdogs with five saves. The Saltdogs as a team have only recorded 11 for the season.
American Association Power Rankings, a 10th Inning Stretch Original
1. Sioux City Explorers 58
2. Lake Country DockHounds 56
3. Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 54.
4. Kansas City Monarchs 52
5. Sioux Falls Canaries 49
6. Chicago Dogs 42
7. Cleburne Railroaders 40
8. Winnipeg Goldeyes 39
9. Kane County Cougars 39.
10. Gary SouthShore RailCats
11. Lincoln Saltdogs 35
12. Milwaukee Milkmen 35
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