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Canadian Baseball League
2002 Articles


Contenders & Pretenders in the CBL

(CBL Newswire) - By Niko Jackoman of the Moose Jaw Melorist

With less than a month remaining in the season there are some very interesting races and a few where it seems to be all over but the crying. This article will examine which teams have a shot and why. Only teams with records over .500 will be covered.

Fishermans League
Fishermans East
In the Fishermans East the Blackwater Kolts are as close to a sure thing as there is this year and even a monumental collapse would still probably have them make the playoffs. The Kolts offence is exceptional but even with the improvements to their pitching staff it looms as a potential trouble spot for advancing in the playoffs. Halifax are a possibility for the wild card but they have lost eight in a row and have an under .500 record on the road. More importantly there are three teams ahead of them in the wild card standings.
Prediction: Blackwater Kolts

Fishermans Central
In the Fishermans Central there are four good teams in the hunt for the playoffs. The Ottawa Milk Men have pulled away from the pack and seem like a clear favourite to capture the central title. With a speedy and powerful offence and strong pitching Ottawa is a good bet to continue their winning ways in the post season. All three of Port Hope, Quebec and Val D'or have a legitimate shot at the wild card (and possibly the division if they really pick it up). In spite of ditching many of their established veterans at the trading deadline the Port Hope Battery have surged ahead into contention and currently hold the wild card spot by 2.5 games over Quebec and Val D'or. A good balance of pitching and offence combined with a 2.5 game lead give Port Hope has the best shot at the wild card spot. Even if Port Hope fails to make the playoffs this year they have a lot of options as the have a lot of draft picks. The Quebec Quality made waves earlier in the year with the acquisition of defending Farmers league MVP Ryshad Rapuano but have faded in the last few weeks. Quebec also has a good chance but somewhat weaker pitching than Port Hope. The Val D'or Foreurs are tied with Quebec for third in the central and have a shot at the wild card but their pitching makes them the longest shot of the three. In any case it seems very likely that the FSH wild card team will come from the central.
Prediction: Division - Ottawa Milk Men // Wild Card - Port Hope Battery

Fishermans West
In the Fishermans West the defending FSH pennant winner Toronto Turtles seem a good bet to repeat. Toronto has continued its tradition of strong pitching and has one of the best rotations in the CBL. The London Werewolves despite having an awesome name are a long shot to make the play-offs on paper but that is why we actually play the games. That said it would take a very strong finish by London and a collapse by all four teams ahead of them in the wild card standings for the Werewolves to capture the wild card. A far easier task is catching Toronto for the West title but in spite of the fact that Toronto has not been as dominating this year as last it still won't be easy. London has a potent offence but the pitching isn't there.
Prediction: Toronto Turtles

Farmers League

Farmers East
The Farmers East is really a two team race between the Moose Jaw Gamblers and The Yellowknife Blue Notes. Regina although it has made it to .500 seems unlikely to be a factor at 11 games back. The Moose Jaw Gamblers lead the division by 2 games and were in front for most of the season until a slump in June and July combined with strong play from Yellowknife dropped the Gamblers back. A series of trades at the deadline have revitalized Moose Jaw and they have regained the lead. Moose Jaw's excellent pitching has now been complimented by a strengthened offence making the Gamblers the favourite to win the division. Yellowknife's pitching is not as good as last years but their offence has improved giving them a more rounded attack. Yellowknife has a good shot at the division but even if they fail to catch the Gamblers they will still likely be the wild card team. Regardless of the eventual victor in the East the other team will probably take the wild card. Although this takes some of the drama out of the race the potent but inexplicably slumping Taber Rig Pigs wait just a few games back to make complacency not an option. Also no one wants to face Red Deer in the first round of the playoffs, slump or not. Many of the questions remaining down the stretch will be settled between the 16th and the 19th when Moose Jaw and Yellowknife square off for what is sure to be an important four game set.
Prediction: Division - Moose Jaw Gamblers // Wild Card - Yellowknife Blue Notes

Farmers Central
The Red Deer Rage have been the class of the Farmers league all season but an August swoon has brought them down to the level of mere mortals. Even so Red Deer will in all likely hood capture the central title. Red Deer has a very good pitching staff combined with a strong offence and they will be the favourites whomever they face in the first round of the playoffs. The only fly in Red Deer's ointment is the Taber Rig Pigs. A few weeks ago Taber seemed sure to contend for both the Division and the wild card but although they are still the fourth best team in the Farmers league they could miss the post season having matched Red Deer's swoon with one of their own. Taber made excellent moves at the deadline but so far they have yet to yield dividends and time is running out. Taber is a team that can turn it around quickly though and they should not be counted out of the wild card but Red Deer's 9.5 game lead in the Division makes catching them unlikely.
Prediction: Red Deer Rage

Farmers West
It seems clear that three of the four playoff spots in the Farmers League will be filled by three of Red Deer, Taber, Moose Jaw and Yellowknife. Which ever of these four doesn't make it will be upset that the fourth playoff spot is filled by a team from the west. Only Creston is really out in the West but none of the other three have enough balance to eke out a lead in this weak division. Vancouver has a very potent offence but weak pitching. Kelowna and Victoria both have excellent pitching but very weak offences. Victoria has the edge over Kelowna in the bullpen and that could make the difference in this extremely tight division. No matter who actually wins the west they seem likely to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Prediction: Victoria Islanders

Summary of Predictions

FSH
East - Blackwater Kolts
Central - Ottawa Milk Men
West - Toronto Turtles
W/C - Port Hope Battery

FRM
East - Moose Jaw Gamblers
Central - Red Deer Rage
West - Victoria Islanders
W/C - Yellowknife Blue Notes

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