WORLD SERIES – HOL @ SAC G#1
The National League and American League send Western Division representatives to MWBL’s 16th World Series. For both the 
Sacramento Capitals and Hollywood Werewolves, this is their second trip to the World Series, with Sacramento winning 4 games to 2 against the Severn Express in 2011 and Hollywood losing to the Tempe Tempers 4 games to 1 in 2004. In 2012, the Capitals attempt a repeat, while Hollywood attempts to win their first World Series Championship in World Series history.
While neither team was able to acquire a big name difference-maker prior to this year’s trade deadline, both teams were active on the trade front in the early season to lock up solid pitching help and position players that would fill key roles as each team moved closer and closer to the playoffs. For Hollywood, this meant dealing for closer Heath Bell, Emilio Bonifacio, and Drew Stubbs; while for Sacramento, this meant dumping youth and picks to acquire additional bullpen help and bench players, including Jimmy Rollins, Javy Guerra, Eric O’Flaherty, Jason Giambi and Jason Bourgeois. No stars here, but each played a key part in the World Series. Continue reading
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED!
The Mid-West Baseball League Commissioner’s Office is proud to announce the launch of our new, redesigned website! After many months of development, the new site heralds a fundamental shift in our online presence.
The new website has been built using the highest design and accessibility standards and offers the Mid-West Baseball League Commissioner’s Office the opportunity to publish its materials and engage with its audiences using the latest web-based technologies.
MWBL provides vastly more information than any other APBA/Baseball for Windows league or website. Our site provides Mid-West Baseball League followers, fans, franchise owners and anyone interested in APBA/Baseball for Windows a complete history of our league. It’s an online resource offering knowledge on all aspects of the Mid-West Baseball League.
And we’re just getting started! Exciting new elements are still in development with roll-outs over the next twelve months. We’d love to talk about them but are holding off until they’re ready for prime time. We want to be sure the Commissioner’s Office has the opportunity to get them right.
It’s this commitment to providing as much information as possible that sets Mid-West Baseball League apart from other leagues.
Enjoy the new website & as always comments are welcome.
2012 WORLD SERIES PREVIEW
| CATCHERS | AVG | OBP | SLG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | OSBP |
| David Ross – HOL | .314 | .351 | .543 | 50 | 175 | 26 | 55 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 26 | 0 | 64.5 |
| Yadier Molina – SAC | .261 | .295 | .402 | 126 | 463 | 47 | 121 | 29 | 0 | 12 | 45 | 4 | 70.8 |
Across the board during the 2012 MWBL season Ross is the better catcher. He leads Molina in average, on base percentage, and slugging. Molina had more homers, but he also had close to 300 more at bats. Molina did show more speed than Ross. Defensively these guys are about the same though the running game figures to favor both offenses. Advantage Hollywood Continue reading
N.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – SAC @ TEM G#7
Game #7Â – Justin Verlander vs. Matt Cain
Okay folks, here we go. It’s time for Game 7 of the NLCS. Only once before has the NLCS gone to seven games–in 2005, when Tempe defeated the Sacramento franchise (then in Los Angeles) 4 games to three.  The 2005 series was particularly remarkable because it started with a three-game sweep of Los Angeles, only to have Los Angeles come back to win the following three games; a Los Angeles victory would have been an unprecedented series victory when starting the series down 0-3. Now, in 2012, the same two franchises are battling it out in extremely close games. Let’s hope Game 7 is as exciting as the Series has been thus far.
Both teams save their best for last; it’s ace versus ace. For Sacramento, Justin VERLANDER takes the mound for his third start of the season, while Tempe sends Matt CAIN back to the mound for his fourth (YES, FOURTH) start of the NLCS. Tempe’s offense would be the first to strike. Continue reading
N.L. CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – SAC @ TEM G#6
Game #6 –Â Cliff Lee vs. Brandon McCarthy
 Through the first five games of the NLCS, both teams have benefited relatively consistent pitching (with the exception of Tempe in Game 4). Each game, in the end, came down to clutch hitting. Tempe’s success thus far has largely come from the bat of Adrian GONZALEZ. Through the first three games, GONZALEZ had batted .545 with 3 runs, 4 RBI, 3 doubles, and 2 home runs; simply put, GONZALEZ had been killing the Capitals; but in Games 4 and 5, GONALEZ was shut down, went 0 for 7 with 4 strikeouts.  In contrast, Sacramento’s strength in its three-game winning streak has not come at the hands of any single bat. In game 3, J.J. HARDY made up for his 3-error Game 1 performance with a stellar Game 3 performance, batting 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI. In Game 4, it was Robinson CANO’s 2-3 performance, with a double, home run, and 5 RBI that put Sacramento over the top. In Game 5, it was Josh WILLINGHAM’s 3-4, 1 home run, and 3 RBI performance that was the difference maker in Sacramento’s 5-2 victory. So, with consistently strong pitching (considering the powerful offences each is facing), the question for Game 6 is, will GONZALEZ reappear for Tempe or will another Sacramento bat turn out to be the difference maker? Continue reading