Results tagged ‘ playoffs ’
2013 Schedule Analysis (First Half)
The Dash have the best home record in full-season minor league baseball since 2010.
The Dash released their 2013 schedule today, which is one of the first signs of baseball’s return during the long offseason. You can check out the entire schedule here.
There are many marquee matchups throughout the season, and I highlight five parts of the first half schedule below.
- April 5 at Carolina: The Dash kick off their 2013 campaign in Zebulon against a Mudcats squad that didn’t like Winston-Salem. The feeling was mutual. These two teams had some memorable battles (and a few fights) a year ago, and both teams figure to have a strong squad, especially in the first half. These two teams could be the cream of the crop in the Southern Division in 2013.
- April 12 v. Carolina: Once again, the Mudcats will be the opponent when the Dash kick off their home slate one week after opening their season at Five County Stadium. Winston-Salem went 48-23 at BB&T Ballpark, which was good for the best home mark in the minors in 2012. Last season, the Dash claimed their home opener over the Muddies 1-0.
- April 22-25 v. Lynchburg: Winston-Salem finished two wins shy of what would’ve been a perfect season. The Dash won both the first- and second-half division titles, hosted the All-Star Game, posted minor league baseball’s best record and went to the Mills Cup Championship Series. The Lynchburg Hillcats prevented the Dash from finishing off the clean sweep in 2012. The ‘Cats bested Winston three games to one in the Mills Cup Finals. Both teams will look much different when they square off for the first time in 2013, but there will be plenty of carryovers from that thrilling Mills Cup Finals to make this late-April clash one of the season’s most intriguing sets.
- May 27 v. Frederick: Memorial Day is always a great holiday during the baseball season, and the Dash will celebrate it at BB&T Ballpark for a third straight year. Winston entertains the Mills Cup champs from 2011 this time around, and the Keys always tend to have a highly-touted prospect in the fold.
- June 13-16 at Wilmington: Once again, the Dash conclude the first half in Wilmington, the site of the club’s first-half clinch last season. If the Dash are in contention for a first-half crown in ’13, it will likely come down to this final set in the First State. Here’s hoping a new crop of White Sox prospects will be celebrating in the visiting clubhouse at Frawley Stadium in seven-and-a-half months.
Stay tuned for our breakdown of the second half tomorrow! Only 154 more days until the season opener in Zebulon. Since we now know the schedule, the countdown can officially begin.
- Brian
Playoff Predictions Sure To Be Wrong
Welcome to October baseball. Sure, the regular season spilled over to the month’s first few days, but the next four weeks of action is truly October baseball.
Many in the Dash’s front office are excited about the postseason, too. Here are 10 playoff predictions from those of us brave enough to publicly make them.
First, some trends:
- Detroit (tied for the worst record among playoff participants) and Atlanta (could be eliminated as early as tonight) both received three votes for the World Series title.
- Baltimore, Oakland, San Francisco, St. Louis and Texas will not win it all according to all 10 voters, while Baltimore, St. Louis and Texas did not even reach anyone’s Fall Classic prediction.
- Only one person (me) predicted the Rangers, who have won 18 playoff games over the last two years, to reach the ALCS.
- Six people picked Detroit to reach the World Series, while five pegged Atlanta as the pennant winners on the Senior Circuit. Detroit v. Atlanta represents the most popular World Series prediction.
Here are all of the individual predictions. Give us your picks in the comments!
The majority of our voters think Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers will reach the World Series (Orlin Wagner/AP).
Sarah Baumann (Group Sales Representative):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: New York and Atlanta
World Series: New York
Brian Boesch (Guy Who Writes This Blog):
Wild Card: Texas and St. Louis
ALDS: Texas and Detroit
NLDS: Washington and San Francisco
LCS: Detroit and San Francisco
World Series: Detroit
Nikki Caldwell (Associate Director of Events & Marketing):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Atlanta
World Series: Atlanta
Brandon Cathey (Director of Marketing and Communications):
Wild Card: Texas and St. Louis
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Washington and San Francisco
LCS: Detroit and San Francisco
World Series: Detroit
C.J. Johnson (Vice President, Ticket Sales):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Washington and San Francisco
LCS: New York and Washington
World Series: Washington
Chipper Jones is aiming for one more run in the playoffs with the Braves (AP).
Trey Kalny (Director of Game Entertainment):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Washington and Cincinnati
LCS: Oakland and Cincinnati
World Series: Cincinnati
Caleb Pardick (Associate Director of Creative Services):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Atlanta
World Series: Detroit
Russell Parmele (Group Ticket Sales Manager):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Oakland
NLDS: Atlanta and San Francisco
LCS: Oakland and Atlanta
World Series: Atlanta
Kayla Sherrill (Sales Coordinator):
Wild Card: Texas and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Washington and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Cincinnati
World Series: Cincinnati
Brandon Stump (Business Development Representative):
Wild Card: Baltimore and Atlanta
ALDS: New York and Detroit
NLDS: Atlanta and Cincinnati
LCS: Detroit and Atlanta
World Series: Atlanta
No matter what happens, playoff baseball is here! What a great time of the year.
- Brian
Breaking Down The White Sox Chances
A.J. Pierzynski and the White Sox are on the brink of elimination (AP photo).
With three games remaining in the regular season, the White Sox are still alive in the chase for the playoffs. However, Robin Ventura’s team is on life support.
Chicago is three games behind Detroit for first place in the American League Central, which means the White Sox must sweep the Indians in Cleveland and hope for three straight Kansas City wins over the Tigers.
In other words, it will be tough, but not impossible, for the White Sox to qualify for the playoffs. Here are some notes in advance of what Chicago hopes will be “Comeback Week”:
- The White Sox have dropped 10 of 12 games to go from three games up in the division to three games back. The Tigers boast an 8-4 mark during that run, which began September 19.
- On paper, the Indians do not seem like a dangerous team, and they have been a big disappointment in 2012. However, interim manager Sandy Alomar, Jr., is auditioning for the full-time position in Cleveland, so he figures to have the Tribe motivated for the season’s final three games.
- What about Kansas City? The Royals have lost seven of eight, and the lone victory came in 14 innings Saturday after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth. However, if the Royals can help the White Sox, you can expect a standing ovation for the club when they invade U.S. Cellular Field for the 2013 season opener.
- For what it’s worth, the White Sox are 9-6 against Cleveland while Detroit is 11-4 versus the Royals.
- If the White Sox do avoid elimination for three straight days, they would play the Tigers in Detroit Thursday in a one-game playoff for a spot in the playoffs. The A.L. Central has featured a pair of playoff thrillers in recent years.
- With three games remaining for the big league club, the White Sox organization has collectively posted a record of 464-465, which means that a two-out-of-three take from Cleveland would result in an even .500 record in 932 total games for the White Sox and seven minor league affiliates. Crazy.
Here’s hoping we can talk about postseason chances again tomorrow. Go White Sox!
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #4 – Smith Blasts Dash to Game 2 Win
The look on Daniel Wagner’s face says it all (Dan Barber/W-S Dash).
This is the seventh installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next few days.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
#9: Hankerd’s walk-off
#8: 10-game win streak
#7: 5-run 9th sinks Salem
#6: Postseason awards
#5: First-half clinch
Moment #4 (September 9): The Dash rally for a 5-4 win over Lynchburg in Game 2 of the Mills Cup Championship Series.
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Winston-Salem posted the best home record in full-season minor league baseball during the regular season, and the Dash entered their final home game of the playoffs in need of one more BB&T Ballpark victory.
It was Game 2 of the Mills Cup Championship Series, and Lynchburg claimed the opener of the best-of-five series 3-1. A loss on that Sunday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark would not have eliminated the Dash, but winning three straight road games in the playoffs is a tough assignment.
The Hillcats seized a 3-1 lead in the fourth, and a Dash offense that was so dominant during the regular season needed a spark. Fortunately, that spark came in the sixth.
Keenyn Walker and Daniel Wagner strung together consecutive doubles to pull Winston within a run. Marcus Semien pushed Wagner to third with a well-placed groundout to second. However, league MVP Dan Black whiffed for the inning’s second out.
During a postseason of offensive frustration, it appeared that the Dash would spoil another golden scoring chance. Kevan Smith, quite frankly, rescued Winston-Salem.
Smith crushed a two-out, two-run homer to the bullpen bar in left-center field, propelling the Dash to a one-run lead they would never relinquish. The 5-4 victory evened the Mills Cup Championship Series and, at the time, seemed to give the Dash some huge momentum.
Unfortunately, we all know the end of the story. On a picturesque Sunday afternoon in the Triad, though, the Dash wrapped up the best season in BB&T Ballpark history with arguably the most important home run this facility has ever seen.
After Smith’s bomb cleared the fence, Winston-Salem fans truly thought their team was destined for a championship. What a game, and what a home run.
The Dash’s third-best moment of 2012 is ticketed for tomorrow here on the Dash Board blog, and Smith plays a big role once again. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #5 – First-Half Clinch
The Dash celebrate their first-half crown June 16 in Wilmington (Blue Rocks staff photo).
This is the sixth installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next few days.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
#9: Hankerd’s walk-off
#8: 10-game win streak
#7: 5-run 9th sinks Salem
#6: Postseason awards
Moment #5 (June 16): Winston-Salem clinches the first-half Southern Division crown in Wilmington.
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Powered by a 10-game winning streak and a star-studded lineup, the Dash were contenders throughout the season’s first half. Winston-Salem fought with the Salem Red Sox for the Southern Division crown, and the half’s final 10 games proved to be a thrilling ride.
After the Dash and Red Sox battled to a bizarre tie June 7, Winston-Salem owned a narrow half-game lead in the division race with 10 contests to play before the All-Star break.
In their final 12 games of the season, the Sox posted an 8-4 record, which certainly was a strong finish. However, the Dash were flat out better in the final charge for a playoff spot.
To start its final 10-game run of the first half, Winston posted a perfect 6-0 homestand at BB&T Ballpark with sweeps of Wilmington and Potomac. The Dash also earned a victory in what was a suspended game from mid-April.
All of that success set up a half-ending trip to Wilmington for a crucial four-game set. The Blue Rocks edged the Dash in the series opener, but Winston-Salem would not lose again in the first half.
Following a 2-1 win to trim their magic number to one, the Dash had a chance to clinch its 26th Carolina League playoff berth all-time June 16.
League MVP Dan Black came up with his signature hit, a first-inning three-run blast down the right field line. Winston scored the first five runs of the game before the Blue Crew battled back to tie the game.
Brady Shoemaker made sure the Dash never trailed en route to a Southern Division title. Shoemaker’s go-ahead two-run double in the sixth was the game-winning hit, and his RBI double two frames later all but put the Rocks away. Chris Bassitt shut the door in the ninth to secure a 9-5 win.
The Dash played one of their best games of the season to finish up one of the best 70-game runs in franchise history. This contest, which had plenty of highlights, validated many players’ claim that this was the “best team I’ve ever been on.” There is no question that this group was special, and every player in that clubhouse deserved the postgame celebration.
Stay tuned for the fourth-best moment of the season tomorrow. Moment number four involved one of the best pictures of the year mere seconds after one of the hits of the year. You won’t want to miss it.
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #7 – 5-Run 9th Stuns Salem
Michael Earley recorded the walk-off hit August 14 against Salem (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
This is the fourth installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next two weeks.
Previous Top 10 Moments:
#10: Second-half clinch
#9: Hankerd’s walk-off
#8: 10-game win streak
Moment #7 (August 14): Winston-Salem scores five in the ninth to walk off with a 10-9 win over Salem.
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In the first half of the season, the Dash and Salem Red Sox waged quite a battle for the Southern Division championship. Winston-Salem outlasted the Sox despite struggling against Salem in head-to-head matchups.
The second half was a much different story even though both teams endured many promotions to Double-A. Winston remained atop the circuit, while Salem sunk to the Southern Division’s basement.
With the playoffs three weeks away, these two teams played in a game that meant very little in the grand scheme of the playoff chase. Salem was mere days away from official elimination, while the Dash could only add one home game to their postseason schedule with a division crown.
Still, baseball has a way of making the ordinary extraordinary, and game 121 for the Dash proved to be special.
For eight and a half innings, Salem controlled the contest. The Red Sox led 6-0 through six innings and 9-5 entering the home half of the ninth, which is when the magic happened.
After a Juan Silverio leadoff home run, Daniel Wagner followed with a bunt single, and Keenyn Walker drew a free pass. Two batters later, Brandon Short pulled the Dash within a run thanks to a two-run double.
Following Dan Black’s well-struck fly out, Cyle Hankerd delivered a two-out double off the wall in center to push across the tying run.
On the next pitch, Michael Earley laced a single to right-center, and Hankerd rumbled around third to beat Shannon Wilkerson’s throw and complete the Dash’s most improbable comeback of 2012.
The Dash’s season featured 90 total victories, but this one was among the best. It continued Winston’s push for the minors’ top record, while Salem suffered one of its most deflating losses during a terrible second half.
We will present the Dash’s sixth-best moment from the 2012 campaign tomorrow. This is the only moment that did not technically take place on the field. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Dash Top 10: #10 – Second-Half Clinch
Keenyn Walker’s glove helped the Dash clinch a second-half crown (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
This is the first installment of the “Dash Top 10,” where we rehash the top 10 moments from the Dash’s historic 2012 season. Stay tuned to the Dash Board Blog for the rest of the series over the next two weeks.
Moment #10 (August 30): Keenyn Walker’s dazzling double play clinches the second-half Southern Division title for Winston-Salem.
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The Dash put together one of the best seasons in Winston-Salem history, and they finished off a “clean sweep” in the regular season with a second-half championship.
The way Winston-Salem clinched that Southern Division crown was remarkable and worthy of inclusion on our year-end Top 10 list. It was the penultimate home game of the season, and the Dash held a 5-4 advantage over Lynchburg with one down in the top of the ninth. With Dan Brewer at first, Nick Ahmed crushed a ball to deep left-center. However, Keenyn Walker made one of the best defensive plays of 2012 for the final two outs of the game:
Winston-Salem skipper Tommy Thompson called it one of the best plays he has seen in person during his long baseball career, and it was an incredible way to end the chase for back-to-back division crowns.
Sure, the Dash already had a playoff spot locked up when Walker helped Winston track down the second-half Southern Division title, but Thompson and the rest of Winston’s clubhouse wanted to finish what they started. They certainly did it with a fantastic play to cap off the crown.
Stay tuned for our ninth-best moment from the regular season, which involves one of the most stunning comebacks in the Carolina League in 2012. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Playoff Perspective – Game 4
It’s a day late, but here is our final analysis of the Dash’s Game 4 loss to Lynchburg last night.
PLAYOFF PERSPECTIVE:
- First off, congratulations to the Lynchburg Hillcats. Over the last four days, Lynchburg was the better team after the Dash posted an incredible regular season. All the fans in attendance were treated to one heck of a championship-clinching victory.
- Also, big time props must go out to the 50-plus Dash fans who made the trip to Lynchburg and added to the atmosphere. It was a great minor league baseball game yesterday, even if the result did not go the way of Winston-Salem.
- There were so many twists and turns during last night’s game, and I’m not going to go through all of them. However, it is never easy to lose a game when your opposition loads the bases with an infield single, an error and a bunt single in the deciding inning. Winston would love to have the 11th inning back.
- You have to feel for Taylor Thompson, who was the Carolina League’s best reliever during the second half of the season. He didn’t have his best stuff in the ninth inning, and Lynchburg took advantage to tie the game. That will likely be Thompson’s final High-A appearance because he is overdue for a trip to Double-A Birmingham.
- If the Dash could have forced a Game 5, especially based on the way last night’s game played out, I would have felt really good about their chances. Alas, Lynchburg closed the deal with a dramatic win.
- This is my fifth season of calling baseball, and this Dash team was, by far, my favorite team to deal with. It was such a privilege to get to know these guys as baseball players and human beings. The White Sox run their minor league system very well, and fans in Winston-Salem, Chicago and across the country should be proud of these players. This team accomplished so much, and it was an incredible journey.
- Finally, Daniel Wagner summed it up perfectly last night on Twitter: “What a year. Proud to say I was apart of the 2012 @WSDashBaseball team. Great run boys. Got nothing to hang our heads about.”
Thanks for following along all season long. We will continue our coverage throughout the offseason. It has been an honor. Go Dash!
- Brian
Game 4 Starting Lineups And Intro
It’s simple for the Dash: win or go home. Check out tonight’s broadcast intro and starting lineups:
WINSTON-SALEM:
CF – Keenyn Walker
2B – Daniel Wagner
SS – Marcus Semien
1B – Dan Black
DH – Kevan Smith
RF – Michael Earley
DH – Mike Blanke
LF – Courtney Hawkins
3B – David Herbek
LHP – Scott Snodgress
LYNCHBURG:
LF – Dan Brewer
SS – Nick Ahmed
2B – Tommy La Stella
1B – Chris Garcia
3B – Edward Salcedo
DH – Michael Spina
C – Braeden Schlehuber
CF – Mycal Jones
RF – David Rohm
RHP – Aaron Northcraft
- Brian
Game 4 Preview – Winston-Salem at Lynchburg
Mills Cup Championship Series
Winston-Salem Dash at Lynchburg Hillcats
Wednesday, September 12 — 6:05 p.m.
Game 4 — Hillcats lead series 2-1
GAME 4 BACKGROUND:
After more than five months of baseball in the Carolina League, the Mills Cup could be awarded to Lynchburg tonight. However, the Dash are hoping to force a winner-take-all Game 5 Thursday after dropping Game 3 1-0 at Lynchburg City Stadium Tuesday night.
The Mills Cup Championship Series has not seen a Game 5 since 2005, when Frederick bested Kinston to claim the CL championship. The Hillcats last won it all in 2009, while Winston-Salem has not claimed the Cup since 2003.
STARTING PITCHERS:
Winston-Salem — LHP Scott Snodgress (4-0, 1.50 ERA): Snodgress takes to the mound for the second time this postseason, and he is in familiar territory. With the Dash trailing by a game in the best-of-three Southern Division Championship Series, Snodgress worked into the seventh inning for the first time in his Dash career and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits. During the regular season, the former Stanford star surrendered just seven earned runs in eight starts. In his only effort against Lynchburg during the regular season, Snodgress blanked the ‘Cats over four innings August 21.
Lynchburg — RHP Aaron Northcraft (10-11, 3.98 ERA): With a chance at a championship, Lynchburg turns to Northcraft after he allowed just one run in six and two-thirds innings Friday in the NDCS-clinching win over Wilmington. Northcraft has twirled four straight quality starts dating back to August 22. The Tucson, Ariz., native has faced off with the Dash five times. He is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA in those efforts.
DASH DOTS:
- Winston-Salem has not played in a winner-take-all game in the championship set since 1973. Winston defeated Lynchburg in that series to claim the Mills Cup. Winston’s last MCCS win also came against Lynchburg back in 2003.
- Lynchburg handed the Dash their sixth shutout of the season Tuesday, but it was the first since June 24 (7-0 v. Salem at home), a span of 70 games.
- With last night’s shutout, the Dash have only mustered a run in 10 of their 51 offensive innings. Winston has been very dependent on the long ball, too. The Dash have needed the home run for 10 of their 21 postseason runs.
- Terance Marin’s two scoreless innings in Game 3 lowered the bullpen’s ERA to 0.49 during the postseason. Winston-Salem relievers have only surrendered one earned run in 18.1 frames in the playoffs.
- Lynchburg starters have befuddled the Dash thus far in the Mills Cup Finals. The trio of Michael Lee, Ryan Weber and Gus Schlosser combined to give up just two runs, one of which was earned, in 18.1 innings.
- The Dash have scored only six runs over the last three games, which is the lowest number of tallies over a three-game span since May 16-18. This three-game offensive output is tied for the second-lowest this season for Winston-Salem.
- Despite the loss, Chris Curley continued his hitting streak to begin his Dash career. Curley has hit safely in nine in a row (three regular season and six postseason games). While wearing the Dash purple, Curley is 14-for-29 (.483) with eight runs scored.
AN EYE ON THE WHITE SOX FARM:
The only other White Sox affiliate still alive lost last night, too. Triple-A Charlotte dropped Game 1 of the Governors’ Cup Finals at Pawtucket. Charlotte starter Charlie Leesman left in the first inning due to an undisclosed injury, and the PawSox took advantage by homering three times. Game 2 of this set is set for 7:05 p.m. from Rhode Island before shifting to Charlotte for the final three possible games.
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Dash fans can catch the club’s quest for a 12th Mills Cup by tuning in here. Fans are encouraged to tweet @WSDashBaseball and use the Dash’s official playoff hashtag: #Dash12. The Pre-Game Dash begins at 5:45 p.m. and features a chat with manager Tommy Thompson and a look ahead to the biggest game of the season.
- Brian
