GYBL
Playoff
Preview
1946
Playoff brackets
World
Series
World Series: Pittsburg Red Coats vs. Guadalcanal Coastwatchers
There is
nothing surprising about the Guadalcanal
Coastwatchers representing the American League as
we predicted it here. They took down Atlantic City in a tough fought 7 game series.
However, I don’t even think the Pittsburg
Red Coat team owner would have expected his team to have handled the best
of the National League the way they did. Taking down a red-hot Newark club in 6 games is quite the
unexpected accomplishment. During the regular season Guadalcanal and Pittsburg met 8 times with the Coastwatchers winning the series 5-3. The Coastwatchers were particularly hard on the Red Coats at
home as they won 3 of 4 and then the team split in Pittsburg.
Prediction: Will getting to the big dance be
good enough for the Cinderella Red Coats? It certainly has been an amazing run for the Red Coats, but for the 3rd time we
are going against the underdog.
Guadalcanal Coastwatchers in 6 games
American
League Playoffs
League Championship Series: Guadalcanal Coastwatchers vs. Atlantic City BlueClaws
The Guadalcanal Coastwatchers
climbed out of a huge 1-3 hole to come back and beat Camp Douglas in the first round. This was
similar to their regular season where they went 21-30 during May and June to
fall out of the playoff race, only to come charging back during July, August
& September. The Coastwatchers just do not quit,
so the Atlantic City BlueClaws
will have their claws full in this series.
The Coastwatchers took the season series 13-9
thanks in large part to a 5-game sweep in September. When you look at the
season stats you can understand why the Coastwatchers
match up well against the BlueClaws. These teams are
1-2 in almost every meaningful pitching category which during the regular
season enabled the Coastwatchers to shutdown the
high-flying BlueClaw offense. The BlueClaw
offense led the GYBL in runs scored (930) and stolen bases (125) and tied for
lead in batting average (.288) and was 3rd in homeruns (99). They are led by the Batting Crown winner,
Barney McCoskey (.380), Johnny Hopp
(.336 and 100 runs scored), Luke Appling (.325 and 111 runs scored) &
Whitey Kurowski (122 runs scored and 135 RBI). As
mentioned below, the Coastwatchers are not without an
offense as despite being 9th in the GYBL in hitting at .257 could
score runs as their 5.3 rpg
was 6th in the GYBL. It was a very efficient offense led by Dixie
Walker 135 RBI (t2nd), Del Ennis 113 RBI (t9th) and Dom DiMaggio 90 RBI. A key match up will be the battle of aces Newhouser vs. Hughson! For the Coastwatchers,
they need to get a strong series from Hal Newhouser who
will be fully rested for game #1. Newhouser (23-10 on
the season) had a 2-1 record in 4 starts vs. the BlueClaws.
The BlueClaws have their Cy Young Award candidate,
Tex Hughson (28-7 on the season), who was 2-2 in 5 starts vs. the Coastwatchers.
Prediction: Guadalcanal under new owner Marc Kramer seemly
has Altantic City’s number. They get timely hits and
strong pitching in tight series.
Guadalcanal Coastwatchers in 7 games
First Round: Camp Douglas Crawdads vs. Guadalcanal Coastwatchers
The first
round features two teams that were heading in opposite directions during the
last month of the season. The 1st wildcard team, the Guadalcanal Coastwatchers
finished September a GYBL best 20-8, while the Camp Douglas Crawdads finished a disappointing 11-16. However,
these two teams played even in 22 games during the season and Camp Douglas won 3 of 5 games in September, so this
could be a tight series. The Crawdad September collapse had a lot to do with
their main man, Stan Musial, breaking down under the pressure of trying to hit
.400 and having a cold month of September (a .263 batting average with only 7
RBI). Musial will crank it back up again for the
playoffs if the Crawdads are going to have a shot. When Musial
is hitting, he along with Thurman Tucker and Tommy Holmes spark a fine offense
that tied for the GYBL lead in hitting at .288 and were 2nd in
homeruns with 131. This team needs to score runs as their pitching staff was
less than stellar this season as they finished 10th in ERA at 4.68.
Dizzy Trout and Red Embree, along with the entire Crawdad pitching staff had a
rough season in hitter-friendly Briggs Stadium, as they allowed a GYBL high 134
homeruns. However, the Coastwatchers won’t make scoring
runs easy for the Crawdads, as the Coastwatchers were
the GYBL’s stingiest defense club as they had a GYBL low 3.70 ERA. They are led
by Cy Young candidate, Hal Newhouser who finished the
season 23-10. The Coastwatchers despite being 9th
in the GYBL in hitting at .257 could score runs as their 5.3 rpg was 6th
in the GYBL. It was a very efficient offense led by Dixie Walker 135 RBI
(t2nd), Del Ennis 113 RBI (t9th) and Dom DiMaggio 90 RBI.
Prediction: Timely hitting along with Newhouser proves to be too much for the Crawdads.
Guadalcanal Coastwatchers in 6 games
National
League Playoff
League Championship Series: Pittsburg Red Coats vs. Newark Conquerors
We could
repeat the opening sentence from the First Round preview and just insert the
Newark Conquerors for the Gotham Eagles… Newark Conquerors look to be too strong for the Pittsburg Red Coats, as the Conquerors
boast a +169 run differential as compared to the Red Coats -18. So much for the
regular season, as we know what happened in the First Round. The Red Coats
showed real character in some amazing late inning comebacks against the Eagles
that enabled them to pull off the upset despite being outscored in the series 51
to 60. The Red Coats feasted on a tough Eagle pitching staff hitting .294 (.267
regular season) and scoring 7.3 rpg
(4.8 rpg regular season). The bad news for the Red
Coats is that the Conquerors were a better offensive club than the Eagles
during the regular season, as they scored 5.9 rpg (t1st) and had a .383 ob% (1st). The
Conquerors were led by Buddy Lewis who hit .320 with 118 runs and 120 RBI and
Phil Caverratta who hit .310 with 122 runs and 107
RBI. However, it was Pee Wee Reese with 138 (3rd) runs scored who
might be the key to the Conqueror offensive attack. The good news for the Red
Coats is that the Conqueror pitching staff didn’t fare as well in the regular
season as the Eagles as they were 5th with a 4.11 ERA. They led the
GYBL in saves with 47, but also led in blown saves with 23. In the previous
series, the Red Coats were able to exploit the Eagle bullpen and we will see if
they can do it again in this round. The Conqueror pitching staff was used
masterfully during the regular season as they really didn’t have a classic ace
of the staff. Ed Heusser was 17-1 with a 3.51 ERA and
led the team in starts, but with only 22. Murry
Dickson was 14-9 with 10 saves and a 3.08 ERA with 19 starts. As stated below
and proved out in the First Round where he led the Red Coats with a .448
batting average, the Red Coat offense is led by Johnny Pesky. Pesky was 3rd
in hitting at .361 and scored 134 runs (4th), as he was the table
setter for Rudy York with 119 RBI and Hank Edwards 104 RBI. The Red Coats
pitching staff finished the regular season with the 8th best ERA at
4.32 and 4th best batting average allowed at .272. However, they
were roughed up pretty well by the Eagles last round including their ace, Kirby
Higbie (13-10, ERA 2.68 in regular season), who was
0-2 with 15.12 ERA. Higbe’s First Round performance
makes the Red Coat First Round upset even more incredible. Higbe has to show up
this round if the Red Coats are going to stand a chance. The Conquerors took
the regular season series 14-8 including taking 3 of 5 in September.
Prediction: Before the Red Coat’s First Round
upset, I might have predicted a 5-game victory for the Conquerors. However, the
Red Coats showed me something last round. The question is whether they have
used up all their magic.
Newark Conquerors in 6 games
First Round: Pittsburg Red Coats vs. Gotham Eagles
On paper,
the Gotham Eagles look to be too strong for the Pittsburg Red Coats, as the Eagles
boast a +169 run differential as compared to the Red Coats -18. However, the
Eagles finished September a disappointing 13-14 including losing 4 of 5 to the
Red Coats at home to start the month. Thanks to that series loss the season
series tightened up to a 12-10 advantage for the Eagles. The Eagles offense
lead by MVP candidate and homerun & RBI leader, Ted Williams, launched a
GYBL best 175 homeruns and scored 5.8 rpg,
as compared to the Red Coats who hit only 75 homeruns and scored 4.8 rpg. The Eagle offense was more than just Williams, as they
got great seasons out of Aaron Robinson (102 RBI in limited At bats), Stan Spence 134 RBI (4th), and
Tommy Henrich 149 runs (2nd) and 25
homeruns (4th). The Red Coats are not without offense…as they have a
Pesky offense. That is a Johnny Pesky offense, as
Johnny was 3rd in hitting at .361 and scored 134 runs (4th),
as he was the table setter for Rudy York with 119 RBI and Hank Edwards 104 RBI.
The problem that faces the Red Coats is not just the powerful Eagle offense, as
the Eagles also boast one of the best pitching staffs in the GYBL. They
finished 3rd in ERA at .377 and 2nd in batting average
allowed .269. The Red Coats finished with the 8th best ERA at 4.32
and 4th best batting average allowed at .272. The Red Coats, Kirby Higbie, who had a fine season (13-10, ERA 2.68) could be a
key factor in the series. If Higbie can be a dominant
playoff pitcher, then this series could get interesting, if not the Eagles have
a chance to sweep.
Prediction: The William’s led offense is too
much for the Red Coats.
Gotham Eagles in 5 games