Preview: 2012 Freedom Division Championship Series
York’s Andres Perez enters the post-season ranking fourth in the league in batting average (.314) and homers (23) and fifth in RBIs (86). Bill Kalina file photo.
The Atlantic League Freedom Division Championship Series begins Wednesday night in Lancaster. To get fully prepped on the series, below are couple links and some other noteworthy tidbits:
- Preview: Check out my column from Monday with my thoughts on the upcoming series. Tease: Lancaster’s history-making winning season doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the favorites. Also check out a full preview featured in Tuesday’s paper taking a look at the upcoming series .
- Practice: The Revs will hold a practice Tuesday at Sovereign Bank Stadium, with pitchers going out around 2 p.m. and the position players taking batting practice around 3/3:30.
- Schedule: Click here for the full schedule of the best-of-five series, which begins Wednesday night in Lancaster at 7:05 p.m. The first two games will be played Wednesday and Thursay in Lancaster before the series shifts to York Friday at 6:30 p.m.
- AAA Playoff Plan: The Revs and corporate partner AAA have announced plans for a pre-playoff pep rally and convoy before the Revolution travel to Lancaster for Game 1. Prior to the game, Revolution fans are encouraged to meet up at the AAA Southern Pennsylvania location on Eastern Boulevard in York beginning at 4 p.m. At the rally, fans may pick up a 2012 Playoffs rally towel (presented by AAA) and get their picture taken with DownTown, pick up a pair of Revolution cheerstix to try and drown out the cowbells from Lancaster and grab a snack before all the Revolution fans convoy over to Lancaster for the game around 5:30.
- Offense: Lancaster and York are at or near the top of the league in several offensive categories. The Barnstormers are first in the league in runs scored (755), hits (1,426), doubles (269), homers (156), RBIs (688), total bases (2,211) and batting average (.297). York trails Lancaster in all of those categories, sitting second in the league in runs scored (737), hits (1,335), doubles (265), homers (152), RBIs (684), total bases (2,102) and batting average (.278).
- Pitching: Revs’ skipper Andy Etchebarren wouldn’t confirm the set-up of his starting rotation for the series, but did say he’ll use, in no particular order, right-hander Corey Thurman and left-handers Ryan Feierabend, Chris Cody and Chris Waters. That group had a combined 5.55 ERA in 15 starts against Lancaster this season. Etch’ also said Lancaster will use, in no particular order, left-hander John Halama and right-handers Dwayne Pollok, J.D. Durbin and Alan Johnson. That group had a 6.05 ERA in 14 combined starts against York this season.
- Stats: Here are some stats related to the upcoming series, some used in the column/preview and others not used: York is aiming to become the first team in league history to win three straight championships…Lancaster is looking for the club’s second league title, last winning it in 2006 in the Barnstormers’ second year of existence…Barnstormers’ manager Butch Hobson is competing for his second league title, last winning it in 2000 as manager of the Nashua Pride…York and Lancaster split their 20 head-to-head regular season match-ups this season, with 13 of those games decided by three runs or less. York was 7-6 in those 13 games….The Revs will enter the post-season having won 16 of their final 20 games while Lancaster went just 12-11 in their final 23….In their 20 regular season match-ups, Lancaster outscored York 104 to 95 and out-hit York 216 to 184…Barnstormers’ starting pitchers held a 5.32 ERA in those 20 games, while Revs’ starting pitchers had a 5.30 ERA….York’s offense had a .271 batting average in those games to Lancaster’s .313 average.
