AL Play In Game Preview: Calgary Canons (aka Seattle Mariners) at Milwaukee Brewers

Both teams came ever so close to winning the AL Expansion division.  In fact at one point during the season both teams either had first place to themselves or a share of it.  The Halos started fast, had a lull, then finished strong to capture the division.  This put Milwaukee and Seattle in a spot to vie for the play in game.  Both teams met up in the final series of the regular season with the Brew crew edging out the M's by taking 3 of 4 in a series marked by close games.  The bats carried the Brew Crew.  Top of the order guys Pat Listach (.342, 21 steals) and Paul Molitor (.301 15 steals) get on often and run just as frequently.  Scott Podsednik (.295, 15 steals) is a dangerous catalyst too.  When they get on they score thanks to triple crown threat and MVP candidate Prince Fielder (.281-14-48) and catcher Darrell Porter (.297-10-30).  Ryan Braun (.281-7-18) compliments the big 2 quite nicely.  The Brewers got nice seasons out of Bill Parsons (5-2, 2.95) and Teddy Higuera (4-1, 3.28).  Cal Eldred was a solid # 3 guy with a 4-4, 3.00 record.  The en was a bit shaky with Axford (0-1, 5.40, 6 sv) closing games.  Ladd (0-1, 6.23, 2sv) was not much better.  Doug Henry (0-0, 3sv) looked to be the answer, but his body of work wasn't all that extensive.
Robert Chisholm's Calgary Canons (aka..Seattle Mariners) were a true labor of love.  When the season started, "Chiz" confided in me that he was looking forward to managing the guys he saw pass through Calgary AAA, back when Canada had baseball.  He wasn't expecting much, but he expected to have a lot of fun strolling down memory lane.  Turns out his passion for this group of guys and his managerial skill pointed them to a post season spot.  His offense afforded him just 17 home runs.  Alvin Davis led the team with just 5.  Of his regulars only 2 hit over .300.  Ichiro Suzuki (.304) and Rich Amaral (.307) get on base.  Griffey Jr. disappointed with just 2 runs batted in and zero homers in 44 AB's.  Matt Young (6-1, 1.60) did everything you could expect from a front line starter.  His Cy Young Award type season may have just pitched the M's into the post season. Mark Langston (4-1, 2.24) was a great # 2 man and Joel Pineiro (5-2, 3.16) was one of the best #3 guys in the league.  Seattle wins with great pitching and timely hitting.  Their starters go as far as they can go and then it becomes a mix and match out of the pen that doesn't have one dominant closer on the back end.