NYPL Championship Preview: Yankees Heading to Ohio

With a 5-1 victory over the Lowell Spinners the Staten Island Yankees advanced to the NY-Penn League Championship series and will be taking on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers starting tomorrow night with game on in Staten Island.  The Baby Bombers’ pitching staff has been its strength all season, leading the league with a 2.53 ERA.

Pitching Preview

Monday, September 13, 2009 – Mahoning Valley – Brett Bach (RHP) vs. Adam Warren (RHP) – Staten Island

In the opening game of the 2009 NY-Penn League Championship series the Staten Island Yankees will be facing off against Mahoning Valley’s Brett Bach.  Bach did not face the Baby Bombers when the Yankees went to Mahoning Valley earlier this season.  This season he was 5-2 with a 2.19ERA striking out 61 in 78 innings.  Bach would be well rested as he has not pitched since September 5 against the State College Spikes.

The Yankees will be lead by ace starter Adam Warren.  Warren was 4-2 with a 1.43 ERA during the regular season.  In his lone post-season start he went 4.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk against the Lowell Spinners.  Like Bach Monday will be the first time Warren will be pitching against his opponent.

Tuesday, September 14, 2009 – Staten Island – Sean Black (RHP) vs. Marty Popham (RHP) – Mahoning Valley

On Tuesday both teams will have a long journey to Mahoning Valley for the rest of the series.  Right-hander Sean Black will start for the Yankees making his second post-season start.  In his first start Black threw 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 5.  The 6 foot 3 inch right-hander made his professional debut against the Scrappers tossing 5 shutout innings on July 15.  Black was perfect during the regular season with a 6-0 record a 1.62ERA.

Wednesday, September 15, 2009 (if necessary) – Staten Island – Jose A Ramirez (RHP) vs. TBA – Mahoning Valley

If the Championship series advances to a game three the young right-handed pitcher Jose A. Ramirez will get the start for the Baby Bombers.  Ramirez was recently called up from the Gulf Coast Yankees before the playoffs began.  In 10 games with the Gulf Coast Yankees he was 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA.  Jose has a good fastball one that sits in the 90s and has topped out at 96 this season, he is said to have a good changeup to compliment his fastball.

Hitting Preview

The Staten Island Yankees and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers were the top two hitting teams in the NY-Penn League during the regular season.  The Scrappers were on top with a .256 combined average while the Yankees were right behind them with a .255 average.  State Island however has had better success against the Scrappers this year then the Scrappers had against them.  The Baby Bombers swept the Scrappers in a three-game set earlier this season.

The Yankees will be led by second baseman Jimmy Paredes, outfielders Zoilo Almonte, Neil Medchill and DeAngelo Mack in addition to catcher Kyle Higashioka.  Paredes is batting an even .500 during the playoffs.  Baby Bomber offense does offer a bigger power threat than that of the Scrappers as the Yankees hit 52 homeruns as opposed to the 28 hit by Mahoning Valley.  In the playoffs Staten Island has also been the better hitting team, batting a combined .226 as opposed to the Scrappers who batted only .194 in the first round.

Robert M. Pimpsner

Robert joins Gotham Baseball after spending 7 1/2 years as the owner and senior writer for Baby-Bombers.com providing independent coverage of the Staten Island Yankees and their alumni for thousands of visitors. In July of 2009 he joined Gotham Baseball, bringing his coverage of the Baby Bombers.

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