Buffalo, Columbus, Richmond Pace IL Divisions

August 13, 2004 - International League (IL1) News Release

Pennant races are heating up as the International League heads into the final weeks of its 121st season. Nine teams are within 5.0 games of a playoff berth, with four clubs to advance to the League’s 2004 Governors’ Cup Playoffs. The Buffalo Bisons hold the largest lead of all Division leaders with a 4.5 game edge over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in the IL North. The Bisons look to return to the playoffs after missing last year’s post-season for the first time in four years. The West Division-leading Columbus Clippers failed to make the 2003 Governors’ Cup Playoffs despite winning at a .710 clip in August, but are in the driver’s seat this season. The Clippers currently hold a 3.0 game lead over their in-state rival, the Toledo Mud Hens. The South Division is too close to call with three clubs within 2.0 games of the Division lead. The Richmond Braves currently hold the top spot with the two-time defending Governors’ Cup Champion Durham Bulls 0.5 games back and the Norfolk Tides two behind. The non-division-winning club with the highest winning percentage will claim the circuit’s fourth playoff position as a Wild Card. Six teams currently are within five games of the Wild Card berth. Current leader Durham faces strong challenges from Division contenders Scranton/WB (-1.0), Norfolk (-1.5), and Toledo (-3.5), as well as North Division clubs Pawtucket (-2.5) and Rochester (-4.0).

The International League’s 72nd Annual Governors’ Cup Playoffs will begin on September 8th in the home ballparks of the West Division Champion and the Wild Card Club. In the IL’s predetermined format, the Wild Card Club will face the North Division Winner while the West Champion will face the South Division Champ in a best-of-five First Round Series. Following a pair of games hosted by the Wild Card and West Division winning clubs, the series will shift to the opponents’ stadiums for the final three games as necessary.

The survivors of these two battles will advance to the best-of-five Governors’ Cup Championship Series to begin on September 14th in the city of either the North Division Champion or Wild Card Club. After two games, the series will resume at the home of either the West or South Division Champion on September 16th for the final three games as necessary.

IL Governors’ Cup Playoffs Started Minor League Trend

Former International League President Frank “Shag” Shaughnessy, then the Montreal General Manager, introduced his playoff system to League directors in 1933 and the Governors’ Cup was born. In an era when the season ended with the team in first place considered the pennant winner, “Shag” was looking to maintain interest for more than the one or two clubs involved in that race at the conclusion of each season. Shaughnessy proposed a playoff format in which four clubs would be involved. That year, fourth place Buffalo, with a losing record during the regular season, defeated Rochester and Baltimore en route to the first Governors’ Cup Title, ahead of pennant-winner Newark, which had a 14.5 game lead at the close of regular season play.

Several other Minor Leagues saw the success of the IL’s post-season championship and followed suit. Now, all 20 National Association Leagues have some sort of playoff system to end the season.

The Governors’ Cup, to be awarded annually to the post-season champion was designed by then IL Supervisor of Umpires W.B. Carpenter. The trophy was sponsored by the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Maryland as well as the Lieutenant Governors of the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, hence the name. After 55 years of service, the original Governors’ Cup was given a permanent home in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown following the 1988 season. A new trophy was created and currently resides at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, home of the reigning Governors’ Cup champion Durham Bulls.

Record Number of Teams Involved in Stretch Run Action

Fans across the International League are witnessing an August stretch run unlike any in International League history. Entering play today, nine of the League’s 14 clubs are within five games of a berth in the Governors’ Cup Playoffs, the most in any International League season (prior to 1993, International League membership consisted of just eight teams in every season except 1963).

Last season, eight teams could sniff the playoffs on August 13, matching the previous high set in 1999 and 1995. The record low of four came in 2001 as eventual Division winners Buffalo, Louisville, and Norfolk and Wild Card entrant Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had commanding leads entering the season’s final weeks.

But while the races may seem to be wild and unpredictable, recent history shows that the Playoff leaders entering play on August 13 usually go on to finish strong and advance to the Governors’ Cup playoffs. In fact, since 1998, only the 2003 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, the 2002 Richmond Braves, and the 2000 Pawtucket Red Sox have failed to advance to the Governors’ Cup Playoffs after holding berths entering play on August 13th. That’s an 88% success rate (21 of 24) for August 13th leaders.

Take a look back at five of the IL’s last six playoff races entering play on August 13 (2001 has been eliminated due to the abnormally large Division & Wild Card leads).

2003 - Eight teams in the hunt
Race August 13 Leader Clubs Within 5.0 Games Playoff Entrant
North Pawtucket Scranton/WB (-3.0) Pawtucket
West Louisville none Louisville
South Durham Charlotte (-3.5) Durham
Wild Card Scranton/WB Ott. (-3.0), Buf. (-3.5), Col. (-3.5) Ottawa

2002 - Seven teams in the hunt
Race August 13 Leader Clubs Within 5.0 Games Playoff Entrant
North Scranton/WB Buffalo (-4.5) Scranton/WB
West Toledo Louisville (-1.5) Toledo
South Durham/Richmond none Durham
Wild Card Buffalo Ottawa (-4.0), Louisville (-4.5) Buffalo

2000 - Six teams in the hunt
Race August 13 Leader Clubs Within 5.0 Games Playoff Entrant
North Buffalo Pawtucket (-5.0), Scranton/WB (-5.0) Buffalo
West Indianapolis Columbus (-3.0) Indianapolis
South Durham none Durham
Wild Card Paw. & SWB Columbus (4.5) Scranton/WB

1999 - Eight teams in the hunt
Race August 13 Leader Clubs Within 5.0 Games Playoff Entrant
North Scranton/WB Pawtucket (-1.5), Syracuse (-1.5) Scranton/WB
West Columbus none Columbus
South Charlotte Durham (-2.0), Norfolk (-4.5) Durham
Wild Card Durham Norfolk (-2.5), Indianapolis (-4.5) Charlotte

1998 - Six teams in the hunt
Race August 13 Leader Clubs Within 5.0 Games Playoff Entrant
North Syracuse none Buffalo
West Louisville none Louisville
South Durham none Durham
Wild Card Buffalo Pawtucket (-1.0), Indianapolis (-4.5) Syracuse

Buffalo, Columbus, Richmond Look to Hold Off Challengers

NORTH DIVISION: The Buffalo Bisons (Cleveland Indians) hold the largest lead of any Division leader, pacing the IL North by 4.5 games over the second place Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Philadelphia Phillies). The Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston) and the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins) remain in the hunt, 6.0 and 7.5 games back respectively. In yesterday’s action, Buffalo beat Pawtucket 7-4 as catcher Sandy Martinez clubbed two home runs while Rochester bested Ottawa, 3-1. The scheduled game between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Syracuse was rained out. Buffalo boasts a potent offense, with League-leading marks in team batting average (.298 - 2nd place Richmond is at .281 as a team) and runs scored (707). The Bisons have taken several hits since the All-Star Break however, seeing three of their top offensive threats either traded or promoted. Rookie sensation Grady Sizemore (.292 avg., 7 HR, 49 RBI) joined the Cleveland Indians while OF Russell Branyan (.288/25/75) and 1B Eric Crozier (.297/20/53) were dealt away by the parent club. Buffalo’s cupboard remains stocked with three of the IL’s leading hitters (Jhonny Peralta - .333; Brandon Phillips - .316; Chris Clapinski - .311) and veteran slugger Ernie Young (.300/21/83). On the mound, Buffalo is led by right-handers Kenny Rayborn (7-2) and Kyle Denney (8-3) along with recent acquisition Evan Thomas (a 13-game winner for Scranton/WB in 2000). The Red Barons saw their biggest offensive force head to Philadelphia this past week as outfielder Lou Collier took his .326 average, 14 HR and 66 RBI to the Phillies. Second baseman Pablo Ozuna has stepped up in Collier’s absence batting .462 over the past ten games. Another who will have to make a quick adjustment is 1B Ryan Howard, who had 37 HR at Double-A Reading before being promoted to the Red Barons on July 31 (he hit his first Triple-A HR Tuesday). Scranton/WB ranks third in the League with a 4.09 ERA. Reliever Dan Giese has 11 victories out of the bullpen and former IL Pitcher-of-the-Year Ed Yarnall is 3-0 with 22 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA in his last four starts. Pawtucket was 11 games under .500 at the All-Star Break but has stormed into playoff contention by posting a 21-7 record (.750) since July 15. PawSox 3B Earl Snyder leads the League with 32 HR and 89 RBI while OF Adam Hyzdu has been on fire in August, batting .538 (nine multi-hit games) with 4 HR and 13 RBI in 11 contests this month. Eleven-game winner Tim Kester leads the Red Sox pitching staff, which recently lost Australian RHP John Stephens to the Olympics. With their win over Ottawa last night, the Red Wings evened their record and moved within four games of the Wild Card berth. The Wings are just 4-8 in August despite the efforts of OF Jason Kubel. The 22-year-old is batting .417 with 4 HR and 13 RBI this month. He should take over the IL batting lead this weekend as his .356 average easily would pace the loop if he had an additional two plate appearances. A pair of Triple-A rookies, Dave Gassner and J.D. Durbin, will carry the load for the Rochester pitching staff. Gassner is 13-7 with a 3.24 ERA while Durbin was recently promoted from Double-A and is 1-0 with 19 Ks in a pair of starts. Someone will have to fill the shoes of closer Jesse Crain (19 saves), who was recently promoted to Minnesota.

WEST DIVISION: The Columbus Clippers (New York Yankees) have taken advantage of poor play by the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) to take over the West Division lead and swell their advantage to three games despite a 13-inning loss to Indianapolis last night. The Mud Hens saw their game in Charlotte cancelled last night due to rain, one night after winning their first August game - a 4-0 six-inning win over the Knights on Wednesday. The Hens are 1-9 in August. Columbus was 3.5 games out of the Division lead as recently as July 28 but have taken over the top spot, even though they are just 14-16 since the All-Star Break. The Clippers’ well-balanced team ranks third in the League in average (.279) and fifth in team ERA (4.34). Left-handers Alex Graman (9-4, 3.72 ERA, 103 Ks) and Brad Halsey (8-4, 3.21, 78) pace Clippers starters while reliever Colter Bean is 6-2 with 92 strikeouts and a 2.15 ERA in 45 appearances. Offensively, infielder Andy Phillips leads the club with 22 HR and 69 RBI (5/15 in August) and SS Felix Escalona ranks seventh in the International League with a .314 average. The Clippers have not reached the IL post-season since 1999 - their longest post-season drought as an IL member. Of all playoff contenders, Toledo has probably been hit hardest by player losses in the past few weeks. The Mud Hens have lost All-Star 1B Joe Vitiello (.328 avg./16 HR/78 RBI) to family issues, RHP John Ennis (9-5, 10 saves) and OF Nook Logan (.263, 38 SB) to Detroit and LHP Adrian Burnside (4-7) and INF Danny Klassen (.271, 38 RBI) to the Olympics. 1B Andy Barkett (.299/18/62), ex-Major Leaguer James Baldwin (4-3, 3.55 ERA) and closer Franklyn German (24 saves) lead the current Mud Hens, who come home tonight looking to make a move in the Division race.

SOUTH DIVISION: There’s an exciting three team race brewing in the IL South Division where the Richmond Braves (Atlanta), looking for their first playoff berth since 1995, lead the two-time defending Governors’ Cup Champion Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) by 0.5 games. The Norfolk Tides (New York Mets) sit 2.0 games back, having moved into playoff consideration by playing at a .704 clip (19-8) since the All-Star Break. The Bulls defeated Louisville 1-0 last night, while Richmond and Norfolk were off (the Braves and Tides had a Wednesday night DH in Richmond washed out). Richmond leads the IL in pitching with a 3.82 team ERA. The R-Braves lost starter Mike Romano (10-5, 3.50 ERA) to injury earlier this week, but still boast a strong staff led by RHS Chuck Smith (7-2, 2.40 ERA), set-up man Roman Colon (3.86 ERA in a League-leading 49 appearances) and the League’s top closer in RH Matt Whiteside (29 saves). Offensively, Richmond must replace IL batting leader Pete Orr (.333) who is currently playing in the Olympics for Canada. 1B James Jurries (.275/17/49) is the top remaining threat. Durham remains in contention for their third straight Governors’ Cup Crown and their sixth South Division Crown in the past seven years behind a quartet of sluggers. INF Jorge Cantu and OFs Midre Cummings and Jonny Gomes each have blasted 22 HR, while OF Matt Diaz (.330 avg., 38 2Bs, 19 HR & 82 RBI) had the game-winning RBI last night. The Bulls’ pitching staff has seen a revolving door of action with 29 different pitchers, 16 of which have started a game. Norfolk has been the IL’s hottest team of late, going 9-1 in August. Tides’ pitchers have been dominating since the All-Star Break, with a 3.24 ERA in 27 games, to lead the team back into the playoff hunt (from a 41-47 record). No Norfolk pitcher has more than seven wins, but Heath Bell has come on strong in the bullpen, going 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA and 14 saves. Triple-A rookies Craig Brazell (21 HR/62 RBI) and Victor Diaz (20/75) pace the offense, which recently added free agent signee Ozzie Timmons (190 career minor league HR).

WILD CARD STANDINGS: Durham 64 56 .533 ---
Scranton/WB 61 55 .526 1.0
Norfolk 60 55 .522 1.5
Pawtucket 61 58 .513 2.5
Toledo 60 59 .504 3.5
Rochester 60 60 .500 4.0

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Among playoff contenders, Richmond and Scranton/WB are slated to play 142 games while Toledo will play 143.

SERIES TO WATCH (AUGUST 13-19)

August 13-14 - Norfolk @ Columbus - The Division-leading Clippers try to slow down the red-hot Tides. Columbus leads the season series with the Tides 4-3.

August 13-14 - Richmond @ Toledo - Another battle of Ohio-Virginia as the R-Braves flee the rain in the South to battle the Mud Hens. Toledo looks to right a sinking August ship.

August 13-15 - Scranton/WB @ Rochester - The Red Wings need to get hot to move up in the Wild Card Standings. Reigning IL Pitcher-of-the-Week J.D. Durbin takes the mound for Rochester tonight.

August 13-15 - Ottawa @ Buffalo - The Lynx, who stormed to the Wild Card berth last August, will have to play spoiler this year. Ottawa has finished the season series with Pawtucket, but has a total of 19 games left against the other North contenders.

August 15-16 - Richmond @ Columbus - A possible playoff preview as the current Division leaders square off in Columbus. Richmond has won six of ten games from Columbus in 2004.

August 16-19 - Buffalo @ Pawtucket - Pawtucket gets the opportunity to make up ground on Buffalo at home. The PawSox are 36-19 in Divisional play, but the Bisons are an IL-best 34-25 on the road.

August 17-19 - Toledo @ Durham - The Bulls boast the IL’s best home record (38-22). Will that be enough to knock the Mud Hens back in the Wild Card race?

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