2019 International League playoff preview
Even after playing their last game of the regular season, the Durham Bulls weren't sure they'd be in the Governors' Cup playoffs.But the two-time defending champions received a little help and so they'll go for the three-peat when the International League postseason begins Wednesday night."Now it's playoff baseball," said utility
Even after playing their last game of the regular season, the Durham Bulls weren't sure they'd be in the Governors' Cup playoffs.
But the two-time defending champions received a little help and so they'll go for the three-peat when the International League postseason begins Wednesday night.
"Now it's playoff baseball," said utility player
But the Bulls' first postseason opponent wasn't determined until Tuesday's special one-game playoff between North Division co-champions Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Syracuse. The RailRiders posted 13 late runs to rally to victory.
In the other semifinal, West Division winner Columbus and South Division champion Gwinnett will battle for a spot in the Finals.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (76-65, North Division champion) vs.
Durham Bulls (75-64, South Division runner-up/Wild Card)
Teams split the season series, 3-3
Game 1 at Durham, Sept. 4 at 7:05 p.m. ET
Game 2 at Durham, Sept. 6, at 6:05 p.m. ET
Game 3 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Sept. 7 at 6:35 p.m. ET
Game 4 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (if necessary), Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. ET
Game 5 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (if necessary), Sept. 9 at 5:05 p.m. ET
The Bulls are playoff regulars, appearing for the 16th time in 22 seasons in the league.
They won five of their final seven regular-season games, but a loss in the finale left them in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. Moments later, Norfolk completed a comeback with a 10-inning victory that eliminated Charlotte. Durham had the same record as the Knights, but the Bulls' 12-11 edge in head-to-head meetings was the tiebreaker.
"It's a different feel to do it after a loss," Rays No. 18 prospect
Durham is under the direction of first-year manager Brady Williams after Jared Sandberg was at the helm for the past two titles.
"You play 140 games, you're not backing into anything," Williams said, realizing a rash of late-season roster changes impacted the team's lineup and rotation on an almost daily basis. "We're trying to develop big league talent and play winning baseball."
Cronenworth, second baseman Wong, catcher
"It's the hottest team at the time," James said of what it takes to take the championship.
Bulls infielder
"That's the goal, that's the plan," he said of the postseason. "Playing under Brady, everyone is going all out for him."
Durham added slugging outfielder
Complete playoff coverage »
Meanwhile, the RailRiders played runner-up to the Bulls in the Finals the past two years. And despite the high rate of turnover in the clubhouse, the team has been able to remain consistent.
"Over the course of the entire season, the guys have played really good baseball," RailRiders manager Jay Bell said of his squad. "And we've had a lot of guys in the clubhouse; we've had 84 different players on our roster this year. And with that number of players, you're trying to sell the same message over and over, and hopeful they all buy in. I've had a great group of guys that have bought in and whenever new players comes in, the players who have been there for a while, they sell the same message. So it's been a really neat year for us. I've enjoyed it immensely."
Gwinnett Stripers (80-59, South Division champion) vs.
Columbus Clippers (81-59, West Division champion)
Teams split the season series, 3-3
Game 1 at Gwinnett, Sept. 4 at 7:05 p.m. ET
Game 2 at Gwinnett, Sept. 5, at 7:05 p.m. ET
Game 3 at Columbus, Sept. 6 at 7:05 p.m. ET
Game 4 at Columbus (if necessary), Sept. 7 at 7:05 p.m. ET
Game 5 at Columbus (if necessary), Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. ET
The prospect-laden Stripers roster welcomes the opportunity to play more games. Gwinnett will face a Columbus team that has been on cruise control since clinching a playoff spot and finishing 15 games ahead in the West Division. A group of young players have been filling key roles for the Stripers.
"It has been a cool experience now in Triple-A," said Atlanta's No. 2 prospect
The postseason will give the rapidly ascending 20-year-old outfielder the chance to show he can sustain his strong play.
"I told our manager [Damon Berryhill] here that it still feels like I'm in Spring Training, so I'm ready to roll," Waters said. "This season I've taken a lot more pride in being in the weight room and managing my body, maintaining my strength throughout the season."
Slugging outfielder/third baseman
"It's all about getting at-bats," Riley said. "It's there for a couple of at-bats and then it's gone. Right now, there's not a rush for me to be up there (in Atlanta)."
Berryhill believes the newcomers have continuously replenished the roster at a high level.
"We've got a lot of younger position players," he said. "It always hurts to lose the guys we lost, but we have talented guys coming up."
In brief
Bradley's blasts: Columbus Clippers first baseman
Back in time: Cronenworth won the IL batting title with a .334 average. The 25-year-old was out for more than a month with a hamstring injury before returning in late August. "I got right back into it," he said. "It was great. Instead of ending on a negative note, finishing on a positive note." He was the first Durham player to finish atop the league's batting list since Toby Hall in 2001.
Rough ending: The Knights appeared in good shape for their first playoff appearance since 2012 until losing eight of their final nine games. "Playing in the playoffs is why we play the game," Charlotte infielder
Bob Sutton is a contributor to MiLB.com.