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Four weeks remain the 2009 Spring Season, and it’s shaping up to be a wild finish.  The playoff format was recently changed to include 4 teams from each division, with the the #4 seed facing the #3 seed, the winner facing the #2 seed, with that winner facing the #1 seed.  The championship game will see the two division winners facing off for the title.

In Division I the race seems to be between the Cobras and the Wolves.  The Wolves have the edge, but the two teams face off this weekend.  A Wolves win would go a long way towards the solidifying that spot.  But if the Cobras win, the last 3 weeks will be very important.

The Division II race is all but over, with seeding being the only concern.  The Brewers are 10-0, and can clinch the division with 2 more wins.  The log jam at 2,3,4 has been cleared up for now, with the Matadors losing to the Hurricanes this past weekend.  The Hurricanes and Knights meet this weekend which will go a long way towards deciding the #2 seed.

Division I

The Dirty Beavers (5-3) are in control of their own destiny and reside in first place of Division I.  If they can somehow find a way to beat the Knights this week they will be firmly in control with 4 games left, but that is a tall order.  Their magic number is 8 points or 4 wins.

The Outfitters (4-4) are also in a good position in the playoff hunt.  They are 3 points ahead of both the Wolves and Bandits but have a tough game against the Hurricanes this week.  Their magic number is 10 points or 5 wins.

The Wolves and Bandits are both (2-4-1) and their tie is against each other when the Wolves blew a big lead late.  Both teams will face a fight to the finish line and need to start winning those close games.

The Cobras (0-8) are still in the hunt.  They will need to beat the Coyotes and hope both the Wolves and Bandits both lose.  Then the Cobras will need to focus on beating those teams as well.

Division II

The Brewers (8-0) are in great position, but a slip up in the stretch run can still cost them their playoff spot.  Their magic number is 10 points or 5 wins

The Knights, Matadors, and Hurricanes are each 5-2, and in a 3 way tie for the final 2 playoff spots.  If the season ended today the Matadors would have the #2 seed because all teams are 1-1 against each other, but the Matadors have the best run differential in those games (+2).  The Knights are at even, and the Hurricanes are at -1.  The Knights and Hurricanes would meet in a dramatic one game playoff if the season ended today.

The Coyotes (0-8) playoff hopes are on life support.

Well 7 games have been played now, and with the season being 14 games long this means we have reached the mid-way point of the season.  Some trends have started to emerge, but we still have some very tight playoff races.  Here are some things that I consider noteworthy so far:

Brewers Domination:  The Brewers went undefeated through their first turn through the league, but they don’t look unbeatable in my opinion.  I can see the Matadors, Hurricanes, or Outfitters taking this team out.  The Knights also played them close, so don’t look past them either.

Division II is amazing:  We have 4 of the 5 teams at least 3 games over .500 so far.  There is no question that this division is strong.  It’s probably that a team will finish over .500 and NOT make the playoffs.  Meanwhile in Division I it’s likely that a team under .500 will make the post-season.  Fair or not?  On the surface it seems unfair, but it’s the way the league was set up before the season started…  Next season we’ll have one big division which will prevent unbalance from happening again.

The Outfitters are underrated:  They started off slow with injuries and as a new team it has taken them time to gel.  Manager Doug Davis has put his stamp on this team and continues to make moves that improve the ball club.  This team has a real shot to win the championship.

Cobras and Coyotes struggle, but don’t give up: Both teams have yet to win a game, but they are enjoying playing.  They will square off on May 3rd and someone will get the win (please, no ties…).   I have a lot of respect for these teams.

Well, what are your thoughts on the season so far?  Anything pop out to you?  Let us know in the comments section!

The 2009 All Star Game is in the books.  It was a battle of the much talked about dominance of Division II versus the upstart Division I.  It was a well played game, with lots of lead changes, some strong pitching, solid defense, and timely hits.

At the end of the game the Division I team pulled off a 9-8 upset and held bragging rights for the rest of the season.  Division I will now have home field advantage in the championship game.  The day was about more than just the game though, as the two divisions got to know each other better and the game was a testament to sportsmanship.  Lots of back slapping, high fiving, and joking around between the teams.  We look forward to more events like this in the future.

Please share your thoughts of the game in the comments section.

Welcome to the new ABU Blog.  This blog will focus on the American Baseball Union, but will also look at the local baseball scene.  We’re looking for contributors so email us at droman@vegasbaseball.net if you are interested.