American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier previews the American Association Championship Series between the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and the Kansas City Monarchs which begins on Friday, September 17.

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Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks vs. Kansas City Monarchs

The American Association Championship Series begins on Friday evening when the best-of-five series starts with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks hosting the Kansas City Monarchs for the first two games of the series. The series then shifts to Kansas City for Game 3 beginning on Monday. Games 4 and 5 will be played in Kansas City if necessary.

How the RedHawks Got Here

The road to the championship series has been quite different for both of these teams. The RedHawks finished second in the North Division, 1.5 games behind the Chicago Dogs. Fargo got off to a fast start, going 10-4 in May, but struggled a bit in June as the team went 12-14, seeing their team ERA nearly double from May (2.72) to June (5.27). The team began to right the ship in July, going 16-12 thanks to a .313 batting average and 35 homers during the month. The power onslaught continued through August, as the team went 18-8, hitting 37 homers and posting a .317 batting average. More importantly, the team posted a 3.49 ERA. They went a perfect 5-0 during September.

It was a spectacular offense that led the RedHawks, as they finished first in team batting average at .304 and set a club record with 126 homers, second best in the American Association. The RedHawks boasted the top two hitters in the league in Manuel Boscan (.344) and Kevin Krause (.341) and five of the league’s top 20 hitters wore a Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks uniform.

The late surge ensured that the RedHawks finished second in the North, enabling them to host the wildcard contest with the Milwaukee Milkmen. Matt Tomshaw was stellar in that contest, leading the team to a 5-0 victory and a date with the Chicago Dogs.

Fargo dominated Game 1 of this series, winning 9-4 behind a four hit, three RBI performance by Leobaldo Pina and four RBI by Jordan George. Chicago then dominated the second contest, sending the series back to Fargo tied at one. The RedHawks looked like they would fall behind in the series, trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh but an RBI single by Boscan and a wild pitch put the RedHawks on top. Chicago responded with two runs in the top of the eighth inning, but Fargo earned the victory on walk off single by John Silviano to give the RedHawks a 6-5 victory.

Shaking off the tough loss in Game 3, Chicago dominated Game 4, earning an 11-1 victory. That set up the dramatic Game 5, where the Dogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to an error and a two-run homer in the top of the first. They extended their lead to five in the top of the fifth, but the RedHawks began to chip away with two runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a two-run single by Silviano. The Fargo first baseman then gave his team the lead, blasting a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning as part of the five-run frame. The RedHawks added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth on their way to a 10-6 victory, advancing to the championship.

How the Monarchs Got Here

The Kansas City Monarchs finished with the top record in the American Association, going 69-31. That was an incredibly impressive mark, considering that Kansas City started the season 4-6. While the pitching staff was never more than solid, the lineup for the Monarchs was devastating. They led the team to a 16-9 mark in June, hitting 32 homers, then went 24-7 in July behind a league-leading 45 homeruns. In August, the numbers got even crazier as the team went 21-8 with 52 homeruns. Kansas City finished the season with a 4-1 record in September, sweeping the Railroaders in Cleburne.

Kansas City finished second in team batting average, but set an American Association record for homeruns with 147. The Monarchs lineup also boasted an impressive group, as four of the top 20 hitters in the league were in the Kansas City lineup. That included Morgan McCullough who finished fifth in batting and led all rookies with a .333 batting average.

While the regular season was impressive, Kansas City has looked even more so in the playoffs. They swept the Sioux City Explorers in the first round, outscoring the Explorers 36-10 in the three games. The Monarchs scored at least 11 runs in all three games, including a dominating 14-2 performance in Game 3, when the team scored six runs in the first and third innings to put this game away.

Tale of the Tape: (League ranking appears in parentheses)

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Overall Record: 61-38, second in North Division (3)
Home Record: 36-17
Road Record: 25-21

Batting Average: .304 (1)
Homeruns: 126 (2)
Runs Scored: 649 (2)
Walks: 334 (12)
Stolen Bases: 48 (11)
On-Base Percentage: .369 (4)
Slugging Percentage: .479 (2)

ERA: 4.54 (4)
Saves: 24 (T-7)
Strikeouts: 841 (3)
WHIP: 1.42 (4)
Homeruns Allowed: 97 (7)

Fielding Percentage: .982 (2)
Errors: 65 (2)

Kansas City Monarchs

Overall Record: 69-31, first in the South Division (1)
Home Record: 44-9
Road Record: 25-22

Batting Average: .289 (2)
Homeruns: 147 (1)
Runs Scored: 664 (1)
Walks: 410 (5)
Stolen Bases: 77 (9)
On-Base Percentage: .373 (3)
Slugging Percentage: .488 (1)

ERA: 4.54 (4)
Saves: 25 (5)
Strikeouts: 841 (3)
WHIP: 1.41 (3)
Homeruns Allowed: 92 (3)

Fielding Percentage: .978 (T-7)
Errors: 74 (7)

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Regular Season Head-to-Head:

May 21 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 4, Kansas City Monarchs 9
May 22 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 8, Kansas City Monarchs 4
May 23 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 1, Kansas City Monarchs 2
August 2 – Kansas City Monarchs 6, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 9
August 3 – Kansas City Monarchs 6, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 8
August 4 – Kansas City Monarchs 7, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 1

Position Breakdown (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks player(s) listed first

Catcher: Dylan Kelly vs. Alexis Olmeda

Kelly is coming off a spectacular season where he hit .313 in 79 games with 40 runs scored, six homers, and 56 RBI. Kelly has always been known as one of the best defensive catchers in the league, but his offensive numbers are as good as any backstop in the league. He is durable, keeps runners from taking the extra-base, and now is a real force at the plate. During the playoffs, Kelly has had some big hits, and is hitting .304 in six games with four runs scored and two RBI.

Olmeda does not have the offensive numbers of Kelly, but he is as good behind the plate is you are going to find. The Kansas City catcher hit .216 with three homers and 19 RBI in 58 games during the regular season, but has stepped up his game during the playoffs, hitting .273 in three games with two runs scored and three RBI.

Advantage: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

First Base: John Silviano vs. Casey Gillaspie

This is a very interesting matchup, as I think that these are two of the most unsung heroes on their clubs. That is rather surprising considering that both players led their teams in homeruns during the regular season. They just did not earn the hype that came along with spectacular seasons.

Silviano clubbed 24 homers to go along with 73 runs scored, 71 RBI, and a .290 batting average. It was by far his very best season in the American Association, as Silviano established himself as one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. His postseason has been unreal, as Silviano delivered the walk off game-winner in Game 3, then had a grand slam and six RBI to help lead his team to victory in Game 5. He is hitting .292 with nine RBI in six playoff games. We may be playing right field in the series.

Gillaspie is an incredibly smart player who not only produces at the plate but is one of the best defensive first baseman in the league. The Monarchs infielder hit .257 with 67 runs scored, 21 homers, and 70 RBI. He added 26 doubles to go along with 49 total extra-base hits and his 56 walks helped him to earn a .356 on-base percentage. His impressive run has continued in the playoffs, where he is hitting .286 with four runs scored and three RBI.

Advantage: Even

Second Base: Manuel Boscan vs. Ryan Grotjohn

All Boscan did was lead the American Association with a .344 batting average, scoring 72 runs while driving in 63. He also produced 33 extra-base hits, including seven homers. It was an impressive season for Boscan, especially considering that he is a catcher by trade. The team asked him to take over the second base duties and he has been outstanding in that role. Boscan is hitting .259 in six playoff games.

It is hard to imagine someone having a better season them the league batting champion, but Ryan Grotjohn is just ridiculously good. He is playing out a position as well, normally an outfielder, but settled into that second base position and has been great for Kansas City, hitting .329 with 76 runs and 60 RBI. Grotjohn also boasted an impressive .436 on-base percentage and added 38 extra-base hits, including 10 homeruns. He has continued his run into the playoffs, hitting .300 with five runs scored in three games.

Advantage: Kansas City Monarchs

Third Base: Leobaldo Pina vs. Darnell Sweeney

After a disappointing 2020 season by his standards, Pina responded with a .311 batting average in 93 games, scoring 71 runs while driving in 65. He added 15 homers and 44 total extra-base hits. Pina has had some big playoff games, hitting .333 in six games with six runs scored and four RBI. He has two homeruns this postseason.

A case could be made that Sweeney is the best all-around player in the league. He only hit .262 during the regular season, but scored 76 runs, drove in 69, and hit 19 homers. He also stole 22 bases, and can play anywhere in the infield or the outfield. In the postseason, Sweeney has been great, going 4-9 (.444) with five runs scored, two homeruns, and five RBI.

Advantage: Even

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Shortstop: Sam Dexter vs. Morgan McCullough

This is a battle of the two guys who have become the spark plugs of their teams. Dexter was long viewed as a guy who had a great glove, but not so good of a bat. That is no longer the case, as he hit .2 68M 91 games with 50 runs scored and 55 RBI. Dexter is the guy at the bottom of the order who continues to keep innings alive, helping set the stage for that impressive 1-4 in the RedHawks batting order. Dexter has been impressive in the postseason, hitting .333 in six games.

McCullough was the PURE Performance Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies with a .333 batting average. McCullough hit 13 home runs, scored 66 runs and drove home another 59. It was an impressive season for the Kansas City shortstop, as he began with no real defined role on the team, even spending some time behind the plate before settling in at the shortstop position. He has been incredible defensively, making just seven errors this year in 80 games. McCullough is hitting .250 with four runs and two RBI in the postseason.

Advantage: Kansas City Monarchs

Outfield: Kevin Krause, Correlle Prime, Alex Boxwell, Jordan George vs. Gabriel Guerrero, Kevin Santa, Colin Willis, Paulo Orlando

Prime may wind up playing first. This is going to depend upon the health of Krause, who sat out Game 5. If the RedHawks decide to go with offense, it will be George, Boxwell, and Prime or Silviano in the outfield. Otherwise, Prime will be at first with Will Zimmerman getting the start in center. Should Krause not be able to go, that is a huge blow for Fargo, as he finished second in the league with a .341 batting average, scoring 66 and driving him 55. George had a spectacular season, hitting .332 with 16 homers and 80 RBI, and Prime remains one of the most dangerous players in the league, hitting .304 with 75 runs scored, 18 homers, and 60 RBI. Boxwell is the forgotten man in this lineup, but he hit .296 in 80 games. George is hitting .381 of the playoffs, Prime .360, and Boxwell .318.

The Monarchs have to with the best players in the American Association in their outfielder in Willis and Guerrero. Willis has long established himself as an American Association superstar, but this season took his game to another level in Kansas City, hitting .326 with 62 runs scored, 64 runs driven in, and 19 homers. Guerrero is an RBI machine, hitting .319 was 73 runs and 86 RBI. Guerrero was ridiculous in the first round, going 8-13 (.615) with three runs scored and seven RBI. Willis get .500 with four runs and eight RBI. Orlando was a late addition to this team, hitting .240 in eight games. He appeared in just one game in the first round, and it may be Charcer Burks (.375 in round 1) who gets to start.

Advantage: Kansas City Monarchs

Designated Hitter/Bench: Nick Novak, Silviano, Zimmerman vs. Ibandel Isabel, Kevin Santa, Daniel Wasinger

The health of Krause is going to determine a lot about who is on the bench, who is in the designated hitter role, and who will be playing at first base for Fargo. In the best case scenario, Silviano is the DH, and I have already talked about his numbers. Novak has been spectacular in the playoffs, hitting .500 in four games while scoring three runs. He was a big part of both of those comeback rallies for the RedHawks.
Isabel has been ridiculous since joining Kansas City. He will be the primary designated hitter after hitting .320 with 11 homers and 24 RBI in just 27 games. In the postseason his game has been even more impressive, going 5-11 (.455) with six runs scored, two homers, and four RBI in just three games.  Wasinger had a solid season as the backup catcher, hitting .242 in 39 games. Santa would be starting on virtually any other team, but cannot find playing time with the Monarchs. He hit .337 in 29 games.

Advantage: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Starting Pitching: Matt Tomshaw, Ryan Flores, Bret Helton, Logan Nissen vs. Matt Hall, Keyvius Sampson, Justin Donatella, Justin Shafer

Fargo-Moorhead is going to be at a decided disadvantage to start the series, as it took them going with both Tomshaw and Flores late in their series against Chicago. That likely means that neither of these two will be able to make more than a single start in the series. Tomshaw could go in Game 2 on short rest and come back on short rest for Game 5, but how we respond to that is a huge question mark. No denying that Fargo has a solid group here. Tomshaw returned and went 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in five starts. Flores was named as the PURE Performance Pitcher of the Year after posting an impressive 9-2 record with four saves and a 3.32 ERA in 32 appearances, 10 of which were starts. He began the season in middle relief, then became the closer, before dominating as a starter. Helton went 7-9 with a 4.79 ERA and Nissen will likely only make one start in the series.

The Monarchs have a huge advantage, as they have been able to rest their starters and get their rotation in place. Hall will open the series after going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three appearances for the Monarchs. Sampson was also a late addition, going 5-1 with a 3.92 ERA in eight appearances, and Donatella has been impressive since joining the rotation, going 5-1 with a 3.35 ERA. It is unlikely that Shafer will get a start in the series.

Advantage: Kansas City Monarchs

Bullpen: Joe Jones, Alex DuBord, Tyler Grauer, Michael Hope, Austin Ver Steeg, Taylor Wright, Luke Lind, Jon Ludwig vs. Elroy Urbina, Jameson McGrane, Carlos Diaz, Dalbert Siri, Carson LaRue, Jeremy Rhoades, Jacob Lindgren, Jake Matthys

The RedHawks bullpen is a huge reason why they are in the Championship Series. This group has been spectacular, especially Lind, Jones, and DuBord. Michael Hope did not pitch well again Chicago, but he has great stuff and has been a key part of this bullpen.

The one big advantage that Kansas City has is that they have two guys who can close out games. Both McGrane and Diaz have been the closer for the Monarchs this season, and that gives the team the advantage for matchups late in a contest. One thing I really like for Kansas City is that they have Matthys available to go in long relief if need be. He has great stuff and can be an innings eater if their starter struggles early on.

Advantage: Kansas City Monarchs

Managers: Chris Coste vs. Joe Calfapietra

This is one of the most exciting parts of this Championship Series. You have a World Series champion in Coste and an the American Association champion in Calfapietra. Both of these managers are sensational, and there is not enough that can be said about the job that they have done both during the regular season and in the playoffs.

Advantage: Even

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Who Wins:

There is no doubt that everyone is going to look at those 69 victories that Kansas City posted and see how they dominated Sioux City and believe that they look like an absolute lock to win the series. I will not deny that the Monarchs are extremely impressive.

However, these teams split their six meetings and, if you look at the numbers, the RedHawks are as good as the Monarchs statistically. This is a great team that has an impressive lineup, a solid bullpen, and quality starters.

I have thought Fargo-Moorhead would be the American Association champions since before the season began, and I see no reason to change that opinion now. Take the RedHawks to win in four.

By Robert Pannier