The Wichita Wingnuts and Winnipeg Goldeyes will begin their American Association Championship series on Wednesday, when the Goldeyes host Game 1. It is no surprised that “Win” is in part of the name of both franchises, as this has been a season where both squads have shown an impressive ability to win ballgames.

The Wichita Wingnuts were winners of the South Division, posting a 61-39 record, tied for best in the league. They dropped their first game in the American Association playoffs against the Sioux City Explorers, before winning the final three games with a barrage of runs, plating 32 in the final three contests.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes finished second to the St. Paul Saints in the North Division, but made the playoffs as the Wild Card winner. Winnipeg finished 58-42, the third best record in the American Association, and finished just one-half game ahead of Laredo for the Wild Card. Winnipeg won a very hard fought battle with the St. Paul Saints, taking the final two-games in St. Paul to win the series 3-2.

These two teams have met once before in the playoffs. That was in 2012 when the Goldeyes swept the Wingnuts to win the American Association championship.

2016 Head-to-Head:

Tied 2-2
August 11, at Winnipeg, 9-7 Wichita
August 12, at Winnipeg, 8-7 Winnipeg
August 13, at Winnipeg, 7-4 Winnipeg
August 14, at Winnipeg, 9-4 Wichita

Position Comparison: (Wingnuts Players Appear First)

Catcher: Martin Medina vs. Carlton Tanabe

This is a battle of the two of the best defensive catchers in the league. The difference is that Medina is a pretty good offensive weapon as well. When the Wingnuts catcher joined the team, the Wingnuts were 8-11. Since then they went 53-28, as he not only helped to settle down a pitching staff that was in disarray, but also worked with Brent Dean and Brennen Salgado, making this the best catching group in the American Association. Against Sioux City in the first round of the playoffs, Medina hit .357 with 5-runs scored and 5-RBI. Medina hit .385 in 3-games against Winnipeg. He scored a run and drove in three.

Tanabe is also an excellent defensive catcher, and the pitching staff loves the way he calls games. He is not as big of an offensive weapon as Medina, however, hitting .250 with 3-homers and 38-RBI in 84-games. In the first round of the playoffs against St. Paul, Tanabe had just 1-hit in 16-at-bats with 2-RBI. The catcher was just 1-6 in three-games against Wichita.

Advantage: Wichita Wingnuts

First Base: Matt Chavez vs. David Rohm

While the matchup of the two catchers pits two of the best backstops in the league, this comparison is of two of the best offensive weapons in the American Association. Chavez hit .359 during the regular season, tops in the American Association, and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year. He also hit 16-homers, second on the team, and drove in 61-runs. That is really impressive considering that the first baseman sat out for a month with an injury. In the first round, Chavez hit .111, driving in three and scoring three times. He also hit a homer. Against Winnipeg this season, the Wichita first baseman hit .333 with 3-runs, a homer and 4-RBI.

Rohm led the Goldeyes with 71-RBI. He hit .339 with 7-homers in 98-games and is an outstanding hitter. How good of a hitter Rohm is was on display in the first round matchup, when he lit up St. Paul pitching going 12-19 (.632) with 2-runs and an RBI. He is completely on fire right now. He has also had great success against Wichita this season, hitting .455 in 4-games with 2-runs and 4-RBI.

Advantage: Even

Second Base: Christian Stringer vs. Casio Grider

Both players are quality second basemen and have solid bats as well. The Wingnuts second baseman hit .287 during the regular season with a homer and 34-RBI. He scored 82-runs, second best in the league, and also stole 22-bases. Against Sioux City, Stringer hit .257 with 4-runs and 6-RBI. In his 4-games against the Goldeyes, Stringer hit .316 with 3-runs and an RBI.

Grider has a lot more power than Stringer, hitting 11-homers this season to go along with a .279 average and 68-RBI. The Goldeyes second baseman scored 61-runs during the regular season with 22-stolen bases. Against St. Paul, Grider hit .222 with 2-runs and an RBI. He struck out six times in 18-AB. He hit very well in the four-game series against Wichita earlier this season, batting .429 with 2-runs, 5-RBI, 3-doubles and a homer. He would bat fifth in most lineups, but the Goldeyes lineup is so potent that he bats in the bottom third.

Advantage: Winnipeg Goldeyes

Shortstop: Leo Vargas vs. Maikol Gonzalez

This is a matchup of very flashly shortstops who will make some incredible plays on defense. Vargas started out red-hot at the plate, but finished at .250 with 47-runs scored and 27-extra base hits. On the base paths he has a lot of speed, stealing 15-bases, and he is a whiz at short. In the playoffs, Vargas is 3-14 (.214) so far, with 4-runs and 3-RBI. He had a monster series against Winnipeg, hitting .412 with 6-runs and 3-RBI in 4-games. That included a triple and a homer.

Gonzalez played in all 105-games the Goldeyes played, including both the regular season and the playoffs. He is a whiz at short as well, and has one of the best set of eyes at the plate, finishing second in the American Association with 75-walks. He also stole 31-bases, tied for second in the league. Manager Rick Forney loves Gonzalez in the No. 2 spot in the order, because he can do so many things. In the playoffs, Gonzalez is hitting .278 so far with 3-runs and 3-RBI. Against Wichita this season he hit .235 with 5-runs scored and an RBI.

Advantage: Winnipeg Goldeyes

Third Base: Zack Cox vs. Wes Darvill

These are two of the most unsung heroes of the respective teams. Cox had an outstanding season, hitting .290 with 12-homers and 64-runs plated in 96-games. He also scored 77-runs and has a knack for getting big hits. Against Sioux City in Round 1, Cox hit .316 with 2-runs scored and 4-RBI. He also walked three times in the series. The third baseman played in just 2-games against Winnipeg, going 2-8 with 3-runs scored.

Darvill is not the offensive force that Cox is, but he is no less important to his team. The third baseman hit .262 with 41-RBI and 51-runs scored during the regular season. He also walked 41-times and recorded 18-stolen bases. In the first-round series he hit .412 with 2-runs and 3-walks. This season against the Wingnuts, Darvill hit .250 with 2-runs and 2-RBI.

Advantage: Wichita Wingnuts

Left Field: T.J. Mittelstaedt vs. Willie Cabrera

While not having to be as big of an offensive force this season as he was last year, Mittelstaedt was no less dangerous. He has the best eye in the league, and led the American Association in walks for the second straight season as a Wichita Wingnut. He is not just an on-base guy, however. Mittelstaedt hit .288 with 16-homers and 74-RBI. He led the team in RBI and walked 80 times. He also stole 23-bases, which was second on the team. He can play any one of five positions and do so with exceptional prowess. In the first-round, Mittelstaedt hit .294 with 5-runs and 4-RBI. Against Winnipeg this season he hit .353 with 5-runs and 4-RBI.

Cabrera helped to turn the Winnipeg Goldeyes season around. In his 45-games with the team, Cabrera hit .324 with 9-homers and 34-runs. He also scored 39-runs. Combining his totals with his time in Joplin, it was a 17-homer, 77-RBI season for the outfielder. In the playoffs, Cabrera hit .286 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. He had a solid 4-games with the Goldeyes against Wichita, hitting .353 with 4-runs, a homer, and 2-RBI. In 5-games with the Blasters, Cabrera was 6-19 (.316) against the Wingnuts with 2-runs, 2-homers, and 5-RBI.

Advantage: Even

Center Fielder: Nick Van Stratten vs. Reggie Abercrombie

For the second straight season, Van Stratten finished out the Mexican League season and then joined the Wingnuts. This season he has helped the team make it all the way to the championship series. In his 15 regular season games, Van Stratten hit .339 with 10-runs scored and 9-RBI. He is one of the best defensive center fielders in the league. In Round 1, Van Stratten hit .412 with 3-runs and an RBI. He has not faced the Goldeyes this season.

Abercrombie continues to be one of the best players in the American Association, hitting .297 during the regular season with 20-homers, 71-runs scored, and 68-RBI. It was an absolutely incredible season that included 21-stolen bases. Abercrombie can do it all at 35-years-old. Against the Saints he hit .238 with 3-runs and 2-RBI. He also stole 2-bases, including a steal of home in Game 4. Against Wichita, Abercrombie hit .278 with 5-runs, 3-doubles, and 3-RBI.

Advantage: Winnipeg Goldeyes

Right Fielder: Harrison Kain vs. Josh Romanski

Kain finished second in hitting in the American Association, losing out by one-point to Chavez on the last day of the season. He is as dangerous of a hitter as it gets, scoring 38-runs, stealing 15-bases, and driving in 48. He not only can hit, but is one of the best outfielders in the league. In the first round of the playoffs he was red-hot, hitting .529 with a team-leading 7-runs and 2-RBI. Kain played in 2-games against the Goldeyes, going just 1-7 with an RBI.

Romanski is one of the most respected hitters in the league, although he doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves. The outfielder hit .305 with 9-homers and 64-RBI. Add in the fact that he drew 60-walks and it is easy to see what a huge force he is in this lineup. In Round 1, Romanski hit .263 with a run and team-leading 4-RBI. Against Wichita he hit .273 with 4-runs and 2-RBI.

Advantage: Wichita Wingnuts

Designated Hitter: Brent Clevlen vs. Adam Heisler

When healthy, Clevlen is still one of the two or three best hitters in the league. He was suffering from a wrist injury for a lot of the season, but is healthy now, bad news for the Goldeyes. Clevlen hit .313 during the regular season, with a team-leading 17-homers. He also scored 66-runs and drove in 63 in just 66-games. Throw in 43 extra-base hits and it is easy to see why he is so dangerous. Clevlen finished Round 1 second on the team in batting at .412. He also hit 2-homers and drove in 4. Clevlen was on the DL during the Wingnuts trip to Winnipeg.

Heisler has had his own battle with injuries this season, and his return from the DL helped to turn the Goldeyes season around as well. In 84-games this season, Heisler hit .300 with 8-homers, 60-runs scored, and 49-RBI. He also stole 27-bases and drew 48-walks. In the first round Heisler hit .227 with 4-runs scored. This season against Wichita, Heisler hit .333 with a run scored and 3-RBI.

Advantage: Wichita Wingnuts

Bench: Brennen Salgado, Brent Dean vs. Tanner Murphy, Ridge Hoopii-Haslam, Jacob Rogers

Neither bench saw much action in the first round, but both benches add some flexibility. Both Dean and Salgado can play both catcher and the outfield, and the ability of Mittelstaedt to play first and third gives the Wingnuts some options. Salgado, the left-hander, hit .276, while Dean, the righty, hit .258. Dean has speed. Salgado did not have a hit in his one at-bat in Round 1. Combined, the two were 4-27 against Winnipeg with 4-runs and 2-RBI.

Rogers was the starting first baseman until Cabrera arrived, and he adds a quality defender off the bench. He also hit 8-homers and drove in 44. Murphy will only see action if Tanabe is hurt or needs to be pinch-run for, and Hoopii-Haslam can play several positions and has speed. Rogers had the only at-bat of the three in Round 1. Combined they were 4-14 against the Wingnuts.

Advantage: Wichita Wingnuts

Starting Pitchers: Tim Brown, Alex Boshers, Jesse Pratt, Tyler Kane vs. Kevin McGovern, Mikey O’Brien, Edwin Carl, Duke Von Schamann

The addition of Pratt to this rotation makes this a very formidable group of four. Brown is the veteran who anchors this rotation. He struggled to start this season, but has been great since early June. Boshers joined the rotation and won 12 of his 13 starts, tying him for the American Association lead. Pratt made just a couple of starts during the regular season, but looked incredible, and Kane has been brilliant since joining the Wingnuts. Pratt looked the sharpest of the four in Round 1, tossing six shutout innings. Boshers won his start. While winning each of their starts against the Goldeyes in the regular season, neither Boshers nor Brown looked good. Pratt gave up 2-runs in 5.2-innings pitched in his start, and Kane did not face Winnipeg.

O’Brien and McGovern have been brilliant all season. McGovern finished 8-3 with a 3.55 ERA and O’Brien was tied for the team league in wins with 10. Carl also won 10-games and Von Schamann has pitched well at times. The pitching of O’Brien and McGovern is the reason why this team advanced. They gave up just one-run in 21-innings combined in the first round, striking out 21. O’Brien pitched very well in his one start against the Wingnuts, allowing just 2-earned runs in 7-innings pitched. Von Schamann did not face Wichita. McGovern and Carl both struggled, with McGovern giving up 5-runs in 3.2-innings pitched.

Advantage: Even

Bullpen: Frankie Reed, Chase Johnson, Eddie Medina, Mike Devine, Charlie Leesman, Luis Pardo, Chad Nadding, Chase Johnson, Gage Smith vs. Winston Abreu, Kyle Anderson, Victor Capellan, Ethan Carnes, Eric Eadington, Cameron McVey, Robert Tasin

Frankie Reed has proven to be one of the best closers in the American Association. He can pitch an inning or give the team a few, and his stuff is as nasty as one can ask for. Manager Pete Rose, Jr. has used this bullpen brilliantly, asking for six-innings out of his starters, and then using his corral of arms to shut opponents down. Devine and Smith have been great additions to this staff, and Johnson has been a huge piece to this team since returning to Wichita. Only Gage and Reed gave up any runs in the first round, as Johnson, Pardo, Devine, and Nading tossed 11 scoreless innings combined. Against Winnipeg this season Nading, Pardo, and Reed combined to make five scoreless appearances. Johnson gave up 1-run in 3.2-innings pitched, and he and Reed each earned a save.

The Winnipeg bullpen had not looked as sharp in the regular season, but were brilliant in the first round of the playoffs. Eadington was the club’s closer for much of the season, posting a 4-4 record with 9-saves, but the addition of Capellan and Abreu moved him to a setup role. The two right-handers pitched adequately once they were acquired, but they were brilliant in the first round of the playoffs. Capellan appeared in all five games, striking out 11 in 5.2-innings pitched. Eadington looked well in his three outings, and Abreu saved all three of the team’s wins.

Advantage: Wichita Wingnuts

Prediction:

While the St. Paul Saints had tahe better record than the Winnipeg Goldeyes, Winnipeg has been the best team in the American Association over the last two months. They have a team with no real weaknesses and have a real shot at going all the way. The Wichita Wingnuts may be the worst possible opponent that this team can face, however. They have a lineup that is arguably a little better, and the bullpen of Wichita is as deep as one could ask for. The fact that they split their regular season matchup with the Goldeyes despite not having Brent Clevlen says a lot about how good Wichita is.

If the series goes five-games, McGovern and O’Brien should combine to make three starts in this series and that really gives good odds for Winnipeg. However, the Goldeyes will not get the opportunity for McGovern to appear twice. Take the Wichita Wingnuts in four and expect Reed and Mittelstaedt to be two of the biggest keys.

By Robert Pannier