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 first round series of the 2024 American Association playoffs between the Sioux City Explorers and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Explorers Take on RedHawks

On Wednesday, the 2024 American Association playoffs get underway with an incredible first round series between the Sioux City Explorers and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. This will be the first time in league history that the No. 3 and 4 teams will square off in the first round of the postseason.

There is no love lost between these clubs, which should make for an extremely entertaining and tense series. The RedHawks went 8-5 against the Explorers during the regular season.

Sioux City Explorers Broadcaster Dan Vaughan gives his breakdown of the series.

Kevin Luckow and Rob Pannier break down all 4 Round 1 Playoff Series.

Tale of the Tape:

League ranking listed in parentheses.

Sioux City Explorers

Record: 49-51 (8)
Home Record: 27-24 (7)
Away Record: 22-27 (10)
Last 10 Games: 4-6

Hitting
Batting Average: .268 (6)
On-Base Percentage: .366 (T-3)
Slugging Percentage: .389 (10)
Home Runs: 64 (11)
Runs Scored: 520 (T-6)
Stolen Bases: 196 (1)
Strikeouts: 688 (3)

Pitching
ERA: 5.69 (11)
Opponent Batting Average: .265 (9)
Saves: 27 (2)
Strikeouts: 805 (3)
Opponent Slugging Percentage: .417 (11)
Opponent WHIP: 1.60 (11)
Opponent Home Runs Allowed: 108 (12)

Fielding
Fielding Percentage: .978 (7)
Errors allowed: 70 (6)

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Record: 53-47 (T-6)
Home Record: 25-26 (9)
Away Record: 28-21 (2)
Last 10 Games: 4-6

Hitting
Batting Average: .258 (9)
On-Base Percentage: .345 (10)
Slugging Percentage: .393 (9)
Home Runs: 76 (8)
Runs Scored: 517 (8)
Stolen Bases: 106 (9)
Strikeouts: 821 (10)

Pitching
ERA: 4.84 (6)
Opponent Batting Average: .261 (7)
Saves: 23 (5)
Strikeouts: 735 (9)
Opponent Slugging Percentage: .374 (2)
Opponent WHIP: 1.57 (10)
Opponent Home Runs Allowed: 70 (1)

Fielding
Fielding Percentage: .981 (T-5)
Errors allowed: 67 (5)

How Sioux City Explorers Got Here

This was looking like a season lost for Sioux City, as the club was six games under 500 coming out of July. The pitching staff had been abysmal and has still not been particularly good. However, going 18-14 over the final 32 games propelled this club into the final playoff spot.

It has been a series of dramatic moments that have helped to define this season for Sioux City. J.D. Scholten stepped out from a prolonged retirement and a career in the Iowa state legislature to make 11 starts for Sioux City, going 6-2. The club also was involved in a bus fire that could have easily turned tragic. The fire seemed to have helped this team catch fire (no pun intended), as the club put together an eight-game winning streak shortly after that (August 16-22), the longest such streak in the league this year.

Who’s Hot for the Explorers

John Nogowoski was the model of consistency, finishing at .346 with 15 homers and 76 RBI. He hit .360 over the final six games. Scott Ota (.346) has also performed well for the club and the late addition of Justin Connell (.350) has helped to bolster this offense.

Who’s Not?

Scholten allowed six runs in his last start and the starting rotation has not been good over the final two weeks of the year. Daniel Lingua (.217) and Nick Shumpert (.190) limped down the stretch as well. One of these catchers is going to have to produce some offense.

How Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Got Here

The RedHawks looked like the team to beat in the West Division for much of the year, but a 14-15 close to the season relegates them to third in the division. Fargo was 25-19 through the first 44 games behind a solid group of starting pitchers. The loss of American Association legend Kevin McGovern was quickly mitigated by the fast starts of Davis Feldman, Tyler Grauer, and Colten Davis. However, Feldman made just nine starts and Grauer faced the injury bug late in the season as well.

While the pitching staff was solid, the offensive support was clearly lacking. This is a star-studded lineup, yet the team finished eighth in runs scored (517) and ninth in team batting average (.258). That kept the RedHawks from putting together a prolonged run down the stretch.

Who’s Hot for the RedHawks

Jake Dykhoff is arguably the best relief pitcher in the league, posting a 2.21 ERA in 42 appearances. Michael Hallquist hit .360 over his final seven games and Juan Fernandez (.333) and Drew Ward (.318) were very good over the final week.

Who’s Not?

Peter Brookshaw (.237) never got his season on track and hit .143 over the final six games. Marcus Chui (.160) also struggled down the stretch. Kolby Kiser was hammered for nine runs in 6.1 innings and Nile Ball gave up five runs in four innings in their last starts of the year.

Who Advances?

In all honesty, there is no reason that Sioux City should even be in the playoffs. They were on life support at the All-Star break, but put together the hottest streak of the year and have reached the playoffs thanks to an “us against the world” mentality.

The RedHawks looked like they would be the top team in the division through June, but have tailed off as the season has progressed. The lack of productivity from players like Dillon Thomas, Hill Alexander, Ward, and Sam Dexter have kept this team from being as good as they should be.

The Explorers have no reason to win the series, but they will. Take Sioux City in three.

All Photos Used Courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi/Field Dreams Photography

By Robert Pannier