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 Chicago Dogs and the Cleburne Railroaders.

Dogs Take on Railroaders

On Wednesday, the 2024 American Association playoffs get underway with an incredible first round series between the Chicago Dogs and the Cleburne Railroaders. Cleburne finished with the top record in the league and went 8-4 against the Dogs in the regular season. This is a battle of the two best home teams during the regular season, as both clubs went 29-11, so the Railroaders hosting two games may be the difference in this series.

Chicago Dogs Broadcaster Aaron Shelan gives his breakdown of the series.

Cleburne Railroaders Broadcaster Brad Allred 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.

Chicago Dogs

Record: 55-45 (T-4)
Home Record: 29-11 (T-1)
Away Record: 26-24 (6)
Last 10 Games: 6-4

Hitting
Batting Average: .263 (7)
On-Base Percentage: .351 (T-6)
Slugging Percentage: .426 (4)
Home Runs: 113 (T-3)
Runs Scored: 520 (T-6)
Stolen Bases: 165 (3)
Strikeouts: 784 (8)

Pitching
ERA: 4.92 (8)
Opponent Batting Average: .257 (4)
Saves: 36 (1)
Strikeouts: 744 (8)
Opponent Slugging Percentage: .402 (T-5)
Opponent WHIP: 1.45 (3)
Opponent Home Runs Allowed: 92 (7)

Fielding
Fielding Percentage: .980 (7)
Errors allowed: 70 (6)

Cleburne Railroaders

Record: 60-40 (1)
Home Record: 29-11 (T-1)
Away Record: 31-19 (1)
Last 10 Games: 5-5

Hitting
Batting Average: .281 (T-1)
On-Base Percentage: .385 (1)
Slugging Percentage: .462 (1)
Home Runs: 129 (1)
Runs Scored: 653 (1)
Stolen Bases: 129 (5)
Strikeouts: 756 (6)

Pitching
ERA: 4.74 (T-4)
Opponent Batting Average: .259 (5)
Saves: 25 (T-3)
Strikeouts: 794 (4)
Opponent Slugging Percentage: .413 (T-6)
Opponent WHIP: 1.50 (T-6)
Opponent Home Runs Allowed: 104 (11)

Fielding
Fielding Percentage: .979 (8)
Errors allowed: 73 (T-7)

How the Chicago Dogs Got Here

They say that you should be playing your best baseball at the end, and that is what the Dogs have done. After going 11-8 in May and 13-13 in both June and July, the Dogs went a combined 18-11 in August and September. The offense got better for this team as the season went along, hitting .243 in May, then getting a little better each month until the club hit .287 in August.

It was really the red-hot August that propelled this team into the playoffs. They finished tied with the Kane County Cougars for second place in the division, but the head-to-head record placed the team in third overall.

While the offense improved as the season went along, the pitching staff never seemed to find their groove. After posting a 4.15 ERA in May, the Dogs posted ERAs better than five in each of the following three months. The starting staff was responsible for much of the damage, while the bullpen was very good. Closer Joey Marciano led the league in saves (26) while posting a 1.77 ERA. Last year’s closer, Brian Schlitter, joined the team late, but struggled (7.14).

Who’s Hot for Dogs

Jacob Teeter has been hot all year, named as the Player of the Month in both June and August. He finished one home run away from a Triple Crown and hit .500 over his final seven games of the season. Marciano was also red-hot, allowing just one run over his final nine appearances, while pitching at least 2.0 innings in six of those outings.

Who’s Not?

Chase Harris was signed by the Dogs after being released by the Sioux City Explorers and never seemed to find his groove, hitting .213 in 36 games. John Baker was solid (4.11, 19 starts), but allowed five earned runs in four innings in his final start of the season.

How the Cleburne Railroaders Got Here

Cleburne was the presumptive favorite to win the Miles Wolff Cup the moment Pete Incaviglia became the manager, and they lived up to the hype, posting the top record in the league. The Railroaders went 11-10 in May, as the offense put up big home run numbers (33) but struggled to stay consistent (.234). That changed in June when the club went 16-10, clubbing 40 homers while posting a .297 batting average. Cleburne went 16-8 in July and 17-10 in August.

The pitching staff was not spectacular, but was solid all season long, posting a sub five ERA in each of the first four months. Cam Aldrete was one of the most consistent players in the league, hitting .341 with 21 homers, 89 runs scored, and 74 RBI. The signing of Blake Grant-Parks (.328) solidified the catching position, and six players finished with at least 13 homers.

Johnathan Tripp was spectacular in the rotation (2.97, 19 starts), but no other starter had an ERA lower than 4.30. The bullpen was very good, however, and the late addition of Tyler Wilson only made them better.

Who’s Hot for Railroaders

Aldrete he finished the final week of the season hitting .500, homering three times in the final six games. Hill Alexander (.375), Grant-Parks (.333), and late addition Jesus Lujano (.316) also finished well.

Wilson tossed five scoreless innings in his four appearances after joining the Railroaders. Tripp tossed six shutout innings in his final start of the year.

Who’s Not?

Bret Boswell had a solid but not spectacular season and finished struggling, hitting .167 over the final five games. Shed Long (.167) and Brian O’Grady (.182) also struggled down the stretch. Joe Corbett (15.43) was hit hard in his last two outings of the year.

Who Advances?

Chicago has been scrappy and put together an impressive run at the end of the year to lock themselves into the postseason. They finished with three 20 home run hitters and have the best closer in the game. They have also proven that they are not intimidated by the Railroaders at all, as six of those eight losses to Cleburne were by a single run. That would seem to bode well for this club pulling off a huge upset.

However, there is a big gap between staying competitive and winning games, and that is the scenario that Chicago finds themselves in. Cleburne forces you into making mistakes, setting an American Association record for walks in a season while posting the top on-base percentage and the top slugging percentage in the league. They scored 133 more runs than the Dogs did during the year and the addition of Wilson is a wildcard that negates any advantage that Chicago may feel they have.

Take Cleburne to advance in a sweep.

All Photos Used Courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi/Field Dreams Photography

By Robert Pannier