After celebrating the win of the European championship in Spain, Dutch baseball fans will now concentrate on the start of the playoffs on Thursday. 2006 champion Corendon Kinheim will face the Amsterdam Pirates in semi-final number one. Last years runner-up Konica Minolta Pioniers travels to Rotterdam for a the best-of-five-series with DOOR Neptunus.
Corendon Kinheim vs. Amsterdam Pirates:
Kinheim finished the regular season with a 33-7 record in first place. After winning last year and listed as number one seed in the playoffs, they are the favourites in this match up against Amsterdam. Three of their players, Danny ROMBLEY (.392), Roel KOOLEN (.386) and Vince ROOI (.368) led the league in batting average. Tjerk SMETS hit seven home runs and had 44 RBI. Dirk VAN’T KLOOSTER and ROMBLEY scored 44 runs apiece. Their pitchers David BERGMAN (12-2, ERA 2.06)) and Australian Vaughan HARRIS (9-0, ERA 2.12) got the most wins. Reliever Duko JANSEN (0.78) was the ERA-leader. So at paper they should win. Besides, they are undefeated since July 7th. Corendon has also won all five games against the Pirates this season.
Amsterdam lost nine of their first eleven games and fought back to reach the postseason for the first time since 1992. They were energized by the great season of Cuban slugger Fausto ALVAREZ, who hit .365 with twelve home runs and 35 RBI. Sidney (.322) and Bas DE JONG (.316) are also noteworthy. Pitchers Kenny BERKENBOSCH (6-4, ERA 2.11) and Nick Stuifbergen (2-3, 3 Saves, ERA 2.29) will try to Stopp Kinheims offense.
Prediction: Kinheim will sweep this series.
DOOR Neptunus vs. Konica Minolta Pioniers:
The Neptunus missed the regular season title by a half game. They have won the Dutch championship seven times in a row between 1999 and 2005. Last year the streak came to an end, when they lost the semi-finals against the Pioniers. Until 2006 they have reached 14 Holland Series in 17 tries. DOOR won four of the five regular season games against Konica Minolta. Their offensive force will be sparked by Johnny BALENTINA (.350), Railey LEGITO (.329) and Lennart KOSTER (.328). Martijn MEEUWIS hit six home runs and batted 37 runs in. Starting pitcher Leon BOYD (9-0, ERA 1.22) is undefeated in twelve games. Lefthanders Chris RYAN (1-1, 4 Saves, ERA 0.99) and Diegomar MARKWELL (9-1, 1.45) are also in the top five of the ERA-ranking.
1997 was the last time that Konica Minolta won the Holland Series. Last year they could beat the Neptunus in four games to reach the finales, where they lost in five against Kinheim. Three Players batted over .300 in 2007: Glenn ROMNEY (.325), Michael DUURSMA (.319) and Norbert LOKHORST (.308). Dè FLANEGIN drove in 30 runs. Closing pitcher Dave DRAIJER (8 Saves) is ranked fourth with an ERA of 1.29. Venezuelan Nelson SANTANDER (5-4, ERA 2.25), Roger KOPS (4-1, ERA 3.06) and Richard ORMAN (4-4, ERA 2.84) will be starting in the series.
Prediction: The Neptunus will get their revenge and win in five games.
Schedule:
Thursday September 20th 7:45 PM:
Corendon Kinheim – Amsterdam Pirates
DOOR Neptunus – Konica Minolta Pioniers
Saturday September 22nd 2:00 PM:
Amsterdam Pirates – Corendon Kinheim
DOOR Neptunus – Konica Minolta Pioniers
Sunday September 23rd 2:00 PM:
Corendon Kinheim – Amsterdam Pirates
DOOR Neptunus – Konica Minolta Pioniers
If necessary:
Saturday September 29th 2:00 PM:
Amsterdam Pirates – Corendon Kinheim
DOOR Neptunus – Konica Minolta Pioniers
Sunday September 30th 2:00 PM:
Corendon Kinheim – Amsterdam Pirates
DOOR Neptunus – Konica Minolta Pioniers