Easter weekend has typically been a busy one for baseball in Germany, but this year the German federation has done away with the Saturday/Monday series. With 4 games in one weekend, teams often relied on youth pitchers to get through the weekend, and started their top players only in those games that they saw as winnable. The North will still have a full slate of games this year, while only four teams playin the South.
North Division
Dohren Wild Farmers – HSV Stealers
Hamburg heads to the suburbs in hopes of picking up their first sweep against the last place Wild Farmers. The Stealers have played 5 of their 6 games to a dramatic ending: all three of their wins are by a single run, while two losses were nail-biters in the late innings. With their offense seemingly fine, it will be up to the pitching and defense to keep Dohren off the board. The Wild Farmers have averaged a little more than two runs a game, so Hamburg is in good shape to pick up the two important wins.
Berlin Sluggers – Solingen Alligators
Solingen makes the longest trip of their season to Berlin, which could play right into the host Sluggers’ hands. The Alligators split in each of the first two weekends, and what should have been a piece of cake against Dohren last week was nearly a nightmare. If Solingen shows any signs of passiveness, the Berliner will be eager for a win or two after getting crushed in Paderborn last weekend. Although it’s still early, Solingen doesn’t want to fall too far behind leaders Paderborn and Pulheim. No word on whether SP Ales Keprta will be able to return to duty for the Sluggers after being injured by a comebacker a few weeks ago.
Bonn Capitals – Dortmund Wanderers
Dortmund has been a surprise early this year, even though they lost two tough games and sit in 4th currently. What could have been perceived as a two-man show has given way to a solid team performance. Coach/P Matt Kemp has picked up all three wins for the Wanderers as they travel to take on a Bonn team that wishes they had a little bit more luck on their side. Two close losses has been the difference between 6th and 2nd place. This weekend won’t be the break they are looking for, as Dortmund will likely keep on winning the foreigner game as long as Kemp remains this dominant. With Tim Henkenjohann taking the first game and Kemp the second, the anticipated split would leave both teams in the same spot as before: playing for a sweep to gain momentum and move up a few spots in the standings.
Pulheim Gophers – Paderborn Untouchables
With the top spot on the line, Pulheim hosts Paderborn in what could shape up to be a high scoring affair. The Untouchables are fresh off their fireworks display against Berlin (nearly 40 runs in two games), while Matt Kemp has been the only pitcher to stop the Pulheim hitters over their first six games. Gopher middle infielders Anderson Alvarez and Kevin Faries will put their hot bats up against the Paderborn pitchers that are sporting a sub-2.00 ERA. They haven’t faced a lineup hitting over .250, while the Gophers are hitting .322 thus far. Something will have to give, although whoever comes out the loser will still be sitting in good position near the top.
South Division
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Haar Disciples
The Heidekoepfe get their first test of the season in hosting atough Disciples team that played Regensburg tough, and split with Mannheim last weekend. Heidenheim had the first two weekends off, but with a sweep they could establish early control of the standings as Regensburg is already saddled with two early losses. Foreigners P Dusty Bergman and INF Andrew Smith lead the way in their home opener. Haar hopes to strengthen their playoff positioning as they startedwith a tough schedule, playing the other three south playoff teams over the first four weeks. A split would keep them at .500 going into a 4 game home stand.
Mannheim Tornados – Mainz Athletics
Both teams sent a signal to the league the mean business by going into Regensburg and splitting with the defending champions. Rene Franke will lead the Tornadoes from the mound in game one, hoping to continue his stellar start to the year, and keep Mannheim out in front of Regensburg and Heidenheim in the wins column. Mainz started the year with an unexpected loss to the promoted Bad Homburg team, but played up to their ability in both games against Regensburg last weekend. American P Pat Haugen will either be called upon to save the split to keep pace with the teams at the top, or he could vault Mainz over Mannheim, Haar and idle Regensburg.
{mrb-schedule:2011-04-22|2011-04-26|DE}
{mrb-standing:germany-2011}