The Playoffs in Switzerland will start this weekend, here is the 2008 playoff preview from national team coach, and Zurich Challenger, Chris Palatinus…
Therwil Flyers
The team to beat this year is the Therwil Flyers who last won it all in 2003, but have missed the postseason the last three seasons. They finished the regular season with an impressive 18-2 record. They have the best pitching staff in the country with Stefan Koller, who was won all of his decisions, followed by Chris Blackbee, (4-1 through Game 15), and spot starter Reto Siegel. Rookie Adi Kaufmann has showed why he is one of the most promising young arms in Switzerland as he posted a 1.17 ERA in 28 IP this season. The return of veterans Siegel and Daniel Eichenberger to the lineup, coupled with player/coach John Alexander, and pitcher/outfielder Blackbee, the Flyers also have the second-best offense in the country.
Bern Cardinals
The Bern Cardinals still have a very strong team, but couldn’t quite continue their dominance of the last three seasons when they won three consecutive national titles. But a 15-5 record is still impressive considering that ace Severin Fries missed a couple of starts due to various injuries. Loaded with a lot of talent in their lineup, the Cardinals nevertheless sputter at the plate in big games. Latest example was the Cup Finals, when Johnny Perigos‘ solo homer accounted for the lone run in a 4-1 defeat to the Lausanne Indians. Perigos‘ .449 batting average ranks only seventh in the league (he won the triple crown last year) and is the only Cardinal in the top ten for batting averages. But relying on a weak offensive output by the Cardinals in the Playoffs can be trouble for any opposition.
Pitching wise, Fries wasn’t as dominant as he used to be, but didn’t always get the offensive support, as well, so Chris Beyeler stepped in and racked up a 6-0 record (through game 14). John Baum sports an impressive 0.89 ERA in 31 1/3 innings pitched, along with a 4-1 record.
Zurich Barracudas
The Zurich Barracudas, in their sixth consecutive Playoffs, have made it thanks to a good mix of young and improving players like pitchers Jeffrey Mottl and Beni Montag, and veterans like Nderim Coma and Frank Berchtold. The addition of two Americans, (pitcher J.T. Schroeder and infielder Charles Brown II), has solidified a lineup that lacked big guns before. The Barracudas’ .259 team batting average (through Game 15) ranks only fifth in the league, but aging stars Manuel Hirtz and Farid Bekkali are still playing a big role in the Barracudas’ successful campaign, and experience always pays off in the postseason. Their last national title dates back to 1997, and it seems unlikely that they can return to the top this year.
Lausanne Indians
The fourth spot in the Playoffs is taken by the surprising Lausanne Indians. It’s their first postseason in team history, and they are representing the French speaking part of Switzerland in the Playoffs for the first time since the Geneva Hound Dogs were crowned Swiss Champions back in 1990. The Indians biggest threat is their potent offense. Four of the ten batting average leaders wear Indians blue, and Jimenez and De Freites led the league with six homers apiece (through Game 15)., 24 and 23 RBI’s and 52 total bases each. They led the league with a total of 165 runs scored, 22 more than the Flyers. They need this offensive output to make up for their weak pitching, led by Nicolas Jaquemet (4-3 with an ERA of 4.90) and Ramirez. Often times, that just proves to be enough, as lately witnessed in the Swiss Cup Finals against the Cardinals.
Conclusion
The Flyers will host the Indians, and this series should go down to five games. The Flyers have won both regular season games. If the Indians can come through against the Flyers’ pitching staff, and they can somehow hold down their offense, an upset might be possible.
The Cardinals will face off against the Barracudas, just as in 2007 and 2005, with the Cardinals holding a 5-1 edge. In the regular season, the Cardinals won three out of four contests. If the Cardinals can eliminate the errors, and Fries shows his old form again, this Series could be over in a hurry.
Schedule
(best-of-three)
September 13:
14:00 Bern Cardinals – Zurich Barracudas
14:30 Therwil Flyers – Lausanne Indians
September 14:
14:00 Zurich Barracudas – Bern Cardinals
14:00 Lausanne Indians – Therwil Flyers
September 27:
14:00 Therwil Flyers – Lausanne Indians*
14:00 Bern Cardinals – Zurich Barracudas*
*if necessary
The finals start on September 27, if both semi-finals are over after the first weekend. If at least one series needs a game three, the Swiss finals start on September 28.
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