While the Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners) ran away with the Southern League North in the first half of the season, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Cincinnati Reds) had to take it down to the wire, finally clinching the Southern League South first half title with a 2-1 win over the Mobile BayBears (Arizona Diamondbacks) Sunday. The victory eliminated the Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers).
First-Half Champions are set! We'll see @BlueWahoosBBall and @jacksongenerals in the playoffs this September! pic.twitter.com/HFHJIB3jiB
— The Southern League (@SLeagueBaseball) June 20, 2016
The Southern League playoff system is based on half seasons. If a team wins the first half, they automatically receive a postseason berth. If they win both halves, then the team with the best overall record makes the postseason in their division. What usually happens is one team wins the first half and another the second, then they meat up in the Southern League Divisional series.
The league has been top heavy this season, with only four teams finishing the first half with winning records. Joining the Generals, Blue Wahoos and Shuckers on the plus-side of the win column are the Chattanooga Lookouts (Minnesota Twins), who just barely pulled off a 36-34 record.
The Southern League All-Star game is Tuesday night in Pearl, Miss. You can watch it on MiLB.com.
A @BlueWahoosBBall win in the bottom of the 9th and Southern Division championship. Nice Fathers Day! pic.twitter.com/T3OGxhvlAc
— Thad Stokes (@ThadStokes) June 19, 2016
With the Blue Wahoos punching their SLDS ticket, let’s take a look at who you need to know on their roster.
Shortstop Calten Daal has only played in 30 games this season for the Blue Wahoos. He’s had a couple of nagging injuries that put him on the 7-day disabled list twice. He’s batting .330 with three doubles, one triple, five RBIs and four stolen bases. Last year in the High-A Florida State league with the Daytona Tortugas, he stole 21 bases. Daal is just 22 and is in his third pro season since the team signed him as a free agent out of Willemstad, Curacao. In the preseason he was named the Reds’ No. 28-ranked prospect.
https://twitter.com/cubstruction/status/619327336891187200
Second baseman Tony Renda has been a star for Pensacola from the first pitch of the season. He finished up his first half batting .326 with 25 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 28 RBIs while stealing 15 bases of his own. Renda was a second round pick out of California in 2012.
The power numbers for the Blue Wahoos belong to Brandon Dixon. Dixon came over the Reds organization in the offseason as part of the Todd Frazier trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dixon was a third round pick in 2013.
Dixon’s power numbers are gaudy. He’s hit 11 doubles and 11 home runs this season with 39 RBIs. He’s also got some wheels of his own and has already stolen a career-high eight bases. Dixon’s problem is his average is a little low, .265, and his 62 strikeouts show he’s looking for all or nothing every time he comes up to the plate.
Congrats to Brandon Dixon! He got his Player of the Week award from @SLeagueBaseball Pres. Lori Webb today! pic.twitter.com/JpUPz4A2Cf
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) June 12, 2016
On the pitching rotation, No. 4 Reds prospect Amir Garrett (5-3, 1.75 ERA) has been outstanding. Too outstanding as he got called up to the Triple-A Louisville Bats just two days ago. He’s probably gone for good and that shows you exactly why the league year is split into two halves. The roster a team has in April and May may be 50-70 percent different than the roster they field in August.
The good news for the Blue Wahoos is, at least for now, the aptly names Rookie Davis (5-1, 2.58 ERA) is still hurling it in Double-A. Davis came over in a trade too, when the Reds sent Aroldis Chapman to the New York Yankees. Davis was already on the Yankees’ 40-man roster after working his way up through their system. The Yankees drafted him in the 14th round of the 2011 draft.
.@rookdavis24 helped start us off for a win, and now he's talking to the media! pic.twitter.com/Yh8bmBXWKs
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) June 19, 2016
The Blue Wahoos also have the best middle-reliever in the league, Barret Astin (5-1, 2.58 ERA). Astin is an every three-day guy for Pensacola this season and has even worked as a spot starter, with four games under his belt this season. Astin was a third round pick out of Arkansas in 2013.
Alejandro Chacin is the guy Pensacola uses to slam the door. He’s amassed a 3-1 record in 24 appearances this season and recorded 11 saves. Chacin is from Maracay, Venezuela and the Reds signed him as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.
