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The Pigs made the playoffs!! Now what?

First things first, the Pigs will play two home games at The Coke on Wednesday and Thursday then move to Pawtucket for potentially 3 games there. It is a best of 5 series.

Looking at how the IronPigs could fare in the playoffs, lets take a look at their last few games vs. Pawtucket. (Game results with key players on opposing team)

Pawtucket

July 18th – The Pigs lost this game in Pawtucket by a score of 1-4.

Lavarnway – 3 for 4 with a HR and 3 RBI *Now on Boston’s active roster.

Duckworth – Pitched 5 shutout innings. Listed on 7 day DL but expected to start during playoffs.

July 19th – The Pigs lost this game by a score of 2-7.

Lavarnway – 2 for 3 with 3 RBI including a HR. *Now on Boston’s active roster.

Lars Anderson – 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.

July 20th – The Pigs lost this game by a score of 1-2.

This was a tied game into the 9th when Schwimer allowed a run.

July 21st – The Pigs won this game 5-4.

Lavarnway, Luna and Expostio had a good game on this day.

This is the game where we saw Tony Pena pitch.

*While not the “star” of any of these games, outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin had hits in each game. Look for him to perform well.

July 26th – Pigs won 8-7
This was by far the best game I have ever seen. The game went into the 10th inning tied, Pawtucket scored once and the Pigs twice in the bottom of the inning to win.

Lin, Nava, Lavarnway, Anderson, Luna and Burmudez all had multi-hit games.

July 27th – Pigs win 4-1.

July 28th – Pigs lost 1-2

July 29th – Pigs lost 3-4
Duckworth beats the Pigs again.

So out of these 8 games the Pigs won 3 and lost 5. Not the best outlook for a 5 game series but with Lavarnway up in Boston, these one run games could move in the Pigs favor.

Here are the pitching probables for the Lehigh Valley vs. Pawtucket IL Playoff series beginning on Wednesday (Subject to change):

WED: RHP Dave Bush (1-2, 3.91) vs. RHP Matt Fox (10-4, 3.96)

THU: LHP Ryan Edell (5-5, 3.27) vs. RHP Tony Pena, Jr. (9-6, 3.56)

FRI: RHP Brian Bass (8-10, 3.81) vs. RHP Alex Wilson (1-0, 3.43)

SAT: RHP Scott Mathieson (2-2, 3.28) vs. TBA @ PAW

SUN: RHP Nate Bump (5-9, 4.97) vs. TBA @ PAW

***

Now for the weather. Forecasts call for a 50% chance of rain on Wednesday evening. Also looking at the possibility of rain on Thursday.

The Round One schedule for home games appears below:

Round One: International League Divisional Series

Game A: Wednesday, September 7 at 7:05 p.m.
Game B: Thursday, September 8 at 7:05 p.m.

Please make note of the following Playoff Information:

The gates at Coca-Cola Park will open at the regular times:

– Club & Suite Entrance (West Gate): 5:30pm

– AT&T Plaza Entrance (East Gate): 5:45pm

In the event of a postponement due to weather on Wednesday, the IronPigs would host playoff games on Thursday and Friday. If this were to occur, Game A would shift to Thursday and Game B would shift to Friday.

If the IronPigs win the best-of-five Divisional Series against Pawtucket, they will host the following games during the Governors’ Cup:

Round Two: International League Championship Series (Governors’ Cup)

Game D: Thursday, September 15 at 7:05 p.m.
Game E: Friday, September 16 at 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Game F: Saturday, September 17 at 6:35 p.m. (if necessary)

Also, we lost Pete Orr who was called up to the Phillies.

That’s all I got.. Go Pigs!

OinK!

It’s a little cramped and I had to shrink everything down a bit, but here are the final 2011 Regular Season IronPig stats.

Enjoy!

Last night I saw a note from our friend Tommy V out in Reading.

The Reading Phillies were in a similiar situation as the IronPigs were.

Tweets from @Tommy_the_V

“Worst case scenario — R-Phils lose Monday, Rock Cats win, then there will be a one-game playoff on Tuesday in New Britain.”

“Best case, R-Phils win Monday and they are in the playoffs. Tyson Brummett gets the nod for R-Phils in most important game of the season.”

So like the IronPigs, the R-Phils could clinch their league’s wild card spot with a win on Monday and like the Pigs… they WON!

The R-Phils have made the Eastern League playoffs as the Wildcard team!

You can’t make stuff like this up!

GO PIGS! GO R-PHILS!

Leading by a score of 4-1 the Pigs had the bases loaded with 1 out in the 6th inning and Erik Kratz at the plate, after a brief delay the umpire decided enough was enough. The game was called due to rain awarding the Pigs their 80th win of the season and the Wild Card Berth in the International League Playoffs.

PIGS IN THE PLAYOFFS!

So before I mention everyone who insisted on a playoff berth when they heard Ryne Sandberg would be the manager this season or the Pulling the Tarp incident in Buffalo earlier this season I will say this,

Congratulations to each and every IronPig! You worked hard and made this season the first winning season in IronPigs’ history. We truly appreciate what you’ve done for us fans and will forever be remembered in our hearts. Thank you!!

So we are looking at hosting Pawtucket at home on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Pigs last faced the Pawsox in July when they went 1-3 in Pawtucket and 2-2 at home.

It’s gonna be fun!

OinK!

Even though the Pigs did win key games against Buffalo and Syracuse this past week.. the below story is completely unrelated. Still made me laugh and so I am sharing with you:

NY seeks stop to wild hogs; may ban captive hunts

VALLEY FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Wildlife officials in New York may ban captive boar hunts as they try to curb a growing feral hog population before it gets as bad as it is in Southern states, where roaming droves have devastated crops and wildlife habitat with their rooting, wallowing and voracious foraging.

Feral swine are breeding in three counties in central New York, according to a federal study done last year with funding from New York’s Invasive Species Council. The wild population statewide is likely in the hundreds , said Gordon Batcheller, head of the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Bureau of Wildlife. Read the rest of the story here…

OinK!

The IronPigs came out tonight with a mountain to climb.. .well maybe a small hill, but they took on the challenge and held up their part of the bargain by defeating the Buffalo Bison by a final score of 3-0.

Brian Bass pitched brilliantly. He went 8 innings allowing only 2 hits, striking out 10. Phear de Phratus, Justing DeFratus took over in the 9th and earned his 7th save.

Tonight also welcomed back Posednik and tomorrow Erik Kratz’s suspension will be over. The Pigs move on to Syracuse for 2 games.

While we saw Gwinnett lost their first game tonight the second game is only in the 3rd inning at this point with no score. (7 inning game)

The Pigs win tonight officially eliminated Indianapolis and put the Pigs up 1.5 games in the Wild card. If Gwinnett wins tonight the lead is 1 game, if Gwinnett loses it will guarantee the Pigs at least a tie in the wild card spot. (A one game playoff at Coca Cola Park on Tuesday if a tie results)

Anyone else going to make the trip to Syracuse on Monday?

OinK!

“Playoffs, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Their four year quest: To score enough runs, win many games, bring home the bacon. To Boldly go where no IronPig has gone before!”

Tonight could be the last home game of the great 2011 IronPig team.

Facing Buffalo at home, the Pigs come off a dramatic late inning win yesterday and look to advance closer to bringing home the wild card spot for the International League.

In their way, the Gwinnett Braves have a double header against Charlotte tonight. Also klinging-on (pun intended) are the Indians.

It’s been a long time since the Phillies AAA team has made the playoffs, no less having an above .500 season, and the IronPigs are full of firsts this year. We will see.

Tonight could prove pivotal.

Some scenarios:

Pigs win + Gwinnett wins 2 = Tie for the wild card

Pigs lose + Gwinnett wins 2 = 1 game behind the wild card

Pigs lose + Gwinnett splits = Tie for the wild card

Pigs win + Gwinnett splits = 1 game lead in wild card

Pigs win + Gwinnett swept = 2 game lead in wild card

So after tonight the Pigs could guarantee at least a tie for the wild card (win + Gwinnett swept) or they could find themselves 1 game back with 2 to play.

OinK long and loudly my friends.

Leave your funny caption suggestion in the comments of this post. Next week I will post a voting poll and the best will win a “Mystery Prize”

Let's hear your funny caption for this photo!

*This contest is for fun. I reserve the right to all decision making, rules, etc.

“hey Brandon I know Ryno wants us to be agressive on the base paths, but this is insane”

Winning caption was submitted by Sandra E DiAntonio!

Sandra – Please email me at editor@LVNoiseNation.com with contact information so I can get your “Mystery Prize” to you!

Thanks to all who participated!

The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks will be out and about in the community on August 27th from 10am-5pm, holding a car wash at the Scott Used Car Lot located at 640 State Rd. Emmaus, on the Lehigh Street Automile.

Come out to see Steelhawk players, dancers, and front office staff while getting your car washed. Team merchandise will be on sale as well as Precious Metal dance calendars. It’s another chance to meet the Steelhawks and learn more about the team.

When – Saturday, September 3 · 10:00am – 5:00pm

Where – Lehigh Street Automile 640 State Rd. Emmaus, PA

See you there!!