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Today’s game was rightfully pushed to tomorrow. I realize there needs to be an effort to play when possible… but if there is a declared state of emergency and major severe weather, that’s a no-brainer. There’s time to take risks and a sporting event is not one of them. Enough of that.

The IronPigs have 8 games remaining.

Double header with Syracuse tomorrow.

Tuesday and Wednesday against SWB Yankees.

Thursday off.

Friday and Saturday against Buffalo

Finish the season with 2 in Syracuse.

8 Games

Syracuse

Last week the Chiefs were our best friends, taking 4 of 6 games vs. the Pawsox. They finished the week out going 1-2 vs. Rochester.

The Chiefs also have Stephen Strasburg in their rotation. He last pitched on Saturday against Rochesters’s lineup going 5 innings allowing 1 run on 2 hits striking out 7. Thinking a 5 man rotation, his next scheduled start would be Sept 1st, but they have an off day on Wednesday. They could push him ahead for that game to get more late season work in on Thursday. There is a slight chance the Pigs could face Strasburg on the final day of the season. How important that game could be…

Scranton Wilkes Barre

Although losing a double header to Pawtucket on Friday (no games on Sat/Sun), the Yankees took down Rochester 7 straight games. While Rochester has been getting slammed the past couple of weeks they did take 3 of 4 games from the IronPigs the week before last.

Buffalo
Last year we found ourselves saying, “Well at least we aren’t Rochester” and that’s what Buffalo fans are saying this year. They can play spoiler but these games are definately winnable.

***

So the Playoffs. In 9 days we will know the bracket. (If 4 teams qualify as a bracket)

Pawtucket is currently up on the Pigs by 1 game. Like the Pigs, they did not play today.

SWB is currently 7.5 games behind Pawtucket and 6.5 games behind the Pigs. Their elimination number is 2. It would take an earthquake and a hurricane for them to make the.. wait, no.. an earthquake, hurricane and volcanic eruption for them to make the playoffs.

The North is about the Pawsox and IronPigs.

Durham has a 3 game lead on Gwinnett in the South division.

Durham won the first half of a double-header today and are leading early in game 2.

Gwinnett stomped Norfolk for a win today.

The west is, and always has been the Columbus Clippers territory. Expect them to be the South/West representative in the Governor’s Cup finals.

While a real possibility of winning the North division, the Pigs are also currently leading the wild card race.

As of this post the Pigs and Gwinnett are the only real contenders, with Gwinnett 1.5 games behind. Indianapolis, Louisville and SWB still have a slight shot at it but I don’t see any volcano in PA ready to erupt.

***

In it to win it, or lose it.

The Pigs hold their fate in their own hands. If they win, they are in.. if they play .500 baseball this week they will have to depend on 1 of 2 other teams to play less than .500 baseball. If they play under .500, well then we have an off season full of what if’s.

The double-header tomorrow is huge. Being 2 – 7 inning games is also a key point as the IronPigs strengths are scoring late in games and their closer. (Either Schwimer then and DeFratus now) If they sweep the 2 games tomorrow they set themselves up to drive into the playoffs. If they split or (gasp) get swept, it’s an omen that it isn’t meant to be.

One thing for sure… it’s been a hell of a ride so far and I’m not getting off the bus just yet!

The Pigs are heading home on a positive note with a 5-4 win over Louisville tonight!

I hope they can get some rest on that long bus trip and that they get back to the Lehigh Valley safely.

The Pigs took a 4 run lead in the 5th inning, the Bats taking one back in the bottom half of that inning. Starter Ryan Edell got into trouble in the 6th, allowing 2 more runs. Savery came on in relief and in the 7th allowed the tying run to score.

On to the top of the 9th when Rich “Run producer” Thompson came on and walked, moved to second on Frandsen’s single, stole 3rd and headed home with the winning run on a wild pitch!

Our more recent closer, Justin DeFratus, came on to close out the game and the Pigs win! This was DeFratus’ 6th save of the season and perhaps he took on some of the Phearfulness from Schwimer when he moved up to the Phillies.

Phear the Phratus anyone?

Tomorrow the game has been moved to 7:05pm to hopefully avoid any lingering rain. Hopefully we will see some winning baseball again here in the Valley.

OinK!

The IronPigs posted on their website this morning (Thank Tom G.:-) that the game scheduled for 5:35pm has been pushed back to 7:05. The reason given is to let the weather pass but I’d imagine that long bus ride back from Louisville has something to do with it too.

The Horn & Bell would like to announce its newest contributor, DiPro’s Dish!

Looking forward to his thoughts and outlook on Lehigh Valley sports.

Join me in welcoming DiPro to the Noise Nation world!

OinK!

The Pigs lost tonight, duking it out with the Bats and falling by a score of 5-6.

With a Pawtucket win tonight, a dominating 12-4 win over Syracuse… the Pigs fall into a theoretical tie for first. In reality, if the season was over today the Pigs would be second.

With the hurricane coming this weekend (See DiPro’s earlier post) we can expect some shuffling to be done with the schedule and travel plans.

For your entertainment, below is a photo of our IronPig Delwyn Young enjoying a tour of the Louiville Slugger factory. The photo was posted on his twitter earlier today.

That's a lot of bats!

Ok, here’s the deal. 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 funniest caption to this photo!

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

The Pigs reclaimed the lead in the IL north division with a 6-5 victory over the Lousiville Bats tonight.

Brandon Moss Hogg hammered his team leading 23rd HR and in the same inning Cody Overbeck launched a 3 run shot, his 6th at AAA this season.

With Pawtucket’s loss the Pigs are alone in first again! Gwinnett had the night off so they didn’t lose or gain ground.

Is anyone else concerned with Mike Zagurski of late? Tonight he allowed 3 runs and has been getting into trouble a lot lately. Maybe just a phase but would prefer to see him mowing down batters as he is capable of.

OinK!

Via Twitter from Matt Provence:

IronPigs postseason Magic No. is 10 (to clinch a tie for Wild Card w/ GWN). Should they finished tied, LHV hosts GWN in a 1-G playoff on 9/6

I wonder if a 1 game playoff is included with the Playoff packages on sale a month ago.

Being this close is a strange feeling for us Pig Fans. 3 years of losing baseball and now we’ve got a great shot at making the playoffs. I think it’s time for a Pig poll!

OinK!

It’s going to be a crazy ride from here on out!

The game was delayed for an hour by rain and in doing so we find that Pawtucket lost and Gwinnett won tonight. Columbus was rooting for the Pigs as the Indians are the only team still hanging on in the west division and a loss would clinch the division for the Clippers. (How does that song go again? 🙂

The Pigs got on the board in the 2nd inning, adding in single runs in the 3rd and 4th as well. They also struck hard with a 4 run 6th inning.

Starter Scott Mathieson went only 3.2 innings tonight allowing 3 big runs in the 2nd. He allowed 4 runs overall, struck out 3 and had an unusually high 6 walks. Savery & Carpenter at up 3.1 innings until Aumont came in in the 8th allowing 2 runs bringing the Indians within one run.

DeFratus came on to close out the game. Pigs win by a score of 7-6. Clippers clinch their division.

Domonic Brown had a good night going 3 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. Young and Barfield also had a multi-hit night.

The Pigs now move on to Louisville to face the Bats. With only 13 games remaining, there isn’t much time to keep flip flopping with the division. Either way it looks like the wild card could reside in the IL north this season. The only impact to the playoffs would be the home/away scheduling of games. Not that I’m being optomistic, a lot can happen in 13 games but looking at the standings it will be a ride for sure.

So far, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Norfolk, Louisville, Toledo have been eliminated from contention.

Hanging on in the South division is Charlotte but they’ve got to have something huge happen everywhere to make it. Scranton Wilkes Barre also has a slim shot at the wild card.

Gwinnett is really the only threat out there right now. Sitting at 5 games back the Braves have their sights set on that wild card spot.

2 spots, 3 teams. We will see..

OinK!

Reading Twitter just now I’m seeing:

Contreras – Done for the year

Howard – Bursitis in foot/arch area

Ibanez – Sidelined a few days

Rollins – Groin

So far only Pete Orr has been called up. Thinking we might lose someone for a day or two soon. Add in the loss of that player for a few games, add in travel time and travel fatigue.. this could really impact the IronPig’s playoff hopes.

Right now they are 1 game back of division leader Pawtucket and 2.5 games ahead of Gwinnett in the wild card.

If the season ends with Pawtucket leading the division by .001 (Remember that cancelled game) I will be an unhappy camper.

Stay tuned for more news.

OinK