Friday, May 02, 2008

A Long Week

This week, there were championships galore in some of what trendy peeps in the biz like to call "non-ball" sports.

Diving, swimming, track and field — though technically, the shot is a ball.

Anyway, watching all three PAC 7 champonship meets was a blast, even though I feel like a raisin after taking in all the sun. But since you've read about these epic events in The Tribune for the past few days, I thought I'd shift gears back to baseball.

Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande all have a shot at winning the PAC 7 title. The Bearcats have the inside track, but the Tigers are right there. The Eagles were more of a longshot leading into Friday's games, but are still in the race.

Who'll win the title? Who has the best shot in the playoffs? Are they one in the same?

If I had to pick one, I'd say San Luis Obispo has the best chance to win the title. The Tigers beat Paso Robles two out of three times and boast one of the toughest top-to-bottom lineups in recent memory.

But the playoffs are ruled by dominant pitchers, which San Luis Obispo — despite a stable of steady arms — doesn't really have.

Paso Robles' left-handed pitcher John Brehm had a 25-inning scoreless streak going before it was broken up by Righetti this week. He's 7-2 with and ERA of 0.72, and he struck out a season-high 10 batters in a 5-4 complete-game win over the Warriors.

The last time a dominant San Luis Obispo team took the title two years ago, it was Paso Robles, behind fireballing lefty Matt Drummond, that advanced farthest in the playoffs.

Arroyo Grande has some solid pitching, too. Nathan Raubinger has won five of his past six starts, but two of his three losses came to Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.

Corey Butcher has a 2.18 ERA for the Eagles, but Arroyo Grande's supported him with an average of just 1.25 runs in his four losses. The Eagles are averaging nearly six runs per game otherwise.

What does all that mean? It could turn out that SLO makes the deepest playoff run. You decide. Vote in the polls.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

What are you talking about Scroggins? You havent covered any track meets all year. AG continues to have fine distance runners and throwers and a few jumpers and yet they get no credit it what so ever. its sad how bias our local paper is. it really is a pity. the only way ag gets a little bit of publicity is if the volleyball teams go undefeated and even then they get little press. very sad.

Anonymous said...

I used to like AG, until found out how much they whine. Same thing with SLO. Grow up, let's be real...no one gets that much coverage except Cuesta and Cal Poly. Ohh well.

Anonymous said...

Maybe if AG could beat SLO in baseball they would be mentioned.
But it looks like AG can't win in baseball either............

Anonymous said...

SLO high is extra stuck up. Them and mission practically produce the same kids. Spoiled. Slo isn't even going to get first place in baseball so don't talk crap about AG when they are the ones that knocked you out of first place.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like someone is a little envious of SLO?????

Anonymous said...

My kids go to SLO High and yes, 7:05 you're right some kids are spoiled and arrogant but there are a lot of nice kids who work hard, too. Every school has spoiled, arrogant kids; Its not exclusive to SLO or Mission. I've seen it at every school in the league so don't paint all SLO athletes with the same broad brush.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe anyone would admit to this?

This is from today's Tribune.
"Since the end of the season, Tenhaeff has grown an inch and put on 35 pounds"
35 pounds in 5 months?????
Support of Atascadero coaches????
Baseball, basketball, track volleyball sports hold your head high for being in a clean sport.

Anonymous said...

I herd one of there best players got caught with the juice and they still are letting him play football

Anonymous said...

Somebody has to do something about this everyone knows its going on at atrashcadero

Anonymous said...

I say test last years football players immediately for roids. Strip them of the shared PAC7 title if found using.