Outlaws defend WTBL title.
Down 2 games rally to win World Series in 7
games.
Aberdeen 1/18/2005 - During Spring Training
Outlaw manager Ernie Whitt was asked about the possibility of
repeating. Being the honest sort he looked over his roster and
predicted making it to the playoffs but no further. Even after seeing
his Outlaws defeat the Speaks in a tight championship to reach the
World Series Ernie wouldn't try to predict the outcome, but did say
that The Kommando's (now Expos) were a very good team. So losing to
them wouldn't be something to be ashamed of.
The Outlaws started the series feeling confident, but soon had to
regroup after losing the first two in close fashion. "We pitched
well, but didn't hit and that's something I'm not used to seeing"
said Whitt heading home from Canada. Whitt got used to his Outlaws
using a combination of clutch hitting and power to often get early
leads during the season, but Kommando starters Pedro Martinez and
Kevin Brown kept the Outlaws bats quiet. While the Kommando offense
scored enough off of Outlaw's starters Zito and Woods to grab a 2-0
series lead.
"Down 0-2 was tough" said Whitt, "but I told the guys not to
get down on themselves we're a good team we just need to get some
chances." The first chance came in Game Three with Playoff Co
MVP Mark Mulder pitching a solid complete game. "Mark's pitching was
a big lift for us," agreed Ernie" it gave the offense a chance get
back on track enough to win. Still we only scored three runs and it
took a pinch hit homer by Aaron Boone to get us some insurance." Game
4 saw the Outlaws score four runs, but almost lose the game in the
9th. Having taken advantage of Tom Gordon's wildness in Game 3, the
Outlaws saw their star closer Jason Isringhusen pitch poorly enough
to turn a comfortable 4 to 1 lead into a 4-3 nail bitter. "Have to
give the Koms credit they didn't quit and almost pulled it out." said
Whitt. With the series now tied at two and one more game in Aberdeen
Ernie thought for the first time that the Outlaws had a chance to get
ahead in the series, but it was not to be. While the 6 to 1 final
score looks bad, Kerry Wood actually pitched well, but was out dueled
by Kevin Brown. It was the usually stable Outlaws pen that let the
game get out of hand by giving up four Kommando runs in the 9th.
"That was the toughest loss for us in the series" says Whitt, "we had
a close game get away from us and we are now one game away from going
home"
So the Outlaws returned to Canada feeling about the same way they
left. "Losing Game 5 the way we did was heavy blow" says team captain
Brett Boone, "but now we had to focus on the next game. Dwelling on
the past wouldn't help." They didn't have long to dwell as with Mark
Mulder again pitching the Outlaws offense woke up starting in the
first with the intense Jose Guillen hitting a three run shot to put
the Outlaws ahead. From there they didn't look back. :"I actually
wasn't happy with how we played the game" say Whitt, " scoring three
in the first was a good start, but we stranded runners later on that
could have been important. if Mark wasn't starting." Even with the
Mulder pitching Whitt had to again turn to his unstable pen, but this
time Izzy and rookie Valverde closed the door.
Tied again at three both teams went in game seven looking for an
edge. While the Kommandos were looking at Barry Zito, the Outlaws saw
a chance with Pedro Martinez. 'Starting as many lefties as I do I see
it all the time, Whitt continues, other teams try to stack their
lineups when you start a lefty, sometimes it works sometimes it
doesn't. With Barry it doesn't work that often. As for Pedro I really
though we were going to see Brown instead, he'd been pitching much
better and just shut us down. With Pedro I told the guys in Game 4
that you can get to him, he always going to be around the plate so
you just have to wait him out. The Kommandos scored first, but
Outlaws hitters took Ernies advice and by the 7th inning scored four
runs off of Pedro including two homers. "He did strike out 13 and
didn't walk anybody, but by waiting for our pitch we made him pay
when he put it in the zone" said Jose Guillen. Barry on the other
hand had little trouble handling the Kommandos until he started to
tire in the 8th. "After losing the first game I really wanted to stay
in, but I started getting my pitches up and they got a couple of
hits" says Zito. So in the 8th Ernie once again had to turn to his
Jeckyll and Hyde bullpen. The Kommandos pen had already added
to the Outlaw lead after Tom Gordon gave up a homer in the 8th. Jose
Valverde was a bit wild, but Izzy was again able to close the
door, and end the Kommando 2004 season. It had been a wild ride
against the Kommandos and other very good teams, but the Aberdeen
Outlaws repeat as World Series Champions.
Mark Mulder is the 2004 World Series MVP.
Round 1 - Wild Card
The Aberdeen Outlaws (15) defeat the Big Valley Big Cats (12)
The Memphis Speaks (7) defeated the Washington Yankees (4)
The Halifax Mooseheads (3) defeated the Grand Rapids Gamblers
(11)
The Canadian Kommandos (24) defeated the Baltimore Birds
(22).
Round 2 - Semi Finals
The Candian Kommandos (24) defeated the Halifax Mooseheads (3)
The Aberdeen Outlaws (15) defeated the Memphis Speaks (7)
Round 3 - Finals
The Aberdeen Outlaws
defeated the Canadian Kommandos to win the 2004 WTBL world series.
Congratulation to Evan and his Outlaws on their repeat championship.