Fishing for a Championship
The Baysox have been to the playoffs four times beginning with their inaugural season in 1993 and most recently in 2008. Their record in playoff games is 7-12 with two series losses each to Harrisburg and Akron. Another matchup with Western Division champion Akron looms for the Baysox beginning September 5 after the Baysox clinched the Wild Card spot in the Western Division Thursday night.
It has been nothing short of bad luck that has kept the Baysox out of the championship series over their past four tries, but the team has hopes to avoid that this season after breaking through and clinching a playoff spot in 2012 after falling just short the previous three seasons.
With help from the front office, who decided not to jinx the team by selling playoff tickets until the clinching game had been won, the Baysox avoided an August swoon this year. Instead, the Baysox are playing some of the best baseball in the Eastern League, sporting a league-best 20-9 record from Aug. 1-30.
Last season, the Baysox were in first place as late as August 12 and were in position for a playoff birth until the final series of the season when they were passed by Richmond after losing eight out of their final 12 games. On the final day of the season, Richmond hit a home run in the top of the eighth inning to take a 2-1 lead over Altoona before the tarp was pulled on the field. Typically because the eighth inning was incomplete the game reverts back to the seventh inning, but in this instance, Major League Baseball Rule 4.12(b)(4)(i) applied and awarded Richmond the victory. If not for the obscure rule granting Richmond the victory, the Baysox would have leapfrogged the Flying Squirrels and made the playoffs.
Once making the playoffs, the Baysox have fared no better. The team's last playoff appearance came in 2008 when the team fell to the Akron Aeros in four games in the first round thanks in part to a grand slam hit by Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner, who was playing with the Aeros on a Major League rehab assignment. Prior to 2008, all three Baysox playoff squads had been defeated in series-clinching game fives.
This season, the Baysox hope things will be different. The team has won 52 of their past 80 games after falling to a season-low 11 games below .500 in early June and they boast a solid mixture of top prospects and veteran experience. The offense leads the Eastern League in runs scored with 668 and the bullpen has set a new franchise record with 50 saves so far this season. Playoff tickets are on sale now, so make sure you come out and support the Baysox as they go for the Eastern League Championship.
Baysox Baseball - We'll Knock Your 'Sox Off. The Baysox 20th season is winding down. Don't miss your chance to celebrate this milestone with the team. Parking is free at every Baysox home game and tickets are available at www.baysox.com, or by calling the Baysox box office at (301) 464-4865.
