Post by marinersmedia on May 24, 2010 13:35:32 GMT -5
Baltimore May Clinch Playoff Berth, Conference Championship This Weekend
BALTIMORE, MD (May 24, 2010) – Tolstoy said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Those two attributes have served the Baltimore Mariners well this season, when despite their 9-0 record, they have been forced to wait to earn their second straight playoff berth.
Now after the remainder of the East Conference has continued taking turns beating each other; producing a three-game Mariners lead with just five games left to play, the time for waiting is over and the Mariners are ready to take care of playoff business themselves.
“All season we have focused on what we do and improving on how we do things. That will not change. Once we start concerning ourselves with other team's wins and losses, then we lose that focus that got us to where we are now in the season. I want the burden of our playoff opportunities to set squarely on our shoulders,” said Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson.
Last weekend the Mariners needed a win by the Reading Express over the Harrisburg Stampede to clinch a playoff berth. While the Mariners sat idle, enjoying a bye week, the Express (6-5) pulled off the upset over the Stampede (6-3) forcing the Mariners to wait until this weekend and clinch a playoff spot on their own.
Unlike most of the East Conference the Mariners control their own destiny. Their mission is simple: win this weekend and clinch their second straight playoff berth. Also, a Baltimore win coupled with Harrisburg and Erie Storm (6-4) losses this weekend, earns the Mariners the first conference championship in franchise history and a coveted first round bye.
Without any help, wins this weekend over the Richmond Raiders (5-5) and next week over Erie will also clinch the conference.
In the East Conference, where three teams will qualify for the 2010 postseason, the race has continued to tighten. Now only 1 ½ games separate second place Harrisburg and fifth place Richmond and momentum appears to be changing among the contenders
After their 5-1 start Harrisburg has now dropped two of three, while Erie has reversed a 1-3 start and now has won five of six. Erie, however, will have to beat Harrisburg outright in the standings after losing all three match-ups this season to the Stampede.
After losing three of five to drop to 5-5 the defending champion Express looked like their string of four straight playoff appearances may come to an end, but their upset over Harrisburg has breathed new life in their playoff hopes. Reading won their season series over Richmond, two games to one, while splitting with Harrisburg, and losing two of three to Erie.
Richmond also appeared to be left for dead after starting their expansion season 2-5, but after three straight wins they are on the cusp of a playoff berth. Richmond, however, has lost their season series to both Erie and Reading, which could hurt them in the playoff hunt. However, they still have two games remaining with the Stampede and the big match-up against the Mariners this weekend.
Coach Simpson notes, “We have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot by beating Richmond this weekend and a chance to clinch a first round bye and home field by beating Erie next weekend. That is our main goal right now. If we take care of business ourselves, nothing else matters.”
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (May 24, 2010) – Tolstoy said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Those two attributes have served the Baltimore Mariners well this season, when despite their 9-0 record, they have been forced to wait to earn their second straight playoff berth.
Now after the remainder of the East Conference has continued taking turns beating each other; producing a three-game Mariners lead with just five games left to play, the time for waiting is over and the Mariners are ready to take care of playoff business themselves.
“All season we have focused on what we do and improving on how we do things. That will not change. Once we start concerning ourselves with other team's wins and losses, then we lose that focus that got us to where we are now in the season. I want the burden of our playoff opportunities to set squarely on our shoulders,” said Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson.
Last weekend the Mariners needed a win by the Reading Express over the Harrisburg Stampede to clinch a playoff berth. While the Mariners sat idle, enjoying a bye week, the Express (6-5) pulled off the upset over the Stampede (6-3) forcing the Mariners to wait until this weekend and clinch a playoff spot on their own.
Unlike most of the East Conference the Mariners control their own destiny. Their mission is simple: win this weekend and clinch their second straight playoff berth. Also, a Baltimore win coupled with Harrisburg and Erie Storm (6-4) losses this weekend, earns the Mariners the first conference championship in franchise history and a coveted first round bye.
Without any help, wins this weekend over the Richmond Raiders (5-5) and next week over Erie will also clinch the conference.
In the East Conference, where three teams will qualify for the 2010 postseason, the race has continued to tighten. Now only 1 ½ games separate second place Harrisburg and fifth place Richmond and momentum appears to be changing among the contenders
After their 5-1 start Harrisburg has now dropped two of three, while Erie has reversed a 1-3 start and now has won five of six. Erie, however, will have to beat Harrisburg outright in the standings after losing all three match-ups this season to the Stampede.
After losing three of five to drop to 5-5 the defending champion Express looked like their string of four straight playoff appearances may come to an end, but their upset over Harrisburg has breathed new life in their playoff hopes. Reading won their season series over Richmond, two games to one, while splitting with Harrisburg, and losing two of three to Erie.
Richmond also appeared to be left for dead after starting their expansion season 2-5, but after three straight wins they are on the cusp of a playoff berth. Richmond, however, has lost their season series to both Erie and Reading, which could hurt them in the playoff hunt. However, they still have two games remaining with the Stampede and the big match-up against the Mariners this weekend.
Coach Simpson notes, “We have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot by beating Richmond this weekend and a chance to clinch a first round bye and home field by beating Erie next weekend. That is our main goal right now. If we take care of business ourselves, nothing else matters.”
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.