ALDS Preview: Hartford vs. Nashville

American League Rankings:

1st - Offense - 3rd
2nd - Pitching - 4th
15th - Defense - 5th

Season Series: Hartford Hartattacks, 6-4

Preview: Nashville successfully earned vindication by knocking off the AL North Champions in 3 quick games. A year ago, as the same seed and against a different AL North Champion, the Cleveland Lake Mistakes, they were sent home. So playing deeper into the schedule is always more exciting, but to draw the team favored to win it all in the ALDS is a bit of a buzzkill.

The Hartford Hartattacks look like the most invincible of the playoff teams. Their offense is the best in the majors, they certainly know how to pitch, and to top it off, they're the defending World Champions. People often forget that when 1B George LaRocca came off the disabled list, RF/LF Keith Osbourne, the man they brought in to be a stop gap, remained an important piece of this lineup. So all in all, this lineup is l-o-a-d-e-d. It's tough to repeat, but Hartford should make a serious run at it.

Offensive Analysis: As Nashville's hitters were discussed previously in our ALPS Preview, we'll focus on Hartford's today. They are a home run-driven team, featuring an astounding 10 players with more than 20 long balls. Their biggest two names (and realize neither of these guys are named LaRocca or Osbourne), are 3B Dicky Williams (.305, 52, 123) and LF Anthony Winn (.293, 53, 122). The balls can fly out of Welch Park in a hurry, and every Hartattack can get a hold of one.

Pitching Analysis: SP Gerald Suzuki (17-2, 3.27) had the most impressive year for the Hartford staff, especially considering the ballpark they play in. Obviously with just 2 losses over 32 starts, he's tough to beat. Nashville will likely get a double dose of him (if the series is an extended one), which will make their lives miserable. The Hartattacks also have ample talent in the bullpen, none better than CP Albert Benitez (2-2, 2.18) and his 51 saves.

Prediction: As 5 seeds go, Nashville has a lot of life in them, and is an unreasonably tough first matchup for the top-seeded Hartattacks. However, Hartford earned the distinction of being the best overall seed by sustaining their success over the adversity of the regular season. That said, don't expect the Sounds to roll over and die in this series, and I have an inkling that it could go the distance. Despite a valiant effort, the Sounds will fail to shock the world by bouncing the defending champions prematurely, and the Hartattacks will survive to see the ALCS.

Hartford Hartattacks in 5