The 2002 season regular season came to an end for California Corkball. The year
at Cambrian Park featured more players than ever before and survived without the
kind of controversy that plagued last season. The biggest stories of the year
were the emergance of rookie Hops Hansen, whose 12 victories led the Cambrian
leagues, and the increase of overall talent around the league. Hansen finished
the year with a .300 batting average and 25 home runs and was third in runs
batted in. The batting title went to Doc Willis, the Home run leader was Lou
Brinckwirth, and Skoot Bayer led all pitchers in earned run average.
What makes this season special is the coming world series between the Players
League and the Federal League. Aside from idealogical and personal differences
between the opposing squads, the league's talent is equally distibuted between
the two teams.

The Players League is skippered by Johnny Brickwirth and Skoot Bayer, and
features perhaps the best clutch hitter in the league in Chente Salinas, super
rookies with Hops Nansen and Greg Kinney, and the veteran Kyd Hasket. Johnny
Brinckwirth is likely to catch at least six games for the Players. Pitching for
the Players in games one and two will most certainly be Skoot Bayer and Hops
Hansen. After Bayer and Hansen, the rotation remains uncertain; however there is
depth in their bullpen and Jack Brinckwirth could come in to pitch himself. In
the field for the players will be some of the leagues best: Hasket, Bayer and
Kinney are among the best.

The Federal League captains are Lou Brinckwirth and Doc Willis. The starting
rotation for the fed will be Doc Willis, Nate "the Big Train" Borne, prospect
Jason Brookes, and Lou Brinckwirth.

Match-ups:
The Players League appears to have the edge in pitching over the Fed but
newcomer Jason Brookes could make a giant difference in the series. The bullpens
are about even. Where the difference will play itself out will be in starters
Bayer and Hansen: if the Players win, it will be because these two guys pitch
gems. Doc Willis will be preassured to pitch a gem himself but can at least
rely on the Fed's big bats to give him a lead. One question remains: will Kyd
Hasket, the the league's only left-handed pitcher be healthy enough to start
game four.

The Fed clearly has decisive advantage in hitting over the Players. From top to
bottom the Fed's line up can hurt most pitchers. Nate Borne, Doc Willis, and
Sweet Lou Brinckwirth all hit over twenty home runs, the Fernandes brothers
switch hit for power and average, and Jason Brookes appear to wield a capable
bat. The Players have hitters, too, but they must step up by putting more
runners on base and driving them home. Their power hitters, Hansen, Salinas, and
Bayer must drive in the big runs. The Players are resting their hopes on Hansen
and, especially, Salinas. If the Fed shuts these two down, there doesn't appear
to be much of a chance for a Players' victory, no matter how many times their
other hitters reach base.

I give the edge in the field to the Fed. The Players and the Fed match up well
in both fielding pitchers and third fielders; however, in is behind the plate
where the Fed once again takes its advantage. Quite simply, Lou Brinckwirth is
best cather in the league, and Borne, Willis, Brookes, and Thom Fernandes are
all competitive. The Players catcher, Johnny Brinckwirth, cannot afford to miss
his opportunities to fuzz batters.

Prediction: The Fed over the Players in Five games.