Playoff Quick Hitters
Excited for the O’s to open the playoffs on Sunday against Great Falls? Read up on some of the items playing into the Divisional Series matchup!
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
The Osprey return to the playoffs after a year away in 2016, falling short of reaching the postseason a year ago. The last time Missoula made the playoffs was 2015 when the club went on to win the Pioneer League Championship. 2017 marks the Osprey’s 8th playoff appearance in franchise history since moving to Missoula in 1999.
.500 FOR THE WIN
With a 38–38 record and marks of 19–19 in both halves, the 2017 Osprey become the first team in franchise history to make the playoffs without finishing above the .500 threshold. At 38 wins, the 2017 group also becomes the first team in franchsie history to make the playoffs with less than 40 wins.
DOUBLE DIP
Saturday night’s 14–3 victory over Great Falls to conclude the regular season pulled the Osprey into a first-place tie with the Voyagers at the top of the Pioneer League North Division standings. Owning the tiebreaker over Great Falls, the Osprey can claim that they won both halves in the North Division for the first time in franchise history. Historically speaking, winning both halves has not been indicative of postseason success. Since the league adpoted the split-season format, there have been 18 teams to win their division title in both halves. Of those 18, only the Idaho Falls in 2000 and Provo in 2004 have gone on to win the Pioneer League Championship.
VOYAGING INTO THE PLAYOFFS
The Osprey draw the Great Falls Voyagers as their first-round opponent for what will be the fourth postseason matchup between the Osprey and Voyagers. Of the three previous meetings (2009, 2011, 2012), the Osprey have won two series (2009 & 2012). In each case, the series went the full distance to three games, with the Opsrey winning decisive game threes at Centene Stadium in ’09 and ’12, while the Voyagers won the decisive game at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field in 2011. All-time, the Osprey own a 5–4 playoff record against the Voyagers, including a 2–3 mark at Centene Stadium. Of the three previous matchups, the winner went on to win the league championship twice (2011 & 2012).
IT ONLY TAKES ONE
Game 1 has taken on massive importance in the North Division Championship Series over the last 8 years, dating back to the first playoff meeting between the Osprey and Voyagers in 2009. Including that 2009 season, the team to win Game 1 has gone on to win the Divisional Series 7 of 8 years. The only team to lose Game 1 but still win the series was Missoula in 2015, who lost the series opener to Billings but went on to win the league championship. The winner of Game 1 has taken all three postseason series between the Osprey and Voyagers.
BREAKING PRECEDENT
The 2017 Osprey became the first team in league history to surrender 100+ home runs in a single season, finishing with a total of 102 home runs allowed as a pitching staff. Since the Osprey began their affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1996 as the Lethbridge (Alberta) Timberjacks, there have only been 3 previous teams to make the playoffs despite leading the league in home runs allowed. Of those three teams (Ogden ’00, Orem ’11, Grand Junction ’12) none went on to win the league championship. Looking specifically at the Osprey, the franchise led the league in home runs surrendered four times between 1996 and 2016. Not only did Missoula miss the playoffs each year (2007, 2008, 2010, and 2014), but they actually finished last in the league twice (2007 & 2008). That 2007 team actually held the record (94) that the 2017 group surpassed before Labor Day even rolled around.
