10/30/2013: Arlington, VA – The Arlington Bureaucrats are just one more win away from their first PEC victory in franchise history.  Unfortunately, it will probably be the most difficult win they will ever have to earn.  Tempe will be throwing arguably the two best starting pitchers in the league for games 6 and 7.  Conan McCullough was lights out in Game 2, shutting down a Bureaucrats offense that scored 16 runs the night before.  If he’s able to work his magic and the Knights tie the Series at three wins apiece, Arlington will most likely be facing Markus Hancock for the third and final time.

The two rested arms the Bureaucrats have available to counter are Alberto Semblano and Peter Carter.  Carlos Pérez was originally scheduled to start Game 7, but elbow pain will keep him relegated to emergency bullpen duty.  Darryl Lewis might be able to pitch on short rest, but it’s hard to believe the team would rely on him in such a high-pressure situation given his lack of experience.

If the PEC pattern stays true, the ‘Crats are due to be shut down by Conan in Game 6 but then explode for 8-12 runs in Game 7.  Personally, I’d like them to add McCullough to their list of post-season victims.  He’ll be facing Semblano, who had been dominant earlier in the post-season.  He looked a bit tired during his last two starts but was able to keep the damage to a minimum.  Semblano will keep the game close – the offense just has to supply the run support.

Peter Carter will be facing Hancock if a Game 7 is necessary.  Carter pitched well against Florida in the ILAT but looked a little more hittable pitching in relief of an injured Pérez in Game 3.  He’s only recently back from major shoulder surgery, but his arm might also be the freshest on the entire staff because of it.  Now that the Series is back in Arlington, he’ll have to keep the ball down.  The young righty will be a wild card: he can show flashes of brilliance, but he can also serve up a stinker if his command is off.

Regardless of the outcome of the PEC, the off-season is right around the corner.  I’ll cover what the Bureaucrats face in a later article, but there will definitely be question marks on the pitching staff, as well as the outfield.

Go Bureaucrats!