What This Series Means

I've heard from a lot of different people over the past couple of days that are worried about getting swept in the series with Fort Wayne. Quite honestly, I'm one of them. They are a darn good ballclub, and they have swept South Bend three times already this season (and taken 3 out of 4 in the other series).

That being said, whatever happens in this series is not going to make or break the Silver Hawks. Yes, being swept would hurt. Yes, if the Silver Hawks could find a way to sweep Fort Wayne it would be huge. Heck, even going 2-2 against the TinCaps would be a victory at this stage for South Bend. But this division is not going to be decided with four games in early August.

Consider that after this series, South Bend still has 8 with Great Lakes, 7 with Dayton, and 7 with Lansing. Oh, and in case you've forgotten, those are the three teams that are battling with the Hawks for the playoffs spots.

Great Lakes is a solid team that everyone thinks is going to make the playoffs. Good for them if they do, but let's not just give it to them yet. They are full of experienced players who quite honestly have underachieved to some extent...and they still have a lot of games with West Michigan remaining.

Dayton has promoted half their pitching staff in the last two weeks. They are going to have some kinks to work out over the final month. They also can't beat Fort Wayne (1-14 versus the TinCaps).

Lansing struggles mightily against South Bend (amongst others). Every time they win two in a row, they seem to lose the next three in a row.

The Silver Hawks are dealing with injuries (Krauss, Sinclair) and have losing records against every Eastern Division team other than Lansing.

My point is...every team has strengths, every team has flaws, and every team will be playing every other team in the division still.

Let's not write off this series until the games are played, and let's not judge the second half until South Bend has a chance to go head-to-head with the teams they are fighting with for the playoff spots.