2007

In several ways, the 2007 American Association season was much like loop’s inaugural campaign the year prior: all ten teams returned, Fort Worth began the season with first-round pitcher in the midst of a post-draft holdout (Luke Hochevar in ’06, now Max Scherzer), and the Cats hoisted the Miles Wolff Cup once again. Much of that would be changing, though. For one, 2007 marked the final year of operation for both Coastal Bend and St. Joe.

On the way there, Lincoln posted the best half in the five years of the AA’s two-half system, going 34-13 to win the North Division first half by 3.5 games over Sioux Falls. El Paso, meanwhile, took the South first half by 4.5 games over Shreveport. After a sub-.500 first half, Fort Worth roared to a 32-16 second act to clear El Paso by four games. St. Paul went 29-19 to take the North’s second half by four games over Sioux City.

Though Lincoln had the better overall record, St. Paul was hotter, and the Saints bludgeoned the Saltdogs for 26 runs in a three-game sweep to win the North. Meanwhile, El Paso won the first two games at home, but Fort Worth humiliated the Diablos 32-9 over three straight wins at LaGrave Field, stealing the South Division title. The Cats pulled off another comeback in the Finals, falling behind 2-1, but allowing just one run in the final two games to steal their second straight Miles Wolff Cup and their third straight title overall, going back to their 2005 Central League crown.

Final Standings

North Division

Team	W	L	Win Pct.	GB	Runs Scored	Runs Allowed	Attend.
Lincoln Saltdogs-y	57	36	.613	—	518	429	193,040
St. Paul Saints-x	57	39	.594	1.5	570	464	297,834
Sioux Falls Canaries	53	43	.552	5.5	516	479	144,025
Sioux City Explorers	40	56	.417	18.5	493	563	92,786
St. Joe Blacksnakes	34	62	.354	24.5	425	522	30,244

South Division

Team	W	L	Win Pct.	GB	Runs Scored	Runs Allowed	Attend.
El Paso Diablos-y	56	40	.583	—	585	509	211,316
Fort Worth Cats-x	53	40	.570	1.5	486	400	141,330
Shreveport Sports	47	48	.494	8.5	465	502	57,085
Coastal Bend Aviators	38	54	.413	16.0	423	500	58,715
Pensacola Pelicans	39	56	.410	16.5	407	520	92,466

y-First half winner x-Second half winner

Playoffs

First Round — ST. PAUL WINS 3-0

Date	Score	W	L	SV	Attend.
8/27/07	St. Paul 11 at Lincoln 3	C. Ruud	D. Reichert	–	3,198
8/29/07	St. Paul 9 at Lincoln 5	J. Lord	J. Cannon	–	1,851
8/31/07	Lincoln 3 at St. Paul 6	A. Shepherd	J. Gardner	T. Pierce	2,231

First Round — FORT WORTH WINS 3-2

Date	Score	W	L	SV	Attend.
8/27/07	Fort Worth 2 at El Paso 6	G. Wiltshire	J. Kirsten	–	–
8/28/07	Fort Worth 4 at El Paso 11	J. Neitz	R. Trytten	–	–
8/31/07	El Paso 5 at Fort Worth 8	L. Gwaltney	E. Montoya	R. Burnau	2,224
9/1/07	El Paso 4 at Fort Worth 10	C. Walters	A. Trolia	–	1,879
9/2/07	El Paso 0 at Fort Worth 14	J. Kirsten	G. Wiltshire	–	1,241

American Association Finals — FORT WORTH WINS 3-2

Date	Score	W	L	SV	Attend.
9/4/07	Fort Worth 6 at St. Paul 3	B. Trytten	C. Ruud	T. Vasquez	2,035
9/5/07	Fort Worth 3 at St. Paul 10	J. Lord	N. Martin	–	1,804
9/7/07	St. Paul 3 at Fort Worth 2	A. Shepherd	L. Gwaltney	T. Pierce	1,764
9/8/07	St. Paul 0 at Fort Worth 2	C. Walters	C. Ruud	T. Vasquez	2,388
9/9/07	St. Paul 1 at Fort Worth 4	B. Trytten	J. Lord	–	2,197

Award Winners

Player of the Year	Jorge Alvarez (El Paso) 95 G, .352/.396/.517, 148 H, 75 R, 43 2B, 8 HR, 91 RBI
Right-Handed Pitcher of the Year	Pat Mahomes (Sioux Falls) 12-3, 3.21 ERA, 19 G, 4 CG, 134.2 IP, 109 K, 1.374 WHIP
Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year	Joel Kirsten (Fort Worth) 6-5, 3.32 ERA, 19 G, 3 CG, 116.2 IP, 68 K, 1.114 WHIP
Rookie of the Year	Cesar Aranguren (Pensacola) 86 G, .302/.393/.373, 98 H, 49 R, 11 2B, 4 HR, 30 RBI
Rookie Pitcher of the Year	Matt Clayman (Shreveport) 2-5, 2.73 ERA, 30 G, 4 SV, 56.0 IP, 58 K, 1.339 WHIP
Manager of the Year	Butch Henry (El Paso) 56-40 record, playoff berth; 21.5-game improvement

Postseason All-Stars

Catcher	Marcel Longmire (St. Paul) 93 G, .324/.393/.516, 120 H, 74 R, 21 2B, 16 HR, 79 RBI, 15 SB
First Base	Walter Olmstead (El Paso) 93 G, .341/.414/.570, 126 H, 79 R, 33 2B, 8 3B, 12 HR, 66 RBI
Second Base	Josh Patton (Lincoln) 88 G, .335/.421/.462, 106 H, 52 R, 23 2B, 5 HR, 63 RBI
Third Base	Trino Aguilar (Pensacola) 95 G, .291/.354/.481, 106 H, 56 R, 17 2B, 16 HR, 47 RBI, 23 SB
Shortstop	Albenis Machado (El Paso) 84 G, .317/.431/.395, 109 H, 73 R, 21 2B, 0 HR, 30 RBI, 28 SB
Outfield	Seth Pietsch (Lincoln) 93 G, .350/.402/.518, 129 H, 68 R, 31 2B, 9 HR, 60 RBI, 24 SB
Outfield	Brian Fryer (Coastal Bend/Fort Worth) 82 G, .306/.340/.410, 106 H, 61 R, 18 2B, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 34 SB
Outfield	Jorge Moreno (Sioux City) 96 G, .294/.363/.489, 111 H, 76 R, 28 2B, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 27 SB
Designated Hitter	Jorge Alvarez (El Paso) 95 G, .352/.396/.517, 148 H, 75 R, 43 2B, 8 HR, 91 RBI
Right-Handed Pitcher	Pat Mahomes (Sioux Falls) 12-3, 3.21 ERA, 19 G, 4 CG, 134.2 IP, 109 K, 1.374 WHIP
Left-Handed Pitcher	Joel Kirsten (Fort Worth) 6-5, 3.32 ERA, 19 G, 3 CG, 116.2 IP, 68 K, 1.114 WHIP
Relief Pitcher	Jerrod Fuell (Sioux Falls) 1-2, 5.52 ERA, 32 G, 23 SV, 31.0 IP, 35 K, 1.645 WHIP

All-Star Game

July 17, 2007 at Sioux Falls Stadium – Sioux Falls, SD

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
South	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	1	0	6	4	1
North	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	4	11	0