Season ending article on the Chiefs

Ending tough to take

Even now, almost a week later, it is hard to separate the Peoria Chiefs’ season in full from their last two games.

Maybe it’s the fact that the Chiefs, the best team in the Midwest League’s Western Division, were swept by Cedar Rapids in the opening round of the playoffs.

That those two games ended in two of the most improbable ways for games to end — any games, let alone playoff contests — factors into the cloudiness.

Perhaps the best way to put the second-best season in Peoria’s franchise history in perspective is to start temporarily at the end.

Looking back, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Chiefs struggled in the playoffs. In some ways, the case could be made that they were too good in the second half. The Chiefs clinched a playoff berth on Aug. 27 and the Western Division title on Aug. 31, leaving a week with little to play for.

Too good? Hmmmm. Your views intrigue me and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.

And the very thing that ultimately caused the Chiefs’ demise in the bottom of the ninth, the inability to throw strikes, was a problem at the start of the season.

“We cannot continue to give free passes away like we have,” Chiefs manager Marty Pevey said. “You are going to walk a guy, that’s part of the game, but when you get to this advanced stage you have to have been able to have thrown strikes somewhere.”

Pevey made that statement as the Chiefs started a four-series with Cedar Rapids on April 25 with a 5-8 record. The Chiefs swept the Kernels and would never be below .500 for the remainder of the season.

It turns out the Chiefs went full circle.

There's more at the link.