It’s hard to believe that the minor league season is coming to an end and I haven’t made as many trips as I would have liked. I don’t expect to make many trips in the coming weeks, however I’d love to hit one of the MWL playoff series.

Aside from a handful of games at Kane County, I’ve driven to Grand Rapids (West Michigan) and Peoria for games in the past. Both were sleepovers and well worth the highway stress.

Since MLB eliminated 42 minor league teams the MWL shrunk from 16 to 12. As a result, the number of playoff teams and games decreased from 6/8 to a paltry 4. Only two teams from each division make the playoffs. This year the Eastern Division is far superior to the West as they have 4 teams with +500 records to the West’s only two.

As has been the case in the minors for years, the season is split into two halves, with the winner of each half facing off in a best-of-3 series. As it stands now, the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) will face either the Ft. Wayne TinCaps or the West Michigan WhiteCaps.

My MLB crystal ball hasn’t been functioning all season so there’s no reason that I’ll be better equipped to predict a winner between FW and WM. However, I’d like to revisit either ballpark.

Editor’s note: the teams playing in the must closer, South Bend, Beloit, and Wisconsin have no chance in making the playoffs.