Schimwer’s confidence prior to the potential showdown does not place him in the over-the-top John Rocker mold. In fact, Schwimer and Crawford are close friends.

Playing a complete game seemed impossible for most of the season. When the offense clicked, primetime pitching performances were unobtainable. Tossing gems on the mound turned into heartbreaking losses as poor offensive execution and defensive woes proved costly.