BTW, since this thread of yours is more active than your uniform thread and don't want to bump an old thread, even though this is off topic: I'm borrowing your Portland Pioneers graphics for my "fun save" when I expand to 36 teams here shortly. Looking at my name, I think we can all agree the color scheme really suits me.

*Like* :D

2300 - CBO Playoffs - NCA: Association Semifinals - Game 5
 

Chaos could ensue . . . OR . . .

NCA Association Semifinals - Saturday, 15 September 2300

#5 The Slog Ghouls (61-47) vs #1 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (67-41)

Game 5 - The Slog 4 at Nordhagen Beach 5

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639689616

#3 Easy Town Assaultrons (67-41) vs #2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (66-42)

Game 5 - Easy Town 4 at Fort Hagen 7

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639689616

Updated Playoff Tree

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639689616

You know, even though they lost, low key we probably should have paid more attention to The Slog, given they do have a certain pedigree in the CBO. Oh well guess they fizzled, and it's too late now.

Their pitching was just not good enough to have a shot to win it all. I find that the playoff success stories have been the teams whose pitching is stronger. If that holds true, the Sole Survivor Series will be Nordhagen Beach against Diamond City with the Party Boys likely to take it all with their CBO-best 3.73 runs per game allowed.

2300 - CBO Playoffs - SCA: Vault 81 vs Diamond City
 

#1 Vault 81 Dwellers (68-40) vs #3 Diamond City Swatters (61-47)

Season Series: Vault 81 6, Diamond City 6
May 4-6 @V81: V81 3-0, DC 4-2, V81 2-0
May 18-20 @DC: V81 7-2, DC 10-9, DC 4-3
July 6-8 @V81: DC 5-3, V81 6-4, DC 3-2
August 10-12 @DC: V81 9-4, DC 16-4, V81 3-0

Vault 81 Home Page

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1638760829

Diamond City Home Page

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1638841985

Game 1 Matchup

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639850350

Analysis

These two teams went sixth toe-to-sixth toe all season in the battle for the Railroad League championship. For the #1 seed Vault 81, they only had non-winning records against three teams: Goodneighbor (3-5), Jamaica Plain (3-5), and Diamond City (6-6). Against the rest of the SCA, the Dwellers were 56-24 with a 31-17 record against the rest of the RL. What does that mean? Well, other than 5th-seed University Point, Vault 81 had all of its best success against non-playoff teams.

What the Dwellers will need to contend with the most is the dominant pitching for Diamond City, though all three shutouts came from Vault 81 pitchers: Edwin Mass (15-9, 3.24), Curt Redcoats (6-3, 4.12), and Josh Mustang (12-5, 4.53). Only Mass will start in the SCA Championship. The Swatters have a three-headed monster in X10-44 Mannson (15-5, 2.74), Tyler Powers (15-4, 3.09), and Tim Fusion (8-16, 4.82). Fusion was 1-3 in the season series, Mannson 1-1, and Powers 1-1. Fusion would probably be better as a bullpen pitcher for the series with City Moore (16-9, 3.88) seeming to be a better option, but manager Bucky Bachelor has stuck with Fusion in a down season. That decision was somewhat rewarded in Fusion allowing just one earned run on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings in the Swatters' Game 3, 11-inning loss to Goodneighbor in the Association Semifinals.

Comparing the offenses, Diamond City may not be the better hitting team, but they had several players succeed in the season series. Those include CF Witcher Craft (.421/1/4 in the season series), SS Wally Warwick (.300/5/8), and 1B Oren Gep (.261/4/8). Vault 81 also had some players stand out in the season series: LF Skyler Pickpocket (.367/4/8), CF Aesed Hayjen (.340/3/6), and 2B Harry Byrd (.273/2/4). Though they both hit several home runs, SS Knud Bather (.239/5/8) and RF Deer Quickwalker (.163/4/13) struggled with consistently hitting. The Swatters also had several struggling hitters in 3B Allen Bishop (.194/1/4), LF Tyler Ross (.188/2/2), and C Nick Minnier (.174/0/1).

Prediction
Diamond City is looking to claim a second-straight SCA championship. Though Vault 81 has been the best regular-season team, we're expecting the Swatters pitching to end this one in favor of the defending champions, 4 games to 2.

2300 - CBO Playoffs - NCA: Nordhagen Beach vs Fort Hagen
 

#2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (66-42) vs #1 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (67-41)

Season Series: Nordhagen Beach 4, Fort Hagen 4
April 17-18 @FtH: FtH 8-2, NB 5-2
July 24-25 @NB: NB 5-3, NB 5-4
August 21-22 @FtH: NB 5-2, FtH 2-1
August 28-29 @NB: FtH 6-1, FtH 1-0

Nordhagen Beach Home Page

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1638233412

Fort Hagen Home Page

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1638394658

Game 1 Matchup

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639852386

Analysis

This rivalry of both of the NCA's league champions is an intense one. Both Nordhagen Beach and Fort Hagen split their "Battle of the Hagens" series in 2300 with streaks being the name of the game. That could mean the winner of Game 1 has the major advantage, but we feel this series will be more of a back-and-forth one.

The Party Boys have to worry about the last three games of the series, especially since it came towards the end of the season. In those three games, the Boys scored 1, 1, and 0 with the Shroud's Derek Green (15-6, 2.73) dominating them twice in a row and then Brent Hooker (11-9, 3.94) pitching the shutout. While Nordhagen Beach seems to have the better pitching staff in Tommy Beach (9-3, 2.30), Chet Arthur (15-6, 2.71), and Julian Shed (6-6, 2.98), the Silver Shroud won the pitching battle on the season. Still, it will be tough for Fort Hagen to score more than three runs in a game. Somehow, they need to hold down the Nordhagen Beach offense while knocking out the Boys' strong staff.

The Silver Shroud's advantage is in its offense, with SS Well Done Dungan hitting .400 in the season series. However, he was the only one with consistent success, with 1B Jim Tiller being second best at .267. Nordhagen Beach had more success on the offensive side before the last three games. In just 12 at bats, LF Michael Fogcrawler hit .417. C Mike Swift also hit over .400 in 29 at bats. 2B Brian Masterson hit ,324. What the Boys could not do, however, was hit homers. Only Fogcrawler and pinch hitters Dirty Dog Sapienza and Ginger Rogers hit homers. Also, most regulars hit below .200: SS Pointie Shroud, 3B Jon Hitman, RF Jonathan Angelou, and CF Maxx Murtagh.

Prediction
Like we mentioned, a streaky team could end this one quickly. We're going to go against that trend and predict no more than two straight wins for either team. In the end, we're predicting a repeat of 2299 with the Silver Shroud winning this one 4 games to 3.

2300 - BMU Playoffs - Boston Minor Series
 

2300 - CBO Playoffs - SCA: Association Championship Series
 

2300 - CBO Playoffs - NCA: Association Championship Series
 

2300 - CBO Playoffs - SCA: Association Championship Series
 

SCA Association Championship

#3 Diamond City Swatters (61-47) vs #1 Vault 81 Dwellers (68-40)

Game 3 - Vault 81 4 at Diamond City 3

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639923860

Game 4 - Vault 81 0 at Diamond City 3

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639923860

Game 5 - Vault 81 9 at Diamond City 8

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639923860

Outlook

Vault 81 seems to have the advantage as they return home. The pitching matchup for Game 6 is advantage Diamond City as X10-44 Mannson (15-5, 2.74) is going to face off against Danny Haines (7-8, 4.18). Should the Swatters win that one as expected, we get a great pitching matchup when DC's Tyler Powers (15-4, 3.09) faces off against the Dwellers' ace, Edwin Mass (15-9, 3.24). Powers won the first matchup in this series in a 3-0 Diamond City win.

If Vault 81 wins either Game 6 or Game 7, we expect CF Aesed Hayjen to be named Series MVP. In Game 5, Hayjen hit his third homer of the series. On the other hand, if the Swatters take both Games 6 and 7, then SS Wally Warwick is having an MVP series so far, hitting in all five games and batting .500 (11/22) with three doubles, a home run, four runs, and six RBI.

2300 - CBO Playoffs - NCA: Association Championship Series
 

NCA Association Championship

#2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (66-42) vs #1 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (67-41)

Game 3 - Nordhagen Beach 1 at Fort Hagen 2

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639927652

Game 4 - Nordhagen Beach 6 at Fort Hagen 7

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639927652

Game 5 - Nordhagen Beach 0 at Fort Hagen 6

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639927652

Series Recap

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1639927662

Summary

We were quite wrong in our prediction that this one would go seven games. Fort Hagen went home and came alive in the three-game sweep to win the series 4-1. Now they wait to see for their return to the Sole Survivor Series if they stay home for Games 1 and 2 against Diamond City or travel to Vault 81 for those games.

Despite offense being almost non-existent--for example, there were a total of four home runs in the series--CF Ben Pawlak of the Silver Shroud was named MVP. In five games, he was 8 for 19 (.316) with a triple, three walks, three runs, and two RBI with his numbers picking up in Games 4 and 5.

Derek Green and Matt Hope each threw shutouts for the Shroud, giving them hope that they can match up well with either Vault 81 or Diamond City's pitching.

Nordhagen Beach's best offensive weapons were RF Jonathan Angelou (.368/0/1) and C Mike Swift (.364/0/3). LF Michael Fogcrawler and 1B Dustin Mart each hit a home run in the Party Boys' Game 2 win, but hit a miserable .176 each in the series.

Chet Arthur had the best pitching performance for the Boys, but still dropped Game 3 despite allowing only one earned run in 6.2 innings. Tommy Beach and Julian Shed were both no-line NPCs in the series.

I said it "last year" too, but we get our classic Boys v Shroud too soon on account of alignment. Of course, I'm glad the Shroud won, but that lack of offense is indeed concerning for the big finale. I feel as if we've seen this story before :laugh:

2300 - CBO Playoffs - SCA: Association Championship Series
 

SCA Association Championship

#3 Diamond City Swatters (61-47) vs #1 Vault 81 Dwellers (68-40)

Game 6 - Diamond City 8 at Vault 81 3

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640058160

Game 7 - Diamond City 4 at Vault 81 3

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640058160

Series Summary

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640058160

Updated Playoff Picture

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640058165

I didn't want to spoil anything by answering first. This Sole Survivor Series story is the same! I'll be rooting hard for the Silver Shroud to win it this time, though. Love that parity!

2300 - CBO Sole Survivor Series: Fort Hagen vs Diamond City
 

NCA #2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (66-42) vs SCA #3 Diamond City Swatters (61-47)

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640267136

Fort Hagen Team Stats

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640267136

Diamond City Team Stats

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640267136

Game 1 Matchup

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640267141

Analysis
These two clubs can now consider themselves familiar as we have the first ever rematch in the Sole Survivor Series when the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud host the Diamond City Swatters in Sole Survivor Series V.

The home team struggled in 2299, with the Shroud taking the first two games in Diamond City and the Swatters sweeping all three games in Fort Hagen. Game 6 broke the mold, though, when the Swatters claimed the championship with a 6-1 victory. Diamond City's 3B Allen Bishop claimed the Sole Survivor Series MVP award, but he has not parlayed that success into a huge 2300 season with his batting average dropping 65 points this season (.363 in 2299 vs .298 in 2300). On the other hand, the Game 6 winner, Tyler Powers, has been better in 2300 with an identical 15-4 record but a much better ERA (3.53 in 2299 vs 3.09 in 2300).

The Shroud looked to be off to a great start in the 2299 SSS with Brent Hooker dominating in Game 1. The blow came in Game 2 when staff ace in 2300, Derek Green, went down with an injury. Like Powers, he has been even better in 2300, improving his ERA by 52 points (3.25 in 2299 vs 2.73 in 2300). The first two pitchers match up evenly with the Swatters but win the battle when looking at the third pitcher in the rotation: Matt Hope (14-7, 3.51) vs Tim Fusion (8-16, 4.82). Fusion's struggles have been mysterious, and some speculate he suffered an injury at some point. Still, Diamond City manager Bucky Bachelor has defended his decision to start Fusion over City Moore (16-9, 3.88) who joined the Swatters in a mid-season trade with Starlight.

The similarity in this season's Sole Survivor Series is the pitching, but the difference is the offensive production of each team, giving the Shroud a definitive advantage. Fort Hagen led seven categories in the NCA, including runs scored (590), batting average (.287), OBP (.345), WAR (20.7), and extra-base hits (368). While they only finished 5th in home runs (113), they are good at getting on base and moving runners around. In fact, injured (and unavailable) 2B Mark Miller (.347/0/31) has the lowest number of RBI in the starting eight, but his ability to get on base and score will be missed. Howard Miracleman (no regular-season at-bats) replaces Miller in the lineup (.273/0/1 in 2300 playoffs).

Diamond City has also had a lot of players produce at least 30 RBI, but they produced 58 fewer runs (532) or about a half run fewer per game than the Silver Shroud. Really, two players have carried the Swatters offense in 2300: 1B Oren Gep (.333/37/87) and SS Wally Warwick (.335/26/81). Gep led the CBO in homers and finished 9th in RBI.

When it comes to the 2300 Sole Survivor Series, it looks to be a low-scoring matchup. That could mean either team just needs a small string of hits to win this one. Gep is most likely to be the difference-maker, but the Silver Shroud have several guys, including emerging star CF Ben Pawlak (.318/23/82) and LF Andrew Nuka (.295/27/90), who can match Gep's production. In the end, the 1-2-3 Starting Rotation for each team appears to be the true X-factor in the series. The team that pitches better will win this one.


Prediction
Diamond City was hands down the best team in the 2299 season. In 2300, they seem to have flaws, but not that many. Fort Hagen is a stronger team than it was last season and should be the favorite in this season's series. We will agree and pick the Silver Shroud to hoist the Sole Survivor Cup in 2300, 4 games to 3.

I'm putting my money on Fort Hagen in 6! But I always love a good game seven

I'm a natural optimist, but I'm just not feeling it. (Though, I like both teams, so...) I'm gonna say the Swatters, though it'll be a fight. 4-3.

Bets are in!
 

The bettors have spoken! Let's see how they fare against BNN's pick!

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640317602

Each team also posed for a pre-Sole Survivor Series team picture.

2300 - CBO Sole Survivor Series: Fort Hagen vs Diamond City
 

NCA #2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (66-42) vs SCA #3 Diamond City Swatters (61-47)

Game 1 - Diamond City 4 at Fort Hagen 1

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640318071

Game 2 - Diamond City 7 at Fort Hagen 3

https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...1&d=1640318071

Analysis

This series is starting exactly the same way the 2299 SSS started when the Silver Shroud won the first two games on the road. Diamond City then went on to win the next four to take the championship. We'll see if the home-field disadvantage continues in this year's series.