#2 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (66-42) vs #3 Easy Town Assaultrons (67-41)
Season Series: Fort Hagen 4, Easy Town 4
April 8-9 @ET: ET 11-10, ET 12-7
May 15-16 @FtH: FtH 4-3, FtH 4-3
June 26-27 @ET: FtH 3-0, FtH 8-4
July 10-11 @FtH: ET 11-4, ET 9-7
Fort Hagen Home Page
Easy Town Home Page
Game 1 Matchup
Analysis
It is hard to call a team that has made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season sneaky good, but if there is any team that may sneak itself to a championship in 2300, it is the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud. The Shroud have been both an offensive juggernaut, leading in five offensive categories while finishing 2nd in the NCA in runs scored (590). At the same time, they were 3rd in runs against (444), a CBO-leading +146 run differential, including the 2nd-best Starters ERA (3.49). The offensive star power is well-distributed, with CF Ben Pawlak (.318/23/82) probably their best overall player. LF Andrew Nuka (.295/27/90), SS Well Done Dungan (.358/2/60), and 1B Jim Tiller (.316/11/75) all provide a ton of hits. Fort Hagen is without 2B Mark Miller (.347/0/31), which will be a problem with career BMUer Howard Miracleman (no at bats in the CBO in 2300) taking his place for the playoffs. The pitching is so good that last year's Vim! Pitcher Award winner Mike Cartrette (12-10, 4.01) is going to pitch from the bullpen in the playoffs. In his stead, Derek Green (15-6, 2.73), Brent Hooker (11-9, 3.94), and Matt Hope (14-7, 3.51) will make up the rotation. The bullpen also features two pitchers who combined for 35 saves in 2300, Curtis Thriceshot (18 SV, 3.58) and Gimp Shackelford (17 SV, 2.79, mostly with Oberland).
The Silver Shroud's opponents are no slouches, especially when it comes to offense, where the Easy Town Assaultrons finished 2nd in most offensive categories except runs scored (598) where they were #1. Five players finished with a .297 or above average: probable top rookie 1B Lannie Tykeson (.330/22/75), CF Sean Samuels (.328/20/61), LF Jarrett Metalbox (.317/11/75), 2B Carlos Tophat (.307/2/48), and RF Dan Squirrel (.297/15/81). Pitching is not as good for the Assaultrons, which could become their Touch of Ug-Qualtoth. The Trons were 6th in runs allowed, with the 6th-best Starters ERA (4.57) and 3rd-best Bullpen ERA (3.02). The starting rotation is decent but not as good in any spot as the Shroud: Angel Waterdrink (14-9, 4.52), William Radwater (12-8, 4.34), and Smoker Caliman (12-5, 4.38). Easy Town does have a better closer in Aaron Geneva (33 SV, 1.82) and Sheffield Williams (4-3, 3.21) may be the best middle reliever in the CBO.
Prediction
While we would not doubt this series going in a different direction, we see the Shroud outhitting and outpitching the Trons most of the way. We'll say that Fort Hagen will take this one, 3 games to 1.