I accidentally hit the advance button, so I skipped past Game 1. Since I had not yet saved graphics, I am going to minimalize them to just a Game 2 starting lineups screenshot for this preview. I will change it back in the Association Semifinals Round.
BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 September 2314
NCA Playoffs Preview - Wildcard Round
#5 Salem Witch Hats (68-62) vs #4 Bunker Hill 75ers (69-61)
Season Series: Bunker Hill 3, Salem 1
May 18-19 @Sal: BH 7-1, BH 8-3
July 30-31 @BH: Sal 8-4, BH 11-6
Analysis
Salem looked to be a team out of the playoff run early in the season, including finishing April with a 9-14 record. The true run came in July when the Hats went 15-9 to push themselves other teams and become a contender.
One team the Witch Hats were not able to conquer was Bunker Hill, with the 75ers taking 3 of 4 and contributing one of those nine July losses. For the 75ers, they were consistently better than average in their record throughout each month, but did have their first losing record in August (13-15). That shift could factor into how well they do in the postseason.
Looking at the playoff matchup, Salem appears to have the pitching advantage, but only slightly, while the 75ers are the better team on offense.
While the Witch Hats have been a good team, reaching their seventh-straight winning season, this year's team seems to have fallen back from the past seasons when they seemed to be legfitimate champion contenders. For the offense, they were most certainly good in the association, finishing 3rd with 683 runs. A good part of that run production came from teh bats of RF Thatch Heard (.350/40/129) and 1B Brian DeLong (.317/40/111), both likely finalists for the Nuka Hitter Award.
On the mound, Salem finished 7th in runs allowed (636) with the Starters (4th with 4.16) performing better than the bullpen (9th wtih 5.16). SP Paul Stains (7-0, 3.59), who only started 16 games due to an early-season back injury, is healthy for the playoffs. He is followed by Jaa Thirtysix (11-12, 3.45) and Chris Teddybear (11-5, 3.66) in the starting rotation. In the bullpen, CL Corpulus Vinius (24 SV, 4.11) was OK but not dominant for a closer. The only bullpen pitcher with an ERA below 4.00 was Mario Riihivuori (3-4, 3.94).
Bunker Hill was the most productive offense in the NCA, including being the top team in runs scored (721), OPS (.821), wOBA (.347), and Base Running (2.4). Four players hit 20+ home runs: LF Kasumi Goto (.326/36/112) who is a finalist for the Nuka Hitter Award, SS Aaron Squire (.280/30/70), 1B Zod Gaycey (.289/26/72), and CF Bumpy Redfern (.330/23/79). The big story was the stellar yet unexpected year from rookie 3B Miko Miko (.405/18/83), who finished with the fourth-best batting average in CBO history and is the only choice to win the NCA's Red Rocket Rookie Award.
For the 75ers pitching, a kink in the wheel may be their undoing. Bunker Hill finished 9th in runs allowed (653), including 5th in Starters ERA (4.17) and 12th in Bullpen ERA (5.83). Ace SP Jason Tonelli (13-9, 3.29) was goodm but he was the only regular on the team with an ERA under 4.00. Pokey Chatman (13-7, 4.54) and Cleveland Heep (12-9, 4.58) are the other playoff starters. The team's closer role was split between Trauma Medley (14 SV, 5.14) and old pro Jim Livermore (13 SV, 4.07), but neither were good in the role; Livermore had the bullpen's best ERA. SP Hangman Alley (7-10, 4.10) is likely out for the playoffs.
Prediction
While the 75ers are the higher seed and won the season series, we think that the Hats are the better team now. With an edge in pitching and two major hitters in the lineup, we think that Salem moves on. Salem 2, Bunker Hill 1
#6 Concord Radstags (67-63) vs #3 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (74-56)
Season Series: Fort Hagen 7, Concord 3
April 6-7 @Con: FtH 9-3, FtH 3-2
June 3-5 @FtH: FtH 4-0, FtH 4-1, FtH 3-2
July 23-24 @FtH: FtH 4-2, Con 8-6
August 24-26 @Con: Con 11-9, Con 8-0, FtH 3-2
Analysis
We have been writing quite a bit about the up-and-coming Radstags. Early in the season, the Stags looked to have come of age, including going 15-8 in April and following that up with a 17-11 May. That meant Concord was alone in 1st place in the Institue League as of June 1, three games above the Shroud at that time. Now we are in September, and Concord finished seven back, a 10-game difference from June through August. Still, Concord did match its franchise-best for wins in a season while making their fifth playoff appearance in team history and first since 2305.
For Fort Hagen, two years from being champions and one of the CBO's most successful franchises (8th all-time with a .519 winning percentage, tied for 3rd all-time with 11 playoff appearances, and 3rd all-time with four Sole Survivor Series appearances). This is now the Shroud's fourth-straight playoff appearance after a six-year absence from 2305 through 2310.
In the season series, the Silver Shroud controlled the narrative, including the season-opening sweep and a 6-0 start. Concord got a late season series victory amidst what appeared to be a collapse out of the playoffs. That series victory ended up making part of the difference in holding off Cambridge and Starlight, which finished 7th and 8th in the association standings.
Looking at the Stags' offense, they finished 6th in runs scored (635), despite finishing 13th in average (.261). One reason for the high run percentage was that they hit a lot of home runs (3rd with 192) to take advantage of runners when they had them. 1B Hax Kim (.304/41/101) who will be one of the finalists for the Nuka Hitter Award, LF Jannar Arbor (.257/27/70), and 3B Mike Fountaineau (.296/27/70) were the anchors in their run production.
On the mound, Concord was better, finishing tied for 3rd in runs allowed (584), 7th in Starters ERA (4.25), and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (4.04). The top two starters, Leyden Aigg (10-9, 3.98) and Chad Nailgun (15-8, 3.36), have been really good. Mel Gorgeous (8-14, 5.07) has not. Cl Penn Teller (37 SV, 2.15) is in the Fallon's Reliever Award running. RP Ulfar unending (2-2, 2.24) was solid in the middle rotation.
While the Radstags's offfense had its struggles, Fort Hagen's offense was outright terrible for stretches of the season. The Shroud finished 10th in runs scored (620). A few people were top contributors in RF orcin Cardinal (.280/31/85), C Sleve McDichael (.313/22/80), and LF makin Jobear (.309/24/81). SS Brennan Colt-45 (.253/5/51) may have had the most disappointing year on offense for the team.
The Silver Shroud's pitching was just as good as Concord's, finishing tied with them for runs allowed with the 6th Starters ERA (4.21) and 4th Bullpen ERA (4.38). Playoff starters are Sarthis Idren (12-10, 4.35), Clubhouse Treelover (12-10, 3.43), and La'Ray Kalel (10-7, 4.68). CL Crazylegs Jones (39 SV, 2.36) is also in the running as the NCA's top reliever. RP Josh Woods (7-5, 3.30, 3 SV) contributed where he could from the bullpen.
Prediction
Concord is happy to be in the Wildcard Round; Fort Hagen is pissed to be there. There is no similarity. While the Radstags may be a championship contender one day, this team is not it. Neither are the Silver Shroud, but we give them all the advantages in talent, performance, and playoff experience. Fort Hagen 2, Concord 0