BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
2 September 2314
SCA Playoffs Preview - Wildcard Round
#5 Atom Cats (74-56) vs #4 Diamond City Swatters (75-55)
Season Series: Atom 3, Diamond City 1
April 23-24 @DC: DC 5-2, Atom 4-1
July 4-5 @Atom: Atom 7-1, Atom 6-3
Analysis
Atom and Diamond City have combined for four Sole Survivor Series appearances and three titles, including last season when the Cats won it all. The Swatters were champions in 2299 and 2300, one season before Atom made its first appearance, a series loss to Nordhagen Beach.
The teams' first playoff meeting also came in 2301, with the Cats ending Diamond City's three-peat bid in the Association Semifinal Round. They met again in the Play-in Round in 2305, again with Atom on top. Last season, they both got to the Association Semifinals but did not meet.
Atom was not as good this season as last but still finished just a game back of Quincy for the #2 seed. On offense, the Cats finished 5th in runs scored (673), including 3rd in home runs (175). Three players finished with 20+ home runs: OF Tobias Hoffman (26), 2B Lee Mayhew (22), and CF Honda Ohnaka (20). Four other players hit 10+ home runs, including injured star Shane Stabb (.281/14/50), who is likely out for the first two rounds but could be eligible for the Association Championship Series.
The Cats also finished 5th in runs allowed (673) but were 3rd in Starters ERA (4.04) and 4th in Bullpen ERA (4.85). Atom was last in errors committed (82). Starters Doug Creep (16-7, 3.35) and Josh Brown (11-7, 3.08) can hold down opposing offenses. Mesquite Williams (11-12, 4.21) is the third starter. In the billpen, MR Lippy Lyonne (11-1, 2.01) is in contention for the Fallon's Reliever Award. CL Lack Luster (22SV, 5.74) was lackluster.
Diamond City may be the tale of two teams, with the offense being its Hyde. The Swatters finished 8th in runs scored (664) and finished around the middle in every offensive category. LF Charles Towner (.295/32/95) led the team in homers and RBI and finished 2nd on the team in average. The best average went to SS Alex Bragman (.311/21/77). Trade acquisition, 1B Moktar Wakihuri (.314/21/69) spent most of the season with Cambridge. RF Magnum Peaeye (.293/24/79) was decent in the middle.
On the mound, the Swatters were really good. They were 2nd in runs allowed (549) and Starters ERA (3.78) and 3rd in Bullpen ERA (4.26). SP Macho Lopez (14-9, 2.74) is in the running for the Vim! Pitcher Award. Heaven Fontenot (15-10, 3.45) and Elatic Man Haley (14-12, 4.99) back up Lopez. CL Burt Bloodhound (32 Sv, 4.12) was another of the league's closers who just could not consistently punch people out. SP Mat Nielsen (9-8, 3.96) could offer support from the bullpen in the postseason.
Prediction
Diamond City may be the higher seed, but Atom is a sleeping giant as the defending champions. The Cats need to get past Lopez in Game 1, but we give them every advantage in Games 2 and 3. If they take Game 1, they sweep. Atom 2, Diamond City 1
#6 Oberland T-51s (72-58) vs #3 FHE Yao Guai (75-55)
Season Series: FHE 5, Oberland 5
May 11-13 @Obe: FHE 23-8, FHE 13-8, Obe 6-5
June 27-28 @FHE: FHE 9-2, FHE 4-3
July 17-19 @FHE: Obe 7-0, FHE 4-1, Obe 7-5 (10)
August 8-9 @Obe: Obe 11-3, Obe 15-11
Analysis
While both FHE and Oberland played out a series that turned out even (5-5), there were lots of crooked scores in the series: 23-8, 13-8, and 15-11 to name a few. Both teams have offenses better than their pitching, but neither's pitching is as bad as they looked against each other. It could make for some interesting matchups in this too-short series. This is the one we look forward to the most in the Wildcard Round.
While they enjoyed some initial success from the forming of the CBO, the T-51s were not very good from 2299-2306. Then, in 2307, they turned on the light and have been perennial playoff contenders, though they are still seeking their first "real" championship. Now with their seventh-straight trip and a respectable team, coming out as the 6th seed to win it all may prove to be too formidable.
FHE has had even less success as a team, clinching just their fourth playoff appearance and first time to be there in back-to-back years. The Yao Guai have never won the Railroad League. With The Slog and Lexington earning their first league titles, the Yao Guai join only the four expansion teams to never win their league. The furthest they have been in the playoffs is the Association Semifinals Round, so they have also never come close to a championship.
On offense, Oberland finished 6th in runs scored (670) with help from finishing 2nd in stolen bases (139). The middle of the lineup offeres the most pop in 2B Odd Todd Walker (.307/21/83/32 SB), LF Foo Fieterz (.305/31/103), and SS Stormin Normin MacDonald (.296/22/68). CF Earthbound Bussey (.249/8/35/41 SB) was the team leader in steals.
The pitching was middle-of-the-pack, finishing 7th in runs allowed (633). SPs Emperry Alizm (12-8, 4.19), Spidr Caddell (9-9, 4.20), and Lannie Tykeson (4-5, 5.49) failed to blow away anyone. SP Chemmix Tailorman (12-7, 4.20) moves to the bullpen to join CL William Butcherman (33 SV, 3.22).
The Yao Guai have a considerable advantage on offense, finishing 2nd in runs scored (731) and 2nd behind Vault 81 in just about every other category, too. Three stars of the lineup include CF Missile Crews (.320/27/92/57 SB) who led the CBO in SB, LF Innis Sark (.315/25/79), and 3B Slip Knotty (.252/32/67).
FHE's pitching was not as good as Oberland's, which says a lot about their championship contention. The Yao Guai was 8th in runs allowed (639) but 6th in Starters ERA (4.30). All four starters had similar results: Baker Doazen (11-9, 4.01), Nien Nunb (17-4, 4.03), Kennett Kentucky (10-9, 4.21), and Munyeb Funyun (12-7, 4.17). The bullpen was led by CL Ryan Roberson (34 SV, 4.12) whose ERA was second only to Moondog Mendoza (2-1, 3.55).
Prediction
We hope for three high-scoring affairs to bring some excitement to this matchup. Looking at the teams, we feel that the Yao Guai is just slightly better and will use home-field advantage to take the series. FHE 2, Oberland 1