BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
6 September 2314
NCA Playoffs Preview - Association Semifinal Round
#4 Bunker Hill 75ers (69-61) vs #1 The Slog Ghouls (84-46)
Season Series: The Slog 3, Bunker Hill 1
April 25-26 @BH: Slog 7-4, Slog 10-5
July 1-2 @Slog: BH 14-4, Slog 16-6
Analysis
The Slog, the NCA's #1 regular season team, now enters the fray with a battle against the Institute League for a chance at a Sole Survivor Series. First on the Ghouls' agenda is Bunker Hill, which the Ghouls beat 3 out of 4 times this season.
While The Slog won the first (and now unofficial) Sole Survivor Series in 2296, they have not had much playoff success. In fact, with their success this season, the Ghouls have won the Brotherhood League for the first time in full CBO history.
This season marks only the third time The Slog and Bunker Hill have been participants in the same playoffs (2310, 2312). They met in the Wildcard Round in 2312, a 2-0 series victory by the #5 Ghouls. The Slog is also a year removed from their deepest playoff run when they lost last season to Nahant in the NCACS.
The Ghouls are a good all-around team and are the hands-on favorite to take the NCA. On offense, they were 2nd in runs scored (688), including tops in the NCA in average (.274) and WAR (24.5). All eight starters hit between 10 and 19 home runs with C Silvam Fourteen (.261/19/65) leading the team in homers from the 8-spot. SS Gavin Deux-Gas (.341/15/67/37 SB) was fantastic, and CF Bill Lazarus (.274/11/47/51 SB) finished tied for third in the CBO in steals. 2B Puddle Norman (.268/18/74) was the team leader in RBI on a well-balanced offense.
Pitching for The Slog was even more successful, finishing 1st in runs allowed (508) and Starters ERA (3.35) to go with finishing 3rd in Bullpen ERA (4.06). All four starters were good: Klement Thodberg (15-4, 2.86), Flirt Perez (12-7, 3.53), Scott Fuhr (14-8, 3.17), and Isaiah Swindler (13-9, 3.47). The closers were split between Austen Austin (13 SV, 3.33) and Orlando Bransford (17 SV, 3.38), both of whom were decent. Quincy Jones (5-1, 2 SV, 2.79) led the bullpen in ERA and victories.
Prediction
With the well-balanced attack of The Slog matching against pitching staff that gives up way too many runs, especially in mid-to-late game, we have a hard time seeing the 75ers take this one. The Ghouls have a team primed for winning in the postseason, and we expect this matchup to be one-sided before the NCACS. The Slog 3, Bunker Hill 1
#3 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (74-56) vs #2 Lexington Synths (76-54)
Season Series: Lexington 7, Fort Hagen 3
April 8-9 @Lex: Lex 9-4, Lex 5-4
May 1-3 @FtH: FtH 5-3, Lex 1-0, FtH 3-1
July 13-15 @Lex: Lex 3-2, Lex 4-1, Lex 6-2
August 1-2 @FtH: FtH 6-2, FtH 2-1
Analysis
Fort Hagen is hitorically the better team and has shown that with multiple trips to the Sole Survior Series and a championship just two seasons ago. Lexington is enjoying just its secong playoff appearance (2313) and first Instuitute League title. In terms of the playoffs, this appears to be the Shroud's series to lose.
Where Lexington can show they have what it takes to beat the Silver Shroud would be looking at 2314 in a vacuum. The Synths dominated the season series, winning 7 of 10 games while holding Fort Hagen of an average of 2.9 runs per game. The Shroud's highest-scoring game in the season series was six runs in a 6-2 victory on August 1.
For the Synths, offense is most certainly not why they are here. Lexington finished 9th in runs scored (622) with a 14th-place finish in wOBA (.321), something not typical of a #2 seed in the playoffs. Two players who helped to boost the offense are CF Packs Ton Kling (.282/33/83/37 SB) and 3B Tommy Whitetiger (.309/24/91). RF Hurr Lee Reyes (.326/7/26) missed a good chunk of the season but is healthy for the playoffs.
Lexington was good on teh mound, finishing 2nd in runs allowed (551), including 3rd in Starters ERA (4.11) and 1st in Bullpen ERA (4.04). The top two starters were really good: Lyle Pine (16-8, 3.00) and Admiral Kelm (13-11, 3.49). Pine is in top contention for the Vim! Pitcher Award. SP Harry Baines (14-13, 5.35) was not so good, but he got the 3rd starter nod over Chase Wede (9-7, 4.83). In the bullpen, CL Hunter Kim (37 SV, 2.33) finished second in the NCA in saves only to the Shroud's Crazylegs Jones (39 SV, 2.36).
Prediction
The Synths have shown in back-to-back seasons that they are now a good team and can compete throughout the season. While their 7-3 regular season dominance over the Silver Shroud was impressive, we do not foresee them winning three more games in this series. Still, we will give them the HFA benefit of the doubt. Fort Hagen 3, Lexington 2