BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
7 September 2314
SCA Playoffs Preview - Association Semifinal Round
#5 Atom Cats (74-56) vs #1 Vault 81 Dwellers (95-35)
Season Series: Vault 81 3, Atom 1
June 18-19 @V81: V91 7-3, V81 10-2
August 10-11 @Atom: Atom 1-0, V81 10-0
Analysis
Vault 81 set the CBO's single-season record for victories with 95, breaking the 91 formerly held by the 2304 Roxbury team. That .731 winning percentage is also the third all-time behind the 2304 Sox (.758) and 2305 Sox (.733). In short, this Vault 81 team has been dominant.
That dominance will need to continue for the Dwellers' 10th playoff appearance to turn into its first championship. Vault 81 reached its first Sole Survivor Series two seasons ago in a series loss to Fort Hagen.
With Atom the reigning CBO champions, this matchup represents a battle of the last two SCA champions and a rematch of last season's SCACS. This season is actually only the third time that both teams have been in the playoffs the same season (2301, 2313). In 2301, they did not face each other in the Association Semifinal Round. The Cats went on to reach the Sole Survivor Series that season. Does that mean the odds favor Atom to reach the SSS again since they have made it both seasons the Dwellers have been in the playoffs with them?
Looking at the 2314 Vault 81 team, it will be hard for any team to look good next to them when looking at the numbers. On offense, the Dwellers were 1st in every category but steals/baserunning (t-8th, 10th). They were tops in runs scored 803, which is just 14 runs short of their record 817 set last season. There is no Nuka Hitter Award winner coming from the Dwellers since their entire lineup was as consistent as a lineup can be with the lowest average at .265 (Chris Connexx) and the highest at .323 (Aaron Wright). Four players hit 20+ home runs: Pockets Wrench (25), Stu Gains (24), Arty Sefilian (23), and Phantom Vargas (21). Pitchers get no rest going through this lineup.
For the Dwellers' pitching, they were also 1st in most pitching/defensive categories with the exception of FIP (2nd), WAR (3rd), and Defensive Efficiency (2nd). They gave up 513 runs, meaning they outscored teams by 2.23 runs per game (6.18-3.95). All four of the starters were excellent in Zack Million (14-4, 3.25), Exxie Summerset (22-5, 2.96), Scruffy Taguchi (15-5, 3.91), and Ryan Goodpryce (16-6, 3.71). Summerset is a finalist for the Vim! Pitcher Award. In the bullpen, there was a little back-and-forth between closers with Dynamite Delaney (38 SV, 3.12) getting the majority of the work and support from Healie McGorman (4 SV, 2.92).
Prediction
The Dwellers are built to win it all, so all of the pressure is on them. Last season, they were also built to win it all but not as dominant as this season. Anything less than a championship should be considered an epic failure on Vault 81's part. We do not think they will falter. We think the Cats will exit this battle battered and bruised. Vault 81 3, Atom 0
#3 FHE Yao Guai (75-55) vs #2 Quincy Gunners (75-55)
Season Series: Quincy 2, FHE 2
April 23-24 @Qui: Qui 5-2, FHE 14-6
July 4-5 @FHE: FHE 4-3, Qui 9-8
Analysis
Both Quincy and FHE look to be pretty even with identical records and a 2-2 season series. That means this matchup may be the best matchup of the Association Semifinal Round. We most certainly think this is the one most likely to go the maximum five games.
Neither the Yao Guai nor Gunners have been winning franchises, both barely making playoff appearances. For FHE, this is its fourtsh playoff appearance and second-straight with most of its appearances happening in the past four seasons (2303, 2311, 2313, 2314). Quincy is making its fourth playoff appearance and first since 2310. (2299, 2309, 2310, 2314). Not only will this be the first postseason meeting between the teams but the first time they have both been in the playoffs in the same season. One will be playing in the SCACS.
Quincy was in now way a dominant team but it did handle its business on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Gunners were 3rd in runs scored (727) with their best offensive category being wOBA (3rd at .345). 2B Will Hell (.312/32/99) was the unquestioned leader on offense. Wily vet Baywatch Fischler (.333/13/66) led the team in average. 3B Ross Merchantman (.255/30/62) hit a lot of solo home runs.
The Gunners' pitching finished 6th in runs allowed with the 5th best Starters ERA (4.16) but 12th-best Bullpen ERA (5.41). Ace Make Money (13-7, 3.09) was really good. College Luckyman (9-14, 4.90) and Fosdyke Rochambeau (12-10, 4.37) will need to pitch better in the playoffs. Quincy traded for the top-rated closer in Professor Harriel (23 SV, 6.06), but he really struggled this season. In his first three seasons with Roxbury, Harriel's highest ERA was 2.50, so there may be some suspicion why the Sox were willing to part with him. The Gunners brought in Wick Prater (13 SV, 3.81) at the trade deadline to try to bolster the poor bullpen performances. Quincy was also around the bottom in defense, highlighting their poor pitching games with even worse defense behind them.
Prediction
We are hoping for this to go five games, so let's pick that to happen. We feel that the Yao Guai are put together just a little bit better for what will be needed to advance here. We give them the edge. FHE 3, Quincy 2