BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
24 September 2315
Sole Survivor Series: #1 Lexington Synths (77-53) vs #1 Vault 81 Dwellers (80-50)
Season Series: Lexington 2, Vault 81 1
April 12-14 @V81: V81 6-2, Lex 3-2 (13), Lex 7-1
Analysis
PAM's 2315 predictions: Vault 81 #1, Lexington #2. As in 1-2 in the CBO. As in, meant to meet in the Sole Survivor Series. As in, correct.
Vault 81 has been the team expected to be at or in the championship almost each year over the past five seasons, while the Synths were not expected to do much before the last two seasons. Both teams have considerable strengths that make this a good matchup.
In the regular season, the series went to Lexington at the Dwellers. While the home team took the first game, 6-2 in the early-season matchup, the Synths went on to win the next two, 3-2 in 13 innings and 7-1. No offensive players really stood out with the Synths Hurr Lee Reyes (3/11, HR, 3 RBI) probably being the best. Red-hot Tommy Whitetiger (1/9) was not hot in that series. On the mound, Lyle Pine (1-0, 1.12, 8 IP) had the most decisive victory in the 7-1 matchup. Ryan Goodpryce (1-0, 2.70, 6.2 IP) got Vault 81's sole win.
The Synths are enjoying their first two series wins in franchise history and their first trip to the Sole Survivor Series. While they are repeat Institute League champions, we said last season that they still felt a year away. Now Lexington is here and ready to make noise for the right to a championship.
Vault 81 is in its second Sole Survivor Series with a 4-0 sweep coming at the hands of Fort Hagen in the Dwellers' first appearance. This season, Vault 81 will look to change their playoffs fortunes for good. Following that loss in the Sole Survivor Series, the Dwellers have now earned the #1 overall seed in the SCA for three straight years. This season, they have a feeling of "now or never."
Looking at a comparison of statistics, the teams seem decently even on paper across several categories. One difference that does stand out, however, is that Vault 81 has a much better run differential (+133) to the Synths (+95). The Synths are good at "small ball," while the Dwellers rely on power. On the mound, Lexington has the starters advantage, while Vault 81 is more likely to shut down late rallies. The Synths are a better overall defensive team.
Looking at player vs player at positions, first let's look at those and then show a comparison of the matchups as expected in Game 1.
Here are the expected starters (Lexington vs Vault 81):
SP1 - Hunter Kim (15-4, 3.23) < Zack Million (13-11, 3.86)
SP2 - Deedee Martinson (10-11, 3.79) > Scruffy Taguchi (14-7, 4.36)
SP3 - Admiral Kelm (14-9, 3.77) < Exxie Summerset (14-9, 4.29)
RP1 - Lyle Pine (12-9, 3.56) < Ryan Goodpryce (13-8. 4.28)
CL - Harry Baines (11 SV, 4.73) < Dynamite Delaney (27 SV, 2.73)
C - Shawn Sykes (.307/5/42) < Phantom Vargas (.273/21/68)
1B - World B. Free (.331/12/47) > Chris Connexx (.223/10/51)
2B - Rabbit Forest (.281/6/46) > Arty Sefilian (.280/13/44)
3B - Tommy Whitetiger (.352/30/100) > Harry Byrd (.282/4/34)
SS - Geralt Rivia (.267/6/37) < End Yamada (.279/16/55)
LF - Campy Madrid (.308/6/54) < Stu Gains (.312/26/82)
CF - Packs Ton Kling (.262/22/63) < Aaron Wright (.299/16/65)
RF - Hurr Lee Reyes (.345/20/57) > Pockets Wrench (.308/28/86)
Key Injuries
Lexington
none
Vault 81
None
Prediction
This is only the second time in Sole Survivor Series history that each association's #1 team is there. The only other time was in 2304 when County Crossing and Roxbury faced off in the championship series. In this particular season, the two teams had to battle back from being behind in the race for #1 early to eventually overtake the top spot.
While we think both teams are really good and look forward to and hope for a great series, we think the Dwellers have just a little bit more. They seem due as a team, but they seemed due more last season. They really are in the "do or die" situation that the Synths are not quite in. Let's call this one to go seven: Vault 81 4, Lexington 3