BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
15 September 2315
Playoffs Preview - Association Championship Series Round
#3 Easy Town Assaultrons (70-60) vs #1 Lexington Synths (77-53)
Season Series: Lexington 3, Easy Town 1
April 24-25 @ET: Lex 13-4, ET 2-1
July 1-2 @Lex: Lex 5-2, Lex 5-4
Analysis
The comparisons to last season's NCA Championship Series between the #3 The Slog Ghouls and #1 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud are so similar that we are almost willing to forego this preview and declare Easy Town NCA and CBO champions. Just like the Ghouls did last year. But this ain't 2314.
The Assaultrons are now used to playoff success, nor much of making the playoffs in general. This is their 7th trip, with the last before this one coming in 2307. Of course, the furthest the Trons have reached was in 2298 when they took the 3rd seed entering the four-team playoffs, beat #2 Abernathy (now Bunker Hill) and #4 Fort Hagen, and then lost in the Sole Survivor Series, 4-0, to a very good Goodneighbor squad.
For Lexington, this is the third-straight and third time overall to be in the playoffs. After beating the 75ers in the Association Semifinal Round, the Synths have now won their first postseason series. Now they are seeking their second and a trip to the Sole Survivor Series.
In the regular season, Lexington won 3 out 4 games, including one blowout of 13-4. The only pitcher to start two games in the series was Admiral Kelm, who went 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 12.2 IP. Kelm also batted .571 with two RBI in his two games pitched.
Looking at stats vs stats, the Synths seem to have most of the advantages. For hitting, Lexington is slightly better at getting runners on base and getting extra base hits. One tell is the Synths' .349 vs Easy Town's .342 OBP. It's not much of a difference, but a difference. The Synths also hit 22 more home runs (147 vs 122).
On the mound, the differences are even starker. Lexington had an NCA-best 3.98 team ERA vs 4.44 for the Trons. The Assaultrons were lower in almost all major categories, but had more strikeouts (929 vs 923). The 555 runs allowed for Lexington is almost a half-run per game better than the Trons' 605.
Prediction
Since neither team is proficient in playoff success, there is no X factor that could tip the scales. The Synths have more depth, talent, and performance success. Easy Town has a bunch of young guys who can play ball well and carry the team. We don't think one team dominates this series. Lexington 4, Easy Town 3
#2 University Point Deathclaws (76-54) vs #1 Vault 81 Dwellers (80-50)
Season Series: University Point 3, Vault 81 1
May 19-20 @V81: UP 3-2, UP 5-4
July 24-25 @UP: UP 3-0, V81 4-2
Analysis
In the end, the top two teams of the SCA stand in a battle royale for the right to be called the SCA champions. University Point last held that title in 2309 when they made their third Sole Survivor Series. That year, they lost the series to Nordhagen Beach, the same team they beat for CBO championships in 2302 and 2305. For Vault 81, they have appeared to be on the brink of winning the championship, especially in 2314 with their CBO-record 95 wins. Yet, it has yet to happen. Their sole Sole Survivor Series appearance vcame in 2312 when the Dwellers were upended by Fort Hagen for its first title.
In the regular season, the Deathclaws had the best of Vault 81, winning three of four. All four games were low-scoring affairs, which could be a preview of how this series goes. And if the games are low-scoring, then all advantages go to the Claws.
This is only the third time that the Dwellers and University Point have met in the playoffs and the first time this late. In 2301, the #4 Vault 81 team visited #1 University Point but fell short. In 2312, the Claws were the 6th seed facing #3 Vault 81 in the Wildcard Round, but Vault 81 prevailed.
For the Dwellers, this season feels as though it is the end of an era. While they have been one of the top teams for the sixth-straight year, the balance of aging veterans may have finally started to tip with 14 players now 30 or older. Granted, University Point is in the same territory with 13 players, but some of those guys have held up the championship trophy before. Vault 81 players have not.
On paper, this series appears to be Vault 81's advantage. The Dwellers scored 696 runs to the Deathclaws' 608, a difference of over 0.7 runs per game. Pitching was more even, with the Dwellers allowing 563 runs vs University Point's 568. Vault 81 was #2 (4.00) and the Claws #3 (4.02) in Team ERA behind Atom (3.98).
Prediction
If Vault 81 can find a way to punish University Point pitching, then we feel that they are decisively better and more capable. However, that did not happen much in the regular season with Alex Alexson (2-0, 2.40) and Digger Vadim (1-1, 3.86) getting each of the starts for the Deathclaws and holding the Dwellers in check. We have a feeling the Dweller bats will be anything but silent. Vault 81 4, University Point 2