Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Team, Division, League, Playoff, and all other comprehensive previews go here.
User avatar
7teen
BBA GM
Posts: 9806
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:59 am
Has thanked: 223 times
Been thanked: 1135 times

Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by 7teen » Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:33 am

On to round 2 of the BBA post-season and the Doubleday Series. Here we meet our 4 division winners who all got byes and congratulate those teams who advanced out of the Geoghegan Series. The Series go from the best of 5 to the best of 7 as each team hopes to advance one step closer to the 12 wins now needed to take home the coveted Landis Series. Here, let's preview the Frick Series between the Calgary Pioneers and the Heartland Champion Yellow Springs Nine.

Calgary Pioneers
Calgary enters the 2035 post-season for the second consecutive season and it's their 8th trip in the last 10 seasons. They are on a 14 year drought since their last Landis Title which came back in 2021. They also won one in 2018, there only two since 1995. The franchise is also riding a high of winning seasons, having not posted a losing season in 12 seasons. Of course, losing the division in the final sim may sting a little. They advanced to the Doubleday Series by taking 3 of 4 against Seattle. Calgary lost game 1 before clinching the next 3 wins to advance.

Yellow Springs Nine
The Nine are making their 8th consecutive trip to the post-season and just their 12th trip overall since the modern era begin in 1995. Of course this franchise also went from 1995 until 2015 without having ever made a trip to the post-season. Despite their consistency in making it to this point of the season, the Nine and their GM Ron Collins are still in search of that first ever elusive Landis Title. With each passing season and each passing successful regular season, the pressure to finally win a Landis for the franchise continues to mount.

The Offense
Heads up!! That's the words you probably hear yelled a lot if you watch many games from the outfield stands in Calgary. The Pioneers were 2nd in the Frick in runs scored thanks to leading the league batting average, hits, on-base percentage, and slugging. Their 2nd place ranking in homeruns also helped across the board. Rupert Grant (.267/.333/.582, 62 HR, 157 RBI) led the Frick in RBI this season and was just shy of taking the HR crown as well. Grant homered in the Seattle series and had 5 RBI in the 4 game set. Juan Karyabwite (.353/.370/.526, 21 HR, 126 RBI) is a main reason the team had such a high team average. Juan lost out on the Frick batting title in the last sim to Edmonton's Dusty Rhodes. And then there is a young 20 year old Jose Rios (.271/.319/.501, 34 HR, 102 RBI) that gives Calgary and solid 3-headed monster right in the middle of the lineup. Rios belted 3 homeruns and drove in 6 RBI in the 4 games against Seattle in the Geoghegan so he's coming into this series with Yellow Springs red-hot.

The Nine offense was pretty consistent across the board. They didn't dominate any one category but were consistent everywhere. They finished the season 3rd in runs scored in the Frick thanks to a team .275 batting average and 232 homeruns. Lucas McNeill (.283/.372/.544, 38 HR, 112 RBI) led the offensive charge and was second on the team in WAR behind catcher Aaron Stone (.313/.391/.565, 29 HR, 73 RBI). While the overall offense doesn't jump out at you compared to the Calgary names, the Nine offense still produced 6 different guys who hit over 20 homeruns this season.

The Pitching
For Calgary, their pitching stats are just eh. The one thing they do very well is they don't walk a lot of people as they ranked 1st in the Frick in allowing the fewest walks. That didn't exactly mean a lot of success though as they ranked 8th in runs allowed. Jimmy Greenwood (16 - 10, 3.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 122 K) comes over from Vegas and gave the Pioneers rotation a huge jolt and will be key in their chances in a short series. Greenwood made one start against Seattle in the Geoghegan series and pitched 7.1 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits and 3 strikeouts in the game 2 victoryCristobal Hernandez (15 - 7, 3.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 200 K) gives them that solid other starter. If these two guys can both win their starts, it could spell trouble for Seattle and give the Pioneers some hopes at a deep post-season run. Noonien Soong (13 - 12, 4.85 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 127 K) pitched a dandy of a game in the Game 4 clincher, allowing just 1 run over 6.1 innings pitched to get the win.

Lawrence Columbus LaLoosh (16 - 9, 2.97 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 216 K) is a luxury that most teams don't have. Why are the Nine in the position they are in, getting a bye and considered one of the Frick favorites? It's because of guys like LaLoosh and Jose Chavez (13 - 7, 3.54 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 227 K). The Nine staff allowed the 2nd fewest runs in the Frick League this season behind a starter's ERA that also ranked 2nd and led the league in strikeouts. Any leads late in the game and you'll see Miguel Macias (6 - 7, 2.45 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 79 K) and his Frick leading 46 saves in to close out the win.

Head to Head
The two teams split their season series 5-5.

The Nine will have home field advantage where they went 51-30 this season. Of course Calgary was one of the few teams in the BBA that played better on the road than they did at home.

Prediction
The key for this series is the big named pitchers for Yellow Springs. LaLoosh and Chavez give the Nine two guys that Calgary can't match up with. Whoever Calgary throws against them in games 1 and 2 won't be as good. After those two guys though, it does drop off some for the Nine and perhaps Calgary can regain an advantage with their offense in the middle set of games. In my mind, in order for Calgary to win the series and advance to the Cartright Series, they have to figure out a way to knock of LaLoosh and Chavez in games 1 or 2. If the Pioneers fall behind 2-0, it'll be tough sledding from there.

This one is tougher than you'd think to predict. On paper with those pitchers, Yellow Springs has the upper hand. But how many times has a team that appears to be the better team not came through at this point of the season. As I said, it only takes one early Calgary win to shift the tide in the series.... But with that said, those guys are just too good. I assume if this series goes 7 games, then we will see LaLoosh and Chavez for 4 of those starts. I don't think Calgary can do it. Give me the Nine in 6.
Chris Wilson

LB Surfers 95-96
FL Pac Champs: 95

Madison Wolves 99-2039
JL MW: 99-2009, 17, 20, 21
JL WC: 12
JL: 01, 04, 09, 12
FL Heartland: 32
FL WC: 31, 33
BBA Champs: 04, 09

Portland Lumberjacks 2040-
FL Pacific: 50
FL WC: 49, 51
FL Champs: 49, 51

Vic Caleca TN of the Year 2046

scottsdale_joe
Ex-GM
Posts: 3407
Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:55 pm
Location: scottsdale, az
Has thanked: 68 times
Been thanked: 121 times

Re: Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by scottsdale_joe » Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:38 am

Up Calgary!
(Sticking with my division)
Joe - GM UMEBA CAIRO PHARAOHS (2047-xxxx); Vancouver Mounties (1996-2009; 2035-2036); Halifax Hawks (2023-2026)Image LINKS:ImageImageImageImageImage

User avatar
7teen
BBA GM
Posts: 9806
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:59 am
Has thanked: 223 times
Been thanked: 1135 times

Re: Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by 7teen » Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:39 am

scottsdale_joe wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:38 am
Up Calgary!
(Sticking with my division)
I was very close to going with Calgary msyelf. I had this upsetting feeling looking at Yellow Springs. Something about a team with a long string of post-season appearances with no titles.......
Chris Wilson

LB Surfers 95-96
FL Pac Champs: 95

Madison Wolves 99-2039
JL MW: 99-2009, 17, 20, 21
JL WC: 12
JL: 01, 04, 09, 12
FL Heartland: 32
FL WC: 31, 33
BBA Champs: 04, 09

Portland Lumberjacks 2040-
FL Pacific: 50
FL WC: 49, 51
FL Champs: 49, 51

Vic Caleca TN of the Year 2046

User avatar
RonCo
GB: JL Frontier Division Director
Posts: 19807
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:48 pm
Has thanked: 1981 times
Been thanked: 2900 times

Re: Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by RonCo » Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:44 am

Nice preview. Calgary knocked us out a few years back, too...so it's like deja vu all over again.
GM: Bikini Krill
Nothing Matters But the Pacific Pennant
Roster

User avatar
7teen
BBA GM
Posts: 9806
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:59 am
Has thanked: 223 times
Been thanked: 1135 times

Re: Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by 7teen » Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:01 am

RonCo wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:44 am
Nice preview. Calgary knocked us out a few years back, too...so it's like deja vu all over again.
:coffee:
Chris Wilson

LB Surfers 95-96
FL Pac Champs: 95

Madison Wolves 99-2039
JL MW: 99-2009, 17, 20, 21
JL WC: 12
JL: 01, 04, 09, 12
FL Heartland: 32
FL WC: 31, 33
BBA Champs: 04, 09

Portland Lumberjacks 2040-
FL Pacific: 50
FL WC: 49, 51
FL Champs: 49, 51

Vic Caleca TN of the Year 2046

scottsdale_joe
Ex-GM
Posts: 3407
Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:55 pm
Location: scottsdale, az
Has thanked: 68 times
Been thanked: 121 times

Re: Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by scottsdale_joe » Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:28 am

7teen wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:01 am
RonCo wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:44 am
Nice preview. Calgary knocked us out a few years back, too...so it's like deja vu all over again.
:coffee:
:popcorn:
Joe - GM UMEBA CAIRO PHARAOHS (2047-xxxx); Vancouver Mounties (1996-2009; 2035-2036); Halifax Hawks (2023-2026)Image LINKS:ImageImageImageImageImage

User avatar
7teen
BBA GM
Posts: 9806
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:59 am
Has thanked: 223 times
Been thanked: 1135 times

Re: Doubleday Series Preview: Calgary vs Yellow Springs

Post by 7teen » Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:37 am

scottsdale_joe wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:28 am
7teen wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:01 am
RonCo wrote:
Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:44 am
Nice preview. Calgary knocked us out a few years back, too...so it's like deja vu all over again.
:coffee:
:popcorn:
Some things never die.
Chris Wilson

LB Surfers 95-96
FL Pac Champs: 95

Madison Wolves 99-2039
JL MW: 99-2009, 17, 20, 21
JL WC: 12
JL: 01, 04, 09, 12
FL Heartland: 32
FL WC: 31, 33
BBA Champs: 04, 09

Portland Lumberjacks 2040-
FL Pacific: 50
FL WC: 49, 51
FL Champs: 49, 51

Vic Caleca TN of the Year 2046

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Previews”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests