2043 Doubleday Preview: Hawaii Tropics vs. Yellow Springs Nine

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2043 Doubleday Preview: Hawaii Tropics vs. Yellow Springs Nine

Post by lordtoffee » Fri Aug 14, 2020 5:41 pm

It's arguably the best round of the year in the Landis playoffs, as the 4 division champions come out to defend their home field advantage against the Wild Card winners that survived the Geoghegan. In this preview, we are going to take a closer look at the series between the Hawaii Tropics and the Yellow Springs Nine.

The Records:
Hawaii Tropics (88-74, 3rd in Pacific)
Yellow Springs Nine (110-52, Heartland Champions)

How Did They Get Here?
The Tropics were a team that threatened the playoffs the past couple of years, and put it together this year to earn a wild card bid. They faced off against the Black Sox, and dropped the first game in Chicago by a score of 9-1. However, the Tropics were able to win 3 consecutive one run games to advance, highlighted by a walk off home run by Eddie McBride. McBride happened to bail out Tropics closer Norm McConnell, who blew the save in the 9th, but recovered to set up McBride's heroics with pitching a scoreless 10th. McBride also should have been the MVP of the series, as he did win and save all of the Tropic wins. But if the Tropics want to advance, they have to beat a team that will go down in history as one of the best regular season teams of all time.

The Nine this year were the best team in the BBA. Although Outlaws fans and Popes fans might make an argument, the Nine did win 110 games. They had it all this years. All of their projected starters won double digit games, the bullpen was the best in the Frick, and the offense was productive all year with an intriguing mix of speed and power. This team dominated the Heartland all year en route to a 20 game final margin on the Black Sox, and were equally as dominant at Utopia Field as away from home. Rex Foster is probably the leading candidate for the Silk in the Frick, and the two headed monster in the back end of the bullpen has vindicated the decision to let Curt Phillips go to the Robins.

Who Won Head To Head?
The Tropics won the season series 5-1, including a sweep on the islands. 4 of those games were 1 run games, so it is not like the Nine were outplayed over the season series. Of course, the regular season doesn't matter, as everyone goes to 0-0 and players start fresh with a clean slate.

What Are Some Keys?
The major question I have is how the Nine will respond to the layoff. They had clinched the division fairly comfortably, and had to deal with some extra chaos due to the Johnson Atlantic mess and the traditional Mexico City rainouts at the end of the year. The Tropics have won 3 straight in the playoffs, and we all know that a streak matters more in the playoffs. How the Nine respond to playing a meaningful game will be the key, especially if they have to play a must game.

It's at this point that I mention the elephant in the room. We all know that Yellow Springs has a history of finding new and inventive ways to not capture a Landis. This is not the space to write out those past horrors. The question is how will the fans react at the home games if things go bad for the Nine? Is it going to be better for them on the road?

Who Wins?
I have the Nine winning in 6. Hawaii does match up well with their offense, and the Nine can't platoon as they might have liked to. The Nine have enough talent and enough desperation as this might be the last chance for the current core of Nine players.
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Re: 2043 Doubleday Preview: Hawaii Tropics vs. Yellow Springs Nine

Post by RonCo » Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:53 pm

Logic probably goes with us, but logic also goes out the window in October.
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Re: 2043 Doubleday Preview: Hawaii Tropics vs. Yellow Springs Nine

Post by RonCo » Sat Aug 15, 2020 1:12 am

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Re: 2043 Doubleday Preview: Hawaii Tropics vs. Yellow Springs Nine

Post by bcslouck » Sat Aug 15, 2020 11:58 am

Sounds like a 7 game series.
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