Starscreams | Nemesis (55.16)

[mragland]

Starscreams: A Valencia Stars Baseball Blog

Nemesis

09/08/2055
Brianna Robles, Starscreams contributor


Since the all-star break, the Stars have a record of 31-23 (.574). Pretty good. In fact, this is the best record among Pacific Division clubs in that span, even better than division-leading Sacramento (30-25). Had the Stars played like this before the all-star break, they would be serious contenders for the Pacific Division crown. But they did not, and they are not. Their record on the season stands at 67-75 (.472). Not so good. However, by a strange quirk of fate, the precipitous drop in team quality from Omaha (currently sitting in the third wild card berth) to everybody else (which includes teams vying for the final wild card berth) means that Valencia, now eight games below .500, actually has a 1.8% chance of making the postseason.

Not great odds, but not zero. This could be generously described as a puncher's chance. Actual odds of making the playoffs might be higher, owing to the club's recent performance relative to other contenders. The Stars making the postseason would be what is called a value bet in the wagering world, but still unlikely to actually happen.

Which brings us back around to the Sacramento Mad Popes. The Popes actually are leading the division, and by a wide margin. They have a 96-52 record against the Stars in the past ten seasons, from 2045-54. They have beaten the Stars in all eleven meetings between the two clubs in 2055. Sacramento is not Valencia's rival, they are Valencia's nemesis, a formidable and usually victorious opponent. They are the beachside bully kicking sand in Valencia's face. They are Lucy, about to whisk the ball just out of reach of a racing Valencia, who hopes to someday actually kick that pigskin, but will inevitably tumble ass over tea kettle to the ground.

I bring this up because Sacramento is coming to town, and they stand squarely in the way of Valencia's slim hopes of October baseball (where the Stars also invariably lose, but that's not the point). Valencia needs wins, lots of them and soon, to make themselves into a serious wild card contender. To accomplish this, they will have to somehow find a way to actually defeat the Popes, their nemesis.

[RonCo]

More proof that the Pacific is the best division in baseball!

Are you getting that 1.8% from somewhere I'm not looking...or did you make that up. I do wish that Stats+ gave playoff odds based on the full set of teams.

[mragland]

You can find playoff odds in-game in the 'pennant chase' tab under league standings.

[RonCo]

Learn something new every day ... from here it looks like you're at 2.3%!

[trmmilwwi]

Starscreams: A Valencia Stars Baseball Blog

Nemesis

09/08/2055
Brianna Robles, Starscreams contributor


Since the all-star break, the Stars Outlaws have a record of 31-23 (.574). Pretty good. In fact, this is the best record among Pacific Frontier Division clubs in that span, even better than division-leading Sacramento (30-25) Rocky Mountain (28-26). Had the Stars Outlaws played like this before the all-star break, they would be serious contenders for the Pacific Frontier Division crown. But they did not, and they are not. Their record on the season stands at 67-75 (.472) 70-72 (.493). Not so good. However, by a strange quirk of fate, the precipitous drop in team quality from Omaha Boise (currently sitting in the third fourth wild card berth) to everybody else (which includes teams vying for the final wild card berth) means that Valencia San Antonio, now eight two games below .500, actually has a 1.8% chance of making the postseason.

Not great odds, but not zero. This could be generously described as a puncher's chance. Actual odds of making the playoffs might be higher, owing to the club's recent performance relative to other contenders. The Stars Outlaws making the postseason would be what is called a value bet in the wagering world, but still unlikely to actually happen.

Fixed that for you.

[Jwalk100]

August 1st Hawaii was 60-48. Since then the Tropics have been 11-24. Worse slump I've seen in a while.

[RonCo]

August 1st Hawaii was 60-48. Since then the Tropics have been 11-24. Worse slump I've seen in a while.

The Tropics dump has truly been epic.

[mragland]

Learn something new every day ... from here it looks like you're at 2.3%!

I swear it changes slightly every time I open up the game.

[Dington]

Learn something new every day ... from here it looks like you're at 2.3%!

I swear it changes slightly every time I open up the game.

I have it at 2.8%