After an interesting, long, fun filled journey with our first year using the OOTP 13 simulation engine, we have reached the home stretch of the 2016 season. We have seen surprises on both ends of the spectrum, weather it be surprise teams to breakout stars, to teams with high hopes who have faltered. As of right now each team has roughly 30 games left to play, or 19% of their season left.
Looking over at the NL things are eerily and not surprisingly very much the same. As of this point in the season, the standings are EXACTLY the same as they finished last year except for Cleveland and Niagara Falls are switched around in the NL East. Other than that we have exact orders.
In the NL East, we have our two main rivals fighting for the division crown again, but this time 3rd place Cleveland on sits 5 games behind. This division which normally features a 100 game winner will be lucky to have 1st place finish with above 85 wins. While budget slashing has gone on in both Baffin and Boston, the race has remained tight.
Remaining Schedule strength:
Boston: .460
Baffin: .479
Cleveland: .495
None of the 3 have a particularly hard schedule, but Cleveland being down 5 games with the hardest schedule and 10 games remaining with BAF & BOS, it will be an uphill climb. Can Baffin, who sits only 1/2 game behind Boston, break the streak of 2nd places finishes that have plauged them 4 out of the last 5 years? Or will it be back to the playoffs for the Beavers?
Moving to the NL West, there is a familiar face atop the standings; The LA Bruins. Heading into the final stretch they lead LCC by 6.5 and SF by 7.5. While they are by no means a lock, they would have to crumble to lose this division lead.
Speaking of familiar faces, the NL Central leader is no stranger either; The Hendersonville Hitmen. You might know them as the 4 time BSA champions and currently on a 3peat. They have the biggest lead in all of the BSA at 12.5 games over New Orleans and sits with a magic number of 18. While Mr. Hays has been heard that he doesn't feel like a championship caliber team and gives his odds the worst they have been, the team is still on pace to win 115 games which has only been done in the BSA twice, by previous Hitmen squads.
Where it gets interesting in the NL is the WC position. New Orleans has held that post since early May. Their lead which was once hovering around 10 games has shrunk to just 2.5 over Los Cabos and 3.5 over San Fransisco. The loss of Blink Hernandez has come at exactly the wrong time for the Looters. Before Blink went down the Looters were 61-35, since then they are 20-16.
Strength of Schedule:
Los Cabos: .448
San Fransisco: .483
New Orleans: .530
Could we see the same 4 teams make the NL playoffs like last year? Can New Orleans overcome a brutal down the stretch to secure their first playoff spot in team history? New Orleans next 13 games are with BOS, SNF, HEN and LCC. If he can get through that stretch within 2 games of LCC or SNF I like him winning the WC. Don't sleep on SNF, they are lurking in the background.
Let's move on the CL. The East like always is tough. Really tough. For most of the season we saw all 5 teams above .500 before Madison slipped below just recently. With a 9 game lead and playing as hot as anyone, Greenville on the verge of their 6th straight division title. Jersey and Chicago have had great seasons, but at this point, they are playing for the WC
Shifting to the West, we see....VISTA? In first?!? That's right the fighting Jordan's have gone white hot to take a 6 game lead on the the 2 time reigning division champ Seattle. In a division in a down year, even for being the CL West, Vista was the most active team at the deadline getting young phenom Rodrigo Aguilar in a heist from Reno and bringing in SS Brian Cash from Greenville. Add that to getting MR Alejandro Lopez from STL and drafting MR Edward Cadle in the first round, Vista is certainly an improved team. 6 games with Seattle remain. If the Pikes can break out of their season long slump, this race certainly isn't over.
Heading to the Central, we have Toronto holding a 7.5 game lead on a very improved Indianapolis team. Austin with their superb staff has fallen under .500 and 9 games out. Toronto has been busy this year trading away Salvador Perez and "Heart throb" Gomez this season. They also recently lost Cy Young favorite Rickey Bolden for the remained of the year. Their lead should suffice holding off Indy and Austin, but is there current 3 game lead enough to hold off Vista 3rd best record in the CL?
CL Wildcard. This comes down to 2 teams, 2 division rivals. You have your reigning CL Champs, Jersey Shore and your much improved bounce back Chicago Machine. Chicago jumped out to a very hot April and Jersey has cut into their lead every month to now stand 1/2 game up on the Machine. Both teams are on pace to win 100+ games this year. Both teams are playing well in August, but September will be the real test. The teams have 7 games left against each other.
Strength of Schedule:
Jersey: .530
Chicago: .550
Both teams have hard schedules. Can Chicago overcome and make their first playoffs ever? Will Jersey take the wild card as they did last year? Those 7 games against each other will be big. Will Greenville rest starters to effect the race? Lots of questions over the last 5 weeks!
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