rBBL Season 15 Playoff Preview - Wild Card Round

Another rBBL season has come and gone, and now it's time for the best part: the playoffs! Hey everybody, commissioner crazyei8hts here with an rBBL playoff preview. If you're unfamiliar, the rBBL (reddit Backyard Baseball League) is the oldest and longest running Backyard Baseball League, started in 2017 and currently on our 15th season. Coaches draft a team of 9-players on Backyard Baseball 2001 or 2003 and play against the computer, facing the teams drafted by the other coaches. Whichever coach puts up the higher run differential against the computer version of their opponent wins. 

This season, not only were we able to fill our three leagues (2001 - veteran coaches, 2002 - rookies/newer coaches still playing on 2001, 2003 - mix of both), but each league expanded to 28 teams instead of 24 teams! However, we kept 12 playoffs teams per team, meaning it was even tougher than ever to make the postseason.

**2001 LEAGUE**

The 2001 league must wait a while because for the second straight season, we've got some tiebreaker games to figure out! Both the AL and NL have a four-way tiebreaker for the final spot. I'll write up a full post about the 2001 Wild Card Round later, but for now, here are my predictions for the tiebreaker games.

• AMERICAN LEAGUE
  • Beavers (Itaniium) beat Crew (Heinz)
  • Teens (DEPaf) beat Borioles (navycap)
  • Beavers beat Teens to capture the 6 seed
• NATIONAL LEAGUE
  
  • Cheesers (matt95) beat Goobers (GeorgeBonouki)
  • Dice (whiffspree) beat Rays (AnjouPays)
  • Dice beat Cheesers to capture the 6 seed

**2002 LEAGUE**

*Skyway League*

First Round Byes:
1. Mortal Wombats (Steamroll): 11-2-1
2. Freelance Policemen (Mulltrik): 10-4

• First Round Matchups:
• 3. Awful Waffles (flyingj): 9-5 vs. 6. Da -200 Boys (capnmunch): 8-6
  • Previous Matchup: Waffles defeated -200 Boys, 7-5
  • Background: These two teams will be forever linked by their blockbuster trade which sent Jose Canseco, Francesca Whitaker, and Judee Buhler (clone of Richie Sexson) to the -200 Boys and Kiesha Phillips, Ernie Steele, and Jimmy Steele (custom player who is boosted with Ernie) to the Waffles. Both teams improved from this trade, as the Waffles went 5-2 in the second half and the -200 Boys scored 82 runs in the second half compared to 32 runs in the first half.
  • Analysis: The -200 Boys are a totally different team from the first half, both because of roster improvement and coach capnmunch getting used to the ins and outs of rBBL. Jose Canseco was a godsend for this team, leading them in homers and RBIs despite only playing their half a season. The Waffles will hang around a +10 just about every game, but the high variance of "Da Boys" in the second half gives them a good chance to easily exceed 10. Plus the -200 Boys get a home field advantage from custom player Paulina Sanchez (boosted at Casa de Pablo), if only for one game. 
  • Prediction: -200 Boys in 3. 
• 4. Minnesota Lumberlobos (pete7863): 9-5 vs. Kanto Mets (asd4051): 9-5
  • Previous Matchup: Lumberlobos defeated Mets, 5-0.
  • Background: These two teams have opposing strategies but both ended up at 9-5. The Lumberlobos have a nasty defense and have only allowed a double digit score once all season. However, they haven't scored double digits themselves in any game, so they could be in trouble if it becomes a shootout. The Mets are an offensively-minded team, having scored double-digit runs in 6 games this season. But when the runs aren't coming, it can be rough, as we saw in a 4-game losing streak in the second half of the season.
  • Analysis: The Mets are the early favorite, according to our predictor challenge, but I wouldn't jump on that wagon so quickly. The Mets' worst game of the season came against these Lumberlobos, in a 0-5 loss at Eckman Acres, a game that the Mets had to go to extra innings and simply quit the game once that occurred. The Lumberlobos' stifling defense has carried them this far, and with two home games at the defensive-minded Eckman Acres, I think we'll get two close Lumberlobos win sandwiched by a Mets rout. 
  • Prediction: Lumberlobos in 3.

*Metro League*

First Round Byes:
1. Major Monopolies (willthegod1): 13-1
2. Mighty Bombers (sirenrises): 10-4

• First Round Matchups:
• 3. Florida Feraligatr (BenBathBeyond): 11-3 vs. 6. Wordly Warmups (Chellow): 9-5
  • Previous Matchups: Feraligatr defeated Warmups, 8-6.
  • Background: It's a shame that either of these teams has to play in the first round matchup. The Feraligatr went 11-3 thanks to a tough defense and an offense that had its moments. But despite a better record than the 2 seed, they did not win their division. The Warmups were my preseason World Series favorites, as coach Chellow was demoted from the 2001 League but drafted a healthy offense. They have not one but two MVP candidates in Chico Pappas and Rachel La Buena.
  • Analysis: This is going to be a tough matchup. In games 1 and 3 at Dubois Diamond, the Warmups will have to try and put up runs at a no-bounce field. At game 2 at Parks Dept. #2, the Feraligatr will have to try and keep up with the Warmups' potent offense. Both of these teams are undefeated when scoring 10+ runs (Feraligatr: 5-0, Warmups: 7-0). At the no-bounce Dubois Diamond, home runs could become more important, which I think gives the edge to the Warmups. I still think the Warmups could reach the World Series but this would be their toughest matchup along the way. 
  • Prediction: Warmups in 3. 
• 4. Father Figures (russell_the_regarded): 10-4 vs. 5. Mighty Tornados (Disky): 10-4
  • Previous Matchup: Figures defeated Tornados 7-7 on hits allowed tiebreaker.
  • Background: This is just about as close as two teams could possibly get, having the same record and their lone matchup being decided via tiebreaker! But their styles could not be any different. The Father Figures (who ironically don't have any boys on their team) like to hit home runs and don't really care about grounderball at their bounce-free home field of Steele Stadium. The Tornados, meanwhile, are Dirt Yards merchants who will abuse the grounder swing as far as it will take them. 
  • Analysis: The Tornados are on fire right now. After failling to score 10+ runs in any of their first five games, they have done so in 8 of their final 9 games, including the last 6. Dumping Berit Greenwalt for Vanessa Goodman really boosted their lineup's potential. The Father Figures are very dependent on the home run. In games where we have stats for them, they scored 100 runs on 47 homers; that's a lot of solo shots. In the rBBL format, grounders are more consistent then homers. Even at the short porch and no-bounce field of Steele Stadium, if the Figures are popping up, I Figure they will be quickly exiting the playoff field.
  • Prediction: Tornados in 2. 

**2003 LEAGUE**

*Frontyard League*

First Round Byes:
1. Benched Warmers (Vissery): 13-1
2. Green Giants (crazyei8hts): 10-4

• First Round Matchups:
• 3. The I.J.L.S.A. (AnjouPays): 11-2 (pending g14 result) vs. 6. Steele Stadium Swimmers (willthegod1): 8-6
  • Previous Matchups: I.J.L.S.A. defeated Swimmers 13-7.
  • Background: The I.J.L.S.A. may be the biggest snub for a first-round bye in league history, as they could possibly go 12-2 yet still have to play in the Wild Card Round. Their record is so good because of their solid defense and their ability to use the bounces of Cement Gardens to their advantage, led by Raul Mondesi and Kay O'Toole. The Swimmers got a big boost to their lineup by trading for custom player Jon Dowd (super power but has a higher chance of getting walked or seeing bad pitches) but they actually have scored more runs without Jon Dowd (92) than with him (89). They have other power bats too, as Fabienne Callahan led the team with 22 big flies. 
  • Analysis: The Swimmers have the worst draw they could get in the first round, as they will have to play at Cement Gardens once and maybe twice. There are a lot of walls that don't help out three slow power hitters (Dowd, Callahan, and Terry Vega). Meanwhile the I.J.L.S.A. will use their usual method of bouncing it off the Cement and running, running, running. Their two losses came when they scored 8 and 10. If they even push past double digits, I think they win comfortably. The Swimmers could steal game 2 at Steele Stadium but I don't think they will be able to hang at Cement Gardens.
  • Prediction: I.J.L.S.A. in 2.
• 4. Harlem Shaking Grimaces (Natetastic28): 10-4 vs. 5. DC Marvels (GeorgeBonouki): 9-5
  • Previous Matchup: Grimaces defeated Marvels, 11-5.
  • Background: Natetastic was in this exact same spot last season, as I just typed over his name while editing my copy-pasted preview from last postseason. The Grimaces didn't have any huge games, with their best game being a +19, but they do score double digits more often than not, led by Ken Griffey Jr. GeorgeBonouki recently took over the Marvels from rBBL veteran mattitude, who gave them up due to IRL time constraints. George has gone 2-1 as coach of the Marvels, but his one loss was to these same Grimaces. The Marvels had some big games with mattitude at the helm (four scores of +18 or better), but George's best game as coach is a +13. 
  • Analysis: Mattitude always drafts these super weird teams that he can get the best out of, but it's not easy for a sub coach to hop in and do the same. I bet GeorgeBonouki would not draft Curt Schilling and Thor Herring to the same team if he could help it. His shortened time as coach of this team may prove costly. Meanwhile, the Grimaces are hitting their stride, having gone 6-1 in the second half of the season including their two biggest scores of the season, both at home. The home field advantage could work well for this team too, as the bouncy Playground Commons could make the ball dance around the Marvels' slower fielders.
  • Prediction: Grimaces in 2.

*Backyard League*

First Round Byes:
1. Houston Astros (Freakshow55): 12-1-1
2. Outfield Angelas (personizzle): 10-3, pending game 14

• First Round Matchups:
• 3. Neon Knights (whiffspree): 10-4 vs. 6. Dimmsdale Bankees (sternwizardd): 9-5
  • Previous Matchups: Bankees defeated Knights 16-15.
  • Background: The Knights had one of the best offenses in the league, led by Marsellus Marx and Hermin Adobo (Larry Walker clone). After scoring 9 runs in their first game, they scored at least 12 in every game after that, including five games of over 20 runs. However, their so-so defense led to a few shootouts and a few losses despite high scores. The Bankees have had flashes of brilliance on offense from the likes of Kiesha Phillips and Fred Benson but have also been very volatile. The Bankees scored 20+ against each of the BL's worst two defenses (Lizards and Angelas) but have also had a game where they lost to the computer (Mathematicians). They had a five-game winning streak at one point in the season but had to win their last game to make it in.
  • Analysis: These two teams faced off in perhaps the most electric game of the season, where the Bankees beat the Knights 16-15 on Match of the Week. We could see three straight games of dueling double digits the way these teams score. The Knights, especially, have an unorthodox offensive identity in the current rBBL landscape. Rather than racking up grounder singles or hitting a bunch of homers, the Knights hit 72 doubles this season. They are just the 11th team in the "no cheese" era to hit at least 70 doubles, and the first to do so since Season 9. The close walls of Tin Can Alley and the weak arm of Fred Benson in LF for the Bankees could lead to even more doubles for the Knights. We'll see if the Bankees can continue to keep up, but I think the Knights will enact their revenge from that Match of the Week.
  • Prediction: Knights in 2. 
• 4. Junior Bombers (CRK): 10-4 vs. 5. Maryland Mathematicians (MelloMathTeacher): 9-4-1
  • Previous Matchup: Bombers defeated Mathematicians, 27-18.
  • Background: The Bombers were another offensive juggernaut in the BL, with five games of 20+ runs scored. They were aggressive on the basepaths too; as soon as the computer made a suboptimal substitute at catcher, the Bombers would take advantage and thus stole 15+ bases in four different games (averaging 25.5 runs in those games). Lindsy Felgate is having an MVP-type season and custom player Paulina Sanchez will be boosted in games 1 and 3 (if necessary). The Mathematicians are a "meme team" or perhaps more accurately, a "theme team", as coach MelloMathTeacher only drafted players with high intelligence ratings (even though that does little to nothing for their skill in Backyard Baseball). Without much power but with a bit of speed, this team used their home field of Dirt Yards to its fullest, stringing together base hits to score most of their runs. The Mathematicians preyed on weaker competition, as they went 8-1 against non-playoff teams and 1-3-1 against teams that made the BL playoffs. 
  • Analysis: The Bombers have had some ups and downs this season, but when they're on, they're ON. Like I mentioned before, they will attack when the "wrong" person comes in at catcher, like they did in their previous matchup against the Mathematicians, stealing 15 bases after Franky Holly and possibly others came in at catcher. AND they'll get boosted Paulina twice if they need it. AND the Mathematicians don't have a power hitting lineup for Casa de Pablo. Things are tilting in the Bombers' favor. The Mathematicians might squeak out a win at home if the stars align....I'm going to optimistically predict that game 2 going the Mathematicians' way.
  • Prediction: Bombers in 3. 

Good luck to all playoff coaches and to everyone else, it'll be fun to watch!