- LAST WEEKS PREDICTIONS: Last week we went 5 for 6 in our predictions. The only wrong prediction we got was expecting a The Ones sweep Of TSFE. In reality, TSFE swept The Ones.
- YEAR TO DATE TALLY: 15 out of 24 right (63% success rate).
Matchup: Backdoor Sliders (0-8) vs. MonStars (5-3)
Field: Cantiague D @ 8:30am
Backdoor Sliders are in a tailspin this season. But they still come out every week with the best of intentions. Do they have a shot to win this week? Probably not against MonStars. They do boast a very good offense with 7 starters hitting above .500, led by Sami? billy, Obaid and Rishi. But their defense is league worst and thru 4 weeks they have yet to figure out that half of the equation. MonStars are looking forward to picking up two wins this week after back to back weeks where they let two games get away in walk-off losses. They are in the middle of a packed division and getting to 7-3 will really separate them from the pretenders. Their +25 run differential thru 4 weeks will be improved markedly this week. After this week, MonStars can join the elite teams at the top of the standings in our point of view.
Predictions: SWEEP! Backdoor Sliders will score runs as is their usual M.O. but their defense will give MonStars too many extra outs to be able to keep it close. We expect two double digit wins for MonStars.
Matchup: The North (7-1) vs. Shooter McGavins (2-6)
Field: Cedar Creek A @ 8:30am
The North and Shooter McGavins is a matchup both teams circled pre-season with both teams made up of former Savages players. Both teams have championship pedigree with Savages, and are now looking to make mark with their respective new teams. The North are just coming off their first loss of the season to Hit Squad this past weekend, so they should be sufficiently motivated. They still boast the best offense in the League, and their defense has gotten better past two weeks. Shooter McGavins after a tough start to the season, picked up two much needed wins against DadBods this past Sunday. The reset was much appreciated from their point of view, and it can have a trampoline effect for them the rest of the season. Of all the teams with records less than .500, they have the best run differential. So they have been playing better than their record without the results.
Predictions: SWEEP! On paper, this matchup is very close. Shooter McGavins top 10 should be as good as anybodies. But they haven’t just put it together so far this year against good teams. We expect 2 close games with North pulling out both.
Matchup: Hit Squad (5-3) vs. Dynasty (8-0)
Field: Carman Ave Park @ 8:30am
Our SASL Game of the Week features two veteran teams and which may have huge seeding implications by the end of the season. Hit Squad are on a 5-1 streak in the past 3 weeks with some great attendance from their top players. If they can get everyone there this week, they have a great shot to give Dynasty their first loss/losses. Defense and pitching is their calling card once again this season with some clutch hitting mixed in. They have done well without much production from Ramin, Wahid, Solyman, and Billal at the dish, so there is room to grow. Dynasty has been the benchmark for all teams this year with the best defense and league leading +100 run differential. They have given up 4.5 runs on average per game thru 4 weeks. That’s as good as it gets. They have 3-4 MVP candidates who are having awesome seasons. Can Hit Squad slow them down?
Predictions: SPLIT! Hit Squad always plays Dynasty tough, and this week will be no different. The matchup will also have a some fireworks as well because we all know familiarity breeds contempt.
Matchup: TSFE (3-5) vs. DadBods (0-8)
Field: Cantiague A @ 11am
To many, TSFE’s sweep of The Ones was simply shocking. TSFE was roiling from a terrible start to the season and The Ones were rolling. But TSFE put the rumors of a fractured locker room to rest and they did it emphatically by scoring 37 runs last week. Some roster maneuvering looks like the exact medicine they needed. Chris Mui was the Player of the Week with 13 RBIs last week. Will he have similar production this week? DadBods are still searching for their first wins as one of two teams without a win this season. They must’ve expected to have a good chance this week with the slow TSFE start. But their luck, it seems TSFE have figured out their issues. Their defense has actually been good with the left side of the outfield doing their thing and Ricky pitching well. Alvin Ng quietly has been their best hitter, but he needs help.
Predictions: SWEEP! Unless we see a reappearance of the bad TSFE, this should be easy work for TSFE. DadBods needs a few breaks to make this competitive, but we aren’t betting on it.
Matchup: Troopers (4-4) vs. The Ones (4-4)
Field: Eisenhower 2 @ 11am
What a matchup! Troopers and The Ones needs to really understand the major implications this matchup should have at the end of the season seeding. Both teams are right in the bubble of SNL. 1 game elimination game the night before first round is something everyone wants to avoid at all costs. Troopers surprisingly beat Dothrakis once last week and they have proven they can beat anyone at anytime. They have a big power gap however. Only Majid has an OPS over 1.5. Without much pop, they must play elite defense every week. The Ones have been riding a roller coaster all season. They swept DadBods and Shooter McGavins but they got swept by The North and TSFE. Will the real Ones stand up? Their middle of the order with Rafael, Denen, Saiful, Waqas, Sijo etc have done everything asked of them on offense. But they have the 4th worst defense in the league. You can’t win championships with that formula.
Predictions: SPLIT! Troopers will win one game and then let up and lose game 2. The Ones will score runs, but run prevention has been terrible. If they didn’t play DadBods in week 2, their defense could be second worst in the league.
Matchup: Black Mambas (3-5) vs. Dothrakis (7-1)
Field: Eisenhower D @ 11am
Black Mambas split last Sunday but it wasn’t pretty. A late comeback helped the cause after MonStars effectively shut down the offense for much of the game. It is shocking to see Dan with only 1 rbi thru 4 games. Their 3-4 combo of Dan and Narish is one of the best in the league, but now they need help. Against Dothrakis, they will need to play excellent defense to have a shot at winning. Dothrakis defense is simply suffocating when it wants to be. They have the second best defense in the league with the outfield making the spectacular look routine. Their offense hasn’t been as elite as expected so far with no player breaking the 1.7 OPS threshold. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the teams as Dothrakis have gone 7-1 with an offense devoid of extra base pop. We expect them to start to turn it on with a few weeks under their belt having been played.
Predictions: Sweep! Black Mambas have a certain grit to them but they have a deep roster with lesser players getting at bats leading to some easy innings for the opponent. Dothrakis have an elite defense and their pitcher throws strikes all day. We expect two hard fought games with Dothrakis winning both.
