Are you ready for the 2020 SASL Playoffs to start? We get under way with 2 ‘Saturday Night Lights’ wild card game. Both games are one game elimination games between MonStars (7) vs. Black Mambas (10) and Troopers (8) vs. TSFE (9). Winner of those games moves on to face the #1 and #2 seed the following day (Sunday Morning).
The game will be played at Wantagh Field B at 7:30pm. Neither team wanted to be in this situation, but in a very competitive league this year, neither team came thru when it mattered most to avoid the SNL. During the regular season these two teams faced each other twice and split. Of course.
How They Got Here:
MonStars:
MonStars, led by captains Salman and Sajeel, had a pretty unique set of situations to be born. Two teams for last year in Bats and Mighty Ducks were ready to go before the pandemic hit. Once the pandemic hit, both teams backed out as some players from both teams did not want to play. Salman and Sajeel then bought the remaining players from both teams and created MonStars. Add in MVP candidate Vinny, and the team had its sights set for one of the top seeds.
Season started well enough with an opening day sweep of Shooter McGavins before going 7-3 thru the first half of the season. The second half, however, was not so kind as they went only 4-8 and getting swept by some good teams in Dynasty, Hit Squad, Dothrakis etc. at 11-11 they definitely underachieved and a +33 run differential points to some bad luck.
Black Mambas:
Black Mambas are another team that formed from a merger. The merger was between two struggling franchises in NWO and StrikeForce and it happened over the Fall season in 2019. Heading into 2020 season after a off season full of recruitment, Mambas came with a bunch of players that turned the franchise around: Dan DiIorio, Narish Ramoutar, Jonathan Cayetano etc.
Mambas only finished 8-14 this season, but they have memorable wins against Dothrakis, Monstars, The North. This proves they can beat anyone on any given day. With a middle of the lineup they have, we expected a much better win-loss record, however their defense is one of the worst in the league.
Advantages:
MonStars
1. Playoff Experience: MonStars have players that have been in playoffs in almost every year. 11 of their 15 players have won rings. They know how to execute in playoffs and will not fold under pressure in the big moments.
2. Defense, Defense, Defense: During the season, MonStars have given up about 11 runs per game. Conversely, Mambas have given up about 14 runs per game. A +3 run average shows the difference between the two teams.
3. Bottom Of The Lineup: Most teams have a devastating middle of the lineup and MonStars are no different with Vinny, Kunal, Faizan, Moiz etc. Unlike Mambas, MonStars bottom of lineup can turn the lineup over much quicker with Sajeel, Salman etc occupying spots in the bottom of lineup.
4. Bench: MonStars are likely to have players like Nabeel, Usman, etc coming off the bench which blows Mambas out the water. If Mambas have to dip into their bench, they will be in trouble while MonStars don’t lose much.
5. Home Field Advantage: According to the rules, MonStars will be the home team and have the hammer by batting in bottom 7th due to their higher seed. This is a huge mental advantage going into a one game elimination.
Black Mambas:
1. Power, Power and More Power: Mambas feature Peter Santos (led the league in Home Runs with 11) and Dan DiIorio (led the league in OPS for 4th year in a row) in the middle of their lineup. No other team really can match that.
2. Embraced The Underdog Role: Mambas looks like they enjoy the underdog role and have some big wins against the top competition and surely aren’t scared to go up against MonStars in a one game wild card game.
3. Pitching: Ayaz and Narish are both really good strike throwing pitchers. Whoever they go with will have an advantage against Salman/Nabeel who have had tendencies being a little wild this year.
Predictions:
This is a tough, tough call. Both teams beat each other during the regular season. Both teams have a very good top 10. We are going to go with the playoff and winning experience of MonStars in a close game!
