2010 Fellowship Series Matchups
MIDDLE EARTH - The playoffs are here. It's down to 8 teams now. The 3-time league champion returns, as well as some other familiar faces, but there are at least 2 teams that haven't visited the post-season in a long time.
Bywater Bounders (93-69) vs. Bree Cheese (98-64)
Bywater put together an amazing second half, cutting Lake Town's division lead from 20+ games down to 3. They finished with their first Shire Wild Card title and their first trip to the Fellowship Series since 2003, when they were defeated by Wilderland in 5 games. This year they get to go up against perennial playoff hopeful, Bree. This is the 7th straight playoff appearance for the Cheese, and they are looking forward to playing someone other than Mirkwood or Lake Town. In the last 6 season, Bree has gone down in the 1st round of the playoffs, including last year's devastating comeback by the Marauders from an 0-3 deficit.
Bywater's pitching, led by ace starter, Bugrin Spinner (21-7, 2.76 ERA), and Gwaihir Award winning closer, Amon Thoirney (4-2, 2.25 ERA, 45 Saves), has been responsible for most of their victories. They don't have anyone with more than 30 HR or 90 RBI, and their best hitters are Savia Gàril and Kogar Facedragger, both at .312. Meanwhile, Bree has perhaps the most balanced attack in the league. They became just the 2nd team ever to make it to the playoffs without anyone being named "Player of the Week" or "Player of the Month". They don't have a 20-game winner, but 3 starters won 15 or more and the 4th won 14 games. Young lefty closer, Gollaiborn Fionduil, stepped up to fill the void left by the aging Dejath Belarà, going 8-3 with a 3.10 ERA and 32 saves.
Mirkwood Marauders (91-71) vs. Lake Town Archers (96-66)
Once again, the Marauders and Archers finished at the top of their divisions. This is the 5th division title for Mirkwood (their 3rd in a row) and the 6th straight pennant for Lake Town. The two teams have much in common. Mirkwood won three straight league championships from 2005-2007, but they were knocked off in the Two Towers conference finals in 2008 by Bucklebury and last season by the current league champ, Old Forest. Lake Town was Mirkwood's victim in the Marauders' championship seasons, losing the conference finals in 7 games twice. In 2008, they fell to Bucklebury in the Fellowship Series, and last season Old Forest knocked them off in the first round.
Mirkwood has traditionally been a pitching-focused club, but this year is very different. Led by the league's first .400 hitter, Curt Ballscarer, the Marauder bats have been on fire. The team leads the league with a .286 batting average. They have 3 players with 30+ HR and 2 with over 110 RBI. Plus, they have speed to go with the power, with 5 players having 20+ SB. Though their pitching has not been dominant as in past years, they still have strong starters in Hallalon Brilhirion (18-11, 2.89 ERA) and Gwelf Goriborn (16-8, 3.55 ERA) that should benefit from a 3-man rotation.
Lake Town, on the other hand, has a brilliant pitching staff with opponents only hitting .237 off them. Led by starters Gandogast Fadrier (19-9, 3.39 ERA) and Geadriel Gamialf (17-9, 3.18 ERA) and closer Bagnar Anvilcrusher (10-4, 2.82 ERA, 29 Saves), they will be tough to beat in a short series. The Archers' hitting isn't that bad, either, with Silas Debuugger (.305, 39 HR, 117 RBI) leading the charge. The only chink in their armor is age. Lake Town bolted to a huge lead early in the season, only to see it slip away in the 2nd half. Analysts might be wondering if the team is too tired to close it out.
Dead Marshes Uruk-hai (89-73) vs. Minas Morgul Slayers (99-63)
This is the Uruk-hai's first trip to the playoffs since they won the division in 2005. They lost in the Fellowship Series to Grey Havens in 7 games. A lot has changed since then. Dead Marshes is under different ownership now, and they have become a pitching dynamo, leading the league with a staff ERA of 3.71. What has not changed is the fact that they are led by the same hitting star that got them to the playoffs in 2005, Mauhur the Looter (.283, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 69 SB). Other returning faces from that squad include Lasil Ironmaster, Fruron Elvand, Willibald Underhill and Hibur Goblintearer.
Minas Morgul finished with the best record in the league this season, their 2nd straight division title and 3rd straight trip to the playoffs. The Slayers have yet to make it out of the 1st round of the playoffs, losing in 6 games to Numenor 2 years in a row, but the Kings failed to make the cut this year. Minas Morgul combines league-leading power (Isilborn Imrilron was the only player to reach the 50 HR mark this year) and brilliant pitching. Imrilron (50 HR, 124 RBI) is joined by Minto Foxburr (.337, 25 HR, 78 RBI), Tanta Chubb (34 HR, 89 RBI), Gandaugrin Gamaiborn (35 HR, 90 RBI), as well as 4 other players with 10+ HR to present a killer attack. Meanwhile, Galealbo Elvàwen (20-8, 3.16 ERA) leads a pitching staff that held opposing hitters to a .235 average (best in the league).
Rohan RoughRiders (91-71) vs. Grey Havens Stars (93-69)
This is Rohan's first trip to the playoffs as the division winner since 2004. They were the Mordor Wild Card last season, losing to Misty Mountain in the Fellowship Series in 7 games. Grey Havens makes their 5th appearance in the post-season, after barely missing out on the Wild Card last year.
The RoughRiders survived a newly dominant Lothlorien team, finally charging past the Lumberjacks in September. They finished hot, ending the season on a 13-game winning streak. Rohan's attack is fairly balanced, with perhaps a bit more emphasis on pitching than on hitting. The starting rotation includes four 10-game winners, led by veteran hurler, Libur Irontearer (16-8, 3.14 ERA). Solonor Solis has anchored the bullpen since coming over from Mirkwood last season, finishing with 36 saves. The hitters were all good, but none were great. No one had a .300 batting average, and no player hit more than 30 HR besides Thudor Nadrierion (.275, 32 HR, 82 RBI).
Grey Havens was all about the pitching this year, as they allowed the fewest runs of any team. Phanra Fimir (17-8, 2.75 ERA) led a staff that spread out the wins, but didn't give up many runs. Dinodas Muddyfoot, the closer, wound up with 11 wins himself! No hitting superstars stood out this year, as 2-time MVP, Grukak Dwarfcrawler, broke his ankle early in the season and was on the bench. Last year's MVP, Golligast Gandulbo only hit .267, but he provided most of the power with 32 HR and 96 RBI. Isszava Elionel was the most consistent hitter, batting .314 with 29 HR and 96 RBI.
Posted at January 19, 2006 09:09 AM | more from League News