2018 WORLD SERIES PREVIEW

Presented to you by Jarl Jackson – September 2018

The Sacramento Capitals will be heading to Chicago to Open up the 2018 MWBL World Series.  It looks like a great series lies ahead for the two pennant winners.

Buster Posey was 7^th in average and 8^th in on base percentage in the AL. Yadier Molina had the 3^rd lowest OSBP on the N.L. side.  Posey had a 62 error less game streak while Molina had a 72-game streak. Both veteran catchers are invaluable to their respective pitching staffs. Posey makes his third World Series appearance and for Molina his 4^th. The advantage in the first two slash lines give Posey the edge.
Advantage: Chicago

Statistically speaking none of the first basemen stood out among lead leaders although Freddie Freeman did have a 23 game on base streak good for 12^th best in the AL. Freeman, his teammate Yonder Alonso and Mitch Moreland for Sacramento all had long error less game streaks. Comparing the two teams the Demolition did better offensively although both Moreland and Albert Pujols are capable of hitting the long ball. Advantage: Chicago

Neil Walker’s OPS is slightly higher than Robinson Cano, but Cano played more often, hit 20 points higher, and contributed to the running game. Advantage: Sacramento

On the league leader boards Andrelton Simmons was 11^th in average, tied for 7^th in hits, and 10^th in doubles. In the National League Francisco Lindor was 8^th in slugging, 9^th in hits, 9^th in runs, tied for 6^th in doubles, 7^th in homers, 6^th in RBI, and had the second longest hitting streak at 18 games. Lindor’s homers pushes him over the top and his overall 2018 performance probably put in the conversations about league MVP.  Advantage: Sacramento

Alex Bergman provides a little more pop with the bat – he was 11^th in runs and 12^th in doubles – to go along with his 15 to 3 SB advantage. Evan Longoria did have a 58 error less streak, but Bergman’s power
makes this a win for Chicago. Advantage: Chicago 

Billy Hamilton was tied for 3^rd in triples and led the AL in stolen bases. J. D Martinez led the AL in home runs and was tied for 11^th in RBI. Dexter Fowler was tied for league lead in triples. On the defensive side
Hamilton had a 92 error less game streak while Andrew McCutchen was flawless in 74 consecutive games. Offensively this was the strongest position on the team next to Lindor for the Capitals. Josh Reddick was 7^th in average, had a 16-game hitting streak good for 4^th NL best, and had 63 straight error less games. Giancarlo Stanton was 10^th in on base percentage, third in slugging, 10^th in hits, and led the N.L. in runs, homers, RBI. Trey Mancini was 12^th in average and tied for 11^th in hits – and oh by the way still mashed 30 bombs falling just outside the leagues top 15 players. Chicago’s outfielders were like the quick and nimble elfish foot archers while the outfielders from Sacramento were the big brutish giants who casually picked up and threw boulders at their enemies.  Advantage: Sacramento

Meh, not much to see here. Justin Turner outperformed the under achieving Corey Dickerson. Maybe Dickerson will wake up for the world series. Advantage: Chicago

Nothing really stood out on the AL leader board among the Demolition starting rotation for the World Series, but you can’t really measure heart and determination by stats. The Capitals trio are as strong a World Series rotation as there’s ever been. Max Scherzer was first in wins, first in ERA, third in IP, first in quality starts. 5^th in shutouts, and first in the N.L. in opponents batting average against for SP at .125. Chris Sale was 2^nd in wins, 6^th in ERA, first in IP, tied for 2^nd in QS, 2^nd, in consecutive shutout innings at 30.1, and was 5^th in S-OBA at .176. Zack Greinke led the N.L. in shutouts and his S-OBA was 6^th best at .180. Advantage: Sacramento

For Chicago Chad Green was first in wins, Andrew Miller was 6^th, and Dellin Betances was 12^th. Aroldis Chapman led the league while the other 4 relievers listed were all in the top 10 in holds. Betances also had the 2^nd best ERA and was 4^th best in opponent batting averages against at .144.  The stat that stood out the most for the Capitals relievers was that Greg Holland was 8^th best in OBA at .148 and Tyler Olson was 11^th best at .162. The Demolition made more noise on the league leader boards, but on paper the Sacramento pen just looks better.  Advantage: Sacramento

Overall team stats and MWBL League rankings:

Overall Chicago has the better offense, but I think the pitching from Sacramento will be too much.