Post by The Jack on Jun 24, 2011 22:00:03 GMT 10
Last round before we start playing teams for the second time and both A and B Grade have some teams in interesting positions on the ladder.
A Grade
Croydon still lead the way with Heathmont close behind. NB went from 3rd to 5th and the others need some wins to stay in touch. Monty finally won a game ;D
Match of the Round - Greensborough vs Research - Greens and Research are both in the top 4 and playing pretty good baseball. How do you separate these two teams? they have both given up virtually the same runs against, although Greens have scored 20 more. So the edge for me goes Greens way. Both teams with a huge amount of talent in the box. even though I pick Greens, McKay is the key. If he is able to hold greens to 2 - 3 runs, I think that Research will scramble 4 - 5. Both teams have done enough to suggest that they will be around the mark for the remainder of the season and the return game could very well shape the final four. I like what Research are doing and would like them to be in the finals again, it has been a while.
Heathmont Blackcats vs Forest Hill - Heathmont will be after a scalp this week after Lardio held them down. Realistically Heathmont should have too much fire power for FH, although Alderhoven is a handy pick up and will provide Chinny with an option that most teams would like. The young guys at FH have been about the system for a while now and we should start to see them taking all the opportunities now. If you miss a spot against someone like Bertrand, he should now punish you, but the same can be said about most of the Heathmont line up.
Melbourne University vs Ringwood - This is very similar to the reason for picking Greens. Ringwood has scored about 20 more runs than Uni. Uni still average less than 3 runs per game. I am pretty sure that Ringwood will be able to score 5 runs as they have some guys that just get on base every week and others that can knock them in. A couple of their bigger boys are probably due for a big game (potential blow out if that happens). Uni need to find their grove. Last season they scored the least (I think) runs in the comp, they need to scrape their way in front.
North Balwyn vs GMBC - I know I said last week that I would not pick Monty until they won 3 in a row, but I did not look ahead at who they were playing. Obviously they played well last week to beat one of the favoured teams in Heathmont. NB have got some arms to challenge them
but Monty still bat deep. NB also need to find a way to score more runs. They will not win this one by only scoring 3 for the day regardless of who they throw. I predict that Monty have won the game they needed to get their season back on track and that they may be a very different team for the next few rounds.
Watsonia vs Croydon - Watsonia with a very timely win last week. A loss there would just about have spelled disaster for the club. They are on the bottom, but this is only a couple of games off challenging. Having said that, they have scored the least in the league. Croydon have one of the best defenses going around and have given up as few as anyone (if you ignore the Heathmont game which would ruin any teams stats (except Heathmont that is)). They probably don't score as many as I would like, but there is always a danger of them getting on a roll.
B Grade
There are a couple of must win games this week as the gap is starting to widen from top to bottom. Taking out Knox (who are looking good) 6 teams are within striking distance of the top 4. But a loss this week for some of the lower sides will make it extremely difficult.
Bundoora vs Westgarth - Westgarth were a little unlucky to lose a close one last week. They are one of the teams who simply must win this week to keep the pressure on. While they currently sit in 5th position, they could quite comfortably be sitting in the top 4 and probably will be soon. With a few guys who can throw and a hitting lineup that can get on base and get the job done, I don't see them losing this week. Bundoora have scored the second least amount of runs and given up the second most. This makes it difficult to win games. They have got some guys who can hit, but need the runners on when they do this. Westgarth probably win by 5.
Diamond Creek vs Knox - Look, you really can't back against Knox this season. It will take a few injuries to hurt their chances and even then, there are guys in the reserves who can take their place. I saw the likes of Cooper, Hair, Williams, Rice N in their reserves and I read that Hair stuck one out last week so there is pressure from below. However, you can't change a thing after winning by 35 runs! DC with a big challenge this week, although it is not a game that is that far away from them. For DC to take the next step, they need to keep this game close. That would show that they can match it with the top sides in the comp.
Mitchell Majors vs North Coburg Rebels - Reservoir for me, and North Coburg as well. I think that they are probably more advanced in terms of challenging for the finals. they are also not as far away from the top four as some may think. If they win this game, they are only 1 or 2 games out (depending on the results of other games). Could be interesting should they win a few in a row.
Monash University vs La Trobe Uni. - The battle of the Uni teams. Very hard to pick, last years prelim finalists in MWBL vs last seasons B Grade premiers in DBA. Monash have found that there is a difference in the two leagues. I think that they win this week because they were every so close against second placed Waverley with a couple of guys out. If they can play with the same intensity, they will Hunt down the other Uni and be 1 -2 games out of the four at the half way point which is a pretty good effort. I think that they will win more during the second half of the season once they have played each team and know what to expect. La Trobe still seem to rely on a couple of guys with the others chipping in. Having said that, they have gone about their business without much fuss so far this season. They have scored over 6 runs per game and that will win most.
Match of the Round - Ringwood vs Waverley Blackcats - 2nd vs 3rd (on percentage), this is a very big game for both teams in the context of the whole season. For Waverley, they beat Ringwood A Grade once last season and would be desperate to prove that they should be in A Grade again. They have guys who can hit, guys who can run and guys who can throw, so should be right in the finals chase. Ringwood beat Westgarth last week, but with a 1st up loss to La Trobe and a loss to knox, they have not beaten a current top four side. This is a chance for their young players to stand up and show something for the club in what has again proved to be a good move (entering a team in B Grade that is). A couple of the older guys are doing well and they need a big one this week as well as they have La Trobe followed by Knox, so need to win probably 2 out of 3 to be considered a threat for the GF.
Half way of the season after results are in, will be interesting to see where the comps are at. Good luck.
A Grade
Croydon still lead the way with Heathmont close behind. NB went from 3rd to 5th and the others need some wins to stay in touch. Monty finally won a game ;D
Match of the Round - Greensborough vs Research - Greens and Research are both in the top 4 and playing pretty good baseball. How do you separate these two teams? they have both given up virtually the same runs against, although Greens have scored 20 more. So the edge for me goes Greens way. Both teams with a huge amount of talent in the box. even though I pick Greens, McKay is the key. If he is able to hold greens to 2 - 3 runs, I think that Research will scramble 4 - 5. Both teams have done enough to suggest that they will be around the mark for the remainder of the season and the return game could very well shape the final four. I like what Research are doing and would like them to be in the finals again, it has been a while.
Heathmont Blackcats vs Forest Hill - Heathmont will be after a scalp this week after Lardio held them down. Realistically Heathmont should have too much fire power for FH, although Alderhoven is a handy pick up and will provide Chinny with an option that most teams would like. The young guys at FH have been about the system for a while now and we should start to see them taking all the opportunities now. If you miss a spot against someone like Bertrand, he should now punish you, but the same can be said about most of the Heathmont line up.
Melbourne University vs Ringwood - This is very similar to the reason for picking Greens. Ringwood has scored about 20 more runs than Uni. Uni still average less than 3 runs per game. I am pretty sure that Ringwood will be able to score 5 runs as they have some guys that just get on base every week and others that can knock them in. A couple of their bigger boys are probably due for a big game (potential blow out if that happens). Uni need to find their grove. Last season they scored the least (I think) runs in the comp, they need to scrape their way in front.
North Balwyn vs GMBC - I know I said last week that I would not pick Monty until they won 3 in a row, but I did not look ahead at who they were playing. Obviously they played well last week to beat one of the favoured teams in Heathmont. NB have got some arms to challenge them
but Monty still bat deep. NB also need to find a way to score more runs. They will not win this one by only scoring 3 for the day regardless of who they throw. I predict that Monty have won the game they needed to get their season back on track and that they may be a very different team for the next few rounds.Watsonia vs Croydon - Watsonia with a very timely win last week. A loss there would just about have spelled disaster for the club. They are on the bottom, but this is only a couple of games off challenging. Having said that, they have scored the least in the league. Croydon have one of the best defenses going around and have given up as few as anyone (if you ignore the Heathmont game which would ruin any teams stats (except Heathmont that is)). They probably don't score as many as I would like, but there is always a danger of them getting on a roll.
B Grade
There are a couple of must win games this week as the gap is starting to widen from top to bottom. Taking out Knox (who are looking good) 6 teams are within striking distance of the top 4. But a loss this week for some of the lower sides will make it extremely difficult.
Bundoora vs Westgarth - Westgarth were a little unlucky to lose a close one last week. They are one of the teams who simply must win this week to keep the pressure on. While they currently sit in 5th position, they could quite comfortably be sitting in the top 4 and probably will be soon. With a few guys who can throw and a hitting lineup that can get on base and get the job done, I don't see them losing this week. Bundoora have scored the second least amount of runs and given up the second most. This makes it difficult to win games. They have got some guys who can hit, but need the runners on when they do this. Westgarth probably win by 5.
Diamond Creek vs Knox - Look, you really can't back against Knox this season. It will take a few injuries to hurt their chances and even then, there are guys in the reserves who can take their place. I saw the likes of Cooper, Hair, Williams, Rice N in their reserves and I read that Hair stuck one out last week so there is pressure from below. However, you can't change a thing after winning by 35 runs! DC with a big challenge this week, although it is not a game that is that far away from them. For DC to take the next step, they need to keep this game close. That would show that they can match it with the top sides in the comp.
Mitchell Majors vs North Coburg Rebels - Reservoir for me, and North Coburg as well. I think that they are probably more advanced in terms of challenging for the finals. they are also not as far away from the top four as some may think. If they win this game, they are only 1 or 2 games out (depending on the results of other games). Could be interesting should they win a few in a row.
Monash University vs La Trobe Uni. - The battle of the Uni teams. Very hard to pick, last years prelim finalists in MWBL vs last seasons B Grade premiers in DBA. Monash have found that there is a difference in the two leagues. I think that they win this week because they were every so close against second placed Waverley with a couple of guys out. If they can play with the same intensity, they will Hunt down the other Uni and be 1 -2 games out of the four at the half way point which is a pretty good effort. I think that they will win more during the second half of the season once they have played each team and know what to expect. La Trobe still seem to rely on a couple of guys with the others chipping in. Having said that, they have gone about their business without much fuss so far this season. They have scored over 6 runs per game and that will win most.
Match of the Round - Ringwood vs Waverley Blackcats - 2nd vs 3rd (on percentage), this is a very big game for both teams in the context of the whole season. For Waverley, they beat Ringwood A Grade once last season and would be desperate to prove that they should be in A Grade again. They have guys who can hit, guys who can run and guys who can throw, so should be right in the finals chase. Ringwood beat Westgarth last week, but with a 1st up loss to La Trobe and a loss to knox, they have not beaten a current top four side. This is a chance for their young players to stand up and show something for the club in what has again proved to be a good move (entering a team in B Grade that is). A couple of the older guys are doing well and they need a big one this week as well as they have La Trobe followed by Knox, so need to win probably 2 out of 3 to be considered a threat for the GF.
Half way of the season after results are in, will be interesting to see where the comps are at. Good luck.
