Series Preview - DC vs Gold Country

In what most consider the marquis match-up of the LCS, the DC Chips face off against the Gold Country Gossamer's. The Chips are operated by Steve C, owner of the highest career regular season winning percentage in ATB history and a previous World Series champion. In his 4th season, Steve managed the Chips to a Wild Card birth despite managing a team of walking wounded all season long.

Justin B is the owner and operator of the Gossamer's, perhaps the most hated ATB team of all time. In his first season at the helm of a franchise, he took the previous "all-in for defense and pitching strategy" to an entirely new level and easily ran away with the regular season, winning 102 games.

With a 15-game regular season advantage, it would seem the Gossamer's would be heavily favored in this LCS match-up. However, only two teams took regular season series from them. Somehow the lowly Texas Gringos took 4 of 6, but more importantly, the Chips went 11-7 against their divisional rivals.

No doubt the Chips rotation, heavy on lefties, is preying on Justin's mind. In the regular season the Gossamer's played .673 ball versus righties, and 'just' .551 against lefties. If there is a chink in the Gossamer armor, this is it.

Key to Success - Chips

• Keep the games close - With some of the best starting pitching in ATB history, the Gossamer's are every teams nightmare. However, with an average offense they often win in low scoring games. Between Joe Neale (213 IP, 2.15 ERA) and Mariano Rivera (156 IP, 2.47 ERA) the Chips have an incredible bullpen. As game lengthens, the odds will begin to turn in their favor for ultimate victory.
• Musial and Cobb - Historically, the two best hitter in these series are Stan Musial and Ty Cobb, both members of the Chips. The two have been injured a total of seven different times this year, missing 86 days combined. And Musial is currently injured again, due back for Game 3. If DC can manage a split in the first two games - no easy task - a healthy lineup will be difficult for even the likes of Pedro Martinez (22-7, 2.63) and Scott Stratton (18-8, 2.93) to contain for long.

Key to Success - Gossamer's

• Staying the Course - The Gossamer's are the better team, period. Even if the unthinkable happens and they lose the first two games, no other team is better equipped to come back then they are. With incredible team defense and stellar pitching, a 3-game win streak isn't just possible, but likely. The most important managerial move Justin can make is not to panic with rotation choices. Every game match-up favors the Gossamer's, and bringing the likes of Martinez or Stratton back on short rest to pitch is a recipe for a series loss.
• Bobby Murcer - Murcer is having a career year this season, batting .316 / .390 / .480 and claiming the Division Series MVP. However, he is a lefty and a platoon player who may not see much action against the lefty laden pitching staff of the DC Chips. This season in limited at bats, Murcer is killing lefties too - .306 / .393 / .431 in 72 AB. It will be difficult, but Justin needs to continue to site Murcer needs to sit versus lefties. In the 100 re-sims he averaged a .279 / .348 / .389 line and while we don't have the data to prove it, it undoubtedly was much worse verses lefties. He is having a career year, but he just isn't this good.
  

Overall, the Gossamers are the better team and should win the series. However, the one team that has the best chance to unseat them are the Chips. Comish Prediction: Gold Country in 7.

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