Like a mirror image, the first matchday of the championship repeats itself this weekend in an exactly reversed schedule.
Cougars (6-2) vs Huskies (7-1) Playoffs before their time?
Above: the Huskies, the most productive offense in D1 with a .413 batting average!
« Inter canes et feles ».
One of the most beautiful love stories in D1 will live its latest chapter. A story of respect too, as the Cougars are among the clubs who have faced the Normandy side in the final. Against Rouen in the final: Montigny once in 2018, Sénart eight times, Savigny four times, Montpellier twice, Toulouse once. Note that when the Huskies reach the D1 final… nothing has ever stopped them. Their last defeat at this level dates back to 1990. Five clubs have had the privilege of challenging the structural phenomenon of French baseball for the title. This season, Montigny snatched a game from « Saint Exupéry ». What about the Normandy adventures on the synthetic pitch of the Ignymontains in recent years? In 2018 it was 9-0 and 4-2. Two victories for the home team at Stade Jean Maréchal. In 2019, two defeats: 3-4 and 5-6. In 2021, a draw, 6-2 and 1-11. So, it’s an exact draw in terms of wins between the two teams, 3-3. Points advantage to Montigny with, over 6 games, 28-25. Interesting! We won’t bother counting the number of hits here, but let’s just say the spectacle seems guaranteed! Montigny remains solid on the mound with a 1.43 ERA, 80 strikeouts, 26 walks (Lopez 0.33! 33 strikeouts, 9 walks). They will have to fight hard against the best offense in French club baseball: with a .413 batting average, the Huskies present a powerful and homogeneous block. Dagneau 3 home runs, .516 batting average, Harrison .538, Blondel .485… A draw would be coherent…
PUC (0-6) vs Metz (0-6) An interesting clash.
Above: Victorien Roze of the Metz Cometz.
« What trajectory for the Comets? »
Going back to 2019, we can trace the history of confrontations between the two clubs. The Comets and the PUC are sent back to back. 2-2 in terms of wins. On scores, it’s 25-20 in favor of the Parisians. This season, despite the recruitment efforts on the Messin side, taking off from the bottom of the standings remains complicated for the Comets. They have practically only suffered lopsided scores except for one game against the Lions lost (7-5). Noblet (.462) and Rogers (.450) are hitting well, but the rest of the lineup (72 strikeouts, 19 walks) is too weak. With a .184 batting average, it’s complicated to win. But the day of glory may have arrived for the Grand-Est players… the PUC, also struggling for success, has an average just below expectations (.165 – second to last) and an ERA of 12.33 (the worst). Apart from Carela (.316) and Rodriguez (.364), no Parisian bat seems to have the panache necessary to break through the Metz infield. Even if the Comets’ defense is only 8th with 15 errors in 6 games and the mound is at 6.75 earned runs per game. We’ll lean towards two Comets victories …
Above: the PUC in turmoil, must hit.
Boucaniers (4-2) vs Barracudas (6-2)
Above: « the endless romance » between the Boucaniers and the Barracudas…
« The Barracudas pirated? »
Going back to 2018, the history is largely to the disadvantage of La Rochelle. Against the Barracudas, the days are at very high risk for the Boucaniers. In 14 games, the Rochellais have only won one success, it was this season. Runs: 109 to 40. Well launched in their season, the maritime side will have a lot to do against the first ex-aequo with Sénart. During the away games, La Rochelle snatched 9 innings from Neyral, Ozanich, Brouillet, and Lesfargues (1-9). The Barracudas know that if they let the Boucaniers embark from the start in a game this season, it can be complicated to regain control. The Montpellier starter Canelon will have to limit as much as possible the second most productive offense in D1 (.309 batting average). Crowford leading the way with a superb .500 batting average and 7 for 7 in stolen bases (almost all of the stolen bases for LR: 9 stolen bases out of 11 attempts – for Montpellier 5 for 9). Against the Boucaniers, they hit on average .258. The Barracudas are just above with .266. Everyone knows that the Montpellier mound is very difficult to play: 1.93 ERA and 83 strikeouts for only 17 walks. The maritime mound is 3.12 earned runs per game and a total of 59 strikeouts for 20 walks. The ratios are solid on both sides. It may take one or two errors to tip a game or the entire day… Come on, another draw!
Nice (0-6) vs Sénart (6-2)
« The Temple on the parvis of the playoffs. »
Since 2019, the Templiers have surpassed Nice with 8 wins to 0. 83 to 19, the Cavigal should still suffer. One of the contenders for the final comes to savor the sun of the Alpes-Maritimes. Less solid this season, the Templiers should not, however, have any difficulties in defeating Nice. Perhaps the opportunity to rotate the squad with the hopes like Pouret, Tsimbambe, Gras, Klin..? Be careful, the men of Montas still managed to hold Sénart 7-4 during the first matchday in the Paris region. Nice hits .185 in 8 games and takes 84 strikeouts and 23 walks… For as many games, the Templiers: .252, 72 strikeouts, 42 walks: the players of Kindelan are patient at the plate. With a little too many strikeouts, however… Despite good work by Teramura in particular, we are heading towards a perfect score on the day for Sénart.
Above: Perdomo, the Venezuelan power.
Nice, Metz, and Paris are playing big this weekend. Will they reverse the trend and manage to carve out a path to victory? Very complicated for Nice. There remains an imaginable hope for Paris and especially Metz, who will also cross swords two weekends in a row. We would bet on Metz, statistically capable of extricating themselves from the depths of the standings. Toulouse, with only two wins in their pocket (2-4; off this weekend) will observe with interest what is happening on Sunday.
Test for Montpellier, who must prove every matchday that they still deserve their place in the playoffs this season against Boucaniers who have never been as strong.
Above: Kevin « K-nelon » for the Montpellier Barracudas, in La Rochelle, CDF 2021.
The Huskies, perched on the history sled, will they be disoriented by Cougars who adapt better and better to their opponents each season?
Above: the BaseballTVF team.
LIVE Boucaniers vs Barracudas on BaseballTVF this Sunday in La Rochelle! 11 AM and 2:30 PM.
Vincent Picard
