Series Preview

The Haymakers dominated Season 7 from start to finish and have returned to the Creighton Cup Series after missing out last year for the first time in their history. Meanwhile, somebody had to finish in second place, and that distinction went to the Resolutes, who will attempt to defend their franchise's first title against a team that led the circuit in both runs scored (4.58) and runs allowed (3.08) and posted a league-record +36 run differential and .667 winning percentage. Wow!

If the stats above don't paint the picture, I'll sum it up: The Haymakers are...a machine. Their lineup may be a bit topheavy -- with Joe Kelley, Jesse Burkett, Cap Anson, and Sam Thompson in the first four slots -- but every position player on this team is a tough out. On the mound, their pitching is led by screwball specialist Mickey Welch, vying for his second Pitcher MVP trophy, and perennial warhorse Cy Young. Heck, even spot starter Candy "I swear I'm not a porn star" Cummings went 3-1 in four starts. Good luck coming back in the late inning, as well; closer Amos Rusie led the league in saves and is a strong candidate to become the first relief pitcher ever to win Pitcher MVP. How do you beat these guys? Historically, fielding is this team's Achilles' heel, but in Season 7 the Haymakers ranked as the league's best defense. 

The Resolutes are, well, just happy to be here. It was an up-and-down year for the defending champs, who relied heavily on first baseman Jake Beckley, a former Haymakers benchwarmer who has emerged from Anson's shadow to become a middle-of-the-order threat. After the playoffs, he'll likely be rewarded with the Position Player MVP trophy. Beyond Beckley, the Resolutes received significant contributions from leadoff man Pete Hill and the power-and-speed combo of Elmer Flick. If the Resolutes have a path to victory in this series, however, it lies with their pitchers. Co-aces John Clarkson and Christy Mathewson blanked the Blue Legs over the final 18 innings in last year's series, while southpaw swingman Rube Waddell brings triple-digit heat that the Resolutes could deploy in the late innings. 

The season series was 5-3 for the Haymakers, so in theory the Resolutes could win three games in this best-of-five championship. If they do, it will surely rank as the biggest upset in the history of this league.