Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters by 2If you've been following along, leaving breadcrumbs Hansel-and-Gretel-style down the MLB road, it should be absolutely no surprise that Nippon-Ham Fighters and SoftBank Hawks are about to clash. One might say it's like the neighborhood grudge match, if neighborhood rivalries also involved professional athletes, millions of dollars in salaries, and thousands of screaming fans. And you know, sushi.
Looking at the historical chit-chat between these two, it's pretty darn close. They've been trading wins and losses like it's a philosophy class discussion. Our Fighters have managed to eke out a 2-3 record against the Hawks in their last five outings, and it wouldn't be entirely wild to suggest they may have developed a taste for Hawk meat.
Taking a gander at each team's regular-season record, it's clear that Fighters have been racking up wins like a squirrel hoarding acorns. With a 42-28 record to the Hawk's 38-30, it's clear our Hokkaido buddies have a bit of a spring in their step. But hey, it's not all about numbers - if you've ever tried to convince a significant other that '5 years age difference means nothing', you'd know that.
Glancing at the recent results, it seems both teams have been on a similar rollercoaster ride. Fighters have been javelin-tossing their way to a 3-2 win streak. Hawks, on the other hand, managed a 4-1 win-loss ratio recently - not too shabby for a team that sounds like a financial institution.
So, what's the bottom line, folks? Other than me desperately needing a coffee refill, it seems fairly obvious that this game is a toss-up. But if someone held a stinky bat to my head and forced me to get off the fence - I'd probably say:
Albert’s Prediction: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters by 2