Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters by 2Ladies and gentlemen, grab your peanuts and crackerjacks because it's time to take a fine-tooth comb to the upcoming clash between the Orix Buffaloes and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Arguably, it's a match fixing to have pyrotechnics obnoxiously exploding off the scoreboard.
In the dust kicked up by the past rumblings, the Nippon-Ham Fighters have fought with the tenacity of a sushi chef at a salmon run. Twice they've seen a landslide victory over the Buffaloes only to see them punch right back with scoring strings of their own. Say what you want about consistency, but unpredictability makes for one hoot of a game.
Focusing our magnifying glasses onto the regular season records, we've got the Buffaloes making a fair play of things at 44-33. However, the Nippon-Ham Fighters, saucier than a tonkatsu ramen, have just nosed ahead with a 48-32 record. Ball doesn't lie, fellas.
While the Buffaloes have had recent jitters against Fukuoka, thrashed like damp sushi mat on a scorching day, their bouts with Hokkaido have been a little less ouch-inducing. Meanwhile, the Fighters have been swatting at pitches like a drunk bloke at a bear in his backyard. In recent times, they've given Chiba a good thrashing, harder than a hammer on a tuna skull.
So, the question dangling like an overcooked noodle is, who's going to bring home the bacon this time? City slicking to the bookmakers or taking a gamble on the underestimated rival? If you listen to this jingling mockery of a sports pundit, you'd put lean towards the side favoured by recent performances, regular season records and past encounters.
Albert’s Prediction: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters by 2