Titans/Ikonz Playoff Preview

Unlikely contender faces defending champs.

Titans survived amazing series against top seed Badmash!

At the start of the season, the Titans were 2-3 and apparently going nowhere. The pundits and prognosticators said this team had no chance at the playoffs. But the team turned things around midway through the season and went on to win the next four games against good defensive teams and that earned them a playoff spot. But as fast as their four game win streak happened, they lost their last three games each coming to the hands of the other three playoff teams. It was truly a turbulent season for this team but that was the past and they are living in the present. Manager Mickey Patel and slugger Shreed Sista brought their power game to the playoffs and put their team on their backs to carry them to the World Series. Their defense was not perfect, but it was good enough to keep them in games and let their offense carry them. This team consists of veterans like Mickey and Kunal, but the majority are former Brown Hornets players who just last year won only a single game all season and were the laughing stock of the league. What a difference a year makes. Full of confidence after knocking off the top seed, they now face the defending champs who have the experience, defensive prowess and consistent offense to defeat the mighty Titans. Can the Ikonz repeat, or does this Cinderella story have a happy ending?

Ikonz look for second title in as many years

Manager Mihir Patel preaches defense, defense, and defense with timely offense. That is what lifted the Ikonz back to a serious contender in this year’s playoffs. The difference this time was in the public perception of the achievement. They finished this season with three consecutive wins and looking impressive at the same time. It appears they have their moxie back in defending their title and Manager Mihir Patel knows they are peaking at the right time. They dispatched their first round opponent in four games but this is a completely different opponent they now face. The Ikonz split the regular season series with the Titans, but neither of these teams is the same as when they last met. Look for key players such as Sohal Vakil, Tot Singh, and Mignesh Patel raise their game to help this team try to repeat. They may not have the power game that Badmash! has, but they always seem to find a way to string runs together and lock down their defense to take away runs from the opposing team. It's a classic matchup of offense vs. defense.

Why the Titans can win: The Titans looked to be down and out in July by losing to each of the playoff teams but the playoffs began a new season. Outfielder Shreed Sista's tumultuous season of lack of power is in the distant past and he seems to have found his stroke in the playoffs. Their defense has proven that it is no longer the Bad News Bears, although there are sublte reminders at times. They have the confidence and momentum and if they hit like they did in their first round, the Ikonz may not be able to keep up despite their tremendous defense.

Why Ikonz can win: Because they have done it before. They have the experience and have been in the World Series for the past 7 years. That experience may prove to be the deciding factor against a team with only one player having tasted the World Series. This team somehow finds a way to get it done and they play with a quiet confidence and swagger that will not be shaken by a couple of big innings by their opponent. They know they are always in the game and because of that, they are dangerous.

POSITION ANALYSIS - To come. Waiting for Titans playoff stats to compare positions based on playoff stats.