This was going to be a podcast but my microphone still hasn't arrived...
Regardless, this is a two part post: predicting the 3 championship games and then giving my 5 standouts of the 2022 LLWS.
USA Championship:
The big question for this game is the pitching. With the Little League pitch limits, Tennessee's best pitcher will be unavailable. However, Hawaii/West will have their complete pitching staff ready to go.
For Tennessee/Southeast, they'll most likely be relying on Trent McNeil, who has done well enough so far. However, if you watch Trent McNeil and have watched Hawaii throughout this tournament, you know that McNeil will have his hands full. He doesn't have great speed or great break on any of his pitches. I highly doubt that he can shut down Hawaii the way he shut down Massachusetts (0-2) and Indiana (1-2). Hawaii is basically averaging 10 runs a game, so I have no doubt they'll hit off of McNeil. The only question is: what types of contact are they getting?
If Hawaii is just bombing away like they did earlier in the week when they beat this same Tennessee team 13-0, there is no hope at all for Tennessee. However, as seen in the game against Texas, Tennessee's defense is top tier. If the contact is a lot of shorter fly balls and grounders, even hard hit grounders, Tennessee might have a puncher's chance.
But in the other half of the innings, Tennessee will need to figure out how to manufacture runs. This leads us to the interesting decision that Hawaii needs to make. Their two best pitchers are available. However, if either of them throws 21 pitches or more, they will be unable to play in a (potential) World Series Championship.
Chalk says that they throw Cohen Sakamoto out there. He hasn't given up any hits or runs in 9 innings pitched and has struck out 17 batters. Jaron Lancaster is their number 2 starter and he also hasn't given up any runs in the 4.1 innings he has pitched. Luke Hiromoto is also an option for them; he's allowed one run in 4.0 IP.
While I know what chalk says, I also think Hawaii runs away with this one and ends up facing a tougher International opponent. So I would allow Sakamoto to throw 20 pitches and then pull him and see if either Lancaster or Hiromoto can finish the rest of the game. With any luke, Sakamoto gets them through two innings, allowing for some bullpen action throughout the last 4 innings.
I'm expecting great fielding on both sides, but a few more strikeouts for Tennessee hitters and a few more bombs for Hawaiian ones.
Prediction: Hawaii wins 8-1
International Championship:
Quite the opposite to the USA game, this game will mostly be about hitting. Specifically, can anyone in this game actually hit? Chinese Taipei/Asia-Pacific has had some success against other teams, but they haven't faced a defense like Curacao/Caribbean.
On the flip side, Curacao hasn't been lights out in any aspect. At least Chinese Taipei has had some success at the plate. Curacao does what's needed. They've played in a ton of close games and have taken on multiple identities, which is really reassuring.
Curacao doesn't commit errors very often and they have a very deep batting order, even if they are missing that one guy who's slashing .500/.600/.800. 4 of their 5 wins have come with a win margin of 2 runs or less. They've only allowed more than 2 runs once - in their loss to Panama in which there was a grand slam by Panama's slugger.
I'm predicting another close one. Chinese Taipei has only played 3 games to Curacao 6, and Curacao might have some trouble finding pitching, as their 2 best pitchers are unavailable.
Prediction: Chinese Taipei wins 5-3
World Series Championship:
Hawaii and Chinese Taipei are not the same team by any means, but I can't see Chinese Taipei having the skill necessary to pull out a win over Hawaii. They'll have the same puncher's chance that Tennessee has due to their amazing defense. But if Hawaii saves Sakamoto for Sunday's World Series Championship, I doubt Chinese Taipei will have any real chance at scoring enough to beat Hawaii. I mean Hawaii has scored 10+ runs in three of their four games so far.
Chinese Taipei has had success too, obviously, but nothing that's blowing me away as Hawaii's 39-1 combined score.
Prediction: Hawaii wins 6-2
Standout Players:
Davey-Jay Rijke (Caribbean): He's a stone cold killer. Sucks that he can’t pitch again, but he’s thrown 12.1 innings already and struck out 31 dudes. He’s 2-0 with a save and an ERA of 0.74. And NO WALKS. Then on offense, while not being superhuman, is still slashing a 3/4/5 BA, OBP, SLG with a 1. OPS. He’s played every inning of six games and has only committed one error. He’s the MVP for sure.
Josiah Porter (Southeast): He hasn’t been the best player by any stretch, but when you add the fact that he’s half blind, it’s hard to not root for him. And now he’s playing for the USA championship! Here’s the story on why he’s blind in one eye. He’s just a winning player who has made a few tough catches and gotten a few timely hits. Oh and he hit a grand slam two days ago. To dead center.
Chase Link (Mid-Atlantic): One of my favorite players to watch, it seemed like he got a hit every single time he stepped up to the plate. Add those knocks and RBIs to the home runs and he was an instant fan favorite. He went 6-13 and had 7 RBIs with 3 HRs. He had a slugging % of 1.154 and an OPS of 1.7!
Corey Kahn (Southwest): Mr. SportsCenter of the 2022 LLWS. Two amazing catches in two days, including robbing a home run from Brandon Hatch on PA. Then a diving catch yesterday to save another hit. He also pitched really well, striking out 12 in 8 innings and only giving up 3 runs during the tournament.
Luis Garcia (Latin America): The classic pitcher/SS combo. He struck out 15 in 8 innings and has also made great defensive plays, including two double plays against Japan in extra innings (you can read about that game here). The bases are only 60 feet apart, so double plays in the LLWS are very tough to do. His success rate in the field was 92% across the 6 complete games he played.
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