MLB Team Namesake Cage Fight: Episode II
This first installment of the MLB Namesake Cage Fight series will lay down the ground work of what will prove to be an incredibly interesting and riveting series.
The brackets have been developed and each matchup in the first round is sure to be interesting and discussion provoking.
First, we have the bracket for the animal name sakes of the league. As you can see, the Cardinals claimed the top spot as the best team in baseball last year and they will face off against the Marlin as the last place team. This matchup is sure to be interesting, as we have a fish and bird matching up. These two animals would never meet each other in the wild and their skills will be put to the absolute test.
Next, we have the matchup that everyone is looking forward too. Rarely do you have the premier match up take place in the first round of a tournament, but here we have it. Tiger vs. Bear. The ultimate matchup between two of nature’s most ferocious predators.
Related Story: MLB Team Namesake Cagefight: Episode I
On the other side of the bracket, we have the Blue Jays against the terribly dangerous and venomous Diamondback snake. This will be a matchup that is filled with twists and turns. It force’s each animal to use all of their skills to emerge victorious.
The last matchup of animal namesakes pits another bird, an Oriole against the sea faring Devil Ray. With this matchup, I took some artistic liberty and went with namesake of the past. I understand that the team in Tampa Bay is not named after the Devil Ray anymore, but I believe it makes sense to have them involved in this tournament. They still have a presence at Tropicana Field and it would seem incomplete without them. This matchup will prove interesting. We are again pitting a bird against a fish and they will have to use all of their skills to the fullest to emerge victorious.
Next, we move onto our human namesake bracket.
This bracket is a bit more challenging. We had 11 namesakes and that does not make an equal bracket. To even out the bracket, I had to create a separate elimination bracket that is essentially a play in series for the bottom four spots.
The first matchup we have is the Mariners against the Braves. This brings together two very different types of people. A Mariner is a sea faring and coastal profession while the Braves are represented by the Cherokee Indian, the native tribe that is native to the area surrounding Atlanta, Georgia. Each one has a specific set of skills that will be essential to their victory.
The other matchup in our elimination bracket is the Brewers against the Padres. In this matchup, I am presenting a Padre as a typical middle aged dad. This is both for comedies sake, and practicality. In reality, the Padres are named after the Spanish priests who established colonies on the west coast. Traditionally, priests are non-violent and it seems sacrilegious to suggest that they would engage in a fight such as this one. On the other hand, a brewer is a person who makes beer. They have an array of tools and skills that will prove to be useful in this matchup.
The first matchup we can examine in the normal bracket is the Dodgers and Indians. The Dodgers are representative of Brooklynites from the days of old when trolleys were rolling through the streets. Because of their origin, in this tournament their skills will be highly minimal. Their opponents however will be the Shawnee Indian, a tribe that inhabited the area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio.
Next, we will have the Rangers and Giants. The Rangers are represented by the law enforcement agency that is prevalent in Texas. Giants will be based on the giants of the Game of Thrones universe. This will be an interesting matchup, as the Giant has a clear advantage due to its size. But the Ranger will undoubtedly have some trick up their sleeve in this highly anticipated matchup.
Finally, we have the Yankee against the Angels. Yankees in this case will be represented by a Union soldier from the United States Civil War. He will be complete with all the equipment available to a Union soldier of the day. The angel will be the typical idea of what you think of when you hear ‘Angel’, all powerful with wings and special powers. This matchup will surely be an interesting one.
Next: Milwaukee Brewers: Where could Ryan Braun be dealt to?
There we have it. Our brackets finished and broken down. I hope you’re as excited as I am for this adventure. It’s going to be exciting to follow along, I can assure you that.
Leave a comment if you have any predictions!