05-07-2023, 09:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2023, 10:54 AM by xenosthelegend. Edited 1 time in total.)
Chicago is an interesting team to cover; they have the least number of Ultimus trips of any team in the league, but unlike one of the three remaining teams, they do have a title. Chicago is also a team that has had some pretty strong periods and also some pretty poor periods; they went to the playoffs in their first season and then were lost in the wilderness for years.
S16: 10-3 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S17: 8-5 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S18: 5-8
S19: 3-10
S20: 4-9
During this period, the Butchers ended up 30-35 for a 46.2% win rate. After beginning their existence pretty strong, with two straight playoff appearances, they ended the decade with three straight losing seasons, which ended up with them going just under .500 for this period of time. They also only made the playoffs their first two seasons, and that second decade was one of those "3rd seed that immediately loses" trips. Going 0-2 for the first 5 seasons in the playoffs was a little unfortunate, as in their first season they were a single game away from the Ultimus. They were also unable to garner any major awards during the beginning of their franchise, either.
S21: 5-8
S22: 1-12
S23: 3-13
S24: 7-9 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S25: 8-8 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S26: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S27: 12-4 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S28: 6-10
S29: 5-11
S30: 6-10
During this decade, the first full decade of the Butchers, they went 63-91, for a 40.9% win rate. This is the lowest win rate of any team covered so far, as well as the lowest playoff win total at 1-4 (only one ties them with, of course, the Outlaws.) This period stretched their Ultimus absence stretch to 15 seasons, as well as a 15 year stretch without any major awards. They were able to make the playoffs 4 times, albeit only twice with records above .500. They also managed to put together two seasons above 10 wins in a row. However, this decade also included 5 different 10 loss seasons, completely surrounding and arguably overpowering the four straight playoff appearances.
S31: 10-6 (Juan Domine wins DPOY) (1-1 in Playoffs)
S32: 5-11
S33: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S34: 12-3-1 (2-0 in Playoffs, 1st Ultimus berth and win)
S35: 9-7 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S36: 13-3 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S37: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S38: 7-9
S39: 10-6 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S40: 12-4 (Rumble Ronson and Joseph Reed win DPOY, tied with each other) (1-1 in Playoffs)
This decade finally saw the Butchers be consistently good to great. They had a 98-61-1 record, for a 61.6% win rate. Of all the teams I've covered, this is actually tied for second in terms of games above .500; the Sailfish come out just ahead in win rate, technically, but that's due to two more draws over the period. By the general rule of a tie equalling half a win and half a loss, the Butchers and the Sailfish end up with the exact same record as each other. In the Butchers' 8 playoff appearances, they had a 6-7 record and managed to both reach and win their first Ultimus in S34. They also managed to win their first and second awards, including the first tied major award the league has seen in decades, and what I believe is the only tied major award where both sides come from the same team in S40. I think of the four NSFC teams I've covered, this is actually the best that we've seen; and as far as I can see I don't think it's going to be surpassed. Sure, technically they only made one Ultimus, but they are only the 3rd team of the 11 I've looked at to be good in both halves of the decade, and unlike the Sailfish, they actually won an Ultimus in the decade. The Outlaws, obviously, surpass them, but they're in the ASFC so they're not up for the Team of the NSFC crown.
So, how good exactly was this final decade? Did they manage to overshadow how bad their first full decade was?
If nothing else, this most recent decade took them from a prime candidate for worst team of all time status (93-126 before this point, for a 42.5% win rate, the worst of any team we've seen) to a possible candidate for the top half of the list. 4 games isn't that far above .500, but it's still the 5th best record of any team we've seen. There's a similar story there with the playoff berths as well, even if they would fall below 50% playoff entry rate if we took out the years they had a .500 or worse record and still made it. So what holds them back from the top half if anything? Well, the lack of history hurts; this is the second least Hall of Fame pool of any team we've looked at, coming out to less than the Silverbacks and Sailfish who came into existence after them, along with the Copperheads who were their fellow S16 expansion franchise. This award haul is also arguably the worst of any team in the league, only the Silverbacks and Salamanders can compare, and both have the excuse of being almost 10 years younger and never being in a league smaller than 14 teams. The Salamanders even have the argument that they got an MVP in the process. The strongest period is decently good, one of the best long-time stretches that we've seen from a franchise, but it's not top tier, and their worst period is REALLY bad, only surpassed by the Retiring Many Second Line and the Yeti. I'd place it right alongside those two without much thought.
The Butchers have also managed to put together what is so far the single worst playoff record of any team in the ISFL. I think there could be another competitor for that title, we'll see how exactly the Fire Salamanders shake up, but as is their 7-13 record is worse than other poor playoff teams like the Yeti (11-15), and they even manage to come in a hair under their fellow poor playoff performing S16 expansion franchise in the Copperheads' 7-12. Their single Ultimus berth is worse than any other team in the league, and over a third of this league came into existence at the same time or even after them. All of these stats make me certain that they belong below all the top tiers, but I definitely can't put them down with the bottom tiers either. 3 teams to go, and we'll see just how they shake out.
Season 16 through 20
Starting Up and Ending Down
S16: 10-3 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S17: 8-5 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S18: 5-8
S19: 3-10
S20: 4-9
During this period, the Butchers ended up 30-35 for a 46.2% win rate. After beginning their existence pretty strong, with two straight playoff appearances, they ended the decade with three straight losing seasons, which ended up with them going just under .500 for this period of time. They also only made the playoffs their first two seasons, and that second decade was one of those "3rd seed that immediately loses" trips. Going 0-2 for the first 5 seasons in the playoffs was a little unfortunate, as in their first season they were a single game away from the Ultimus. They were also unable to garner any major awards during the beginning of their franchise, either.
Season 21 through 30
Shaky Ground
Shaky Ground
S21: 5-8
S22: 1-12
S23: 3-13
S24: 7-9 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S25: 8-8 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S26: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S27: 12-4 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S28: 6-10
S29: 5-11
S30: 6-10
During this decade, the first full decade of the Butchers, they went 63-91, for a 40.9% win rate. This is the lowest win rate of any team covered so far, as well as the lowest playoff win total at 1-4 (only one ties them with, of course, the Outlaws.) This period stretched their Ultimus absence stretch to 15 seasons, as well as a 15 year stretch without any major awards. They were able to make the playoffs 4 times, albeit only twice with records above .500. They also managed to put together two seasons above 10 wins in a row. However, this decade also included 5 different 10 loss seasons, completely surrounding and arguably overpowering the four straight playoff appearances.
Season 31 through 40
Finally, a Title, and Awards
Finally, a Title, and Awards
S31: 10-6 (Juan Domine wins DPOY) (1-1 in Playoffs)
S32: 5-11
S33: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S34: 12-3-1 (2-0 in Playoffs, 1st Ultimus berth and win)
S35: 9-7 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S36: 13-3 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S37: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S38: 7-9
S39: 10-6 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S40: 12-4 (Rumble Ronson and Joseph Reed win DPOY, tied with each other) (1-1 in Playoffs)
This decade finally saw the Butchers be consistently good to great. They had a 98-61-1 record, for a 61.6% win rate. Of all the teams I've covered, this is actually tied for second in terms of games above .500; the Sailfish come out just ahead in win rate, technically, but that's due to two more draws over the period. By the general rule of a tie equalling half a win and half a loss, the Butchers and the Sailfish end up with the exact same record as each other. In the Butchers' 8 playoff appearances, they had a 6-7 record and managed to both reach and win their first Ultimus in S34. They also managed to win their first and second awards, including the first tied major award the league has seen in decades, and what I believe is the only tied major award where both sides come from the same team in S40. I think of the four NSFC teams I've covered, this is actually the best that we've seen; and as far as I can see I don't think it's going to be surpassed. Sure, technically they only made one Ultimus, but they are only the 3rd team of the 11 I've looked at to be good in both halves of the decade, and unlike the Sailfish, they actually won an Ultimus in the decade. The Outlaws, obviously, surpass them, but they're in the ASFC so they're not up for the Team of the NSFC crown.
So, how good exactly was this final decade? Did they manage to overshadow how bad their first full decade was?
Overall Stats
More than just all time records here
More than just all time records here
All Time Record: 191-187-1 (50.5% win rate)
Playoff Record: 7-13 (35% win rate)
Ultimus Record: 1-0
Playoff Berths: 14 over 25 seasons, 56%
Hall of Famers: 3 (Kulture Future, Juan Domine, Icebox Riposte)
Major Award Wins: 2 DPOYs
Best Team Period: S34-S37 (5 playoff berths, 1 Ultimus Appearance, 1 title, 44-19-1 record over 4 seasons, 69.8% win rate)
Worst Team Period: S19-S23 (13-52 record over 5 seasons, 20% win rate)
Playoff Record: 7-13 (35% win rate)
Ultimus Record: 1-0
Playoff Berths: 14 over 25 seasons, 56%
Hall of Famers: 3 (Kulture Future, Juan Domine, Icebox Riposte)
Major Award Wins: 2 DPOYs
Best Team Period: S34-S37 (5 playoff berths, 1 Ultimus Appearance, 1 title, 44-19-1 record over 4 seasons, 69.8% win rate)
Worst Team Period: S19-S23 (13-52 record over 5 seasons, 20% win rate)
If nothing else, this most recent decade took them from a prime candidate for worst team of all time status (93-126 before this point, for a 42.5% win rate, the worst of any team we've seen) to a possible candidate for the top half of the list. 4 games isn't that far above .500, but it's still the 5th best record of any team we've seen. There's a similar story there with the playoff berths as well, even if they would fall below 50% playoff entry rate if we took out the years they had a .500 or worse record and still made it. So what holds them back from the top half if anything? Well, the lack of history hurts; this is the second least Hall of Fame pool of any team we've looked at, coming out to less than the Silverbacks and Sailfish who came into existence after them, along with the Copperheads who were their fellow S16 expansion franchise. This award haul is also arguably the worst of any team in the league, only the Silverbacks and Salamanders can compare, and both have the excuse of being almost 10 years younger and never being in a league smaller than 14 teams. The Salamanders even have the argument that they got an MVP in the process. The strongest period is decently good, one of the best long-time stretches that we've seen from a franchise, but it's not top tier, and their worst period is REALLY bad, only surpassed by the Retiring Many Second Line and the Yeti. I'd place it right alongside those two without much thought.
The Butchers have also managed to put together what is so far the single worst playoff record of any team in the ISFL. I think there could be another competitor for that title, we'll see how exactly the Fire Salamanders shake up, but as is their 7-13 record is worse than other poor playoff teams like the Yeti (11-15), and they even manage to come in a hair under their fellow poor playoff performing S16 expansion franchise in the Copperheads' 7-12. Their single Ultimus berth is worse than any other team in the league, and over a third of this league came into existence at the same time or even after them. All of these stats make me certain that they belong below all the top tiers, but I definitely can't put them down with the bottom tiers either. 3 teams to go, and we'll see just how they shake out.