BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
23 April 2300
News Around the League
17 April 2300 - Behemoths No Match for Thirtysix, Lifegivers in 9-0 Thumping
In an outstanding mound performance, Union Hope Lifegivers starter Jaa Thirtysix fired a complete-game shutout against the Breakheart Banks Behemoths at The Cathedral Diamond today.
Thirtysix was the key to the Lifegivers's 9-0 win. The 21-year-old left-hander was in high spirits on the mount for much of the game, his mood largely undented by the 3 hits and 2 walks he allowed.
"3 hits?" he said with a laugh following the game. "Listen, I'd be happy with a 30-hitter as long as it was a shutout."
17 April 2300 - Bunker Hill Blanked by Doghair, 9-0
Aimer Doghair of the Malden Grognaks toyed with the Bunker Hill Gun Fu today, blanking them 9-0 at Wicked Shipping Field. He was almost untouchable, baffling them on a 2-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
"I'm sweating now because it's hot in here," Doghair said in the clubhouse after the game. "But it didn't even feel like I was sweating out there."
18 April 2300 - Injury Brings Season to End for Narrows
The Eastlake Aquaboys have made it official: Jason Narrows is headed to the injured list. The 35-year-old first baseman has been out since 04/17/2300 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He is expected to miss 14 months.
18 April 2300 - Pushard Booms 3 Homers
Trinity Plaza first baseman Mike Pushard led the Snipers to a 6-5 triumph over the Natick Banks Big Leaguers, crushing three home runs.
"He's scary good when he's swinging the bat like that," said Trinity Plaza skipper Bill Pinkerton.
Indeed, Pushard put up some "scary good" numbers: three homers, 4 hits in 5 at-bats with 3 runs and 5 RBIs.
"I'm just thinkin' about winning ballgames," Pushard said. "When you think about home runs, you very seldom get 'em."
Mike Pushard singled in the 1st, hit a solo-shot off Jason Haynes in the 4th, flied out in the 6th, hit a three-run home run off Machine Man Fortune in the 7th, walked in the 9th and hit a solo-shot off Starting Ordone in the 12th.
For the season Pushard is batting .364 with 8 hits and 3 home runs. He has scored 4 times and batted in 6.
21 April 2300 - Season Done for Longwalk
Mike Longwalk had hoped for the best, but expected the worst. Today, he learned from the Galleria medical staff that he would miss the rest of the season. The Galleria starting pitcher suffered a damaged elbow ligament in an earlier ballgame. He admitted to being discouraged, but said he plans to come back strong next year.
Players of the Week
Yellowsky Selected Top Performer in CA
So far in his young career, David Yellowsky has kept a low profile, but after his performance at the plate last week, he attracted the notice of the rest of the Commonwealth Association in a big way as he was named the Player of the Week today for his efforts.
The 21-year-old Galleria Robotics Experts third baseman hit at a torrid .500 clip as he collected 5 hits in 10 at-bats, 4 home runs, 6 RBIs and 5 runs scored.
MA Names Sentry Bots' Roux Winner
It can be difficult for a young player to step out of the shadows and assert himself in the Massachusetts Association, but last week Casey Roux of the Somerville Place Sentry Bots reminded everyone just why he's here as he threw up numbers that made him an easy selection for Player of the Week. Roux rocked opposing pitching for a .545 average (6-for-11), 3 home runs and 4 RBIs to come away with the award.
Prospect Spotlight
#9 - RF Base McAndrews, Galleria Robotics Experts (Finch Farm) - 9/27 (.333), HR, BB, 6 R, 2 RBI, CS
Analysis: McAndrews appears to be finding his bat after two seasons of struggling in the BMU. He will probably never turn into the prototypical power hitting right fielder, but he may develop into a top of the lineup hitter, whether as a RF where he is more comfortable or as a good CF. Scouts love what McAndrews can bring to a team as both a contact hitter and a defensive outfielder despite entering the league as a (non-draft eligible) scout find.
#10 - SP Whokill Poole, Forest Grove Pugilists (Roxbury) - 2 GS, 1-0, 0.64, 14.0 IP, ER, 2 BB, 13 K
Analysis: Poole was one of the Bradberton 50 that came over to the CBO in the 2296 offseason after playing in a youth league in the Bradberton area. While he was highly successful there, the BMU has proven to be a step above what he was used to. However, his four good pitches are starting to look like great pitches, even if it may take the 20-year-old a few more seasons to find his way into the CBO. He does not have the pedigree of the two #1 overall picks in the Forest Grove rotation, but he could find himself as the best of the bunch.
#12 - 3B Donn Mattingley, Greentop Nursery Night People (Nordhagen Beach) - 3/22 (.136), BB, 2 R
Analysis: Nordhagen Beach's #1 pick in the 2299 draft, Mattingley has not yet found his feet with the Night People. May need a major attitude adjustment before he is ready so that he does not rely simply on his natural talent. While he will play regularly to help him develop, he is hurting Greentop Nursery rather than helping them.
#15 - SP Jaa Thirtysix, Union Hope Lifegivers (Lexington) - 2 GS, 2-0, 0.00, 15.0 IP, 5 HA, 0 ER, 5 BB, 15 K
Analysis: After going 0-12 in his rookie campaign in the BMU, Thirtysix has finally started to understand a key pitcher strategy point: mixing up pitches. He tried to blow fastballs past hitters too much in 2299, but he has started to trust his curveball more in 2300. Based on his rare sidearm motion, Thirtysix is going to be an interesting prospect moving forward.
#16 - SP Alex Alexson, Mystic Pines Raybathers (Starlight) - 2 GS, 0-1, 7.71, 7.0 IP, 10 HA, 6 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Analysis: Alexson was one of the few minus WAR players on the 2299 BMU champion Raybathers. This season, he has struggled so far, but Starlight is excited about the long-term prospects of the hard-throwing lefty with an array of sinking pitches. On opening day, he was hit hard for five earned runs in the 1st inning. In his second start, a no-decision, he held Outpost Zimonja to just one run in 6+ innings. He needs to reduce the bad starts, and once he does, the sky is the limit. Well, at least the ace position with the Lady Killers is.
Weekly Team Power Rankings
Weekly Team Power Rankings: Here are the current team power rankings for Boston Minor Union:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Forest Grove Pugilists (164.3, ++)
2) Haymarket Mall Commandos (163.3, ++)
3) Galleria Robotics Experts (134.6, ++)
4) College Square Nerd Ragers (133.6, ++)
5) Outpost Zimonja Strongbacks (133.6, ++)
6) Charles View Cannibals (132.6, -)
7) Union Hope Lifegivers (132.6, ++)
8) Malden Grognaks (130.6, --)
9) Somerville Place Sentry Bots (129.6, --)
10) Greentop Nursery Night People (105.9, +)
11) Fiddler's Green T-60s (102.9, --)
12) Boston Common Lead Bellies (100.9, --)
13) Cabot House Rayguns (78.1, ++)
14) Natick Banks Big Leaguers (77.1, ++)
15) C.I.T. Ruins Refractors (73.1, --)
16) Postal Square Action Boys (50.4, ++)
17) Bunker Hill Gun Fu (49.4, -)
18) Breakheart Banks Behemoths (47.4, +)
19) Trinity Plaza Snipers (47.4, ++)
20) Corvega Flamers (46.4, +)
21) Mystic Pines Raybathers (46.4, --)
22) Taffington Boathouse Spy Hunters (46.4, --)
23) Vault 95 Robobrains (46.4, --)
24) Eastlake Aquaboys (-14.0, -)
Stats and Standings