BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, GBRL, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
5 August 2307
CBO Analysis
We have reached the 3/4 mark of the regular season. While no team is in or out of the playoffs with 30 games to go, there are a few places that will start to look more organized in the hunt for the 2307 crown in the next couple of weeks.
The current playoff seedings look like this:
NCA
1. Easy Town
2. Sunshine Tidings
3. Nordhagen Beach
4. Starlight
5. County Crossing
The Bloodbugs started to find success, including a weekend sweep of the Party Boys, which could be the jump board County Crossing needs to earn its way back into the playoffs. Bunker Hill is a game out, but all other teams not listed here are not too far away from being out of the playoff race altogether.
SCA
1. Roxbury
2. University Point
3. Jamaica Plain
4. Oberland
5. Spectacle Island
Jamaica Plain was tiebreakered out last time we gave this update. Now they are one of only seven teams in the CBO to have won 50 or more games. Atom is a game back of Spectacle Island for the 5th seed, but all other teams need to start winning regularly to have a shot at the playoffs.
Roxbury is again #1 after going 8-2 with a current eight-game winning streak. The 8-2 mark is tied for the CBO's best in the past two weeks. The Rad Sox got swept at Quincy (#9), swept the reeling Vault 81 Dwellers (#22) which have lost 12 straight, swept Atom (#12), and then swept FHE (#20).
Easy Town is #2 with the NCA's best record after going 6-4 in their last ten. The Assaultrons split at Lexington (#21), won two of three at Nahant (#16), swept Concord (#24), and then won one against The Slog (#18).
University Point is #3 with a 6-4 record the past two weeks. The Deathclaws swept Oberland (#14), won one against the Gunners, split with the Yao Guai, and won two at Goodneighbor (#23).
Sunshine Tidings is the #4 team with a 6-4 record in their last 10, keeping them a game behind the Trons. The Chemists swept the Celtics, won one against Starlight (#6), split with the Ghouls, and then won two at Bunker Hill (#10).
Tied for the best record in the past two weeks, Jamaica Plain is #5 this week. The Red Rockets swept the Dwellers, swept Spectacle Island (#11), split with the T-51s, and won two at the Reapers.
Brotherhood League
While Nahant and Salem are closer to County Crossing in games difference (4) than 2nd-place Nordhagen Beach (6), we are confident that the top three currently are likely to be the top three at the end in the BL. Easy Town has continued to cruise, but they have seen themselves in this position for several years now without ever being able to take the league in the end.
The Bloodbugs were tied with The Slog of all teams for the best two-week stretch. County Crossing had been struggling all season to get its act together but now seems to have done so, ranking 4th in runs scored (456) and 5th in runs allowed (395) in the NCA. While not outstanding, those numbers have improved as of late. SP Gavin Eviritts (6-10, 3.66) is better than both his record and ERA indicate; he just needs run support in his starts, usually also against an ace. The top six hitters, though there have been struggles, are potent and can give any opposing pitcher fits. Leadoff SS Cy Thompson (.304/22/52) could make a big difference down the stretch if he continues his OBP pace.
Institute League
There is not currently a true race at the top with all teams spread similarly to the BL. Sunshine Tidings is continuing to have among the best second half of baseball in the CBO, putting them in good position to clinch the #1 seed in the playoffs. Starlight seems to have a handle on the 2nd spot, leaving Bunker Hill as the only question mark if they can propel themselves into a playoff spot.
One strange downfall has been the Concord Radstags who were just recently considered to be contenders in the NCA. The Stags are now a CBO-worst 28-62 with no winning months and looking worse as the season has progressed. SInce June 1, the Radstags are 11-34 (.244), putting them in position to hold the #1 overall pick. Concord has holes everywhere, except 1B with Dusty Brownell (.265/32/73) and CF with Pockets Aintfull (.308/5/22), though they may decide to go much younger in the offseason and try to reload the farm, which ranks 10th in the CBO.
Minutemen League
University Point has seemed to establish itself at the top, while Jamaica Plain, Spectacle Island, and Atom jostle for playoff relevancy. Quincy also remains as a darkhorse contender if they can find their success again as they had early in the season.
For the Deathclaws, losing one of their best players in RF Tomas Jones has not been as devastating as it appeared early in the season when they were struggling. Now the Claws rank 2nd in the SCA in runs scored (509) to go with being 3rd in runs allowed (370). If they can figure out how to get past Roxbury, they could be considered true contenders to win another title. 1B Barker Cocoa (.401/43/118) continues on in his outstanding pace, though he has fallen slightly behind in his quest to break the HR record. Still, he leads in all Triple Crown categories (Avg-HR-RBI) by a lot and leads the CBO in 15 statistical categories, meaning we will see his name a lot in the record books.
Railroad League
Roxbury has gotten out of its slump and performing again like the #1 team it is, while the rest of the RL struggles to find wins. Right now, Oberland is the team ready to make the playoffs and then exit quickly if the playoffs were to start today. While the T-51s lead three other teams by four games for the right to the 4th seed, one team may emerge as a dark horse while the Dwellers try to find some more victories.
That dark horse to take the T-51s spot in 2nd place could be the Egret Ninjas, which have quietly started to creep up the standings but showed a lot more in the past two weeks with a 7-3 mark. The Ninjas still need to be consistent and much better on offense in producing runs. They rank 10th in the SCA in runs scored (420) despite being 3rd in average (.279). One fault in scoring more runs is their 11th rank in home runs (90) with only three players in double digits on the season: 1B Joe Mahaney (.272/21/52), RF Rick Pickle (.289/12/49), and 3B Ajani Peacock (.285/10/48).
CBO Standings
CBO Power Rankings
CBO Players of the Week
July 29 - One of the league's most exciting young players, Matt Stickhouse of the Bunker Hill 75ers earned himself North Charles Association Player of the Week honors with a standout performance in last week's games.
For the week the 23-year-old first baseman had a lofty .478 average (11-for-23), collecting 2 home runs, 9 RBIs and 4 runs scored.
This year Stickhouse is hitting .299 with 22 home runs.
Atom Cats fans are celebrating Deer Quickwalker's selection as South Charles Association Player of the Week.
Quickwalker put up some serious numbers over the past seven days as he cracked 11 hits in 22 at-bats. The 28-year-old right fielder hit .500, drove in 5 runs, scored 4 times and hit 1 home run.
In the current season, Quickwalker has put up a .303 batting average with 91 hits, 22 home runs, 65 RBI and scored 52 runs.
8/5 - Sleve McDichael has the tools to stick in this league for many years. The 24-year-old catcher of the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud had a hot bat in the North Charles Association over the past seven days and won the Player of the Week honors.
McDichael batted .476 with 10 hits in 21 at-bats, 3 home runs and 9 RBIs.
For the year McDichael is batting .315 with 106 hits and 15 home runs. He has scored 42 times and driven in 58.
The votes have been cast and counted and the winner of the South Charles Association Player of the Week has been chosen. It was presented earlier today to Ken Debate for his red-hot week of hitting.
The Jamaica Plain left fielder took home the trophy by splurging with 9 hits in 22 at-bats for a .409 batting average, driving in 10 runs and scoring 6 times.
To date this season Debate is hitting .315 with 25 home runs.
CBO Transactions
Monday, August 5th , 2307
Egret Ninjas: Placed LF Bat Savelli on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 08/04/2307.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Will Bradber.
Sunday, August 4th , 2307
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Placed RP Brian Bridges on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 08/03/2307.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Bobby Anglerlure.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Jordan Frag.
Saturday, August 3rd , 2307
Starlight Killers: Placed SS Nick Maris on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 08/02/2307.
Quincy Gunners: Activated LF Bob Bloodbug from the restricted list.
Starlight Killers: Signed CF Raul Allstar.
Friday, August 2nd , 2307
Quincy Gunners: Placed C Jim Pickman on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/31/2307.
Thursday, August 1st , 2307
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Activated C Garrett Machine from the restricted list.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed 2B Brian Masterson on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/29/2307.
Wednesday, July 31st , 2307
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Jordan Frag.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Kage Milkcan.
The Concord Radstags traded 28-year old RHP Emperry Alizm to the Oberland T-51s, getting 24-year old RHP Cassie Cryar, 20-year old RHP Chad Nailgun, and 18-year old minor league CF Tony Eaumerde in return.
The Vault 81 Dwellers traded 36-year old RHP Matt Udder to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, getting 19-year old minor league RHP Troll Perez in return.
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud traded 31-year old RHP Chris Teddybear to the Spectacle Island Reapers, getting 20-year old minor league 1B Rival Hey, 18-year old minor league 1B Zuko Airbender, and 18-year old minor league C Chin Chin Chickerling in return.
The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys traded 20-year old minor league 1B Shoe Kiesel and a 4th round draft pick to the Salem Witch Hats, getting 26-year old RHP Austen Austin in return.
The Diamond City Swatters traded 28-year old LF Chris Hirshfield and a 4th round draft pick to the University Point Deathclaws, getting 19-year old minor league 1B Itchy Scratchy, 19-year old 3B Rip Risk, 18-year old minor league 2B Blinky Packman, 23-year old minor league RHP Nate Sandalli, 17-year old minor league RHP Flip Marino, and a 1st round draft pick in return.
The Concord Radstags traded 18-year old minor league LHP Clee Vland and 19-year old minor league LHP Printer Dullman to the County Crossing Bloodbugs, getting 27-year old minor league RHP Terry Stebbins and 18-year old minor league 1B Lunchboy Doris in return.
Tuesday, July 30th , 2307
Atom Cats: Signed RP Josh Maney.
Monday, July 29th , 2307
Quincy Gunners: Placed LF Bob Bloodbug on the restricted list.
Starlight Killers: Activated RF Hurr Lee Reyes from the injured list.
Salem Witch Hats: Placed 3B Booth Larson on the 60-day injured list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Mike Jungle.
The Bunker Hill 75ers traded 19-year old minor league RHP Chase Campbell to the Atom Cats, getting 30-year old RHP Rafe Sauce in return.
Sunday, July 28th , 2307
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed C Garrett Machine on the restricted list.
Atom Cats: Activated 3B Shane Stabb from the injured list.
Atom Cats: Placed 2B Root Beer on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/27/2307.
The Slog Ghouls: Activated CL Bill Satterfield from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Sent CL Bill Satterfield to Triple A Burlington for injury rehab.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed C Kevin Morrison.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Adrian Savoie.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Adrian Savoie.
The Lexington Synths traded 18-year old minor league 1B Biff Baldwin to the Quincy Gunners, getting 20-year old minor league RF Zach Fuss and 22-year old minor league RHP Tease McKeon in return.
Saturday, July 27th , 2307
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated RF Deerlord Fugivmee from the injured list.
Friday, July 26th , 2307
Bunker Hill 75ers: Activated SP Muther Eckstein from the 60-day injured list.
The County Crossing Bloodbugs traded 26-year old 2B Rabbit Forest to the Atom Cats, getting 30-year old 2B Wally Warwick in return.
Thursday, July 25th , 2307
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Activated 1B Bryan Assman from the injured list.
Tuesday, July 23rd , 2307
FHE Yao Guai: Activated RP Cham Syndulla from the 60-day injured list.
FHE Yao Guai: Sent RP Cham Syndulla to Triple A Cambridge for injury rehab.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Kage Milkcan.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Everett Knight.
BYDL Playoffs Update
The BYDL playoffs are still in the first round, known as the Regional Quarterfinals. So far, every division winner has won its first-round game except for the Saugus Launchers, who are tied 1-1 with the South Charles Bank Moonies in the best-of-three series.
SCYL Playoffs Update
And that was all she wrote on the 2307 Southern Commonwealth Series. With a 8-7 victory, the Woodlawn Red Clay swept aside the Sandwich Screamers 3-0 and set off a much-anticipated celebration. Woodlawn went 7-0 in the playoffs, sweeping all three series they played.
"It was a lot of hard work," said winning manager Button Daley. "But it was good hard work and a lot of fun along the way."
The Red Clay were all business this year, with their eyes fixed squarely on the goal of winning the team's 2nd championship. The champs finished the regular season 51-19 and claimed first place in the Providence League Seekonk River Division.
"We had our doubters along the way," series MVP Naris Wicked said with a smile. "But we made them eat radcrow today."