BNN Weekly Report
News from the CBO, Minors, College, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
31 May 2309
CBO Analysis
Now that we are 1/3 of the way through the 2309 season, we can see the patterns that will probably shape the second half of the season. We are approaching the next two months where contenders begin to try to trade for those last few pieces for a championship run. With 42 games down, each association has exactly six teams above .500, with three total teams at .500 still in contention to make a run. The only true surprise in the CBO is Easy Town, last place in the Brotherhood League at 15-27, just three games above the CBO's worst record shared by three teams.
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Oberland T-51s (152.9, +) - The T-51s propelled themselves to the CBO's best record with a 10-game winning streak including a huge Railroad League series win. Oberland swept Jamaica Plain, Vault 81, the Red Rockets again, and then Roxbury to take control in the RL.
2) Starlight Killers (127.3, +) - The Killers still have the NCA's top record and maintain a three-game lead in the Institute League after going 7-3 the past two weeks. Starlight split at Easy Town, swept Concord, split with the Assaultrons again, and then swept the Chemists at Sunshine Tidings.
3) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (126.7, +) - The Party Boys had reasons to party the past two weeks, going 9-1 to take a two-game lead in the Brotherhood League. The Boys swept the Chemists, swept Nahant, split with Bunker Hill, and then swept the Trons.
4) University Point Deathclaws (122.7, ++) - The Deathclaws are another team surging right now, going 8-2 in their last 10 to take a five-game lead in the Minutemen League. The Claws split at the Rad Sox, swept Quincy, swept Diamond City, and then won two at the Gunners.
5) Egret Ninjas (114.4, +) - Despite not being in 2nd place, the Ninjas are 5th in the Power Rankings with a 6-4 mark in their last 10. Egret swept Spectacle Island, won two over the Swatters, split with Goodneghbor, and then won one at Diamond City.
6) Roxbury Rad Sox (111.7, --)
7) Bunker Hill 75ers (111.4, -)
8) County Crossing Bloodbugs (110.1, o)
9) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (103.9, +)
10) The Slog Ghouls (97.3, ++)
11) Spectacle Island Reapers (95.3, +)
12) Vault 81 Dwellers (92.0, ++)
13) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (91.3, --)
14) Nahant Celtics (91.0, o)
15) Salem Witch Hats (89.0, --)
16) Atom Cats (76.1, -)
17) Quincy Gunners (72.1, o)
18) Goodneighbor Hancocks (65.3, +)
19) Diamond City Swatters (61.3, o)
20) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (60.6, -)
21) Easy Town Assaultrons (54.3, o)
22) Concord Radstags (49.4, +)
23) Lexington Synths (49.4, +)
24) FHE Yao Guai (40.4, -)
Brotherhood League
There is a bit of distance in the BL now with Nordhagen Beach and County Crossing battling for 1st while The Slog, Nahant, and Salem battle for 3rd and a possible wildcard spot in the early going.
The Witch Hats are not winning anything like they did a season ago when they seemed to play above their heads during the regular season. Salem is 5th in runs scored (203) and runs allowed (174). There is still a lot to like throughout the roster, including good early seasons by 1B Needham Tickler (.365/15/31), 2B Michael Hoopring (.302/11/26), and RF Brian DeLong (.305/11/24). On the mound, SP Jaa Thirtysix (5-2, 3.31) has been the most productive starter, while rookie P Pokey Chatman (2-0, 0.99, 27.1 IP) may be ready to move into a starting role.
Institute League
Starlight has a slight edge over both Bunker Hill and Sunshine Tidings and a big edge over Fort Hagen, Concord, and Lexington. The 75ers are just a season removed from their championship, but they still look the part that they can compete again. The Chemists need to play better to move out of the 5th spot.
For the Killers, they have never won the IL, though they have reached the playoffs seven times. They have had leads in the league multiple times, including one season where they were the CBO's best team in the first half of the season, and the worst team in the second half to miss the playoffs. This season, Starlight appears to be well put together, including having the top-scoring offense (231 runs) and the 3rd-best mark in runs allowed (160). On offense, a lot of the success is due to 1B Oren Gep (.320/14/48), LF Glenn Higinbotham (.324/12/20), and RF Hurr Lee Reyes (.365/8/31). Pitching records look better than ERA in most cases, but ace SP Digger Vadim (8-1, 2.74) is in early contention for the Vim! Pitcher Award, while CL Sam Molina (13 SV, 1.74) is in contention for the Fallon's Reliever Award.
Minutemen League
University Point has the CBO's largest lead at five games. While Spectacle Island and Jamaica Plain are in playoff contention, the ML is likely to get only two teams in with a strong RL. Quincy, Atom, and Goodneighbor are almost out of the running altogether unless any of them get hot.
For the Deathclaws, they are again one of the top offenses while needing high-scoring games to win. The Claws are 1st in runs scored (251) and 7th in runs allowed (189). Of course, elite hitter 1B Barker Cocoa (.445/19/53), who leads the CBO in 14 of 24 offensive categories and ranks second in two other categories, is having a career season in the first 1/3 of the season. University Point does have some injury concerns, though, including LF Chris Hirshfield (.265/15/53) and RF Tomas Jones (.350/11/37).
Railroad League
Oberland made a statement that it is here to stay atop the RL, including a convincing sweep of Roxbury this past weekend. The T-51s now hold a four-game lead over Roxbury with a five-game lead over Egret.
The Ninjas may or may not stay in contention, but their overall numbers look good, ranking 3rd in runs scored (224) and 1st in runs allowed (155). All four starters have helped in having the best Starters ERA (3.17): Tup Mallory (5-2, 3.39), Max Grove (5-4, 3.01), Admiral Kelm (9-2, 2.80), and Hrye Caje (3-3, 3.58).
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
May 24 - This week he took his hitting to another level. That's why Jumper Hayes of the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys was named the North Charles Association Player of the Week.
For the week the 29-year-old second baseman batted .579 (11-for-19) with 3 home runs, 4 runs and 7 RBIs.
This year Hayes has hit 4 home runs and posted a .282 batting average.
The top batter in the South Charles Association last week was Ben Pettinato, who batted .450 and towered above everybody with a 5-game hitting barrage.
During the week Pettinato banged out a .450 batting average (9-for-20), 3 home runs, 7 RBI and scored 4 runs.
Today the Quincy third baseman received the SCA Player of the Week Award.
So far this season Pettinato is batting .289 with 8 home runs, 29 RBIs and 22 runs scored. He has 44 hits in 152 at-bats, 11 walks and a .341 OBP. Pettinato has played in 37 games.
May 31 - His solid numbers speak for themselves. That's why Dusty Brownell of the Sunshine Tidings Chemists was named the North Charles Association Player of the Week.
For the week Brownell batted .421 (8-for-19) with 3 home runs and 4 RBIs.
A look at his season totals shows Brownell with 16 home runs, .304 BA, .402 OBP, 29 RBIs and 34 runs scored.
It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Missile Crews, the Goodneighbor Hancocks 20-year-old center fielder, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for South Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
He ripped 10 hits in 21 at-bats, compiling a .476 average with 4 home runs and 7 RBIs.
This season Crews has delivered 60 hits in 163 at-bats for a .368 average with 11 home runs. He is getting on base at a .452 clip and his totals also include 29 RBIs and 37 runs scored. This year Crews has played in 42 games.
CBO Transactions
Monday, May 31st , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Placed LF Chris Hirshfield on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/29/2309.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Placed SP Chris Teddybear on the 60-day injured list.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Signed RP Devon Fromknecht.
Sunday, May 30th , 2309
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed SP Mike Germanfrench.
Saturday, May 29th , 2309
Nahant Celtics: Activated SP Doug Creep from the injured list.
The Goodneighbor Hancocks traded 32-year old LHP Dustin Hebert to the County Crossing Bloodbugs, getting 19-year old minor league 2B Avrusa Sarethi in return.
Friday, May 28th , 2309
The Slog Ghouls: Fired Pitching Coach Rick Twocaps. They hired Dragnet Dorhout to replace him.
Wednesday, May 26th , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Placed RF Tomas Jones on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/23/2309.
Starlight Killers: Activated CF Willy Mazehaze from the restricted list.
Tuesday, May 25th , 2309
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed SS Mark Ullrich.
Monday, May 24th , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Activated RP Dave Kovalenko from the injured list.
University Point Deathclaws: Sent RP Dave Kovalenko to Triple A Graygarden for injury rehab.
Starlight Killers: Activated SP Whokill Poole from the restricted list.
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 18-year old minor league RHP Sluggo Pyne, 19-year old minor league C Fabian Pope, 19-year old minor league RHP Astro Nomey, 22-year old minor league SS Squirt Hall, and 19-year old minor league LHP Volkihar Master to the FHE Yao Guai, getting 29-year old RHP Aaron Demps in return.
Saturday, May 22nd , 2309
Lexington Synths: LF Gee Force returns from his rehab assignment.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Activated 3B Well Done Dungan from the restricted list.
Bunker Hill 75ers: The 75ers are looking to sell the Triggermen team name to rename their GBRL franchise.
Friday, May 21st , 2309
Oberland T-51s: Activated SS Stormin Normin MacDonald from the injured list.
Thursday, May 20th , 2309
FHE Yao Guai: Activated SS Paul Warwick from the injured list.
FHE Yao Guai: Sent SS Paul Warwick to Triple A Watertown for injury rehab.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Signed C John Rubbleman.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Signed C Mitch Avakian.
Wednesday, May 19th , 2309
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Placed SP College Luckyman on the 60-day injured list.
Starlight Killers: Placed CF Willy Mazehaze on the restricted list.
Atom Cats: Placed C Deacon Gookin on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/18/2309.
Tuesday, May 18th , 2309
Quincy Gunners: Placed LF Hondo Ohnaka on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/15/2309.