BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
25 September 2309
CBO Playoff Association Semifinals Series Preview
NCA Playoffs - #4 Bunker Hill 75ers (67-53) vs #1 Starlight Killers (81-39)
Season Series
Starlight 8, Bunker Hill 4
June 11-13 @Star: Star 5-4 (12), BH 2-0, Star 6-5
July 2-4 @BH: BH 4-3 (10), BH 3-0, Star 10-5
September 3-5 @Star: Star 6-1, Star 5-3, Star 6-2
September 10-12 @BH: BH 11-2, Star 6-3, Star 5-1
Analysis
Starlight is making its eighth playoff appearance and fourth straight. With the playoff appearances, the Killers' furthest advancement came last season when they reached the NCA Championship Series but fell to Bunker Hill, 4-2. The season series favored the Killers, winning 8 of 12 games, and also helping them win the Institute League. Everything seems to line up for the Killers to end the 75ers' title defense.
Starlight is built to win it all, finishing 4th in the NCA in runs scored (614) and 1st in runs allowed (442). The Killers are also a healthy team with no players at any level currently on the injured list.
On offense, Starlight has four guys capable of power and a lot of contributors. Still, their only offensive statistic where they finished 1st was stolen bases (66). The leadoff hitter, LF Glenn Higinbotham (.283/35/77/17 SB), sets the tone for the 3-5 hitters: RF Hurr Lee Reyes (.368/18/71), 1B Oren Gep (.298/34/110), and SS Tib Shorthop (.262/25/87).
The pitching is where we think the Killers will be, um, killer in the postseason. With the best Starters ERA (3.55) and 3rd-best Bullpen ERA (3.60), Starlight will be tough to score against. The three playoff starters--Digger Vadim (15-6, 3.56), Whokill Poole (19-5, 3.36), and Bill Sarnacki (15-3, 3.32)--all have ERAs in the Top 10 of the NCA. CL Sam Molina (36 SV, 3.34) leads the bullpen with help from RP Scott Cournoyer (2-0, 2.09) and RP Steven Rockman (1-1, 2.29).
Prediction
Everything appears to be lining up for the Killers in 2309. If ever they had an opportunity to win a championship, this might be the one. Despite Bunker Hill's success in 2309 and their momentum-building series win already in the playoffs, we just do not think they can repeat their success. Starlight 3, Bunker Hill 1
NCA Playoffs - #3 County Crossing Bloodbugs (70-50) vs #2 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (76-44)
Season Series
Nordhagen Beach 6, County Crossing 6
June 11-12 @CC: CC 5-4, CC 5-1, CC 7-5
June 18-20 @NB: CC 8-2, CC 6-5, NB 7-6
August 6-8 @CC: NB 3-2, NB 4-3, CC 5-4 (11)
August 13-15 @NB: NB 10-9, NB 9-6, NB 3-2
Analysis
County Crossing had a down season in 2308, dropping to 5th place in the Brotherhood League to break a seven-season streak. In 2306, the Bloodbugs won the championship, making their efforts worth it. It will be a harder path this season, but the Bugs are capable. Nordhagen Beach is back for their 13th-straight playoff appearance with a championship last coming in 2307. The Party Boys also won the BL for the first time since 2305.
This playoff matchup will mark the sixth time that the Bugs and Boys meet in the playoffs and just the second time in the Association Semifinals:
2301 - NB 4-0 CS
2304 - CC 4-1 CS
2305 - NB 4-3 CS
2306 - CC 3-0 SF
2307 - NB 4-1 CS
In the regular season, both teams were equal in numbers of wins, but the series was a tale of two halves. In the first six games, County Crossing went 5-1 in the series, but the Party Boys went 5-1 in the post-All-Star Break matchups with the Bugs' only win being an 11-inning affair.
County Crossing was not as successful in overall team statistics but still proved to be playoff-worthy. The Bloodbugs finished 6th in runs scored (584) and 4th in runs allowed (516).
The offense is best described as average with the exception of three standout players: RF Babs Rooth (.329/38/104), CF Any Why (.313/33/82), and 1B Casey Roux (.275/22/80). Two more standout players will miss the playoffs due to injury: SS Cy Thompson (.255/26/78) and 1B Zeldolph Violet (.231/0/4 in eight games). Roux stepped up for Violet's injury-shortened 2309 season, but the loss of Thompson has hurt.
The pitching staff was also average, though their overall runs against looked good thanks to a CBO-low 24 errors committed. The Starters ERA (4.20) and Bullpen ERA (4.44) both finished 6th in the NCA. The Bloodbugs will benefit from a healthy SP College Luckyman (4-3, 2.51) who only had nine starts in 2309. The other two starters will need to step up: Gavin Eviritts (10-12, 4.49) and Bobby Carvajal (14-5, 3.95). CL Wick Prater (36 SV, 4.11) struggled some throughout the season, but RP Jesse Bibeault (5-6, 3.91) and RP Drama Miller (3-2, 3.56) helped.
Nordhagen Beach did not have the strongest of starts, but they did finish strongly. In the end, the Party Boys were 1st in runs scored (625) and 2nd in runs allowed (466). The Boys also tied the Gunners for the best record after the All-Star Break (32-11).
The strange thing about being the top-scoring team in the NCA was that the Boys had no 1st-ranked finish in any other category. Still, six players hit ten or more home runs with the best players being RF Jonathan Angelou (.273/38/86), LF Young Goodman (.323/25/80), and CF Maxx Murtagh (.262/27/82).
The Starters for Nordhagen Beach finished 2nd in ERA (3.78) with the Bullpen (3.01) finishing 1st. Of course, much of the low team ERA came from the work of SP Beachboy Nut (20-5, 2.31) who is sure to win his eighth Vim! Pitcher Award. The other two playoff starters will be Deedee Martinson (10-12, 4.28) and Ugio Church (14-6, 3.71). In the bullpen, the Party Boys traded for Chopsticks McWilliams (18 SV, 2.30) to complement CL David "AntAgonist" Kidd (30 SV, 3.47). RP Austen Austin (8-1, 1.40) has thrived since moving to the bullpen in Nordhagen Beach but had a standout year in 2309.
Prediction
These two teams are not equal, at least not right now. County Crossing is a team we consider lucky to be in the playoffs, despite their finish as the 3rd seed. For Nordhagen Beach, they have looked like a championship team in the second half of the season. Nordhagen Beach 3, County Crossing 1
SCA Playoffs - #4 Egret Ninjas (71-49) vs #1 Oberland T-51s (82-38)
Season Series
Oberland 6, Egret 6
May 7-9 @Egr: Obe 7-4, Obe 3-0, Egr 12-2
May 14-16 @Obe: Egr 14-6, Obe 4-0, Egr 6-3
July 30-August 1 @Obe: Egr 6-1, Obe 9-6, Obe 6-1
August 20-22 @Egr: Egr 7-3, Obe 6-5, Egr 3-2
Analysis
After an eight-year absence from the playoffs, the Oberland T-51s have started to look as though they will be a playoff force for a time to come. Last season, the T-51s not only won the Railroad League, but they made it all the way to the Sole Survivor Series before losing to Bunker Hill in a classic home-team-take-all series. This Oberland team is even better and their second-best team since winning the Series in 2297.
The T-51s and Egret played to a standstill in 2309, meaning that this could be the best series in the semifinals. When it comes
Prediction
While Oberland looks as though they are ready to take over the SCA in success from the usual suspects of University Point and Roxbury, it will be a tougher road in 2309 than it was in 2308. Egret has also been the teams we have been unable to put our finger on all season. While we did not expect them to be one of the CBO's top teams, they have just kept winning all season. We are going to predict an SCA upset. Egret 3, Oberland 2
SCA Playoffs - #3 Quincy Gunners (72-48) vs #2 University Point Deathclaws (74-46)
Season Series
University Point 11, Quincy 1
May 21-23 @UP: UP 8-4, UP 10-8, UP 3-1
May 28-30 @Qui: UP 5-3, Qui 8-7, UP 7-1
June 18-20 @UP: UP 7-6, UP 9-7, UP 3-2
July 9-10 @Qui: UP 4-3, UP 8-6, UP 20-4
Analysis
Quincy is making just its third overall playoff appearance and second in the full CBO with the last playoff team happening in 2299. In that season, the 3rd-seeded Gunners lost in five games to #3 Diamond City. For University Point, they had made the playoffs eight-straight seasons before missing last season. This season, the Claws hope to continue some of their winning ways, hoping to return to their third Sole Survivor Series where they are 2-0.
Looking at the season series, this appears to be a University Point blowout due to the 11-1 regular season series record and the wins they needed to clinch the Minutemen League title. However, since these two teams played all game before the All-Star Break, they trended in opposite directions. For the Deathclaws, they went 16-20 in September and August while the Gunners went 27-9 in that same stretch. After the Break, Quincy was also up 10 games on the Claws overall: 32-11 vs 22-21. One team has gotten better, while the other has stalled.
For the Gunners, their 32-11 mark ties Nordhagen Beach for the best record in the CBO after the All-Star Break. Quincy was 2nd in runs scored (657) and 4th in runs allowed (522).
The offense was good at getting hits, finishing 1st in batting average (.289) but not as good hitting the long ball (6th with 153). Despite that low ranking, the Gunners generated power throughout the lineup equally with a team-high 29 (3B Ben Pettinato) and starting lineup low of 14 (2B Shirt Fowler). LF Hondo Ohnaka (.256/20/62) and 1B Curt Carpenter (.348/22/85) were the other two players with 20+ home runs.
On the mound, Quincy was 5th in Starters ERA (4.17) and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (3.91). The three playoff starters are Lyle Pine (11-10, 4.14), Village Idiot Recker (16-8, 3.51), and Fosdyke Rochambeau (12-6, 3.92). CL Matt Hoernig (21 SV, 2.70) leads the bullpen with major contributions from RP Greg Hudgens (7-4, 3.72).
University Point did this season what they usually do: outscoring their opponents through offensive firepower. The Deathclaws finished 1st in runs scored (764) and 8th in runs allowed (623). The 764 runs scored breaks their own CBO record of 714 set just one year ago.
Of course, the offense is led by a player without peer in the CBO. Regardless of injuries, this team just kept producing, including having three players with 100 or more RBI. Other than average (3rd at .281) and stolen bases (2nd at 49), the Deathclaws led every offensive category. 1B Barker Cocoa (.405/55/147/148 R) drives in and scores 1.2 runs per game, as well as hitting a home run every other game. Behind him in the lineup are two more producers in LF Chris Hirshfield (.304/39/132) and SS Austin Engill (.244/34/100). CF Aesed Hayjen (.308/27/57/14 SB) is one of the CBO's best leadoff hitters.
The pitching was not playoff caliber in 2309, finishing 7th in Starters ERA (4.83) and 11th in Bullpen ERA (5.23). The team's starter with the best ERA, Wilson Beachball (13-5, 4.19), is expected to pitch out of the bullpen in the playoffs. The starters will be Alex Alexson (12-7, 5.13), Tony Bertha (16-4, 4.76), and Lawdog Whipple (13-8, 4.95). The overall best pitcher on the staff was RP Erik Wipf (8-2, 1.32) who may be called upon to close instead of usual CL Chase Southie (35 SV, 5.34).
Prediction
As great as University Point's hitting is, any slump or down game will probably end up as a loss. Quincy has made itself the most consistent team in the SCA in the second half of the season. It is a stab in the dark, but we are going to predict that the Gunners take this one in shocking fashion. Quincy 3, University Point 2