BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
16 May 2310
CBO Analysis
This two-week update has put the CBO slightly behind the 10% every two weeks advancement of the season with teams playing slightly behind with 29% of the schedule complete. With that said, we have now played more than a quarter of the season, so we do have a better idea of who teams are. With the expansion teams winning at a current clip of .309 (47-105), it has been a good idea to expand to six playoff teams per association. Currently, each association has seven teams above .500. Here are the current team power rankings for the Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Vault 81 Dwellers (137.6, o)
2) Egret Ninjas (119.4, o)
3) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (118.7, ++)
4) Roxbury Rad Sox (116.2, ++)
5) Bunker Hill 75ers (113.9, +)
6) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (110.7, --)
7) Oberland T-51s (109.9, -)
8) The Slog Ghouls (109.2, --)
9) University Point Deathclaws (108.5, +)
10) Easy Town Assaultrons (99.7, -)
11) Diamond City Swatters (98.7, +)
12) Nahant Celtics (97.7, -)
13) Spectacle Island Reapers (93.7, ++)
14) County Crossing Bloodbugs (91.7, -)
15) Quincy Gunners (88.3, ++)
16) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (87.0, --)
17) Salem Witch Hats (86.3, +)
18) Concord Radstags (85.0, -)
19) FHE Yao Guai (82.3, -)
20) Starlight Killers (82.3, o)
21) Goodneighbor Hancocks (80.5, ++)
22) Lexington Synths (77.5, -)
23) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (76.5, --)
24) Malden Grognaks (67.3, o)
25) Cambridge Coursers (58.6, -)
26) Atom Cats (46.8, o)
27) Glowing Sea Radscorpions (39.4, o)
28) Southie Brews (38.4, o)
According to the current standings, out quarter-mark playoff standings would look this way:
NCA
1. Nordhagen Beach (leads season series over Sunshine Tidings 2-0)
2. Sunshine Tidings
3. Bunker Hill
4. The Slog
5t. County Crossing (Season series: Nah 2-1, ET 1-2)
5t. Easy Town (Season series: CC 2-1, Nah 1-2)
5t. Nahant (Season series: ET 2-1, CC 1-2)
SCA
1. Vault 81
2. University Point
3. Egret
4. Oberland
5. Roxbury
6. Spectacle Island (leads season series over Diamond City 2-0)
Brotherhood League
With Nordhagen Beach struggling the past two weeks, the BL has suddenly become the tightest top-to-bottom league in the CBO. Malden at 14-24 sports the best record among expansion teams, and all four are now in last place. With five teams above .500, the BL is also tied with the Railroad League with the most teams with a winning record.
Nahant has been hot as of late, putting them into the playoff discussion, something that the Celtics have yet to accomplish since moving out of Finch Farm. Currenty, they are 7th in runs scored (183) and 5th in runs allowed (167), putting them in the top half of both categories in the NCA. While they are not standing out on either side of the ball, there is some consistency in the lineup. Two outstanding hitters have been CF Grandson Quarles (.388/14/21) and 3B Diamond Ball (.318/11/25). On the mound, SP Doug Creep (5-4, 3.24) has looked the best, and CL Justin Wilkerson (11 SV, 2.50) has been good out of the bullpen.
Institute League
With two teams above .500, the IL is tied with the Minutemen League for the CBO's fewest. Two teams--Concord and Fort Hagen--are at .500, giving the IL an edge from top to bottom. Remember when we were concerned with Bunker Hill? Well, now they are one of the CBO's hottest teams and trail by just one game for the NCA's best record. Yeah.
One of the two teams tied for the NCA's best record is Sunshine Tidings. The powerful Chemists have been consistently good so far, 2nd in the NCA in runs scored (204) and 4th in runs allowed (151). With three players with 10+ home runs--SS Lernz Tentsleep (.250/12/29), 3B Ross Merchantman (.369/11/34), and 1B Dusty Brownell (.275/10/24)--Sunshine Tidings leads the CBO in home runs (71). On the mound, SP Mike Rubric (8-1, 2.62) has been one of the best in the early season.
Minutemen League
As we mentioned, the ML has only two teams over .500 and those two teams are barely over that mark with University Point in 1st place at 21-17. Of course, the Deathclaws started slowly and then has turned it on to take over a weak league. Quincy has since faded, and Jamaica Plain has yet to find its footing.
For the Claws, what can we say? Offense most certainly can be as deadly as solid pitching in the CBO. Granted, University Point is not on a record pace this season, but some of the usual suspects have thrived for the SCA's second-best scoring offense (231 runs scored). Not unexpectedly, 1B Barker Cocoa (.362/20/43) is on a torrid pace to hit 68 home runs on the season, which also translates to 63 in a 120-game season. Should he continue that pace, Cocoa would shatter Homestay Lovetap's record of 61 and we would not even need to put a star next to it. Cocoa also has a 30-home run lead on the all-time leader board, with Starlight's 1B Oren Gep *(399) 2nd.
The craziest part of the Deathclaw's current hot streak? Three of its best four outfielders--LF Chris Hirshfield (.276/6/15), CF Aesed Hayjen (.385/3/14), and RF Jarrett Metalbox (.212/1/4). With RF Tomas Jones (.422/5/11) back from injury and one of the best veteran backups in LF David Seaweed (.284/6/24), though, there is still production from that unit.
Railroad League
As mentioned, five teams are above .500, and FHE is just two games below, making this league more likely to get multiple wildcards in the SCA. Vault 81 has been by far the best team, but Egret is the CBO's 2nd-best team as far as recorded is concerned. Oberland has also been consistently good and trail by just five games.
Now let's talk about the CBO's hottest team, the Roxbury Rad Sox. On a six-game winning streak and tying for an 8-2 mark in their past 10, the Sox are now contenders in the SCA. Their stats back up that claim, too, with the 3rd-best scoring offense (196) and the best scoring defense (147) in the SCA. While Roxbury is 3rd in home runs (52), the only player above 10 home runs is LF Sum Downie (.322/16/35). Six of eight in the lineup are batting over .300 right now with C Ayag Mour (.361/4/26) leading the charge. SS Purple Gupta (.293/3/18) is also not far away. On the mound, the starters' records do not look great, but the Rad Sox have the 2nd-best Starters ERA (3.58) and Bullpen ERA (3.87). SPs Nuke Laloosh (3-2, 3.43), Dobbie Radoncis (3-4, 3.75), and Urm Rehfeldt (5-3, 3.07) all have ERAs below 4.00.
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
May 9 - With some great hand-eye coordination and a sweet, compact swing, County Crossing Bloodbugs right fielder Babs Rooth took the North Charles Association by storm this past week to take the latest Player of the Week honors.
"The ball was looking like a beach ball all week," a happy Rooth said to BNN reporters. "When it's that big, it doesn't matter where they throw it -- I can hit it anywhere."
The 31-year-old right fielder hit .500 (13-for-26) last week with 4 home runs, 7 RBIs and 4 runs scored.
This year Rooth is batting .319 with 7 home runs.
Joe Rathmann swung a blistering bat last week for Vault 81, rapping out 14 hits in 26 at-bats against Dwellers opponents to propel himself to the South Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
Whenever the right fielder hit the ball, he hit it with authority. The 31-year-old racked up a .538 batting average with 5 home runs, 9 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
This season Rathmann is batting .353 with 41 hits, 11 home runs, 26 RBIs, .486 OBP and has scored 36 runs.
May 16 - Plain Morris of the The Slog Ghouls had an outstanding week and today was voted the Player of the Week by the North Charles Association.
For the week the 23-year-old third baseman batted .478 (11-for-23) with 5 home runs and 10 RBIs.
Thus far this year Morris has hit .321 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Missile Crews went on a week-long hitting spree against South Charles Association pitchers and captured the Player of the Week honors.
The Goodneighbor center fielder battered the opposition for 15 hits, 5 home runs, 9 runs batted in and scored 7 runs. He hit .714 and posted a .750 on-base percentage.
Crews is presently hitting at a .397 pace with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs. He has played in 37 games and scored 29 times.
CBO Injuries
CBO Transactions
Monday, May 16th , 2310
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Oscar Sausage.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Oscar Sausage.
The Quincy Gunners traded 19-year old minor league LF Kasumi Goto and a 3rd round draft pick to the Bunker Hill 75ers, getting 27-year old RHP Ghost Kyudalson, 19-year old minor league LF Johnny Maize, and a 1st round draft pick in return.
Sunday, May 15th , 2310
University Point Deathclaws: Activated 3B Nate Tivity from the injured list.
University Point Deathclaws: Sent 3B Nate Tivity to Triple A Graygarden for injury rehab.
University Point Deathclaws: Activated RF Tomas Jones from the injured list.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed C Garrett Machine on the 60-day injured list.
Glowing Sea Radscorpions: Placed SP Quay Swimmer on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/14/2310.
Salem Witch Hats: Signed SS Weykin Quiz.
Glowing Sea Radscorpions: Signed RP Nathaniel Farquhar.
Salem Witch Hats: Released SS Weykin Quiz.
Saturday, May 14th , 2310
Diamond City Swatters: Activated SP Aldo Sanch from the injured list.
Glowing Sea Radscorpions: Activated SP Quay Swimmer from the injured list.
Friday, May 13th , 2310
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Activated RP Jesse Bibeault from the injured list.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Released RP Jake Richter.
Thursday, May 12th , 2310
Glowing Sea Radscorpions: Activated LF Justin Nearhoof from the injured list.
Glowing Sea Radscorpions: Sent LF Justin Nearhoof to Triple A Dedham for injury rehab.
The Malden Grognaks traded 21-year old minor league LF Budd Lambert to the University Point Deathclaws, getting 21-year old minor league RHP Sanfer Annsiskow in return.
Wednesday, May 11th , 2310
Salem Witch Hats: Signed SS Jyn Erso.
The Jamaica Plain Red Rockets traded 20-year old minor league 1B Malyn Varen to the Concord Radstags, getting 18-year old minor league C Fuzzy Russianhat in return.
Monday, May 9th , 2310
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Rotten Graziano.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Oscar Sausage.
Sunday, May 8th , 2310
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed RF Deerlord Fugivmee on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/07/2310.
Starlight Killers: Signed RP Matt Duck.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Andy Rabbison.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Andy Rabbison.
Saturday, May 7th , 2310
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Activated SP Gavin Eviritts from the injured list.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Activated 2B Newscap Woldorf from the injured list.
Diamond City Swatters: Placed 3B Allen Bishop on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/06/2310.
Diamond City Swatters: Placed SP Aldo Sanch on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/06/2310.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated RP Bill Satterfield from the injured list.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Yrsald Thricepierced.
Friday, May 6th , 2310
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Mike Pushard.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Greg Sipper.
The Goodneighbor Hancocks traded 18-year old minor league RHP Gritty Railroad and 21-year old minor league LF Budd Lambert to the Malden Grognaks, getting 27-year old minor league SS Larry Hunterman in return.
Starlight Killers: RP Steven Rockman retired, effective immediately.
Thursday, May 5th , 2310
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Placed RP Jesse Bibeault on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/04/2310.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed RP Chris Van Buskirk.
Wednesday, May 4th , 2310
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated CF Ben Pawlak from the injured list.
Tuesday, May 3rd , 2310
University Point Deathclaws: Placed RF Jarrett Metalbox on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/01/2310.
The Goodneighbor Hancocks traded 22-year old minor league SS Mickle Goone and 20-year old minor league RF Enigma Montgomery to the Glowing Sea Radscorpions, getting 27-year old minor league RF Ben Dimecup in return.