BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
6 September 2311
CBO Playoff Tree
SCA Wildcard Round
#6 Oberland T-51s (73-57) vs #3 Roxbury Rad Sox (78-52)
Season Series
Oberland 8, Roxbury 2
April 12-13 @Rox: Obe 12-3, Obe 7-4
May 5-7 @Obe: Rox 7-2 (10), Rox 6-3, Obe 11-5
July17-19 @Rox: Obe 14-1, Obe 13-4, Obe 6-5 (10)
August 5-6 @Obe: Obe 5-0, Obe 8-3
Analysis
After an eight-year absence from the playoffs, the Oberland T-51s are now making their fifth-straight appearance. In the CBO, it will be their sixth appearance overall with two trips to the Sole Survivor Series in the past three seasons (2308, 2310), both losses. Last season, the T-51s got there as the 4th seed before falling to Nordhagen Beach in six games.
For Roxbury, the past few seasons have not been as kind to them after a string of six-straight playoff appearances and two Sole Survivor Series victories (2303, 2304). After missing the playoffs two consecutive seasons, the Rad Sox are now making their second-straight appearance. In 2310, they were eliminated as the #1 seed by Oberland in the Association Semifinal Round in four games of a six-game series.
During the 2311 season, the T-51s continued their dominance over the Sox, winning 8 of 10, including sweeps in three of the four series. Oberland also scored 10 or more runs in four of the games, all victories. Roxbury's highest run output was a 7-2 victory in 10 innings. While the Rad Sox are considered the better team talent-wise, the T-51s seem to have their number.
Looking at the Oberland offense, the T-51s finished 4th in runs scored (720). Part of that problem was that they were not good at hitting the long ball, finishing 10th in home runs (150). LF Orcin Cardinal (.345/27/82) led the team in power, with 1B/SP Lannie Tykeson (.323/20/71) right behind him. OF/SP Zaire Inquisitor (.288/17/74), 3B Joe Malone (.330/11/70), and CF Earthbound Bussey (.312/9/45/47 SB) also were top contributors for a lineup with nine good hitters and only eight slots to bat them. C Racky Westheim (.350/7/53) led the team in average.
On the mound, the T-51s finished 6th in runs allowed (597), 4th in Starters ERA (4.06), and 7th in Bullpen ERA (4.93). The three starters for the playoffs are Emperry Alizm (14-11, 4.05), Inquisitor (14-5, 3.90), and Ronnie Messenger (14-8, 4.39). CL William Butcherman (30 SV, 3.86) leads the bullpen and will receive help from RP Tony "Vampire" Frazier (8-8, 3.97), Tykeson (4-4, 4.95), and RP Sheep Sanchez (0-3. 2.18).
Roxbury is a statistical anomaly, finishing as the SCA's third seed despite the statistics not matching up. On offense, the Sox were 5th in runs scored (702), finishing pretty much just outside the top third of the association in all categories. 3B Donn Mattingley (.356/19/83) had overall the best season on offense for the Rad Sox. Other top contributors include C Ayag Mour (.343/17/73), 2B Emerald Sapphire (.312/18/74/28 SB), 1B Sum Downie (.246/25/76), and CF Ben Pawlak (.282/22/74/17 SB). RF Brightsun Ramos (.269/10/44/49 SB) led the team in steals.
The Rad Sox were even worse on the mound, finishing 9th in runs allowed (647), 9th in Starters ERA (4.33), and 5th in Bullpen ERA (4.73). SP Nuke Laloosh (15-9, 3.33) did his thing, and SP Oliver Oil (8-12, 3.41) pitched well despite the poor record. SP Urm Rehfeldt (15-9, 4.51) benefited from high-scoring games. In the bullpen, rookie CL Professor Harriel (41 SV, 1.72) was the most-dominant pitcher, including tying the CBO record for saves. RP John Irwin (4-2, 3.55) was the only other pitcher with a sub-4.00 ERA.
Prediction
In most years, we would take Roxbury as our pick we would ride until they're done. However, that is most years, not this year. Oberland has the playoff experience, has gotten further than the Sox, dominated the Sox in the regular season, and just seems to be the team that performed better overall despite the statistical anomaly we mentioned that allowed Roxbury to finish as the SCA's third seed. We're going to instead go with the SCA's defending champions. Oberland 2, Roxbury 0
#5 FHE Yao Guai (73-57) vs #4 Vault 81 Dwellers (75-55)
Season Series
FHE 6, Vault 81 4
April 17-19 @FHE: FHE 9-8, FHE 9-3, V81 7-4
May 27-28 @V81: V81 4-3, FHE 9-3
June 24-26 @V81: FHE 16-0, V81 7-6, FHE 6-5
August 7-8 @FHE: FHE 4-1, V81 3-1
Analysis
FHE will be making just its second playoff appearance in franchise history. Its only other appearance came in 2303 when the Yao Guai were the 5th seed of five team, losing to #4 Diamond City in three games in the Play-in Round.
Vault 81 has been to the playoffs seven times now, though their appearances have been sporadic. This season marks the first time they have gone to the playoffs in back-to-back season since they went three-straight seasons from 2299-2301. Last season as the #3 seed, the Dwellers won the Wildcard Round series over Egret before falling to #2 Quincy in the Association Semifinals.
During the regular season, the series was close, though the Yao Guai did take 6 of 10. One game that stood out came on June 24 when the visiting Yao Guai demolished Vault 81, 16-0. Otherwise, most games were decently close with 8 of 10 being a difference of three runs or fewer.
FHE started out the season as one of the top teams, leading the Railroad League for a good portion of the season before fading to 4th place toward the end of the season, finishing the final two months of the season 28-28. On offense, the Yao Guai finished 6th in runs scored (688) with their best offensive stat being home runs (3rd with 177). Players throughout the lineup were able to hit the long ball with 7 of 9 hitting 11 or more. LF Makin Jobear (.320/34/98), last season's Red Rocket Rookie Award recipient, was the unquestioned leader in the lineup. Other contributors include SS Dathmorian Zabrak (.323/19/58), RF Sebastian Jort (.335/11/75), and 1B Syd Thriftstore (.295/16/51).
On the mound, FHE allowed the 5th-fewest runs (587) to go along with finishing 6th in Starters ERA (4.13) and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (4.35). The pitching staff is young but talented; however, they may be rattled easily in high-pressure situations like the playoffs. Playoff starters are rookie SP Munyeb Funyun (14-7, 3.43), Agnet Skinner (13-8, 3.85), and rookie Astro Puptent (4-8, 5.59). SP Baker Dozen (11-7, 3.27) is out for the series. In the bullpen, Sluggo Pyne (8 SV, 3.29) has become the closer that was once inhabited by Puptent (23 SV) before Dozen's injury. RPs Astro Nomey (3-2, 3.63) and Jobie Toast (5-1, 3.45) were pretty good coming out of the pen.
Vault 81 was surprising the SCA's top-scoring offense (767 runs), thanks in part to a great OBP (.371). All eight starters hit at least 13 home runs for the SCA's 5th-best home run team (174). At the same time, only four hit 20 or more home runs, all in the 20s: CF Stu Gains (.327/24/96), RF Joe Rathmann (.264/23/76), 1B Harry Byrd (.322/22/91), and 3B Knud Bather (.223/21/66). Rathmann also led the team with 30 stolen bases.
The Dwellers were 7th in runs allowed (611), including 5th in Starters ERA (4.06) and 9th in Bullpen ERA (5.09). Acs SP Scruffy Taguchi (13-6, 4.01) and second-starter Exxie Summerset (10-10, 4.24) did not have great seasons. SP Ryan Goodpryce (13-8, 3.70) will be the third starter in the playoffs. SP Ryan Downing (13-7, 4.45) is expected to be the postseason closer, supplanting CL Closecall Jones (33 SV, 4.21) who may play a setup role instead after not being consistent in closing situations.
Prediction
The lack of experience in general, especially the playoffs will probably haunt FHE. Not to mention that they are one of the colder teams entering the 2311 playoffs. Vault 81 has a good group of veterans who know how to win. We'll take that experience as the favorites. Vault 81 2, FHE 1