BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
28 September 2316
Sole Survivor Series: #3 Easy Town Assaultrons (69-61) vs #6 Quincy Gunners (68-62)
Season Series: Quincy 2, Easy Town 1
May 12-14 @Qui: Qui 2-1, Qui 6-3, ET 6-4 (11)
Analysis
This series proves that PAM is a prophet and we should all hail her greatness. The most famous of assaultrons picked the Easy Town Assaultrons to rule over Quincy in the Sole Survivor Series. Despite neither team finishing anywhere near the #1 seed in their associations, here they are. After last season being the second battle of #1 seeds, this Sole Survivor Series sets the record for combined lowest seeds (9), beating out 2313's #6 Nahant vs #2 Atom.
Easy Town returns to the Sole Survivor Series for the first time since the first official Series, 2298's matchup against Goodneighbor. In that season where only four teams per association reached the playoffs, the Trons were the #3 seed from the NCA, while the Hancocks wre the #1 seed from the SCA. The Hancocks swept that series. Now the Assaultrons are not only pursuing their first title, but their first victory in the Sole Survivor Series.
Quincy's value may have doubled. The Gunners franchise is for sale now that owner Smiling Larry wants out, but with this success, he may have just earned more caps when he does sell the team this offseason. This season is now the second time in three years that Quincy is in the Sole Survivor Series. Two seasons ago, the Gunners were the #2 seed in the SCA and upset a record-breaking Vault 81 team (95-35) to reach the Series. However, they fell four games to one to The Slog, which entered as the #1 seed from tne NCA.
Looking at a comparison of team stats, Easy Town seems to have most of the advantages. On offense, the Trons led most categories except for a big gap advantage for Quincy in home runs (98-70). However, the Assaultrons were also a great small ball team, leading the NCA in stolen bases (172), more than double the Gunners' output (83).
On the mound, Quincy had a slight advantage in runs allowed and overall ERA. However, the Trons' defense was much more efficient, including having 16 fewer errors on the season.
When comparing the lineups expected for Game 1, the Assaultrons appear to have a lot more talent overall. Of course, the matchup of home run champion, Quincy's Will Hell (.320/29/84), and batting champion and record-breaking steals champion, the Trons' Eden Babz (.342/9/51/78 SB) in the third slot is the matchup we will most watch.
The position vs position matchups look this way with a change in just naming the expected starters for the first three games in direct competition. These are based on OSA scouting ratings only, not 2316 productivity. Easy Town vs Quincy in order of players:
Game 1 SP: Tarzan Rogers > Make Money
Game 2 SP: Cohort Williams 47 < College Luckyman
Game 3 SP: Lonely Gale > Fosdyke Rochambeau
Top RP: Red Eagle < Lell Skuza
CL: Tut Cadillac < Professor Harriel
C: Bill Barnes > Sleve McDichael
1B: Albie Cannibal > Bingy Xiu
2B: Finnan Hunt < Will Hell
3B: Well Done Dungan < Downlow Uptown
SS: Christian Savage < Pipewrench Mathis
LF: J.J. Gray < Alchemist Hall
CF: Eden Babz > Duff Fee
RF: Topher Spark > Brad Hop
Prediction
Everything is pointing in the direction of the Trons right now. They were the preseason pick to win it all, they have been the CBO's hottest team, and they seem to have better talent and statistical output than the Gunners. The Gunners are playing for owner Smiling Larry, looking to bring a championship to one of the Commonwealth's largest settlements. In the end, we think the Assaultrons will be too much for Quincy to handle and win their first title, the fifth straight season we will have a first-time champion. Easy Town 4, Quincy 2