BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
22 April 2318
Concord, Goodneighbor Hold Early Association Leads
Like we always do in this 28-team, 130-game set, the first update happens after 13 games have been completed. This season, there are some surprises atop the leagues, and associations. As the headline reads, Concord and Goodneighbor at 10-3 apiece are atop their leagues. A few winning record surprises early include Salem and Nahant in the BL, The Stags and Sunshine Tidings in the IL, and the Hancocks and Southie in the ML. PAM would say that Diamond City is a surprise, but that team's pitching is too good to be a flat out bad team. Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Concord Radstags (145.4, ++)
2) Goodneighbor Hancocks (140.4, +)
3) FHE Yao Guai (137.6, ++)
4) Southie Brews (129.6, -)
5) Vault 81 Dwellers (128.6, -)
6) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (127.6, --)
7) Salem Witch Hats (114.7, ++)
8) Diamond City Swatters (109.7, -)
9) Quincy Granites (99.8, ++)
10) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (98.8, --)
11) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (98.8, ++)
12) The Slog Ghouls (97.8, o)
13) Nahant Celtics (96.8, --)
14) County Crossing Bloodbugs (95.8, --)
15) Cambridge Coursers (84.2, ++)
16) Easy Town Assaultrons (82.2, ++)
17) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (82.2, +)
18) Glowing Sea Radscorpions (81.2, --)
19) Lexington Synths (81.2, -)
20) Roxbury Rad Sox (79.2, --)
21) Atom Cats (70.3, ++)
22) University Point Deathclaws (66.3, ++)
23) Egret Ninjas (64.3, +)
24) Malden Grognaks (50.4, --)
25) Bunker Hill 75ers (47.4, --)
26) Starlight Killers (39.6, +)
27) Oberland T-51s (36.6, --)
28) Spectacle Island Reapers (36.6, -)
Brotherhood League
We're going to start this update with where teams are compared to where they were picked to be. The Witch Hats (picked 4th) are the current leaders, followed one game behind by a three-way tie in Nahant (7th), The Slog (2nd), and County Crossing (5th). Nordhagen Beach (6th) and Easy Town (3rd) are tied for 5th, while Malden (1st) is four games back and in last place in the BL.
The Grognaks are presently an enigma. Picked to have the CBO's top record and be the only 80+ game winner at 84-46, it looked for sure that Malden would be winning early and often. So far, that has not been the case. Malden is 11th in runs scored (56) versus 6th in runs allowed (61), so offense seems to be the bigger culprit. Overall, offensive stats are low, including currently being 12th in average (.261) and tied for 11th in home runs (10). 3B Jacob Tarberry (.350/2/7) and 2B Jack of Diamonds Cordero (.319/1/7) are hitting decently, but there are a fw players holding back the offense. Upping the power numbers would probably lead to immediate changes in success.
Institute League
The Stags (3rd) are looking to return to the playoffs, and a strong start, invcluding tied for the CBO best with an 8-2 record in their last 10. Fort Hagen (2nd) is a game back, and Sunshine Tidings (4th) is the only other team above .500. Cambridge (5th) and Lexington (1st) are tied for 4th, Bunker Hill (7th) is two back of them, and Starlight (6th) is tied for the CBO's worst record with Spectacle Island and Oberland.
Concord had a franchise-record three-season streak of making the playoffs from 2314-2316 before missing last season. None of those teams competed seriously for a championship, but the 2318 team may have what it takes. The Radstags are the best in the NCA with 86 runs scored and 4th in runs allowed (55). Early stars include 1B Two Shoes Rivera (.463/1/13), RF Jannar Arbor (.388/4/16), and CF Kai Devlin (.396/1/7/5 SB) with the bats. From the mound, Three of the four starters have an ERA below 4.00 for the 3rd-best Starters ERA (3.70). Dimman Dillon (2-0, 2.60) has the best ERA of the starters with Kevin Gauzeman (2-1, 3.18) doing well, also.
Minutemen League
Goodneighbor (4th) started 10-1 before dropping their last two but still have the CBO's best record along with Concord. Southie (5th) is just a game back with both Quincy (7th) and Jamaica Plain (1st) three back. Atom (2nd) and University Point (6th) are tied for 5th, while the Reapers (3rd) are alone in 7th.
For the Hancocks, offense and starting pitching have shown huge leaps in success in the early season. Goodneighbor is tied for 1st in runs scored (74) and 6th in runs allowed (49), mostly thanks to the 2nd-best Starters ERA (2.66). Fourth-overall pick in 2317, Derek Cureall (.333/2/7/8 SB) is already making strides in changing the culture for a team that has made the playoffs only once (2312) in the last 17 seasons. Jared Porch (0-0, 0.83) has yet to get run support, but has also not yet lost a game. Jules Alder (3-0, 3.16) is getting run support. For Goodneighbor, ace pitching has been their Heel.
Railroad League
Vault 81 (1st) and FHE (4th) are tied for 1st place, just a game back of the Cocks. Diamond City (5th) is just a game back of them, while Roxbury (6th) and Glowing Sea (2nd) are a game below .500. Egret (3rd) is alone in 6th, and the T-51s (7th) are right where they are expected at the bottom of standings.
With a CBO-best seven-game winning streak and a tie at 8-2 for the best record in their last 10, FHE appears to be a serious team in 2318. There are still gaps in the talent of the team compared to some of the other teams around them, but the Yao Guai have looked to be more effective in controlling thir success. Some indicators that FHE are currently overperforming include being 5th in runs scored (60) while 8th in runs allowed (52), putting them about in the middle and an expectation of finishing somewhere around .500 with only a slight wobble one way or the other. As it stands, the Yao Guai are benefiting most from teams playing poor defense against them. Outside of scoring, the only offensive stat where FHE does not rank in the double-digits is stolen bases (tied for 2nd at 15). Pitching also has its problems, though the top three starters--Baker Dozen (3-0, 3.57), Nien Nunb (2-0, 3.04), and Lane Phrasemaker (1-0, 3.57)--all have decent numbers.
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
April 15 - Fort Hagen fans have something to crow about today as Fort Hagen second baseman Lobster Schintzius nabbed the North Charles Association Player of the Week Award for his performance over the last seven days.
"I know there are times when it's hard to lay off pitches. Everyone goes through stretches when he's too eager to put the ball in play. You know, though, I feel like this past week I was able to get in the right frame of mind and just let things come naturally," said Schintzius.
He posted a .583 average (14-for-24) this past week with 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and 9 runs scored.
Atom sports fans can't stop singing the praises of Lee Mayhew, who has been selected the South Charles Association Player of the Week.
Mayhew was in a comfort zone all week, finishing with a .538 average (14-for-26), 2 RBIs and 1 home run.
April 22 - What's in a number? In baseball, just about everything.
The numbers that The Slog's Gavin Deux-Gas put up last week were the envy of the league, as Deux-Gas came away with North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
He belted out 10 hits in 25 at-bats, 3 home runs and 9 RBIs last week as he posted his .400 batting average.
Jamaica Plain sports fans can't stop singing the praises of Ken Debate, who has been selected the South Charles Association Player of the Week.
Debate was in a comfort zone all week, finishing with a .400 average (10-for-25), 10 RBIs and 4 home runs.
CBO Noteworthy News
April 8 - Nordhagen Beach and The Slog have agreed to a trade today. 22-year old minor league C Stewie Page will go to the Ghouls. In exchange the Party Boys will receive 29-year old minor league LF Makin Jobear.
During his career, Jobear has notched 883 hits and a .296 average with 157 home runs and 515 RBIs.
April 13 - Stu Gains is stepping away from the game of baseball at the end of the season. The Vault 81 Dwellers player gave a brief explanation to reporters this afternoon.
"It's time to step away from the game and work on phase two of my life - world domination," the 36-year-old joked.
Gains wisecracked for several minutes while reminiscing about high and low points of his career. At the end of the session, Gains sent a personal message.
"I truly thank all you fans."
In 1730 career games Gains is hitting at a .295 pace with 1842 hits with 342 doubles, 14 triples and 399 homers while scoring 1176 runs and racking up 1250 RBIs. He logged 1044 walks and owns a .395 on-base percentage.
April 13 - You can focus on the negatives after being traded to a new team -- finding a new place to stay, leaving teammates and friends, having to start anew -- but one player hopes to focus on the positives. "It means I'm wanted somewhere. At least one team sees potential in me." Those were the comments heard after the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets came to an agreement to deal 25-year old 1B Roo Kid Cunningham to the Roxbury Rad Sox for 29-year old RHP Ma'Khail Redstick earlier today. The deal is expected to be formally announced later this evening.
For his career, Cunningham is hitting .241 with 13 homers, 58 RBIs and 108 hits.
In his career, Redstick has fanned 511 batters and walked 413 in 719.1 innings of work. His lifetime won-lost record is 46 victories and 28 defeats with a 4.25 ERA and opposing hitters have compiled a .258 batting average against him.
April 14 - In a news release, the Quincy Granites announced that reliever Wick Prater would miss the rest of the season due to a torn labrum. Prater sustained the injury on 04/13/2318. He "will be sorely missed," said his manager.
This could spell the end of the career for the 39-year-old Prater, the CBO's all-time saves leader with 426. We will track his progress.
April 17 - The Starlight Killers, off to a 1-7 start and the CBO's worst pitching ERA, have decided to part ways with pitching coach Tombstone Costner in favor of veteran pitching coach Corey Young.
April 21 - Mel Gorgeous said this season with the Concord Radstags will be his last in professional baseball.
"I'm 38 years old, I think it's time to hang them up," he said. "I've been proud to be a part of this organization and this sport, but it's time to move on."
In his career, Gorgeous has 106 victories and 136 defeats and recorded an ERA of 4.41.
CYL All-Star Game
Juggernaut Sorrell shined brightly tonight against the best talent that the CYL has to offer.
The all-star was named MVP for the annual mid-season showcase held at Eagles Stadium, as his North Region All-Stars downed the South Region All-Stars by a count of 6-5.
"It's humbling to even play in a game like this with legends of the sport all around you," he said.
Sorrell went 2 for 3 to capture the honor.
Lifetime in 155 games Sorrell is batting .407 with 69 home runs and 189 RBIs.
Half of the season has been played and now it's time for the All-Star game! It's a game where the fans will get to see their favorite players compete on the same field together, a game where the players themselves become fans and all of baseball comes together to celebrate one of the great traditions of the game -- the Commonwealth Youth League All-Star game. The North Region and the South Region will come together today to decide the title of the best league for this season.
Here are the talented stars on the North Region roster:
SP Ink Bullkiller (MARB) - 4-1, 1.62 ERA, 50.0 IP, 0.80 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 2.2 WAR
SP Eagle Eye Hayes (MARB) - 7-0, 1.26 ERA, 57.1 IP, 0.96 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 3.8 WAR
SP Shotty Kawolski (BOX) - 6-0, 0.67 ERA, 53.1 IP, 0.73 WHIP, 12.8 K/9, 4.0 WAR
SP Tim Love (BRAT) - 4-0, 2.23 ERA, 40.1 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 1.0 WAR
SP Livewire Moore (GDIA) - 4-2, 2.01 ERA, 53.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 13.6 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP Coke Nut Silivan (NBP) - 3-0, 1.98 ERA, 50.0 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 13.1 K/9, 3.3 WAR
RP Cillian Cabell (LEO) - 1-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 1.71 WHIP, 11.6 K/9, 0.2 WAR
RP Ricardo Leith (WSLY) - 1-0, 0.66 ERA, 13.2 IP, 0.66 WHIP, 13.8 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP Tippy Tony Webster (DCNB) - 1-2, 1.88 ERA, 14.1 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 19.5 K/9, 0.9 WAR
RP Rajjun Yavatkar (PLUM) - 2-1, 0.61 ERA, 14.2 IP, 0.82 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 0.7 WAR
CL Parker O'Neil (BHAR) - 0-0, 9 SV, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 0.79 WHIP, 13.5 K/9, 1.1 WAR
C Carl Ireland (LEX) - .373/.612/1.203, 59 AB, 16 HR, 1 SB, 277 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
C Breslan O'Sullivan (STON) - .357/.521/1.057, 70 AB, 14 HR, 247 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
C Guffy Verizon (BCOM) - .403/.570/.925, 67 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 243 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
1B Harley Corrigan (BEAN) - .455/.565/.841, 88 AB, 8 HR, 5 SB, 241 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
1B Ares Ng (MARB) - .442/.522/1.063, 95 AB, 16 HR, 262 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
1B Worm Sanders (NCB) - .432/.629/.988, 81 AB, 14 HR, 273 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
1B Pep Woods (CVNNT) - .473/.580/.914, 93 AB, 10 HR, 261 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
2B Matej Hladky (NEED) - .465/.586/.860, 86 AB, 9 HR, 3 SB, 247 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
2B Radar Razz (GDIA) - .481/.607/1.247, 81 AB, 19 HR, 319 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
2B Juggernaut Sorrell (CITA) - .430/.532/.920, 100 AB, 13 HR, 1 SB, 232 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
3B Viliami Matasino (MARB) - .451/.549/1.011, 91 AB, 15 HR, 262 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
SS Finnan Bogill (MALD) - .402/.544/1.080, 87 AB, 19 HR, 1 SB, 262 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
LF Owen Burden (LEX) - .467/.580/1.120, 92 AB, 17 HR, 292 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
LF Enjoyable Everett Dexter (MARL) - .407/.543/1.296, 81 AB, 23 HR, 291 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
LF Moses Hamilton (CITA) - .402/.546/1.062, 97 AB, 19 HR, 7 SB, 263 wRC+, 3.0 WAR
LF Smoke Seegars (CVNNT) - .457/.581/.989, 92 AB, 13 HR, 268 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
CF Beavis Butthead (LOW) - .422/.549/.844, 90 AB, 10 HR, 3 SB, 231 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
CF Taco Dobson (DANV) - .402/.514/1.126, 87 AB, 19 HR, 4 SB, 273 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
RF Aiden Snake (NCB) - .472/.616/.899, 89 AB, 11 HR, 260 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
And these are the gifted players for the South Region:
SP Bobby Bibeault (PITT) - 4-2, 1.74 ERA, 57.0 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, 2.7 WAR
SP Chad Church (TAUN) - 2-3, 2.18 ERA, 53.2 IP, 0.97 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 3.1 WAR
SP Roy Flower (GSP) - 3-2, 1.86 ERA, 38.2 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 11.2 K/9, 1.8 WAR
SP Carver Hobson (SBCH) - 3-2, 2.05 ERA, 57.0 IP, 1.21 WHIP, 12.3 K/9, 3.4 WAR
SP Edgy Ronan Rice (FOST) - 4-1, 1.19 ERA, 53.0 IP, 1.17 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 2.3 WAR
SP Gael Walker (CVTRY) - 6-1, 2.22 ERA, 56.2 IP, 0.74 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 3.2 WAR
RP Mike Kino****a (CHIC) - 3-0, 1.10 ERA, 16.1 IP, 0.98 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 0.6 WAR
RP Roberto Kowalski (BARR) - 0-0, 0.67 ERA, 13.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 0.3 WAR
RP Swan Melton (WOON) - 0-1, 2 SV, 1.10 ERA, 16.1 IP, 0.67 WHIP, 13.8 K/9, 0.9 WAR
RP Lee Young (ATT) - 1-0, 1.23 ERA, 14.2 IP, 1.02 WHIP, 17.2 K/9, 0.9 WAR
CL Barbarian Galarza (NBED) - 2-0, 7 SV, 0.63 ERA, 14.1 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 1.1 WAR
C Hethum Antinian (PROV) - .472/.553/.958, 72 AB, 9 HR, 262 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
C Snoopy Barron (PLY) - .414/.562/.771, 70 AB, 7 HR, 226 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
C Dashiell O'Neal (FPLT) - .409/.567/1.000, 66 AB, 11 HR, 266 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
1B LaGrange Butterell (BRDG) - .456/.636/.924, 79 AB, 10 HR, 1 SB, 266 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Puke Johiya (FPLT) - .452/.558/.929, 84 AB, 10 HR, 2 SB, 253 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
1B Terrance Phillip (BRCK) - .375/.549/1.100, 80 AB, 18 HR, 3 SB, 278 wRC+, 2.5 WAR
1B Louie Squire (JP) - .490/.557/1.010, 96 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 272 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
1B Dimmy Suciu (CVTRY) - .529/.667/.988, 85 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 292 wRC+, 2.7 WAR
2B Cathal Bell (JP) - .374/.454/.838, 99 AB, 10 HR, 198 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
2B Ray Ray Devilman (HARW) - .356/.595/.822, 73 AB, 9 HR, 228 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
2B Strom Fisher (CVTRY) - .423/.598/.744, 78 AB, 5 HR, 2 SB, 235 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
SS Clean McLean (TH) - .396/.530/.846, 91 AB, 11 HR, 221 wRC+, 2.3 WAR
SS Tubrady Palmer (CVTRY) - .419/.542/.839, 93 AB, 10 HR, 7 SB, 233 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
LF Donegan Downs (TH) - .400/.553/.953, 85 AB, 13 HR, 2 SB, 236 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
LF Comic Novack (TRU) - .434/.534/.831, 83 AB, 9 HR, 1 SB, 231 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
LF Chig Sandman (COL) - .391/.543/.747, 87 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 212 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
CF Germ Bursill (KING) - .381/.544/.762, 84 AB, 8 HR, 214 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
CF Quigley Scholar (SWAN) - .374/.487/.791, 91 AB, 10 HR, 7 SB, 204 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
RF Fertile Fernandez (COL) - .292/.422/1.011, 89 AB, 20 HR, 217 wRC+, 2.0 WAR