[StLee]

BNN Report

News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

14 October 2318

CBO Offseason

While this offseason will not bustle as next offseason, when four new teams* join the CBO, as well as the four minor league teams per new team, it is still an important one.

We know that next offseason, the NWL and Vim! Leagues will fold into the CBO to become a part of the Greater Boston Rookie League. We feel as though the CBO teams becoming the parent club of those teams will retain only stadium, name, and uniform rights, while all of the Season Pass Association players become free agents, though there has been no announcement. Let's just explore a few things we know are coming before we focus on the shift from 2318 to 2319.

The CBO plans to maintain the four league system, thus each league gets one franchise. The announced information is thus that the following leagues will get the following teams:

Brotherhood - Far Harbor Fog
Institute - Nuka World Thrills
Minutemen - Cape Cod Mirelurks
Railroad - Providence Super Mutants

Details on minor league affiliates are still coming in, with the expected shifts in affiliations, locations, and minor league levels starting to take place wholesale sometime after the draft through early 2319 and then again following the 2319 season.

The CBO is trying to get the top levels, especially the New England League and the Massachusetts Minor League to expand their borders. Some cities expected to be in the NEBL are based on a settlement population survey conducted in 2315. From those results, the ten largest population centers by town/city in New England include:

1. Boston as the obvious most-populated city center and also includes multiple CBO teams
2. Worcester (studies into future expansion are already taking place)
3. Providence
4. Bradberton-Springfield
5. Hartford, CT
6. Bridgeport, CT
7. Cambridge
8. Lexington
9. Manchester, NH
10. Quincy


Speaking of other short-listed future expansion possibilities (please note: there is no current plans for further expansion), here are some thoughts. Worcester is mentioned as a place to add an extra franchise or move a team struggling financially. Some of the small-market teams are always on the brink. There has been some shift in markets since we last reported. On the daily basis, most fan bases are local, so population centers are important, thus why locations like Abernathy Farm and Finch Farm could not sustain long-term. Other locations that we think could eventually move to larger population center include:

Sunshine Tidings - Low population center overall. In proximity to Concord, which also has a large enough population center and team. Lowest attendance in the CBO (which determined this order).

Nordhagen Beach - Owner Emogene Cabot seems to like money, and moving the Party Boys could provide more of that. The population in Winthrop competes with the Brotherhood of Steel HQ at Boston Airport. With the close proximity of two teams, both get hurt by lower revenue, though their games against each other tend to have high attendance.

Egret - Also a low population center. While the population has expanded farther out from being right up against Egret Tours Marina, the settlement of Egret does not have much more room for expansion compared to places with more established infrastructure.

Jamaica Plain - JP is a large enough population center, but the attendance is pretty poor even with a good team in recent years. While we thing that JP is less likely to relocate compared to the three named above, it is a possibility. Since owner Kasumi Nakano has a connection to Maine, it would be a wonder if Portland would be in contention for this franchise.

Easy Town - As mentioned with Nordhagen Beach, one of the Boys or Assaultrons may eventually go. Even with a recent championship, the Trons have a hard time getting a large crowd on hand since many of the residents in the area are members of the Brotherhood of Steel. Even Winthrop and the Easy City Downs racetrack and gambling center seems to associate more with Nordhagen Beach. Majority team owner Deb Merchant was associated with Bunker Hill before purchasing the Easy Town franchise, so there is no allegiance to Easy Town.

Offseason Moves

There were a large number of retirements and releases in both players and front office personnel throughout the CBO. Here is the list of retirees with big names bolded and one bolded and enlarged:

Sunday, October 6th , 2318

Vault 81 Dwellers: Retired #6 in honor of Joe Rathmann Sr..
Vault 81 Dwellers: RF Joe Rathmann Sr. retired from professional baseball.
Diamond City Swatters: RP Raul Esparza retired from professional baseball.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: RP Reed Botti retired from professional baseball.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Retired #37 in honor of Wick Prater.
Quincy Granites: CL Wick Prater retired from professional baseball.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: RP Jamie Collins retired from professional baseball.
Diamond City Swatters: SP Aaron Demps retired from professional baseball.
Diamond City Swatters: RP Ted Iam retired from professional baseball.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Retired #96 in honor of Derek Green.
Nahant Celtics: SP Derek Green retired from professional baseball.
Quincy Granites: SP Chris Teddybear retired from professional baseball.
Starlight Killers: Retired #13 in honor of Whokill Poole.
Starlight Killers: SP Whokill Poole retired from professional baseball.
Spectacle Island Reapers: RP Josh Calvit retired from professional baseball.
Vault 81 Dwellers: 2B Chris Connexx retired from professional baseball.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Retired #18 in honor of Ugio Church.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: SP Ugio Church retired from professional baseball.
Starlight Killers: Retired #11 in honor of Digger Vadim.
Bunker Hill 75ers: SP Digger Vadim retired from professional baseball.
University Point Deathclaws: Retired #11 in honor of Barker Cocoa.
University Point Deathclaws: 1B Barker Cocoa retired from professional baseball.
Quincy Granites: Retired #1 in honor of Baywatch Fischler.
Quincy Granites: RF Baywatch Fischler retired from professional baseball.
Roxbury Rad Sox: RP Jack Arasmith retired from professional baseball.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: SP Mel Gorgeous retired from professional baseball.
Salem Witch Hats: SP Aimer Doghair retired from professional baseball.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Retired #21 in honor of Eugene Gym.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: SP Eugene Gym retired from professional baseball.
Quincy Granites: RP Joe Hanson retired from professional baseball.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: SP Bendy Barman retired from professional baseball.
The Slog Ghouls: C Silvam Fourteen retired from professional baseball.
Quincy Granites: SP College Luckyman retired from professional baseball.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: SP Shaak Ti retired from professional baseball.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: SP Hard Cohen retired from professional baseball.
Lexington Synths: 2B Rabbit Forest retired from professional baseball.
Starlight Killers: CF Willy Mazehaze retired from professional baseball.
The Slog Ghouls: RF Baktu DaWell retired from professional baseball.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Retired #17 in honor of Stu Gains.
Vault 81 Dwellers: CF Stu Gains retired from professional baseball.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: SP Quest Dawg retired from professional baseball.
Vault 81 Dwellers: SP Ryan Goodpryce retired from professional baseball.
Cambridge Coursers: SS Ant DeLong retired from professional baseball.
LF Jesus Church retired from professional baseball.
Vault 81 Dwellers: RP Capstone Goofson retired from professional baseball.
RP Justin Amidon retired from professional baseball.
RF Danny Faraday retired from professional baseball.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: RP Exec Horton retired from professional baseball.
RP Austen Austin retired from professional baseball.
RF Cool Carl Davis retired from professional baseball.
2B Tommy Grubb retired from professional baseball.
SP Ghost Kyudalson retired from professional baseball.
RP Dummy Potluck retired from professional baseball.
3B Sun Crockett retired from professional baseball.
RP Jason Costcaps retired from professional baseball.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Retired #5 in honor of Ross Merchantman.
RP Closecall Zamora retired from professional baseball.
C Plump Jack Korson retired from professional baseball.
3B Oleg Veers retired from professional baseball.
2B Justin Tootles retired from professional baseball.
RP Ray Rowe-Varone retired from professional baseball.
LF Knife Bowie retired from professional baseball.
RP Kyle Forte retired from professional baseball.
2B Luke Skyy retired from professional baseball.
RP Young Ryan Young retired from professional baseball.
3B Zero Nought retired from professional baseball.
LF Pudding Ohnderitz retired from professional baseball.
RP Omari Rahmings retired from professional baseball.
C Garth Invader retired from professional baseball.
RP Frumdeep Fathoms retired from professional baseball.
RP Grubby Gazook retired from professional baseball.
RP Henry J. Wadsworth retired from professional baseball.
RP Bloomberg Sendavio retired from professional baseball.
SS Push Em Lazzeri retired from professional baseball.
Diamond City Swatters: 1B Percy Powerplant (A South Portland) retired from professional baseball.
RP Ley Buckberger retired from professional baseball.
RF Xavier Bell retired from professional baseball.
RP Bad Moon Davila retired from professional baseball.
LF Curt Cheater retired from professional baseball.
RP Burly Brad Hill retired from professional baseball.
Bunker Hill 75ers: 1B Elmo Noske (A Abernathy) retired from professional baseball.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: 1B Rufin Jurek (A Eastlake) retired from professional baseball.
LF Pruner Brown retired from professional baseball.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Team Trainer David Rosseau retires.
Starlight Killers: Team Trainer Chase Mash retires.
Starlight Killers: Hitting Coach Willie Weirdhand retires.
Egret Ninjas: Team Trainer Ramon Arteaga retires.
Salem Witch Hats: Scouting Director Josh Milhoan retires.
The Slog Ghouls: General Manager Dan Dall retires.
The Slog Ghouls: Bench Coach Travis Mendoza retires.
Nahant Celtics: Hitting Coach Dane Denley retires.
Oberland T-51s: Team Trainer Kaz Majsterek retires.
Lexington Synths: Team Trainer Alroy Higgins retires.
Hitting Coach George Evers retires.
Hitting Coach John Johnson retires.
Manager Dick Tricky retires.
Hitting Coach Beverly Hills Johnson retires.
General Manager Mover Rodriguez retires.
Manager Brian Learned retires.
Manager Coffee Kupp retires.
Hitting Coach Devon Doll retires.
Pitching Coach Steve de Pitts retires.
Hitting Coach Boomstick Barbosa retires.
First Base Coach Scott Moeller retires.
Pitching Coach Gabryjel Medina retires.
Manager Jason Highway retires.
Pitching Coach Jaylin Day retires.
Pitching Coach Jame Functionary retires.
First Base Coach Justin Gunsmith retires.
General Manager Brian Straus retires.
Pitching Coach Matt Cronk retires.
First Base Coach Tipitino Funny retires.
Hitting Coach Eddie Can retires.
General Manager Cory DaRoad retires.
Pitching Coach Wylee C. Yotay retires.

College Draft Outlook

With the draft less than a month away, we want to start focusing on what scout's think is a really good class overall with lots of players expected to premier in the CBO within the next three seasons. Some are expected to be on CBO rosters to begin 2319.

Scouts have settled on their current ranking of talent. While we at BNN have ranted and raved about the three pitchers, and we still believe this is a much-needed strong pitching class, they still see position players going heavy early. In the Top 5, the current expectation of picks is: 1B Bear Jones, Tufts; SP Arcade Anderson. Northeastern; 1B Ryanab Costello, Vermont Tech; C Cade Atombride, Acadia College; and C Guffy Verizon, Bunker Hill.

Here are the Top 5 teams in the 2318 draft and where we think they may go based on team needs and scout ratings:

1. County Crossing

Needs: OF, SP, RP

Our thoughts: If 1B Jones really is the top pick, he will be taken despite 1B Scott Eacott being perhaps the Bloodbugs' best current player. Eacott could be an All-Star. but Jones could be a legend.

If things even out and looking at top talent by OSA ratings, Both CFs Javon Lambert and Taco Dobson do have an "elite potential" rating. We think, though, that SP would be the more likely need-based pick with Arcade Anderson as the most-pro ready elite-level prospect or youth leaguer, Eagle Eye Hayes, getting the call as someone we believe could be an all-time great with the likes of Nut and Lalosh.

Our initial call: SP Arcade Anderson

2. Quincy

Needs: SP, C, 3B

Our thoughts: Of course, Anderson, Hayes, or Cap Anson could go here, but we had another thought with the assumption that County Crossing goes pitcher first: 3B can be less of a need with a change. Current 1B, Dodge Squallbender, is capable as a 3B. Moving him there and then drafting a 1B stud could solve their 3B need situation right away.

This is where we think Jones makes a better choice. He would solve some of the power-hitting woes of the Granites and slots in immediately in the 3rd or 4th spot. Quincy does not get their pitcher yet, but there are some good options that will be around in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Our initial call: 1B Bear Jones

3. Sunshine Tidings

Needs: SP, SS

Our thoughts: The Chemists are a young team, so they may have some of their pieces in place. Pitcher is one place that they do not have those pieces, so pitching is the best option. They could also upgrade the SS position, though Down Home Dahl (.348/5/16) handled the job well in limited time (56 games, 23 starts).

The draft pool is not heavy on can't-miss SS prospects, so finding a better option for Dahl does not appear to be at the #3 spot. CYL's Boston Harbor
s Average Joe Wilson could work towards becoming a SS, but scouts believe that he will be moved to 1B and focus on his power hitting instead of defense at the next level.

The reality is that the Chemists will probably turn their eye to Hayes, or one of the other potentially elite pitchers, including Anson, SP Rhubarb Coombs, SP Envy Cockburn, and SP Pattie Harborman.

Our initial call: SP Eagle Eye Hayes

4. Nordhagen Beach

Needs: RP, 2B, SP, C, SS, 3B

Our thoughts: The Party Boys are the neediest team, and they will likely be picking #1 in 2319. They can look forward to SP Graham Cracker Fontenot of Elms College, RF Old Blue Sandoval of Narragansett U, SP Starlight Ball of the Salem Werewolves, or SP Bryce Yaag of the Truro Hatchlings. That's 2319, though.

In 2318, we sincerely think that the Boys should take the highest-rated players. Assuming that the first three picks are Anderson, Jones, and Hayes, there are still a lot of strong options.

The catcher position then becomes interesting here. Scouts believe that Acadia College's Atombride is a late-bloomer whom they expect to be the best catcher in this draft when time has passed. That may be a risk, so youth options Guffy Verizon of Boston Common and Carl Ireland of Lexington. Ireland's teammate, 2B Boob Willis, could also be a player the Boys fall in love with.

Well, we have to make a decision, so we will go with . . .

This could also be the third pitcher picked as we predict will happen. Anson or Coombs would probably play well here.

Our initial call: C Guffy Verizon

5. Bunker Hill

Needs: RP, RF

Our thoughts: We think that Bunker Hill is decently talented. Pitching was not great, but they tried to address the position during the 2318 season by acquiring Jacques Of'ten from the Party Boys. Relief pitching is still bad, but that position is not being addressed with the 5th pick.

That leaves outfield as a position of need. Ruby Randle, the 19th-overall pick in 2315, may be that person, but he has not shown it yet in three seasons with the organization. Of course, Esau Babz started as a RF, the position he played when teammates with his twin brother, Eden, with the Weymouth Locksmiths. Moving Babz to RF and drafting the top CF is the option we think is best for the 75ers.

That is why we are turning our attention to the top OF prospect, Javon Lambert of the Barrington Chess Knights. Lambert has been a solid hitter throughout his time with the Chess Knights. He also has shown flashes in the outfield. Scouts think he may fit best in LF, but he does have the speed and range to play CF. LF Steven Shin of Boston College Prep and CF Taco Dobson of Danvers are other options. Dobson is similar in probably moving out of CF in the pros, and he does offer more power potential for a team looking to build up the home run potential on their roster. Dobson is second all-time in career home runs (121) in the CYL.

Home runs are something the 75ers are actually good at, so our choice is on the other parts of the team needed: hitting for average, basepath speed, and solid defense.

Our initial call: CF Javon Lambert