Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization

[StLee]

Originally Posted by ayaghmour2

Curious to see who Glowing Sea ends up with but what a season! 87 wins!!! And with the only two qualified SCA players with a sub-3 ERA!

Their team ERA was 2.96! Diamond City was next closest at 3.67. Not only did the top two starters dominate, but so did the bullpen (2.50). They also likely have the Red Rocket Rookie Award winner in Black Red (12-7, 3.47) and the Vim! Pitcher award in Language. If the playoffs is about pitching, the Radscorpions should be heavy favorites.

[StLee]

BNN Report

News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

4 September 2317

CBO Playoff Tree



SCA Playoffs Preview - Wildcard Round

#5 Quincy Granites (71-59) vs #4 Atom Cats (72-58)

Season Series: Atom 6, Quincy 4

May 18-20 @Qui: Atom 8-3, Atom 14-3, Atom 2-0
July 2-2 @Atom: Atom 4-1, Atom 11-10 (10)
August 24-26 @Atom: Qui 11-5, Qui 13-11, Qui 5-4
August 30-31 @Qui: Atom 10-1, Qui 2-0

Analysis

Baseball is probably a "what have you done for me lately" sport. Assuming that to be true, "lately" has been good for both the Quincy Granites and Atom Cats, the fifth ad fourth seeds in this season's playoffs. Just one year ago, the Granites (then the Gunners) were the SCA's #6 seed, still propelling themselves to the Sole Survivor Series and their first championship. In 2313, the Cats entered as the #2 seed and won ever series to win it all. Two of the last four champions have been either Quincy or Atom, and the Granites also represented the SCA in the 2314 Sole Survivor Series as the #2 seed.

The teams had never met in the playoffs until 2315. Now, this will mark the third-straight season that they meet in the postseason. In 2315, the #6 Gunners downed the #3 Cats, 2 games to 1, in the Wildcard Round. Last season, again as the #6 seed, Quincy defeated the #2 Atom squad, 3 games to 2, in the Association Semifinals.

While they have not been able to be the ML regular season champions except for 2314, Quincy is a dangerous postseason team. With a belt now in their possession, they have shown that they know how to win, especially road series against good teams. We like Quincy, but we also see the major flaw in their chance to repeat in 2317.

On offense, the Granites are efficient, including finishing 2nd in the SCA in runs scored (709), powered by their power hitting (2nd in home runs with 148). Four players were the cause for the run barrage, including two 30-homer hitters in Will Hell (33) and Brad Hop (30). Cf Duff Fee (21) and LF Adavald Vigilant (19) also contributed to the CBO's most dangerous power outfield. Rookie 1B Dodge Squallbender has been an interesting callup to the squad, starting the last 11 games of the season (.213/0/3) over Bingy Xiu (.301/8/28). Squallbender was hitting .245/17/39 with the NEBL's Fall Rivers Rippers before the callup.

The fault comes in pitching, where the Granites were last in the SCA in runs allowed (697) and Starters ERA (5.06). Ace Make Money (10-9, 3.46) is the one saving grace with an ERA below 5.00. Kid Boots Appling (9-6, 5.47) and College Luckyman (10-9, 5.62) are expected to be the other two starters and need a ton of runs to get wins in their decisions. Four-time Fallon's Reliever Award winner, CL Professor Harriel (25 SV, 3.71) is still as good as ever, but his ERA was up nearly 100 points from his career 2.73. he had a 1.12 ERA last season, his second straight Fallon award.



For Atom, the most impressive accomplishment in earning the #4 seed is that they were the CBO's worst team for a time. Despite winning on opening day, the Cats then went 2-17 the rest of the month, falling as far as 3-18 before beginning their turnaround. That means the Cats were 69-40 (.633) since May 2. Atom might be the tea to beat after Glowing Sea.

On offense, the Cars were a pretty good team, finishing 4th in runs scored (651) thanks to the 4th-best OBP (.346). Three standouts in both average and power have been 2B Lee Mayhew (.324/15/86), RF Candy Kline (.315/16/63), and 1B McMack Bingham (.301/23/100).

Starting pitching has been good (3rd with a 3.78 ERA). while the bullpen has not (14th in ERA at 5.50), leading to the 5th-best runs allowed mark (620). All four starters had an ERA below 4.00, with the starters in the postseason expected to be K-9 Creep (11-9, 3.52), Josh Brown (16-12, 3.71), and Junkyard Gourd (12-10, 3.96). Melvin Terminator (6-7, 3.50) moves to the bullpen to try to help. CL Benkum Windhelm (35 SV, 4.02) was OK, but the playoffs Cats need much better.



Prediction

It's the defending champions looking to defend their championship, facing off one of the teams looking for revenge from 2316. It's tough to decide which way is best. Looking at the total product, Atom seems to have the shirt series advantage. Then again, the Granites were a lot more successful in the latter part of the season. We are wavering, but we will pick the Gunners to win shootouts. Quincy 2, Atom 1

#6 FHE Yao Guai (70-60) vs #3 Diamond City Swatters (74-56)

Season Series: FHE 6, Diamond City 4

April 9-10 @DC: DC 9-5, FHE 3-1
June 6-8 @FHE: FHE 6-4, DC 8-3, FHE 8-4
July 26-27 @FHE: FHE 7-5, DC 4-2
August 27-29 @DC: DC 9-5, FHE 5-3, FHE 3-1

Analysis

This is a tale of two teams that have had quite different histories over the years. The FHE Yao Guai have not found much success, though they did expect to compete for a playoff appearance in 2317. PAM though that the Swatters would be the 7th-place team in the RL, but we pointed out that the pitching was just too good to have a losing record. In the end, these are the 6th and 3rd seeds in the playoffs, with Diamond City a veteran team in the playoffs, and the Yao Guai trying to create an identity.

For FHE, this is only their 5th appearance in the playoffs. In their first appearance, 2303, the Yao Guai qualified as the last seed (#5) and lost to #4 Diamond City in the Play-in Round. It was their only meeting. The Swatters are making their 12th playoff appearance and fifth straight after an eight-year absence. Diamond City won the Sole Survivor Series twice (2299, 2300), their only two appearances.

The Yao Guai were about in the middle on both offense and pitching. On offense, they finished 6th in runs scored (640) with the 2nd-best stolen bases number (127). Two players that contributed to that cause were leadoff 3B Dathomirian Zabrak (.293/13/63/53 SB) and CF Missile Crews (.317/9/48/39 SB). 2B Blue Dahlia (.285/19/74) was the team leader in homers and RBI.

On the mound, FHE was tied for 6th in runs allowed (625), with the 11th-best Starters ERA (4.67) and 2nd-best Bullpen ERA (3.84). Starters Baker Dozen (10-9, 4.41) and Nien Nunb (14-9, 3.69) give the Yao Guai their best chance of winning.



Diamond City was bad on offense and great on the mound. The Swatters were 11th in runs scored (580) with their best stat being stolen bases (5th at 102). SS Alex Bragman (.282/19/74) was the best overall hitter on the team. RF Nicholas Stapleton (.306/13/66) helped.

The pitching is top-notch, and Diamond City may even drop 2311 Vim! Pitcher Award winner Heaven Fontenot (15-8, 3.46) to the bullpen for the playoffs. The Swatters finished 2nd in runs allowed (529) with the 2nd-best Starters ERA (3.48) and 4th-best Bullpen ERA (4.26). Who will pitch will be Macho Lopez (14-11, 3.27), beachboy Nut (12-14, 3.93), and Dropper Millieu (12-9, 3.00), a rough bunch to score on. CL Machine Beard (21 SV, 2.25) has been efficient.



Prediction

While we are not sold on either team as the 2317 champions, we do think both can make noise in the playoffs. Only one team can come out of this one. FHE has been good at winning at least one game in every series this season against the Swatters. However, pitching tends to stand out in the playoffs, and the Swatters were only bested in the CBO by the Radscorpions in that regard. We think this will be a quick series. Diamond City 2, FHE 0.

[StLee]

BNN Report

News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

5 September 2317

NCA Playoffs Preview - Wildcard Round

#5 Nahant Celtics (68-62) vs #4 The Slog Ghouls (71-59)

Season Series: Nahant 6, The Slog 4

April 17-19 @Nah: Nah 10-5, Nah 4-3, Nah 9-3
May 26-27 @Slog: Slog 6-4(12), Slog 6-5
June 23-25 @Slog: Nah 8-7, Slog 6-3, Slog 8-4
August 6-7 @Nah: Nah 16-3, Nah 12-3

Analysis

In 2296 and 2297, the CBO operated as four separate leagues. In the very first season, the The Slog Ghouls defeated the Finch Farm Four Leafs (now Nahant Celtics), 4 games to 1. Once the CBO began, these two teams became less relevant.

With their meeting in the Wildcard Round, the matchup of Nahant (4th) and The Slog (8th) is one of teams that do not make the playoffs much. The Celtics have never appeared in back-to-back years since their days as Finch Farm unitl now, with their last appearance coming in 2313. For the Ghouls, they had a slow run but have been in the playoffs a lot more frequently in the teens, making this their 6th appearance since 2310 and 5th in the last six years. The Slog won it all in 2314.

This season, Nahant had a slight advantage, 6-4, in the regular season with the home team mostly dominating: Nahant 5-0, The Slog 4-1. The Celtics also scored a lot of runs, especially in their two meetings in August when Nahant outscored the Ghouls, 28-5.

The Celtics, as shown, can put up runs, finishing 2nd in the NCA in runs scored (717). Seven players in all hit 10 or more home runs with RF Matt Paydirt (.340/20/73) leading the way. 2B Zara Zapper (.353/6/70) was the team leader in average, while LF Grandson Quarles (27) was the base stealer leader. Unfortunately, two of Nahant's better hitters, 1B Bulleye Shooterson (.270/17/50) and CF Josh Peerson (.294/17/75), are out with injuries in this series but may be back if the Celtics move on.

Pitching is not as good for Nahant, finishing 11th in runs allowed (704) and Starters ERA (4.86) and 13th in Bullpen ERA (5.55). No starter finished with an ERA below 4.00, with third starter Goody Two Shoes Robertson (7-7, 4.15) having the best ERA among starters. CL Tyler Furlow (32 SV, 4.27) was tied with Nordhagen Beach's Stagbuck Ewing for the NCA saves lead.



The Slog are one of the better hitting teams in the NCA, finishing 3rd in runs scored (681) and tied for 1st in home runs (169). Four players hit 20-plus, including star SS Gavin Deux-Gas (.331/27/67/34 SB) who led also in stolen bases. Zap Mast, Trog Alderod, and Hammer Longball each hit 22 home runs.

On the mound, the Ghouls are also in the top half, though barely. They finished 6th in runs allowed (611) and Bullpen ERA (4.57) and 4th in Starters ERA (4.09). The first two starters are legit: Buzzcut McDonald (15-6, 3.20) and Flirt Perez (15-10, 3.65). Austen Austin (6-1, 3.42) continues to be a bullpen force despite his down 2316 season.



Prediction

The first two games are at The Slog, with the third possible game at Nahant. Should this series go two games, we would think the Ghouls came out on top. A third game? We would go with the Celtics due to their 5-0 mark at home in the regular season series. We think one team is significantly better than the other, though, so we are going with that team. The Slog 2, Nahant 0

#6 Starlight Killers(67-63) vs #3 Malden Grognaks (71-59)

Season Series: Malden 2, Starlight 2

June 19-20 @Star: Mal 3-0, Star 3-2(11)
August 15-16 @Mal: Star 3-1, Mal 4-3(10)

Analysis

From 2306-2311, we thought Starlight had something ready to explode. The Killers made the playoffs every year during that stretch and won the IL two of the last three years (2309, 2311), showing improvement. Yet in all those years, the Killers made it to the Sole Survivor Series exactly zero times. They did make it to the NCA CS three years (2008, 2010-2011), but that has been as far as they have been able to go. Now, after a five year absence, Starlight is back to try it again.

Malden is new to the playoffs, having made their first appearance in 2315 and now their third-straight, including representing as the BL champions in 2316. Needless to say, the Grognaks are going to face the Killers for the first time this season in postseason play. As the #1 seed last season, Malden advanced to the NCA Championship Series but fell in seven games to Easy Town.

In the regular season matchups, every game was low-scoring and close with each team splitting the home-away series. Each team came away with one extra-innings victory with Malden outscoring the Killers 10-9 combined in the four games. This looks to be a pitcher's affair, which would strongly favor the Grognaks.

Starlight has slightly better pitching than Malden, but their offense is down there statistically, in fact entering the playoffs as the lowest-rated offense of the 12 teams. The Killers were 11th in the NCA in runs scored (570) with their tied for 7th ranking in home runs (132) being their best offensive category. CF Henry Hampster (.285/23/76) and C Justin Lower (.233/20/51) contributed to that number the most. SS Axe Dillworth (.333/10/46) was the team's batting average champion.

Pitching was quite good and enters the playoffs as one of the better units. Starlight was 2nd in both runs allowed (548) and Bullpen ERA (3.54) and 3rd in Starters ERA (4.03). Mercury Morris was an effective ace, going 14-10 with a 3.36 ERA. Closer Wizard Albutt (23 SV, 3.40) was effective enough. Former starter Whokill Poole (2-1, 2.60) was a bullpen master in 25 appearances and two starts.



Malden was one of the more balanced teams in the CBO, and really only finished behind the force that was the Assaultrons in 2317. On offense, the Grognaks were 5th in scoring (672) though they were a good team hitting (2nd with a .280 team average). The three-headed monster of average and power in 3B Jacob Tarberry (.337/26/94), CF Floren Habern (.330/25/78), and Jack of Diamonds Cordero (.347/22/96) make scoring quite easy at the top of the lineup. The bottom of the lineup will need to step up in the playoffs.

Pitching is also good, with the Grognaks tops in Bullpen ERA (3.34), including 3rd in runs allowed (551) and 5th in Starters ERA (4.11). Ace Hry Caje (15-9, 3.15) was dominant. CL Rump Pellstilt (30 SV, 5.14) had lots of saves but an untenable ERA from that spot.



Prediction

Malden is a good all-around team and Starlight may be happy to be here. While the season series was exciting, we are not predicting the same for the playoffs. We think this ends in two. Malden 2, Starlight 0

CBO Playoffs Power Rankings

Before getting through results, I tried to make a playoff power rankings. This involved pouring over stats and results and coming up with a "who comes out on top" approach. It is not hard data science, just something I will use in my predictions. Here are the results of overall for all 12 teams:

1. Jamaica Plain - great hitting, really good pitching
2. Easy Town - most balanced team
3. Malden - another balanced team
4. Glowing Sea - dominant pitching
5. Atom - balanced
6. The Slog - good offense, average pitching
7. Lexington - great pitching, faltering offense
8. Diamond City - dominant pitching
9. Nahant - good offense, weak pitching
10. Starlight - good pitching, weak offense
11. Quincy - good offense, weak pitching
12. FHE - average all-around

By this logic, we will ultimately predict Jamaica Plain to defeat Easy Town in the Sole Survivor Series. That's the Nat pick, anyway!