Now that Spring Training is complete, teams can turn their attention to the regular season, a 98-game affair from April through early-September.
For the 2298 season, P.A.M., or the Predictive Analytic Machine, has returned to offer her deep dive into the world of Commonwealth baseball.
P.A.M. is a master of predictive analysis. Running the numbers, here is what P.A.M. had to say about the 2298 season.
"I was, am, and will most likely be P.A.M. Predictive Analytic Machine. All systems fully functional. Baseball token recognized. I provide first order approximations of the behaviors of all residents of the region designated Commonwealth. Rephrasing. I predict the future.
Rephrasing. I also provide first order approximations of the results of baseball of the league designated CBO. Commonwealth Baseball Organization. Nate Howard has reprogrammed this unit's new primary goal. He calls it the B.P.M. Baseball Prediction Model.
Processes reaching maximum capacity. Output only. User must fill in own conclusions. Data sustained. Accuracy is expected to reach better than 80%. Results printed. Recharge in progress. End transmission."
North Charles Association
Analysis
The Party Boys and Ghouls are expected to slug it out for the top spot in the North Charles Association. The rest of the Brotherhood League is not expected to compete, meaning it is very likely both of those teams are in the playoffs. In the Institute League, things are a bit muddier. Concord and Starlight are not expected to be in the league race, but any other team could win it. In fact, by PAM's prediction there will be a three-way tie for first with Sunshine Tidings expected to finish just a game back.
We're not going to assume PAM's formula will happen this way, so we're thinking that Abernathy is the better all-around team of the four with an expectation that the Adamantium will have the NCA's top offense. At the same time, they will give up a lot of runs. For Fort Hagen, they will battle for that second slot, but they get the nod to beat out the defending league champion Synths.
Finch Farm's RF Matt Basile is predicted to win the association Hitter of the Year award. Nordhagen Beach's Chet Arthur is getting the prediction to win the Pitcher of the Year Award. Starlight's Zeldolph Violet is the prediction to win Rookie of the Year.
South Charles Association
Analysis
The South Charles Association features two surprises in PAM's prediction, making the BBN staff question if PAM has some functionality problems. The two big surprises are the predictions that Jamaica Plain will grab the Minutemen League wildcard, while Diamond City will take the wildcard in the Railroad League. Out thoughts: they won't. In fact, we have them both picked to finish at the bottom of their divisions.
In the Minutemen League, we actually do not expect many surprises. Quincy should win the division thanks to a well-balanced team to put them over the top. Goodneighbor is our expected wildcard team, but Warwick and University Point (and apparently the Red Rockets) will have something to say about that. Atom is not expected to compete for the league title or wildcard spot.
Oberland is again expected to be #1 overall at the end of the season. They should run away with their league yet again, especially with the addition of 48 games on the schedule. The T-51s may not find themselves as successful playing against the Minutemen League, but the rest of the RL will struggle, too. It is hard to imagine FHE dropping to 4th place as PAM predicted, but it does look like the Swatters and Vault 81 have the inside track to the wildcard. We shall see. Egret and Roxbury is our prediction to battle Diamond City for 6th place.
Goodneighbor's Bryan Assman is the prediction to win Hitter of the Year. Chris Teddybear of Jamaica Plain is the pick for Pitcher of the Year. Roxbury's Beachboy Nut is the pick for Rookie of the Year.
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
North Charles Association
#4 Fort Hagen vs #1 Nordhagen Beach - W
#3 The Slog - W vs #2 Abernathy
South Charles Association
#4 Jamaica Plain vs #1 Oberland - W
#3 Diamond City vs #2 Quincy - W
Sole Survivor Series
The Slog returns to prominence, defeating the defending champions, Oberland, in seven games.