BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
21 May 2300
News from Around the League
15 May - Malone Sparkles in 5-0 Shutout: Relying on pinpoint control and a good array of pitches, Quentin Malone of the University Point Deathclaws held the Roxbury Rad Sox scoreless today. He scattered 6 hits over 9 innings and fanned 10 on his way to the 5-0 victory.
So far this season Malone has a 6-3 record with a 2.54 ERA.
16 May - Jamaica Plain's Badluck Has Bad Luck
He must have a '1' for his SPECIAL because Jamaica Plain's minor league pitcher Kevin Badluck had the bad luck of unluckily running into an angry yao guai. Due to injuries the player playing for Haymarket suffered, Badluck will be out for the remainder of the 2300 season.
A former reliever with Nordhagen Beach, Badluck has bounced between the Red Rockets and Commados the last two seasons. In four appearances in 2300, the 37-year-old was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA.
18 May - Early Season End for Dozier: The news was not unexpected, but that didn't make it easier to accept for the The Slog Ghouls: starting pitcher Dan Dozier is out for the year. Dozier suffered shoulder inflammation on 05/16/2300. The team knew that the chances of seeing him return were slim to none. But today it was made official.
This year Dozier has 4 wins and 1 loss and a 4.14 ERA.
BNN Reports Ousting of Warwick Manager Langford: The Warwick Mirelurks have ended their relationship with skipper Old Man Langford, firing him this afternoon.
The Mirelurks indicated they will soon be interviewing candidates for the position.
"This time we hope to get someone with a proven track record. We want an experienced manager and will take our time in getting one," general manager Jason Liberti told reporters.
"No hard feelings," Langford said. "This is just part of the game. Warwick gave me an opportunity and I appreciate it. They treated me well and fairly. I just wish we could have done better."
Silver Shroud End Erb's Streak: The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud pitching staff did its job today, holding hot-hitting Dan Erb hitless in 5 at-bats during the club's 9-3 victory over the Concord Radstags at Hubris Comics Park. The disappointing performance ended a 22-game hitting streak for the left fielder.
"I'm a little down right now," Erb said after the game. "I couldn't get anything going when the team needed me, and I hated to see the streak end, too."
Erb is hitting at a .374 mark this season. His stats show 8 home runs, 35 RBIs and 27 runs scored. He has played 33 games for the Radstags.
19 May - Abernathy's Settler Receives Radio Freedom Call
Abernathy Adamantium 1B Steve Settler has to leave the team for nearly a week after he received a call from Radio Freedom's Minutemen leader Preston Garvey.
"He told me another settlement needs my help," Settler said of Garvey. "I have to go, but I plan to be back by next weekend."
Settler will be out for today and tomorrow's games against Lexington, and he's likely to miss the midweek series at The Slog. He is expected to return to the team in time for the trip to Sunshine Tidings, but the Adamantium may elect to fill his roster spot for that weekend instead due to uncertainty of his availability. They could elect to put him on the 7-day injury list that would delay his return to May 29 at Easy Town.
Settler leads Abernathy with a .343 average. He is also second on the team with 15 RBI.
20 May - Hope Hurls 9-0 Masterpiece: Matt Hope shut out the Concord Radstags 9-0 on a 5-hit masterpiece for the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud at Hubris Comics Park today.
"He was kind of teasing them with his off-speed stuff, and his fastball was moving everywhere," Fort Hagen skipper Mark Andersen said afterward.
Hope registered 5 strikeouts and issued 1 walk in pitching a gem.
"We just didn't swing the bats very well. Or else he just pitched good, whichever way you want to look at it," said Concord manager Mark Gourdroot after the defeat.
This season Hope has fanned 39 in 72.2 innings and collected a 7-1 record with a 2.35 ERA.
Party Boys, Beach Blank Easy Town, 6-0: Tommy Beach of the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys was in command from start to finish in his 6-0 shutout win over the Easy Town Assaultrons. He struck out 9, walked 0 and allowed 6 hits.
"I felt strong the entire game," Beach said. "I felt like I had my good stuff. It was just one of those games when everything was working."
This season Beach has a 5-2 record with a 3.36 ERA in 10 starts.
Scores
Tue 15 May
Slog 5 at Star 12 / ST 6 at CC 7 / FF 4 at Abe 5 / ET 3 at FtH 4 / NB 7 at Con 2 / Lex 5 at Sal 6, 14 inn
Qui 1 at Egr 6 / War 0 at DC 8 / Atom 23 at FHE 7 / JP 6 at Obe 2 / V81 7 at Good 2 / Rox 0 at UP 5
Performance of the Day: 1B Will Ashfire, Atom, 4 for 6, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Wed 16 May
Slog 3 at Star 5 / ST 2 at CC 10 / FF 3 at Abe 4 / ET 3 at FtH 4, 10 inn / NB 10 at Con 6 / Lex 2 at Sal 3
Qui 6 at Egr 10 / War 2 at DC 4 / Atom 8 at FHE 6 / JP 6 at Obe 2 / V81 11 at Good 13, 11 inn / Rox 1 at UP 9
Performance of the Day: 3B Jason Juras, Goodneighbor, 3 for 4, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 2 R, 9 RBI
Fri 18 May
Slog 5 at Sal 8 / Con 3 at FtH 9 / St 3 at Star 4 / ET 4 at NB 6 / CC 1 at FF 2, 10 inn / Lex 5 at Abe 3
Qui 0 at Good 2 / Atom 4 at JP 5 / UP 1 at War 5 / V81 7 at DC 2 / Obe 3 at FHE 6 / Rox 4 at Egr 5
Performance of the Day: 2B Dustin Bowfiddle, Egret, 4 for 4, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI
Sat 19 May
Slog 6 at Sal 3 / Con 1 at FtH 6 / ST 8 at Star 9, 14 inn / Lex 4 at Abe 5 / ET 5 at NB 3 / CC 5 at FF 4
Qui 4 at Good 2 / Atom 6 at JP 4 / UP 4 at War 3 / V91 9 at DC 10, 10 inn / Obe 9 at FHE 13 / Rox 12 at Egr 4
Performance of the Day: C Josh Freeman, Roxbury, 3 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI
Sun 20 May
Slog 10 at Sal 1 / Con 0 at FtH 9 / ST 5 at Star 0 / ET 0 at NB 6 / CC 5 at FF 3 / Lex 6 at Abe 1
Qui 3 at Good 4 / Atom 12 at JP 1 / UP 10 at War 6 / V81 3 at DC 4 / Obe 1 at FHE 4 / Rox 3 at Egr 2
Performance of the Day: 2B Alec Bullets, Atom, 3 for 4, 2 HR, BB, 3 R, 5 RBI
Players of the Week
NCA's Top Player Named: His hard work and hustle paid off this week. The hard-working and hard-playing Michael Fogcrawler was rewarded with the North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
The scrappy Nordhagen Beach Party Boys left fielder hit .526 while collecting 10 hits in 19 at-bats, 3 home runs and 7 RBIs.
This year Fogcrawler is hitting .278 with 7 home runs and 27 RBIs in 35 games played. He also boasts an OBP of .386 with 21 walks and 24 runs scored.
South Charles Association Names Top Player: So far in his young career, Jake Doucette has kept a low profile, but after his performance at the plate last week, he attracted the notice of the rest of the South Charles Association in a big way as he was named the Player of the Week today for his efforts.
The 22-year-old Atom Cats shortstop hit at a torrid .524 clip as he collected 11 hits in 21 at-bats, 1 home run, 6 RBIs and 9 runs scored.
To date this year Doucette is batting .304 with 3 home runs.
Transactions
Monday, May 21st, 2300
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Placed RP Justin Hale on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/20/2300.
Warwick Mirelurks: Placed C Canbed McMurtry on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/20/2300.
Sunday, May 20th, 2300
Abernathy Adamantium: Placed 1B Steve Settler on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/19/2300.
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Placed 2B Jim Synthseeker on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/19/2300.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed RF Boots Yellowhair on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/19/2300.
The Orange Tourists traded 19-year-old minor league reliever Dan Hensley to the Finch Farm Four Leafs, getting 32-year-old minor league reliever Brian Weaver in return.
Saturday, May 19th, 2300
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Placed SS Tib Shorthop on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/18/2300.
Lexington Synths: Placed CL Tom Chryslus on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/18/2300.
Friday, May 18th, 2300
FHE Yao Guai: Placed RP W. H. Lub on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/15/2300.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed SP Dan Dozier on the 60-day injured list.
Warwick Mirelurks: Fired manager Old Man Langford.
Warwick Mirelurks: Fired David Razorgrain.
Warwick Mirelurks: Signed manager Pete Brunick.
The Starlight Lady Killers traded 25-year-old minor league first baseman Corey Ballard to the Quartz Star Force, getting 19-year-old minor league catcher Justin Woodstove in return.
Thursday, May 17th, 2300
Diamond City Swatters: Activated CF Witcher Craft from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed RP Wonder Boy Fultz on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/16/2300.
The Grape Painted Ghouls traded 20-year-old minor league closer Wolf Jasmine and 21-year-old minor league first baseman Neil Watson to the County Crossing Bloodbugs, getting 22-year-old minor league right fielder Rich Troike in return.
Wednesday, May 16th, 2300
Lexington Synths: Placed SP Lawdog Whipple on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/15/2300.
The Quantum Nukalurks traded 21-year-old reliever Grape Willis to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, getting 33-year-old minor league first baseman Coast Vieira in return.
Tuesday, May 15th, 2300
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 27-year-old reliever Scaredy Cat Talbott to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, getting 20-year-old minor league first baseman Duncan MacCready and 23-year-old minor league starting pitcher Daron Hendrix in return.
Standings
Team Power Rankings
Weekly Team Power Rankings: Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (129.3, ++)
2) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (123.3, +)
3) University Point Deathclaws (114.0, ++)
4) Vault 81 Dwellers (111.1, --)
5) Goodneighbor Hancocks (107.9, ++)
6) Diamond City Swatters (104.9, ++)
7) Abernathy Adamantium (103.9, +)
8) Easy Town Assaultrons (99.9, --)
9) The Slog Ghouls (99.7, +)
10) Quincy Gunners (96.7, --)
11) FHE Yao Guai (95.6, ++)
12) Egret Ninjas (90.6, +)
13) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (90.6, -)
14) Salem Witch Hats (90.6, +)
15) Atom Cats (86.3, ++)
16) Lexington Synths (83.3, +)
17) Starlight Lady Killers (83.3, +)
18) Concord Radstags (82.6, --)
19) Oberland T-51s (81.6, --)
20) County Crossing Bloodbugs (79.1, o)
21) Finch Farm Four Leafs (52.6, o)
22) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (51.6, o)
23) Roxbury Rad Sox (51.4, +)
24) Warwick Mirelurks (45.4, -)
Analysis
We finally got to see a bit of a shakeup in the Power Rankings this week with some really hot and really cold teams. Not only that, but the team starting the coldest, #24 Warwick, even fired their manager Old Man Langford this week thanks to the team winning only nine games on the season. They did win Friday over University Point (#3) to ear their 10th win and first under new manager Pete Brunick who comes over after the youth league mergers.
As far as the top is concerned, there is a new #1 in the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud, which we will feature this week. The Shroud started the season cold, but a 13-2 May so far, including a 5-0 week with sweeps of Easy Town (#8) and Concord (#18 after an 0-5 week), see them sitting three games up on the Abernathy Adamantium (#7) in the Institute League, even though the Adamantium are the only team to beat Fort Hagen this month (twice last weekend). For the Shroud, winning streaks of eight games and now five games have made them #1.
Nordhagen Beach (#2) also saw a rise in the Rankings this week, winning 4 of 5 games. They pummeled the reeling Stags in two and then took 2 of 3 over the Assaultrons on the weekend, pushing their Brotherhood League lead from two games to three. The Boys used a barrage of runs this week to push their offense up in batting rankings, and Tommy Beach (5-2, 3.36) pitched a complete-game six-hit shutout yesterday to win the big early-season league series.
The Deathclaws had an easy schedule this week, facing the two worst teams in Roxbury (#23) and the Mirelurks. As mentioned above, they lost the Friday game, but otherwise went 4-1 tp help themselves to a one-game lead over Goodneighbor (#5) in the Minutemen League. The Hancocks had a 3-2 week, splitting with Vault 81 (#4) and then taking two against Quincy (#10). The Dwellers dropped to #4 after they lost the weekend series 2-1 to Diamond City (#6).
The only other major movers in the Power Rankings are an up-down affair. Atom (#15) will not compete for a playoff spot in 2300, but the Cats had an impressive 4-1 week, annihilating FHE (#11) 23-7 in Game 1 of a two-game sweep and then taking the weekend series at Jamaica Plain (#13). Their offensive production this week led to former 3rd-overall draft pick Doucette taking Player of the Week honors in the SCA. For the T-51s (#19), they are on a current seven-game losing streak, including being swept by both teams the Cats beat up on this week.
Looking at individual players, FHE’s Joe Rathmann (.444) looks as though he will annihilate Jarrett Metalbox’s 2298 bating average performance. Rathmann not only leads the CBO in average, but he is also 1st in WAR (3.3), OBP (.567), WPA (3.45), and weighted OBA (.536), tied for 1st with County Crossing’s Biter Trout for walks (37), 4th in Slugging % (.726), 2nd in OPS (1.293), tied for 3rd in hits (55), 5th in runs (34), 7th in total bases (90), 2nd in stolen bases (15), 2nd in stealing attempts (20), and 2nd in OPS+ (227). Along with Diamond City’s Oren Gep (.371/18.37), the NCA and SCA Nuka-Hitter Awards look to be settled at this point in the season. Those two are in a big lead for the CBO MVP Award.
For pitching, the usual array of stars continue to pitch mostly good games—Fort Hagen’s Matt Hope (7-1, 2.35), University Point’s Quentin Malone (7-3, 3.00), Oberland’s Sheng Kawolski (6-1, 2.66), Vault 81’s Edwin Mass (6-2, 2.51), Diamond City’s Tyler Powers (6-0, 2.20), Egret’s Phlip Wallace (6-2, 2.79), and Nordhagen Beach’s Tommy Beach (5-2, 3.36). If we had to pick our early favorites for the Vim! Pitcher Awards and starting pitchers in the All-Star Game, we would probably go with Hope in the NCA and Powers in the SCA. There are many other pitchers in the running, though, including Derek Green (3-1, 2.51) and Tony Bertha (4-2, 2.78) from the NCA and X10-44 Mannson (5-2, 2.67), Chris Teddybear (5-3, 2.71), and Quincy Eloquent (5-3, 2.99).
Team Focus: Fort Hagen Silver Shroud
Following a 10-10 April, including a 2-6 start, the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud are now the CBO’s hottest team. The Shroud have gone 13-2 in May, including a current five-game winning streak, to take over full control of the Institute League and tie the Brotherhood League’s Nordhagen Beach for the best record in baseball. It has been a swing for the NCA to take control at the top, but the Shroud and Party Boys have helped make that happen with their talented rosters.
Hitting has been the main reason Fort Hagen is so good. With the top offense in the NCA in overall production, the Shroud are winning a lot of their games by outscoring their opponents. They are currently 1st in runs scored (221), batting average (.294), OPS (.824), WAR (8.6), and wOBA (.352). They are in the top half of the NCA in every offensive category but stolen bases (8th with 18) despite having one of the best at stolen bases in the CBO, Well Done Dungan (14). The offensive lineup has been really good at hitting with 5 of the 8 regulars hitting over .300. Jim Tiller (.358/5/33), Mark Miller (.345/0/9), Ben Pawlak (.326/8/23), and Dungan (.323/0/21) allow the Shroud to get a hit about once every three at bats. The player struggling the most to hit has been RF David Driftwood (.192/7/24) who helps with power for the 4th-best home run hitting team (40 total). Other than his big hits, though, he has hurt the team. LF Andrew Nuka (.286/9/33) is also hitting a career low, but his batting average only looks “bad” because of how well his teammates hit. Otherwise, he has helped the offense churn out runs.
The pitching has not been as good as the offense, but that is more due to the bullpen rather than the starters. The Shroud have allowed the 5th-most runs (146), but their starters sport the 2nd-best ERA (3.36), only trailing league rival Abernathy for the CBO lead. Matt Hope is considered the 4th-best starter, allowing him to win matchup problems in going 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA. It has been a nice change moving from the ace role in Atom to the #4 in Fort Hagen, and we currently have him in the lead for the NCA Vim! Pitcher Award. Of course, there are also Derek Green (3-1, 2.51) and Mike Cartrette (4-3, 4.29) to contend with. Cartrette is struggling some this year, but we would not be surprised to see him finish with a 3.50 ERA by season’s end. Brent Hooker (3-3, 4.66) is also pitching decently well to win games when the offense produces. As good as the starters have been, though, the bullpen in dead last in ERA (5.04). Bob Kearns (0-1, 10.03) and All Day Acosta (0-1, 14.73) can take part of that blame. However, closer Curtis Thriceshot (3 SV, 4.63) has not been is a position to match his production of the last two seasons when he saved 33 and 32 games, respectively. Radscorpion Johnson (2-1, 1.26) and Joe Verti (2-1, 2.51) have been the two best bullpen pitchers in 2300.
We don’t know if the Skroud have finally and fully overcome their Sole Survivor Series loss hangover, but we do know they have looked the part so far in 2300 that they are primed not only to repeat as Institute League and North Charles Association champions, but they want the crown this season, too. With the way they have been hitting, and if Cartrette and Thriceshot find their groove, it will be hard for any team in the CBO to hold Fort Hagen down.