BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
4 June 2300
News from Around the League
29 May - Pawlak Cracks 3 HR for Silver Shroud: The old superstition that "bad news comes in threes" certainly came true for the Finch Farm Four Leafs today.
Fort Hagen center fielder Ben Pawlak tripled up on the home runs to propel the Silver Shroud to the 14-3 win at Hubris Comics Park.
"We had our chances to win the game, but we just didn't come through," Finch Farm manager Wiley Boat said. "Pawlak hit the heck out of the ball."
In addition to the homers, Pawlak collected 3 hits in 4 at-bats, 9 RBIs and scored 3 runs.
"Easy swings get you home runs," he said after the game. "I kept telling myself not to press. They have to be nice and easy swings."
Ben Pawlak hit a two-run home run off Blaine Phrasemaker in the 1st, hit a three-run home run off Blaine Phrasemaker in the 2nd, walked in the 3rd, hit a three-run home run off John Irwin in the 5th and grounded out in the 6th.
So far this season Pawlak has 12 home runs and a .323 batting average.
30 May - League Punishes Pair for Fighting: If there wasn't a history between Mike Van Noord of Jamaica Plain and Danny Haines of Vault 81, then there is one now. The incident between the two sparked a bench-clearing scrum with those two being the center of attention. Now they will miss 3 and 5 games respectively as a result of their actions. The league office announced their suspensions today.
"We're both really competitive," Van Noord said later, "and sometimes things go a little too far because of it."
Van Noord is currently batting .231 with 7 home runs, 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored. He has 21 hits in 91 at-bats.
This season Haines has compiled a 0-0 mark with a 3.38 ERA.
1 June - Bridges Shuts Out Cats, 1-0: The Warwick Mirelurks shut out the Atom Cats 1-0 today behind the strong pitching of Brian Bridges. Bridges surrendered only 6 hits in recording the complete-game victory, and struck out 7.
Following the last out, Bridges appeared to celebrate a little too boisterously for Atom manager Paul Stands, who could be seen scolding the famously outspoken left-hander as the clubs left the field. Bridges's own manager then intervened with some words for his counterpart.
The Cats skipper would not comment on the exchange, but at the Mirelurks press conference, Bridges confirmed that it was regarding the celebration.
"He basically told me I was being a lousy winner," Bridges said.
"And I told him he was being a lousy loser," Warwick manager Pete Brunick added.
This year Bridges has worked 67 innings with 56 strikeouts en route to a 3-7 record and 5.37 ERA.
3 June - 3 Home Runs for Erb: Anyone wearing a glove and sitting in the bleachers for today's Radstags-Lady Killers game had a good chance at snagging a home run ball.
Concord left fielder Dan Erb thrice sent eager fans scurrying to catch a souvenir, helping lead the Concord to a 11-6 win over Starlight.
"Hey, the three homers were great, but I'm just trying to help my ballclub," Erb said later. "I'm not going out there thinking I need another home run."
Erb was 4-for-5 on the day with 7 runs batted in.
Dan Erb grounded out in the 1st, hit a solo-shot off Steve Rocky in the 4th, hit a two-run home run off Steve Rocky in the 6th, hit a GRAND SLAM off Adan Cent in the 6th and singled in the 8th.
A look at his season totals shows Erb with 11 home runs, .355 BA, .426 OBP, 45 RBIs and 34 runs scored.
Udder Tosses Shutout Against Ninjas: Matt Udder spun his magic in a 10-0 shutout victory at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina today, leading the Oberland T-51s to victory, 10-0 over the Egret Ninjas. The Oberland pitcher put quite a spell on Egret in a strong performance, allowing 2 hits while totaling 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.
"I had a lot of good things working in this one," Udder said. "I worked both sides of the plate. I was rarely behind in the count."
To date this season Udder is 6-3 with 11 starts and an ERA of 4.23 with 45 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.
Starlight Lady Killers Ship Frickitt to Salem: The Starlight Lady Killers have parted ways with 24-year-old minor league RF Dave Frickitt and a 7th round draft pick in a trade with the Salem Witch Hats for 22-year-old minor league RHP Jason Bucky and a 4th round draft pick. Lady Killers general manager Chris Gowest confirmed the deal in an announcement this morning.
Abernathy-Quincy Trade: Neo for Junkpile: The Abernathy Adamantium announced a deal with the Gunners today, sending 29-year-old C Dan Neo and 21-year-old minor league 2B Karate Ripfart to Quincy for 25-year-old C Jeremy Junkpile, 21-year-old minor league CF Bumper Robinson and a 5th round draft pick. It had been talked about for the past few weeks and everything came together late last night. All players are expected to be joining their respective clubs shortly.
This year Neo is batting .135 with 2 home runs and 10 RBIs. In 42 games he has scored 9 times.
Scores
Tue 29 May
Slog 5 at Con 1 / ST 5 at CC 4 / FF 3 at FtH 14 / NB 2 at Lex 3 / Abe 1 at ET 2 / Star 11 at Sal 6
Qui 6 at Obe 7 / War 11 at FHE 2 / JP 8 at V81 1 / DC 4 at Atom 9 / Egr 2 at Good 4 / Rox 7 at UP 5
Performance of the Day: CF Ben Pawlak, Fort Hagen, 3 for 4, 3 HR, BB, 3 R, 9 RBI
Wed 30 May
Slog 2 at Con 9 / ST 2 at CC 3 / FF 7 at FtH 3 / NB 1 at Lex 3 / Abe 5 at ET 1 / Star 2 at Sal 6
Qui 7 at Obe 8 / War 0 at FHE 7 / JP 8 at V81 1 / DC 4 at Atom 5 / Egr 3 at Good 7 / Rox 3 at UP 5
Performance of the Day: SP Papa Bush, FHE, 8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Fri 1 Jun
Slog 3 at NB 4 / Con 2 at Star 10 / ST 1 at Abe 6 / ET 2 at FF 6 / CC 8 at Sal 4 / Lex 13 at FtH 4
Qui 7 at JP 3 / Atom 0 at War 1 / UP 2 at Good 4 / V81 2 at FHE 8 / Obe 2 at Egr 5 / Rox 7 at DC 3
Performance of the Day: RF Crooked Tostado, Lexington, 2 for 4, 2 HR, BB, 2 R, 7 RBI
Sat 2 Jun
ST 5 at Abe 3 / Con 4 at Star 2 / Lex 1 at FtH 6 / CC 0 at Sal 2 / ET 4 at FF 2 / Slog 10 at NB 1
Qui 5 at JP 3, 11 inn / Atom 6 at War 3 / UP 4 at Good 13 / Rox 3 at DC 6 / V81 7 at FHE 8 / Obe 7 at Egr 1
Performance of the Day: LF Andrew Nuka, Fort Hagen, 2 for 2, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 R, 6 RBI
Sun 3 Jun
Con 11 at Star 6 / ST 3 at Abe 1, 10 inn / ET 4 at FF 3 / CC 3 at Sal 5 / Lex 1 at FtH 2 / Slog 6 at NB 4
Qui 1 at JP 4 / Atom 3 at War 1 / V81 5 at FHE 4 / Obe 10 at Egr 0 / UP 6 at Good 10 / Rox 10 at DC 7
Performance of the Day: LF Dan Erb, Concord, 4 for 5, 3 HR, 3 R, 7 RBI
Players of the Week
Erb Week's Best Player: Dan Erb demonstrated his potential to be a star in the game last week and today he took home the North Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
The Concord left fielder wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers last week, pounding them for a .409 average (9-for-22) with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs on his way to claiming the honor.
So far this season Erb is hitting .355 with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs and 34 runs scored. He has 61 hits in 172 at-bats and a .426 OBP.
Ratican Collects Player of the Week Award: Matt Ratican has the tools to stick in this league for many years. The 22-year-old first baseman of the Roxbury Rad Sox had a hot bat in the South Charles Association over the past seven days and won the Player of the Week honors.
Ratican batted .556 with 10 hits in 18 at-bats, 4 home runs and 10 RBIs.
Posting a .331 batting average to date, Ratican has 7 home runs and 28 RBIs.
Transactions
Monday, June 4th, 2300
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Placed CF Ed Tarberry on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/03/2300.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Activated RP Cal Silent from the injured list.
The Orange Tourists traded 20-year-old reliever Bossy O'Malley to the Roxbury Rad Sox, getting 33-year-old minor league third baseman Mike Montano in return.
Sunday, June 3rd, 2300
University Point Deathclaws: Placed CF Jukebox Luttrell on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/02/2300.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Activated 3B Grognak Inman from the injured list.
The Starlight Lady Killers traded 24-year-old minor league right fielder Dave Frickitt and a 7th Round Pick to the Salem Witch Hats, getting 22-year-old minor league reliever Jason Bucky and a 4th Round Pick in return.
The Abernathy Adamantium traded 29-year-old catcher Dan Neo and 21-year-old minor league second baseman Karate Ripfart to the Quincy Gunners, getting 25-year-old catcher Jeremy Junkpile, 21-year-old minor league center fielder Bumper Robinson and a 5th Round Pick in return.
Saturday, June 2nd, 2300
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Activated RP Zippy Patterson from the injured list.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed SP John Oldsink on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/01/2300.
Friday, June 1st, 2300
Lexington Synths: Activated CL Tom Chryslus from the injured list.
The Wild Gatorclaws traded 21-year-old minor league closer Chris Capps and 20-year-old first baseman Erik Johnsen to the County Crossing Bloodbugs, getting 26-year-old minor league second baseman Blake Fibmuch in return.
Thursday, May 31st, 2300
Concord Radstags: Placed SP Phil Cecil on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/30/2300.
The Slog Ghouls: Activated SP Bruce Iddings from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Sent SP Bruce Iddings to Triple A Outpost Zimonja for injury rehab.
Standings
Team Power Rankings
Weekly Team Power Rankings: Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Goodneighbor Hancocks (123.0, ++)
2) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (120.0, -)
3) Vault 81 Dwellers (109.0, o)
4) Easy Town Assaultrons (108.0, ++)
5) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (104.0, --)
6) Abernathy Adamantium (104.0, -)
7) Quincy Gunners (101.0, -)
8) Oberland T-51s (100.0, ++)
9) Salem Witch Hats (100.0, +)
10) FHE Yao Guai (97.0, -)
11) Concord Radstags (94.0, ++)
12) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (93.0, +)
13) The Slog Ghouls (92.0, +)
14) University Point Deathclaws (89.0, --)
15) Lexington Synths (88.0, +)
16) Atom Cats (86.0, ++)
17) Egret Ninjas (84.0, --)
18) Diamond City Swatters (81.0, --)
19) County Crossing Bloodbugs (78.0, --)
20) Starlight Lady Killers (70.0, o)
21) Roxbury Rad Sox (67.0, +)
22) Finch Farm Four Leafs (62.0, -)
23) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (60.0, o)
24) Warwick Mirelurks (52.0, o)
Analysis
The Goodneighbor Hancocks have returned to #1 for the first time in the 2300 season, making them the team we will feature this week in our Team Focus. The Hancocks took all five games this week, topping Egret (#17) and University Point (#14) to move into the top record in the South Charles Association, only a game behind in the CBO to . . .
Fort Hagen drops to the #2 spot this week despite holding on to the top record in the CBO. The Shroud only went 3-2 on the week, splitting with Finch Farm (#22) and then beating Lexington (#15) 2 out of 3. The Silver Shroud also saw two players—Ben Pawlak and Andrew Nuka—earn Performance of the Day awards.
At #3, Vault 81 returns to its same spot from last week despite having a terrible 1-4 week. The Dwellers dropped two home games to Jamaica Plain (#12) and then lost 2 of 3 at FHE (#10). In the four losses, Vault 81 allowed 8 runs each time.
Easy Town shot up to #4 thanks in part to its weekend success while #5 Nordhagen Beach faltered. The Assaultrons were 3-2, splitting with Abernathy (#6) and then beating Finch Farm. The Party Boys dropped two at Lexington and then lost the weekend series at home to The Slog (#13).
Other teams that had good weeks include Oberland (#8) with a 4-1 week, Concord (#11) with a 3-2 week, and Atom (#16) with a 4-1 week. No team went 0-5 this week.
We already featured a few of the league leaders in the race to the Nuka-Hitter Award and the Vim! Pitcher Award in the BNN Monthly Report, so let’s take a look at some relievers and rookies staking a claim on the Fallon’s Reliever Award and the Red Rocket Rookie Award.
NCA Fallon’s Reliever Award Leader:
CL Aaron Geneva, Easy Town – 3-1, 2.10 ERA, 15 SV, 1.6 WAR, 25.2 IP, 25 HA, 6 ER, 15 BB, 33 K.
Others considered: RP Kyle Hooch, Abernathy; CL Aaron Still, Concord; CL William Whitehurst, County Crossing; CL Matt Breakball, Nordhagen Beach
SCA Fallon’s Reliever Award Leader:
CL Tiny Greene, Goodneighbor – 1-0, 1.15 ERA, 9 SV, 1.1 WAR, 15.2 IP, 16 HA, 2 ER, 5 BB, 23 K
Others considered: CL Andy Helium, Egret; CL Aaron Somer, Roxbury; RP Mike Safeman, Diamond City; CL Wick Prater, Quincy
NCA Red Rocket Rookie Award Leader:
RF Gene Leftswipe, Concord - 52 for 150 (.347), 8 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 26 R, 32 RBI, 24 BB, 22 SO, 10 SB, 2.1 WAR
Others considered: SP Mike Rubric, Abernathy; 1B Lannie Tykeson, Easy Town; 1B Ajani Peacock, County Crossing; RP Chris Essary, Easy Town
SCA Red Rocket Rookie Award Leader:
3B Deerlord Fugivmee, Roxbury – 51 for 176 (.290), 11 2B, 3 3B, HR, 23 R, 11 RBI, 10 BB, 27 SO, 12 SB, 2 CS, 1.1 WAR
Others considered: RF Bat Savelli, Egret; RP Walt Barbed, Roxbury; LF Bobby Hughey, Goodneighbor; CF Any Why, FHE
Team Focus: Goodneighbor Hancocks
Lookout, CBO. The three-time Minutemen League champions are back in the lead. Looking like they may have a lot of competition in the Quincy Gunners and University Point Deathclaws in 2300, the Hancocks have found their pattern of success yet again. While the Gunners seem to be the best-balanced team, Goodneighbor has one thing going for it: star power.
The Hancocks are 2nd in the SCA in scoring but 1st in batting average, OBP, OPS, and WOBA. CF Good Don Duck (.390/5/34) has been hitting the cover off the ball in his new lineup role as the cleanup hitter. 1B Bryan Assman (.362/9/24) is not having the dominant season that he is used to, but he is playing great enough to help his team to victories. SS Burtie Cuttooth (.308/10/38), 2B Jumper Hayes (.305/8/35), and 3B Jason Juras (.311/12/29) are all hitting over .300. C Justin Browneye (.282/13/36) could be in contention for a BosCom Positional Hitter Award. The Hancocks are missing LF Zachary Utsinger (.332/17/75) who could be back in time for the playoffs if he recovers well from a torn meniscus.
Goodneighbor’s pitching is also starting to find its groove with 205 runs allowed (3rd in SCA). They are 3rd in Starters ERA (4.04) and 4th in Bullpen ERA (4.07) with the top FIP (4.19) and Pitching WAR (6.1). Where they have to get better is in defense where they are 12th in Errors (45). SP Quincy Eloquent (7-4, 3.46) and SP Josh Dude (5-2, 3.76) are holding runs down. The other two starters—Matt Pageturner (4-2, 4.52) and Oscar Chekhemani (3-1, 4.94)—are also holding their own. SP John Oldsink (4-4, 4.40) should replace Chekhemani in a week. Closer Tiny Greene, mentioned as the leader for the Fallon’s Reliever Award, is holding down the bullpen.
This team is not going away just yet. They are a veteran group with enough amazing youth like Assman, Hayes, Duck, Oldsink, and Utsinger to stay fresh and make a deep playoff run. They might even find themselves back where they were two years ago on a collision course with a returning Sole Survivor Series opponent like the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud or the Easy Town Assaultrons, which Goodneighbor swept two years ago.