BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
11 June 2300
News from Around the League
8 June - Nordhagen Beach's Beach Diagnosis Revealed: The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys have made it official: Tommy Beach is headed to the injured list. The 23-year-old starting pitcher has been out since 06/06/2300 with a fractured thumb. He is expected to miss 7 weeks.
This season Beach has worked 91.2 innings with 80 strikeouts en route to a 6-2 record and a 2.55 ERA.
The Party Boys are now without three of their regular starters with Julian Shed and Matt Ranger still out with their injuries. Accident John is expected to step in to Beach’s pitching slot.
9 June - Swift Runs Hit String to 20 Straight Games: Mike Swift continued his streak at Tarberry Field Forever today, even as the ballgame did not go his way. The Nordhagen Beach catcher was 2-for-5 in today's contest and now has hit safely in his last 20 games. The Party Boys were not as fortunate, losing 9-8 to the The Slog Ghouls.
"Swift was hitting everything we threw at him," said The Slog manager Dick Tricky. "He is a tough out. Fortunately, things went our way in the ballgame today and we came away with a win."
Mike Swift grounded out in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, grounded out in the 5th, grounded out in the 6th and singled in the 8th.
Swift is hitting .365 in 2300 with 16 RBIs and 2 home runs.
9 June - Cherry Ghoulrillas Ship Garden to Finch Farm: The Cherry Ghoulrillas have finalized a deal with the Finch Farm Four Leafs for the services of 25-year-old minor league 2B Kurt Pool. In exchange, the Four Leafs will receive 31-year-old CF Andre Garden.
This year Garden is hitting .253 with 14 home runs.
Scores
Tue 5 Jun
Con 6 at FF 7 / ST 5 at Slog 7 / Sal 6 at FtH 4 / ET 4 at Star 6 / CC 4 at Abe 5 / Lex 3 at NB 4
Good 2 at FHE 4 / Atom 3 at Egr 4, 14 inn / UP 4 at DC 3 / V81 1 at JP 0 / Obe 5 at War 4 / Rox 4 at Qui 7
Performance of the Day: SP Edwin Mass, Vault 81, 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Wed 6 Jun
Con 8 at FF 6 / ST 5 at Slog 4 / Sal 7 at FtH 2 / ET 7 at Star 5 / CC 4 at Abe 17 / Lex 0 at NB 11
Good 6 at FHE 3 / Atom 3 at Egr 6 / UP 0 at DC 3 / V81 4 at JP 5 / Obe 0 at War 1 / Rox 8 at Qui 3
Performance of the Day: SP Brian Bridges, Warwick, 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, BB, 7 K
Fri 8 Jun
FtH 8 at Lex 1 / Sal 14 at ET 4 / FF 3 at CC 4 / NB 6 at Slog 2 / Abe 6 at Con 5 / Star 5 at St 4, 21 inn.
Good 5 at Atom 3 / War 2 at UP 1 / JP 6 at Qui 4 / DC 3 at Obe 1 / Egr 2 at Rox 7 / FHE 1 at V81 3
Performance of the Day: RF Chris Treestump, Salem, 4 for 4, HR, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI
Sat 9 Jun
FtH 1 at Lex 5 / Sal 4 at ET 5 / Star 4 at ST 2 / Abe 0 at Con 8 / FF 4 at CC 0 / NB 8 at Slog 9
Good 5 at Atom 3 / War 10 at UP 4 / JP 7 at Qui 1 / DC 2 at Obe 5 / Egr 8 at Rox 3 / FHE 6 at V81 7
Performance of the Day: SP Joe Penaltybox, Concord, 9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 8 K
Sun 10 Jun
Sal 4 at ET 5 / FF 1 at CC 10 / NB 8 at Slog 0 / Abe 0 at Con 1, 10 inn. / FtH 2 at Lex 5 / Star 7 at ST 5
JP 6 at Qui 7, 10 inn / DC 2 at Obe 1 / Egr 6 at Rox 2 / War 5 at UP 3 / Good 14 at Atom 4 / FHE 9 at V81 0
Performance of the Day: LF OK Dustin, County Crossing, 4 for 5, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI – Haven’t heard that name in a long time!
Players of the Week
North Charles Association Picks Top Player: It can be difficult for a young player to step out of the shadows and assert himself in the North Charles Association, but last week Ben Pawlak of the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud reminded everyone just why he's here as he threw up numbers that made him an easy selection for Player of the Week. Pawlak rocked opposing pitching for a .556 average (10-for-18), 1 home run and 5 RBIs to come away with the award.
This year Pawlak is batting .340 with 13 home runs.
SCA Awards Best Batter Prize to Danse: Veteran Paladin Danse had a great week at the plate for the Ninjas to capture the majority of votes for Player of the Week in the South Charles Association.
The 34-year-old Egret left fielder built a .474 average on the strength of 9 hits in 19 at-bats, 3 home runs and 7 RBIs.
This season Danse has banged out 47 hits in 187 at-bats for a .251 average with 12 home runs. He is getting on base at a .344 pace and his totals also include 33 RBIs and 37 runs scored.
Transactions
Monday, June 11th, 2300
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Activated RP Steven Rockman from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed 2B Chris Recore on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/10/2300.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF Micah Griswold.
The Dark Bloodworms traded 23-year-old reliever Ricky DaKraze to the Concord Radstags, getting 26-year-old minor league starting pitcher Ryan Huz in return.
The Victory Cave Crickets traded 20-year-old reliever Mark Knight to the FHE Yao Guai, getting 31-year-old minor league first baseman Settler Colon in return.
Sunday, June 10th, 2300
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Activated SP John Oldsink from the injured list.
Easy Town Assaultrons: Placed SS Matt Stoops on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/09/2300.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF Travis Blount.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF John Conant.
Saturday, June 9th, 2300
Atom Cats: Placed RP Trent Gentilcore on the 7-day injured list.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF Jimmy Gervais.
The Cherry Ghoulrillas traded 21-year-old minor league reliever Oliver McIntosh to the Egret Ninjas, getting 32-year-old minor league third baseman Dennis Hacker in return.
The Cherry Ghoulrillas traded 31-year-old center fielder Andre Garden to the Finch Farm Four Leafs, getting 25-year-old minor league second baseman Kurt Pool in return.
Friday, June 8th, 2300
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Placed SP Tommy Beach on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/06/2300.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF Craig No.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF Chris Wilkerson.
Thursday, June 7th, 2300
FHE Yao Guai: Activated LF Po Greenzone from the injured list.
FHE Yao Guai: Sent LF Po Greenzone to Triple A Eastlake for injury rehab.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed LF Jake Lionheart.
The Victory Cave Crickets traded 23-year-old minor league closer Jared Flips to the Salem Witch Hats, getting 35-year-old minor league first baseman Ray Wastearm in return.
Wednesday, June 6th, 2300
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed SP Josh Dude on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/05/2300.
Diamond City Swatters: Placed RF Wayne Lacy on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/05/2300.
Warwick Mirelurks: Activated RP Jayden Fleming from the injured list.
Warwick Mirelurks: Sent RP Jayden Fleming to Triple A Charles View for injury rehab.
Tuesday, June 5th, 2300
The Slog Ghouls: SP Bruce Iddings returns from his rehab assignment.
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Activated SS Tib Shorthop from the injured list.
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 (127.2, o)
2) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (112.6, ++)
3) Easy Town Assaultrons (108.4, +)
4) Vault 81 Dwellers (105.0, -)
5) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (104.0, --)
6) Abernathy Adamantium (102.4, o)
7) Concord Radstags (97.6, ++)
8) Salem Witch Hats (97.2, +)
9) Quincy Gunners (96.2, -)
10) Egret Ninjas (95.6, ++)
11) FHE Yao Guai (94.6, -)
12) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (94.6, o)
13) Oberland T-51s (94.6, --)
14) Diamond City Swatters (89.0, ++)
15) The Slog Ghouls (89.0, -)
16) Lexington Synths (88.4, -)
17) Starlight Lady Killers (87.8, ++)
18) University Point Deathclaws (80.0, --)
19) County Crossing Bloodbugs (78.2, o)
20) Warwick Mirelurks (70.8, ++)
21) Atom Cats (68.6, --)
22) Roxbury Rad Sox (62.8, -)
23) Finch Farm Four Leafs (61.8, -)
24) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (52.6, -)
Analysis
The Top 5 is a steady diet of teams with some past success, all looking to supplant the poor-performing defending champions for the Sole Survivor Series in 2300. As we reach the halfway point of the season this coming week, we hope that there are still chances for movement and surprises.
Goodneighbor maintains the top spot to go along with the best record in the CBO. After dropping their first game at FHE (#11), they won the next four over the Yao Guai and Atom (#21) for a 4-1 week.
Despite the bad news of losing their ace pitcher for awhile, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys come in at #2 with a 4-1 week. They swept Lexington (#16) and then won 2 of 3 at The Slog (#15) to maintain a two-game lead over the #3 team, Easy Town. The Assaultrons were 3-2 in the week, splitting at Starlight (#17) and then taking 2 of 3 versus Salem (#8).
Fort Hagen dropped to #4 this week after a weak showing over the week. The Silver Shroud were swept by Salem and dropped 2 of 3 at Lexington in a 1-4 week to see their league lead drop to one game, as well as sacrificing the top record in the North Charles Association to the Party Boys.
The Abernathy Adamantium (#6), our featured team this week, had a chance to take over first place in the Institute League. However, they dropped their last two games at Concord (#7) to finish the week only 3-2.
Team Focus: Abernathy Adamantium
IL winners in 2296 and 2298, the Abernathy Adamantium are looking to continue their even season success in 2300. Now just one game back of last year’s IL champs, the Silver Shroud, the Adamantium have made a sold push to the top, including a 14-8 May to help propel them.
On offense, the non-secret is that Abernathy is pretty bad. Their only two top-half statistical categories are OBP (6th at .325) and stolen bases (3rd at 39). Otherwise, they are in the bottom half in every other offensive category. The most telling is that they are 11th in the NCA in runs scored (196). Only two starters are hitting above .300: 1B Steve Settler (.332/5/22) and LF Bloatfly Williams (.314/2/16). Only RF Donny Kowalski (.259/10/30) has hit over 10 home runs for the 11th-best power team.
While the offense is not good, the pitching is outstanding. Abernathy is 1st in the NCA and CBO in runs allowed (170), Starters ERA (3.09), and Bullpen ERA (2.56). They have allowed 26 fewer runs than the next best team, Nordhagen Beach. The Adamantium is also #1 in Defensive Efficiency (.719), showing that they can shut teams down with good pitching and defense. Lack of run support has affected pitcher’s records in low-scoring games, like yesterday’s 1-0 loss in 10 innings, despite Brad Westing (6-6, 2.75) pitching a shutout through 9 innings. Gerald Jerry (6-3, 2.35) and Mike Rubric (4-2, 2.72) both hold sub 3.00 ERAs, while fourth starter Bad Company Grognak (3-4, 3.89) is also pitching well. Kyle Hooch (1-1, 0.44) has been one of the most dominant bullpen pitchers in 2300, while closer T-Bone Heagy (17 SV, 4.18) has had a few late-inning struggles.
For Abernathy to find continued success, they need to find a way to start hitting the ball better in the second half of the season. Assuming they can remain healthy on the mound, they should remain competitive and keep most games to low-scoring affairs. A clutch hit here and there could then be all they need to continue winning at a .550+ percentage, which should be enough to get a team in the playoffs.