BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the BMU
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
11 June 2300
News Around the League
5 June - Shaum Stops Bunker Hill Cold, Robotics Experts Win, 3-0: 23-year-old Galleria Robotics Experts pitcher Punky Shaum had a strong outing against the Bunker Hill Gun Fu at Wicked Shipping Field today, keeping them off the scoreboard the whole game. He struck out 5 in the 3-0 win and walked 0 while surrendering 6 hits.
"Hopefully there will be plenty more of these in the future for us," he said.
This year Shaum has worked 52.1 innings with 47 strikeouts en route to a 4-1 record and 3.27 ERA.
Pugilists End Covert's Streak: The 25-game hitting streak of Kevin Covert has come to an end. The Haymarket Mall Commandos left fielder went 0-for-4 today in his team's 2-1 loss to the Forest Grove Pugilists at Garden Terrace Field.
"It's not just Kevin who came up short today," Commandos manager Squirt Becker said in his postgame press conference. "This was a team loss."
In 2300 Covert has hit at a .427 clip with 53 hits, 5 home runs, 23 RBIs and has scored 22 times.
Players of the Week
CA Star of the Week Named: At the age of 27, Bill Lebowski might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Taffington Boathouse left fielder put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .583 batting average. For his efforts Lebowski collected the Commonwealth Association Player of the Week Award.
He racked up 7 hits in 12 at-bats, 2 home runs and 10 RBIs last week in 3 games.
Looking at his stats this year, Lebowski has compiled a .306 batting average, while hitting 2 home runs and driving in 19 runs. He has played in 31 games and scored 22 runs.
Week's Premier Player: Forest Grove's Church: 20-year-old Moses Church made a few Forest Grove headlines during this past week as the rookie left fielder proved he could compete at the plate with his high-school idols. He captured the attention of fans, journalists and Massachusetts Association officials last week and today took home Player of the Week honors for his effort.
He cracked 5 hits in 9 at-bats to put up a .556 average. Church collected 5 home runs, 8 RBIs and scored 5 runs.
This season Church is batting .382 with 24 RBIs, 27 runs scored and 12 home runs.
Prospect Spotlight
The Movers and Shakers: Players ready to move up or jump to another team. We'll take a look at four young players who have the talent to play at the next level now, but may need an injury or trade to get that chance.
1B Dusty Brownell, Boston Common Lead Bellies (University Point), 38/103 (.369), 2 2B, 22 HR, 30 R, 48 RBI, 24 BB, 19 SO
Analysis: Drafted in the 13th round of the then East Boston Prep Assaultrons, Brownell has never been given the chance he needs at the CBO level to thrive. Considered to be the top in current talent in the BMU, the power-hitting first baseman is stuck on a franchise with little chance for upward movement. That is because the Deathclaws have a player named Barker Cocoa hitting .362 with 17 homers and 46 RBI. For Brownell to get his chance, he will need to be moved, which is a possibility for the suddenly-struggling UP team. Once in first place in the Minutemen League, the Claws are now seven games back of Goodneighbor and a game back of the 5th wildcard spot.
CF Gee Force, Charles View Cannibals (Warwick), 27/83 (.325), 3 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 17 R, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 9 SO, 5 SB, 2 CS
Analysis: Force did get his shot earlier in the season, playing in 10 games for the Mirelurks where he hit .190 in 21 at bats with a double and triple. A 2nd-round pick in the 2296 Rookie Draft, Force has shown that he has good current talent with better future potential. However, he must take advantage of the opportunity when he gets another shot.
SP Chris Ciccone, Union Hope Lifegivers (Lexington), 2 GS, 0-0, 3.86, 14.0 IP, 16 HA, 6 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Analysis: For a guy who has started only two games in 2300, Ciccone seems a strange choice to be here. But that is because a serious elbow injury derailed his 2299 season, leading to a late comeback this season. Sure, he was 2-9 with a 5.81 ERA with Lexington in 2300, but Ciccone had talent to burn. He features three good pitches with a fourth OK one. He also has good movement and control and overall keeps balls in the park. The Synths could use his services right now, with Chad Sweet (1-8. 5.63) struggling immensely.
CF Jared Zaccone, College Square Nerd Ragers (Concord), 31/94 (.330), 2 2B, HR, 18 R, 11 RBI, 13 BB, 19 SO, 8 SB, 3 CS
Analysis: Concord's 2nd-round pick in the 2296 Rookie Draft, Zaccone has yet to get his shot at the CBO level with the Radstags. Some think his fiery and confrontational personality is to blame, but the Radstags also sport a decently good outfield with Dan Erb, Pockets Aintfull, and Gene Leftswipe. Zaccone could fit in as a decent leadoff hitter on a team or at least bat at the bottom of the order to help steal late-lineup runs. Unless the Stags hit a cold streak or become injury-prone, Zaccone probably needs the team to move him for his first CBO chance.
Weekly Team Power Rankings
Weekly Team Power Rankings: Here are the current team power rankings for Boston Minor Union:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Fiddler's Green T-60s (122.9, +)
2) Galleria Robotics Experts (120.3, ++)
3) Haymarket Mall Commandos (119.1, -)
4) Natick Banks Big Leaguers (118.3, -)
5) Taffington Boathouse Spy Hunters (113.5, ++)
6) College Square Nerd Ragers (112.3, -)
7) Boston Common Lead Bellies (111.3, -)
8) Outpost Zimonja Strongbacks (106.5, --)
9) Somerville Place Sentry Bots (103.7, ++)
10) Forest Grove Pugilists (101.7, -)
11) Malden Grognaks (94.9, ++)
12) Cabot House Rayguns (91.9, -)
13) Charles View Cannibals (88.9, -)
14) Union Hope Lifegivers (88.9, -)
15) Greentop Nursery Night People (84.9, -)
16) Corvega Flamers (83.3, ++)
17) C.I.T. Ruins Refractors (77.5, ++)
18) Breakheart Banks Behemoths (77.3, o)
19) Bunker Hill Gun Fu (67.5, -)
20) Trinity Plaza Snipers (66.7, --)
21) Eastlake Aquaboys (57.1, +)
22) Mystic Pines Raybathers (55.1, -)
23) Vault 95 Robobrains (51.1, -)
24) Postal Square Action Boys (47.3, o)
Stats and Standings