BNN Monthly Report
Last Month in the CBO, BMU, and BYDL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 August 2300
Players of the Month
NCA:
Hitter - 1B Zeldolph Violet, Starlight, .431, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 19 R
Pitcher - SP Tony Bertha, Salem, 5-0, 2.34 ERA, 50 IP, 37 K
Rookie - SP Mike Rubric, Abernathy, 3-1, 2.08 ERA, 39 IP, 18 K
SCA:
Hitter - 3B Pistol Schmidt, FHE, .393, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 16 R
Pitcher - SP Vince McCort, Vault 81, 5-0, 2.20 ERA, 41 IP, 20 K
Rookie - RF Bat Savelli, Egret, .271, 23 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI
CA:
Hitter - SS Keegan Heat, Outpost Zimonja, .452, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 13 R
Pitcher - SP Urm Rehfeldt, Malden, 4-1, 2.57 ERA, 28 IP, 15 K
MA:
Hitter - 1B Dusty Brownell, Boston Common, .340, 11 HR, 20 RBI, 13 R
Pitcher - SP Chris Morgen, Haymarket Mall, 4-0, 31.1 IP, 1.44 ERA, 22 K
State of Affairs
Now that we are in the final month (season end on 2 September), we can take a look at what we know, what we think we know, and what we do not know.
What we know:
The 50-win teams are going to make the playoffs. No, none of them have clinched a spot. However, unless any of those teams both collapse and a team currently on the outside gets really hot, they are going to be in.
Goodneighbor and Nordhagen Beach both stay consistent with occasional low spots. For example, both are 5-5 in their last 10. That gives Concord and Vault 81 current opportunities to seize the #1 seed in their associations.
FHE's Joe Rathmann is on the most direct path to the CBO Player of the Year award. The former Goodneighbor reject has emerged in the last couple of years as a full on star. His 7.0 WAR is far and away the CBO's best. Even with other players having good seasons--Oren Gep, Ben Pawlak, Aesed Hayjen, Tom Jones, Barker Cocoa, and Biter Trout, to name a few--Rathmann has been tearing up the league with hits, walks, and stolen bases, becoming a run-producing machine.
Roxbury's Beachboy Nut is going to lead his team to success one day. One the CBO's worst team with other stars waiting in the wings, Nut is 12-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 21 games started heading into the last month. His 12 wins represent 42.9% of the Rad Sox's victories on the season.
What we think we know:
Speaking of good seasons, Diamond City's Oren Gep looks to be the 2300 home run champion. Not only that, but the defending champions have nudged their way back into relevance after having a rough first half of the season, mainly because of an 8-14 May. Gep is helping a poor hitting-great pitching team stay in contention, leading the Swatters in the team Triple Crown (.361/33/75).
Nordhagen Beach is going to be tough to beat at any level. They hit, they pitch, they defend. No game is an easy one against the Party Boys, and no team in the North Charles Association can get past them without a fight. Tommy Beach (6-2, 2.55) is close to coming back from his injury rehabilitation. Then it is probably all go for the Boys.
What we don't know:
Easy Town seems to be a contender and sit just three back of the Party Boys, but their big trade before the deadline has gone boom. Looking to better their 8th-best Starters and Bullpen ERA, the Assaultrons went out and got outstanding pitcher Quentin Malone from the University Point Deathclaws. In just his second start with his new team, though, Malone tore his rotator cuff, ending his 2300 season. It was a big blow to the championship pursuits in Easy Town.
Statistical Leaders