BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
8 August 2304
Analysis
As we hit the 75% mark of the season with 90 games down and 30 to go, we now have a much clearer picture of who will be in, who may be in, and who is definitely out in our first true look at the playoff picture. With just six weeks to play in the 2304 season, there are three divisional races and a few teams still alive for a wildcard spot. Let's look at the Power Rankings and then the Playoff Outlook.
The red-hot County Crossing Bloodbugs enter this week as #1, having gone 9-1 in their last 10, possessing a seven-game winning streak, and keeping an edge in the Brotherhood League for the NCA's best record. The Bugs swept Starlight (#20), won two of three over The Slog (#23), swept Fort Hagen (#8), and swept Easy Town (#9).
The Bloodbugs' BL rival, Nordhagen Beach, is #2. The Party Boys are also hot, going 8-2 in their last 10 with a sweep over Abernathy (#24), winning two of three over Finch Farm (#19), a sweep of the Lady Killers, and another two of three series over the Four Leafs.
Dropping two spots but still in possession of the CBO's best record is Roxbury at #3 after a 5-5 stretch. The Rad Sox were swept at Jamaica Plain (#5), won two of three against Vault 81 (#12), split at Spectacle Island (#22), and won two of three at Diamond City (#7).
The hottest team in the South Charles Association, University Point, comes in at #4 after an 8-2 stretch that sees them in sole possession of the Minutemen League. The Claws split at FHE (#11), won two of three at the Rockets, swept Oberland (#18), and swept the Reapers for their current five-game winning streak.
The Red Rockets round out the Top 5 after going 6-4, though they fell behind the Deathclaws by a game in the ML. In their last 10, the Rockets swept Roxbury, won one of three versus the Claws, split at the Swatters, and won two of three at Goodneighbor (#15).
Playoff Outlook
If the playoffs were to start today, these would be the seeds in the playoffs:
NCA - 1) County Crossing, 2) Sunshine Tidings, 3) Nordhagen Beach, 4) Fort Hagen, 5) Easy Town
SCA - 1) Roxbury, 2) University Point, 3) Jamaica Plain, 4) Diamond City, 5) Atom
NCA Outlook - The five seem to be set with the Assaultrons holding a 10-game lead on both Concord and Lexington for the wildcard spot. While either Easy Town or Fort Hagen could technically collapse, we do not see either the Radstags or Synths suddenly surging into relevancy. The only stories left in the NCA is the jostling for position with County Crossing leading the Party Boys by two games in the Brotherhood League and Sunshine Tidings leading the Silver Shroud by three games in the Insitute League.
Current prediction: What you see is what you get and the five seeds as they are now will be the same when the playoffs begin.
SCA Outlook - There is a potential wildcard battle with the Cats leading FHE by two games and Vault 81 by four. While we would consider the Dwellers to be the most talented team of the three, they are also the most injured. Vault 81 traded away star RF Aesed Haejin and two of their other powerhouse offensive players in 3B Knud Bather and 2B Harry Byrd are out for the month of August. While the Yao Guai could surpass Atom, they could also probably use some help. The Minutemen League divisional race will be exciting with the Deathclaws and Red Rockets only a game apart. Jamaica Plain has relied on dominant pitching as the best squad in Starters ERA (2.71) and 2nd in runs allowed (285), while University Point is the most dominant offensive team in runs scored (486). These two teams meet up one more time from September 9-11 with the Claws leading the series, 5-4. The Railroad League race is all but over with the Rad Sox and Swatters pretty sure to finish 1-2 in the league. Roxbury has a Magic Number of 17 with 30 to play; they will not collapse.
Current prediction: Just like the SCA, we are predicting the Deathclaws to edge out the ML championship and see the playoff seeds hold throughout the end of the season. If we had to shake up the predictions, let's call for the Yao Guai to claim the 5th seed over the Atom Cats.
Standings
Team vs Team
Power Rankings
Players of the Week
NCA
August 1 - His hard work and hustle paid off this week. The hard-working and hard-playing Ben Pawlak was rewarded with the North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
The scrappy Fort Hagen Silver Shroud center fielder hit .500 while collecting 9 hits in 18 at-bats, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs.
This season Pawlak is batting at a .382 clip with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs.
August 8 - Michael Fogcrawler of the Party Boys relied on a sharp eye and a quick bat to outpace all other North Charles Association hitters last week and collect the Player of the Week Award.
He hit .600 with 12 hits in 20 at-bats, 6 home runs and 9 RBIs.
In 90 games this season Fogcrawler is batting .288 with 103 hits and 29 home runs. He has scored 74 runs and driven in 67.
SCA
August 1 - The top batter in the South Charles Association last week was Young Goodman, who batted .474 and towered above everybody with a 5-game hitting barrage.
During the week Goodman banged out a .474 batting average (9-for-19), 2 home runs, 9 runs batted in and scored 3 runs.
Today the Roxbury left fielder received the SCA Player of the Week Award.
During the current season Goodman is batting at a .340 clip with 24 home runs and 68 RBIs. He has played in 85 games and scored 61 times.
August 8 - Today the South Charles Association announced its Player of the Week Award winner -- University Point Deathclaws center fielder Aesed Hayjen, who batted .591 (13-for-22) with 3 home runs, 6 RBIs and 6 runs scored.
Hayjen is hitting at a .293 mark this season. His stats show 25 home runs, 44 RBIs and 76 runs scored. He has played 90 games for the Deathclaws.
Statistical Standouts
NCA - NCA - RF Babs Rooth, County Crossing - 35 HR, .727 SLG, 1.157 OPS, 89 R, 264 TB, 65 XBH, 190 OPS+, .483 wOBA
SP Ugio Church, Nordhagen Beach - 2.24 ERA, 16 W, 173.0 IP, 1 SHO, 199 ERA+, 7.5 rWAR, .220 Opp Avg, .889 Win%
SCA -1B Barker Cocoa, University Point - 89 RBI, .495 OBP, 1.193 OPS, 6.7 WAR, 77 BB, 209 OPS+, 5.31 WPA, .502 wOBA
SP Digger Vadim, Jamaica Plain - 2.12 ERA, 153 K, 8.5 K/9, 210 ERA+, 7.2 rWAR
Transactions
Monday, August 8th , 2304
Egret Ninjas: Signed free agent LF Brian Andrewson to a minor league contract.
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Signed free agent RF Ben Dimecup to a minor league contract.
University Point Deathclaws: Signed 3B Adrian Miller.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Signed free agent 3B Adam DeAngelo to a minor league contract.
University Point Deathclaws: Released 3B Com Slurp.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Released 3B Adam DeAngelo.
Sunday, August 7th , 2304
Quincy Gunners: Placed 3B Ben Pettinato on the restricted list.
Atom Cats: Placed SP Scruffy Taguchi on the restricted list.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Released RP Catchy Clintock.
University Point Deathclaws: Signed 3B David Yellowsky.
University Point Deathclaws: Released 3B David Yellowsky.
Saturday, August 6th , 2304
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released RF Ben Dimecup.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Tanner Roberts.
Wednesday, August 3rd , 2304
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated SP Eugene Gym from the restricted list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Tanner Roberts.
Concord Radstags: Signed free agent 3B Fulton House to a minor league contract.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Matt Badbreath.
Tuesday, August 2nd , 2304
Abernathy Adamantium: Signed free agent 2B Unrivaled Rivera to a minor league contract.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Lowton Roberts.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Brian Scram.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed LF Jim Radiant.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Lowton Roberts.
Abernathy Adamantium: Released 1B Dustin Gatling.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released RF Brian Andrewson.
Monday, August 1st , 2304
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Released RP Chris Farmman.
Concord Radstags: Released C Jeremy Renner.
FHE Yao Guai: Released 3B Fulton House.
Easy Town Assaultrons: Released 1B Wiz Gandolph.
Diamond City Swatters: Released RF Josh Historybuff.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Ken Shinn.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Released SS Dave Beetlejuice.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Released RP Chris Liden.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Released RP Jason Bucky.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Released RP Jim Boatman.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed free agent SS Dave Beetlejuice to a minor league contract.
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Signed free agent CL Pete Green to a minor league contract.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed RF Greg Weatherly.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed free agent 1B Quay Tolsite to a minor league contract.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed free agent 3B Perry DeVita to a minor league contract.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed CF Chris Barnman.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed LF William Enablin.
Finch Farm Four Leafs: Released CL Pete Green.
FHE Yao Guai: Released SS Dave Beetlejuice.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Released 3B Kookie Westmoreland.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Released RF Greg Weatherly.
Sunday, July 31st , 2304
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Released 3B Perry DeVita.
Saturday, July 30th , 2304
Egret Ninjas: Released 1B Quay Tolsite.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Activated LF Damani Beebe from the restricted list.
University Point Deathclaws: Signed RP Brian Weaver.
University Point Deathclaws: Signed 3B Com Slurp.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed RF Dane Johnson.
University Point Deathclaws: Released 3B Mike Leggett.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Released RF Dane Johnson.
The University Point Deathclaws traded 17-year old minor league SS Jelani Samples to the Oberland T-51s, getting 27-year old LF Bryan Benton in return.
The Sunshine Tidings Chemists traded 19-year old minor league 1B Nuke Lebowitz, 21-year old minor league 2B Joe Malone, and a 2nd round draft pick to the Oberland T-51s, getting 26-year old SS Lernz Tentsleep and a 3rd round draft pick in return.
Friday, July 29th , 2304
Oberland T-51s: Placed 1B Wayne Lacy on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/27/2304.
The Slog Ghouls: Released RP Pete Green.
University Point Deathclaws: Signed 3B Nick Bushmonster.
University Point Deathclaws: Released 3B Nick Bushmonster.
The Egret Ninjas traded 27-year old 3B Shane Stabb to the Atom Cats, getting 21-year old minor league 1B Quay Tolsite, 19-year old minor league RHP Ed Rare, 24-year old minor league 3B Guru Bean, and 24-year old RHP Mat Nielsen in return.
The Vault 81 Dwellers traded 26-year old RF Aesed Hayjen to the University Point Deathclaws, getting 26-year old LF Kory Richardson, 27-year old LHP Kelvin Blueprint, 24-year old CF Jukebox Luttrell, 19-year old minor league LHP Ryan Mania, and a 1st round draft pick in return.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Released RF Scott Wrench.
Thursday, July 28th , 2304
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed RF Charlie Wells.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Released RF Charlie Wells.
Wednesday, July 27th , 2304
Vault 81 Dwellers: Placed SP Vince McCort on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/26/2304.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Placed 2B Harry Byrd on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/26/2304.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Placed LF Damani Beebe on the restricted list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Placed SP Eugene Gym on the restricted list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Moby Dick Costopoulos.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed RF Frank Packman.
Tuesday, July 26th , 2304
Diamond City Swatters: Released RP Bobby Atkison.