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BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, GBRL, Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
29 May 2305
CBO Analysis
From 1/4 of the way through the season to 1/3 of the way, we have some teams now making their moves toward a playoff push while a few other teams are starting to look like pretenders. Let's take a look at the Top 5 before we look around the leagues.
Two-time defending champions, and now on a 14-game winning streak to take firm control at #1, we have the Roxbury Rad Sox. The Sox swept Quincy (#24), Egret (#9), the Gunners again, and Oberland (#12).
Holding the CBO's best record this week by a 1/2 game, we have the University Point Deathclaws at #2. The Claws went 9-1 in their last 10 games, sweeping the Ninjas, winning two of three over Goodneighbor (#21), swept Egret again, and the swept Atom (#3) at Atom in a series where the Deathclaws came in only one game up. They now lead the Minutemen League by 4.
As mentioned above, the Cats are #3, going 6-4 in the last two weeks. Atom swept Vault 81 (#20), won two of three at Quincy, swept FHE (#17), and then got swept by the Deathclaws.
Making a huge leap up this week at #4 is the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys after a 9-1 run. The Boys split at Bunker Hill (#19), and then began their current eight-game winning streak with sweeps over Finch Farm (#23), Lexington (#13), and the Four Leafs again.
The CBO's second-hottest team with a 10-game winning streak is Sunshine Tidings at #5 this week. The Chemists swept at County Crossing (#11), at the 75ers, Finch Farm, and Fort Hagen (#18).
Brotherhood League
Easy Town went winless this past week, and the Party Boys won them all. That means that the largest league lead in the CBO is no more, as the Assaultrons only lead the hot Boys by five games. On the opposite side, the Four Leafs are the CBO's coldest team, currently on an 11-game losing streak.
In the past two weeks, two teams went 10-0 and three teams went 9-1 in the CBO. Four of those teams are represented in the Top 5 of the Power Rankings. The third team to go 9-1? Salem. The Witch Hats swept two league series, including one over the Assaultrons to make their move into the playoff race, currently holding a tiebreaker for third place over County Crossing.
Salem is another team that may be a pretender since their talent at most positions is lacking when compared to the team they are tied with currently. Still, they have to be happy with the production of their top two pitchers in Major Tom Brennan (4-4, 3.81) and Aimer Doghair (5-2, 3.42), as well as hitters Josh Noob (.311/6/19), Chris Treestump (.256/11/30), and Swift Hendrix (.287/6/15).
Institute League
Sunshine Tidings appeared to be a struggling team, but no one expected them to reel off 10 straight to take command of the IL. Starlight struggled in the past two weeks, going 4-6, allowing the Chemists to take a three-game lead in the league. Concord had an undefeated week to carry a five-game winning streak before a tough two-week stretch of hosting Nordhagen Beach and Fort Hagen before traveling to Easy Town and Sunshine Tidings.
The Chemists suddenly look like a true contender despite their slow start in April. They are 2nd in the North Charles Association in runs scored (219) and 1st in runs allowed (152). Their only starting pitcher that has yet to find his groove is their major acquisition in the offseason, Eugene Gym (4-3, 4.37). Their other three starters--Mike Rubric (7-3, 2.80), Terrence Artman (4-4, 3.69), and Brian Bridges (5-2, 2.91)--have been really good.
Speaking of Rubric, he had the CBO's first no-hitter of the season two days ago against the Silver Shroud. It is just the 7th no-hitter in the 8 year-history of the CBO and just the 8th overall. Four of those 8 have been performed by an IL pitcher, and Fort Hagen now has two against them, one short of Lexington (3). The Chemists have now thrown three no-hitters, the most in the CBO. Tim Fusion did it in 2296, Curt Redcoats did it in 2302, and now Rubric this season. The other IL pitcher to pitch a no-hitter was Mike Cartrette of the Shroud in 2299.
The number of runs scored for the Chemists can be heavily attributed to the number of home runs they have hit with five players having nine or more home runs, with SS Lernz Tentsleep (.257/12/33) and rookie 3B Sun Crockett (.258/10/24) leading the way.
Minutemen League
The league seems to be the most predictable the rest of the way. With University Point's sweep over the Atom Cats, there is some distance between each place in the league with the predictable largest distance (8 games) being between 3rd and 4th in Jamaica Plain and Spectacle Island. Goodneighbor and Quincy could battle for 5th place, but the Gunners will have to find their footing with a new manager. Both teams will be trading off players for prospects by mid-June.
The Red Rockets have snuck into a playoff slot despite never looking "good" this season. In fact, they were 6-4 in the past two weeks, taking over the current 5th playoff spot more so because of Oberland (5-game losing streak), Diamond City (4-6 in their last 10), and FHE (2-8 in their last 10) struggling. What IS surprising the most for the Rockets is that their offense is outperforming their pitching despite having what is considered to be the CBO's best starting pitching squad.
Jamaica Plain is 3rd in the South Charles Association in runs scored (217) while 6th in runs allowed (192). Their dominant starters have been anything but, currently 5th in Starters ERA (3.75). While Digger Vadim (4-3, 2.63) has a good ERA, he does not appear to be on his way to repeating the Vim! Pitcher Award this season. Chris Deathclaw (4-4, 4.76) and Tim Fusion (3-2, 4.58) need the offense to produce to win so far.
Focusing more on the Rockets, the offense has made a turnaround. For example, C Ayag Mour (.275/5/16) had a miserable start to the season but has turned things around to be a producer. Half of the team's home runs have come from the 3-4 spots in LF Carney Cornseed (.262/10/31) and RF Damani Beebe (.289/14/41).
Railroad League
We know what Roxbury brings, but let's take a look at #s 2-4 in the RL in Egret, Oberland, and Diamond City. The easy prediction is that the Swatters will establish themselves as the 2nd-place team while the Ninjas and T-51s will try to battle for the 5th playoff spot. However, that prediction may not be as easy as we feel it may be. The question is: who shows life?
Looking at Diamond City's starting pitching, there is a good squad of one: Sheng Kawolski (6-1, 2.83). The Swatters may be in the running for acquiring starting pitching from a struggling team since they do have some good prospects to offer. The question may be if that is a good decision since they would be jostling for a trip to the playoffs but not a true contender to win the Sole Survivor Series.
The Swatters' offense has been good, though, currently 2nd in the SCA in runs scored (227) to go along with their exceptional power to be 2nd in home runs (65). Two run producers have been 1B Oren Gep (.238/13/27) and LF Chris Van Benschoten (.322/10/26). Witcher Craft (.374/1/16) has also given the Swatters a consistent base runner as they enter the middle of the lineup. However, Craft has the only two steals on the season for the worst base-stealing team in the CBO.
CBO Standings
CBO Power Rankings
CBO Top Performances
CBO Players of the Week
NCA
May 22 - His hard work and hustle paid off this week. The hard-working and hard-playing Bob Bloodbug was rewarded with the North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
The scrappy Lexington Synths first baseman hit .474 while collecting 9 hits in 19 at-bats, 3 home runs and 11 RBIs.
This season Bloodbug is batting .381 with 43 hits, 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, 15 walks, .457 OBP and has scored 23 runs. He has played in 36 games.
May 29 - A hot-hitting week got Ben Pawlak the North Charles Association Player of the Week trophy. He really wore out his welcome with league pitchers.
The Fort Hagen center fielder slammed them for a .556 average, 10 hits in 18 at-bats, 2 home runs, 8 RBIs and scored 5 runs.
In the postgame press conference, Pawlak shared his hitting philosophy with the BNN scribes: "Just look for the seams and hit between them... nothin' more than that."
This season Pawlak is batting .299 with 5 home runs. He has scored 21 runs and driven in 23.
SCA
May 22 - It was a sweet day for Good Don Duck of the Oberland T-51s, who found out he has been named the South Charles Association Player of the Week.
The T-51s center fielder put up a solid .640 average and contributed 1 home run and 5 RBIs to claim the honors.
Duck has collected 51 hits for the T-51s this year, 5 of them home runs. He has also netted 22 RBIs and scored 32 runs while batting .327.
May 29 - Dustin Shotgun demonstrated his potential to be a star in the game last week and today he took home the South Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
The Roxbury center fielder wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers last week, pounding them for a .600 average (12-for-20) with 1 home run and 4 RBIs on his way to claiming the honor.
This year Shotgun is batting .275 with 3 home runs.
CBO Transactions
Monday, May 29th , 2305
The Slog Ghouls: Signed free agent CF Major Dutch to a minor league contract.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Taylor Seeley.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Taylor Seeley.
The Salem Witch Hats traded 22-year old minor league CF Beckett Quantum to the Oberland T-51s, getting 26-year old LHP Jaa Thirtysix in return.
The Finch Farm Four Leafs traded 21-year old RHP Exxie Summerset, 20-year old minor league 1B Anyday Stevenski, and 22-year old minor league RF Ben Dimecup to the Vault 81 Dwellers, getting 26-year old RHP Justin Sumbich and 23-year old minor league 3B Coup Hertwig in return.
Sunday, May 28th , 2305
Vault 81 Dwellers: Activated SP Randy Kaplan from the injured list.
Starlight Lady Killers: Activated RP Bobby Tippecanoe from the 60-day injured list.
Starlight Lady Killers: Sent RP Bobby Tippecanoe to Triple A Warwick for injury rehab.
Saturday, May 27th , 2305
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Chris Kunkle.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Chris Kunkle.
Friday, May 26th , 2305
The Goodneighbor Hancocks traded 21-year old minor league RHP Ryan Rebman and 20-year old minor league SS Peter Principal to the Quincy Gunners, getting 37-year old minor league 1B Geoff Fair and 19-year old minor league RHP Franklin William Kidd in return.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released CF Major Dutch.
Thursday, May 25th , 2305
Oberland T-51s: Released RP Jeremy Jones.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed SP Mike Higgins.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed SP Donnie Schadegg.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Sherlock Watson.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Sherlock Watson.
Wednesday, May 24th , 2305
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Placed SP X10-44 Mannson on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/23/2305.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed RF Boots Yellowhair on the 60-day injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Flounder Polk.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Flounder Polk.
Sunday, May 21st , 2305
Vault 81 Dwellers: Placed SP Randy Kaplan on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/20/2305.
The Slog Ghouls: Activated SP Tallahassee Gowner from the injured list.
Friday, May 19th , 2305
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Placed 2B Mark Miller on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/17/2305.
Thursday, May 18th, 2305
CBO: Cape Cod Youth League-Providence Junior Pro League in final planning stage to merge leagues in 2306 with completion of Providence to Sandwich railway.
Wednesday, May 17th , 2305
Starlight Lady Killers: Placed SP Sam Molina on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/16/2305.
Tuesday, May 16th , 2305
Quincy Gunners: Activated 1B Ajani Peacock from the injured list.
Quincy Gunners: Sent 1B Ajani Peacock to Triple A Malden for injury rehab.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Chris Kunkle.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Chris Kunkle.
Salem Witch Hats: Officials are battling a sudden increase in mirelurk sightings despite no sighting of a mirelurk queen nearby.