BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
12 October 2305
CBO Sole Survivor Series Preview
NCA #2 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (78-42) vs SCA #2 University Point Deathclaws (84-36)
Season Series
University Point 1, Nordhagen Beach 0
April 6 @UP: UP 6-1
In their sole game this season in just the third game of the season, the Deathclaws easily handled the Party Boys.
Behind an impressive start by Wilson Beachball, University Point beat Nordhagen Beach, 6-1. Chase Southie earned save number 1 this season. The loss drops the Party Boys to 1-2.
In the top of the eighth, Nordhagen Beach were in rally mode. The score was 4-1, University Point, with one out and runners on 1st and 2nd. But on a 1-1 pitch, Mike Swift flew out.
Game 1 Lineups
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys
University Point Deathclaws
Analysis
This series marks a rematch of the 2302 season when the 4th-seeded Deathclaws from the South Charles Association upset the 1st-seeded and defending champions Party Boys, 4 games to 3.
In that Sole Survivor Series, the Boys took a 2-0 lead at home and also won Game 4 at University Point to take a 3-1 series lead. However, the Claws won their final game at home and then Games 6 and 7 at Nordhagen Beach to clinch the series.
This season, University Point is the favored team, having a six-game advantage over the Party Boys, including a victory in their sole matchup. In a stats versus stats comparison, the Claws have all the advantages, while the Boys get the overall pitching nod.
On offense, the Deathclaws finished 1st in the SCA in runs scored (696), Average (.295), OBP (.374), OPS (.854), WAR (31.5), wOBA (.367), and Home Runs (186). For Nordhagen Beach, they were lower in every category but home runs. They finished 4th in the NCA in runs scored (600), 4th in Average (.267), 5th in OBP (.345), 4th in OPS (.802), 4th in WAR (22.2), 4th in wOBA (.346), and 2nd in Home Runs (195).
For pitching, University Point was not as successful. They finished 4th in the SCA in runs allowed (507), 4th in Starters ERA (3.71), 5th in Bullpen ERA (4.40), 5th in FIP (4.22), 6th in WAR (17.1), and 5th in Strikeouts (728). The Party Boys were much better in every category, though they were not the best pitching staff in their association. They finished second in the NCA in runs allowed (446), Starters ERA (3.54), Bullpen ERA (3.42), FIP (3.99), WAR (20.6), and Strikeouts (817).
Position vs Position - OSA Talent Ratings
C - Swift vs Cherry - Adv: UP
1B - Mart vs Cocoa - Adv: UP
2B - Hayes vs Recore - Adv: NB
3B - Cuttooth vs Country - Adv: UP
SS - Shroud vs Engill - Adv: UP
LF - Fogcrawler vs Tarberry - Adv: NB
CF - Murtagh vs Hayjen - Adv: UP
RF - Angelou vs Jones - Adv: UP
SP 1 - Nut vs Wallace - Adv: NB
SP 2 - Church vs Bertha - Adv: UP
SP 3 - Beach vs Beachball - Adv: NB
CL - Kidd vs Williams - Adv: UP
RP 1 - Whipple (SP) vs Walden - Adv: UP
RP 2 - Frank vs Southie - Adv: UP
Prediction
Because the Party Boys' Association Championship series went longer than University Point's series, their pitching staff is not as rested, meaning that Nordhagen Beach is pitching their 3rd starter versus the Claws' ace. That tips the balance overall in University Point's favor. Our game-by-game prediction thus goes this way:
Game 1 - UP
Game 2 - NB
Game 3 - UP
Game 4 - UP
Game 5 - NB
Game 6 - UP
We are predicting the Deathclaws to repeat their success against Nordhagen Beach in the Sole Survivor Series and win it all in six games.