BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
1 April 2306
April Super Post
CBO Preview
It's time for some live Commonwealth Baseball Organization games with just two days until the 2306 season's opening pitch.
For the second-straight season, PAM has picked the Roxbury Rad Sox to defeat the County Crossing Bloodbugs in the Sole Survivor Series. This time, though, PAM expects Sunshine Tidings to be the #1 seed in the North Charles Association.
Let's look first at the predicted playoff teams. First, let's start with the NCA.
North Charles Association - Playoff Picks
1. Sunshine Tidings
2. County Crossing
3. Nordhagen Beach
4. Starlight
5. Easy Town
Other than Starlight making its way into the playoffs in the place of Concord, the other four teams are expected to be the same with a few changes in the Brotherhood League in seeding.
PAM expects County Crossing to return to the top spot in the BL but in a tight spot with just a game advantage over the defending BL and NCA champions, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys. Easy Town is expected to win a one-game playoff if they were to tie with Finch Farm, as PAM expects.
In the Institute League, the Killers are coming on, having amped up their offense which will be needed with perhaps the worst bullpen in the CBO. The Radstags are still good but have some tough battles to get into the 5th spot. Still, the race for 5th is expected to be tight among the Stags, Trons, and Four Leafs.
For team statistics, the Bloodbugs are expected to have the top offense with 681 runs (5.68 runs per game), while the Party Boys are expected to have the best pitching staff allowing 477 runs (3.98 per game). Sunshine Tidings are expected to be the top power team with 202 home runs, while Starlight is expected to be the kings of the basepaths with 78 team steals.
PAM's picks for the top players are County Crossing's RF Babs Rooth and Nordhagen Beach SP Beachboy Nut. Behind Rooth, other contenders for the Nuka Hitter Award are include 1B Oren Gep of Starlight, RF Jonathan Angelou of the Party Boys, RF Baktu DaWell of Sunshine Tidings, and last year's winner 1B Lannie Tykeson of Easy Town. Others expected to compete with Nut for the Vim! Pitcher Award are SP Digger Vadim of the Killers, SP Ugio Church of the Boys, SP College Luckyman of the Bloodbugs, and SP Trolley Dodge of Finch Farm.
South Charles Association - Playoff Picks
1. Roxbury
2. Jamaica Plain
3. Spectacle Island
4. Oberland
5. University Point
PAM believes there will be some major shakeups in the SCA in 2306 with one perpetual playoff team, Atom, falling off and Spectacle Island stepping up in their place. We will take a closer look at both teams later in this article.
In the Minutemen League, Jamaica Plain is expected to edge both the Reapers and defending league champions, University Point. All three of those teams are easily expected to make the playoffs with a down Railroad League. Whether the Deathclaws will allow both the Red Rockets and Spectacle Island remains to be seen, but we think it is an interesting pick. At the bottom of the league, Goodneighbor is predicted to win only 26 games all season, which could put them close to the 100-loss mark. We most certainly hope that does not happen and hope that Commissioner Nate Howard or Interim Commissioner Jimmy LaRue can do something to help their team win a few more games than that. After all, we do not want John Hancock making any public examples of failed baseball staffs.
In the RL, Roxbury is expected to run away with the league once again with Oberland being the only other team expected to finish above .500. Diamond City's time as a powerhouse has looked to finally end with PAM placing them in a tie with FHE for last place. The Swatters are one of the oldest teams in the CBO, so they may need to change their philosophy of protecting their veterans and start moving them for more youth. Luckily for them, they are not in terrible shape in their minor league system. The T-51s have a good balance of youth and veterans though they may need outstanding showings from their pitching staff to actually finish where PAM predicts them to finish. If they cannot do it, both Egret and Vault 81 would gladly take the #4 seed in the playoffs.
As before, PAM expects University Point to have the CBO's most prolific offense with 737 runs (6.14 per game) including the best power offense with 207 home runs. The Ninjas are expected to be the best on the basepaths with 78 steals. Roxbury again returns the best pitching staff with just 439 runs (3.66 per game) expected.
1B Barker Cocoa of University Point and Derek Green of the Rockets are predicted to be the best at their positions in 2305. Behind Cocoa, other contenders are 1B Homestay Lovetap and 3B Diamond Ball of the Reapers, RF Tomas Jones of the Claws, and rookie LF Ken Debate of the Red Rockets, also considered to be the heavy favorite for top rookie honors (StLee note: I believe he is considered a rookie). Others in the running for the Vim! Pitcher Award are SP Nuke Laloosh of the Sox, SP Sheng Kawolski of the Swatters, SP Corey Ware of Spectacle Island, and SP Tim Fusion of Jamaica Plain.
CBO Prospects
The top prospects have been named for 2306. Here are the Top 5:
1. 3B Plain Morris, The Slog - Mass Pike Radroaches (BMU)
2. SP Jalep Temper, Finch Farm - Four Leafs bullpen
3. 2B/OF Shirt Fowler, Lexington - Synths starting LF
4. RF Magnum Peaeye, Diamond City - Swatters starting RF
5. 1B Mark Brinetea, Fort Hagen - Silver Shroud reserve 1B
Complete Top 100 List and Top Systems
CBO Transactions
Thursday, March 29th , 2306
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed RP Danny Rocketman on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 03/28/2306.
Wednesday, March 28th , 2306
Vault 81 Dwellers: Placed 3B Rob Klarmann on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 03/27/2306.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Placed 2B Bones Roderick on the 60-day injured list.
Tuesday, March 27th , 2306
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed free agent RP Carlist Rieekan to a minor league contract.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Released RP Evan Regalado.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed free agent C Ochi Rice to a minor league contract.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Released C Jarred Lambert.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Signed free agent C Stag Kiel to a minor league contract.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Released C Going Ling.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Signed free agent RP Tris Talker to a minor league contract.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Released RP J.J. Green.
Concord Radstags: Signed free agent RP Camie Marstrap to a minor league contract.
Concord Radstags: Released RP Joe Pope.
Concord Radstags: Signed free agent RP Loshmar Gibson to a minor league contract.
Concord Radstags: Released RP Harry Ratajczyk.
Starlight Killers: Signed free agent CF Cassian Andor to a minor league contract.
Starlight Killers: Released CF Chris Kiddie.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Signed free agent RP Jim Nukanuke to a minor league contract.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Released RP Danny Exterior.
Atom Cats: Signed free agent RP Sam Frisbie to a minor league contract.
Atom Cats: Released RP Jim Combs.
Atom Cats: Signed free agent RP Michael Jenkins to a minor league contract.
Atom Cats: Released RP Tim Wolfe.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed free agent RP Die Perple to a minor league contract.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released RP Kevin Billingsley.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed free agent RP Adam Swearalot to a minor league contract.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released RP J.J. Anema.
Diamond City Swatters: Signed free agent RP Twinkle Horner to a minor league contract.
Diamond City Swatters: Released RP Chuck Log.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed free agent CF Jan Dodonna to a minor league contract.
FHE Yao Guai: Released CF Chris Carelock.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed free agent RP Lomar Launcher to a minor league contract.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Pumpkin Lumpkin.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed free agent C Dan Rusk to a minor league contract.
FHE Yao Guai: Released C Davie Whacker.
Monday, March 26th , 2306
The Diamond City Swatters traded 28-year old CF Witcher Craft to the Echo Lake Harbormen, getting 19-year old minor league RHP Iron Maiden in return.
The FHE Yao Guai traded 17-year old minor league LHP Agnet Skinner to the Vault 81 Dwellers, getting 29-year old LHP Kelvin Blueprint and 19-year old minor league LHP John O'Brien in return.
Tuesday, March 20th , 2306
The Quincy Gunners traded 27-year old RHP Wick Prater to the County Crossing Bloodbugs, getting 27-year old RF Baywatch Fischler, 18-year old minor league RHP Q.T. Pai, and 18-year old minor league RHP Dragon Longtimer in return.
Sunday, March 18th , 2306
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud traded 27-year old RF Gargoyle Falcone to the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets, getting 27-year old LHP Smelly Schmelzer, 24-year old RF E.R. Ortiz, 24-year old minor league RHP Person Mabty, and a 4th round draft pick in return.
Saturday, March 17th , 2306
The Atom Cats traded 35-year old LF Melon Sanderson to the Concord Radstags, getting 18-year old minor league RF Artist Moody, 18-year old minor league 1B Crimson Carpenter, and 18-year old minor league RHP Nigel Bowlarama in return.
Thursday, March 15th , 2306
The Atom Cats traded 26-year old RHP Scruffy Taguchi to the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud, getting 18-year old minor league 1B Ani Waalk, 19-year old minor league RF Actually Aucoin, and 19-year old minor league 3B Bob Roth in return.
Wednesday, March 14th , 2306
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released RP Jose Blastoff.
Wednesday, March 7th , 2306
The Bunker Hill 75ers traded 26-year old C Jimjames LaFleur to the County Crossing Bloodbugs, getting 22-year old minor league RHP Chris Huether in return.
The County Crossing Bloodbugs traded 28-year old C Darth Horse, 18-year old minor league LF Redface Brickstone, 18-year old minor league RHP Chase Campbell, and a 1st round draft pick to the Bunker Hill 75ers, getting 18-year old minor league RHP Aidan Livingston in return.
Tuesday, March 6th , 2306
The The Slog Ghouls traded 18-year old minor league RHP Lilmus Moffett to the Bunker Hill 75ers, getting 25-year old RF Cansit Kellogg and 18-year old minor league LHP Vaug Enemy in return.
Saturday, March 3rd , 2306
The Atom Cats traded 28-year old SS Jake Doucette to the Lexington Synths, getting 18-year old 1B Figgie Legendsport and 20-year old minor league LHP Darryl Archideld in return.
Tuesday, February 27th , 2306
The Easy Town Assaultrons traded 19-year old minor league RHP Kent Rothschild and 18-year old minor league 1B Flavor Flavor to the Bunker Hill 75ers, getting 24-year old 2B Michael Footclaw in return.
Sunday, February 25th , 2306
Lexington Synths: Placed LF Gee Force on the 60-day injured list.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed SP Bill Sarnacki on the 60-day injured list.
Saturday, February 24th , 2306
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released RP Rifler Regal.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Released RP Armad Schippers.
Wednesday, February 21st , 2306
The University Point Deathclaws traded 26-year old C Skidrow Rhine to the Wild Gatorclaws, getting 27-year old RHP Jackie Taylor and 17-year old minor league RHP Leprechaun MacMillan in return.
Tuesday, February 20th , 2306
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 25-year old SS Ah Oona to the Grape Painted Ghouls, getting 26-year old LHP Adam Atomicroller and 24-year old 1B Sum Downie in return.
Sunday, February 18th , 2306
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed SP Caleb Islandhopper.
Tuesday, February 13th , 2306
The Easy Town Assaultrons traded 17-year old minor league 3B Bendu Cook to the Atom Cats, getting 27-year old LHP Adam Forestman in return.
Tuesday, February 6th , 2306
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed SP Allen Fibber.
Monday, February 5th , 2306
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 22-year old minor league 1B Dan Sturtevant to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, getting 28-year old LHP Adam Bias in return.
Sunday, February 4th , 2306
The Far Harbor Ghoul Whales traded 32-year old 3B C.J. Hodgdon and 24-year old RHP Biscuit Catalano to the FHE Yao Guai, getting 25-year old 2B Reed Maineman in return.
Friday, February 2nd , 2306
The Egret Ninjas traded 22-year old minor league 3B Ben Frith to the Diamond City Swatters, getting 25-year old SS Wolf McQuaid and 20-year old minor league RHP Edwin Flowerspawn in return.
Thursday, February 1st , 2306
Atom Cats: Released LF Legit Crabson.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed SP Tyler Hasse.
The ML's Ups and Downs
The two biggest turnarounds in the CBO this season are the Spectacle Island Reapers and Atom Cats of the Minutemen League. The Reapers, since their days as the Warwick Mirelurks, have been down on their CBO luck while they have been collecting a ton of young talent like Roxbury did a few years ago. On the other end of the spectrum, the Atom Cats decided that they wanted to reload their talent pool since they have not been able to get over the hump and want to come back strong in the next few years.
First, looking at Spectacle Island, new GM Mover Rodriguez has stated that his team is built to win the CBO in the next few years and every effort will be towards making the team stronger. New manager Logan Gossett agrees.
"We're not looking to build for the future anymore," Gossett said. "This staff is here to convince these players that their time is now."
Owner Patrick Drumlin decided to part ways with GM Dan Dall and Manager Nick Caudill last season, looking to make a culture change in the organization, though Drumlin did maintain the rest of the coaching staff. Caudill's teams showed improvement each year, but Drumlin wanted to make his own hire in that position.
Now, there are few question marks about the talent and only questions about how well they will perform. Especially in drafted upcoming stars, the Reapers have done well in developing their own players and accumulating talent from other teams.
One of those main stars is 2B Diamond Ball, the 1st overall pick of the 2301 Rookie Draft. In two full seasons with the Reapers and one partial season with the Mirelurks, Ball has batted .325 with 74 home runs and 153 RBI. His 40 homers in 2304 led the SCA. He has now been to two straight All-Star games and was the 2305 Red Rocket Rookie Award recipient.
The 3rd-overall pick in the 2302 draft, SS Pipewrench Mathis has now established himself as the full-time starter to solidify the middle of the infield. Following his first season as a full-time starter, Mathis saw his home run numbers climb up to 23. He hit just .232 last season, something he wants to do better at.
Other recent draft picks expected to contribute to the team include SP Quest Dawg (2300 2nd round), CF Gin Kwon (2300 4th Round), and 3B Rico Tub (2302 2nd Round). Two other players who were acquired from Finch Farm in the trade for SP Jalep Temper (2nd overall prospect) include RF Matt Basile and SP Isaiah Swindler.
For Atom, GM Mike Pieface has expressed a mutual decision with owner Zeke Cat to restart their franchise. Though they have made the playoffs the past five seasons, the Cats have not won the Minutemen League and have only advanced to one Sole Survivor Series, where they lost in 2301 to Nordhagen Beach.
Pieface decided that they would benefit from the powers that are Roxbury, University Point, and Jamaica Plain in the SCA to reload their minor league system and then come back stronger in the next few years. That means Atom has moved several good players for top prospects, pushing them up to the 4th-best system in the CBO entering the 2306 season.
One of those players includes up-and-coming prospect, 1B Rival Hey (8th prospect, 80 potential), who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2304 Rookie Draft by The Slog and was acquired in a trade for SP Mike Cartrette, who never pitched an inning for Atom after coming from Fort Hagen. Hey is one of those players new to baseball but has shown flashes of greatness, including hitting ,260 with six home runs and 27 RBI in 88 games with Mass Pike of the GBRL in 2305. Assuming he continues to progress, scouts believe he may be an elite hitter in the CBO one day. He'll start the season with Satellite Array of the GBRL.
Atom also attained Nordhagen Beach's 1st-round pick in the 2305 Rookie Draft, SP Baker Hubbard (55 potential), who is expected to develop into a good pitcher in the CBO. He went to the Boys in exchange for longtime starter Deedee Martinson.
Some other top prospects include LF Figgie Legendsport (71 potential), 1B Ani Waalk (64 potential), 3B Artist Moody (64 potential), 2B Root Beer (63 potential), 3B Bendu Cook (62 potential), and RF Actually Aucoin (57 potential).
The Cats still are loaded in talent in their CBO squad, but Pieface has announced that they are sellers and anyone could be moved for future talent. However, Pieface stated some particular players are in the Cats' future plans. One in particular has been here since the beginning, the 16th-round pick of the 2296 Inaugural Draft.
"(Earthbound) Bussey should just plan to retire in Atom and have his jersey retired," Pieface said.
Minors Rosters Low, 600 Free Agents
With the expansion to three minor league systems and plenty of players eligible to play in the leagues, one would think that the CBO teams would look to bring in lots of players to practice with the main team. However, most teams in the CBO have not yet filled out their GBRL rosters with Opening Day on April 13.
Goodneighbor (45 players), Roxbury (31), Salem (25), and University Point (26) are the only franchises that have filled in a playable GBRL roster thus far. As it stands, there are 645 eligible free agents, including 308 players or about 15 players per team eligible to play in the GBRL as free agents. There are also rumors that there are some independent leagues in the Commonwealth area not at all associated with the CBO, NWL, or Vim!L that could also be asked to fold in favor of sending players to the GBRL for 2306.
No team has expressed why they have been so slow to fill in their GBRL rosters, which allow players ages 16-21 to play. We will monitor roster moves as we get closer to Opening Day in the GBRL to see if teams plan to fill out rosters in that time. If they do not, then the GBRL's standings may look out of whack this season.