BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
22 September 2307
CBO Playoff Tree
CBO Playoff Semifinals Series Preview
NCA Playoffs - #5 County Crossing Bloodbugs (64-56) vs #1 Easy Town Assaultrons (74-46)
Season Series
Easy Town 8, County Crossing 4
May 10-12 @CC - ET 6-1, ET 6-3, CC 8-3
June 28-30 @ET - CC 3-0, ET 6-4, ET 9-8
August 16-18 @ET - CC 7-3, ET 9-5, ET 5-3
August 30-September 1 @CC - CC 2-1, ET 6-1, ET 5-4
Analysis
Easy Town finally broke through after teasing earning their first Brotherhood League crown in team history, though they tried to lose the league crown at the end. Now, they are in their sixth playoff appearance and fourth straight. This is just the second time the Assaultrons and County Crossing will meet in the playoffs. In their only other meeting, the roles reversed with the Bloodbugs as the #1 seed and the Trons as #5. In that series, the Bugs got the sweep, 3-0, in 2304.
This season, Easy Town has appeared to have all the advantages, winning 8 of 12 in the season series, which included winning two of three in all four of the three-game sets.
On offense, the Assaultrons had some difficulty generating runs, finishing 5th in the NCA in runs scored (595) despite having the 3rd-best average (.276). The leader is 1B/SP Lannie Tykeson (.349/36/103) with a lot of help from 3B Dog Prairie (.294/33/90), CF Sharkey Lurkfodder (.307/17/49), and RF Dan Squirrel (.267/17/65).
The pitching was the key to success in the 2307 season, finishing 1st in the NCA in runs allowed (470) and 2nd in Starters ERA (3.92) and Bullpen ERA (3.79). Tykeson (9-8, 4.65) was actually their least efficient starter, with the top two--Major Tom Brennan (15-9, 3.55) and Charred Lee Widemore (15-10, 4.34) leading the way. CL David Coocoo (28 SV, 4.74), a converted starter needs to do better, but the middle pen is stacked: Adam Forestman (2-0, 1.85), Angel Waterdrink (1-0, 2.50), and sometimes starter Hollywood Joe Horn (8-4, 3.37). Pete Pembroke (15-6, 3.59) will also pitch out of the bullpen, though he may be best served as a starter.
Prediction
We fall into patterns of history, both recent and past. What does County Crossing have going for them? Well, they are the defending champions and they have been a lot more successful in the playoffs than Easy Town. The Assaultrons have finally gotten over their own BL hill, but do they feel they have reached the apex? In the playoffs, pitching seems to dominate offense, but we just cannot bet against the Bloodbugs. County Crossing 3, Easy Town 1
NCA Playoffs - #3 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (74-46) vs #2 Sunshine Tidings Chemists (72-48)
Season Series
Nordhagen Beach 5, Sunshine Tidings 3
May 14-15 @ST - NB 6-0, ST 2-1
May 21-22 @NB - NB 4-0, ST 6-2
June 4-5 @NB - ST 9-0, NB 4-2
August 20-21 @ST - NB 4-1, NB 5-4
Analysis
Nordhagen Beach has been one of the CBO's most successful teams, now making their 11th-straight playoff appearance, including every season of the full CBO. Just when we think they are falling, they come storming right back to challenge for the best record in the NCA. Meanwhile, Sunshine Tidings is now in its fifth-straight playoff appearance and fifth overall. Despite all the times both teams have been in the playoffs, this will mark just the second time they meet. In 2304, the #3 Party Boys swept the #2 Chemists in three games.
This season, Nordhagen Beach had a slight edge over Sunshine Tidings. While these two teams have been among the hottest, the Party Boys have been a bit hotter, including winning the last three regular season games in this matchup.
For the Boys, they were not particularly dominant on offense though they were the best at getting on base (.359 OBP) but only 4th for runs scored (602). The two bombers were RF Jonathan Angelou (.377/42/99) and CF Maxx Murtagh (.292/39.88) with start LF Michael Fogcrawler (.291/20/48) battling injuries. C Biter Trout (.377/5/58) gets a ton of hits and finished just a point behind of the Chemists' Red Sone for top batting average in the NCA.
The pitching was much better, finishing 2nd in runs allowed (494), 1st in Starters ERA (3.60), and 7th in Bullpen ERA (4.65). The four starters can all dominate a game when on: Beachboy Nut (13-4, 3.48), Deedee Martinson (14-3, 3.35), Ugio Church (9-11, 3.61), and Tommy Beach (14-7, 3.98). Beach appeared to be displacing Church before Church came on late in the season after a bad first half of the season. In the bullpen, CL David "AntAgonist" Kidd (34 SV, 4.11) tied for the NCA lead in saves. Trade acquisition Austen Austin (3-2, 3.34) would be starting for most teams, including going 15-4 with a 3.81 ERA for Easy Town just two seasons ago, but makes a good bullpen pitcher for the Boys.
Sunshine Tidings exerted its offensive prowess, finishing 1st in the NCA in five categories, most notably runs scored (648) and home runs (211). Five total players finished with 20+ home runs: RF Baktu DaWell (.364/48/104), who would be the Nuka Hitter favorite if Babs Rooth was not in the NCA, 3B Ross Merchantman (.311/37/92), C Red Sone (.378/27/78), CF Ricky Ticky Laughy (.224/24/59), and LF David Seaweed (.273/21/45). 1B Jim "Avenger" Tiller (.311/9/35) hit .336 since being traded from Fort Hagen.
The pitching was not as good but also not bad. The Chemists finished 3rd in runs allowed (498), 5th in Starters ERA (4.12), and 4th in Bullpen ERA (3.85). Sunshine Tidings ended up with four starters winning 12 or more games: Eugene Gym (17-10, 4.00), Mike Rubric (14-6, 3.48), Joey Dimes (13-10, 5.00), and Terrence Artman (12-6, 3.12). In the bullpen, CL Cush Baker (31 SV, 3.38) helped, as did their top bullpen pitcher Reed Botti (2-0, 1.14).
Prediction
Although it seems strange to pick the #2 seed to pull the "upset" over the lower seed, we are going to do just that. We are going to pick it to go the distance but for the Chemists. Sunshine Tidings 3, Nordhagen Beach 2.
SCA Playoffs - #5 Spectacle Island Reapers (65-55) vs #1 Roxbury Rad Sox (81-39)
Season Series
Spectacle Island 4, Roxbury 4
April 18-19 @Rox - Rox 7-2, Rox 4-3
June 18-19 @SI - SI 9-8, Rox 4-3
July 9-10 @Rox - Rox 8-4, SI 5-1
August 27-28 @SI - SI 8-4, SI 4-0
Analysis
Spectacle Island did what it needed to do, holding off Oberland in a series sweep. Roxbury is now making its sixth-straight playoff appearance with back-to-back titles in 2303 and 2304. The Reapers and Sox's only matchup in the playoffs came last season when #3 Roxbury took the series from #2 Spectacle Island, 3-1.
This season, the teams played to a 4-4 split with the Reapers winning the last three matchups, including a needed sweep in late August. While Spectacle Island has held its own, the playoffs are a different beast where Roxbury tends to be fierce.
Roxbury was not the most dominant offensive team, but they are still dangerous. The Rad Sox finished 2nd in the SCA in runs scored (664) and 3rd in average (.278). They did not have any great power hitters but four players hit over 20 home runs: CF Ben Pawlak (.300/27/86), 3B Don Mattingley (.294/25/76), RF Sum Downie (.260/24/78), and LF Young Goodman (.294/23/84). They will miss the services of RF Deerlord Fugivmee (.337/6/47/14 SB), who is out with a thumb injury.
The pitching was quite a bit better, finishing 1st in runs allowed (499) and Bullpen ERA (3.44) and 3rd in Starters ERA (4.18). All three starters for the playoffs--Nuke Laloosh (13-2, 2.99), Urm Rehfeldt (12-5, 3.93), and Chet Arthur (15-9, 4.09)--are capable of shutting down the opposing offense. CL Andy Helium (37 SV, 2.69) was his usual self, with lots of help from Evan Before (3-0, 2.95) and Pray Tell (3-0, 2.28).
Prediction
Roxbury may have been a little cold in the second half of the season, going only 30-23 since June 1, but they are still the CBO's best team. We think that Spectacle Island could have some fight, but we'll take the Sox in four. Roxbury 3, Spectacle Island 1.
SCA Playoffs - #3 Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (66-54) vs University Point Deathclaws (76-44)
Season Series
Jamaica Plain 7, University Point 5
June 21-23 @JP - JP 19-5, UP 8-2, UP 7-4
July 12-14 @UP - JP 6-5, JP 3-2, JP 5-0
September 6-8 @UP - JP 10-6, UP 6-0, UP 6-2
September 13-15 @JP - UP 4-2, JP 6-5, JP 9-0
Analysis
Jamaica Plain is making its seventh playoff appearance and fourth-straight. They have made it past this round just twice, losing in the SCA Championship Series each time, including a seven-game thriller against University Point in 2302. The Deathclaws are making their eight-straight playoff appearance, with Sole Survivor Series victories in 2302 and 2305. In the playoffs, these teams have met five times before, including the past three seasons, with the Red Rockets taking three of those series. Interestingly enough, the two series victories for the Claws propelled them on their way to both of the Sole Survivor Series championships.
The results:
2300 - Play-in Series - Jamaica Plain 2, University Point 1
2302 - SCA CS - University Point 4, Jamaica Plain 3
2304 - SCA SF - Jamaica Plain 3, University Point 2
2305 - SCA SF - University Point 3, Jamaica Plain 0
2306 - SCA Play-In Series - Jamaica Plain 2, University Point 0
For this matchup, Jamaica Plain had the advantage in the season series currently and the playoffs historically. University Point only had one losing record against an SCA team in 2307: the Rockets. Does that mean the advantage may be in Jamaica Plain's corner? Well, it just may!
The Red Rockets finished 4th in runs scored (617) in the SCA. They are led by the triple threat of LF Ken Debate (.315/34/82), CF Hid Matsumoto (.239/25/65), and 2B Bulleye Shooterson (.319/24/77). SS jake Doucette (.310/19/59/10 SB) is a good leadoff hitter.
Jamaica Plain was 2nd in the SCA in runs allowed (506), Starters ERA (4.15), and Bullpen ERA (3.99). Derek Green (16-7, 3.55) and Tim Fusion (14-11, 4.16) led the starters, while CL Doug Dee El (22 SV, 2.39) and RP Chris Glass House (1-1. 2.90) led the bullpen.
University Point was killer on offense, giving them a good chance to outscore any team they play. The Deathclaws were first in runs scored (697) at 5.8 per game. They also hit a CBO-best 204 home runs. Everything revolves around of all-everything hitter Barker Cocoa (.421/60/155), but teams still cannot relax with any player in the lineup. Other top hitters for the Claws include CF Aesed Hayjen (.342/27/103), SS Austin Engill (.257/32/66), and LF Chris Hirshfield (.281/24/72).
The pitching is overshadowed but was also good, including finishing 3rd in runs allowed (512), 1st in Starters ERA (4.08), and 4th in Bullpen ERA (4.18). Alex Alexson (17-6, 3.43) and Tony Bertha (17-8, 2.94) were dominant for most of the season, and Wilson Beachball (12-5, 4.94) had plenty run support to help him. CL Chase Southie (34 SV, 3.77) led the bullpen, along with contributions from Marc Pondsip (4-3, 2.73) and Josh Hugs (3-0, 2.52).
Prediction
We like how Jamaica Plain rallied from looking as though they would miss the playoffs to pushing themselves all the way up to the third seed. However, we like the Claws in the playoffs as our prediction to win it all. It will not be easy for them, but we expect University Point 3, Jamaica Plain 2.