BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
30 September 2307
CBO Playoff Tree
CBO Playoff Association Championship Series Preview
NCA Playoffs - #5 County Crossing Bloodbugs (64-56) vs #3 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (74-46)
Season Series
County Crossing 8, Nordhagen Beach 4
May 3-5 @NB - NB 3-2, NB 4-3, CC 11-5
July 26-28 @CC - CC 8-3, CC 5-2, NB 3-2
August 2-4 @ NB - CC 5-4, CC 9-6, CC 8-5
August 9-11 @CC - CC 4-3, CC 4-2, NB 8-5
Analysis
Since County Crossing emerged as a good team in 2301, this has proven to be an exciting yet bitter rivalry. Both the Bloodbugs and Party Boys have had a lot of success in the regular season, but they only have each won two Sole Survivor Series. Still, these two teams have been to the Sole Survivor Series the past three seasons and five of the past six, indicating consistency in playoff success.
During the regular season, the Bugs seemed to have all the advantages, winning 8 of 12. Their season series in Nordhagen Beach from August 2-4 was a 35-inning affair with all three games going to extra innings. On the season, the two teams played five extra-inning games with the Bloodbugs winning all five. That means that these teams are going to give us a show.
In the playoffs, County Crossing and the Party Boys have played four times, including the past three seasons with each team winning two series apiece. This is the fourth time they will face off for the right to represent the NCA in the Sole Survivor Series. The four previous matchups:
2301 NCA CS - #1 Nordhagen Beach 4, #3 County Crossing 0
2304 NCA CS - #1 County Crossing 4, #3 Nordhagen Beach 1
2305 NCS CS - #2 Nordhagen Beach 4, #5 County Crossing 3
2306 NCA Semifinals - #1 County Crossing 3, #5 Nordhagen Beach 0
In looking at the matchup, County Crossing has the hitting advantage, while Nordhagen Beach has the pitching advantage. However, if games are tight late, the Bloodbugs seem to have all the advantages in late pitching. The Party Boys will need to get way ahead early and then hold on to take this series.
Prediction
County Crossing is the defending champions. However, Nordhagen Beach is not the team that usually needs to be trifled with. We are having a hard time in this series in deciding anything beyond a tough match. In other words, we are not as sure who will win this series as much as we do in the SCA. With that said, the Bloodbugs handled this series last season on their way to the championship and had the best of the Boys in the regular season. We are going to pick them to take it. County Crossing 4, Nordhagen Beach 3.
SCA Playoffs - #3 Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (66-54) vs #1 Roxbury Rad Sox (81-39)
Season Series
Roxbury 5, Jamaica Plain 3
April 27-28 @JP - JP 5-4, Rox 7-5
May 21-22 @Rox - Rox 3-2, Rox 5-1
August 13-14 @JP - Rox 8-4, JP 6-5
August 20-21 @Rox - Rox 8-1, JP 12-8
Analysis
In their seventh playoff trip, the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets are still seeking their first trip to the Sole Survivor Series. The Rockets have been to the SCA Championship Series twice (2302, 2304), falling a game short each time. Meanwhile, the Roxbury Rad Sox are in their sixth season making the playoffs, making the Sole Survivor Series in 3 of their 5 seasons in the playoffs, including last season when they lost their only SSS. They did win twice before (2303 + 2304), and they are the odds-on favorites to win their third this season.
Despite both teams being playoffs regulars since 2302, they have only met twice before. The higher-seeded team won each time, with both series going the distance. Their previous matchups.
2302 SCA Semifinals - #2 Jamaica Plain 3, #3 Roxbury 2
2304 SCA CS - #1 Roxbury 4, #2 Jamaica Plain 3
In the regular season, the Rad Sox also had a slight advantage of winning 5 of 8 but all games were relatively tight with only one lopsided result (Roxbury's 8-1 win on August 20).
Both teams are minus a starter in 3B Peter Tatoeater (.223/16/60) of the Rockets and RF Deerlord Fugivmee (.337/6/47/14SB) of the Sox. However, both of their replacements--Hazmatt Zuniga (.299/11/33) and Sum Downie (.260/24/78)--have been viable. In the end, we think that Roxbury has the overall advantage in both the lineups and pitching matchups.
Prediction
We thought that the Rad Sox might struggle a bit as they did for most of the second half of the season. Then they scored 32 runs in just three games against Spectacle Island in the Semifinal Round. The Red Rockets did not come far behind, out-offensing the CBO's top offense by outscoring them 26-12 in their three-game set. We're not sure we'll see as many runs this series, but we do expect to see some thrills. In the end, we're riding the Sox train the rest of the way. Roxbury 4, Jamaica Plain 2.