BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, College, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
18 May 2308
CBO Analysis
We have now reached the quarter point of the season, and four CBO teams have 20 or more wins, three of which are in the Brotherhood League. All league races are tight, with the largest league lead at two games. PAM predicted a season of league races, and the season is shaping up to follow that prediction. Let's take a look at the Top 5 in this week's Power Rankings.
The defending champions, Nordhagen Beach, are again #1 this week with a 7-3 stretch in their last 10. The Party Boys swept Starlight (#7), won two of three over Salem (#2) in the battle for 1st place, swept Lexington (#20), and then won one of three over Nahant (#14).
The Salem Witch Hats are #2, trailing the Boys in the BL race by just a game and possessing the CBO's second-best record after going 7-3 in their last 10. The Hats swept Fort Hagen (#24), lost the series to Nordhagen Beach, swept the Killers, and then won two of three over County Crossing (#17).
With the SCA's best record, Spectacle Island is #3 with a four-game winning streak and a 7-3 record in the past two weeks. The Reapers split at Egret (#13), won two over Goodneighbor (#19), split at Oberland (#15), and then swept Atom (#21).
Sunshine Tidings propelled themselves up to an Institute League tie for 1st place by going 8-2 in their last 10. The Chemists swept the Bloodbugs, won two over the Synths, split with the Celtics, and then swept Concord (#23) who announced the firings of manager Mark Gourdroot and pitching coach Kyle Boyster today.
Easy Town rounds out the Top 5. Despite being in 3rd place, the Assaultrons still kept up a steady pace with a 7-3 mark in their last 10. The Trons won two at the Radstags, won two over The Slog (#10), swept Bunker Hill (#8), and then won one at the Ghouls.
Brotherhood League
This league is fun so far in the 2308 campaign with four teams possessing four of the top five records in the CBO. The Slog, which is not in the Power Rankings Top 5, is 19-13, tying them with four other teams for the CBO's fifth-best record. Meanwhile, County Crossing still has not found their groove, standing as the only BL team below .500, currently six games back of Easy Town for the NCA's #5 seed.
For the Ghouls, they are starting look like a team that can compete. The Slog is currently 3rd in runs scored (172) and 6th in runs allowed. Fueling their offensive production is the young top three hitters in the lineup: rookie SS Gavin Deux-Gas (.328/7/15), LF Judas Stoner (.288/11/24), and 2307 Red Rocket Rookie Award winner 3B Plain Morris (.319/11/23). Also, with the 4th-best Starters ERA (3.96), three pitchers are pitching well so far: Kyle Gunnels (4-1, 2.26), Tiger Fanne (4-3, 3.75), and Flirt Perez (4-1, 1.29).
Institute League
As the BL flourishes, you would think that means the IL is struggling, but this is the league of polar opposites. At the bottom of the league, Fort Hagen and Concord currently possess the two worst records in baseball with a combined 13 wins between them. Now that Sunshine Tidings has gotten hot, three teams are four games or more above .500 in a tight league race.
Bunker Hill had a cold streak that knocked them out of an early lead in the IL, but the 75ers have been steady the past two weeks, including a weekend sweep over the Silver Shroud. While the offense has not been spectacular, currently 8th in runs scored (147), the pitching has been getting better, ranking 4th in runs allowed (138) with improvements though a long way to go in Starters ERA (6th at 4.32) and Bullpen ERA (6th at 4.35). SP Jason Tonelli (3-4, 5.36) has been struggling compared to his 2307 numbers of 13-9, 3.79 when he converted from closer to starter, but he has been impressive in the three games he has won. With SS Aaron Squire (.343/3/13) back from the injury list, he should boost the offense.
Minutemen League
Don't look now, but University Point and Jamaica Plain went a combined 15-5 the past two weeks. While they have struggled in consistency, it is a seeming pattern for those teams to turn up the heat in the second half of the season. Both currently trail by only three games in the ML.
For the Deathclaws, their offense is back where we expected, currently 1st in 7 of 9 offensive categories, including runs scored (214), and 2nd in home runs (51) and stolen bases (14). 1B Barker Cocoa (.339/7/25) had a slow start to the season but has turned it on as of late, and RF Tomas Jones (.367/8/25) earned Player of the Week honors this week. LF Chris Hirshfield (.347/11/26) is a little banged up currently, but he has led the offense so far this season.
Railroad League
Vault 81 and Egret continue to hold advantage in the RL over both Roxbury and Oberland, but we think "not for long" probably applies here. Vault 81 was the only team at 6-4 to have a record above .500 the past two weeks, leading them to a game advantage over the Ninjas. The Rad Sox and T-51s trail them by three games.
The Dwellers have been all offense and little pitching, which will probably end up being their demise. They are 2nd in runs scored (181) but tied for 8th in runs allowed (162), which includes the 12th Bullpen ERA (5.35). However, CL Chris Salazar (8 SV, 1.32) has been exceptional in the pen. On offense, the top four hitters--RF Joe Rathmann (.344/7/19), CF Stu Gains (.384/9/32), SS End Yamada (.306/4/21), and 2B Harry Byrd (.331/7/27)--have been a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Throughout the lineup, C Knicker Trout (.207/1/9) is the only one really struggling.
CBO Standings
CBO Power Rankings
CBO Players of the Week
May 11 - It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Plain Morris, the The Slog Ghouls 21-year-old third baseman, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
He ripped 10 hits in 19 at-bats, compiling a .526 average with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs.
This season Morris is hitting at a .324 pace with 10 home runs, 19 RBIs and has scored 23 times.
It was an extraordinary week for Joe Rathmann of the Vault 81 Dwellers. First he goes on a hot hitting streak, batting .444, then he is voted the Player of the Week in the South Charles Association. Last week Rathmann went 8-for-18, racked up 4 home runs and 8 RBIs and scored 12 runs. It was a heck of a week for the Vault 81 right fielder.
On the year Rathmann has hit .314 with 6 home runs, 17 RBIs and scored 34 runs.
May 18 - It was an exceptional week for Dog Prairie of the Easy Town Assaultrons.
First he beat the devil out of the ball, hitting .526 and as you would expect, he was voted the Player of the Week in the North Charles Association. Last week Prairie went 10-for-19, notched 4 home runs and 9 RBIs and scored 6 runs. All in all, a very good week for him.
For the season Prairie is batting .336 with 39 hits and 11 home runs. He has scored 26 times and batted in 26.
A hot-hitting week got Tomas Jones the South Charles Association Player of the Week trophy. He really wore out his welcome with league pitchers.
The University Point right fielder slammed them for a .435 average, 10 hits in 23 at-bats, 3 home runs, 6 RBIs and scored 6 runs.
In the postgame press conference, Jones shared his hitting philosophy with the BNN scribes: "Just look for the seams and hit between them... nothin' more than that."
Currently Jones has 8 home runs and a .367 batting average.
CBO Transactions
Monday, May 18th , 2308
Starlight Killers: Activated LF Goody Cloyse from the injured list.
Starlight Killers: Released CF Raul Allstar.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Placed CL Ghost Kyudalson on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/16/2308.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Released C Seemore Mares.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Activated RP Bill Early from the injured list.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed CF Science Brennan.
Concord Radstags: Fired Manager Mark Gourdroot.
Concord Radstags: Fired Pitching Coach Kyle Boyster.
The Goodneighbor Hancocks traded 18-year old minor league 2B Cusack Niamh and 20-year old minor league LHP Mike Jerky to the Spectacle Island Reapers, getting 26-year old minor league RHP Dave Cregger and 23-year old C Butch Bigstick in return.
Sunday, May 17th , 2308
Diamond City Swatters: Placed CF Kevin Phelps on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/16/2308.
Saturday, May 16th , 2308
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Placed SS Well Done Dungan on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/15/2308.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed C Left Foot Maxx.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed SS Octavio Snowshovel.
The County Crossing Bloodbugs traded 37-year old LF Melon Sanderson to the Egret Ninjas, getting 18-year old minor league 1B Velekh Sain and a 4th round draft pick in return.
Friday, May 15th , 2308
Diamond City Swatters: Placed 2B Mark Miller on the 60-day injured list.
Diamond City Swatters: Signed SS Moon Governor.
Thursday, May 14th , 2308
Quincy Gunners: Activated LF Bob Bloodbug from the injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Matt Haftel.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Rammy Moustache.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Rammy Moustache.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Matt Haftel.
The FHE Yao Guai traded 19-year old minor league RHP Mayor Muller to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, getting 18-year old minor league RHP Cole Trick and 20-year old minor league LHP Hoodoo Loulou in return.
Monday, May 11th , 2308
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud traded 19-year old minor league RF Krunk Infraggable and 23-year old minor league C Butch Bigstick to the Spectacle Island Reapers, getting 29-year old minor league LHP James-Jacob Dowryman in return.
Sunday, May 10th , 2308
Bunker Hill 75ers: Activated SS Aaron Squire from the injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated LF Young Goodman from the injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Roger Darn.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed LF Ryan Parkwatch.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Will Bradber.
Saturday, May 9th , 2308
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Roger Darn.
Friday, May 8th , 2308
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Cowlick Cooper.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Cowlick Cooper.
Thursday, May 7th , 2308
Starlight Killers: Placed LF Goody Cloyse on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/06/2308.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Nathaniel Oldtimer.
Wednesday, May 6th , 2308
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Placed RP Bill Early on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/05/2308.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed SP Nick Poppa.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Dave Frickitt.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Matt Haftel.
Tuesday, May 5th , 2308
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed RF Matt Haftel.