BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, College, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
27 July 2308
CBO Analysis
The 2/3 point of the system is complete now that the All-Star Game is complete. With 40 games remaining, and by our accounts, there are seven teams per association alive for the playoffs with one typically good team per association still alive but needing to stay hot in August and September.
If the playoffs were to start today, these would be the seedings:
NCA
1. Salem
2. Sunshine Tidings
3. Nordhagen Beach
4. Bunker Hill
5. Starlight
Salem has a game lead for the CBO's top record and a three-game lead on both the Chemists and Party Boys for the top record in the SCA. For Sunshine Tidings, getting swept over the weekend gives them just a one-game lead in the Minutemen League.
Starlight holds just a game lead for the wildcard spot over Easy Town. The Slog is four games back and the always-dangerous County Crossing is seven back.
SCA
1. Vault 81
2. Spectacle Island
3. Oberland
4. Quincy
5. Egret
With Spectacle Island continuing to struggle, Vault 81 is six games up for the #1 spot over them but only five games up on Oberland. Four teams are all jumbled with either 44 or 43 wins, meaning the wildcard race is up for grabs, along with the 2, 3, and 4 seeds. Roxbury is approaching .500 and could be a late-season team to watch, but first they need to close the five-game gap for 3rd in the Railroad League.
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Salem Witch Hats (124.2, o) - The Witch Hats remain with the CBO's top record after a 5-3 mark the past two weeks. Salem split with Lexington, won two at The Slog, and then won two at Nahant.
2) Vault 81 Dwellers (123.0, o) - The Dwellers remained one game back of Salem after also going 5-3 the past two weeks. Vault 81 split at Goodneighbor, won two over Egret, and then won two over Oberland.
3) Bunker Hill 75ers (122.3, +) - The 75ers were the hottest team in the past two weeks, going 7-1 over that span. Bunker Hill split with County Crossing, swept the Synths, and then swept Sunshine Tidings.
4) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (117.5, +) - The Party Boys kept up pace with the Hats by going 5-3 the past two weeks. The Boys split at the Chemists, won one at the Bloodbugs, and then swept the Ghouls.
5) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (107.5, -) - The Chemists struggled the past two weeks with a disastrous post-All Star game series loss. Sunshine Tidings split with the Boys, won two over Starlight, and then got swept at Bunker Hill.
6) Oberland T-51s (105.8, +)
7) Starlight Killers (104.2, ++)
8) University Point Deathclaws (104.0, ++)
9) Quincy Gunners (102.0, --)
10) Easy Town Assaultrons (100.0, -)
11) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (98.8, +)
12) Egret Ninjas (98.0, -)
13) Spectacle Island Reapers (96.5, --)
14) The Slog Ghouls (87.2, --)
15) Roxbury Rad Sox (86.8, o)
16) County Crossing Bloodbugs (86.5, o)
17) Nahant Celtics (78.2, +)
18) Lexington Synths (77.5, +)
19) Goodneighbor Hancocks (74.5, -)
20) Atom Cats (66.5, +)
21) FHE Yao Guai (57.8, +)
22) Diamond City Swatters (55.5, +)
23) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (52.2, --)
24) Concord Radstags (33.5, o)
Brotherhood League
Salem has shown that they are real this season, but they have had late-season collapses in past seasons where they were in playoff contention. They have to pay attention to one key number with 40 games to play: 9. As in a nine-game lead over Easy Town, a number the Hats will need to keep over them to ensure a playoff spot in 2308, which would be Salem's first in franchise history.
For the Assaultrons, there are still a few lineup changes they may need to make to help propel them back into contenders. The top four in the lineup have generated 69% of their power numbers: CF Sharkey Lurkfodder (.279/12/37), LF Sean Samuels (.317/10/30), 1B Lannie Tykeson (.297/19/58), and 3B Dog Prairie (.280/21/55). Getting another power hitter could help their tied for 4th scoring offense (402) and 7th-ranked home runs (90) numbers.
Institute League
PAM readjusted her predictions during the All-Star Break to give Sunshine Tidings the odds to defeat Oberland in the Sole Survivor Series. Of course, the Chemists then immediately lost three to Bunker Hill to close their four-game lead to one. Starlight also got a weekend sweep of Fort Hagen to move five back and into the wildcard lead.
The Killers are always that team we feel could be great but just never gets it together when the playoffs are on the line. Starlight is 6th in runs scored (386) and 5th in runs allowed (351). Two pitchers who were acquired to get the Killers over the top, SP Digger Vadim (8-7, 5.03) and SP Whokill Poole (7-8, 4.83), have been struggling all season. Starlight is also 10th in home runs (79) with traditional power hitters, 1B Oren Gep (.274/19/54) and LF Glenn Higinbotham (.231/12/47), struggling to hit their usual pace of home runs. Gep is on pace to hit the fewest home runs of his career since his rookie season in 2299.
Minutemen League
Spectacle Island has struggled of late, meaning 1st and 4th place are only separated by three games. The ML has become the league we hope all leagues could be until the end of the season.
The quietest good team in the CBO is Quincy. Just two games back, statistics do not seem to follow their winning ways. The Gunners are 7th in runs scored (388) and 3rd in runs allowed (352), showing pitching is pushing the team. The Bullpen is 1st in ERA (3.27) but is without CL Ryan Rebman (21 SV, 3.72) for a few weeks with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. While the team is only 7th in home runs (92), they are a well-balanced team through the first six hitters. 2B Shirt Fowler (.322/18/47) earned his first All-Star game appearance and appears to be the best offensive player for the Gunners.
Railroad League
Vault 81 has been in steady control of the RL for most of the season, despite PAM's prediction that Oberland is the pick for the Sole Survivor Series. It could be that the T-51s will be in 2nd place and win as the 3rd seed, but the Dwellers seem to be the team to beat in the SCA.
Egret is a team we still cannot put our fingers on. The Ninjas avoided getting swept by Roxbury over the weekend with a Sunday win, and still remain eight games above .500. Their top three starters--SP Tup Mallory (9-5, 3.88), SP Max Grove (5-8, 3.74), and SP Mat Nielsen (10-6, 3.25)--have all pitched well. Grove has had terrible run support, though, thus the poor record in relation to his ERA. Few offensive players have stood out, despite being the 6th-ranked team in runs scored (390). The acquisition of CF Pockets Aintfull (.299/2/25/17 SB) should help in run production for the rest of the season.
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
July 20 - It was a week to remember for Kurt Kilgore. After wrapping up a torrid week at the plate, the County Crossing Bloodbugs left fielder was named the North Charles Association Player of the Week.
Kilgore collected 10 hits in 20 at-bats for a .500 average. He also accounted for 5 RBIs, 1 home run and scored 4 runs.
Thus far this season in 77 games Kilgore is batting .328 with 7 home runs, 47 RBIs and 44 runs scored. He has 102 hits in 311 at-bats.
The votes have been tallied and the winner of the South Charles Association Player of the Week has been named. It was awarded earlier today to Orcin Cardinal for his great week at the plate.
The Oberland right fielder took home the trophy by banging out 12 hits in 20 at-bats for a .600 batting average, driving in 10 runs and scoring 7 times.
Currently Cardinal is batting .362 with 111 hits and 32 home runs. He has knocked in 94 runs and scored 63 times.
July 27 - 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. Matt Stickhouse, the Bunker Hill 75ers 24-year-old first 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 9 hits in 16 at-bats, compiling a .562 average with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs.
In his stats this season, Stickhouse has posted a batting average of .346 with 104 hits in 301 at-bats, 22 home runs and 61 RBIs. He has also scored 61 runs, walked 29 times and compiled a .403 OBP.
Jake Doucette of the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets had a super week and today was voted the Player of the Week by the South Charles Association.
The 30-year-old shortstop put up a .526 average with a .550 on-base percentage, racking up 10 hits in 19 at-bats, 3 home runs, 6 RBIs and 6 runs scored.
For the year Doucette is batting .316 with 107 hits and 19 home runs. He has scored 66 times and driven in 47.
CBO All-Star Game
Commonwealth Baseball Organization put its best players on the field today, and the game certainly showed that.
In the annual Midseason Classic, the South Charles Association came out over the North Charles Association by a final score of 6-2. Leading the way for the South Charles Association All-Stars was center fielder
Missile Crews.
"I go out there and do my best every game, All-Star game or not," the star said after his great show, going 1-for-1 in the contest.
During his 197-game career Crews has batted .322 and collected 245 hits, 49 home runs and 141 RBIs.
CBO Transactions
Monday, July 27th , 2308
Nahant Celtics: Placed RP Chad Adamczyk on the restricted list.
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 24-year old minor league LF Danny Vampire to the University Point Deathclaws, getting 26-year old minor league 1B Pete Thweatt in return.
The Salem Witch Hats traded 21-year old minor league 1B Shoe Kiesel to the Roxbury Rad Sox, getting 28-year old CF Dustin Shotgun in return.
Sunday, July 26th , 2308
Starlight Killers: Released SP Arrow Fletcher.
Lexington Synths: Placed C Danny Enfryz on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/25/2308.
Egret Ninjas: Released 3B Paul Middle.
Nahant Celtics: Placed SS Love Hanson on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/25/2308.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Erik Johnsen.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 3B Jim Pearpeel.
Saturday, July 25th , 2308
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Pree Mireman.
Friday, July 24th , 2308
Lexington Synths: Activated CF Millioncap Go from the injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated RF Deerlord Fugivmee from the injured list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Finis Valorum.
Thursday, July 23rd , 2308
Spectacle Island Reapers: Activated RF Matt Basile from the injured list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Kooky Strobel.
Wednesday, July 22nd , 2308
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released RF Nick Tofu.
Tuesday, July 21st , 2308
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 31-year old LHP Adam Bias, a 7th round draft pick, and a 4th round draft pick to the Salem Witch Hats, getting 23-year old SS Tommy Grubb, 21-year old minor league RHP David Lunchtime, and a 10th round draft pick in return.
Monday, July 20th , 2308
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Released RP Kevin Cowboy.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Activated SS Well Done Dungan from the injured list.
Oberland T-51s: Activated C Racky Westheim from the injured list.
The Vault 81 Dwellers traded 20-year old minor league RF Pants Krupa to the Nahant Celtics, getting 22-year old RHP Ryan Downing, a 6th round draft pick, and a 12th round draft pick in return.
Sunday, July 19th , 2308
University Point Deathclaws: Placed SP Cobra Cobratea on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/18/2308.
University Point Deathclaws: Placed RF Tomas Jones on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/18/2308.
Quincy Gunners: Placed CL Ryan Rebman on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/18/2308.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Activated 1B Bryan Assman from the injured list.
Quincy Gunners: Signed RP Nick Dyson.
The Sunshine Tidings Chemists traded 20-year old 2B Breha Queen to the Roxbury Rad Sox, getting 28-year old 2B Chris Connexx in return.
Saturday, July 18th , 2308
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed SP Mike Cartrette on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/17/2308.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Signed SP Mike Germanfrench.
Friday, July 17th , 2308
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Activated 2B Jonathan Abern from the injured list.
Thursday, July 16th , 2308
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed 1B Tony Two-time on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/14/2308.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Placed RF Matt Basile on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/15/2308.
The Starlight Killers traded 19-year old minor league RHP Baker Dozen to the FHE Yao Guai, getting 28-year old CF Willy Mazehaze in return.
Wednesday, July 15th , 2308
Lexington Synths: Activated RP Tease McKeon from the injured list.
Tuesday, July 14th , 2308
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Uni Molina.
The Atom Cats traded 27-year old 2B Rabbit Forest and a 4th round draft pick to the Lexington Synths, getting 18-year old minor league RHP Llewellyn Nightingale, 19-year old minor league 2B Gobby Gazoo, and a 10th round draft pick in return.
BYDL Update
The regular season of 86 games has ended, but three teams in the North Region--Concord-Lexington, Beerthirty, and Lynn--are tied for the final wildcard spot. The Sippers and Gamers play the low tiebreaker game with the winner playing the Minuteboys tomorrow for the right to earn the 8th seed in the BYDL. We will give a full update in our first August update of the season.
SCYL Update
Eight teams clinched playoff berths as the 2308 (and perhaps final*) season of the Southern Commonwealth Youth League. In the CCL, Truro clinched the top seed, while three teams from the Nantucket Sound Division--Nauset Beach, Sandwich, and Wareham--make up the next three seeds. In the PL, Woodlawn and New Bedford each clinched the top two seeds, with the Gnomes two Seekonk River Division mates, Pawtucket and Freeplat, making up the next two seeds.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Hatchlings and Screamers won their series, while the Gnomes and Paw Sox took their series in the PL. In the CCL Final, Truro is up 2-0, and Pawtucket is up 1-0 in the PL.
* Talks are ramping up of combining the BYDL and SCYL into one coordinated youth league for the 2309 season. This would allow scouts to review prospects on an even playing field.