BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
24 September 2308
CBO Playoff Association Semifinal Preview
SCA Playoffs - #5 Spectacle Island Reapers (69-51) vs #1 Oberland T-51s (73-47)
Season Series
Oberland 4, Spectacle Island 4
April 29-30 @SI: Obe 5-4, SI 4-2
May 12-13 @Obe: Obe 6-1, SI 7-1
July 7-8 @SI: SI 3-2, SI 7-6
August 4-5 @Obe: Obe 4-3, Obe 7-4
Analysis
Oberland returns to the playoffs for the second-straight season, this time as the #1 overall seed, after an eight-year absence from 2299-2306. The T-51s approached the 2296 Inaugural Draft by picking seasoned players ready to win games. After winning the Sole Survivor Series in 2297 over Nordhagen Beach, though, the T-51s lost their squad that got them there and started to build through the draft and acquisitions of other teams' prospects. It paid off, making Oberland built to win for some time to come though they have acquired some veterans to get them there as of late.
During the regular season, Oberland and Spectacle Island matched up well with each team going 3-1 at home, and the T-51s outscoring the Reapers 33-32 in their eight matchups.
On offense, Oberland was good at getting people on base, including finishing 1st in average (.288) but they were not as good at driving them in, finishing 5th in runs scored (622). One player who was amazing at getting on base and driving in runs was RF Orcin Cardinal (.326/42/122), the CBO's leader in RBI. Other key contributors include SS Stormin Normin MacDonald (.353/23/70), 1B Chase Doctorman (.259/26/64), LF/SP Zaire Inquisitor (.287/20/52), and 2B Da Game (.308/13/72).
The pitching was the strongest part of the T-51s game, finishing 1st in both runs allowed (460) and Starters ERA (3.63) and 3rd in Bullpen ERA (3.87). All three playoff starters--Emperry Alizm (18-8, 2.77), Mesquite Williams (13-8, 3.78), and Trolley Dodge (12-9, 3.78)--are capable of taking over games. CL William Butcherman (28 SV, 1.89) may be the best in the game, flanked by RP Dan Beantown (7-6, 3.19) and Inquisitor (7-3, 3.92) who started 14 games for the T-51s.
Prediction
Oberland does not have much playoff experience, but neither does Spectacle Island. As it stands, we think that Oberland is rightfully the top team in the SCA, so we're picking them to win this one in close fashion. Oberland 3, Spectacle Island 2
SCA Playoffs - #3 Vault 81 Dwellers (72-48) vs #2 Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (70-50)
Season Series
Jamaica Plain 5, Vault 81 3
April 23-24 @V81: V81 7-5, V81 3-2
May 12-13 @JP: JP 5-4, JP 7-3
July 7-8 @V81: JP 15-7, V81 4-3
August 4-5 @JP: JP 4-2, JP 3-1
Analysis
Vault 81 is making its fifth trip to the playoffs and second since 2306 when they surprised everyone to earn the #1 seed in the playoffs before succumbing to Roxbury in the SCA Championship Series. This season, they come in as the #3 seed, but they may have a better shot than they did in 2306 to win a title. Jamaica Plain has been in the playoffs 8 of the past 9 seasons. In those previous seven seasons, they have gone as far as the SCA Championship Series three times, but fell all three years, including last season to Roxbury in six games. This season, they come in a topsy-turvy year where both the Rad Sox and University Point are out, which will break a six-year spell of those two teams representing the SCA in the Sole Survivor Series.
For the Dwellers, they never were able to dominate in any one area, though they were above average in everything. On offense, they finished 4th in runs scored (627) led by star 2B Harry Byrd (.328/24/79). Other top contributors include CF Stu Gains (.292/32/86), RF Joe Rathmann (.272/20/58), and SS End Yamada (.278/17/68).
The Vault 81 pitching was also decent but not spectacular, finishing 5th in runs allowed (548), 4th in Starters ERA (4.26), and 8th in Bullpen ERA (4.70). First-year Dweller ace pitcher Scruffy Taguchi (11-12, 4.24) struggled the most and also having his third-straight season of over a 4.00 ERA since leaving Atom for Fort Hagen in 2306. The other three SPs more than made up for Taguchi's struggles, especially last season's ace, Exxie Summerset (18-6, 3.12) who set the CBO wins record (22) just two seasons ago. SP Ryan Downing (13-10, 3.96) will be the third playoffs starter with SP Ryan Goodpryce (14-7, 4.06) moving to the bullpen. CL Chris Salazar (30 SV, 3.79) was tied for the SCA lead in saves with the Rocket's Doug Dee El.
Jamaica Plain may have a lower record thanks to a tougher league, but they performed better statistically. The Rockets finished 2nd in the SCA in runs scored (660) and 3rd in home runs (183). LF Ken Debate (.312/46/115) was a large part of that success, as was SS Jake Doucette (.314/23/68), 2B Bulleye Shooterson (.281/23/67), and 1B Hazmatt Zuniga (.329/26/76).
The Red Rockets were also 2nd in runs allowed (497) with the 5th-best Starters ERA (4.31) and best Bullpen ERA (3.34). Like the Dwellers, the Rockets' ace struggled: SP Derek Green (14-10, 4.41) who had the highest ERA since his 2298 rookie season (4.95) with the Silver Shroud. His 164 career wins is the best in the CBO, though, so he is always a threat to dominate. The other playoff starters are SP/RP Glenn Patnode (7-4, 3.19) and SP Dobbie Radoncis (13-7, 4.26). SPs Chris Deathclaw (9-10, 4.61) and Tim Fusion (10-6, 3.91) will move to the bullpen for the playoffs. As mentioned, Dee El (3.36) tied for the SCA lead in saves and RP Rob O'Cop (6-3, 1.71) emerged as a force after becoming a full-time bullpen pitcher since last season.
Prediction
Jamaica Plain took the season series, including winning all four home games. They look primed to win a championship, and we do not see the Dwellers putting up enough of a fight to stop it. We're taking the Rockets in four: Jamaica Plain 3, Vault 81 1