BNN Weekly Report
News from the CBO, Minors, College, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
3 May 2309
CBO Analysis
The CBO has just passed the 1/6 mark, and some teams are beginning to distance themselves as league play begins this weekend. The Brotherhood League is the closest with the first-place Party Boys only four games up on the sixth-place Ghouls. Every other league's sixth-place team trails by 10.
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Starlight Killers (139.9, ++) - Now tied for the CBO's best record and in possession of the best record in the NCA, the Killers went 7-3 in the past two weeks with a current five-game winning streak. Starlight split with Nordhagen Beach, split with Salem, split with The Slog, won two over County Crossing, and won two over Nahant.
2) Oberland T-51s (131.9, -) - The T-51s are tied for the CBO's best record and the best in the SCA after going 6-4 in their last 10. Oberland split with Atom, swept Goodneighbor, split with the Cats again, split with University Point, and split with Spectacle Island.
3) Egret Ninjas (130.7, o) - The Ninjas went a CBO-best 8-2 in their last 10 to pull within a game in the Railroad League of the T-51s. Egret split with Quincy, swept the Deathclaws, swept the Reapers, split with Jamaica Plain, and swept at Atom.
4) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (123.7, -) - The Red Rockets struggled a bit, going 5-5 in the past two weeks but still hold a three-game lead in the Minutemen League. Jamaica Plain was swept at Roxbury, swept FHE, split with Diamond City, split with the Ninjas, and split with Vault 81.
5) Bunker Hill 75ers (116.5, o) - The 75ers dropped a couple of games behind the Killers after going 5-5 in the past two weeks and still hold the second-best record in the NCA. Bunker Hill split with the Witch Hats, split with the Ghouls, got swept at the Bloodbugs, split with the Celtics, and swept Easy Town.
6) Roxbury Rad Sox (116.5, -)
7) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (110.4, ++)
8) County Crossing Bloodbugs (104.2, ++)
9) Salem Witch Hats (101.2, ++)
10) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (101.2, --)
11) Spectacle Island Reapers (99.2, -)
12) Quincy Gunners (96.0, ++)
13) University Point Deathclaws (95.0, o)
14) Vault 81 Dwellers (89.0, +)
15) Easy Town Assaultrons (86.0, --)
16) Atom Cats (81.8, o)
17) Nahant Celtics (79.8, --)
18) The Slog Ghouls (74.6, +)
19) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (70.6, +)
20) Diamond City Swatters (53.5, -)
21) Concord Radstags (39.1, +)
22) FHE Yao Guai (39.1, o)
23) Goodneighbor Hancocks (38.9, +)
24) Lexington Synths (38.1, --)
Brotherhood League
The BL may or may not be the CBO's toughest league. What we know is that the 6th-best team in the BL is better than any other 6th-best team in the league, meaning that it will be a tough league to win in 2309. Nordhagen Beach holds a one-game lead over both Salem and County Crossing. All teams are in contention, so we want to look at teams we have interest in. In this case, we're going to still look from the bottom and work our way up.
That means Nahant is worth featuring this week at 10-12 and three games back. The Celtics finished at 59-61 in 2308 but in a tie for 5th place. Currently, they are tied for 8th in runs scored (96) and 7th in runs against (99), meaning their record around .500 is accurate. Nahant has a team that seems it is just a few players from contention. Currently, the starting pitching is the strongest unit, 4th in ERA (3.78). That low ERA is because of the 2nd and 3rd starters, Zack Million (2-4, 2.63) and Doug Creep (2-1, 2.25), though run support has not been a strength. Ace SP Jalep Temper (2-3, 4.68) has struggled some. On offense, no one is batting above .300 with RF Gene Leftswipe (.295/2/10) leading the team. 3B Cope Kearns (.262/7/14) and 1B Jacob Tarberry (.250/6/12) lead the team in power and run production, along with help from CF Grandson Quarles (.286/3/15).
Institute League
We have begun to see a shift with both Starlight and Bunker Hill seeming to have the edge over Sunshine Tidings. None of Fort Hagen, Lexington, and Concord look to be in contention as we enter the season's second month.
The Radstags have taken the reign as the CBO's worst team, and they will have to build with good drafts. They seemed to have nailed their 2307 draft pick, #2 overall CF Duff Fee (.262/5/12) who enters his second CBO season (he played 48 games in 2308) as a leader on the team. He will need to develop more and will need additional talent in time for the team 12th in runs scored (63) and 10th in runs allowed (121). Another player making a move as a young emerging star is SP Leyden Aigg (1-2, 2.43), a 2306 2nd-round pick by County Crossing traded to the Stags.
Minutemen League
Jamaica Plain used a good preseason to maintain momentum. With the rest of the ML struggling the Red Rockets look to have a strong case for playing for seeding in 2309, assuming they stay consistent once league play starts. Four other teams are within two games of each other with Spectacle Island in 2nd place and Atom in 5th.
The Cats are most likely to remain at the bottom, winning 10 of 22 despite currently being 10th in runs scored (92) and 8th in runs allowed (109). The offense has gotten most of its production from three players: LF Figgie Legendsport (.333/6/17), CF Earthbound Bussey (.316/3/9), and 1B Casey Roux (.237/3/12). Second-year pro 2B Joe Brocflower (.344/1/9) leads the team in average from the 7th spot. He batted .315 in 2308 with 35 starts and 87 total appearances.
Railroad League
This league seemed to be the strongest early on, but the top and bottom has started to experience some separation. Oberland, Egret, and Roxbury are all two games difference in all from 1st-3rd place. Vault 81 is very much alive at 11-11. Then there is Diamond City and FHE. The Swatters went 1-9 in their last 10 to drop from a record above .500 to the third-worst in the SCA.
The Swatters are a Jekyll and Hyde team both in their successes so far but also their units. Ranked 4th in runs scored (118), Diamond City has shown some punch from the batter's box. 2B Blaine Bishop (.408/6/13/5 SB), formerly the 5th-overall pick in the 2304 Rookie Draft by Spectacle Island, looks as though he wants to win the Nuka Hitter Award this season. Other players contributing to the offense are LF Todd Smithfield (.321/7/14), 1B Murray Bunts (.310/7/21), and RF Magnum Peaeye (.302/2/15).
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
April 26 - His lightning swing and solid bat took the North Charles Association by storm. All week Donny Kowalski of the Bunker Hill 75ers shocked opponents with an electrifying performance to capture the North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
The talented left fielder sparked his team by hitting .474 with 4 home runs, 7 RBIs and 6 runs scored.
This season in 16 games, Kowalski has hit at a .288 clip with 17 hits, 6 home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Tony Bertha of University Point was the "Best of the Best" in the South Charles Association last week. In recognition of his outstanding play over the week, he was selected today as the Player of the Week.
Bertha recorded 2 wins and no losses, 7 strikeouts and a 0.00 earned run average while holding opponents to a .161 average in 16 on the hill.
May 3 - The North Charles Association has selected its Player of the Week. The honor went to Brian DeLong, right fielder of the Salem Witch Hats.
In a standout performance, he lit up the league with a .455 average to win the award. DeLong went 10-for-22 for the week, totaled 4 home runs with 7 RBIs and scored 5 times.
So far this year in 22 games DeLong is hitting .325 with 8 home runs, 18 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
It was announced today by the South Charles Association that University Point first baseman Barker Cocoa had received the Player of the Week Trophy for his superlative play last week.
The University Point first baseman wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers, pounding them for a .556 average (10-for-18) with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs on his way to claiming the honor.
Cocoa is batting at a .419 pace this season, picking up 31 hits in 74 at-bats with 9 home runs, 29 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
CBO Transactions
Monday, May 3rd , 2309
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Elijah Samuelson.
Diamond City Swatters: Signed free agent RP Bassianus Axius to a minor league contract.
Sunday, May 2nd , 2309
Lexington Synths: Activated LF Gee Force from the restricted list.
Lexington Synths: Sent LF Gee Force to Triple A Wellesley for injury rehab.
Saturday, May 1st , 2309
The Oberland T-51s traded 17-year old minor league 3B Zap Mast to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, getting 28-year old minor league LF Him Goldstein in return.
Friday, April 30th , 2309
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Activated SP Matt Markland from the restricted list.
Thursday, April 29th , 2309
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Activated 2B Wally Warwick from the restricted list.
FHE Yao Guai: Placed CL Baker Dozen on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/28/2309.
Wednesday, April 28th , 2309
Oberland T-51s: Placed RF Judge Sharp on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/27/2309.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Dimitri Hudson.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Cuss Welling.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Duper Gangman.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Orlie Dumbbell.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Moon Maid.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Cuss Welling.
Tuesday, April 27th , 2309
Salem Witch Hats: Activated LF Dan Erb from the restricted list.
Monday, April 26th , 2309
Concord Radstags: Placed SS Hatrack Hines on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/25/2309.
Saturday, April 24th , 2309
FHE Yao Guai: Placed 3B Daryl Stamperman on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/23/2309.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Darryl Lawson.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Rat Castnet.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Antonio Muthukaruppan.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Darryl Lawson.
Friday, April 23rd , 2309
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Placed 2B Wally Warwick on the restricted list.
Lexington Synths: Placed LF Gee Force on the restricted list.
Oberland T-51s: Placed SS Stormin Normin MacDonald on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/22/2309.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Placed SP Matt Markland on the restricted list.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Dan Riley.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Leemeto Manycaps.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Tris Talker.
Thursday, April 22nd , 2309
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed SP Corey Ware on the restricted list.
Salem Witch Hats: Placed LF Dan Erb on the restricted list.
Diamond City Swatters: Activated CF Kevin Phelps from the injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Activated SP David Lunchtime from the injured list.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Signed RP Nick Dyson.
Wednesday, April 21st , 2309
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed RP Hangman Alley on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/18/2309.
Diamond City Swatters: Activated RP Burt Bloodhound from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed RF Boots Yellowhair on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/20/2309.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Signed RP Gregg Endsley.
Tuesday, April 20th , 2309
Atom Cats: Placed SP Tristan Marble on the 60-day injured list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Will Bradber.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Steve Slocums.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Bowl Lanes.
FHE Yao Guai: Signed RP Wagon Camacho.
Atom Cats: Signed RP Dale Callaway.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Steve Slocums.