BNN Weekly Report
News from the CBO, Minors, College, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
28 June 2309
CBO Analysis
We have surpassed the midway point of the 120-game season, and there are three teams with 40+ wins in the league and six with 40+ losses. If the playoffs would start today, these would be the seedings:
NCA
1. Starlight (wins tiebreaker due to a 3-1 series advantage over the Bugs)
2. County Crossing
3. Nordhagen Beach
4. Bunker Hill
5. Sunshine Tidings
SCA
1. Oberland
2. University Point
3. Roxbury
4. Jamaica Plain
5. Egret
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Oberland T-51s (136.7, o) - Now with a three-game lead for the CBO's top record, the T-51s take over the #1 spot this week with an 8-2 stretch. Oberland split at Quincy, swept FHE, split with Spectacle Island, and then swept Diamond City.
2) Starlight Killers (131.0, +) - The Killers are now tied for the NCA's top record after an 8-2 mark, including a current six-game winning streak. Starlight swept Easy Town, lost tow of three at Fort Hagen, swept the Assaultrons again, and then swept the Silver Shroud.
3) County Crossing Bloodbugs (125.0, -) - The Bloodbugs went 7-3, but they are now tied for the NCA's top record. The Bugs swept Sunshine Tidings, won two at Nordhagen Beach, split at Concord, and then won two of three over The Slog.
4) University Point Deathclaws (118.2, o) - Atop the Minutemen League and 8-2 in their last 10, the Deathclaws hold the SCA's 2nd-best record. University Point split with Roxbury, swept the Gunners, swept the Swatters, and won two at the Reapers.
5) Roxbury Rad Sox (116.3, +) - The Rad Sox complete the Top 5 after going 6-4 in their last 10 to give them the CBO's 5th-beast record. The Sox split with the Claws, won one versus Vault 81, split with Goodneighbor, and then swept the Dwellers.
6) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (106.7, ++)
7) Egret Ninjas (106.4, -)
8) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (103.5, +)
9) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (102.6, -)
10) Spectacle Island Reapers (96.8, o)
11) Bunker Hill 75ers (96.6, --)
12) Quincy Gunners (93.9, ++)
13) Salem Witch Hats (91.9, -)
14) Nahant Celtics (91.0, ++)
15) The Slog Ghouls (90.9, -)
16) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (80.3, -)
17) Atom Cats (78.5, +)
18) Vault 81 Dwellers (76.3, -)
19) Goodneighbor Hancocks (60.9, +)
20) Easy Town Assaultrons (54.9, -)
21) Concord Radstags (53.2, ++)
22) Lexington Synths (51.2, o)
23) Diamond City Swatters (50.0, --)
24) FHE Yao Guai (48.2, -)
Brotherhood League
County Crossing has created some distance thanks to a 5-1 series advantage over Nordhagen Beach in the last few weeks. Meanwhile, The Slog, Salem, and Nahant are all clustered together hoping that they each could break out and work their way into a playoff spot.
For the Party Boys, we are wondering when the proverbial bubble will pop for them. CBO champions just two seasons ago, the Boys appear to be a team that should be on the downswing due to their aging roster. But they keep winning. Currently, though, Nordhagen Beach seems to be winning despite their statistical outputs. The Boys are 8th in runs scored (282) and 4th in runs allowed (251). Currently injured LF Young Goodman (.354/14/44) is the only player hitting above of .300 and only one of three with 10+ home runs: Jonathan Angelou (18) and Maxx Murtagh (12). That has led the Party Boys to call up prospect LF Gorgeous DiGiacomo to add a little pop to the batting lineup. On the mound, SP Beachboy Nut (10-2, 2.29) is almost always a sure win. For the other starters, though, they have struggled, with SP Ugio Church (5-4, 4.16) having the next-best ERA.
Institute League
With Bunker Hill getting swept by Sunshine Tidings, Starlight now has some distance in their IL lead and now the 75ers and Chemists are clustered. Fort Hagen is having respectable season, but they are not expected to compete.
With a 7-3 mark in their past 10, Sunshine Tidings seems to be getting hot and looking to turn around their 2309 season to be competitive again. They still need better statistical output, currently 5th in runs scored (306) and 8th in runs allowed (285). They are a pretty good power-hitting team, currently 3rd in home runs (97) with five players in double digits. 1B Dusty Brownell (.288/23/44) leads the team in home runs, and RF Baktu DaWell (.314/19/39) is the overall best hitter on the team. For pitchers, SP Mike Rubric (8-4, 3.27) has been much better than ace SP Eugene Gym (7-5, 4.78).
Minutemen League
University Point is leading in what may be the strongest league overall. Jamaica Plain, Spectacle Island, and Quincy all have the potential to be playoff teams.
The Red Rockets are in 2nd place and seem to be the team most likely to be ahead of the other teams outside of University Point in the end. The Rockets need to improve their offense, though, currently 7th in runs scored (296). LF Ken Debate (.327/25/60) has been most of their offense and is one of only two players--the other being CF Hid Matsumoto (.203/11/32)--with 10 home runs.
Railroad League
Oberland has a large lead at six games, and Roxbury and Egret are far ahead of the rest of the league. Vault 81 could be competitive in the second half of the season, but they had better start winning at a .700 or better clip to get there.
Despite getting pushed down by the T-51s, the Rad Sox are again a formidable team. They are 2nd in runs scored (343) and 4th in runs allowed (281). They are no longer a dominant pitching team, but ace Nuka Laloosh (8-4, 3.00) can dominate at any time. However, the rest of the starting staff has been pretty bad, with all three holding ERAs above 5.00.
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
June 21 - The votes have been tallied and the winner of the North Charles Association Player of the Week has been named. It was awarded earlier today to Hurr Lee Reyes for his great week at the plate.
The Starlight right fielder took home the trophy by banging out 9 hits in 20 at-bats for a .450 batting average, driving in 9 runs and scoring 6 times.
So far this season Reyes is batting .386 with 11 home runs, 44 RBIs and 46 runs scored. He has 90 hits in 233 at-bats, 36 walks and a .467 OBP. Reyes has played in 57 games.
When it came to hitting the baseball, Austin Engill was in a class by himself in the South Charles Association this past week. Nobody did it better.
The outstanding shortstop for University Point tagged opposing pitchers for a .474 average and was voted the Player of the Week Award. Included in his stats were 9 hits in 19 at-bats, 4 homers, 7 runs scored and 11 RBIs.
This year Engill is batting .239 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs.
June 28 - When it came to hitting the baseball, Oren Gep was in a class by himself in the North Charles Association this past week. Nobody did it better.
The outstanding first baseman for Starlight tagged opposing pitchers for a .450 average and was voted the Player of the Week Award. Included in his stats were 9 hits in 20 at-bats, 4 homers, 7 runs scored and 12 RBIs.
So far this year Gep has hit .313 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and 51 runs scored.
His hard work and hustle paid off this week. The hard-working and hard-playing Barker Cocoa was rewarded with the South Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
The scrappy University Point Deathclaws first baseman hit .562 while collecting 9 hits in 16 at-bats, 4 home runs and 10 RBIs.
So far this season Cocoa is batting .449 with 29 home runs.
CBO Transactions
Monday, June 28th , 2309
Nahant Celtics: Activated CF Grandson Quarles from the restricted list.
Nahant Celtics: Sent CF Grandson Quarles to Triple A Finch Farm for injury rehab.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Signed free agent RP Kornet Claire to a minor league contract.
Sunday, June 27th , 2309
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed CF Missile Crews on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/26/2309.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Joven Bambino.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released RP Grumpy Tettleton.
Saturday, June 26th , 2309
Quincy Gunners: Activated LF Bob Bloodbug from the restricted list.
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Placed LF Young Goodman on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/25/2309.
Lexington Synths: Signed Manager Fourth Wall.
Friday, June 25th , 2309
Salem Witch Hats: Placed CL Justin Wilkerson on the restricted list.
Diamond City Swatters: Signed C Jadon Herring.
Lexington Synths: Fired General Manager Rich Szymanowski.
Lexington Synths: Fired Manager Wand Astounding.
Lexington Synths: Signed General Manager Kevin Badluck.
Thursday, June 24th , 2309
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed CF Jig McGhee on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/23/2309.
Oberland T-51s: Activated RP Dave Pain from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed RP Denaria Kee on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/23/2309.
The Diamond City Swatters traded 30-year old C Jason Watts to the Quincy Gunners, getting 19-year old minor league RF Naris Wicked in return.
Wednesday, June 23rd , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: SP Dave Kovalenko returns from his rehab assignment.
Nahant Celtics: Placed CF Grandson Quarles on the restricted list.
Salem Witch Hats: Considering uniform change for the 2310 season, plans to add a third color to the current black and white color scheme.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Placed SP Joey Dimes on the restricted list.
Tuesday, June 22nd , 2309
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Nickodemus Soothsayer.
Sunday, June 20th , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Placed RP Willie Lule on the restricted list.
FHE Yao Guai: Activated 2B Wookie Chewbacca from the injured list.
Egret Ninjas: Placed SP Tup Mallory on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/19/2309.
Quincy Gunners: Placed LF Bob Bloodbug on the restricted list.
University Point Deathclaws: Signed SP Luke Driver.
Friday, June 18th , 2309
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Tarberry Malinowski.
Thursday, June 17th , 2309
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Activated RP Pete Holster from the injured list.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Activated SP Eugene Gym from the injured list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Dax Robledo.
Wednesday, June 16th , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Activated LF Chris Hirshfield from the injured list.
Easy Town Assaultrons: Placed 3B Dog Prairie on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/13/2309.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed 1B Erik Johnsen.
Tuesday, June 15th , 2309
Salem Witch Hats: Signed free agent 1B Gutter Amputee to a minor league contract.
Salem Witch Hats: Released 1B Gutter Amputee.