BNN Weekly Report
News from the CBO, Minors, College, and Youth Leagues
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
12 July 2309
CBO Analysis
We are in the middle of July, which means the All-Star Break is approaching quickly. At this point in the season, the NCA still looks wide open with nine teams technically still in the playoff hunt. On the other hand, the SCA appears it may have its playoff five already in place. Let's take a look at the current playoff seeds and then the power rankings.
NCA
1. Starlight
2. County Crossing
3. Bunker Hill
4. Nordhagen Beach
5. The Slog
Bunker Hill and Nordhagen Beach switched places in this update, and The Slog replaced Sunshine Tidings for the final wildcard spot.
SCA
1. Oberland
2. University Point
3. Jamaica Plain
4t. Egret (Egret and Roxbury have yet to meet in 2309).
4t. Roxbury
Oberland and University Point still control their leagues, while all of Jamaica Plain, Egret, and Roxbury just moved around in the wildcard spots. The Ninjas and Rad Sox meet for the first time this week as their last series before the Break.
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) University Point Deathclaws (135.0, +) - Despite not having the CBO's best record, the Deathclaws are the CBO's hottest team, winning 9 of 10 and seven straight. The Claws swept FHE, won two over Jamaica Plain, swept Egret, and swept Quincy, including a 20-4 victory yesterday.
2) Oberland T-51s (132.5, -) - The T-51s are three games up on University Point and Starlight for the CBO's best record but dropped a spot after going 7-3 in their last 10. Oberland split at the Gunners, won two over Roxbury, swept Quincy, and then won two of three at the Sox.
3) Starlight Killers (123.0, -) - The Killers are the best team in the NCA, leading the Institute League by six games after going 7-3. Starlight swept County Crossing, won one at Bunker Hill, swept Nordhagen Beach, and then won two over Sunshine Tidings.
4) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (118.5, ++) - The Red Rockets are another red-hot team, going 8-2 the past two weeks and currently on a five-game winning streak. The Rockets swept the Rad Sox, won one at University Point, swept Diamond City, and swept Spectacle Island.
5) County Crossing Bloodbugs (113.0, -) - The Bloodbugs are still in control in the Brotherhood League despite going in their past 10 games. The Bugs lost two to the Killers, won two over Salem, swept Fort Hagen, and won one at Nahant.
6) Bunker Hill 75ers (108.0, o)
7) Egret Ninjas (104.0, -)
8) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (103.5, -)
9) Roxbury Rad Sox (102.0, -)
10) The Slog Ghouls (98.0, -)
11) Vault 81 Dwellers (92.0, ++)
12) Salem Witch Hats (91.5, +)
13) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (89.5, -)
14) Nahant Celtics (87.5, +)
15) Atom Cats (83.0, +)
16) Spectacle Island Reapers (81.0, --)
17) Quincy Gunners (77.5, --)
18) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (74.5, o)
19) Diamond City Swatters (66.0, o)
20) Lexington Synths (65.5, +)
21) Easy Town Assaultrons (62.0, +)
22) Concord Radstags (59.0, -)
23) Goodneighbor Hancocks (57.5, -)
24) FHE Yao Guai (38.0, o)
Brotherhood League
County Crossing has a larger lead over Nordhagen Beach than the Party Boys have over both The Slog and Salem. Suddenly, this league has become the most interesting one of where teams may finish. Both the Bloodbugs and Party Boys seem to be sure things for the playoffs, but complications and slumps do happen.
For the Ghouls, they may be making the move to relevancy this season. Currently, they are 4th in the NCA in runs scored (356) and 7th in runs against (321) despite having the 2nd-best Starters ERA (3.75). The Slog will need to improve their bullpen to make a run, currently 12th in Bullpen ERA (5.90). Young players aiding in the success include SS Gavin Deux-Gas (.332/21/51), rookie 1B Kilometers Davis (.308/20/58), 3B Plain Morris (.266/20/58), ace SP Kyle Gunnels (9-6, 2.86), and SP Flirt Perez (8-4, 2.52).
Institute League
Other than the bottom of the IL, every team has a comfortable distance with the teams before and after them. Starlight has kicked up its status by holding on to the top record, and they are six games up on Bunker Hill, which is five games up on Sunshine Tidings.
Fort Hagen is the last of the teams we still consider alive in the playoff hunt. They have been decent, but a 3-7 mark in their last 10 dropped them seven games back in the race for the 5th spot. The Silver Shroud's offense is much improved in 2309, currently 6th in runs scored (345) despite having the NCA's top batting average (.286). One problem on offense has been their power numbers, 11th at 64. SS Brennan Colt-45 (.360/6/29) has been with the Shroud for only 43 games after being called up from Worcester. 2B Sauce Almeida (.319/9/42) and C Sleve McDichael (.308/9/38) are also batting over .300.
Minutemen League
This league looks to be a race of University Point, Jamaica Plain, and then everyone else with no other team above .500 after both Spectacle Island and Quincy had bad runs of going 3-7 the past two weeks.
The Gunners seem as though they should be more successful than their current 35-37 record. They are 4th in runs scored (371) and 6th in runs allowed (355), meaning they are a well-balanced, above-average team. Four hitters are having great seasons: 1B Curt Carpenter (.376/14/49), RF Baywatch Fischler (.352/15/46), 3B Ben Pettinato (.293/21/75), and 2B Shirt Fowler (.344/9/43).
Railroad League
Oberland has full control of the RL after disposing of Roxbury in 4 of 6 games in the past two weeks, already clinching the season series with a current 7-2 advantage over the Rad Sox. With a nine-game lead, the big question in the second half of the season is if the T-51s can maintain the top record in the SCA.
Egret seems to be the quietest good team in the SCA, which may change if their pitching maintains its success, a sign that playoff success will follow. The Ninjas are 1st in runs allowed (278) due to their Starters ERA (3.48) also being the best. Like The Slog in the NCA, Egret will need to improve its bullpen (10th at 4.97) to be a championship contender. For the starters, all four have an ERA below 4.00: Tup Mallory (7-3, 3.45), Max Grove (6-8, 3.70), Admiral Kelm (12-4, 3.35), and Hry Caje (7-6, 3.49).
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
July 5 - Bunker Hill's Grool Manycaps would not be denied the North Charles Association Player of the Week Award for this past week. His consistent stroke, which produced 10 hits in 20 at-bats and a .500 average, made him the clear favorite to win the honor.
"You just go out there and do what you have to do," said Manycaps, "When I'm up, I try to focus and block everything else out of my mind and have a good at-bat. I'm up there to get a hit or advance a runner, not to get caught up in the emotion of the moment. I hope I can win this award every week."
He also tallied 5 home runs, 9 RBIs, and scored 7 runs.
Thus far this season Manycaps has hit .292 with 16 home runs, 41 RBIs and scored 34 times.
This week's top performer in the South Charles Association was first baseman Barker Cocoa of the University Point Deathclaws.
He pounded out a .375 average and was voted the Player of the Week. Over the last week Cocoa connected for 6 hits in 16 at-bats and 4 home runs, drove in 10 runs and scored 8 times.
For the season Cocoa is batting .444 with 103 hits and 33 home runs. He has scored 87 times and batted in 91.
July 12 - Will Ashfire must have thought he was in seventh heaven this week. First he went on a sensational hitting spree, belting the ball at a .500 pace, then the Lexington first baseman finds out he has been selected the top performer and gets the North Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
Asked what his hitting philosophy was, Ashfire quipped to the BNN reporters, "Well, my theory of hitting is to just watch the ball as it comes in and hit it."
It was a good week's work for Ashfire. He hit .500 average (9-for-18) with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs.
Ashfire is currently batting .206 with 16 home runs and 29 RBIs.
21-year-old Syd Thriftstore sent shock waves through Commonwealth Baseball Organization last week with an eye-popping performance that brought him the South Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
A newcomer to the league, Thriftstore made the establishment sit up and take notice, punishing opposing pitchers with a .476 average, 10 hits in 21 at-bats, 4 home runs and 8 runs batted in.
Where the FHE Yao Guai first baseman goes from here, only the baseball gods know for sure, but Thriftstore certainly made his mark last week.
In 72 games this year Thriftstore has posted a .298 average and put up these numbers: 22 home runs, 56 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
CBO Transactions
Monday, July 12th , 2309
Spectacle Island Reapers: Placed RF Dan Squirrel on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/09/2309.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Released RP Dino Toaster.
The Slog Ghouls: Released RP John Johnson.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Signed free agent 1B Gutter Amputee to a minor league contract.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Released 1B Gutter Amputee.
The The Slog Ghouls traded 18-year old minor league 2B David Bloatfly and 20-year old minor league CF Nacho Crisp to the Goodneighbor Hancocks, getting 22-year old CF Bill Lazarus in return.
Sunday, July 11th , 2309
Easy Town Assaultrons: Activated 3B Dog Prairie from the injured list.
Diamond City Swatters: Placed LF Todd Smithfield on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/10/2309.
The Spectacle Island Reapers traded 23-year old LHP Alex Williams to the Easy Town Assaultrons, getting 31-year old RF Dan Squirrel in return.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Fired Scouting Director Jeff Robinson.
Saturday, July 10th , 2309
Vault 81 Dwellers: Placed LF Mace Pageturner on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/09/2309.
Thursday, July 8th , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Activated RF Tomas Jones from the injured list.
University Point Deathclaws: Sent RF Tomas Jones to Triple A Graygarden for injury rehab.
The Slog Ghouls: Activated SP Kyle Gunnels from the restricted list.
FHE Yao Guai: Released SS Octavio Snowshovel.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Ken Ekman.
FHE Yao Guai: Released RP Chief Brandon Gamer.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released 1B Mike Hubologist.
Wednesday, July 7th , 2309
FHE Yao Guai: Activated CL Baker Dozen from the injured list.
FHE Yao Guai: Sent CL Baker Dozen to Triple A Watertown for injury rehab.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Activated CF Ricky Ticky Laughy from the restricted list.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Placed LF Ken Debate on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 07/06/2309.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Signed SS Matt deOldlady.
Tuesday, July 6th , 2309
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Activated LF Young Goodman from the injured list.
Monday, July 5th , 2309
Vault 81 Dwellers: Activated RP Dan Dozier from the restricted list.
Egret Ninjas: Activated SS Hopper Hayes from the injured list.
Egret Ninjas: Sent SS Hopper Hayes to Triple A Brookline for injury rehab.
Egret Ninjas: Activated RP Taco LaVergne from the injured list.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Activated RF Matt Basile from the restricted list.
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 18-year old minor league LHP Chris Hyche and 24-year old minor league CF Free Cake Doorman to the Salem Witch Hats, getting 26-year old minor league 1B Aaron Ramrodman in return.
The Nahant Celtics traded 25-year old SS Cope Kearns and a 4th round draft pick to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, getting 22-year old minor league LF Victor Desire, 18-year old minor league 3B Ori Reuven, and 23-year old minor league SS Meego Lett in return.
Sunday, July 4th , 2309
Egret Ninjas: Activated SP Tup Mallory from the injured list.
The Roxbury Rad Sox traded 21-year old minor league SS Sola Nabe, a 3rd round draft pick, and a 2nd round draft pick to the Easy Town Assaultrons, getting 31-year old LHP Adam Forestman and 27-year old RHP Charred Lee Widemore in return.
Friday, July 2nd , 2309
Oberland T-51s: Released RP Matt Duck.
The Easy Town Assaultrons traded 31-year old 2B Carlos Tophat to the Nahant Celtics, getting 18-year old minor league C Cole Spice in return.
The The Slog Ghouls traded 22-year old minor league 1B Scott Back to the Roxbury Rad Sox, getting 24-year old LHP Crisco Caristo in return.
Thursday, July 1st , 2309
University Point Deathclaws: Activated RP Willie Lule from the restricted list.
Vault 81 Dwellers: Placed RP Dan Dozier on the restricted list.
Easy Town Assaultrons: Placed RF Dan Squirrel on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/30/2309.
Salem Witch Hats: Activated CL Justin Wilkerson from the restricted list.
Quincy Gunners: Activated LF Hondo Ohnaka from the injured list.
Quincy Gunners: Sent LF Hondo Ohnaka to Triple A Castle for injury rehab.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Placed CF Ricky Ticky Laughy on the restricted list.
The Slog Ghouls: Activated RP Denaria Kee from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Placed SP Kyle Gunnels on the restricted list.
Oberland T-51s: Released LF Davjean Lewis.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Placed RF Matt Basile on the restricted list.
The Oberland T-51s traded 19-year old minor league LF Jwin Bigler and 24-year old minor league LHP Aaron Reddeath to the Easy Town Assaultrons, getting 31-year old RHP Aaron Geneva in return.
Wednesday, June 30th , 2309
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Activated SP Joey Dimes from the restricted list.
The Atom Cats traded 38-year old RHP Chopsticks McWilliams to the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys, getting 18-year old minor league RF Bucky Tampa in return.
Tuesday, June 29th , 2309
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed CF Precious Puppy on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 06/26/2309.