BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
22 September 2309
CBO Playoff Tree
CBO Playoff Play-In Series Preview
NCA Playoffs - #5 Sunshine Tidings Chemists (65-55) vs #4 Bunker Hill 75ers (67-53)
Season Series
Sunshine Tidings 8, Bunker Hill 4
June 4-6 @BH: BH 7-2, ST 10-7 (10), BH 5-2
June 25-27 @ST: ST 5-2, ST 11-10, ST 7-3
July 23-25 @BH: BH 9-2, ST 12-11, ST 8-4
August 27-29 @ST: ST 6-3, ST 6-2, BH 1-0
Analysis
Sunshine Tidings and Bunker Hill return to the playoffs. The Chemists are making their seventh straight appearance and seventh overall. For the past five seasons, they were Institute League champions but fell to 3rd this season. The 75ers are back for the second straight season and fourth overall. Last season, these two teams were the 2nd and 3rd seeds, respectively, with the 75ers prevailing in the NCA Semifinal in five games on their way to winning it all.
For the Chemists, 2309 had to be a disappointment with them falling back in the standings behind Starlight and Bunker Hill. Sunshine Tidings finished 2nd in the NCA in scoring (623) and 8th in runs allowed (555).
On offense, the big reason for their runs success was the long ball, where they were 1st with 208. Six players in their lineup hit 20 or more home runs, driving the high-powered offense. Leaders were 3B Ross Merchantman (.260/44/101), 1B Dusty Brownell (.279/42/78), RF Baktu DaWell (.309/31/68), CF Ricky Ticky Laughy (.264/28/71), SS Lernz Tentsleep (.263/22/77), and C Red Sone (.284/20/76).
Pitching definitely struggled in 2309 with the Starters finishing 7th in ERA (4.47) and 9th in Bullpen ERA (4.78). The three playoff starters--Eugene Gym (14-8, 4.20), Mike Rubric (16-8, 3.78), and Joey Dimes (12-11, 4.37)--all had success but can be prone to losses when the offense is not generating runs. In the bullpen, much of the success will have to come from CL Cush Baker (31 SV, 3.59) who led the bullpen in ERA.
Bunker Hill struggled against 2309 playoff teams, with their best winning percentage being .500 against Nordhagen Beach. If they are going to repeat as champions, the 75ers will need to learn how to win. They are decently good in statistics, finishing 3rd in runs scored (615) and 5th in runs allowed (521).
The offense's best quality is that their starters are much better than their bench players, meaning that Bunker Hill needs to be healthy to survive. That already hurts with star SS Aaron Squire (.291/25/63) being out for the playoffs. Hitters 2-6, though, are formidable, giving the 75ers a chance in every game: 2B Emerald Sapphire (.307/11/43), CF Jig McGhee (.322/19/54), 1B Matt Stickhouse (.322/35/99), LF Donny Kowalski (.281/30/91), and 3B Grool Manycaps (.290/18/63).
Pitching was also decent through out the staff with the Starters (3.88) and Bullpen (4.07) both finishing 4th in ERA. The playoff starters will be Jason Tonelli (11-13, 3.89), Max Thunderdome (16-10, 3.89), and Corey Ware (8-9, 4.16) with part-time starters Hangman Alley (11-4, 3.03) and Mike Cartrette (7-2, 4.61) moving to the bullpen. Alley may be the biggest surprise since he was the most successful starter in 2309. In the bullpen, CL Jim Livermore (24 SV, 3.76) has adjusted well from his move from being a starter in Fort Hagen to full-time closer with Bunker Hill.
Prediction
Based on the season series, it appears that Sunshine Tidings has the 75ers number. However, when looking at playoff success and the actual talent of the teams and directions they are taking, it is hard to bet against Bunker Hill. Assuming all is as it seems, we are going to take the defending champions to move on. Bunker Hill 2, Sunshine Tidings 1
SCA Playoffs - #5 Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (71-49) vs #4 Egret Ninjas (71-49)
Season Series
Egret 6, Jamaica Plain 2
April 28-29 @JP: Egr 4-2, JP 5-4
June 1, 3 @Egr: Egr 6-2, Egr 4-2
July 27-28 @JP: Egr 6-4, Egr 7-5
September 7-8 @Egr: Egr 12-1, JP 7-3
Analysis
Jamaica Plain makes their sixth straight playoff appearance and ninth in the past 10 seasons. With all those playoff appearances, the deepest they have reached is the SCA Championship Series, where they are 0-3. For Egret, they are making their fourth appearance and second straight. In 2305, the Ninjas almost pulled the impossible and got as far as the SCA Championship Series where they fell to University Point. This will be the first time the Red Rockets and Ninjas meet in the playoffs.
The Rockets were a good team in a top-heavy association, but how they measure against the other playoff teams is hard to measure. Of course, going 2-6 against the Ninjas raises some flags. Still, Jamaica Plain was 4th in runs scored (612) and 5th in runs allowed (523) in the SCA, putting them above average in both offense and pitching.
The Red Rockets were good in both home runs (173) and bases stolen (48), where they finished 3rd in both in the SCA. RF Ken Debate (.319/45/113) was the unquestioned leader on offense. Both SS Jake Doucette (.355/20/65/16 SB) and CF Hid Matsumoto (.222/18/54/22 SB) helped generate Debate's 113 RBI, third in the SCA with his 45 homers being second.
On the mound, the Rockets were 3rd in Starters ERA (4.09) and 4th in Bullpen ERA (4.28). Despite their good ERA, they made interesting decisions in their starters 2 and 3 with Dobbie Radoncis (8-10, 5.02) and Tim Fusion (12-8, 4.02) getting the nod over Chris Deathclaw (14-8, 3.89). Derek Green (12-12, 3.40) is the ace, but he will need better run support in the playoffs. In the bullpen, CL Rob O'Cop (28 SV, 2.68) was the leader with help from former closer Doug Deel El (5-0, 3.47) and RP Glenn Patnode (5-3, 3.19).
Egret was only 5th in runs scored (604) but tops in runs allowed (472) in the SCA. For playoff success, they are built to win and could be a true title contender. We called them quiet throughout the regular season, but the Ninjas have put together a good team.
The Ninjas are a good team overall, but one place where they lack in is instant runs, finishing 10th in home runs (113). They are 1st in stolen bases (79), meaning they are good at manufacturing runs. 2B Justin Tootles (.328/10/43/29 SB) was good at getting on base and then advancing from the leadoff spot. CF Pockets Aintfull (.290/3/56/18 SB) also got on base and advanced. RF Rick Pickle (.305/20/102) capitalized on batting often with runners in scoring position. C Plump Jack Korson (.284/13/64) had decent success from the 7th spot in the lineup.
Egret was 1st in Starters ERA (3.66) but 6th in Bullpen ERA (4.49). All four starters finished with an ERA below 4.00: Tup Mallory (13-6, 3.39), Max Grove (11-13, 3.67), Admiral Kelm (18-7, 3.60), and Hry Caje (12-9, 3.99). Since only three will start in the playoffs, Caje will move to the bullpen where he is expected to take over the closer position from regular season CL Midnight Flowers (32 SV, 3.78). RP Clueless Gunsmith (5-2, 2.73) will also help in the pen.
Prediction
While the Red Rockets have all the playoff experience, we believe that Egret is a team worth watching both this season and in the future. We could be dead wrong, but we are expecting the Ninjas to sweep this series. Egret 2, Jamaica Plain 0