BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, BCAC, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
30 August 2310
NCA Wildcard Round
#6 Starlight Killers (74-56) vs #3 Sunshine Tidings Chemists (76-54)
Season Series
Sunshine Tidings 6, Starlight 4
April 12-14 @ST: ST 10-4, Star 4-2, ST 8-2
May 21-22 @Star: ST 7-5, Star 5-2
June 18-20 @Star: Star 6-5, ST 10-6, ST 6-2
August 1-2 @ST: Star 8-7, ST 4-2
Analysis
Both Sunshine Tidings and Starlight have gotten used to making the playoffs but never playing in the big series. For the Chemists, they are making their eighth-straight playoff appearance and eighth overall. The Killers are making their fifth-straight trip to the playoffs and eighth overall in the full CBO.
Sunshine Tidings have been able to get to the playoffs, but they are 1-7 in their series. The lone series victory came in 2306 when as the #2 seed the Chemists swept #3 Easy Town. Sunshine Tidings then was swept in the NCA Championship Series by #1 County Crossing.
Starlight did not find its first success in the playoffs until 2308 when they advanced past their first series for the first time. In that season, the Killers as the #5 seed beat #4 Nordhagen Beach and then #1 Salem before falling to #3 Bunker Hill in the NCA Championship Series. Last season, Starlight was the #1 overall seed, but they fell to the #4 75ers in the Semifinals Round.
In the regular season, both teams played tight games in their 10-game series. Only two games had more than a four-run difference, and all four of Starlight's victories were by four runs or less with two one-run victories spread in.
Sunshine Tidings was a bit better in pitching than they were in offense. The offense finished 7th in the NCA in runs scored (671) but 1st in home runs (224). Part of that success was having four players hit 24 or more home runs with 3B Ross Merchantman (.321/49/126) leading the NCA in homers and RBI. The three other big contributors were 1B Dusty Brownell (.292/34/72), SS Lernz Tentsleep (.267/30/74), and CF Ricky Ticky Laughy (.271/24/59).
Pitching was pretty good overall for the Chemists with the 4th best runs allowed (554), 3rd Starters ERA (3.91), and 9th Bullpen ERA (4.76). The three playoff starters--Sheng Kawolski (8-8, 3.10), Eugene Gym (15-10, 3.93), and Mike Rubric (21-9, 3.41)--all have ERAs below 4.00. Kawolski was attained in a July trade with Diamond City, while Rubric tied the NCA record for wins. The bullpen could be better. CL Cush Baker (31 SV, 3.80) was the best performer. He should get more help from SP Brian Bridges (10-9, 4.00), who moves to the bullpen for the playoffs.
Starlight looks similar to the Chemists in its statistical makeup, finishing 8th in runs scored (625). Only two players hit more than 20 home runs: 1B Oren Gep (.274/44/118) and LF Glenn Higinbotham (.291/24/71). Higinbotham also led the CBO with 30 steals, part of the CBO-leading 79 stolen bases for the Killers. CF Willy Mazehaze and 2B Looter Knol added 14 and 13 stolen bases, respectively.
The Starlight pitching was 2nd in runs allowed (526), 2nd in Starters ERA (3.69), and 8th in Bullpen ERA (4.69). The three starting pitchers for the playoffs are Digger Vadim (11-11, 3.62), Whokill Poole (14-7, 4.10), and Shaak Ti (15-8, 3.60). SP Bill Sarnacki (12-17, 3.76) moves to the bullpen to join RP Ryan Mills (11-2, 3.92) and CL Sam Molina (28 SV, 4.35).
Prediction
This appears to be a good matchup but it is only a three-game series. Sunshine Tidings seems to be just a tad better that Starlight, so we are taking them to win it. Chemists 2, Killers 1
#5 County Crossing Bloodbugs (75-55) vs #4 The Slog Ghouls (75-55)
Season Series
The Slog 6, County Crossing 4
April 25-27 @CC: CC 6-5 (10), Slog 9-2, CC 6-5
May 23-24 @Slog: Slog 7-5, Slog 5-4 (13)
June 22-24 @Slog: CC 2-1, Slog 5-3, Slog 8-6
August 4-5 @CC: Slog 18-7, CC 3-2
Analysis
County Crossing has become veterans of the playoffs, while The Slog is making its return. This season marks only the third time the Ghouls have made the playoffs with their first two trips coming in 2299 and 2300. They also made it both years of the Brotherhood League as an independent league and even won the Sole Survivor Series in 2296 over Finch Farm (now Nahant). The Bloodbugs are making their 9th playoff appearance and second-straight after missing the playoffs in 2308. The Bugs won the Sole Survivor Series in 2306 as the #1 seed in the NCA.
In the regular season, the Ghouls won the series 6-4. In all four of County Crossing's victories, they won by only one run. Most of The Slog's wins were by one or two runs, but they did have a seven-run and 11-run advantage in two of the games.
The Slog comes into the playoffs as a balanced team, pretty much good everywhere but great nowhere. On offense, the Ghouls finished 5th in runs scored (700) and sported the 2nd-best stolen base numbers (52). Three players were outstanding with the bats: SS Gavin Deux-Gas (.338/35/85), 1B Kilometers Davis (.318/30/99), and 3B Plain Morris (.311/39/105). CF Bill Lazarus led the team with 24 stolen bases, and Deux-Gas added 11.
On the mound, the Ghouls were 5th in runs allowed (572), 5th in Starters ERA (4.05), and 7th in Bullpen ERA (4.66). Ace Tiger Fanne (11-7, 2.91) was great when he had run support. The other two playoff starters are Flirt Perez (16-8, 4.05) and Isaiah Swindler (12-10, 4.23). RP Denaria Kee (6-6, 2.47) had the most success from the bullpen. He's joined by SP/RP Austen Austin (12-8, 4.68) and CL Crisco Caristo (26 SV, 6.13).
County Crossing went bombs away in the 2310 season, relying on their offense to help them win games. The Bugs were 3rd in runs scored (712), including 4th in home runs (195). The first four in the lineup are deadly: SS Cy Thompson (.264/33/78), CF Any Why (.304/22/71), RF Babs Rooth (.342/31/87), and 1B Zeldolph Violet (.278/41/110).
The Bloodbugs were not as good on the mound, finishing 8th in runs allowed (620), 7th in Starters ERA (4.45), and 11th in Bullpen ERA (5.06). The Bugs' ace, Gavin Eviritts (20-7, 3.32), is in serious consideration for the Vim! Pitcher of the Year Award. The other two starters are College Luckyman (10-12, 5.02) and Whip Lashley (16-3, 4.55). In the bullpen, only CL Wick Prater (38 SV, 2.58) is worth mentioning. The rest of the bullpen was bad.
Prediction
County Crossing has the playoff experience that The Slog does not. While we think the Ghouls are the slightly better team, we just do not see them ready for the pressure of primetime just yet. Bloodbugs 2, Ghouls 0