BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
4 September 2312
CBO Playoffs 2312
SCA Wildcard Round: #6 University Point Deathclaws (69-62) vs #3 Vault 81 Dwellers (72-58)
Season Series: University Point 2, Vault 81 2
June 20-21 @V81: UP 6-4, V81 7-5
August 12-13 @UP: V81 3-0, UP 6-2
Analysis
Both University Point and Vault 81 have been successful teams, with the Deathclaws making their 12th playoff appearance in the past 13 years and the Dwellers making their 8th playoff appearance, including their third-straight. The difference has been in success in the playoffs with the Claws having made three Sole Survivor Series, winning two, and Vault 81 never reaching the finals. This season, the Dwellers
should have the better chance to win it all, but we have seen that playoff success perpetuates playoff success in most seasons.
University Point is not its traditional dominating offense self, finishing tied for 7th in the SCA in runs scored (662). Their best stat was WAR (20.0) where they finished 2nd. The Claws were 3rd in home runs (183). Some of the veterans over 30 have begun to slow down, but 1B Barker Cocoa (.327/48/122) has not, leading the CBO in homers, RBI, WAR (7.3), runs (116), total bases (319), extra-base hits (71), ISO (.373), OPS+ (193), and WPA (5.94). He is also the CBO's all-time leader in 10 offensive categories. No one can stop Cocoa but Father Time. Other top contributors include LF Sack King (.291/30/83), SS Rock Rampage (.317/26/84), and CF Aesed Hayjen (.301/15/45/29 SB).
The Deathclaws had a lot more success in their pitching, finishing 3rd in runs allowed (585), 7th in Starters ERA (4.30), and 1st in Bullpen ERA (4.03). SP Joey Dimes (10-7, 3.93) was the only starter with a sub-4.00 ERA, but the other three starters had ranges in the 4.00 area, including ace Tony Bertha (8-7, 4.67), who had the highest ERA of the four starters. CL Matt Hoernig (26 SV, 2.88) was good, including RP Marc Pondsip (2-2, 2.35).
Vault 81 took over the Claws' offensive prowess, finishing 1st in runs scored (723), OBP (.357), and WAR (22.1). The Dwellers were also 2nd in home runs (193). Part of that home run success was due to the first five hitters all hitting 20+ home runs: 2B Harry Byrd (.285/25/79), SS End Yamada (.270/21/60), RF Joe Rathmann (.328/23/69/37 SB), CF Stu Gains (.298/28/80), and C Phantom Vargas (.299/21/74).
On the mound, the Dwellers were also up there in the SCA, finishing 4th in runs allowed (598), 4th in Starters ERA (4.07), and 6th in Bullpen ERA (4.98). All three of the top starters had ERAs below 4.00: Exxie Summerset (13-8, 3.92), Scruffy Taguchi (12-13, 3.82), and Ryan Goodpryce (9-5, 3.93). In the bullpen, CL Closecall Jones (25 SV, 3.91) was decent, though SP Ryan Downing (11-11, 4.59) will likely take on that role in the playoffs.
Prediction
We think that Vault 81 is a little more nervous that University Point claimed the 6th spot (an extra-game win) over FHE, but we also think that they should not be. The Dwellers had the better season, and, outside Cocoa, they have the more talented team. In the end, we have the feeling this one will be tight, but we will favor the higher seed. Vault 81 2, University Point 1
SCA Wildcard Round: #5 Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (69-61) vs #4 Oberland T-51s (70-60)
Season Series: Jamaica Plain 3, Oberland 1
July 22-23 @JP: JP 9-7, Obe 1-2
August 31-September 1 @Obe: JP 14-3, JP 8-6
Analysis
When the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets and Oberland T-51s met for the final two games of the 2312 regular season, the Red Rockets were in desperate need for wins, while the T-51s were just trying to hold on to the #3 seed. For the Rockets, getting swept would probably end up with them on the outside looking in at the end of the regular season. Instead, Jamaica Plain took both games in Oberland, securing their spot as the 5th seed, while University Point and FHE had to battle on one extra day of the regular season to claim the 6th spot. As a result of getting swept, the T-51s dropped to the 4-seed.
While these two teams have made the playoffs a lot, especially in recent seasons, they have a collective zero championships and two Sole Survivor Series appearances in the CBO. The T-51s did win the second Sole Survivor Series, but that one no longer counts in the history of the CBO. We, however, will remember that both The Slog and Oberland have a championship in their history. For the Rockets, this is their 10th playoff trip, and they are still seeking their first Sole Survivor Series appearance.
Jamaica Plain enters the playoffs statistically as being in the middle of the SCA pack. On offense, the Rockets were 6th in runs scored (666) but 1st in home runs (195). They need to hit homers to win. Luckily, they had guys to do just that, with LF Ken Debate (.292/32/93), rookie SS Brandon Larsonist (.229/25/46), and 3B Tre' Morgueman (.260/23/80). Rookie RF Boryslaw Skiba (.276/19/45) put up impressive numbers in just 74 games played.
The Red Rockets were also 6th in runs allowed (621), including finishing 3rd in Starters ERA (3.80) and 8th in Bullpen ERA (5.10). The top two starters are tough in Derek Green (10-6, 3.41) and Chris Deathclaw (13-8, 3.28). CL Mel Stud Quijas (37 SV, 4.05) was OK with the best results coming from RPs Herbie Popnecker (3-1, 2.81) and T-Bone Heagy (4-4, 2.94).
Oberland won despite their statistics, finishing tied for 7th in runs scored (662). Their best offensive stats were in average (.271) and stolen bases (141), both 3rd in the SCA. Veteran C Racky Westheim (.359/6/64) was part of that high average, while veterans CF Earthbound Bussey (.252/11/44/42 SB) and Good Don Duck (.285/13/69/33 SB) helped the steals cause. They are 5th and 10th all-time in stolen bases. Power was not the T-51s' game with 1B Lannie Tykeson (.328/17/83) leading the team in homers.
The T-51s were not very good in pitching, finishing 10th in runs allowed (665), including 11th in Starters ERA (4.87) and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (4.62). None of their starters finished with a sub-4.00 ERA, with Ahsoka Tano (10-11, 4.07) and long-time Rocket, Chris Teddybear (9-6, 4.06). Both two-way stars, Zaire Inquisitor (15-10, 4.65) and Tykeson (5-12, 6.02) will be in the bullpen for the T-51s. They are without regular CL Aaron Geneva (8 SV, 2.25) for the playoffs, as they were for most of the season. William Butcherman (26 SV, 2.54) did a decent job taking on the closer role in Geneva's absence.
Prediction
We do not understand how the T-51s struggled statistically, yet were still in position to claim the #1 overall seed late in the season. Instead, they come in as a longshot to win it all. In this series, however, we think that the T-51s have a little more of what's needed to find success. Since OUR pick to win it all was Oberland, we are sticking with them until they're done. Oberland 2, Jamaica Plain 0