BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
5 May 2313
CBO Analysis
We are now a month into the 2313 season, and already we have teams emerging as powers while others are fading away. With most teams playing 26 games, 16 seems to be the magic win number right now for teams doing well with just seven teams in the CBO winning 16 or more games with 20 indicating the most. Likewise, only six teams have lost 16 or more games with 20 being the maximum.
Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) FHE Yao Guai (144.4, o)
2) Bunker Hill 75ers (136.6, o)
3) Vault 81 Dwellers (130.4, +)
4) County Crossing Bloodbugs (126.7, ++)
5) Lexington Synths (119.7, ++)
6) University Point Deathclaws (115.7, o)
7) Atom Cats (112.7, -)
8) Glowing Sea Radscorpions (102.9, --)
9) Salem Witch Hats (100.8, +)
10) The Slog Ghouls (96.8, +)
11) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (95.8, +)
12) Starlight Killers (91.8, --)
13) Concord Radstags (91.0, +)
14) Diamond City Swatters (90.0, -)
15) Nahant Celtics (86.2, ++)
16) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (82.0, -)
17) Goodneighbor Hancocks (81.4, o)
18) Egret Ninjas (79.1, ++)
19) Southie Brews (79.1, ++)
20) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (78.1, ++)
21) Oberland T-51s (76.1, -)
22) Spectacle Island Reapers (72.1, -)
23) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (66.3, o)
24) Quincy Gunners (59.3, --)
25) Roxbury Rad Sox (58.3, +)
26) Cambridge Coursers (56.8, --)
27) Easy Town Assaultrons (50.4, o)
28) Malden Grognaks (40.6, o)
Brotherhood League
County Crossing is on a five-game winning streak and has gone 7-3 in their last 10 to give themselves a little distance in the BL, while Nordhagen Beach is 2-8 in its last 10 to drop to 4th place. Salem and The Slog join the Bugs as the only teams above .500. Nahant is approaching .500, but Easy Town and Malden look to be out of the race already with the CBO's 27th and 28th-best records.
The Grognaks had no hopes of making the playoffs coming into the season, but they did expect to finish around .400. With a current .231 winning percentage, Malden would hold the #1 overall spot in the draft. While that may help them land one of Stonehill College's 2B/SS Finnan Hunt or Northeastern University's 3B Donovan Mackey with the 1st overall pick, it does nothing for 2313. The Grognaks are 13th in runs scored (104) and runs allowed (166). Rookie 3B Jack of Diamonds Cordero (.297/11/29), the 2nd overall pick in the 2312 draft, a surprise that Glowing Sea did not draft with the #1 pick, has been the sole gem on the offense. 1B Andy Stamey (.352/2/10) and 2B Breha Queen (.320/0/5) have both had some hits. On the mound, CL Sanfer Annsiskow (5 SV, 1.04) has been the best pitcher on staff. SP Tyler Whitestag (2-3, 4.07) has been the best starter and only with a sub 6.00 ERA. Justin Horton (1-4, 8.62) has been moved to the bullpen.
Institute League
Bunker Hill has done what it needs to do to maintain their league lead and hold the NCA's top record by two games over the Bloodbugs. Lexington has been hot, winning three straight and 8 of 10 to hold the 2nd spot at just three games back. Starlight and Fort Hagen are just above .500. Concord, Sunshine Tidings, and Cambridge hold the final three spots.
The Synths are playing above their heads early in the season, but that has excited a fanbase that has not seen much success in franchise history having never made the playoffs in the full CBO history. Right now, they are 9th in runs scored (121) and 10th in runs against (134), yet they have the NCA's third-best record. We call that a statistical anomaly, but also an indicator that it is only a matter of time before they falter and start sliding down the standings. As of now, C Danny Enfryz (.351/5/20) has been their most successful hitter with some help from RF Speedy Bugg (.295/6/16) and 1B Eugene Jeep (.283/2/9). On the mound, three starters are doing well: Chase Wede (5-2, 2.79), Aaron Somer (2-1, 2.75), and Kent Rothschild (3-1, 3.56). CL Hunter Kim (8 SV, 2.02) has pitched well out of the bullpen.
Minutemen League
The ML is a two-team race early with University Point and Atom tied atop the league, while no other team is currently above .500. Goodneighbor, Jamaica Plain, Spectacle Island, Southie, and Quincy are all packed together with just two games separating 3rd from 7th place.
Atom is ready to return to the postseason and may have the squad to get there. The Cats are 3rd in runs scored (151) and tied for 5th in runs allowed (117). Longtime franchise standard, 3B Shane Stabb (.429/4/13) has had an amazing start to the season in his 18th season. Other offensive stars have been 1B Actually Aucoin (.307/6/24), RF Candy Kline (.311/5/22), and CF Hickory Dockery (.276/7/17). On the mound, the first two starters, Doug Creep (5-2, 3.40) and Mesquite Williams (3-3, 2.97), have been setting the pace for the team. There has not been a whole lot to speak of in the bullpen, but Melvin Terminator has pitched 10.1 innings with just a 0.87 ERA.
Railroad League
FHE was flying high but struggled a little recently to hold the CBO's top record by just one game over Bunker Hill. Vault 81 has been a tiny bit better in their last 10, going 8-2, to sit just 2.5 games back. Glowing Sea is still an early success in 3rd place, ending the number of teams above .500. That means Diamond City at 13-13 would be in the playoffs if they started today. Fifth through seventh is Egret, Oberland, and Roxbury, all somewhat surprises in their current state.
For the Rad Sox, they may have hit a wall, or they may have just had some early-season bad luck. Right now, the Sox are 9th in runs scored (123) and tied for 12th in runs allowed (156). Ranking 14th in home runs with just 18, Roxbury has not been able to use power to generate runs. 1B Bullet Minnow (.273/4/16) leads in homers. C Ayag Mour (.316/0/13) has the top average on the team. On the mound, the only starter doing well is Urm Rehfeldt (3-1, 3.19). SP Nuke Laloosh (2-3, 4.75) may be on the permanent downswing. CL Professor Harriel has yet to pitch this season with an injury, though he should be back before the end of the month. Roxbury all-time saves leader, Josh Samm (358) has taken on the role in Harriel's absence, having two saves and a 3.86 ERA.
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
April 28 - Jack of Diamonds Cordero has the tools to stick in this league for many years. The 21-year-old third baseman of the Malden Grognaks had a hot bat in the North Charles Association over the past seven days and won the Player of the Week honors.
Cordero batted .391 with 9 hits in 23 at-bats, 6 home runs and 12 RBIs.
On the season, Cordero is batting .286 with 9 home runs and 23 RBIs. He has played in 20 games.
Pitchers who faced the Vault 81 Dwellers last week were happy to see Chris Connexx in the rear-view mirror. The 32-year-old first baseman was dubbed the South Charles Association Player of the Week for a 5-game tear that saw him hit at a .500 clip.
For the week he also chalked up 10 hits in 20 at-bats, 4 home runs, 5 RBIs and 8 runs scored.
At the moment, Connexx is hitting .321 with 7 home runs and 15 RBIs. He has played in 16 games and scored 16 times.
May 5 - A hot-hitting week got Aaron Squire the North Charles Association Player of the Week trophy. He really wore out his welcome with league pitchers.
The Bunker Hill shortstop slammed them for a .526 average, 10 hits in 19 at-bats, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and scored 5 runs.
In the postgame press conference, Squire shared his hitting philosophy with the BNN scribes: "Just look for the seams and hit between them... nothin' more than that."
This season, Squire has banged out 29 hits in 90 at-bats for a .322 average with 7 home runs. He is getting on base at a .404 pace and his totals also include 19 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
At the age of 28, Ken Debate might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Jamaica Plain left fielder put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .522 batting average. For his efforts Debate collected the South Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
He racked up 12 hits in 23 at-bats, 3 home runs and 6 RBIs last week in 6 games.
So far this year, Debate is batting .388 with 7 home runs.
CBO Noteworthy News
April 22 - Sources close to the Spectacle Island Reapers report that second baseman Bubb Islander will retire once the season is over.
To date Islander has a .279 career batting average and has totaled 42 home runs.
April 23 - Some days everything just falls in place.
It all came together for Jig McGhee and the Bunker Hill 75ers at Battle of Bunker Hill Memorial Stadium. The 75ers went home winners and the center fielder had a 4-for-4 day that included the cycle, a baseball rarity.
"He sure was a wrecking ball today," said Bunker Hill manager Nick Radio following his club's 14-2 taming of the Atom Cats.
Jig McGhee singled in the 1st, hit a three-run home run off Doug Creep in the 2nd, hit a three-run double in the 4th, hit an RBI triple in the 5th and walked in the 7th.
This year, McGhee has socked 23 hits in 61 at-bats for a .377 average with 3 home runs. He is getting on base at a .451 pace and his totals also include 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
April 28 - Check out who leads the Commonwealth Baseball Organization in home runs while playing Third Base!
Jack of Diamonds Cordero, MAL, 9
Tre' Morgueman, JP, 8
Ross Merchantman, ST, 6
McMack Bingham, CAM, 5
Knud Bather, V81, 4
May 5 - So, which starting pitchers are leading the Commonwealth Baseball Organization in K/BB?
Ugio Church, NB, 6.0
Max Grove, EGR, 6.0
Leyden Aigg, CON, 4.8
Flirt Perez, SLOG, 4.7
Beachboy Nut, NB, 4.4
CBO Transactions
Monday, May 5th , 2313
Nordhagen Beach Party Boys: Released C Tony Barman-Beerman.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Signed RP Flatlander Flanagan.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Signed RP Denny Guai.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Signed RP Wuunferth Unliving.
Lexington Synths: Signed LF Coldheart Gravedigger.
Malden Grognaks: Signed RF Keith McKinney.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed 2B Anything Washington.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Signed 2B Pluto Magenta.
Concord Radstags: Signed LF Shaa Gordon.
Malden Grognaks: Released RF Flowertop Zo.
Sunday, May 4th , 2313
FHE Yao Guai: Released SP Florida Texas.
Southie Brews: Placed 3B Sonny Pacino on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 05/03/2313.
Concord Radstags: Signed LF Lips Lightfoot.
The Slog Ghouls: Signed 3B Joey Other.
Lexington Synths: Signed LF Paoio Mayer.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed SS Donk Oh.
Concord Radstags: Released RF Ralph DeYoe.
Saturday, May 3rd , 2313
Bunker Hill 75ers: Activated RF Deerlord Fugivmee from the injured list.
Bunker Hill 75ers: Activated RP Chad Adamczyk from the injured list.
County Crossing Bloodbugs: Released LF Newsboy Grigg.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Activated 2B Kyran Millar from the injured list.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed SS Muscle Milk.
Malden Grognaks: Signed RF Stan Sinshallows.
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B Casey Sturman.
Malden Grognaks: Released RF Jose Gonzalez.
Friday, May 2nd , 2313
Malden Grognaks: Released CF Armitage Hux.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Activated SP Tristan Marble from the injured list.
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B Lisp Foxx.
Thursday, May 1st , 2313
Diamond City Swatters: Placed LF Todd Smithfield on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/30/2313.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Released LF Shaa Gordon.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed C Millar Animatronic.
Roxbury Rad Sox: Signed C Durtemis Ticketman.
Wednesday, April 30th , 2313
Salem Witch Hats: Placed RP Taki Undertaker on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/29/2313.
Oberland T-51s: Activated SS Stormin Normin MacDonald from the injured list.
Nahant Celtics: Signed LF One-game Trucker.
Concord Radstags: Signed LF Me Tuggin.
Lexington Synths: Signed LF Country Boy Brown.
Tuesday, April 29th , 2313
Salem Witch Hats: Activated RP Taki Undertaker from the injured list.
The Slog Ghouls: Signed 3B Do-Good Wilkerson.
Monday, April 28th , 2313
Concord Radstags: Released 1B Slow Willie Boyd.
Concord Radstags: Released 1B One-game Trucker.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed C Overgrown Dom Tamponi.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed RP Devin Rucker-Crowe.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed RP Radstag Jelen.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Signed RP Gumbo Le Troutstain.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed C Chuck Householder.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed C Brad Radrat.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed RP Pat Cat Spirit.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed RP Billy Moon.
Sunday, April 27th , 2313
Concord Radstags: Activated RP Chase Seashores from the injured list.
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud: Released LF Me Tuggin.
Malden Grognaks: Signed RF Troy Gregoryson Jr.
Saturday, April 26th , 2313
Bunker Hill 75ers: Placed RF Deerlord Fugivmee on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/25/2313.
Salem Witch Hats: Activated SP Jaa Thirtysix from the restricted list.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed 3B Spacious Hoops.
Malden Grognaks: Signed SP Sunburst Kozlowski.
Malden Grognaks: Signed RF Run Ronny Gant.
Friday, April 25th , 2313
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Activated SS Rollie Leroyson from the restricted list.
Lexington Synths: Activated RP Ruben Pane from the injured list.
Spectacle Island Reapers: Placed CF Hondo Ohnaka on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/24/2313.
Oberland T-51s: Activated RF Judge Sharp from the injured list.
Salem Witch Hats: Released 1B D.Z. Fedrick.
Thursday, April 24th , 2313
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Placed LF Ziggy Stardust on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/22/2313.
Cambridge Coursers: Placed 3B Artist Moody on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/23/2313.
Cambridge Coursers: Placed CF Miky Mytook on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/23/2313.
Jamaica Plain Red Rockets: Released SP Ogre Olmstead.
Egret Ninjas: Signed 3B Roderick de Wett.
Lexington Synths: Signed LF Dustin Dean Moriarty.
Goodneighbor Hancocks: Signed CF Ed Dee Sullivan.
Wednesday, April 23rd , 2313
Lexington Synths: Placed LF Campy Madrid on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/20/2313.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Activated RF Tomas Jones from the injured list.
Sunshine Tidings Chemists: Released LF Karl Hartson.
Concord Radstags: Signed LF Cubby Munster.
Tuesday, April 22nd , 2313
Salem Witch Hats: Placed RP Taki Undertaker on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to 04/21/2313.
The Vault 81 Dwellers traded 20-year old minor league 3B Hey Dentra Venski and a 5th round draft pick to the Starlight Killers, getting 19-year old minor league SS Beb Blacktrain and 19-year old minor league CF Den Ethor in return.