Hmmm. Every time lately that I have attempted to write a report, the site has not been loading for me. It's slow today but functioning. Let's go for it and hope it works.
BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
12 July 2315
CBO Analysis
This is our last pre All-Star Break update, with just three more updates coming after this one. With just seven weeks left in the season, we will break down what some teams need to win the championship and what some teams probably need to deal away to win a future one. But first, let's look at the Power Rankings. Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:
Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) University Point Deathclaws (110.5, +)
2) Lexington Synths (109.4, ++)
3) Atom Cats (107.4, -)
4) Salem Witch Hats (105.8, -)
5) Oberland T-51s (104.3, o)
6) Vault 81 Dwellers (104.2, -)
7) Roxbury Rad Sox (100.1, ++)
8) Malden Grognaks (100.0, ++)
9) Bunker Hill 75ers (99.3, -)
10) Quincy Gunners (97.1, o)
11) Diamond City Swatters (96.1, -)
12) Southie Brews (93.0, ++)
13) Concord Radstags (91.0, o)
14) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (91.0, +)
15) The Slog Ghouls (90.0, -)
16) Glowing Sea Radscorpions (87.1, --)
17) Easy Town Assaultrons (86.0, --)
18) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (85.6, ++)
19) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (82.9, ++)
20) Spectacle Island Reapers (82.9, --)
21) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (82.6, -)
22) Nahant Celtics (79.7, ++)
23) Cambridge Coursers (78.9, -)
24) FHE Yao Guai (77.9, --)
25) County Crossing Bloodbugs (74.8, -)
26) Egret Ninjas (72.7, o)
27) Goodneighbor Hancocks (72.6, o)
28) Starlight Killers (58.4, o)
Brotherhood League
Salem still holds the best record in the NCA, but after a 3-7 string in their last 10, the Witch Hats no longer hold the CBO's best record. That is now University Point's by a half game. With that stated, the Hats still have a 9.5-game lead over Malden, followed by Easy Town and The Slog at 44-44, Nahant, County Crossing, and Nordhagen Beach.
Realistic championship prospects: Salem
Best chance is a playoff appearance: Malden, Easy Town, The Slog
Not going to make it: Nahant, County Crossing, Nordhagen Beach
For the Witch Hats, we do not recommend any specific moves. Salem is talented throughout the roster and may be the best overall team in the CBO. If we had to choose a position to upgrade, we would pick centerfield where veteran Andy Dogleash (.247/6/35) is sufficent but not helping to produce as many runs as the team could use.
Top Players on the Block:
SS Gavin Deux-Gas, The Slog - .352/13/58
RF Babs Rooth, County Crossing - .321/9/57
RF Baktu DaWell, The Slog - .302/14/41
2B Bulleye Shooterson, Nahant - .314/19/63
SP Mister Burns, Nordhagen Beach - 4-8. 3.60
The Slog may be sellers, but the defending champions are not out of the race completely. With a .500 record, the Ghouls would be the last team in if the playoff started today. The amazing thing is that statistically they appear to still be contenders. The Slog is 4th in runs scored (439) and 6th in runs allowed (420), showing they should have a winning record. They are decent in one-run games (11-9), and 7-6 in extra innings. SS Gavin Deux-Gas (.352/13/58/23 SB) and RF Baktu DaWell (.302/14/41) have been the team leaders in hitting. Part of the pitching has been the leading bullpen in ERA (3.45). CL Orlando Bransford (11 SV, 2.09) has been good, but the starters have no one with a winning record. Fourth starter, Quincy Jones (6-6, 3.88), has the best numbers.
Institute League
Lexington is still holding on in the IL with a three-game lead over Bunker Hill. The rest of the league is below .500 with Fort Hagen and Concord at 43-45, followed by Cambridge, Sunshine Tidings, and Starlight anchored as the CBO's worst team at 31-57.
Realistic championship prospects: Lexington, Bunker Hill
Best chance is a playoff appearance: Fort Hagen, Concord, Cambridge
Not going to make it: Sunshine Tidings, Starlight
Lexington’s “weakness” is power hitting, where they are tied for 7th in the NCA in homers with 92. With RF Hurr Lee Reyes out with injury, only two players currently have a double-digit number of home runs. The Synths lead in batting average, so it is tough to recommend replacing OPS with SLG, but the Synths could use another big bat in the lineup.
Bunker Hill desperately needs pitching, especially an effective starter or two, to compete for a championship in 2315. Ace Pokey Chatman (6-7, 4.56) may be the worst ace in the league. As a 3rd pitcher, he would have value, meaning all of Jason Tonelli, Hangman Alley, and Trauma Medley should be in the bullpen in the playoffs.
Top Players on the Block:
SP Leyden Aigg, Concord – 10-5, 3.81
C Clownie Blammo, Cambridge – .300/14/45
LF Family Sam Partridge, Sunshine Tidings - .287/19/48
SP Clubhouse Treelover, Fort Hagen – 10-3, 3.90
1B Hax Kim, Concord – .263/8/43
The Coursers thought they had something going early in the season, but they have since faded in their quest for their first playoff trip. Cambridge is still in decent shape statistically, but they are not getting the wins. The Coursers are 7th in runs scored (424) and 4th in runs allowed (415). On offense, Cambridge is 3rd in home runs (99). Five players have at least 10 home runs, led by LF Pro Jabonete (.289/17/49), 3B McMack Bingham (.315/15/52), and C Clownie Blammo (.300/14/45). The top three starters all have decent ERAs: Hry Caje (7-8, 4.30), Scooter Yaghmour (8-10, 3.85), and Freon McMahan (10-3, 4.19). CL Monte Ward (13 SV, 7.43) has not been decent.
Minutemen League
As mentioned, the Deathclaws are now the CBO's best team. The veteran-laden team with 14 of 25 players over 30 is perhaps the CBO’s most “Win Now” teams of all teams in the CBO. Not far behind at three games back, Atom is holding firmly onto 2nd place, followed by Quincy as the only other team above .500. The rest of the ML is Southie, Jamaica Plain, Spectacle Island, and Goodneighbor with the SCA’s worst record.
Realistic championship prospects: University Point, Atom
Best chance is a playoff appearance: Quincy, Southie
Not going to make it: Jamaica Plain, Spectacle Island, Goodneighbor
After a number of great years with Roxbury, the Claws’ 3B Donn Mattingley may have hit his career limit. With a .243/7/38 line, he is more hindrance to University Point’s offense than assistant. The Deathclaws could use more power in his place.
Atom could also use more offensive production from the bottom of its lineup. With CF Hickory Dockery (.209/6/37) and SS Alec Box (.212/1/23) in the 7th and 8th spots, some better hitting there could be the boost the Cats need to return to the Sole Survivor Series.
Top Players on the Block:
LF Ken Debate, Jamaica Plain - .275/21/44
SP Jalep Temper, Spectacle Island – 7-7, 4.10
The Red Rockets have not been to the playoffs since 2312, and 2315 is sure to be the third-straight season. Offense has been productive, including being 5th in runs scored (446) and tied for 3rd in home runs (110). Two players are among the CBO’s power hitters, including the CBO leader in homers, SS Brandon Larsonist (.277/24/68), and LF Ken Debate (.275/21/44). Pitching has not been good and could use talent. The Rockets are 12th in runs allowed (470), including 13th in Starters ERA (4.98). Fourth starter, Efrain Snackpack (3-6, 4.06), has the best ERA, though ace Frank Heart (10-3, 4.29) has received good run support. CL Mel Stud Quijas (19 SV, 3.95) has been OK from the bullpen.
Railroad League
Vault 81 has a one-game lead over Oberland in what is still a very good league. All of Roxbury, Diamond City, and Glowing Sea are just three or four games back. FHE and Egret take up the rear.
Realistic championship prospects: Vault 81
Best chance is a playoff appearance: Oberland, Roxbury, Diamond City, Glowing Sea
Not going to make it: FHE, Egret
The Dwellers could use an upgrade to the 2B spot. Chris Connexx (.227/8/45) is banged up and Artie Selfian (.252/2/14) is not a great backup for him. 3B Harry Byrd (.298/1/15) may be at the end of line and should be replaced.
Top Players on the Block:
CF Missile Crews, FHE - .304/14/42
SP baker Dozen, FHE – 11-9, 3.78
RF Magnum Peaeye, Diamond City - .277/16/46
CL Ryan Roberson – 18 SV, 2.55
The Ninjas have been trying to figure things out for several years now, stuck as a team that seems decently talented in a league that is very much so. First-year GM Dean Barker has stated that he wanted to build from where they are insread of trying to blow up the team. Unfortunately, there is a balance between talent and some players who may not belong on a CBO roster. The offense is tied for 11th in runs scored (407) 1B Dynamo Bynes (.308/14/41) is the team leader. CF Copper Quartz (.281/11/51) and LF Jesus Church (.270/11/45) have combined for decent average and power. On the mound, the Ninjas are 13th in runs allowed (473), thanks in large part to the worst Starters ERA (5.22). SP Sheldon Mayoral (7-8, 4.95) is the best Egret can put on the starting bump. CL Sniper O’Reilly (13 SV, 3.96) has been OK.
CBO Standings
CBO Players of the Week
July 5 - It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Slammin' Sammy Holloway, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys 23-year-old first baseman, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for North Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
He ripped 12 hits in 24 at-bats, compiling a .500 average with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs.
In the 2315 season Holloway is hitting .303 with 14 home runs.
Over the past week, Donovan Mackey has feasted on South Charles Association pitching. Today the Spectacle Island Reapers third baseman gobbled up the league's latest Player of the Week Award.
Mackey swung the bat with purpose all week as he collected a .476 average, 10 hits in 21 at-bats, 3 home runs, 10 RBIs and 6 runs scored.
This season, Mackey is batting .362 with 106 hits, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, .443 OBP and has scored 58 runs.
July 12 - It was an extraordinary week for Nauseous Revere of the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud. First he goes on a hot hitting streak, batting .500, then he is voted the Player of the Week in the North Charles Association. Last week Revere went 12-for-24, racked up 2 home runs and 4 RBIs and scored 7 runs. It was a heck of a week for the Fort Hagen shortstop.
So far this season, Revere is batting .302 with 11 home runs.
When it came to hitting the baseball, Willie O'Reilly was in a class by himself in the South Charles Association this past week. Nobody did it better.
The outstanding third baseman for Goodneighbor tagged opposing pitchers for a .545 average and was voted the Player of the Week Award. Included in his stats were 12 hits in 22 at-bats, 2 homers, 6 runs scored and 7 RBIs.
This season, O'Reilly is batting .307 with 36 RBIs, 30 runs scored and 6 home runs.
CBO Noteworthy News
July 8 - It took quite a few years to do it, but Harry Byrd finally did it. The Dwellers third baseman swatted hit #2000 this afternoon at Hubris Comics Park, but still came up short in the victory column. The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud came away with a 6-2 win over Vault 81. Byrd was 2-for-4 in the loss.
Byrd's career batting average stands at .316, and he has 307 home runs.
July 9 – In an amazing team feat, the Bunker Hill 75ers scored 25 runs in a 25-5 victory over Goodneighbor. 1B Zodf Gaycey was 4 for 6 with two doubles, a walk, four runs, and eight RBI. LF Kasumi Goto was 3 for 7 with two home runs, four runs, and five RBI. 3B Cave Dweller Bourgeois walked for a team record four times and scored a team record five runs.
July 11 - Ending weeks of speculation, Josh Samm announced his retirement today. The Rad Sox reliever has been reportedly weighing the decision since last year, sources close to Samm say.
"I'm not going to deny it's been a difficult decision," Samm said, speaking to the rumors, "but it's time. It took me a while to realize that, but it's time to leave the game."
During his 913-game career Samm has fashioned a 89-99 won-lost record. In 1030 innings he has rolled up 963 strikeouts and a 3.62 ERA with 388 saves.
July 12 – Roy Lach has been arrested for firing a stray bullet that happened to strike CYL player Mick Tuck of the Saugus . The incident occurred on July 4 near Battle of Bunker Hill Memorial Stadium for a July 4 fireworks show following the Nahant-Bunker Hill matchup, sending Tuck to emergency services. Unfortunately, Tuck passed away before a stimpak was available. It was revealed today that Lach was implicated, where he surrendered to Minutemen guards in Nahant.
Tuck was supposedly in attendance in the stadium for the game and was also in the stadium watching the show when the stray bullet struck him. Reportedly, Lach randomly fired the gun in the air during the fireworks show. He did not pitch in the game.
Lach left with the Celtics when they traveled back to Nahant. He pitched again just two days ago in what will likely be his final game as a pro. In his career, Lach is 30-50 with 12 saves and a 5.75 ERA. He has appeared in 410 games, starting 75, among Oberland and Finch Farm/Nahant over 16 seasons.