BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, CYL, and CBA
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
3 September 2314
NCA Playoffs Preview - Wildcard Round
#5 Malden Grognaks (67-63) vs #4 Bunker Hill 75ers (69-61)
Season Series: Bunker Hill 2, Malden 2
May 17-18 @Mal: Mal 8-4, BH 4-2
July 29-30 @BH: BH 7-4, Mal 10-8
Analysis
Bunker Hill seems to be the more talented team in this matchup, but Malden was able to hold its own in the cross-league matchup. The two teams split each of their home-and-home series, meaning this may be the series with the best chance to reach a Game 3 in the Wildcard Round.
Malden is making its first playoff appearance in its 6th season. It's previous high in victories was 55 in 2311. As the youngest team in the league with only two players at 30 years old, 1B Andy Stamey and RP Jaypee Amigo, and no one older than that, the Grognaks could be dangerous in years to come.
Hitting is not the 'Naks' power armor, finishing 11th in runs scored (597), including last in the NCA in home runs (118). Quincy had the fewest in the CBO with 109. Two stars on the squad, though, are 2B Jack of Diamonds Cordero (.329/13/62) and 3B Jacob Tarberry (.272/22/64).
Pitching was a stronger suit, but the Grognaks are still not elite there, either, finishing 6th in runs allowed (620) and Starters ERA (4.49) and 3rd in Bullpen ERA (4.33). The top two starters, Hrye Caje (9-14, 4.27) and Edgar Drezek (14-10, 3.29), are decent, with Josh O'Farrell (6-5, 4.87) having a tough time getting outs sometimes. Despite a good overall ERA, CL Rump Pellstilt (29 SV, 5.04) is not dependable to close out a team.
The 75ers have been a good team over the last eight years, finishing with a winning record in each year but missing the playoffs twice (2311, 2313) in that stretch. In 2308, they were the surprise champions and still have several holdovers from that squad, as well as other players they have acquired who won championships elsewhere.
Bunker Hill is the polar opposite of Malden when it comes to team statistics. On offense, the 75ers finished 2nd in runs scored (702), including 1st in OPS (.810), wOBA (.353), and home runs (164), only behind Vault 81's 171 and Spectacle Island's 165. The three "Bruise Brothers" of offense are 1B Zod Gaycey (.326/21/85), LF Kasumi Goto (.288/23/71), and SS Aaron Squire (.330/22/73/15 SB). CF Esau Babz (.281/9/24) started to find his footing in the lineup after being acquired from the Reapers in April. In just 34 games with Bunker Hill, Babz hit nine homers.
While the 75ers can score runs, they also give up a lot of runs. Bunker Hill finished tied for 11th in runs allowed (692), 12th in Starters ERA (5.00), and 7th in Bullpen ERA (4.66). The three starters--Jalep Temper (9-13, 4.22), Pokey Chatman (10-10, 4.23), and Hangman Alley (10-10, 5.07)--struggled in the hitter-friendly confines of Battle of Bunker Hill Memorial Stadium. Saves were split between Trauma Medley (19 SV, 4.44) and Oldshirt McMinn (14 SV, 4.16).
Prediction
This battle to the next round appears to be our best matchup in the Wildcard Round. While Malden is a team to watch out for in the coming years, the 75ers seem to have the talent and know-how to get past this one. We expect three shootouts in this one. Bunker Hill 2, Malden 1
#6 Concord Radstags (64-67) vs #3 Easy Town Assaultrons (70-60)
Season Series: Easy Town 3, Concord 1
April 5-6 @Con: Con 6-2, ET 3-2
July 22-23 @ET: ET 6-2, ET 3-2(10)
Analysis
After an Opening Day loss, Easy Town won the next three over Concord. This season marks the first playoff matchup between the two teams and only the third season where both teams were in the postseason. In 2300, the Assaultrons (#3) and the Stags (#4) lost their first series in a five-team field. Five seasons later, both teams had the same seed and the same results. Therefore, this is also the first season one of the two teams will win a playoff series when in at the same time.
Last season, we called Concord a "young up-and-coming team," but the Stags seemed to have taken a step back in what was a tough season all around to earn victories. Still, Concord defeated the defending champions, The Slog, 6-4, on August 31 to clinch the final playoff spot. This now marks the Radstags' sixth playoff appearance and first back-to-back appearance since the 2300-2301 seasons.
On offense, Concord was average, finishing tied for 7th in runs scored (638) with the 7th-best batting average (.276). LF Jannar Arbor (.272/25/102) was a major force all season with CF Kai Devlin (.321/8/55/29 SB) leading the team in average and steals.
The pitching finished 5th in runs allowed (616), including 5th in Starters ERA (4.31). Ace Leyden Aigg (13-7, 3.97) was the go-to pitcher when a victory was needed. Starters Chad Nailgun (8-16, 4.49) and Chris Schenier (10-12, 4.74) were not as productive. CL Penn Teller (15 SV, 5.44) will need to be much better in the playoffs.
The Trons were not as productive as they would like, but a 70-60 record after missing the playoffs the past seven seasons cannot be ignored. Two seasons ago, the Trons finished 35-95, leading to the acquisition of 2B Finnan Hunt (.300/3/51/33 SB), who is a bit banged up entering the playoffs. Those 95 losses were also the second most in CBO history; Cambridge lost 100 in their debut season (2310).
Easy Town was tied with the Stags in runs scored (638), mostly because they could not hit the long ball consistently, finishing 12th (125). Three players who were most productive were 1B Albie Cannibal (.294/24/88), CF Eden Babz (.351/16/86), and C Bill Barnes (.297/71).
On the mound, the Assaultrons were much better, finishing 4th in runs allowed (605), 7th in Starters ERA (4.50), and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (4.26). One player we have highlighted all season is SP Lonely Gale (15-11, 3.73), who made a comeback from a devastating 2312 injury that required reconstructive surgery. Tarzan Rogers (14-8, 4.00) also had a good season. In the bullpen, CL Tut Cadillac (34 SV, 3.08) was among the best, leading the NCA in saves and finishing just two behind University Point's Swampy Tamragouri for the top CBO saves number.
Prediction
The Stags may be a young up-and-coming team, but the Trons looked the part this season. With a 17-10 August, the Assaultrons also are among the hotter teams entering the playoffs and could challenge Lexington (14-13) and Salem (15-12) for the NCA's spot in the Sole Survivor Series. Easy Town 2, Concord 0