BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
10 September 2316
NCA Playoffs Preview - Association Semifinals Round
#5 Concord Radstags (68-62) vs #1 Malden Grognaks (86-44)
Season Series: Malden 2, Concord 2
May 27-28 @Mal: Mal 5-1, Mal 8-2
August 7-8 @Con: Con 5-0, Con 4-3 (10)
Analysis
Since Malden is entering only its second playoff appearance in franchise history, there is no playoff history between these two teams. A year ago, the Grognaks were the 5th seed, while Concord was the 6th seed. Both lost in the Wildcard Round.
This time, they meet in the Association Semifinal Round with Malden as the surprise #1 seed this season. During the season, each team won its home games. In those four games, the Stags' Jannar Arbor (.417/1/3) and the Grognaks' Jack of Diamonds Cordero (.667/1/3) were the best offensive performers for their teams. Pitching matchup best performances were Concord's Kevin Gauzeman (1-0, 0.00) and Malden's Hry Caje (1-0, 2.00).
The Grognaks earned the CBO's best record through all-around statistical success, especially on offense. The Grognaks were 1st in almost all offensive categories, including runs scored (636). Their home runs numbers (95) was 10th, as the one low statistic outside of stolen bases. 3B Jacob Tarberry (.338/25/100) is the hands-on favorite to win the Nuka-Hitter Award. RF Floren Habern (.337/13/64) and 2B Cordero (.316/12/70) give great support in the middle of the lineup.
On the mound,. Malden was 2nd in runs allowed (458), including finishing 4th in Starters ERA (3.28) and 2nd in Bullpen ERA (3.01). All three playoff starters--Hry Caje (19-8, 2.67), Storm Steele (4-6, 3.08), and Vault Boy Barnette (6-0, 2.38) found success. Barnette returned from a shoulder injury in May to pict a total of nine starts, while Steele was called up from
Plymouth (NEBL, AAA) during the season. CL Rump Pellstilt (32 SV, 2.11) led the NCA in saves.
Prediction
If Concord were a playoff-veteran team, this might be a different conversation. True, the Stags are in their franchise-record third-straight playoff appearance. However, the past two seasons, the Radstags went a combine 1-4 to get swept in 2314 and beaten in three games in 2315. They won their Wildcard Round series this time, defeating first-timers, Cambridge. With the Grognaks having playoff experience and more regular season success, we have to give them the edge in this series. Malden 3, Concord 1
#3 Easy Town Assaultrons (69-61) vs #2 Bunker Hill 75ers (70-60)
Season Series: Bunker Hill 3, Easy Town 1
June 22-23 @BH: BH 3-2, BH 4-0
August 14-15 @ET: BH 6-4, ET 4-3
Analysis
Bunker Hill is making its third-consecutive playoff appearance for the second time in playoff history (2308-2310). This is the 75ers 8th total playoff appearance and 7th in nine seasons. The two seasons missing the playoffs were winning seasons, meaning they just missed out in 2311 (one game back) and 2313 (two games back).
Going back to the beginning of that success, though, in 2308, the Fivers were making their second playoff appearance. As the #3 seed, Bunker Hill downed #2 Sunshine Tidings, finished off #5 Starlight in the NCACS, and then upset #1 seed Oberland in the Sole Survivor Series to win their sole championship. It was also the 75ers only Sole Survivor Series appearance.
In the history of the playoffs, Bunker Hill and Easy Town have appeared in the playoffs together just twice (2298 and 2315).In 2298, when the Fivers were still the Abernathy Adamantium, the #3 Assaultrons downed the #2 Adamantium in the Association Semifinal. The Trons went on to lose the Sole Survivor Series that season. In 2315, neither team met, but both advanced as wildcards to the Association Semifinal Round. Bunker Hill fell to #2 Lexington there, and then the Assaultrons fell in the NCACS to the Synths.
For the 75ers, runs were tough to come by, finishing 10th in the NCA in runs scored (507). In fact, the longball seemed to be the best way to score, finishing 3rd with 109. CF Esau Babz, one of the two dynamic Babz twins in this brother vs brother matchup, led the Fivers with 20 home runs. SS Aaron Squire added 19, and both 1B Zod Gaycey and LF Kasumi Goto added 14 each.
Bunker Hill's pitching was its strength, especially starting pitching, where it finished 1st with a 3.00 ERA. The 75ers were also 3rd in runs allowed (473) and 8th in Bullpen ERA (3.61). One starter, Hangman Alley (1-1, 2.10) missed a lot of the season due to a nerve issue in his arm. He joins ace Jalep Temper (14-5, 2.54) and Pokey Chatman (7-10, 3.15) in the starting lineup. Oldshirt McMinn (11-12, 2.78) is expected to move to the bullpen. CL Cleveland Heep (23 SV, 2.62) does an OK job of shutting down teams late. Trauma Medley (10-10, 3.68) also moves to the bullpen for the playoffs and may fill in as the closer.
Prediction
It's been 18 years since these two teams met in the playoffs, and the first time as a Bunker Hill vs Easy Town matchup. The 75ers seemed to survive being the Institute League champions, while the Assaultrons, PAM's pick to be the champions, came on late, including going 20-10 in the last month of the season to move up the association standings. The 75ers won the season series, showing that they are one team that can handle the Trons. We also think this will be a battle and pick PAM to be righter than we thought she would be. Easy Town 3, Bunker Hill 2.