CBA World Champion Essex Escapees run by Bryan Swank

 

LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 2017 CBA
 
Dawson                      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Montreal MCD            87  75  .537 ----  *WON*
2017 Longue Pointe LLD       78  84  .481  9.0       
2017 Belfast BBD             76  86  .469 11.0       
2017 River Meadow RMD        70  92  .432 17.0       
 
Rogers                      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Essex EER               85  77  .525 ----  *WON*
2017 Detroit DWR             84  78  .519  1.0       
2017 Towaco TWR              81  81  .500  4.0       
2017 New Jersey NBR          74  88  .457 11.0       
 
Carter                      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Joliet JJC             102  60  .630 ----  *WON*
2017 Temple KBP              90  72  .556 12.0       
2017 San Diego SSC           77  85  .475 25.0       
2017 Indiana IRC             68  94  .420 34.0       
 
Schmidt                     WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Stirling SRS            98  64  .605 ----  *WON*
2017 Ottawa OOS              87  75  .537 11.0       
2017 Philly PPS              80  82  .494 18.0       
2017 New Hampshire NWS       71  91  .438 27.0       
 
Monday                      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Cooperstown CIM         85  77  .525 ----  *WON*
2017 Skokie SWM              82  80  .506  3.0       
2017 Ohio OOM                82  80  .506  3.0       
2017 Carolina CCM            65  97  .401 20.0       
 
Parker                      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Brooklyn BSP           102  60  .630 ----  *WON*
2017 Newton NBP              94  68  .580  8.0       
2017 Atlanta APP             88  74  .543 14.0       
2017 Harwich HWP             38 124  .235 64.0       
 
 
SC Wild Card Standings      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Temple KBP              90  72  .556 ----  *WON*
2017 Detroit DWR             84  78  .519 ----  *WON*
2017 Towaco TWR              81  81  .500  3.0       
2017 Longue Pointe LLD       78  84  .481  6.0       
2017 San Diego SSC           77  85  .475  7.0       
2017 Belfast BBD             76  86  .469  8.0       
 
CC Wild Card Standings      WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Newton NBP              94  68  .580 ----  *WON*
2017 Atlanta APP             88  74  .543 ----  *WON*
2017 Ottawa OOS              87  75  .537  1.0       
2017 Skokie SWM              82  80  .506  6.0       
2017 Ohio OOM                82  80  .506  6.0       
2017 Philly PPS              80  82  .494  8.0       
 
 
       OVERALL RECORD
Team   WON LOST   PCT  HOME  ROAD  LEFT RIGHT EXTRA 1-RUN   LAST 10   STREAK
APP     88   74  .543 46-35 42-39 20-22 68-52  7-10 29-19     7-3     Won 1
BBD     76   86  .469 38-43 38-43 21-26 55-60  2- 5 24-21     3-7     Lost 1
BSP    102   60  .630 51-30 51-30 27-13 75-47  5- 8 24-23     7-3     Lost 1
CCM     65   97  .401 41-40 24-57 12-30 53-67  9- 7 30-22     3-7     Lost 5
CIM     85   77  .525 47-34 38-43 24-19 61-58  9-11 24-25     6-4     Lost 1
DWR     84   78  .519 43-38 41-40 28-26 56-52  8-10 25-26     6-4     Lost 1
EER     85   77  .525 44-37 41-40 34-14 51-63  8- 5 27-27     4-6     Won 1
HWP     38  124  .235 23-58 15-66 12-30 26-94  4- 8 14-22     1-9     Won 1
IRC     68   94  .420 31-50 37-44 23-27 45-67  6- 7 29-21     4-6     Won 2
JJC    102   60  .630 49-32 53-28 24-25 78-35 11- 7 24-23     8-2     Won 2
KBP     90   72  .556 43-38 47-34 27-22 63-50 12-11 26-18     6-4     Lost 2
LLD     78   84  .481 37-44 41-40 21-18 57-66  6- 8 18-25     8-2     Won 1
MCD     87   75  .537 45-36 42-39 27-19 60-56  8- 4 24-26     6-4     Won 2
NBP     94   68  .580 56-25 38-43 22-17 72-51 11- 4 22-23     5-5     Lost 1
NBR     74   88  .457 38-43 36-45 26-35 48-53  6- 9 15-29     3-7     Lost 1
NWS     71   91  .438 36-45 35-46 14-19 57-72 10-12 22-24     3-7     Won 1
OOM     82   80  .506 44-37 38-43 29-21 53-59  8- 4 23-25     5-5     Won 1
OOS     87   75  .537 46-35 41-40 28-19 59-56  9- 8 29-21     7-3     Won 5
PPS     80   82  .494 43-38 37-44 24-20 56-62  4-11 21-33     2-8     Lost 3
RMD     70   92  .432 38-43 32-49 12-31 58-61  9- 6 17-29     2-8     Lost 2
SRS     98   64  .605 58-23 40-41 23-19 75-45  6- 5 29-23     8-2     Lost 1
SSC     77   85  .475 40-41 37-44 24-26 53-59 12-11 27-30     2-8     Lost 2
SWM     82   80  .506 42-39 40-41 25-22 57-58 13- 6 27-22     6-4     Won 3
TWR     81   81  .500 41-40 40-41 26-18 55-63 10-16 32-25     8-2     Won 1
TOTAL 1944 1944  .500
HOME  1020  924  .525
ROAD   924 1020  .475
LEFT   553  538  .507
RIGHT 1391 1406  .497
 
TEAM   -APRIL   MAY  JUNE  JULY   AUG SEPT+   InDiv OutDiv InterLg RUNS AGNST DIFF
APP     18- 9 14-13 13-13 14-12 12-15 17-12   34-20  50-46   4- 8   806   789  +17
BBD     12-15 14-13 15-11 13-13 13-14  9-20   17-37  51-45   8- 4   648   731  -83
BSP     17-10 15-12 16-10 17- 9 21- 6 16-13   32-22  60-36  10- 2   922   630 +292
CCM      8-19  9-18 13-13 16-10 10-17  9-20   20-34  36-60   9- 3   590   840 -250
CIM     16-11 18- 9 11-15  8-18 14-13 18-11   30-24  52-44   3- 9   779   703  +76
DWR     12-15 14-13 10-16 19- 7 15-12 14-15   30-24  46-50   8- 4   784   736  +48
EER     11-16 19- 8 11-15 15-11 17-10 12-17   25-29  54-42   6- 6   735   680  +55
HWP      5-22  5-22  6-20  7-19 10-17  5-24    8-46  27-69   3- 9   615  1075 -460
IRC     15-12 10-17 12-14  7-19 11-16 13-16   23-31  41-55   4- 8   562   729 -167
JJC     16-11 16-11 14-12 15-11 19- 8 22- 7   35-19  63-33   4- 8   870   630 +240
KBP     10-17 14-13 18- 8 16-10 16-11 16-13   25-29  57-39   8- 4   721   671  +50
LLD     19- 8 11-16 10-16 13-13  8-19 17-12   35-19  39-57   4- 8   706   662  +44
MCD     15-12 12-15 15-11 11-15 14-13 20- 9   30-24  49-47   8- 4   730   672  +58
NBP     13-14 13-14 16-10 18- 8 17-10 17-12   34-20  54-42   6- 6   783   610 +173
NBR     16-11 11-16 16-10  5-21 13-14 13-16   27-27  43-53   4- 8   749   754   -5
NWS     12-15 10-17 16-10 11-15  7-20 15-14   26-28  38-58   7- 5   684   839 -155
OOM     13-14 15-12 11-15 12-14 17-10 14-15   29-25  46-50   7- 5   912   893  +19
OOS     17-10 18- 9 10-16 13-13 13-14 16-13   30-24  53-43   4- 8   810   727  +83
PPS     19- 8 13-14 15-11 13-13 12-15  8-21   23-31  48-48   9- 3   774   754  +20
RMD     12-15 14-13 17- 9 11-15  6-21 10-19   26-28  39-57   5- 7   674   797 -123
SRS     13-14 20- 7  9-17 20- 6 16-11 20- 9   29-25  63-33   6- 6   856   693 +163
SSC     14-13 12-15 10-16 15-11 15-12 11-18   25-29  46-50   6- 6   775   824  -49
SWM     11-16 12-15 15-11 12-14 13-14 19-10   29-25  49-47   4- 8   776   798  -22
TWR     10-17 15-12 13-13 11-15 15-12 17-12   26-28  48-48   7- 5   739   759  -20
 
893 727
 Playoffs


LEAGUE STANDINGS FOR 2017 CBA Playoff
 
Clemente                    WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#

2017 Cooperstown CIM
         11   6  .647 ----   148 
2017 Newton NBP               9  10  .474  3.0       
2017 Atlanta APP              3   4  .429  3.0       
2017 Brooklyn BSP             3   4  .429  3.0       
2017 Stirling SRS             1   4  .200  4.0       
 
Staub                       WON LOST  PCT   GB  MAGIC#
2017 Detroit DWR              7   5  .583   .5   152 
2017 Essex EER               12   9  .571 ----       
2017 Joliet JJC               7   7  .500  1.5       
2017 Montreal MCD             3   4  .429  2.0       
2017 Temple KBP               1   4  .200  3.0       
 
 

 
       OVERALL RECORD
Team   WON LOST   PCT  HOME  ROAD  LEFT RIGHT EXTRA 1-RUN   LAST 10   STREAK
APP      3    4  .429  2- 1  1- 3  1- 1  2- 3  0- 0  2- 2     2-5     Lost 1
BSP      3    4  .429  1- 3  2- 1  2- 0  1- 4  1- 0  2- 0     0-7     Lost 0
CIM     11    6  .647  6- 2  5- 4  4- 2  7- 4  2- 1  3- 4     0-10    Lost 0
DWR      7    5  .583  3- 3  4- 2  2- 3  5- 2  2- 0  3- 3     0-10    Lost 0
EER     12    9  .571  5- 5  7- 4  2- 6 10- 3  2- 1  4- 3     0-10    Lost 0
JJC      7    7  .500  4- 4  3- 3  1- 2  6- 5  0- 1  2- 3     0-10    Lost 0
KBP      1    4  .200  0- 2  1- 2  0- 0  1- 4  0- 2  1- 2     0-5     Lost 0
MCD      3    4  .429  0- 4  3- 0  1- 2  2- 2  1- 0  2- 0     0-7     Lost 0
NBP      9   10  .474  4- 6  5- 4  3- 4  6- 6  0- 2  3- 5     1-9     Won 1
SRS      1    4  .200  1- 1  0- 3  0- 3  1- 1  0- 1  1- 1     0-5     Lost 0
TOTAL   57   57  .500

 
 

 “It’s a nice start but the division race will take more than a two-week run of good fortune.”  You can excuse Coach Blakely for not allowing team complacency with a 10-2 start of the CBA season. “I imagine Brooklyn will have much to discuss this week at the House of Pain.” 

 

This team was 55-107 in 2016 and returns most of the same players responsible for this fast start. The Phoenix sport a team ERA of 2.41 (3rd in the CBA) and is playing lights out defense; yet, Coach Blake is barking about the bats.  “We have hit when we needed to hit and pitched when we needed to pitch. But we have to become better at getting on base.”

Coach Blake worries that he may need to work on the lineup and move players around. But not until the record demands; Though Nolan Arenado (.186), Kole Calhoun (.180), Rougned Odor (.213), and Trevor Story (.188) have struggled early, all have hit well in the clutch when it was needed. Wilson Ramos, Mookie Betts, Luis Sardinas and Adeiny Hechavarria have picked up to help carry the offensive load. “Those guys will start hitting soon. I think. If not, I’ll have to order more firewood and a new set of mirrors for the pitchers.”  The pitching has been spectacular (third in the league with a 2.41 ERA) so far, and Blake is prepping for a tiring pitching staff. “Conley and Gibson are both good for 25 starts. The time will come when I have to find some guys to step up and fill those shoes.”  When asked if he has anyone in mind, Blake barks, “Oh yeah, just pick one or two from Seaver, Koosman or Matlack. Dumbass…”

 

“Alex Wilson will be a big help in the pen.  We gave up a future OF kid (Mitch Haniger) to the Hamp Cats (New Hampshire) to get Wilson. It’s worth it for now. Really wanted to see Mitch develop. Anyway, Wilson will help the pen and the pen has been solid so far.” The pen is not a collection of all-stars but a group of pitchers that, when used correctly, will produce nice results. 

 

Before leaving, Coach Blake wanted to talk about the rookies he got in the draft. “You know, if we can take care of business around here and keep up with our ’18 picks, we might really scare some people.”  Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson are pounding away waiting to contribute in the future. “Don’t sleep on my red-head, Frazier; he’s gonna mash. He can fight you, too.”   Clint Frazier won a head-butting contest before leaving to join his minors team. Frazier was the only contestant in the contest without a batting helmet.  “Kid’s gonna mash, gonna mash.  Had a damn bad headache, though.”

 

And if the Atlanta Phoenix has its way, the rest of the CBA will suffer from headaches in 2017.


 

J. Michael Blakely
 
Detroit CBA Press Release March 25th, 2017
The press conference was starting about 10 minutes late. There had been a mention of a meeting with a legal team running over. 
Wheels owner Mitch Ryder finally stepped to the microphone, looking a bit disheveled and wearing dark sunglasses.
“Thanks for coming, we are looking forward to our new season. But do you know what really gets me? Those West End Dogs, 
they’re using my songs. That’s why our meeting just ran over, they’re using my songs, they owe me some serious royalties! 
They’re using my songs, WHY IF I GET MY HANDS ON THEM I’LL…”
A whine and loud thud were heard as the microphone was switched off and Ryder was escorted away from the 
press conference. Ryder could be heard continuing to rant as he walked away. After a couple of minutes the 
microphone was switched back on as Wheels General Manager Al Kaline stepped to the microphone. 
Looking a little bit dejected, Kaline spoke calmly to the assembled media.
“Thank you all again for coming to our preseason press conference. On behalf of the organization 
I apologize for Mr. Ryder’s reaction, he’s been a bit preoccupied lately with this particular legal issue. 
We have been trying to distract him by calling more meetings about the team, but he continues to be extremely 
concerned about that one issue.
“Anyway, the rest of us are certainly looking forward to the upcoming season. You know, someone, I forget 
who, called us ‘the best last place team in the league’ last season. I’m not sure how to take that, I guess sort of 
a compliment. We were in a tough division though and did show an overall record better than even we might have hoped for. It was good that we were able to move some players who were a bit disgruntled, rightly so perhaps, it was not possible to get Pujols, Fielder and Roidriguez in the lineup at the same time, at least in most of our games since the team was moved from the DH to the non-DH conference.
“We are glad to continue to have a strong ‘up the middle’ defense, with Wieters at catcher, 
Crawford and LeMahieu in the infield, and Maybin in center. Maybin is currently struggling with some nagging 
injuries though, so we are a bit worried about that. Pujols finally settles in as the regular first baseman rather 
than the rotating situation we had early last year, and Jake Lamb looks ready to take over as the regular
third baseman. Adam Eaton looks ready to take over as our regular right fielder, and we’re optimistic about 
Alex Dickerson growing into the left field job.ks again for coming and here’s to a new season.”
 

CBA Press release Brooklyn, N.Y...April 1st, 2017.................................................................................

The annual Brooklyn event known as Superba Daywas a spectacular success.  The Brooklyn fans took to the iconic park (design by Olmstead and Vaux) early Friday afternoon in anticipation of the events that were in store.  Giant satellitte broadcast screens were set in place for the what was to be a weekend celebration of music and baseball.  Fans ever so loyal.  Many fans felt that last year was a building year and were very pleased to compete once again finishing with 95 wins in yet another playoff season. 

   The weekend events featured 3 days of great division rivalry baseball between the Parker champ Newton Bombs and the Brooklyn Superbas.  Brooklyn eventually took 2 of the 3 games in spectacular pitching dominated games.  The atmosphere was festive as the crowsds in Prospect Park watched, oohed, aaah'd, and cheered when the Brooklyn pitchers managed to strike out an ever tough Bomb batter.

   Many camped overnight and took advantage of the great festival music from the great band lineups at the 3 day event.  Friday evening saw 'Michael Franti's Spearhead, Thievery Corporation, Ziggy Marley, and Warren Haynes reunited with Derek Trucks, and Dickey Betts in a grand finale alongside Stevie Ray Vaughn's Double Trouble bandmates.    Saturday after the game fans were treated to a rousing performance by the West End Dogs who tore it up playing a Mitch Ryder version of "Sock It To Me Baby".  They were joined onstage by Gary Rossington and Peter Frampton.  But the real kicker was the post game show Sunday night. 

    Live from Prospect Park, Sir Paul McCartney helicoptered unto the Botanical Garden Pit, and led an entourage featuring, Little Richard, Don Wilson, Brian Wilson, Wilson Alvarez, Al Kooper, and the band The Persuit of Hapiness, to the fileds where the faithful were gathered for the big concert and Superba rally.  After a light hearted, and heartfelt words, mocking the Kardashians, Paul led a supercharged version of Centerfield as he attempted to hit a homerun with guest artist MC Lyte.    All in all a fun weekend as the Superbas start their season on a positive and hope to be in the final mix for the playoffs in 2017.