Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kowalski
19 July 2296 - CBO Roster Expansion
Rosters across the CBO expanded today, offering clubs and fans alike a glimpse at future prospects at the highest level of competition in the league.
Each team is allowed to add three of its reserve players to the main roster, moving the number from 25 players to 28 players. This expansion lasts until the regular season ends on August 15, so each team gets to experience the expanded roster for four series, 12 games in all.
20 July 2296 - CBO Agrees to Coaching Staffs, Umpire Union
Commonwealth Baseball Organization commissioner Nate Howard released two press releases today pertaining to coaches and umpires.
It had been proposed recently that the CBO use a full coaching staff, and Howard has revealed that it will be a part of the offseason. Howard said that his office had already started collecting a pool of coaches, and his staff would vet all potential coaches using the G.O.A.T. test and a series of training to ensure all coaches enter the league as qualified for their jobs. Howard also mentioned former players could join the coaches pool after their careers are complete.
Howard said that he thinks a coaching staff will help lead the league toward a diverse playing style and teams adding their own scouting department may make teams target different types of players. He mentioned the excitement of watching a "small ball" team hit and run its way to victory, while the excitement of "gorilla ball" could always draw a crowd.
Currently four teams--East Boston Prep, The Slog, Lexington, and Jamaica Plain--have their own managers, but all four teams lack a full staff.
One currently unemployed legends of the birth of baseball in the Commonwealth is Squatty O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan led the Diamond City's traveling team, the Travelin' Traders. That team had won 25 games in a row at one point against various settlement and other traveling teams. O'Sullivan had the "two-headed snake" pitching duo of Terrence Artman and Quentin Malone, who were selected in the first round of the inaugural draft by Salem and Universtity Point, respectively.
In addition to a pool of coaches and scouts, Howard mentioned that each team could name an official team doctor, which he called a "trainer." There is also going to be an official pool of umpires permanently installed. The current group of 96 umpires, all of whom are ghouls, will now be kept on permanently.
Howard stated that he wanted ghouls to have a place in the CBO. Since their bodies are made up of irradiated flesh, which makes their bodies vulnerable to extreme injuries, ghouls are not allowed to play in the CBO. However, Howard deemed umpiring to be safe and teams know that players will be permanently banned from the CBO should they ever strike an umpire.
Howard and the umpires union are in negotiations to make a contract to make the deal official, but Howard said the agreement was definite and the number of caps paid is the only question mark.
Ghoul umpire in full protective gear
20 July 2296 - CBO Players of the Week
BL - BL Player of the Week Goes to Jones of Nordhagen Beach: It can be difficult for a young player to step out of the shadows and assert himself in the Brotherhood League, but last week Tomas Jones of the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys reminded everyone just why he's here as he threw up numbers that made him an easy selection for Player of the Week. Jones rocked opposing pitching for a .500 average (9-for-18), no home runs and 6 RBIs to come away with the award.
This season Jones is hitting .354 with 74 hits, 7 home runs, 33 RBIs, scored 35 runs and played in 48 games.
IL - Sunshine Tidings's Corsica Snaps Up Player of the Week: Frank Corsica burst onto the Institute League stage in a big way last week. This promising center fielder for Sunshine Tidings, originally acquired in a three-team trade in February, garnered everyone's respect by putting up some remarkable numbers and picking up the Player of the Week trophy.
The 26-year-old haunted opposing pitchers hitting .727 (8-for-11) with 1 home run and 1 RBIs last week.
Corsica is hitting .396 this season with 8 home runs, 34 RBIs and 44 runs scored. He has 84 hits in 212 at-bats.
ML - Star of the Week Named in ML: 16-year-old Aaron Erickson sent shock waves through Minutemen League last week with an eye-popping performance that brought him the Minutemen League Player of the Week Award.
The 6th-round pick of the Treasures, Erickson made the establishment sit up and take notice, punishing opposing pitchers with a .583 average, 7 hits in 12 at-bats, 1 home run and 6 RBI.
Where the Jamaica Plain Treasures shortstop goes from here, only the baseball gods know for sure, but Erickson certainly made his mark last week.
In the current season, Erickson has put up a .309 batting average with 64 hits, 8 home runs, 32 RBI and scored 47 runs.
RL - Player of the Week: Shaw HS's Ratican: 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. Matt Ratican, the Shaw HS Knuckle Punchers 18-year-old first baseman, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for Railroad League Player of the Week honors.
He ripped 5 hits in 11 at-bats, compiling a .455 average with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs.
A look at his current stats shows Ratican with a .326 average, 10 home runs, 36 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He has played in 48 games.
21 June 2296 - No Settlement Story
We apologize, but we had to postpone our settlement story this week due to limited travel opportunities. We hope to bring you another story next week. Thank you for understanding.