Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kowalski
25 September 2296 - Personnel Carousel in Full Swing
When County Crossing owner Doc Weather petitioned the league in July to allow a full coaching staff, he probably did not anticipate that the Commonwealth Baseball Organization would give the go-ahead and turn it up a notch.
Not only did CBO Commissioner Nate Howard approve a coaching staff, but he decided it was worth the invested caps to give each team what he called a full front office, which includes coaches, scouts, a team doctor/trainer, and a general manager. Howard said it would take pressure off the owners not to have to micromanage and help eliminate the gaps for the teams whose owners are not active, like the Jamaica Plain Treaures were under Smiling Larry. As of the offseason, Kasumi Nakano has taken over ownership of the Jamaica Plain franchise.
This week, Howard unleashed the mutant mutts and opened all personnel to joined the personnel carousel, and some teams have been active, including Weathers' Bloodbugs.
Several teams already had a manager for their team, and all but Jamaica Plain retained their manager; the Treasures demoted Squirt Becker to their minor league squad. No team will be allowed to use a player-coach starting the 2297 season.
Some teams have been slow to sign personnel. Diamond City owner Moe Cronin said he feels as though he knows a lot more than most of the coaches on the carousel. He hired his friend and drinking buddy Tommy Doddy to be the general manager with hopes that together they can better vet the list and pick a staff their happy with.
On the other hand, Weathers did not wait to fill his staff, hiring all 10 positions already. The first person he hired was Dr. Jix Thompson, a traveling doctor who made frequent trips through County Crossing for medical supplies and chems. Weathers said he was honored to have Dr. Thompson on board for the season. Weathers also was able to sign his first choice as manager, though he is up in years: Biff Future. Weathers feels Future's "grandfather style" will help keep the players on the right track.
The rookie draft is in 10 days, so teams will probably want at least their GM, manager, and scout in place to make informed drafting decisions for their teams' needs.