Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kowalski
25 May 2297 - Robotics Expert Star to Attend Leadership Conference
The General Atomics Galleria Robotics Experts are storming through the early 2297 season. With an 18-4 record, the Experts are up 5 games on second place Greentop Nursery.
Because there is a large cushion, when the opportunity came for leadoff hitter RF Curtis Yellallot to attend a leadership conference in Diamond City, General Atomics Galleria manager Alfredo Barlos agreed.
"I don't mind Curtis missing a weekend," Barlos said. "Hopefully he gets some good tips to make him even better. He is always our rah-rah guy, anyway, always getting the rest of the team engaged in the game. It wouldn't hurt to get more perspective."
The Robotics Experts play a two-game home set against the Outpost Zimonja Strongbacks (10-11) this weekend.
Yellallot has started all 22 games in right field this season. He is batting .353 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 21 runs, and 14 RBI.
26 May 2297 - Gunkill Has Illness, to Miss Series
Vault 81 Dwellers CF Steve Gunkill has developed an unknown illness. Though the illness is not severe, he was not feeling well and asked to sit out practice. Today Vault 81 Clinic's Dr. Jacob Forsythe put him into quarantine under Marie Cure's care.
"Steve has some symptoms similar to mole rat disease," Dr. Forsythe said. "We have seen this before. We had a cure years ago, but we are currently out. Hopefully Curie can get him back on the right track if that is the case."
It is unknown how long Gunkill will be out, but the Dwellers could always use his bat. His numbers are a bit down this season. In 21 games, he is batting .277 with three doubles, four triples, four home runs, 16 runs, and 14 RBI. His four triples lead the Railroad League.
26 May 2297 - Laughingman Ain't Joking
Salem catcher Mike Laughingman won the Brotherhood League defensive award in 2296. This season, he has set his sights on different goals.
"I want to be the best," Laughingman said with a straight face. "Playing the game does not mean I can't be serious."
Laughingman has been spending a lot more time with hitting coach Matt Firewood. Firewood described Laughingman's progress as "full potential."
When asked to explain more, Firewood said that Laughingman still needs to work on strength but he could be a star player in the league if he can pull it all together. "He is hitting the ball well this season, but I could see him being even better, especially when it comes to home runs. He doesn't yet know how to control the bat to get the best swing."
So far in 2297, Laughingman has shown decent improvement with his bat from 2296. He is currently batting .377 (.242 in 2296) with exactly 20 hits in 14 games started; he had 50 hits in 53 games last season. He only has one home run on the season, but he only hit four in 2296.
"He's been showing some signs of improving his numbers all around this season," Firewood said. "His average is up, his OBP is up, his slugging. He just needs to find ways to turn base hits into extra-base hits. Then he's a star."
Of his 20 hits, only four have been for extra-base hits: three doubles and a home run.