Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
23 July 2298 - CBO Draft Order Not to Be Locked by League Finish
CBO Commissioner Nate Howard, answering a question about the 2298 Rookie Draft said that there was a previously unannounced change to the Rooke Draft, which he addressed in a radio interview on Diamond City Radio.
Responding to a question about what the draft order might look like, Howard said the new association alignment meant that the order was no longer determined by worst record according to place in a league but just worst record.
"The last two years," Howard said, "every sixth place team was guaranteed one of the first four picks in the draft. However, this season, it does not matter where a team finishes in its league. A fourth place team could pick number three overall if it has the third-worst record in the CBO."
Howard used the Railroad League as an example of his scenario. Right now, Egret is in fourth place in the RL with a 33-43 record. Currently only the sixth-place teams of each league has a worse record. Roxbury and Atom currently hold the two worst records with 20 and 29 wins, respectively.
"Yes, Egret could pick third overall if they happen to finish behind current last-place teams like County Crossing, Sunshine Tidings, and the Atom Cats," Howard said.
Before this season, finishing in fourth place would have meant that the Ninjas would pick in the range from 9th through 12th. Howard said he made the change to avoid teams volleying for draft position.
"I would hope that any pick in the Top Ten would be considered of value," he said. "However, I want teams to continue to battle
not to finish last. We want teams employing the 'last stand' mentality for every game they play, even if they are eliminated from the playoffs."
Roxbury looks to be the team most likely to own the number one overall pick in 2298, which would be the second time that has happened. They also finished with the CBO-worst record of 18-42 in 2296 before finishing third at 30-30 in 2297. The Knuckle Punchers also look like they will be the first team eliminated from 2298 playoff contention. Currently they trail 2nd place Diamond City by 21 games with just 32 to play. The Knuckle Punchers have already been eliminated from League champion potential, trailing Oberland by 36 games.
The current top ten draft order following Friday's games looks like this:
1. Roxbury, RL (20-56)
2. Atom, ML (29-47)
3. Sunshine Tidings, IL (30-46)
4. Vault 81, RL (31-45)
5. County Crossing, BL (32-44)
6-T. Egret, RL (33-43)
6-T. Jamaica Plain, ML (33-43)
6-T. Lexington, IL (33-43)
6-T. Salem, BL (33-43)
10-T. Concord, IL (35-41)
10-T. Finch Farm, BL (35-41)
Tie breakers would be determined at the conclusion of the regular season. If two teams are tied and in the same association, the first tie breaker would be head-to-head matchups with the better record being awarded the higher pick. That would be a further encouragement for teams out of the playoff race to work harder even at the end of the season. A three-way tie or interassociation tie would require other tie breakers, but the best team of those would be awarded the highest pick in the draft.
23 July 2298 - Gonzalez, Richardson Hit 2 Home Runs in Deathclaws Win
Bernie Gonzalez and Kory Richardson were instrumental in their team's 11-4 triumph over the Goodneighbor Hancocks when each hit 2 home runs. Gonzalez drove in 3 runs and scored twice for the University Point Deathclaws. Richardson drove in three and scored three times. The win puts University Point at 41-36 this season.
Richardson, who is on pace for 112 RBI this season, contributed to the University Point win with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to put the Deathclaws up for good on first-place Goodneighbor.
"We did more than enough to get the win," said Gonzalez.
23 July 2298 - Diner Leads Warwick to 5-0 Win Over Jamaica Plain
The strong arm of John Diner dealt a lot of misery to the Red Rockets. He tossed a complete-game shutout to spark the Warwick Mirelurks to a 5-0 win. In today's contest at Red Rockets Stadium, Diner limited Jamaica Plain to 4 hits and had 10 strikeouts and 1 walk.
So far in 21 appearances this season, Diner has recorded 8 wins and sustained 9 losses. He has pitched 129 innings, yielded 147 hits, fanned 104 and has a 4.53 ERA.
23 July 2298 - T-51s Lose to Swatters in Walk Off
The Diamond City Swatters walked off with a big win.
The Oberland T-51s wasted an impressive 7.1-inning effort from starter Sheng Kawolski, falling 2-1 to the Diamond City Swatters at The Great Green Jewel. Diamond City reliever Josh Samm picked up the win, upping his record to 3-5. Matt Breakball took the loss.
Alex Slumpbuster was the walk-off hero for Diamond City. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Swatters pinch hitter hit a dramatic run-scoring single to send the teams home.
"We fed off the energy of the crowd at the end," Slumpbuster said.
With the win, Diamond City raised its record to 42-35. The Swatters have earned an important series win over the CBO's best team to help their own playoff pursuit.
23 July 2298 - Clutch Hitting Delivers Win for Silver Shroud
The home crowd had a good time watching the Sunshine Tidings Chemists and Fort Hagen Silver Shroud get after it.
The Fort Hagen Silver Shroud knocked off the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, 10-2, at Hubris Comics Park. Jim Tiller was a big reason Fort Hagen won. The first baseman was 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and a walk, while scoring 2 runs and driving in 2. With the win, Fort Hagen pushed its record to 43-34.
Heading into the bottom of the eighth, the game was tied 2-2. Then the Silver Shroud bat woke up against Tony Bertha (6-10). Andre Grogg walked to start off the inning and then moved to third on Jason Niederer moved him to third with a single. Seth Dungan then singled in Grogg for the lead. Micah Morals then reached on an error to load the bases with nobody out. Tiller then doubled in two for the 5-2 lead.
After Mark Miller was intentionally walked to load the bases, Ben Pawlak singled in two for a 7-2 lead. Bertha was then pulled for Warren Gee. That move made no difference as Sam Noob took advantage of the new pitcher to hit a three-run bomb to set the final score at 10-2. Gee got the next three batters out.
"Our goal is to improve each and every day," Niederer told the Fort Hagen Bulletin.
23 July 2298 - Big Day for Mart in 15-9 Party Boys Win
Dustin Mart left his imprint on the 15-9 Nordhagen Beach win against the County Crossing Bloodbugs. Mart, who is on pace for 84 RBI this season, went 4 for 5 with a home run, a triple, and 2 singles, while scoring 3 times and driving in 2. The winning pitcher was Tommy Beach (12-3) who needed the offense to help him. He went 5.1 innings, allowing 7 runs on 10 hits for the Party Boys. Nordhagen Beach improves to 50-27 with the win. They lead their division by 7 games.
With one out in the top of the third, Taboo Richardson barreled up a cutter from Little Jemmy Madison. The result was a grand slam home run, putting the Party Boys in front, 10-1. The Party Boys hit a total of four home runs with Michael Fogcrawler and Tomas Jones each had a solo shot.
"If we play like this, we can win a lot of games," Richardson told the Nordhagen Beach News.