Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
19 September 2298 - McDuff Vows Revenge on SCA
Quincy pitcher Manny McDuff was not happy with the way his 2298 season ended. While the Gunners were in the running for a wildcard spot in the Minutemen League near the end of the season, Quincy faded down the stretch to allow Warwick to claim the spot by five games. In 2297, the Gunners were the Minutemen League wildcard team and the #5 seed in the playoffs. They swept the #4 seed The Slog Ghouls in the first round, but fell to the #6-seed Nordhagen Beach Party Boys in the semifinals in three games.
"If I am going to be a team leader," McDuff said, "then I have to take responsibility for my own failings, own them, and get better."
In 28 appearances with 27 starts in 2298, McDuff went 10-10 with a 4.07 ERA. It was his best season so far in terms of ERA. He also struck out 128 batters in 174.2 innings.
"I want to win, I want my teammates to win. Therefore, I am not taking a rest at all. Every day I am going to work on winning and pitching better. We're back in 2299."
The 30-year-old was drafted by the Gunners in the fifth round of the 2296 Inaugural Draft. In his career, McDuff is 25-26 with a 4.70 ERA in 68 games with 66 starts. He is 1-1 in the postseason with a 9.31 ERA in two starts.
19 September 2298 - A New Home Means a New Hope?
The Atom Cats were a surprise addition to the 2296 playoffs, avoiding an end-of-the-season meltdown to win a play-in game and then upset #1-seed Oberland in the Quarterfinals.
That surprise turned on its head in 2297 and 2298 finished 5th and now 6th in the Minutemen League, thanks in part to their "Ace in the Hole," ace Matt "Ace in the Hole" Hope.
Now rumors are flying that the Cats are looking to deal that 30-year-old Big Daddy for some young ankle-biter prospects. In three seasons as the Cats' ace, Hope has a career mark of 22-30 with a 6.20 ERA. For the 2298 season, he pitched in 30 games and started 28, going 7-15 with a 5.18 ERA. His 2296 postseason was successful, going 3-0 in four starts with a 3.03 ERA.
"Rumors are just rumors, baby," Cats GM Rich "Size Man" Szymanowski said. "Don't let those dirty dogs kick mud on your toes, you know. They're just blowing hot air through a muffler."
Despite Szmanowski's denials, there has been confirmed interest in some top teams considering what they can offer the Cats in exchange for Hope, hoping he can become a new hope for their pitching staff.
Among teams looking to deal for Hope, some 2298 playoff teams are in that number, including Abernathy and Warwick. Other potential trade mates could include The Slog, Concord, Starlight, and FHE.
19 September 2298 - Playoff Doubleheader #2
For the last time this season, CBO fans have more than one game to pay attention to when both the North Charles Association and South Charles Association League Championships take place.
At 4:05 PM, the #3-seed Easy Town Assaultrons have a chance to clinch a spot in the Sole Survivor Series when they visit the #4-seed Fort Hagen Silver Shroud. Angel Waterdrink (3-0, 2.74) takes the mound for the Assaultrons, while Brent Hooker (1-1, 4.50) gets the nod for the Shroud. If Fort Hagen finds a way to win, Game 5 will take place on Wednesday in Easy Town.
The feature game is the Battle for the South when the #1-seed Goodneighbor Hancocks go for the sweep over the defending champions, #2-seed Oberland. That game takes place at 8:06 PM with the Hancocks' Bruce Iddings (0-1. 5.54) matching against the T-51s' Gerald Jerry (1-0, 5.14). Should the T-51s take this game, the two teams will play again tomorrow night in Graygarden.