Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
24 July 2299 - The Slog Ghouls Ship Greene to Goodneighbor
Fans in The Slog woke up this morning to learn that their team had traded 35-year-old LHP Tiny Greene to the Goodneighbor Hancocks. In return, the Ghouls will receive 26-year-old LHP Bruce Iddings, 26-year-old LF Matt Brahmin and 21-year-old minor league 1B Jason Bishop.
Up to this point in the season, Greene has put up these stats: 33 relief appearances, 20 saves, 35.1 IP, 64 strikeouts and 1.27 ERA. His won-lost record is 2-1 with the opposition is hitting .171 against him.
This season Iddings has registered 9 wins and 7 losses in 18 starts with a 3.95 ERA.
The trade looks to be equally beneficial for both teams. The Slog gets a starting pitcher that can help its struggling pitching with Tyler Storts (1-13, 7.99) and Micah Ballard (4-6, 8.65) not looking like CBO-quality pitchers. At the same time, the Hancocks get a dominant closer to take the place of their struggling closer, Bus Paula (0-5, 4.28, 20 SV).
Ghouls GM Plop Wyman has indicated that his team would be active in the coming days before the July 31 trade deadline. He stated that his team is always in "win now, never build for tomorrow" mode.
24 July 2299 - Synths See Spirit in Whiskey Nightcap
In his second season in the BMU, Whiskey Nightcap has yet to thrive, but the Union Hope Lifegivers can see him stepping things up as the season progresses.
"He's starting to knock the cover off the ball in batting practice," Lifegivers hitting coach Jamie Bidwell said. "We just need to see that convert to games."
At 9-42, there has not been much hope in Union Hope. They are the only team eliminated from the playoffs with seven weeks yet to play. Still, the lineup is made up of a lot of raw talent, that if just a few progress, it could mean that the Lexington Synths are a long-term force in the Insitute League.
Lifegivers manager Greg Tannenbaum believes Nightcap could be the one. "Yeah, we have talent around here that just needs to find their footing. Whiskey is one of them that just needs to step up when the lights are on and kill the ball like he does in practice. Hey, he hits better than almost everybody else on the team. But I think he could be special."
Nightcap is second on the Lifegivers with a .260 batting average. Only three players are hitting over .200, which includes 2298 1st-round pick Mace Pageturner. Pageturner is the younger brother of Goodneighbor's SP Matt Pageturner.
"We have a few weeks left in the season," Tannenbaum said. "I will let him swing away every pitch to see what he can produce. No holds barred. Find that power and average."
24 July 2299 - Mart Selected Top Player
At the age of 27, Dustin Mart might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Nordhagen Beach first baseman put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .333 batting average. For his efforts Mart collected the North Charles Association Player of the Week Award.
He racked up 7 hits in 21 at-bats, 4 home runs and 10 RBIs last week in 5 games.
In his 2299 season totals, Mart has 16 home runs, .256 BA, .329 OBP, 54 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
24 July 2299 - Danse Chosen #1 Player
His hard work and hustle paid off this week. The hard-working and hard-playing Paladin Danse was rewarded with the South Charles Association Player of the Week honors.
The scrappy Egret Ninjas left fielder hit .550 while collecting 11 hits in 20 at-bats, 6 home runs and 13 RBIs.
For the season Danse has produced 91 hits in 307 at-bats for a .296 average with 29 home runs and gotten on base at a .397 clip.
24 July 2299 - BNN Stats: Reliever Split Stats Leaders
Today we look at the top 5 relievers leading the Commonwealth Baseball Organization in strikeouts per 9 innings at home.
Andy Helium, EGR, 16.1
Thomas Seefar, ET, 15.9
Dan Beantown, SAL, 15.1
Aaron Still, OBE, 15.1
Sheffield Williams, ET, 14.5