Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

10 October 2297 - Starlight Hires GM, Scout

The Starlight Lady Killers have made two more personnel hires that they hope will help their team reach goals of winning a championship. Hired were GM Chris Gowest and Head Scout Mike McCluskey.

Gowest appears to favor the youth movement with a spattering of veterans. He believes a team needs to be balanced on offense and pitching. He wants guys who get hits over guys who use any method to get on base, thinking hits drive in runs.

McCluskey leaves the CBO headquarters as one of the top BMU scouts. His expertise is in finding young talent, including finding BMU players on other teams and seeking the best talent in the Commonwealth youth leagues. He is also considered having a good eye at recognizing which talent is ready for advancement.

10 October 2297 - Shroud Minor League Catcher Quits

C.I.T. Ruins Refractors catcher Matt Wells has decided to quit baseball, citing unhappiness with the organization's catcher decisions.

Wells was the third catcher in the organization behind 2296 free agent signing Tiger King and 2296 Inaugural Draft 6th-round pick Bixton Moore. King started all 60 games in 2297 despite some thinking that Moore and Wells were more talented.

"It's like the guy knows someone's husband was fed to deathclaws or something," Wells said in the past about King. "All poofy blonde locks and Psycho teeth, but no bite."

Originally a 23rd pick in the 2296 Inaugural Draft, Wells was a backup in 2296 and demoted to the Boston Minor Union in 2297 where he started 45 of the team's 47 games. He finished the season 40 for 172 (.233) with seven doubles, three home runs, 21 runs, and 26 RBI.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

24 October 2297 - Goodneighbor-Knuckle Punchers Trade

Several Hancocks and Knuckle Punchers players soon will have to start shopping for a new home. It was announced today that the two teams came to agreement on a trade. Goodneighbor will get 26-year-old LHP William Howard Chief, 24-year-old minor league 3B Mike Oldtimer and 19-year-old minor league LF Lips Lightfoot and Shaw HS will pick up 18-year-old RHP Matt Rodrigue and 36-year-old C Carlos Mungo in return.

"I'm not surprised by the news," Rodrigue told reporters, "It's part of the business and I understand that. After the season I had, I can understand why [GM Kyle] Wolf was looking for a new closer. Now, I am looking forward to playing for the Knuckle Punchers."

Rodrigue pitched in 24 games with Goodneighbor. He was 2-5 with 11 saves and a 6.00 ERA.

In his 116-game career, Mungo has hit .248 with 101 hits, 9 home runs, and 68 RBIs and has scored 71 runs.

Chief saw a limited role with Shaw, which he will hope to expand in Goodneighbor. In five appearances, he was 2-0 with one save. He did not allow a run in 6.2 innings pitched, allowed five hits, and struck out four.

Oldtimer started 49 games at third base for Trinity Plaza. He was 58 for 211 (.275) with fie home runs, 19 runs, and 34 RBI.

Lightfoot was the 5th-round pick of the Knuckle Punchers earlier this month.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

30 October 2297 - Flamers Pitcher to Take Leave

Corvega Assembly Plant Flamers relief pitcher Griffin Fowler is taking a break from baseball.

The 18-year-old Sunshine Tidings prospect was unhappy in his designated role as junior coach and decided a short break from the game might do him good.

"I'm going to go help out my parents' business in Natick," Fowler said. "I asked Ms. McGovern if it is OK, and she said she cared more about my mental health than if I could win baseball games. That's what I need, mental health."

Fowler appeared in four games in 22987 with the Flamers. He was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 5.0 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts.

30 October 2297 - Witch Hats Trade Away 25th Man

The Salem Witch Hats traded 2B Jeff Hannon to County Crossing for LF Purple Welch and RP Twister Melon.

Hannon appeared in 17 games for Salem in 2297, going 6 for 14 (.429) with a double and four runs.

Welch appeared in 10 games for the Bloodbugs. He was 2 for 12 (.167) with a run scored.

Melon was selected in the 3rd round of the 2297 CBO draft.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

1 November 2297 - BMU to Contract Names, Make Other Changes

Commissioner Nate Howard and team owners and officials have discussed the need to make Boston Minor Union teams more marketable for the future of television and radio broadcasts.

From that meeting, eight of the league's 24 teams will be making some changes, including one relocation.

Breakheart Banks has decided to drop the Wastleland Whisperers, which Salem owner Barney Rook described as "a mouthful." Instead, Breakheart Banks will move to the alliterative Breakheart Banks Behemoths for the 2298 season.

Six other teams are shortening their names: General Atomics Galleria will now be Galleria, Union Hope Cathedral will now be Union Hope, Corvega Assembly Plant will now be Corvega, Charles View Ampitheater will now be Charles View, Forest Grove Marsh will now be Forest Grove, and Mass Pike Interchange will now be Mass Pike but will also use MPI as its call letters.

The one relocation will be the Poseidon Reservoir Sentry Bots moving off Lake Cochituate to Somerville Place where they will be known as the Somerville Sentry Bots. Somerville Place and Vault 95 together are a growing population that could sustain a CBO team but there are two problems: the two settlements are located near the Glowing Sea, thus making the area more likely to have delays due to radstorms, and they are far away from other Commonwealth settlements, increasing travel time needed, even if traveling by Corvegas.

Howard also suggested that Fairline Hill Estates consider reducing its name, but owner Piper Wright has not yet made a decision.

4 November 2297 - Sneak Perk Unlocked

It came down to a community focus group, but the team at Egret Tours Marina now has decided on its new name.

With the finalists coming down to one beast of the wastes and two perks for post-fallout adventurers, the Egret team decided on the one it most wanted thanks in large part to team owner Ron Staples' deciding vote.

"It came down to three names," Staples said. "In our panel, the votes were evenly split among the Mutant Hounds, Ninjas, and Reapers, so I chose the logo and nickname that I felt spoke most to me. I chose the Ninjas because that star looks so rad."

And there you have it. CBO artist Erin Reisch sent models with three similarly-designed uniform types each sporting the different team name.

"The uniforms all had the same color scheme," Staples said, "but the hat made the difference to me. I wanted that away hat and I believe we will wear it for both home and away games. It is a unique hat for the CBO, which makes me think we can eventually lead the CBO in hat sales.

"I'll be taking this hat to Lexington next week to see if Trashcan Carla can get it in Super Duper Mart. Also, I'll see if Fallon's can carry it, too."



7 November 2297 - Corvega Catcher in Training

Corvega Flamers catcher and 2296 3rd-round Rookie Draft pick of the Sunshine Tidings Chemists, Darth Horse has been a mystery of ups and downs in his first year in the league. Considered a talented defensive catcher, Horse could not battle his way onto the field due to his bat not being a saber of success.

Horse appeared as a defensive replacement in 29 games and added one start in the 2297 season. In 33 at-bats, he had four hits, all singles, for a .121 average. He scored once, drove in a run, and struck out 15 times.

Corvega hitting coach Elijah Hall said he was working with Horse to try to unleash his potential.

"I am like an emperor taking my young apprentice under my wing," Hall said. "When it comes to batting, I want Darth to use his force. Just close his eyes and see the ball in his mind."

Horse has been practicing Hall's concept of blind batting, which has led to some close calls from poor pitches thrown by batting practice pitchers.

According to Horse, "I am following the master, but I have a bad feeling about this."

[Tyke]

Staples is right, the hat is brilliant!!

[OrangeP47]

Yeah, top notch branding!

[StLee]

In my switch to a new laptop, I realize that my Photoshop CS3 code no longer works. I looked it up and Adobe no longer allows people to use CS3. OK, I bought it more than a decade ago, so money well spent. However, now Photoshop is $20/month to use (and apparently no guarantee of a "lifetime ownership"). Thanks but no thanks since I use it casually--I just can't justify a $20/month subscription.

Therefore, I downloaded GIMP. Wow! That is a learning curve. I spent a few hours yesterday watching videos, reading articles, and playing with the program. It is not as intuitive as Photoshop, but at least I will have an alternative to Photoshop. On the negative side, I probably will not be putting together too many more of my ballpark banners and billboards in the short term. I will attempt to update and change uniforms, but it took me well over an hour just to figure out that the color layers do not work anything like Photoshop in GIMP. I finally figured it out, I think, but that will also be time-consuming since I cannot open and edit multiple photos at once.

It's unfortunate in my case as a casual/hobby user of Photoshop. CS3 was perfect for my needs. I suppose if I ever want to go through a marathon uniform-making session, I can just use my old laptop, which now functions as my younger son's school laptop. Otherwise, I'll slowly work through and eliminate graphics when not necessary.

I will try editing championship banners today just to see if I can figure them out. If I cannot, then I will include fewer made graphics and just include screen grabs from OOTP for standings, box scores, team vs team, etc. I also may not be able to add my Sole Survivor Series cup to the playoff tree. Ugh.

I like graphics since they are part of the fun of doing a dynasty. I like making my own uniforms. However, if they become too much of a chore in my now limited time until December, then I will have no choice to scrap them or else I will never finish the offseason for 2297.

I also requested a schedule for the 2298 season in the OOTP schedules section of this site, but it appears people are not active in making schedules. Therefore, I will need to make it myself, which is time-consuming. I have been putting that off.

I suppose it is time to do a little more creative writing for this dynasty. Let's see, time for the Chronicler? Nick Valentine cases? Random terminals? Fast forwards? Wait...Random terminals have been done through Photoshop, too. No!!!

[OrangeP47]

Don't know if you're deadset on GIMP, but try out Paint.net (it's the name of a program, despite sounding like a web address). It's free, and a bit more intuitive, though it might be lacking in the feature department. I'm really bad at art so my preference might not be worth anything though.

[StLee]

Originally Posted by OrangeP47

Don't know if you're deadset on GIMP, but try out Paint.net (it's the name of a program, despite sounding like a web address). It's free, and a bit more intuitive, though it might be lacking in the feature department. I'm really bad at art so my preference might not be worth anything though.

Yeah, I checked it out, but it does not seem compatible with .psd files, so I cannot open my templates. I could use it for manipulating logos, though, so that is a good idea.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

10 November 2297 - Punchers-Abernathy Trade: Westing for Hirshfield

BNN is reporting a rumored trade between the Shaw HS (soon Roxbury) Knuckle Punchers and Abernathy Adamantium has been finalized. The deal, which is expected to be announced sometime during the next few hours, will reportedly send 30-year-old LHP Brad Westing and 25-year-old minor league LF Maxx Kills to Abernathy in return for 19-year-old LF Chris Hirshfield, 18-year-old minor league RHP Dan Lowbridge, 19-year-old RHP Jimmy "Peanut" Carty and 19-year-old minor league 1B John Huerta. The clubs were noncommittal on the trade, but did not deny it.

In his career with the Knuckle Punchers, Inaugural Draft 1st-round pick (15th overall) Westing has compiled an ERA of 7.02 with 9 victories and 20 defeats and has held opponents to a .322 batting average. He also has struck out 172 batters in 237.1 innings and given up 329 hits.

Kills started 40 games in left field for the Forest Grove Marsh Molerats. He was 36 for 156 (.231) with two doubles, three home runs, 16 runs, and 14 RBI on the season.

Hirshfield, drafted in the 3rd round of the Inaugural Draft, was a two-year starter in left field for the Adamantium. Last season, he batted .326 (72 for 221) with 19 doubles, two triples, and 12 home runs. He scored 45 times and drove in 29. In 2296, he led the Institute League in RBI with 66.

Lowbridge has been everywhere and almost nowhere in his career. Originally signed by the Finch Farm Four Leafs as a free agent, Lowbridge was released and claimed by multiple teams before settling with Abernathy. In 20 games started for the Bunker Hill Gun Fu in 2297, Lowbridge was 4-7 with a 7.19 ERA in 107.2 innings. He allowed 86 earned runs, gave up 147 hits, walked 53, and struck out 69.

Carty did not play much in 2297, bouncing back and forth between the Adamantium and Gun Fu. A 24th-round pick in the Inaugural Draft, "Peanut" went 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA in relief in six games with the Adamantium in 2297.

Huerta was an 18th-round pick in the 2297 Inaugural Draft. In 2297 with Bunker Hill, he batted .245 (45 for 184) i n50 games started at first base. He had 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 34 runs, and 39 RBI.

12 November 2297 - Shroud Minor-Leaguer Changes Name, Learns Pitch

Fort Hagen Silver Shroud minor leaguer Joey Dimitroff showed off his new pitch and his new flare for the eccentric on Friday.

Asking the small group of scouts and reporters to check out a pitch he calls the "screwball," Joey also dropped some change on his name change.

"You can call me Joey Dimes," he said. "I'm dropping them, like my screwball. They call it a screwball because it will 'screw you up.'"

Joey Dimes, nee Dimitroff, has not been much of a factor in the Shroud pitching rotation. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent, Dimes never broke onto the main team. In 2297, he pitched for the BMU team, the CIT Ruins Refractors. He had a total of 12 appearances with two starts, going 2-1 with a 2.80 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched.

"He's my kind of pitcher," Refractors pitching coach Bookett Quick said. "I like those pitchers that have nice touch to their pitches, and Joey's got that. I think he's starting in 2298."

While Dimes had been working to improve the movement on his pitches, hoping to up his strikeout count--he struck out 38, averaging more than one per inning pitched--Quick was working on control.

"It came down to him looking to do something different," Quick said. "Then he started throwing an ugly-looking pitch in batting practice that no one could hit. We wouldn't let him throw it in the game, but I think he has mastered it now. Those strikeouts are going to shoot up."

Dimes still has hopes of breaking in on the Fort Hagen roster in 2298. If not, he has plans. "They keep me down here at the Ruins, and I'm going to start doing some of those Institute experiments. I may create the moonball and the poofball. One's going to drop down from the moon and the other is just going to go poof and disappear."

[StLee]

October 2289



A Hubflower for Magnolia: The Case of the Jilted Lovers

Chapter 1: A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Synth Walk into a Bar

The hottest dame in all of the Commonwealth didn’t just enter my office; she sashayed. Her ruby dress only highlighted those long shapely legs and a bust like ripe melons on a yellow eve. Ellie grunted in jealous disgust, and I tipped my cap and welcomed the famed singer, Magnolia, to my humble office.

“It must be quite serious for you to make your way all the way here from Goodneighbor,” I said. “Guess the Diamond City guards don’t know any of your secrets.”

She smiled and batted her eyes. “Oh Nick. You never miss a detail, huh? Can’t even let a girl blip and smile.”

At that moment, I had something blipping, too, but it wasn't my synth component. I could see the way her eyes shifted that we were getting into an uncomfortable position, even for a dame as confident as Magnolia. I decided to shift gears on the problem at hand: if she was sitting in my office on this chewed up Friday afternoon and not hanging around the Third Rail or practicing her seductive evening serenades, then something was amiss. And, boy, would this something be amiss.

“So tell me, doll, why’s a looker like you have a face like you got stood up on a second date?”

She shifted in her chair and all of her body shifted with her. “Well, Mr. Valentine, you see, in my line of work, there are people hunting for something I don’t have to give.”

Magnolia is a legendary singer of the Commonwealth. Before getting in league with John Hancock and making Goodneighbor more than just a safe haven, but also an entertainment hub, she was a little more of a wilder lady of society. You could say that the boys were not always teased. You can hear it in her songs. We in the Commonwealth probably think her songs give her access to her more than we should. For some of the young men, that feeling of access is dangerous for them…and her.

Now, I may be a bucket of bolts but my blood boils hot. Magnolia telling me she has a passionate path of emptiness is like telling me super mutants prefer barbecue over a salad. Ain’t no doubt in my mind. I also see that Magnolia wasn’t going to blurt out what she needs, so it was time I pushed her for what she needs.

“Magnolia, I know you aren’t here to tell me the obvious, so let’s start talking about what’s nibbling at your toenails. Who knows how long this old synth pacemaker keeps ticking, so time is of the essence.”

“Yes, yes. I’m getting to that. You see, I need you to find out something for me.” She fished a cigarette out of her cleavage. I extended my lighter. “As a lounge singer and radio star, I get a lot of fans coming through. A lot of those fellows got it in their head that I’m singing directly to them, and I understand how they feel. But, sweetheart, let me tell you, those every-night-is-a-get-laid kind of nights have been over for a very long time.”

At that point she was telling me what I already knew. I wanted to know what I didn’t know. I pulled out my notepad. She stopped talking. I urged her to keep going.

She eyed what I was writing. “This is a…secret conversation, right?”

“Top secret. Only you, me, and my girl Ellie right here know anything about this.”

Magnolia turned her attention to Ellie who had been standing behind Magnolia rifling through the same file over and over. I knew Ellie was eavesdropping, but I didn’t pay her any mind. Ellie can be a tad jealous around other dames.

“The, um, well, Nate—you know, um, that Nate—won’t hear about this either, will he?”

“Not unless you want him to. He’s off gallivanting as the Silver—“

“Shroud. Yes, I know. His partner with the molerat face and eyes always looking well below mine is always going on and on about the Shroud and Grognak every time he comes into our joint. What's his name, MacCready? I know all about what Nate’s up to. So that means he’s not working any cases with you?”

She shifted again and I swear her entire body shimmied when she moved her hourglass frame in my beat up old divan. I must have had a fuse or two acting up because I suddenly had to fight off the urge to loosen my tie. The temperature of the room most certainly continued rising.

“You see, I have been having quite a few admirers, but on one lonely night when I was feeling a bit blue and perhaps a little nostalgic after kicking back a few too many glasses of wine, I took on a lover for the night. He seemed like a nice kid. Nothing like the man of a man Nate is, but he was a caring lover and did his best to make me feel good. I appreciate that. The thing is, he was back the next night, and I had to tell him I was a one-trick pony kind of girl. He started saying that he had dreamed about being with me for a very long time, and he wasn’t going to let a little word like ‘no’ get in his way.

“That’s when I felt real uncomfortable, you know, where the fantasy and reality of lovemaking just don’t mix. Hancock is usually pretty good at rooting out the crazy dangerous in Goodneighbor. Sure, the uncrazy dangerous run rampant, but the crazies don’t usually get through the door. And I thought this kid was so innocent and hadn’t even seen a raider or anything dangerous in his life. But when he said those words to me, I, um, haven’t felt dread like that in a very long time.”

Magnolia kept on her spiel about the young man. He was young, about 18 or so, by her estimate. He had dirty blonde bed hair and dressed in nice clean pants. There was a drifter’s air to him, but she had guessed he had been a part of a settlement somewhere in the Commonwealth based on his mannerisms.

“The thing is,” she paused and took a long swig of Ellie’s Nuka-Cola, “I am so good at reading people, but this guy was like day and night all in the matter of minutes. And then, after Whitechapel Charlie and Ham and Clockspring Davis got rid of him, the incidents started to occur.”

“Incidents?” I asked. Nobody was less forthcoming in all my time as Magnolia was. They usually blabbed away the good parts before I could even start peeling the tato. Mystery solved, usually. Magnolia wasn’t giving me much, though, other than her charity case was a stalker creep. Got no shortage of those in the Commonwealth.

“Yes, incidents. They were small events, but I suspected it was the boy. Things like my room in the Rex suddenly being rearranged without anyone seeing someone go in or out. And there were notes in places where I could find them. I was in the bathroom in the Third Rail, and there was a paper on the stall door that read, ‘No NO.’ I have it here. She again reached into her bosom and fished out a crumpled paper. For the first time I could remember as a synth, my hands were shaking as I reached out. Magnolia seemed to blush.

“Blood,” I said. “Could be human. I’ll keep this as evidence, if you don’t mind.”

She nodded. “There were other things, too. I couldn’t gather it all. One day, all the outside of Goodneighbor was surrounded by hubflowers.”

“Hubflowers, you say,” I said. That reminded me of something.

“Then, there was the murder,” she said, as if murder was just a matter of fact.

Murder. Stalkers and creeps, that’s the job of security. Missing people and murder. That’s my cup of mirelurk egg soup. While my mind was on the case, I realized my beady yellow eyes were fixated to the place from where the note came. Suddenly Jenny came to mind, but she wasn’t important. Not at that moment. I forced myself to look up and apologized from my drifting laser beams. I scribbled a note and handed it to Ellie. She started searching files.

Magnolia began again. “Well, anyway. My stalker, or so I thought, was pestering me until I told him to go away. The next day a headless corpse carved to hell was found in an alley of Goodneighbor and the man’s carved out torso was stuffed with hubflowers. And there was a note: ‘Nobody bothers the Flower.’ The Flower is me, Nick. And nobody has seen the boy since. Frankly, I’m terrified.”

I offered Magnolia a safe house. Since Nate was out of town, she could shack up in his place at the Home Plate until I could figure out where her stalker could be. She declined, stating she needed to work because she needed the caps. I suspected it had something to do with past habits. But that problem was for another time. In the meantime, there was a crazed psycho murderer-lover on the loose, and Detective Nick Valentine was on the case. Magnolia waited for me to escort her back to Goodneighbor.

I put on my hat and buttoned my trench coat. “Hold my calls, Ellie. I have a case to work.”

Ellie handed me the file I needed. “We don’t have a phone, Nick.”

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

21 November 2297 - Obstinate Obstinant Ohmed

Easy Town reliever Geoff Obstinant partially lived up to his namesake when he would not let a radstorm get in the way of his fishing trip.

Obstinant, who is often seen wearing a pre-War "I'd rather be fishing" t-shirt, ignored warnings from Brotherhood of Steel officials just west of Boston Airport in the Harbor.

While Obstinant was fishing in the radstorm, lightning struck near him, electrocuting him. Brotherhood security quickly aided him and moved him into the airport for medical treatment.

Obstinant was said to be responsive but in a lot of pain at that time. There is no word how serious his injuries are and if it will affect his baseball career.

Obstinant only pitched one inning in the 2997 season for the Asssaultrons. In his two appearances, he allowed three earned runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout for a 27.00 ERA.

22 November 2297 - Party Boys Rookie Attacked

Nordhagen Beach Party Boys first-round draft pick Er Temptation joined a group of friends on a bender in Downtown Boston. Following a day of drinking and cahooting in Goodneighbor, Temptation and friends decided they would walk to Swan's Pond in Boston Common.

On their way, though, they encountered a feral man who attacked them, injuring Temptation in the process.

"He was like a ghoul," one of the attacked who wished to remain anonymous stated while receiving medical treatment for bites to his arms and abdomen. "He growled and charged just like them. And he bit the hell out of us."

Temptation fought the man, but he received the most severe bite, with the unidentified feral man taking a chunk out of Temptation's leg. Temptation received first aid on scene, but he had to be transported via caravan to Kendall Hospital. We do not have current updates on the severity of his injuries, but his friend said it looked bad.

23 November 2297 - Red Rockets' Setter Starts Business

Jamaica Plain Red Rockets second baseman Alan Setter began a new business that he hopes will improve car production in the Commonwealth.

The business, known as I&A Machinery Adjustment, Inc., will be dedicated to preparing and setting large machinery for mass production.

"My brother Irish and I talked about what we could do to invest the caps I made in the CBO," Setter said. "We had a chance to work in the General Atomics Factory for a few years and worked with the robot production lines. It taught us a lot."

Setter is expected to leave the day-to-day operations to his brother, especially during the baseball season.

"I love baseball," Setter said, "so baseball comes first. But I also love my brother and I love learning and I love to help people. With our knowledge of machinery adjustments, I think we could help businesses across the Commonwealth to improve their production for the growing population."

Setter hoped that putting out the word on his business could gain him clients.

"People around the Commonwealth might know who I am because of baseball, so Irish and I are hoping that will help us pick up some clients. I hope the Corvega plant or ArcJet can use our expertise."

[OrangeP47]

Fun fact time: Most lighting strikes are survivable. That said, of all the fatalities that have occurred during soccer matches (to the players), being struck by lightning is a leading cause of death. I actually looked that up awhile back after the most recent time someone had a heart attack while playing.

[StLee]

Originally Posted by OrangeP47

Fun fact time: Most lighting strikes are survivable. That said, of all the fatalities that have occurred during soccer matches (to the players), being struck by lightning is a leading cause of death. I actually looked that up awhile back after the most recent time someone had a heart attack while playing.

In the wastes, more people die after saying, "Let me just take a peek," than after saying any other statement. Second is, "I can handle it on my own."

[StLee]

Big shout out to RUwisc for the second news story below: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=320554



Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

26 November 2297 - Yao Guai Make Changes

The Fairline Hill Estates Yao Guai have announced they are also cooperating with Nate Howard's marketing campaign to shorten team names. Starting in the 2298 calendar year (begins January 1), the team will now be known as simple the FHE Yao Guai.

I will say that this reporter is happy not to have to type out "Fairline Hill Estates" every time. It is a league rule that media must refer to teams by their official names. Now that the team is FHE, I feel it will save everyone time.

Now that Piper Wright is the official owner of the Yao Guai, she has also put her stamp on the team and BosCom Circle, the Yao Guai's stadium. Advertisements for the current and upcoming TV shows are going to line the entirety of the outfield walls.

Fans of the pilot Silver Shroud three-show series, "No-Nose" are looking forward to the Christmas premier of the official full Season 1 of the Silver Shroud show. Weekly episodes of Season 1, "The Mechanist," will feature repeat roles by John Ordinary as Silver Shroud, Dana Massachusetts as Den Memory, and Twila Detiveaux as Mistress of Mystery. Season 1 will feature the antagonist the Mechanist played by Nina Rodriguez with a special guest appearance by the real Mechanist, Isabel Cruz. Season 1 of The Silver Shroud will also feature guest appearances by Dirk Drizzler as Grognak the Barbarian and synth Shaun Howard as Vault Boy. Sheila Dirt-Wallace will make an appearance in a teaser for Season 2's show, featuring her as the antagonist, Mystery Person. Voice work for all HCU shows and movies will be performed by former Hollywood actors Keith McKinney and Gilda Broscoe, who are both now robobrains.

29 November 2297 - CBO Announces Expanded Schedule

The CBO has a schedule in the works for the 2298 season. The schedule will feature a 108-game schedule over 22 weeks, including 60 division games and 48 association games. Teams will not play interassociation games except for the two teams in the Sole Survivor Series.

Teams in the North Charles Association will be made up of the Brotherhood and Institute Leagues, while teams in the South Charles Association will be made up of the Minutemen and Railroad Leagues. Games will be played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays, except for times when that needs to be changed. Mondays and Thursdays are rest and travel days.

The 60 division games are like the previous two seasons where teams will play 12 games, four three-game series, versus each division opponent in a 6-6 home-away matchup. Those games will be played on Fridays-Sundays in the final 20 weeks of the season.

Association games will be played against the six teams from the other division in the two associations. They will consist of 8 games, four two-game series in a 4-4 home-away matchup. Those games will be played on Tuesday-Wednesday for most of the 22 weeks with there being two exceptions.

The first exception is that the first two weeks, or 12 games of the season, will be association games. During the first week, teams will play a four-game set on Tuesday through Friday either against one opponent or two opponents. If travel is difficult due to distance and time, teams will play at a neutral site between their travel locations. During that first week, teams will have Saturday off as a travel day, and then play a two-game association set on Sunday and Monday. In week two, teams will play a fourth series on Wednesday and Thursday, and then a fifth series on Saturday and Sunday before moving into the regular schedule of Tuesday and Wednesday association games and Friday through Sunday division games.

The second exception to the schedule is that there will be the first ever All-Star game, a midseason game that will feature the best players from both associations for a battle of who has the top stars. Players will be selected by fan votes at stadiums and through the intranet system.

30 November 2297 - Deathclaws Closer Pounded

University Point Deathclaws closer Marc Pondsip was mauled by a supersledge-wielding super mutant primus on Sunday.

Responding to a call for help, Pondsip and others in the Leicester area--about halfway between Boston and Bradberton (Nuka World)--saw a group of settlers bagged and tagged by super mutants. In a desperate attempt to free the settlers from becoming mutant appetizers, Pondsip and the people with him began an assult on the super mutants.

In the attack, Pondsip was hit in the back by a supersledge. While the super mutant primus received a finishing headshot to prevent him from getting in another swing, Pondsip was seriously injured and had to be treated with emergency meds and chems. He was later treated by a traveling doctor.

There is no word yet of Pondsip's current condition. Team officials with University Point stated that they were sending a vertibird with team doctor, Dr. Musst Short, to check on Pondsip's condition and see if he could be transported to Milton General Hospital or The Castle for treatment.

[OrangeP47]

Interesting schedule. I'm always a fan of everyone playing everyone, but this will do. With so many teams and the general situation, it's a reasonable and fair arrangement, and a bit of disparity is fine between associations. (Now if only MLS could keep the same number of teams in the Eastern and Western Conference on a consistent basis, I'd be less annoyed about such issues IRL).

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

9 December 2297 - Finch Farm Minor Leaguer Mauled

General Atomics Galleria Robotics Experts left fielder Nate Gless was severely injured when he was surprise attacked by a glowing mirelurk.

Gless, who is from an area just south of Nuka World, was visiting friends west of Bradberton along the Connecticut River for an afternoon picnic.

Though Gless and friends swept the area for dangers, they apparently missed a glowing mirelurk buried just under the mud on the bank of the river. Gless stepped on it, and the battle was on.

Gless was the only member of the group to suffer injuried in the melee, but he is considered to be in critical condition. A medical team moved him to a clinic in Bradberton.

9 December 2297 - Trade Day

Thursday became Tradesday in the CBO as six teams made moves that were all announced today.

The Slog and Abernathy announced today in a joint press conference that 18-year-old LF Po Greenzone, 20-year-old minor league LHP Dan Kuehn, 20-year-old minor league 3B Jayden Bells and 20-year-old minor league RHP David Coocoo will be going to the Adamantium in exchange for 19-year-old LHP Jason Woods and 20-year-old 1B Bubbles Fleeker.

The University Point Deathclaws have finalized a deal with the Salem Witch Hats for the services of 18-year-old RHP Chase Southie and 18-year-old minor league 1B Chris Shields. In exchange, the Witch Hats will receive 18-year-old 1B Dan Ackerman and 19-year-old minor league LHP Bill Early.

The Vault 81 Dwellers addressed a concern today, coming to terms with the Starlight Lady Killers on a trade that will send 18-year-old 2nd-round pick CF Geminy Grasshopper and 20-year-old minor league LHP Trombone Jones from the Dwellers to the Lady Killers in exchange for 24-year-old RHP Fillmore Hofmann, 25-year-old minor league LF Keith Machete and 18-year-old minor league 2B Rick Herbst.

[StLee]

Pushing towards January 1 to see if my big change works or blows up...

As an addition, I am starting to understand this GIMP program more. I have a lot to learn, but I can manipulate .psd files some. See below for an example...



Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

14 December 2297 - Salem Adds "Bloody Sundays"

The Salem Witch Hats want to stir the cauldron in 2298 and they did just that today at the behest of team sponsor Small Bertha.

For home Sunday games, the Witch Hats will wear a red home jersey as opposed to their usual home whites. Officially, the Witch Hats have only two colors: white and black. However, Bertha has suggested a third color, blood red, would up the intimidation factor.

Team owner Barney Rook and GM Bill Cluff both agreed, so the Witch Hats will host their, "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" home games in the 2298 season.



15 December 2297 - Bloodbugs Reliever Attacked

On a tour of the Glowing Sea, County Crossing relief pitcher Terry Stebbins ran into a group of radscorpions, including an albino radscorpion that severely injured Stebbins.

Although the tour was in an armed company, the radscorpion popped out near Stebbins and other tourists, striking Stebbins in the abdomen with its stinger, seriously injuring him.

The tour team had antivenom on hand, which helped Stebbins, but he had to be moved out of the Glowing Sea to Vault 95 for treatment. Due to the nature of his injury, Stebbins will be out for an amount of time, though team officials hope he can be ready in April.

15 December 2297 - Bar Argument Results in Stabbing

Mystic Pines Raybathers relief pitcher Dave Harden ended up on the pointy end of a bar argument.

According to Mystic Pines' Lakelight Bar bartender June Facts, Harden and regular patron Redface Bluejeans argued over which creature would win a wrestling match, a behemoth or a deathclaw.

After a heated exchange of words, Harden shoved Bluejeans. Bluejeans then broke a whiskey bottle and slashed Harden with it. The injury required treatment for Harden and a long trip to Kendall Hospital, though he seemed to be stable.

Reportedly, he had injuries to his left arm and and abdomen from the glass shards.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

21 December 2297 - Temptation Receives Experimental Graft

Nordhagen Beach Party Boys 1st-round pick Er Temptation received an experimental skin graft after a feral man took a chunk out of his inner thigh in an attack in Downtown Boston.

Temptation was transported to the Institute, where a synth-to-human skin grafting method was created by Dr. Dean Volkert. Although Volkert no longer performs the surgeries, he does oversee them.

Dr. Volkert addressed Diamond City Radio about the procedure:

"We developed a use for our synth creation devices where we can produce parts of bodies. One of our most successful experiements have been skin replacement. It has not been as successful for ghouls thus far, but we're still trying to improve our methods every day.

"In regards to Mr. Temptation, we successfully grafted skin where he lost flesh from a bite wound. We are observing him for infection, but he should be released within two weeks and be able to partake in physical activity within the month. We're quite happy with the results."

Temptation was not available for comment during the radio interview.

27 December 2297 - Quincy Top Pick Working Hard

He may be considered raw and perhaps a few years away from producing in the CBO, but the Quincy Gunners have high hopes for 1st-round pick Biggie Biggs.

The biggest attraction about Biggs was his versatility with the glove.

"We picked him because we can use him anywhere on the field but catcher," Quincy general manager Gunner Sprague said.

Right now, Gunners manager Kevin Banner and has Biggs slotted in as the center fielder for the Postal Square Action Boys, but he can pretty much play any position above a three on the position list.

"I will play wherever they put me," Biggs said. "I just want to play. I know I have the glove, but I definitely need to put in a lot more work with the bat and running the bases."

Biggs is not considered a fast runner, so he will not steal many bases, but he has natural instincts at defense. He is usually in a good position, which helps him to overcome his lack of speed in the outfield.

In the infield, he would be a highly successful third baseman due to his glove and strong arm. However, he would still be an effective second baseman or shortstop if that is where he was needed.

"We have high hopes for Biggie," Banner said. "We just need to teach him to hit while he's in training and at Postal Square next year. [Quincy hitting coach] Kooky [Gold] and [Postal Square hitting coach Mike] Fendley have been working him hard since we picked him. We're seeing promising progress."

[StLee's note: I made this character's name based on the old rapper, Biggie Smalls. Just out of curiosity, I googled Biggie Biggs and saw that there was a wrestler that used that performance name ]

29 December 2297 - Pem Pollack Punted

As a correction from an earlier story, we realize now that Pem Pollack is in the news that we left off his name from the 2297 CBO Players of the Year Awards list. Pollack was the recipient of the CBO Reliever of the Year award.

In 2297, he was 1-0 with a 0.59 ERA in 30.2 innings pitched. He led the Minutemen League in saves with 20. In 29 appearances, he allowed two earned runs on 13 hits with nine walks and 45 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.

Some questioned the decision by Warwick in 2296 to take Pollack as the seventh-overall pick in the Inaugural Draft. He had amazing stuff, but Nate Howard had informed teams that he would not be a pitcher that could pitch complete games. The Mirelurks took him anyway, and he has been an outstanding player for their team, even if they did not return to the playoffs in 2297.

Now, on to today's story. Pollack was in the news for a different reason today on a trip to Fallon's Department Store. Inside the store, there was a section of clothing with the "top players of the CBO" t-shirts and embroidered polos.

Pollack became angry when he saw five of his teammates' gear in the Warwick Mirelurks section, but not his own name. Included were: SP John Diner, LF Patty Cuttooth, 3B Tutton Gatekeeper, CF Radio Short, and SP Dave Kovalenko.

According to witnesses, Pollack screamed out, "I'm the first ever pick by the Mirelurks. Give me some ******* respect!"

Security removed Pollack from the facilities and banned him after he ripped down the clothing racks. The CBO League Office jas received the report and will decide if any discipline is necessary.

30 December 2297 - Jamaica Plain-Vault 81 Trade: Dallas for Gunkill

Everybody is overjoyed with a trade consummated today by the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets and the Vault 81 Dwellers just before the end of the calendar year.

In the deal Jamaica Plain got 32-year-old CF Steve Gunkill and 20-year-old minor league CF Rocky Story from Vault 81 and dealt 19-year-old 1B Jon Dallas and 17-year-old minor league RHP Copper Geffre to the Dwellers. The general managers that made the swap are happy and the players are happy, too.

Red Rockets GM Jason Walenga commented, "This was a good swap for all concerned. We're happy to have Gunkill on our squad."

Gunkill will be on his third team in three seasons. He was originally a 9th-round pick of Nordhagen Beach in the 2296 Inaugural Draft. During the 2296 season, he was traded to Vault 81 in a deal that landed Julian Shed for the CBO-runners up Party Boys.

Gunkill played all of the 2297 season with Vault 81, batting .320 on the season with 14 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 43 runs, and 37 RBI.

The Dwellers receive 1B Dallas, who was stuck behind Cody Flatt at first base in Jamaica Plain. Dallas, a 23rd-round pick in the Inaugural Draft, was 10 for 42 (.238) with a double, four home runs, 10 runs, and 13 RBI.

While Vault 81 has a more dynamic first baseman in Erns Gold, one of the top players in the league, Gunkill offered some trade value due to his age and the emergence of 2296 1st-round rookie Aesed Hayjen, who is expected to be the full-time starter in 2298 in centerfield.

"We're please with picking up Dallas and Geffre," Vault 81 GM ??? said. "Dallas was someone I watched when he was in Jamaica Plain, and I like what he can bring off the bench with his power. We also like the kid from Bradberton. He's still learning how to pitch, but we think he will only get better with time."

Geffre was a free agent signing from the Bradberton 50. In 2297, he went 1-6 with a 7.00 ERA in 10 startes with the Haymarket Mall Commandos.

The Dwellers also seemed to want to offload their 3rd-round draft pick, Rocky Story. Supposedly Story was a liability when facing left-handed pitchers, something that could prevent him from ever advancing beyond a part-time starter in the BMU. His advantage is speed, allowing him to bunt for hits, steal bases, and run down long fly balls in centerfield.

[Tyke]

I'm really sorry, I've tried, honestly..... When the story came out about the attack on the Party Boys' 1st round prospect, I was determined NOT to post that "the feral man was simply unable to resist Temptation" and I've stuck it out for a while. But unfortunately, you returned to the story today - so, StLee. it's your own fault!