Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

Settlements Today

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

5 May 2296 - Atom Cats Garage

Each Tuesday for the upcoming weeks through the playoffs, we will feature one of the settlements, teams, and owners of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization. This is meant to tell you more about life in the Commonwealth, as well as give you more information about the teams and their owners.

In our fourth installment of "Settlement Today," I swayed to the bitchin' beats at Atom Cats Garage. Founded by the Atom Cats gang, this converted Red Rocket is the customized power armor central of the Commonwealth.


Atom Cats Garage - 2287

According to the intranet (real-life https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Atom_Cats_garage so as not to plagiarize),
"It is unknown as to why the faction started or where they acquired their large arsenal of power armor suits. What is known is they have roaming scavengers visiting the garage roughly every other day to sell the Atom Cats the armor they find.

"The Atom Cats buy a large amount of T-60 power armor from the scavengers, as well as unsteady amounts of T-45 and T-51 units. X-01 power armor is rarely found, though it's not unheard of. Due to the steady supply of the T-60 power armor parts, this is the standard armor type used by the Atom Cats. One of the explanations for how the Atom Cats sourced the scavengers is with the use of advertising eyebots, since they are seen at the garage every now and then.

"Zeke states that he single-handedly slew a pack of feral ghouls once to claim the garage. He then assembled a group and showed them 'the way of cool.' One member, Aimin' Andy, is mentioned to be deceased, and was responsible for the 'rockin tunes' now played in the garage."


Atom Cats Garage - 2296 - Power Armor Display Stand

Today, the Atom Cats Garage still deals with customized power armor suits for those wanting to travel the wastelands in style while also protecting themselves from deathclaws, roving raiders, and other dangers of the wastes. Over the years, the Atom Cats have expanded their custom designs, and they are supposedly looking to start customizing paint jobs for the Commonwealth Baseball Organization teams.

Owner - Zeke


Zeke, Daddy-O, King of Cool, etc.

Zeke has a lot of nicknames, but just Zeke will do. Zeke has a history like many in the pre-Nate Howard Commonwealth. According to the intranet (https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Zeke_(Fallout_4), "Zeke grew up in Diamond City until he left the settlement in dissatisfaction, referring to it as 'a tilted square.' He also claims to have fixed up a vertibird until it crashed into the ocean. He eventually found the Atom Cats garage [sic] after slaying a large pack of feral ghouls residing there. Afterward, Zeke began recruiting the current members of the Atom Cats, most of whom came from troubled backgrounds in which he helped in reforming them by '[showing] them the way of cool.'

The Paint Jobs of Cool


Where the magic happens

The garage is the place for heading to outer space. Here you can find racks of power armor. While the garage is all about customizing for their top caps, the residents of Atom Cats Garage make their standard living through repairing damaged frames and parts and recalibrating malfunctioning suits. They also still deal in parts and frames for those not willing to spend megacaps on specialized designs.


The Shark, one of the original custom paint jobs

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

5 May 2296 - Banner Patches Revealed

Diamond City - Commissioner Nate Howard and CBO artist Erin Reische held a joint press conference in the Great Green Jewel today to reveal banner patches for the teams reaching success this season. All league winners--Brotherhood, Institute, Minutemen, and Railroad--will receive a banner commemorating their league championships.

In addition to the regular season champions, an additional banner patch has been revealed for the final series, which now has a name.

Howard announced, "We are proud to reveal Erin's wonderful artwork and show you the five banner patches for teams winning their leagues and winning the overall championship. We are naming that series in honor of, well, me. That series and champion will be given the name of what I was once called, the Sole Survivor. The championship series will then be known as the Sole Survivor Series. And now, Erin, please reveal the banner patches."

We have attached the banner patches at the end of this article.

In addition, Howard mentioned that he will join John-Caleb Bradberton, the owner of Nuka-Cola, who is currently touring CBO parks. Bradberton's tour will conclude this coming weekend in Concord. Howard said that there would be another news conference either Monday or Tuesday of next week for further announcements.

[StLee]

Raising the Roof

by Piper Wright

Warwick Homestead - When you meet a kid named “Jumper,” you just know that isn’t the name he was born with. When I first saw the Goodneighbor Hancocks’ second baseman, the word jumper was not exactly what I first thought.

He stands at 6’1” and he is a lanky 170 pounds. Still, the 16-year-old second-round pick of the Hancocks, 43rd overall, has been anything buy a tall, lanky kid in his first five weeks of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization.

But first, let’s talk about the name Jumper. He was born Roofer Hayes. Roofer Ferbie Hayes, to be exact.

“My folks said it was on a holotape they found of past presidents,” he said. He was pawing mud near the Warwick Homestead water tanks. “She said she heard the name ‘Roofer Ferbie Hayes’ and knew it was the right name for me because our last name was Hayes and we lived on top of a roof in Boston Common.”

By the time he was six years old, Hayes became a sort of runner for the settlers living above the city. Being small and able was good business for helping gather supplies and making emergency food runs. While they had crop boxes for growing fruits and vegetables and buckets for collecting rainwater, sometimes supplies like stimpacks would become scarce. At all times, the ground would be overrun by raiders, super mutants, Gunners, and whatever other bogeymen occupied the ground. That is why rooftop settlers needed the young to function as runners.

“For most of the runners, they would navigate from roof to roof by using pipes and boards laid across the gaps. Not me.”

Hayes discovered a special ability that most rooftop settlers either did not possess or just would not do.

“I jumped,” he smiled. “One day, I saw a small gap of about six feet between two roofs, so I ran as fast as I could and I jumped. That day, the other kids started calling me ‘Jumper.’”

He said he was sure he cleared it by a few feet because when he landed and rolled on the other side, the other runners stood there in amazement. By the time Hayes was 10 years old, he estimated he was jumping across 15-foot gaps. He may not be the fastest runner, but he has a natural long jump ability.

By the early 90s, Hayes no longer had to live on a roof. Operation Boston was the cause of that.

“We were always unaware of what was happening far below us. Mostly, we hid from everyone else. But one day those vertibirds came through our area like we never saw before. We all thought [the Brotherhood of Steel soldiers] were coming for us, you know, but then they started rappelling down those wires to the ground. A burst of gunfire and explosions, and then they were back up.

“One soldier in full power armor came up to where we were and started asking us if we were OK and if we needed a place to go. They said the entire area was a part of Operation Boston, so we could be safe on the ground from now on.”

Operation Boston was a joint operation between the four factions of the Commonwealth to rid Downtown Boston of the ingrained strongholds of undesirables. Some super mutant groups had made their homes there, but mostly there were Gunners and raiders “like ants” throughout the Commonwealth.

In 2292, his family moved out of Boston Common for the first time to the Free Quincy Settlement, a collection of low-cost trailers just outside of the Quincy city limits. That is when Hayes joined the Quincy Youth League. Now the league has five teams, but it was the Poseidon Energy that took his first interest. His coach first played him in the outfield but soon learned he had the correct range and arm speed to play second base.

“Coach Wiz [Wisniewski] was a great coach for a youth league. He recognized my talent and played me where I felt most comfortable. The bat was always a comfort zone for me, but the glove wasn’t. Now I am comfortable at batting and fielding.”

Coach Aff Wisniewski’s talents have not gone unnoticed. He has since moved from the Quincy Youth League to be one of the CBO’s top talent scouts. For the CBO, a collection of scouts does not work for an individual team but gives the entire league a report tape of each player. According to the Wiz’s report, Hayes was given a late-first grade. Instead, Hayes was taken late in the second round.

For Hayes, where he was drafted does not bother him. He is happy to play for a team where he enjoys playing with an owner that gives support. John Hancock has been that person to give him the support he desires. Being in the right environment, with Goodneighbor itself only “a few clicks” from his former rooftop home, Hayes is right where he wants to be. In the first quarter of the season, he is dominating the Minutemen League with a 33 for 64 (.516 average) clip with 6 doubles, a triple, 9 home runs, 25 runs scored, 32 RBI, 7 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases. He reaches base at a .554 rate and has a 1.063 slugging percent. In other words, he is the clear leader for the league MVP.

“I suppose the old jumper is jumping over the league’s pitching.”

Hayes will have a tough matchup this weekend against the CBO’s best team, the Warwick Mirelurks, who are 14-1 and have allowed only 62 runs, 34 runs better than the ML’s second-best defense, the Quincy Gunners. Still, Hayes has been hot all season, and there is no reason to believe he cannot soar above the roof.

You could say, Roofer Ferbie “Jumper” Hayes is raising the roof.

[Tyke]

Really liking the patches - Good work, Erin!

[StLee]

Thank you, Tyke! The news cycle was ready for an announcement, but not a big announcement since Nate had been on a manhunt for Babyface and the Toddlers. Nate needs a little rest. Now maybe the Easy City Downs is going to see much fewer cases of mysterious broken knee caps where the victims just could not remember how it happened . . .

BTW, for those not familiar with the Fallout universe, Babyface Aorta and the Toddlers gang is my creation, not Bethesda's. The in-game leader of Easy City Downs is Eager Ernie (https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Eager_Ernie), which is a cool gang boss leader name, but he must be put down upon first entering Easy City Downs. Unfortunately for him. Now, Deb and Kay moved from Bunker Hill in my world to run a little more peaceful, though not perfect, gambling hub.

[StLee]

As another aside, I really like this Jumper Hayes kid so far. He reminds me of another legend of the Wastelands, the Mojave Baseball League's Jimmy LaRue. Hopefully, Jumper continues to tear up the league and the dice are kind. I am trying to be like J. Henry Waugh and let the fates be, even if the fates lead to my own demise. Let my zeros and ones, as well as my cubes, live through the desires of the lesser or higher gods!

[Sizeman21]

Hey StLee, if you are on Reddit, check out this group: https://www.reddit.com/r/ImaginaryFa...m_source=share

All fan made art on the Fallout series. Might find some inspiration for your posts.

Sorting by "top all time" usually shows best artwork. Enjoy!

[StLee]

Originally Posted by Sizeman21

Hey StLee, if you are on Reddit, check out this group: https://www.reddit.com/r/ImaginaryFa...m_source=share

All fan made art on the Fallout series. Might find some inspiration for your posts.

Sorting by "top all time" usually shows best artwork. Enjoy!

Thank you! I'll check it out and use anything that is useful for my purposes.

[StLee]

DCR – LEXINGTON SYNTHS (5-10) AT CONCORD RADSTAGS (7-8)

WHAT TO KNOW

This game would be a big bloodworm burger if it were not for the fanfare of Nate Howard and John-Caleb Bradberton being present. Otherwise, this game features the Institute League’s last-place team against its fourth-place team.

Concord is in position to push itself into a true playoff run in the 2nd quarter of the season. Even though the Radstags are just 7-8 at this point, their record leaves them only a game out of 2nd place. If things go right and the 8-7 Sunshine Tidings Chemists and Starlight Lady Killers falter, Concord could see itself suddenly in 2nd.

For the Synths, they are looking to win their second series of the season. Their only series win came in the third week when they took two of three at Starlight. Otherwise, they have either lost two or three (opening weekend versus first-place Abernathy) every series.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM LEXINGTON

A Game 3 win. All but one of the Synths’ five wins came on the last game of the series. That means they are 4-1 in Game 3 so far this season. At the same time, the Synths are a combined 1-9 in Games 1 and 2; therefore, expect losses in those games.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CONCORD

They may be 7-8 at this point in the season, but you cannot blame the Stags’ offense. Though the Stags are second in runs (109), they lead the league in on-base percentage (.404), OPS (.948), Batting WAR (3.1), wOBA (.400), and home runs (23). Now, we in the Wastes may not know all of our baseball stats just yet, but we know that they are producing well on offense. Pitching, however, is the opposite of special. Not to pick too hard, but Jessie Worboys has a 108.00 ERA.

KEY PLAYERS IN THE SERIES

LEX: Straight Up Delicious—RF Crooked Tostado has been the star for Lexington in the first quarter of the season. At .379/3/12, he is helping produce for an offense that has mostly struggled all season. The Synths will need Tostado’s bat to stay steady for them to have a chance to win this series.

CON: He May Be Quick – CF Ricky Ticky Laughy is quick and he is slick, and he has emerged as something different than what a leadoff batter is supposed to be. Though his batting average (.297) has not stood out in any way, it is that his hitting makes him seem more like a cleanup hitter. He has 7 home runs (1st in IL, and tied for 3rd in the CBO) and 15 RBI (second on the Stags), but he has also added 4 stolen bases (2nd in IL and tied for 4th in CBO). He also leads the IL with a 1.1 Batter WAR, 4th best in the CBO behind impressive players like Goodneighbor’s Jumper Hayes (1.5), Finch Farm’s Peter Tatoeater (1.4), and Egret’s Bill Chaney (1.2).

PREDICTION: Stags win Games 1 and 2, lose Game 3

[StLee]

WRVR – Diamond City (6-9) AT Oberland T-51s (9-6)

KNOW THE STARS

DC: SP X10-44 Mannson – Staff ace Mannson is an eligible synth in the league because he agreed to the Human Aging Serum Management Assistance Technology (HASMAT) program. He was drafted in the second round, 32nd overall. Though his numbers do not look spectacular (2-3, 5.94 ERA) for a traditional baseball league, he has been a solid pitcher in the Railroad League. He is the leader of the second-best starting pitching rotation (6.16 ERA) in the RL.

OBE: 1B Curtis Slingshot – For a team dominant on the offensive side of the ball, Slingshot has stood out as the most dominant. He is third on his own team in batting average (.436), but leads the team in home runs (5, tied for 2nd in RL) and RBI (21, 2nd in RL). The 10th round, 231st overall, pick of the T-51s has been a steal early in the season. He has been criticized for being selfish, but he has most certainly helped his team win.

PLAYER VS PLAYER – GAME ONE LINEUPS AND STARTING PITCHERS



TEAM ANALYSIS

Diamond City is currently in a three-way tie for fourth (last) place in the RL. The Swatters got off to a slow start, including being swept in Week 2 by the Vault 81 Dwellers to put them at a 2-6 hole early, but they have been slowly improving since then, going 4-3 since that point. Still, they will need to get better quickly to have ac chance against Oberland.

The part where the Swatters must show improvement the most is in its offense. They are last or nearly last in almost every category except home runs (13, tied for 3rd). They are 4th in runs scored (90), but last in batting average (.289), on-base percentage (.361), and have only one stolen base this season. Pitching is the only reason they are 6-9 right now.

The T-51s have been steady, winning three of the first five series, including a sweep of Vault 81 two weeks ago. The series loss at Egret last weekend dropped the T-51s a game behind the Scrappers, but they are in a great early-season position to be a playoff contender.

Every part of the T-51s’ success has been about its offense. They are first in the RL in runs scored (126), batting average (.378), on-base percentage (.434), and Batting WAR (3.7). They are also tied for 3rd with Diamond City for home runs (13). The entire starting line up is hitting at least .300, with 3B Jeremy Bugs leading the team (.469) and 2B Jonathan Abern taking up the rear (.302) despite his 16 RBI in 15 games. This team can hit!

PREDICTIONS
T-51s 8, Swatters 6
T-51s 13, Swatters 7
T-51s 16, Swatters 5

CBO Full Schedule

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

7 May 2296 – Kowalski Has Episode, Out for Game 1

Abernathy Adamantium RF Donny Kowalski will be out for today’s game after he needed to be treated with chems for a psychological episode. Kowalski, who was orphaned as a child and had to raise himself on the docks of the Atlantic, has had a tough life and sometimes need what Adamantium owner Blake Abernathy called, “unwinding time.”

Kowalski was found naked outside Starlight Drive-In on the nearby train tracks shouting over and over, “Daddy, here there be monsters!” Team officials were not sure what he was referring to, but since Kowalski was orphaned, it could have been a deathclaw or radscorpion attack that did his parents in.

Kowalski was escorted to the clinic at Starlight Drive-In where he was administered Calmex. Abernathy indicated that Kowalski would rest from today’s 1:05 start time. Abernathy hopes the chems work so that Kowalski can play tomorrow.

On the season, Kowalski is batting .342 with five doubles, a triple, 11 runs, six RBI, two walks, four strikeouts, and a stolen base.

CBO Commissioner Nate Howard has talked about his own background and dealing with a psychological trauma from which many war veterans in the Old World suffered. He said that people that experience deeply traumatic events can sometimes wake up and see a world that is not there. That could be an explanation for the event.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

9 May 2296 – Bradberton Sets Sights on Concord

Following the Concord Radstags' 11-2 win over Lexington, in a joint news conference with CBO Commissioner Nate Howard, Nuka-Cola pioneer John-Caleb Bradberton announced that he had decided to lend his company sponsorship to the Concord Radstags with talks of further sponsorships in the CBO after further details had been worked out.

Erin Reische, who arrived in Concord on Wednesday, showed the painting that she had finished. It was revealed that the Radstags’ ballpark would immediately change its name from Nate Howard Honorary Park to Nuka Park. All references to the ballpark will now be known as Nuka Park.

According to Bradberton, “If I am commuting from Nuka-World and my home in Bradberton, the Institute League is the closest location when I arrive by Nukarail. Though Concord is not right off the rail, it is the closest ballpark that was available for sponsorship, thus the main reason why I decided to lend the Nuka-Cola name over the other wonderful communities I visited. Now win one more for us this weekend!”

Fans were all offered a free round of Nuka-Cola. A few were able to sample flavors not widely available in the Commonwealth, including Nuka Dark and Nuka Wild.

Howard also announced that there was other exciting news involving the CBO that they were testing in Concord and the rest of the Institute League.

“All I can tell you today before I look at the full results,” Howard stated, “is that Fort Hagen and Sunshine Tidings are tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 6th. How do I know that? Well, you will have to listen to my radio address on DC Radio during my league press conference on Monday. Like I said, we have some data to look at for when I head back to Diamond City Sunday morning.”

Speculation is that the CBO will introduce technology to give real-time updates for games, but there is no word. Also in attendance in Concord were some representatives from the Institute, Doctors Alan Binet, Madison Li, Clayton Holdren, and Allie Filmore. Rumors were that they had been in meetings with Bradberton about other technologies and a trading of information about the technology that kept Bradberton alive for nearly 219 years since the Great War. They are also expected to meet more with Howard about the technology and tour Vault 111 northwest of Concord where Howard was frozen for 210 years.

Below is the painting revealed by Reische for the entranceway to Nuka Park.

[StLee]

The Confidence Man Minute with Travis Miles

This is a transcript from Travis Miles’ post-game sign off of Game Three of the DCR Series of the Week.

All the talk this weekend moved away from the baseball game and right into the big news, namely that the Concord Radstags now have a big sponsor in the Commonwealth Baseball Organization, none other than Nuka-Cola.

We started the weekend playing at Nate Howard Honorary Park, in honor of our commissioner who got his start at Vault 111 just northwest of Sanctuary Hills. He then started on his quest of a lifetime that has led us here, now. We ended today's game playing at the same field, but with a different name: Nuka Park. The nuclear greens blinding the eyes of fans and players alike are now being washed out in whites and reds to identify the stadium by its namesake. And the Concord Radstags will be all the better for that.

The Radstags did indeed start making their move to excellence, beating up on the last-place Lexington Synths this weekend. As of the completion of the game tonight, the Stags now sit in a two-way tie for second place with the Starlight Lady Killers at 10-8. Abernathy leads both of those teams with a 12-6 record despite falling to the Lady Killers today, 7-6.

The Synths are 18 games into a 60-game season, but you could almost say they are out of the race. At 5-13 and failing to win Game 3 for only the second time this season, Lexington is three games behind fifth-place Fort Hagen and five games behind consideration for the Institute League wildcard slot. It is probably fair to say that the Synths are not going to make the playoffs this season unless big changes in results start to consistently happen. Today's blown loss with a two-run lead heading into the final inning will probably define their season. We at DC Radio will see the Synths again, with a scheduled Week 9 visit to Lexington against the Starlight Lady Killers. By that time, we will know for sure if the season is truly over.

Just one last comment. The nostalgia of the game has now worn off. Sure, there are still new events happening every day, but at this point in time, it looks like baseball is baseball. As I learn more about the game, I understand that baseball is not entirely predictable, but trends tend to hold true. For example, this weekend's star, the Stags' Dan Erb, is going to keep on starring if statistics work the way they do. Sure, he may have some slump weekends, but on average, he is going to be an outstanding player each week. And, yes, Erb was only 1 for 4 today with a single and a walk, but in games 1 and 2, he had five hits total with two doubles and two home runs. Therefore, if you think you have a star on your favorite team based on the first six weeks, you probably do.

That's all I have for now, folks. I am Travis Miles, and you have been listening to DC Radio's "The Confidence Man Minute." Join me Monday, May 11, when we will have Commissioner Howard addressing baseball fans with a new, exciting technology. We have been using that technology in the Institute League games this weekend as a pilot, and it has been great so far. Next weekend, our DC Radio coverage is heading to Finch Farm where we will watch Brotherhood League action between the Four Leafs and County Crossing Bloodbugs. Until then, this has been the DCR for the CBO. Have a great week!

[StLee]

The Gilded Grasshopper with Rex, George, and Anne

R: Ah, the scant pleasures of Diamond City with the city buzz and Takahashi’s noodles were replaced this week with the fresh smells of brahmin manure and nannybot fuel exhaust. Here we are in the curiosity of the wastes, the robot-run Graygarden where we watched the Swatters of Diamond City dismantle the T-51s into bolts and jagged metal. The final tabulation equaled to 15 runs for the Swatters and four runs for the team called Oberland who plays across the river in Graygarden. And this week’s show is “The Gilded Grasshopper” with the darlings of the wastes, the Charles River Trio. I am now and forever Rex Goodman.

This week, Anne, George, and I also went on a splendid tour of Beantown Brewery owned by the always entertaining Bobrov brothers where we sampled a little beer and the Commonwealth-famous Bobrov’s Best Moonshine now mass-produced at the brewery. An excellent weekend.

G: Don’t forget that we listened to Supervisor White reciting lines from what she called a television show, which is, I guess, like our radio shows.

A: Yes, George. There are televisions all over the Commonwealth, so of course, there were once television shows that you could watch. Isn’t the Hubris Comics shop also an old television studio? I heard rumors Kent Connolly was trying to get it up and running for his Unstoppables show.

G: Well, I don’t really know, but whatever you say, Anne.

R: Inevitably, we must ponder winners of this week’s baseball awards. Anne, what diamond of the quadrilateral do you have in mind?

A: Thank you, Rex. I’m going to rear up my Bottoms Up Award with a player from Game 1. Since Game 1 was our only close matchup, let’s go with the game-winning hit. That came with the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, and Oberland’s Jim Pickman hit a two-out double to score Bloatfly Williams from first base. That hit was the game-winning hit in a 4-3 final. So I give a big slap on the butt to Jim Pickman.

G: I am going to again call out the top pitcher this week. While I was tempted to choose Sheng Kawolski and how well he pitched against his hometown team, I am instead going to choose Diamond City’s Danny Owens, the winner of today’s game. He pitched a complete game, allowing only four runs. Great job, Danny boy.

R: I shall conclude this further glorious endeavor with naming our Outstanding Player. For this, I choose T-51s right fielder Bloatfly Williams. Today may have been a wash, but including today’s failures, he was 5 for 10 for the weekend with four runs scored, two runs batted in, and two walks. Congratulations to Mr. Williams and your very own bottle of Bobrov’s Best Moonshine with Silt Beans.

Speaking of Bobrov’s Best Moonshine, visit Beantown Brewery’s reception area this week and say that Rex Goodman or WRVR sent you, and you will get a 1 cap discount on a tour or any Beantown Brewery products. Again, say “Rex Goodman” or “WRVR” and you will receive a 1-cap discount. That is this week only, so get it while it’s wet.

For the Charles River Trio and “The Gilded Grasshopper,” we say farewell to you from Graygarden. Next week we shall travel far to Warwick Homestead where we will watch the Commonwealth Baseball Organization’s titan club, the Mirelurks, take on the University Point Deathclaws. In real life, I would give a deathclaw the advantage, but not in this meeting of brutes in the Commonwealth. Now that our show is finished, I am happy to finish our show with some “Easy Living” from the angelic voice of Billie Holliday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU-323rNfsc

[StLee]

Six weeks in and teams are starting to look either good or bad. It could always change, though. I mean, Warwick lost 2 of 3.

[StLee]

11 May 2296 - Players of the Week

BL - Bloodbugs Mastodon Snags BL Player of the Week: So far in his young career, Tom Mastodon has kept a low profile, but after his performance at the plate last week, he attracted the notice of the rest of the Brotherhood League in a big way as he was named the Player of the Week today for his efforts.

The 16-year-old County Crossing Bloodbugs left fielder hit at a torrid .692 clip as he collected 9 hits in 13 at-bats, no home runs, 3 RBIs and 6 runs scored.

Mastodon is presently hitting at a .476 pace with 2 home runs, 19 RBIs and has scored 22 times.



IL - Star of the Week Awarded in IL: 18-year-old Austin Engill made a few Abernathy headlines during this past week as the rookie shortstop proved he could compete at the plate with his high-school idols. He captured the attention of fans, journalists and Institute League officials last week and today took home Player of the Week honors for his effort.

He cracked 8 hits in 13 at-bats to put up a .615 average. Engill collected 2 home runs, 6 RBIs and scored 8 runs.

In his stats this season, Engill has posted a batting average of .375 with 27 hits in 72 at-bats, 6 home runs and 21 RBIs. He has also scored 28 runs, walked 17 times and compiled a .494 OBP.



ML - Bryan Benton Captures ML Award: In a what were they thinking award, Bryan Benton gets the week's award despite starting only one game. It's always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got. Benton, the Jamaica Plain Treasures 18-year-old left fielder, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for Minutemen League Player of the Week honors.

He ripped 3 hits in 5 at-bats, compiling a .600 average with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs.

So far this year Benton is batting .333 with 2 home runs, 6 RBIs and 4 runs scored.



RL - Player of the Week: Egret's Danse: At the age of 30, Paladin Danse might have some potential he hasn't realized yet -- if his success at the plate last week is any indication. The Egret left fielder put up some exceptional numbers the past seven days with a .533 batting average. For his efforts Danse collected the Railroad League Player of the Week Award.

He racked up 8 hits in 15 at-bats, 2 home runs and 4 RBIs last week in 3 games.

So far this year Danse has 5 home runs and a .451 batting average.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

11 May 2296 - E.S.A.U. Initiative Introduced to CBO, Commonwealth

Diamond City - CBO Commissioner Nate Howard held a live press conference on Diamond City Radio today detailing the new technology for the CBO and later the Commonwealth.

The technology, called the E.S.A.U. (pronounced ee-saw, according to Howard) Initiative, or Electronic Stadium Amplification Unit, will allow stadiums to send out real-time box scores and game logs so that everyone knows what is happening around the league at the same time. In other words, real-time scores and statistics so that broadcasters can relay those scores and stats to listeners. That way, fans can follow their favorite teams regardless of where they are in the Commonwealth, as long as they have console or Pip-Boy access or as long as they can tune in to Diamond City Radio or WRVR.

Three ESAUs were tested in the Institute League over the weekend where Diamond City Radio was able to provide real-time stats of players in relation to the rest of the league, including knowing what other scores were that day without having a runner pass on the information. Since all games in the IL were played at different times, it was not relevant for the weekend, but Week 7 will allow radio hosts and intraweb users to access real-time information, an exciting addition for relaying information and improving interest in the CBO.

Howard also expressed that his hope is to further tie in the technology outside the CBO so that people could communicate and learn of news throughout the Commonwealth. Though there is intraweb access on a limited basis, the ESAUs, currently being installed in 24 stadiums across the Commonwealth, will greatly help in connecting the Commonwealth as one.

One problem the ESAU Initiative has encountered is interference because of radstorms. Because the intraweb is radio-based, any static charges caused by radstorms will render the ESAU technology useless at the time. However, radstorms also interfere with life in general, so baseball games and radio broadcasts are stopped during active radstorms anyway. Thankfully for us, those radstorms are generally finished within one or two hours.

Howard also mentioned the efforts of others involved in the ESAU Initiative, including Publick Occurrences' very own (and my sister) Piper Wright. Wright has obtained the Commonwealth rights to BosCom, in association with her media company Pipercom, in hopes of one day bringing back television to the Commonwealth. Wouldn't it be exciting to not only hear the games, but to watch them on television when we cannot be there? I know I would love that. Future announcements on the BosCom venture will become available later since the technology still needs some work.

Also involved in the talks included: Hubris Comics' Kent Connolly, research and technology scientists of the Institute, and one crazy guy from the Railroad who goes by the name Tinker Tom who ranted for several minutes about the dangers of gremlins. We here at Publick Occurences are not aware of what gremlins are.

Twelve of the ESAUs will be in use this weekend for games starting Thursday, May 14. Although Diamond City will not host a game this weekend, Howard showed off the technology by communicating live information from Starlight Drive-In with Starlight Lady Killers' owner Irish Cait.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

Settlements Today

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

12 May 2296 - Abernathy Farm

Each Tuesday for the upcoming weeks through the playoffs, we will feature one of the settlements, teams, and owners of the Commonwealth Baseball Organization. This is meant to tell you more about life in the Commonwealth, as well as give you more information about the teams and their owners.

In our fifth installment of "Settlement Today," I took a tour of Abernathy Farm.


Abernathy Farm - 2287

According to the intraweb (real-life https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Abernathy_farm so as not to plagiarize),
"Abernathy farm is a homestead constructed around a large pre-War high voltage pylon; founded and inhabited by the Abernathy family consisting of Blake and Connie Abernathy, and their daughter," Lucy. Their other daughter, Mary, was killed by raiders and is buried on the property.

In 2287, "Abernathy farm cover[ed] a large (mostly uncultivated) area that grows tatos and some melons. . . . The farmhouse is a two-story makeshift structure built into the frame of the high voltage tower. The interior already has working lights, but no usable electricity."

By 2296, the farm house has been improved into what settlers call "The Compound." Shacks surrounding the north and south sides of the farm are referred to as "The Slums." While it sounds as though settlers are not in love with the Abernathys, that is not the case. Settlers have long put their love and devotion into the farm to improve the quantity and quality of the tatos and melons grown there, as well as small amounts of corn, carrots, mutfruits, gourds, and razor grains. The farm makes most of its money from selling and trading tatos.

Despite its foreboding name, "The Compound" was redesigned to include an on-sight, fully-functional medical clinic and a schoolhouse. Blake Abernathy also uses the Compound as his office and the meeting room for Adamantium business.


Abernathy Farm - 2296 - "The Compound" and "The Slums." Tato Field and tato fields stand behind this picture.

Owner - Blake Abernathy



According to the intranet (https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Blake_Abernathy, "Blake Abernathy works at Abernathy farm with his wife, Connie, and his daughter, Lucy. They own a cat called Maisie II. Blake tells Nate Howard about a second daughter, Mary, who died at the hands of raiders and is buried behind their house. Talking to him initiates the quest Returning the Favor, sending the player to USAF Satellite Station Olivia to retrieve Mary's locket."

After Nate Howard helped Blake and his family by retrieving Mary's locket and wiping out that vicious group of raiders, the Abernathys always treated Nate as part of the family. The Abernathys were one of the first groups to partner with the re-formed Minutemen, allowing the Abernathy Farm to grow faster than some of the other settlements, thus the huge success of Abernathy Farm.

Blake was also one of the first to volunteer to contribute caps towards the Commonwealth Baseball Organization and was a willing franchise owner when asked to purchase a team.

Tatos, tatos, tatos


Welcome to the farm!

On the east side of "The Compound," one can see row after row of tatos. White the west side of the farm contains melons and other fruits and vegetables, Abernathy's tato crops stand as the biggest in the Commonwealth.

The Brotherhood's Senior Scribe Neriah described tatos this way: "According to some old botany texts we found, this appears to be a combination of a now extinct plant called a 'potato' and another extinct plant called a 'tomato.' The outside looks like a tomato, but the inside is brown. Tastes as absolutely disgusting as it looks, but will keep you from starving."

While we feel Neriah's words are quite harsh, tatos can be delicious when cooked in dishes and made as part of a side dish. From my perspective, there are fewer better choices than vegetable soup, with ya guai roast and mash.


Abernathy Farm logo - 2296

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kowalski

12 May 2296 - E.S.A.U. Initiative Produces Interleague Trade

With the launch of the ESAU Initiative, CBO executives got on their consoles and pipboys and began talks.

With that mentioned, though there was not a rash of trades, which would have been exciting, there was one. In this case, the Brotherhood League and Institute League will each welcome a new player.

Finch Farm owner Abraham Finch confirmed that the Four Leafs have traded 25-year-old 1B Joe Provisioner to the Sunshine Tidings Chemists. In return, the Four Leafs will receive 27-year-old RHP Ernie Peacemaker.

Peacemaker, the 15th-round selection of Sunshine Tidings, as a reliever had only appeared in two games with the Chemists. In those two games, he pitched two innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

While Provisioner, the Four Leafs' 19th-round pick, has yet to play this season, it is expected that he will slide onto the active roster for Sunshine Tidings and replace Jalen Wharton as the starting first baseman. In 18 games, Wharton is 23 of 89 (.284) with six doubles and a home run. He has scored 17 runs, driven in five, walked seven times, and struck out 17 times. While it has yet to be determines if Provisioner can hit better than Wharton, he is expected to improve the defense.

[StLee]

Patient Zero

by Piper Wright

I apologize for the lack of quotes in this article, but the subject of the article was unavailable for an interview. I have been working on this story for some time, and would love to have firsthand accounts, but I will have to follow up later.

Egret Tours Marina - He does not remember his childhood because his birth is far less than traditional. In fact, as we learned through our own investigation and from what are now public records throughout the Commonwealth that he was originally known as M7-97.

Not only does he not remember his childhood, his entire childhood, and, in fact, every memory before he was created in an Institute lab are false, not his own. Fake. That is what you call a heavy pill. And the man who is not a man at all is now known as Paladin Danse.

Those fake memories told him that he was an orphaned child in the Capital Wasteland, otherwise known as the former Washington, D.C. That memory told him that he was adept in scavenging the super mutant-infested D.C. ruins around the Mall. Speculation is that those memories were implanted in him, and then as a synth he opened a junk stand in Rivet City, a floating market city based in a former aircraft carrier. There he met a man named Cutler. Danse and Cutler became scavenging partners until the Brotherhood of Steel came calling and they both joined. Later Knight Cutler was killed by a group of super mutants, sparking Danse’s hatred for the FEV-created beasts.

While in the Brotherhood of Steel, Danse advanced in ranks, advancing up to the third-highest level. It was not until Nate Howard was working on finding his son that he met Danse. In time, the Brotherhood discovered that Danse was in fact a synth, which led to Elder Maxson dishonorably discharging him. Eventually, Howard convinced Maxson to reinstate Danse, thanks in part to the Synths Rights Act of 2289.

Up until two years ago, Danse was a perpetual 28-year-old soldier. It makes me wonder how the Brotherhood of Steel did not discover that Danse was not a human, but I suppose people do not take a long, hard look at a soldier spending the majority of his time armored in a power armor suit and wearing a helmet. Danse was one of a group of soldiers sent into the Commonwealth from D.C. in 2287 on a scouting mission. In the Commonwealth, Danse and his fellow Brotherhood members discovered that the Commonwealth was just as dangerous as D.C., if not more so. In addition to the usual dangers, Gen-1 and Gen-2 synths attacked in droves. By the time Danse and Howard met, Danse’s unit was down to three. Things then changed for the fate of Danse and the entirety of the Commonwealth-bound Brotherhood. Following Danse’s eviction and then reinstatement, he also helped to change the Brotherhood’s attitudes towards synths.

In 2292, Howard and the man only known as the Mysterious Stranger helped to teach Brotherhood soldiers recreational baseball. It later turned into a usual pitting of the sentinels, which included paladins like Danse, versus the scribes and lancers. The sentinels won most of the games thanks in large part to Danse, who had a knack for hitting the ball.

In January 2294, the Institute, as retribution for their past crimes of creating clone synths made from the dead bodies of their kidnapping victims, created a drug to help those synths who wanted to live out a normal human life. The drug was known as the Human Aging Serum Management Assistance Technology Program, or HASMAT Program. Danse was the first to volunteer for the serum, making him Patient Zero. It worked. Now, Danse has aged two years since that time, making him a realistic 30 instead of a perpetual 28.

One rule Howard set for Synths joining the CBO was that they had to take the HASMAT treatments for equality among players. Otherwise, teams could draft nothing but synths and have their lineups set for years without ever having to replace them. Howard believes a 10-15 maximum of ability is best for the game, making way for new heroes and stars to come through. That is why Danse is allowed to play and was considered to be a potential top player.

In the CBO draft in January of this year, Danse was taken with the 19th pick overall by the Egret Scrappers. That pick has really paid off. In 18 games, Danse is batting .451, going 32 for 71 in 84 plate appearances. Of those 32 hits, 11 were doubles, one was a triple, and five were home runs. He has walked 12 times, struck out 14, scored 20 runs, and driven in 15. He leads the Railroad League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, doubles, OPS+, WPA, and WOBA, some pretty advanced stats accomplishments. His .524 OBP is tops in all of the CBO.

One would think being a trained elite soldier would give him advantages, but some of the other Brotherhood recreational players who tried out for the CBO could not get a second chance. That probably made Elder Maxson happy since the CBO is an added competitor for recruits with the Minutemen these days.

Still, Danse has accomplished much. He may not be human, but he has the heart of a warrior, and the compassion most wish they had. He is Patient Zero, and a welcome addition to the CBO.

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Pictures don't match, but I don't have any Facegen software, thus the in-game baseball pic looks different.