Today in the CBO
News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
23 November 2298 - T-51s Cut Pitcher After Money Scheme
The Oberland T-51s have announced that minor league pitcher Josh Bum was cut today after discovering a money scheme that stole hundreds of caps from fellow teammates and people around the Fiddler's Green Trailer Estates settlement. He has also been arrested and ordered to pay back all victims over time. The caps were not recovered.
Bum joined the T-51s organization in February of this year after a CBO-led player tryout. With the Fiddler's Green T-60s, he was 4-13 with a 7.73 ERA in 20 starts. He appeared in 21 total games, allowing 81 earned runs and 151 hits with 71 walks and 29 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.
Bum will need to serve a 50-day sentence, and then he will need to donate 75% of all income to Fiddler's Green mayor Marryat Gaiman, who will distribute the money to all those who signed a victims' agreement. If Bum cannot find work in the CBO, he will be assigned to a job at one of the quarries around the Commonwealth so that his caps earned can be tracked.
27 November 2298 - Shroud's Miller Wants More Responsibility
Fort Hagen Silver Shroud 2B Mark Miller was ecstatic his team made another step towards a championship, but he is still hungry for a title. Miller today announced that he would be spending his winter with a travel team looking to up his skills.
Miller always had the reputation for being a player with a high work ethic who puts in the long hours necessary to succeed. In 2298, he hit .356 (7th in the NCA), going 154 for 433 in 109 games with 27 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 58 runs, and 57 RBI. He also stole nine bases.
"There are players you worry about if they're going to 'get' it," Shroud manager Mark Andersen said, "and then there's Mark. He not only gets it, but he puts it to use. I don't know if we would be nearly as good without him."
Chosen in the 4th round (#95 overall) in the 2296 Inaugural Draft, the 19-year-old won't make OSA's Top 20 Position Players list, but he has had a stellar three-year run. He has a career batting average of .346 with a career WAR of 6.2.
"Mark's got a lot of friends around the organization," Andersen said. "Everytime he's up to bat now, everybody shouts out, 'It's Miller time!' I think that's pretty catchy."
27 November 2298 - Noob Arrested in Easy Town
Participating in a Zeta Invaders tournament in an arcade near Easy City Downs, Sunshine Tidings Chemists' Josh Noob was not happy with his loss. The Chemists 2B apparently snapped, screaming, "I'm a winner! I'm tired of losing! Why all the losing?" before destroying several terminals in the Alley Arcade.
Noob was promptly arrested and ordered to purchase replacement terminals for the business. Because the rest of the tournament was canceled due to lack of available terminals, Noob also owes every player's entry fee as compensation to the arcade. He is booked in East Boston Police Station.
Said Alley Arcade owner Colt Crackerjack, "He wasn't that good. I don't know why he would get upset. I could understand being in the final and a mistake costs you the championship, but this guy lost in the first wave of the first round. I mean, it was like he never played Zeta Invaders before.
"I know one thing for sure. He's lucky he did that at my place and not at the Downs because he might be wearing a lead necklace right now instead of handcuffs."
Noob had a down year in 2298, losing his starting position with the Chemists. He had started in 108 of 112 games going into 2298, but started only 11 of 61 total appearances. On the season, he batted a career low .220 with five doubles, two home runs, 13 runs, and 13 RBI. Rookie 2B Justin Zent took over the second base duties due to better defensive skills, starting 97 games and batting .219.
Noob was not available for comment.