Fallout 4's Commonwealth Baseball Organization

[OrangeP47]

Originally Posted by StLee

I am trying to keep things organized, but it is tough, especially since a lot of my time has been taken up so I am mostly just trying to pump out daily results as much as possible.

There are quite a few (offseason) storylines I have sketched out, but I did not put as much time into as I thought I would. I may spend part of my summer writing stories. I am considering doing something different again rather than daily results. It may switch to a weekly format by the 2300 season.

Understandable, whatever works. Every story will be different, by its structure, and by its goals.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

27 August 2299

Hancocks Shut Out Gunners to Clinch ML

It wasn't easy but John Oldsink made it look that way.

Oldsink silenced the Quincy Gunners, 9-0, in a Goodneighbor Hancocks triumph at Third Rail Stadium at S. Boston HS today. Despite the appearance of dominance, Oldsink said later that he felt like he was struggling all game. He gave up 1 walk and 4 hits.

"It didn't feel quite right today, but I made the decision to bear down and work through it," he said. "I made a few mistakes but it goes to show what you can do with grit and not much else."

In pitching stats this season Oldsink has rung up 14 wins and 8 losses in 26 games. He has an ERA of 3.49 and has fanned 157 batters in 196 innings.

With the win, the Hancocks now repeat as the Minutemen League champions in their pursuit to repeat their 2298 success as CBO champions.

Pickpocket Excels, But Knuckle Punchers Win

Vault 81 got a terrific game from left fielder Skyler Pickpocket. It wasn't enough, though, to prevent the team from falling to Roxbury, 10-9. Pickpocket was 4 for 4 with a home run, a double, 2 singles, and a walk. He drove in 5 runs and scored once. Beachboy Nut picked up the win, improving his season record to 12-12. He struck out 7 in 7.2 innings. The Knuckle Punchers raised their record to 37-66.

Buck Wheat swatted a solo home run for Roxbury in the bottom of the eighth. The third baseman went 3 for 5 for the game, including 2 home runs and 1 double. He scored 3 runs and batted in 3.

"In baseball, you have your ups and downs," said Vault 81 manager Jason Personhood. "You just try to stay level-headed the whole time."

Castillo Pops Two Homers in 7-1 Win for Oberland

The timely hitting of Prof Castillo helped the Oberland T-51s down the Egret Ninjas, 7-1. Castillo slugged 2 home runs. He scored 4 runs and drove in 2 for the T-51s. The winning pitcher was Matt Udder. His record is now 12-9. The right-hander went 9 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits for the T-51s. The T-51s now own a record of 51-52.

Who knows how it might've ended, had it not been for Brian Drinkwater? The Oberland first baseman had a 2-run single in the top of the sixth inning to put the T-51s on top, 4-1. For the game, Drinkwater had 1 double and 1 single in 3 at-bats.

Castillo told a Oberland Daily News reporter that he was "gratified" with the win.

Party Boys Suffer 4-1 Setback

The Easy Town Assaultrons got a strong performance from pitcher Angel Waterdrink, who stymied the Nordhagen Beach offense en route to a win, 4-1, at Easy Town Field. Waterdrink picked up the win for Easy Town, going 8 innings. He gave up 1 run on 7 hits. He now sports a record of 8-16. The win has Easy Town at 40-63.

Jarrett Metalbox had a big run-scoring double for the Assaultrons in the bottom of the fifth inning. With Easy Town leading 2-1 and runners on 1st and 3rd, he got a cutter from Julian Shed and swatted a double to left-center. It was his 31st double of the season, and more importantly, it put the Assaultrons ahead, 3-1.

"This level of focus will win us a lot of ballgames," Waterdrink said after the game.

Adamantium Win at Fort Hagen, 8-3

Hubris Comics Park was the site for North Charles Association action featuring the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud and Abernathy Adamantium.

Donny Kowalski was a major factor in the 8-3 Abernathy win over Fort Hagen. The Adamantium right fielder was 3-5 with a home run and a double. He scored 2 times and drove in 2. The winner was Gary Estate, who threw 100 pitches over 7 innings. The right-hander was charged with 2 runs on 5 hits.

Abernathy used the timely hitting of Bernie Gonzalez to seize the win. The pinch hitter stroked a 2-run single in the top of the eighth inning to put the Adamantium on top, 5-2. It was his only hit in 1 at-bat, but it was a game-changer.

Kowalski called the win "a lesson in teamwork."

With the win, Abernathy upped its record to 57-46.

Swatters Fall to Yao Guai, 4-2

Starting pitcher Papa Bush was a major factor in the 4-2 FHE Yao Guai triumph over the Diamond City Swatters. Jonathan Drumlin was credited with the save. He has now successfully converted 3 of 8 save opportunities. The Yao Guai saw their record improve to 45-58.

Had Hose Wallcrawler not delivered a key base hit in the bottom of the seventh, the outcome might have been different. Instead, with two down and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Wallcrawler hit a 2-run double. That made the score 4-2, in favor of the Yao Guai.

"I liked his command," said FHE manager David Meatcook. "Papa was throwing strikes."

[StLee]

Originally Posted by OrangeP47

Understandable, whatever works. Every story will be different, by its structure, and by its goals.

And I keep changing my mind about how to best conduct this dynasty!

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

28 August 2299

Tiller Sticks it to NCA Pitchers

One of the league's most exciting young players, Jim Tiller of the Fort Hagen Silver Shroud earned himself North Charles Association Player of the Week honors with a standout performance in last week's games.

For the week the 21-year-old first baseman had a lofty .591 average (13-for-22), collecting 1 home run, 5 RBIs and 4 runs scored.

This year Tiller is batting .375 with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs.

Star of the Week Honored in SCA

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. Tomas Jones, the University Point Deathclaws 22-year-old right fielder, put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear-cut choice for South Charles Association Player of the Week honors.

He ripped 11 hits in 22 at-bats, compiling a .500 average with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs.

For the year Jones is hitting .314 with 15 home runs. His stats include 53 RBI and 48 runs scored.

BNN Stats: Batting Leaders at Second Base

Check out who leads the Commonwealth Baseball Organization in stolen bases while playing Second Base!

Bubb Islander, LEX, 36
C.T. Woodard, SLOG, 36
Brian Masterson, NB, 34
Justin Zent, ST, 20
Jim Waples, ABE, 16

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

28 August 2299

Commonwealth Association's Best Batter Announced

It can be difficult for a young player to step out of the shadows and assert himself in the Commonwealth Association, but last week Travis Elwood of the College Square Nerd Ragers reminded everyone just why he's here as he threw up numbers that made him an easy selection for Player of the Week. Elwood rocked opposing pitching for a .500 average (8-for-16), no home runs and 1 RBIs to come away with the award.

For the year Elwood is batting .226 with 7 home runs.

MA Player of the Week Named

20-year-old Jayden Neo made a few Eastlake 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 Massachusetts Association officials last week and today took home Player of the Week honors for his effort.

He cracked 9 hits in 16 at-bats to put up a .563 average. Neo collected no home runs, 3 RBIs and scored 4 runs.

This year Neo is hitting .323 with 94 hits, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs and has scored 37 runs.

Weekly Team Power Rankings

Here are the current team power rankings for Boston Minor Union:

Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Mystic Pines Raybathers (128.2, o)
2) Eastlake Aquaboys (125.4, ++)
3) C.I.T. Ruins Refractors (112.8, -)
4) Breakheart Banks Behemoths (112.6, +)
5) Trinity Plaza Snipers (111.6, ++)
6) Haymarket Mall Commandos (110.6, --)
7) Fiddler's Green T-60s (108.6, --)
8) College Square Nerd Ragers (106.1, ++)
9) Greentop Nursery Night People (104.1, ++)
10) Outpost Zimonja Strongbacks (99.5, o)
11) Cabot House Rayguns (94.5, --)
12) Somerville Place Sentry Bots (92.7, --)
13) Natick Banks Big Leaguers (89.7, +)
14) Bunker Hill Gun Fu (89.1, -)
15) Taffington Boathouse Spy Hunters (82.1, +)
16) Corvega Flamers (81.7, -)
17) Forest Grove Mole Rats (80.5, -)
18) Charles View Cannibals (79.3, o)
19) Galleria Robotics Experts (69.0, +)
20) Boston Common Lead Bellies (65.2, -)
21) Postal Square Action Boys (65.2, +)
22) Malden Grognaks (60.8, -)
23) Vault 95 Robobrains (55.8, o)
24) Union Hope Lifegivers (33.9, o)

[StLee]

Analysis

Little changed in the Top 5 this week, with Goodneighbor and Diamond City swapping spots. Quincy, Fort Hagen, and Nordhagen Beach all remained in place. The Silver Shroud and Party Boys face off this week to see which team will take control of the home-field advantage race as the North Charles Association's #1 seed.

With just five more games in the regular season, the analysis is on the Pennant Chase of three leagues: the Brotherhood between Salem (#8) The Slog (#9); the Institute League between Starlight (#6) and Abernathy (#7); and the Railroad League between Vault 81 (#10) and Oberland (#11).

Weekly Team Power Rankings

Here are the current team power rankings for Commonwealth Baseball Organization:

Teams (Total Points, Tendency):
1) Goodneighbor Hancocks (131.3, +1)
2) Diamond City Swatters (121.3, -1)
3) Quincy Gunners (114.8, o)
4) Fort Hagen Silver Shroud (111.3, o)
5) Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (111.3, o)
6) Starlight Lady Killers (108.4, +3)
7) Abernathy Adamantium (103.6, -1)
8) Salem Witch Hats (99.1, +2)
9) The Slog Ghouls (97.1, -1)
10) Vault 81 Dwellers (93.1, -3)
11) Oberland T-51s (91.1, +2)
12) Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (88.4, +3)
13) University Point Deathclaws (88.1, +1)
14) Lexington Synths (86.6, -3)
15) Egret Ninjas (81.6, o)
16) FHE Yao Guai (77.6, +1)
17) Sunshine Tidings Chemists (76.4, -5)
18) Easy Town Assaultrons (73.9, +2)
19) Concord Radstags (73.4, +2)
20) Finch Farm Four Leafs (70.4, -2)
21) County Crossing Bloodbugs (67.4, +1)
22) Atom Cats (65.7, -3)
23) Warwick Mirelurks (65.2, +1)
24) Roxbury Knuckle Punchers (61.7, -1)

Playoff Chase

Because of graphical limitations, and that the Pennant Chase excluded Oberland (not an understanding of the playoff race???), we will feature the league race that looks closest to being finished, the Railroad League.

Vault 81 leads Oberland by four games with five to play, meaning that the Dwellers hold a 99.8% chance of clinching the RL's wildcard spot and the 4th seed in the South Charles Association playoffs.

Vault 81 remaining schedule:
8/29-8/30: at Warwick (#23)
9/1-9/3: vs FHE (#16)

Oberland remaining schedule:
8/29-8/30: vs Atom (#22)
9/1-9/3: vs Egret (#15)

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

29 August 2299

Assman on Fire: Burns Egret with 3 HR

Bryan Assman went yard three times in a Goodneighbor Hancocks victory over the Egret Ninjas at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina today.

"I was in a groove," he said. "Every pitch they tossed up there looked like a grapefruit."

For the day, the Goodneighbor first baseman went 3-for-5 against Egret with 9 RBIs and 3 runs scored in a brilliant display of power hitting that led the Hancocks to the 12-5 win.

"I tell you what. I'm shocked because I didn't think that last ball had enough to get out," he told BNN reporters in the clubhouse following the game. "I thought it was just going to be a long out."

Bryan Assman hit a two-run home run off Ronnie Gipper in the 1st, hit a three-run home run off Ronnie Gipper in the 2nd, grounded out in the 4th, flied out in the 6th and hit a GRAND SLAM off Ryan Mills in the 8th.

Currently Assman has 37 home runs and a .369 batting average. He now leads the CBO in home runs after surpassing the Ninjas' Paladin Danse.

Kurt Kilgore of Egret had one such moment at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina today, when he went 5 for 5 at the plate. His hitting heroics weren't enough to pull out the victory, however.

"This was quite a day for me individually, but a little disheartening at the same time," the 21-year-old center fielder told reporters in the postgame interview. "It would have been very special if we had won the game."

Kilgore doubled in the 1st, singled in the 3rd, doubled in the 6th, singled in the 7th and singled in the 9th.

On the year Kilgore has hit .333 with 4 home runs, 42 RBIs and scored 79 runs.

Woodard Helps Ghouls Win, 7-4, with Pair of Homers

C.T. Woodard was a major factor in the 7-4 The Slog win over Sunshine Tidings. The Ghouls second baseman belted 2 home runs. He drove in 4 runs and scored twice. Dan Dozier earned the win to go to 11-8. He allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in 7 innings of work. Matt Suds notched his 9th save in 11 chances.

Woodard had a timely hit for The Slog in the bottom of the seventh. With Sunshine Tidings trailing 4-3, he turned a first pitch fastball into a 3-run home run. It was his 13th home run of the season, making it 6-4, The Slog.

"We'll enjoy this win," said Woodard. "But there's more we hope to accomplish."

With the win, The Slog upped its record to 56-48.

Dominant Performance by Kawolski in Oberland Win

Oberland got a strong outing from Sheng Kawolski as the T-51s defeated the Atom Cats, 2-1, at Graygarden Park. The win gives Oberland a season record of 52-52.

Kawolski scattered 3 hits over 7.2 innings for the T-51s. With the win, Kawolski moves to 15-7 on the year with 223 strikeouts.

"Sheng just went about his business, throwing strikes," said Oberland manager Dirk Steadyhand.

Lady Killers Mow Down Witch Hats, 11-3

Starlight starter Jonathan Newman pitched well against the Salem Witch Hats at Valentine Detective Agency Field. The right-hander led his team to a win, 11-3. Newman, the winner, moves to 10-5. He threw 6 innings of 4-hit ball, while fanning 8 and giving up 2 walks. Starlight is now riding a 4-game win streak.

Hope Scrapper had a key at-bat with one out in the bottom of the fourth for Starlight. With the bases loaded and the Lady Killers leading 1-0, he drew a walk, driving in 1 run.

"You can't get too high when things go well, or too low when things go bad. Right now, I'm just happy we got the win," Newman told the Starlight News.

Hooker, Silver Shroud Finish Off Party Boys, 6-1

Fort Hagen beat Nordhagen Beach on the strength of starter Brent Hooker's fine effort. The left-hander led his team to a win, 6-1. Fort Hagen, at 67-37, is 8 games up in the North Charles Association Institute League.

Hooker delivered a quality start for Fort Hagen. The 6' 5" left-hander allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits over 9 innings of work.

"I thought we played a nice game," Hooker told the Fort Hagen Gazette. "Good pitching, timely hitting, it was all there."

Vault 81 Gets 9-8 Road Win, Magic # to 1

The Vault 81 Dwellers relied on the hitting of shortstop Knud Bather to stop the Warwick Mirelurks, 9-8. For the game, Bather went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk, while adding 4 RBI and scoring once. Vault 81 reliever Tennessee Tailor picked up the win, raising his record to 1-0. Professor Gainey was tagged with the loss. The win puts Vault 81 at 56-48 this season.

Bather had a game-changing double in the top of the sixth. On a first pitch slider from Professor Gainey, he banged a bases-clearing double to right, giving the Dwellers a 9-6 lead. It was the 20th double of the year for Bather.

In postgame comments to the Vault 81 Daily News, Bather said, "If the effort is there, the wins will come."

Swatters Beat Red Rockets, 8-4

Fans were not deterred by the threat of rain. They came to see their hometown Diamond City Swatters take on the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets.

Led by Allen Bishop, the Diamond City Swatters defeated the Jamaica Plain Red Rockets, 8-4. Bishop went 3-4 with a home run, a triple, and a walk. He scored 2 times and drove in 2 for the Swatters. Diamond City raised its record to 71-33 with the win.

Bishop had a big at-bat with the bases empty in the bottom of the fifth inning, when he hit a triple. The Swatters went on to win.

"Our goal is to improve each and every day," Bishop told the Diamond City News.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

30 August 2299

PERFECT GAME!: Beach Perfect Against Fort Hagen

Of the many memorable accomplishments in the career of Nordhagen Beach Party Boys pitcher Tommy Beach, none will likely compare to the outing he had against Fort Hagen today at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium. Beach was perfect, retiring every batter he faced to give his team the 5-0 victory over the Silver Shroud.

"That shows you the kind of competitor he is," Nordhagen Beach manager Craig Robinson said. "I thought he dominated the whole game. He hit his spots well and was really focused out there."

He finished the game with 6 strikeouts, walked no one, gave up no hits and his teammates made no errors. He retired all 27 batters he faced.

"I had command of my pitches from the get-go," said Beach. "Usually it takes a few innings for me to get loose and get my mechanics right. It happened quicker today. I was comfortable from the first pitch. As the innings went on, it got easier. I was really smooth, fluid and relaxed. And the team definitely had my back."

In 27 starts this season, Beach has recorded 12 wins and absorbed 10 losses. He has pitched 173 innings, allowed 170 hits, struck out 176 and has a 3.54 ERA.

Bussey Slugs Cats to 5-2 Win, Eliminates T-51s

Earthbound Bussey knocked in 4 runs to help Atom beat Oberland, 5-2. Bussey produced 1 single and 2 home runs. Sam Teflon, the winner, improved to 6-12. He held the T-51s to 2 runs on 5 hits over 5 innings, while striking out 4 and walking 5. Jason Niederer notched his 1st save in 2 chances.

Bussey contributed a big hit, a 2-run home run, for Atom in the top of the third. With his team trailing 1-0, Bussey took a splitter from Gerald Jerry and stroked the home run to right. His 4th home run of the season allowed the Cats to leap in front, 2-1.

Bussey called the win "a collective effort."

The Cats go to 38-67 with the win, while the T-51s know now that they will be sitting during the playoffs for the first time in team history.

Samuels Excels, But Radstags Win

2299 is shaping up to be a forgettable year for the Easy Town Assaultrons.

The Easy Town Assaultrons got a sterling performance from center fielder Sean Samuels, but the Concord Radstags still prevailed, 11-7. Samuels went 3 for 5 with 2 home runs. He drove in 5 runs and scored twice. The Radstags, now 44-61, have won 4 in a row.

In the bottom of the third, Lucky Oldsun hit a 2-run double. The 22nd double of the season for the Concord third baseman put the Radstags on top, 4-2.

"It was a nice win for our side today," said Radstags manager Mark Gourdroot. "Not perfect, but we'll take it."

Witch Hats Drop 12-5 Decision

The 12-5 Starlight win over Salem was due largely to Hope Scrapper. The Lady Killers catcher was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored 3 runs and drove in 2. Picking up the win was City Moore. He went 6.1 innings, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits. The right--hander struck out 5 and walked 0. The winning streak has now reached 5 games for the Lady Killers.

With Starlight leading 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Scrapper hit a changeup from Roberto Gonzales for a 2-run double. It was his 30th double of the season and put the Lady Killers ahead, 4-0.

"We'll put this win in our pocket and go after the next one," said Scrapper.

Ninjas Use Late-Game Magic to Beat Hancocks, 5-4

The Egret Ninjas picked up a win at Fallon Field at Egret Tours Marina, knocking off the Goodneighbor Hancocks, 5-4. Starting pitcher Phlip Wallace was a big reason why. At 50-55, the Ninjas are currently 4th in the South Charles Association Railroad League.

Kyle Boohoo was the walk-off hero for Egret. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Ninjas first baseman hit a dramatic run-scoring single to send the teams home.

"Winning is the only thing that really matters," Boohoo told the Egret News. "If you can win without even breaking a sweat, more power to you."

Red Rockets Upend Swatters, 5-4

The Jamaica Plain Red Rockets topped the Diamond City Swatters, 5-4, in South Charles Association action at The Great Green Jewel. The game was highlighted by the performance of Jamaica Plain pitcher Chris Teddybear. Teddybear picked up the win for Jamaica Plain, going 8 innings. He gave up 4 runs on 7 hits. He now sports a record of 15-4. Jamaica Plain currently is in 4th place in the South Charles Association Minutemen League at 51-54.

It could have been a different outcome for Jamaica Plain, had it not been for Damani Beebe, the 20-year old right fielder . Beebe contributed a 2-run single in the top of the sixth inning to put Jamaica Plain up, 4-1.

"We'll pop the top on a cold beverage and get back to work tomorrow," Beebe said.

[ayaghmour2]

Originally Posted by StLee

I am trying to keep things organized, but it is tough, especially since a lot of my time has been taken up so I am mostly just trying to pump out daily results as much as possible.

There are quite a few (offseason) storylines I have sketched out, but I did not put as much time into as I thought I would. I may spend part of my summer writing stories. I am considering doing something different again rather than daily results. It may switch to a weekly format by the 2300 season.

Whatever works best for you will work for us. Just know you're not going to lose these eyes, always enjoy what you put out.

[Tyke]

It looks like the wheels were starting to come off for the Party Boys, so let's hope that Beach's Perfect Game will help glue them back on!

[StLee]

Originally Posted by ayaghmour2

Whatever works best for you will work for us. Just know you're not going to lose these eyes, always enjoy what you put out.

Thanks for the compliment. I think the ebbs and flows of my own busy times at work/life have affected how I approach this dynasty. I don't want to run into a time when I have no time to do anything at all, but there are times when I have a bottleneck of not having enough time to write out portions (like weekly analysis) where I cannot progress based on trying to keep each season as uniform as possible. Season 1 was definitely time-consuming with typing out the weekly "Confidence Man" and the Charles River Trio portions. I knew early on that I could not maintain those, so those characters are now definitely in the background. They were fun, though, especially the Charles River Trio since they seemed to be baseball ignorant but trying to apply their radio drama mentalities to the sport. Maybe they will get a feature or two during the playoffs.

I believe I will slow this offseason down quite a bit to get out a few more of my "quests" for this dynasty. There are stories I introduced but never followed up on, so there needs to be some closure to those. Currently, my goals are to finish the 2299 playoffs hopefully by the end of April. The rest of this month is busy for me, but I believe I can sneak in at least a day's worth of playoffs each actual day as part of my daily routine.

After April, my schedule clears up some in early May and a lot in mid-May through early August, so I can devote time to build on some of the non-baseball storylines I have begun.

Brainstorming here:
1. "A Hubflower for Magnolia" - about 13-15 more chapters to complete that storyline--I sketched them out with what will happen but have yet to fully write out all chapters.
2. Nate's trip: *Title redacted*
3. A visit to Far Harbor for Nat Wright-Kawolski, including an interview with Keith McKinney about his old movie, "Swing for the Fence."
4. The Outpost Zimonja attacks: "The Hive"
5. The Grandchester Mystery Mansion story series: "I Love Lucy"
6. The Easy Town Murders, featuring Nick Valentine in 2299-2300: "Life Ain't So Easy"
7. The introduction of a few old friends: *Title redacted*
8. More Mysterious Stranger connections: various, overlapping

Holy hell! I have a lot of unfinished business!

[StLee]

Originally Posted by Tyke

It looks like the wheels were starting to come off for the Party Boys, so let's hope that Beach's Perfect Game will help glue them back on!

And you must also hope that the perfect game is not the Boys' peak! I feel like this season is almost definitely going to be Fort Hagen-Nordhagen Beach and Goodneighbor-Diamond City in the association finals. Those four teams have appeared to be above and beyond every other team in the CBO this season. Assuming The Slog and Starlight (the current leaders for the NCA wildcard spots) make it, I just don't see them winning their series. Not to say they cannot, but I feel that they just do not have the firepower.

[OrangeP47]

Granted, I'm probably too lazy in my approach, but when doing my own dynasty I tend to take the view "as long as I'm not grinding completely to a halt" At least that's how I justify a slow pace

But seriously, if you think of this like "writing", which it is in broad strokes, I always find you can't "force" writers block and you just have to do it as it comes. Something like this has a lot more than just writing, which just makes it all the more complicated. You have to track stats, you have to make sure the game is handling your custom league setup correctly and not producing any errors (not fielding errors, those are fine ). If you buckle down on it all too hard it becomes another job and you don't have as much with the fun parts, so take all the time you need

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

31 August 2299

Abernathy Minor-Leaguer Botti's Season Done

With just five games left on the season, the Bunker Hill Gun Fu have shut down 19-year-old reliever Reed Botti. Botti was seen drinking whisky during the Gun Fu's 3-2 win over Malden yesterday. Today, the team suspended him for the remainder of the season.

Bunker Hill manager Brent Bellemare released the following statement: "Reed is a talented young man, but he has a few demons. I consulted with GM Kyle Wrenchsaw, and he agreed that we should suspend Botti for the remainder of the season. We are also encouraging him to go to Vault 95 to receive treatment for his substance abuse problem."

Botti was first signed as a 16-year-old by the Warwick Mirelurks organization as an undrafted free agent. He was not drafted in the 2296 CBO Inaugural Draft and was passed over in the initial undrafted free agents signings due to character concerns and maturity issues. He was released and signed by teams a total of nine times before being taken in by the Abernathy organization.

He started as a starting pitcher with the Gun Fu, but later was converted to a full-time reliever. He pitched in three games with Abernathy in 2298, going 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA, but has spent most of his time in Bunker Hill. This season, he is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 26 appearances. According to Bellemare, he will be with Abernathy full time once he can get his personal life in order.

"We want him to get better," Bellemare said. "At the same time, we can't tolerate him getting drunk in the bullpen. That has to stop here."

Series Preview: Starlight at Abernathy

Starlight needs a win, Abernathy needs three. When the two teams face off this weekend at Tato Park, the intensity will be there. Currently, the Lady Killers lead the season series 5-4.

The Lady Killers are known as the team that had the largest collapse when they were one of the best in 2297 in the first half of the season but then had a miserable second half of the season to drop below .500 and finish in 4th place in the Institute League. In 2296, they made their one and only playoff appearance as the wildcard team from the IL. They were promptly beat by Brotherhood League champions, the Finch Farm Four Leafs.

Abernathy has been more successful overall, including winning the Institute League in 2296 and again in 2298. In 2296, the Adamantium moved on to the semifinals of the CBO playoffs, where they dropped their series to the eventual champions, The Slog Ghouls. Last season, the Adamantium lost in the first round to the Easy Town Assaultrons, marking the second time they exited with home-field advantage against the BL wild card team.

Looking at the matchups, the Adamantium will need to stop Starlight's potent offense. Second in the NCA in runs scored (555), their 5.29 runs per game are difficult to overcome. The Adamantium are 4th in runs allowed (429), so they need to make sure they are even better than their usual 4.09 per game average.

Starlight is 6th in runs allowed (476), matching up with just the sixth-best scoring team in Abernathy (505). That seems to give Starlight the considerable advantage in the series that they can sneak in a couple more runs in any given game.

Our thoughts? We think that the Lady Killers win at least one of the three, if not two, and go on to represent the Institute League as the #3 seed in the playoffs.

[OrangeP47]

Can't remember if I've said it before, but Abernathy is another one I like. It's one of the first places you come across in game, and it's pretty gritty, but the people there are nice, which is refreshing.

[StLee]

Originally Posted by OrangeP47

Granted, I'm probably too lazy in my approach, but when doing my own dynasty I tend to take the view "as long as I'm not grinding completely to a halt" At least that's how I justify a slow pace

But seriously, if you think of this like "writing", which it is in broad strokes, I always find you can't "force" writers block and you just have to do it as it comes. Something like this has a lot more than just writing, which just makes it all the more complicated. You have to track stats, you have to make sure the game is handling your custom league setup correctly and not producing any errors (not fielding errors, those are fine ). If you buckle down on it all too hard it becomes another job and you don't have as much with the fun parts, so take all the time you need

My biggest problem is more time than will. I would like to be a machine and write away a lot more than I want to do my work!

Originally Posted by OrangeP47

Can't remember if I've said it before, but Abernathy is another one I like. It's one of the first places you come across in game, and it's pretty gritty, but the people there are nice, which is refreshing.

I remember. You named quite a few places, and that was my hope by choosing the locations I did. Mostly I wanted to capture the nostalgia of the places and give them a little more life than the game did. For example, Fort Hagen, Lexington, Concord town, Salem, University Point, and Fairline Hill Estates could have been cool settlement locations. They are definitely important in this world. My problem is I want all 24 teams to win, so I definitely want parity and keep hinting at it through Nate Howard stories.

I also know you are rooting hard against all arthropods, I believe: Bloodbugs, Bloodworms, and Cave Crickets mostly?

[StLee]

Ooh, something I just realized is that I hit the one-year anniversary just a few days ago of starting this dynasty. With 89 pages, I would say I have accomplished quite a bit of writing!

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

1 September 2299

BMU: Commonwealth Association Cambridge League Champions Crowned

The excitement in the room was obvious as the Mystic Pines Raybathers players and coaches alike celebrated their Commonwealth Association Cambridge League championship.

"A lot of our guys have never been in this spot before," said reliever Enrique Rodriguez. "Our team has never won a Boston Minor Series, but that's something we want to change this year."

With a record of 50-22, the club has wrapped up the division for the 1st time.

It will be a "sweet moment for our settlement and our fans" if the team can bring home a championship, said Irish Cait, team owner of the Mystic Pines Raybathers.

The other three leagues will be settled in the final week of the season with Breakheart Banks of the Dark Hollow Pond League having a Magic Number of 1 and have clinched at least a tie for the league title during the regular season. Should they lose four at Taffington Boathouse and the Greentop Nursery Night People sweep the Galleria Robotics Experts, then there would be a play-in game for the right to meet the Raybathers in the Commonwealth Association finals.

Nuka Crowned Batter of the Month in August

In August, Fort Hagen Silver Shroud left fielder Andrew Nuka claimed the North Charles Association Batter of the Month award.

The 27-year-old swung with confidence, hitting .435 with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs and 23 runs scored.

This season Nuka has hit at a .331 clip with 96 RBIs, 25 home runs, and 82 runs scored.

SCA's #1 Batter Announced

When Bryan Assman stepped up to the plate in August he did it with confidence, and today he was honored with the South Charles Association Batter of the Month award.

The young Goodneighbor first baseman posted a .358 batting average with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs and scored 17 runs. Assman also worked pitchers for 13 walks to post a .449 on-base percentage.

Assman currently has a .368 batting average with 145 hits, 38 homers, 124 RBIs, 102 runs scored and a .469 OBP.

Waterdrink Nabs NCA #1 Pitcher Award

The North Charles Association named the winner of the Pitcher of the Month Award. It went to Angel Waterdrink of Easy Town Assaultrons, who impressed the voters with a glittering 5-0 record in August.

The Easy Town star hurler made 5 starts, allowed 37 hits in 38.1 innings, struck out 26 and had a 1.88 ERA.

Thus far this season Waterdrink has posted a 8-16 record, started 27 games, struck out 109 batters in 179.1 innings and compiled a 4.97 ERA.

August's Top Starter is Teddybear

In August, Chris Teddybear tore through the South Charles Association like a seasoned veteran -- quite impressive for a player only 23 years old.

The young Jamaica Plain starter posted a 5-1 mark and an ERA of 2.85 to earn the Pitcher of the Month award. In 47.1 innings he collected 53 strikeouts while limiting the opposition to a .196 average.

This year Teddybear has compiled a 15-4 mark with a 3.34 ERA.

Sensational Month for NCA Rookie

For an old man, in baseball terms, 32-year-old Matt Suds has been mighty fortunate to get to the big leagues and have the opportunity to show what he can do. In August the battle-weary newcomer finally made a splash as he won the North Charles Association Rookie of the Month Award today.

He posted a 1-1 record with 8 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.09 in 11 innings.

Baseball writers for whom he was an afterthought earlier are now scrambling to put out stories about The Slog's Ye Olde Rookie.

For the year Suds has earned 9 saves, made 30 relief appearances, fanned 30 hitters in 34 innings and posted an ERA of 3.44 and a 3-4 record.

South Charles Association Names Rookie of Month

Youngster Oren Gep emerged as the latest South Charles Association Rookie of the Month today. The young man from Diamond City deserved the honor, batting .416 with 5 home runs and 22 RBI. Is the month of August a harbinger of things to come or just a fluke? We'll find out someday, but for now, we'll just let Gep enjoy the limelight.

In the current season, Gep has put up a .291 batting average with 119 hits, 23 home runs, 96 runs batted in and scored 58 runs.

BMU: Burp Garners CA Batter of the Month Award

The vote is in and John Burp, the 28-year-old first baseman for Bunker Hill, is the winner. Today he was honored with the Commonwealth Association Batter of the Month award.

In August, Burp wowed voters with a .344 average while posting up 10 home runs, 25 RBIs, 15 runs scored and a .459 on-base percentage.

In this current campaign Burp is hitting at a .354 clip with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs.

BMU: Boston Common's Brownell Collects August Batting Honor

At only 20 years of age, Dusty Brownell could very well be having many more months like the last this in his career.

That would be great news for fans of the Boston Common Lead Bellies, as August was one to remember for the first baseman and he has captured the Massachusetts Association Batter of the Month award.

On the month he hit .333 with 5 home runs, 21 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

Looking at his season stats, Brownell has compiled a .305 batting average and a .448 on-base percentage, while hitting 18 home runs and driving in 51 runs.

BMU: Brenner Best CA Starter

Jamie Brenner of the Breakheart Banks Behemoths has made fans throughout Boston Minor Union take notice over the past month with an exceptional 4-0 record. No pitcher in the Commonwealth Association threw better in August, garnering him the Pitcher of the Month award today.

In 5 starts Brenner compiled a 2.05 ERA, putting up a 4-0 record, striking out 40 and tossing 30.2 innings.

For this year Brenner has chalked up 7 wins and 3 losses in 14 starts with 128 strikeouts in 97.1 innings and a 2.03 ERA.

BMU: Taylor Chosen August's Best MA Hurler

Burp Taylor took a much-deserved turn in the spotlight earlier today as he accepted the Massachusetts Association Pitcher of the Month award for August.

The 22-year-old Natick Banks Big Leaguers starter is a relative newcomer to the league, but nonetheless racked up an impressive 4-0 won-lost record in 4 starts. This month he fanned 35 batters in 32.1 innings and compiled a 1.67 ERA.

This year Taylor has fashioned a 7-2 mark, 3.91 ERA and pitched 76 innings. Opposing clubs are batting .280 against him and he has logged 81 strikeouts.

Stabb Goes Deep 3 Times

Atom Cats third baseman Shane Stabb left the University Point pitching staff in ruins at Coolest Field in Town today, beating the Deathclaws 11-3 with a prodigious three-home run performance.

"The last one was totally unexpected," Stabb told reporters at the press conference following his big game. "I just wanted to make good contact, never thinking I would get a home run, and bang, I got number three."

For the game, the Atom third baseman had 3 hits in 4 at-bats, drove in 7 and scored 3 runs.

Shane Stabb hit a two-run home run off Adam Froggatt in the 1st, hit a two-run home run off Adam Froggatt in the 2nd, hit a three-run home run off Ronnie Messenger in the 3rd, grounded out in the 5th and walked in the 8th.

This season Stabb is batting .311 with 9 home runs. He has scored 47 runs and driven in 51.

Powers Spectacular in 4-0 Win

Tyler Powers of the Diamond City Swatters worked his mound magic on the Roxbury Knuckle Punchers. He blanked them 4-0 on 3 hits, registering 9 strikeouts and no walks.

"Making good pitches is the name of the game and I made some good ones in this one," said Powers after the game.

So far this year Powers has compiled a 15-4 record with a 3.53 ERA.

Chemists Sneak By Silver Shroud, 12-11, in 12 Innings

The Sunshine Tidings Chemists withstood an impressive performance by Fort Hagen first baseman Jim Tiller to defeat the Silver Shroud, 12-11, in 12 innings at ArcJet Systems Stadium. Tiller went 3 for 6 with a home run and a double. He scored 3 runs and drove in 6. Sunshine Tidings is now 47-59, Fort Hagen 67-39.

The Chemists relied on left fielder Amari Nukes for the game-winning hit. And, in the bottom of the 12th, he delivered, hitting a run-scoring single to seal the deal.

In postgame remarks, Nukes simply said: "Here's to a great win!"

With 6-4 Win, Party Boys Go to 68-38

Led by Jon Hitman, the Nordhagen Beach Party Boys downed the Easy Town Assaultrons, 6-4. Hitman went 1 for 3 with a home run, while adding 4 RBI and scoring once for the Party Boys. Chet Arthur was the winning pitcher. Over 6 innings, he allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Tom Mannequin converted his 17th save in 18 tries.

Hitman had a timely hit for Nordhagen Beach in the bottom of the sixth. With Easy Town trailing 3-2, he turned a first pitch fastball into a grand slam home run. It was his 7th home run of the season, making it 6-3, Nordhagen Beach.

"Getting the win feels nice," said Hitman. "More importantly, I had a good game."

With the win, the Party Boys have a record of 68-38. They now lead Fort Hagen by a game for the battle for the #1 seed.

Hancocks Deal Gunners 5-2 Defeat

Behind an impressive start by Quincy Eloquent, Goodneighbor beat Quincy, 5-2. Bus Paula earned his 30th save in 34 chances. The second-place Gunners have lost 4 straight games.

With Goodneighbor leading 1-0 in the top of the second, Eloquent hit a fastball from Manny McDuff for a 2-run double. It was his 3rd double of the season and put the Hancocks ahead, 3-0.

"A great team win and something real positive we can build on," said Eloquent after the game.

Goodneighbor stays on pace with Diamon City for the #1 seed in the SCA, but they will need to finish with a better record due to the Swatters winning the season series, 5-3.

Ghouls Roll Over Four Leafs, 10-4, Clinch WC

Shawn Cherry made an impact in the 10-4 The Slog win over Finch Farm. Cherry, who is a two-time All-Star, went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 singles, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once. The victory gives The Slog a record of 58-48. Coupled with Salem's loss, the Ghouls will be the Brotherhood League's wildcard team as the #4 seed in the SCA playoffs.

The Ghouls got a big at-bat from right fielder Boots Yellowhair. For the game, Yellowhair went 1 for 2 with a double and 2 walks. He scored 2 times and drove in 2. In the bottom of the first, with runners on 1st and 3rd, he stroked a 2-run double. His 27th double of the season gave The Slog a 2-0 lead.

"We were able to get some things going offensively," said Yellowhair.

[OrangeP47]

Yeah, I don't care for the giant bugs, so those are the teams that I tend to look down on, though ironically, if you had one that was the giant ants, I actually don't mind those, for some reason. On the hierarchy of how gross those creatures are, those ones are considerably less gross than any of the other insects fallout has come up with.

[StLee]

Today in the CBO

News and Notes - Reports from around the Commonwealth

by Nat Wright-Kawolski

2 September 2299

CBO Playoff Changes in 2299, Possibly in 2300

The Commonwealth Baseball Organization has announced one change to the 2299 playoffs and is also considering a second change for the 2300 playoffs.

In an official press conference held by Commissioner Nate Howard on all Baseball News Network affiliates, Howard announced the big change for this season's playoffs.

"We have decided to expand the Association Championship Series from five games to seven games," Howard said. "Our CBO playoffs have been exciting, so we want the chance for each team to have the potential for one more home game apiece. We are sure CBO fans will also love the extra games should a series reach six or seven games."

Howard additionally confirmed a second change the CBO is considering, but that change would be a part of the 2300 season. "We're also considering an even bigger change to the structure of the playoffs where we would add an extra team to each association."

Based on Howard's explanation, the playoffs would continue to have the top two teams from each league reach the playoffs and then would add a true wildcard team that could come from either league in each association. That wildcard team could also potentially be considered the 4th seed in the playoffs if it is better than the other league's 2nd place team.

For example, if the playoffs began today using that rule, the North Charles Association's seeds would be #1 Nordhagen Beach, #2 Fort Hagen, #3 Starlight, #4 Abernathy, and #5 The Slog. In the "Wildcard Round," The Slog would visit the Adamantium. The winner of that series would travel to Nordhagen Beach in the Association Semifinals with Starlight traveling to Fort Hagen in that same round.

"Having to sit a team just because it finished third in its league has bothered me," Howard stated. "I like having at least two playoff teams per region, so I feel this is the better solution. Still, we need approval from a majority of our owners, and we will vote on that during the offseason."

Raider Blasts Starlight to WC Berth

Despite a fine performance by first baseman Steve Settler, the Abernathy Adamantium lost to the Starlight Lady Killers, 6-5. Settler went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, and was hit by a pitch, while scoring 3 runs and driving in 2. Larry Undertaker got the save, his 31st in 36 chances. The win gives Starlight a season record of 61-46.

The hero of the game, though, was a Raider. Ryan Raider. Pinch hitting in the top of the 9th with one out and the game tied, Raider took a Jason Worry deep over the left field wall for a game-winning home run. Thanks to Undertaker's efforts in the bottom of the 9th, the Lady Killers are going to the playoffs for the first time since the 2296 season.

"I would say that is the biggest hit of my career," Raider said. Originally drafted in the 12th round of the 2296 CBO Inaugural Draft by the Concord Radstags, Raider had the first clutch hit of his career. "If we win the championship this year, I hope they let me drink from the cup!"

Ashfire Powers Cats to 14-7 Win

Atom first baseman Will Ashfire helped his team beat the University Point Deathclaws, 14-7. Ashfire, who is tied for 6th in the SCA with a .976 OPS, went 3 for 3 for the Cats. The winner was Boss Gentleman, who threw 108 pitches over 6.1 innings. The right-hander was charged with 7 runs on 9 hits. Atom has now won 3 in a row.

With Atom leading 5-4 in the bottom of the second, Ashfire came up to bat against University Point pitcher Quentin Malone. Ashfire hit a fastball to center for a 3-run home run. His 23rd home run of the season put the Cats on top, 8-4.

"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves," Ashfire told a Atom Citizen reporter. "Sometimes we just need to relax."

Four Leafs Rocked By Ghouls, 17-2

The The Slog Ghouls thrashed the Finch Farm Four Leafs, 17-2, at Tarberry Field Forever. Chris Van Benschoten was one of the batting leaders. He went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and a walk, while scoring 3 times and driving in 5 for The Slog. With the win, The Slog raised its record to 59-48.

The Ghouls got an important contribution from second baseman C.T. Woodard, who in the bottom of the second hit a slider into left for a bases-clearing double. It was his 37th double of the season and put the Ghouls ahead, 7-0.

"We'll keep playing hard and let the chips fall where they may," said The Slog manager Dick Tricky.

Toeclaw, Witch Hats Clobber Bloodbugs, 10-1

The Salem Witch Hats topped the County Crossing Bloodbugs by a score of 10-1. Leading the way was first baseman Antonio Toeclaw. Toeclaw hit 2 home runs, while adding 4 RBI and scoring twice for the Witch Hats. Tony Bertha was the winning pitcher. Over 8.2 innings, he allowed 1 run on 8 hits, with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. With the victory, the Witch Hats upped their record to 56-51.

Toeclaw contributed a big hit, a 3-run home run, for Salem in the top of the second. With his team trailing 1-0, Toeclaw took a slider from Zach DiGrande and stroked the home run to right. His 18th home run of the season allowed the Witch Hats to leap in front, 3-1.

"We'll pop the top on a cold beverage and get back to work tomorrow," Toeclaw said.

With 6-3 Win, Party Boys Go to 69-38

The Nordhagen Beach Party Boys beat the Easy Town Assaultrons, 6-3, at Slocum's Joe Seaside Stadium. Jonathan Angelou, in particular, was impressive. He went 1 for 2 with a home run and 2 walks, while scoring 2 runs. Tom Mannequin was credited with the save. He has now successfully converted 18 of 19 save opportunities. With the win, Nordhagen Beach pushed its record to 69-38. A 70th victory clinches the #1 seed for the Boys in the NCA.

Early in the game, first baseman Dustin Mart had a 2-run double for Nordhagen Beach. It was his 23rd double of the season and put the Party Boys on top, 2-1.

"I just tried to make good contact," said Angelou.

Silver Shroud Deal Chemists 1-0 Defeat

Starting pitcher Derek Green was a major factor in the 1-0 Fort Hagen Silver Shroud triumph over the Sunshine Tidings Chemists. Green, the winner, moves to 15-5. He threw 6.2 innings of 4-hit ball, while fanning 6 and giving up 2 walks. Fort Hagen leads the North Charles Association Institute League by 7 games.

In the top of the first, Jim Tiller ambushed a 0-1 fastball from Bill Sarnacki and hit a solo home run. It gave Fort Hagen a quick 1-0 lead.

"I just tried to attack the bottom of the zone," Green said.

Hancocks Drop Gunners, 7-2

The Goodneighbor Hancocks picked up a win at The Stone House, taking down the Quincy Gunners, 7-2. Starting pitcher John Oldsink was a big reason why. Oldsink, now 15-8, was the winner. In 8 innings, he gave up 6 hits, while striking out 1, walking 1, and allowing 2 runs. Goodneighbor is now 73-34, 9 games up in the South Charles Association Minutemen League.

Burtie Cuttooth, the 19-year old shortstop , had a direct impact on the outcome. Cuttooth contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the third inning to put Goodneighbor up, 3-2.

"For the most part, I made good pitches when I needed to," said Oldsink.

Knuckle Punchers Win, 7-4, at Diamond City

The Roxbury Knuckle Punchers beat the Diamond City Swatters by a score of 7-4. left fielder Chris Hirshfield deserved the lion's share of the credit. Hirshfield slugged 2 home runs, while scoring 3 times and driving in 2 for the Knuckle Punchers. Beachboy Nut earned the win for Roxbury. He lasted 8 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, while striking out 6. With the win, he raised his record to 13-12. The Knuckle Punchers sport a record of 39-68.

Young Goodman had a critical at-bat with two out in the top of the sixth for Roxbury. He came through with a 2-run single to put Roxbury in front, 4-0.

Goodman told a Roxbury Gazette reporter that he was "satisfied" with the win.

With the loss, the Swatters now trail Goodneighbor by a game heading into the final day of the season for the #1 seed in the SCA. Should the teams finish tied, the Swatters would get the #1 seed due to the season tiebreaker.