***

Get plenty of peanuts and crackerjacks. :eatpop:... we may still have a series!

Attachment 636449
Saturday, October 16, 2060

2060 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 4

**

***

Attachment 636560
Sunday, October 17, 2060

2060 IPA Pro Cup Series - Game 5

**

***

***

2060 Islandian Pro Alliance Playoff Coverage

Click to Enlarge Image

Attachment 636805
Sunday, October 17, 2060

PRO CUP MVP GOES TO RACERS' STONICH
Most of the time the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player trophy goes to the player with the best numbers overall during the playoffs, not just the Pro Cup Series... and they usually have to play for the winning team... the usual winners are pitchers with 4-0 records and an astronomically low ERA... or .400 hitters with 5-6 roundtrippers and 19-20 RBIs... none of that happened this year... as far as the Rolling Hills Racers are concerned, there were a lot of players, pitchers and hitters, who each did their part to propel the Racers to the IPA title... there were no super standouts... it was truly a team effort… consequently, it was a tough job for the pollsters and the voters... they couldn't just go by the numbers... they had to look at the intangibles to decide the most worthy performer.

Finally, in a close vote, the baseball media selected the very talented Rolling Hills third baseman, Teddy Stonich... he outpolled teammates, first sacker Drayton Mayfield and reliever Dickie Hawes... Stonich got 45 votes, Mayfield 40 and Hawes 30... Wynnamac's ace hurler, Dick Vanner, was fourth in the balloting with 25 votes.

The primary thing that stood out about MVP Stonich was he played well and was a factor in all three rounds... Stonich batted .319 with 23 hits in 72 at bats in 18 games... he had 5 doubles, 2 triples and 4 homers with 15 RBIs and a 11 runs scored... his biggest competitor, Mayfield, struggled at the plate in round one, but came on strong in the Finals... Mayfield batted .329 overall, with 3 home runs and 14 ribbies, but he was hurt by the slow postseason start... number three in the voting was Hawes... when he was called in out of the bullpen, he did his job perfectly and I do mean perfectly... relievers often don't get their just due in the awards polling... voters usually favor the high-profile starters and the high-octane sluggers... Hawes wound up 2-0 with 1 save... in 7 relief assignments, he did not allow one single run in his 10 and two-thirds innings... in Vanner's case, he tumbled to fourth place when the Macs were beaten in the IPA title series... he also lost the fifth and final game in the Pro Cup Series... but Vanner did quite well... winding up 4-1 with a marvelous 0.86 ERA in 6 starting assigments.

Just for comparison, here are the regular season statistics for each of the players:
Stonich (.355 BA, 49 doubles, 2 triples, 132 RBI, 115 R, 3 SB, 148 G)
Mayfield (.307 BA, 21 doubles, 12 triples, 67 RBI, 66 R/12 SB, 143 G)
Hawes (5-5, 4.05 ERA, 15 ST, 107 IP, 66 K, 44 BB, 4 CG)
Vanner (18-7, 3.27 ERA, 3 SHO, 30 ST, 226 IP, 125 K, 54 BB, 12 CG)

Attachment 636940

2060 Ruthlandian Union Final Standings

2060 Tycobbian Union Final Standings
Attachment 636948

Attachment 637209
Monday, October 18, 2060

IPA STANDOUTS HONORED
The good teams are celebrating their successful seasons, the fairly good ones are dreaming for a higher finish in 2061 and the not so good teams are drowning their sorrows and hoping for better things next year... the 2060 Islandian Pro Alliance season is over, said and done... it's time to honor the league standouts for a season of plenty... it's time to award the Batters of the Year trophies, Pitchers of the Year Awards, Rookies of the Year Awards, Most Valuable Players Awards and the Golden Glove Awards.

2060 Ruthlandian Union Award Winners:
RU Golden Bat Award: Jedd Blodgett (Ranford Bulls) (.340 BA (3rd), 200 H (4th), 47 HR (1st), 127 RBI (2nd), 123 runs (1st), 30 SB (2nd), 149 G)… Bulls won the RU North by 10 games, 99-55.
2nd Place: Jamey Murton (Rocky Rapids Snappers) (.327 BA, 191 H, 43 HR (3rd), 134 RBI (1st), 105 R, 3 SB, 148 G)… Snappers finished third in the RU West, 78-76, 12 GB.
3rd Place: Manny Sendejas (Wynnamac Sundowners) (.317 BA, 166 H, 40 HR (4th), 122 RBI (4th), 113 R (3rd), 8 SB, 140 G)… Macs won pennant in a rout by 25 games, 104-50.

RU Golden Arm Award: Amos Wadsworth (LaGrange Gators) (21-5 (1st), 2.77 ERA, 4 ShO)… Gators came in fourth in the RU South, 85-69, 14 GB.
2nd Place: Dan Hunt (Volusia Vigilantes) (17-6, 2.38 ERA (3rd), 5 ShO (1st)… V's finished second in the RU West, 83-71, 7 GB.
3rd Place: Rory Beecroft (Waleska Westerners) (15-4, 2.32 ERA (2nd), 4 ShO (3rd)… Cowpokes came in third in RU South, 81-73, trailed by 13 GB.

RU Rookie of the Year Award: Dick Vanner (Wynnamac Sundowners) (18-7, 3.27 ERA, 3 ShO)… Sundowners won the RU East by a whopping 25 games, 104-50.
Second Place: Robin Staroff (Elnora Clippers) (.309 BA, 17 HR, 99 RBI, 95 R, 25 SB, 134 G)… Clippers were the number-two team in the RU East, 79-75, 25 GB.
3rd Place: Andy Rooney (Glasco Foxhounds) (.293 BA, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 96 R, 2 SB, 137 G)… Foxhounds finished second in the RU North, 10 GB.

2060 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award: Jedd Blodgett (Ranford Bulls) (.340 BA (3rd), 200 hits (4th), 47 HR (1st), 127 RBI (2nd), 123 runs (1st), 30 SB (2nd), 149 G)… Bulls won the RU North by 10 games, 99-55.
2rd Place: Manny Sendejas (Wynnamac Sundowners) (.317 BA, 40 HR (4th), 122 RBI (4th), 113 R (3rd), 8 SB, 140 G)… Macs won pennant in a rout by 25 games, 104-50.
3rd Place: Cliff Hawthorne (Sligo Rovers) (.304 BA, 33 HR, 116 RBI (4th), 104 R, 8 SB, 146 G)… Rovers copped RU West flag by 7 games, 90-64.

Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Award:
Pitcher: Lukasz Chojnacki (Valmara Vipers) (1.000 FA) (12-17, 5.04 ERA, 2 ShO)… Vipers came in dead last in the RU North, 64-90, 35 games off the pace.
Catcher: Tuffy Palmieri (St. John Crusaders) (5-time winner) (.995 FA, 6 PB, 34.2% RTO) (.291 BA, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 53 R, 119 G)… Crusaders captured the RU South division flag by 8 games, 94-60.
First Baseman: Hector Francisco (Stoner Silver Sox) (.994 FA, 66 assists) (.285 BA, 17 HR, 79 RBI, 67 R, 5 SB, 148 G)… Sox wound up sixth in the RU West, 67-87, 23 GB.
Second Baseman: Arlen Queen (Claxton Diamonds) (.980 FA, 471 assists) (.277 BA, 7 HR, 63 RBI, 73 R, 13 SB, 146 G)… Diamonds ended up fourth in the RU South standings, 78-76, 16 GB.
Third Baseman: Norbert Ruston (Eastshore Cotton Kings) (.961 FA, 292 assists) (.331 BA, 202 H (1st), 5 HR, 60 RBI, 114 R (2nd), 14 SB, 147 G)… Cotton Pickers finished fifth in RU East, 73-81, 31 GB.
Shortstop: Jack Gregory (Claxton Diamonds) (.972 FA, 540 assists) (.281 BA, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 76 R, 27 SB (5th), 147 G)… Diamonds were fourth in the RU South, 78-76, 16 GB.
Left Fielder: Callum Slattery (Glasco Foxhounds) (4-time winner) (.995 FA, 379 PO, 10 assists) (.289 BA, 26 HR, 105 RBI, 80 R, 8 SB, 146 G)… Foxhounds wound up second in the RU North, 89-65, 10 GB.
Center Fielder: Tyler O'Reilly (Belair Beach Sunbirds) (.998 FA, 523 PO, 12 assists) (.278 BA, 20 HR, 69 RBI, 99 R, 22 SB, 146 G)… Sunbirds came in seventh in the RU South, 73-81, 21 GB.
Right Fielder: Lanny Waldrep (Colfax Blasters) (2-time winner) (.987 FA, 363 PO, 13 assists) (.293 BA, 31 HR, 109 RBI, 101 R, 1 SB, 151 G)… Blasters were seventh in the RU West standings, 64-90, 26 GB.

2060 Tycobbian Union Award Winners:
TU Golden Bat Award: Teddy Stonich (Rolling Hills Racers) (.355 BA (3rd), 215 H (2nd), 37 HR, 132 RBI (2nd), 115 R (1st), 148 G)... Racers won the TU West pennant by 8 games, 93-61.
Second Place: Erroll Waldrep (Colchester Elites) (.310 BA, 180 H, 55 HR (2nd), 126 RBI (4th), 111 R, 149 G)... Elites came in last in the TU South race, 56-98, 33 GB.
Third Place: Buddy Blackford (Oxford Red Caps) (.292 BA, 168 H, 59 HR (1st), 135 RBI (1st), 113 R (4th), 153 G)... Red Caps nabbed the top spot in the TU North by 10 games, 97-57.

TU Golden Arm Award: Rico Alessi (Oxford Red Caps) (21-4, 2.48 ERA, 3 ShO)... Red Caps took the TU North title easily by 10 games, 97-57.
Second Place: Herm McClanahan (South Fork Stallions) (17-7, 2.36 ERA (4th), 2 ShO)... won division flag in the TU East by 4 games, 95-59.
Third Place: Abram Worth (6-6, 1.53 ERA, 35 saves, 57 G)... Ninjas were first in the TU South by 2 games, 89-65.

TU Rookie of the Year: Dennis Tarrant (Kenwood Wildcats) (19-9, 3.06 ERA, 4 ShO (2nd)... Wildcats finished third in the TU West standings, 78-76, 15 GB.
Second Place: Hector Cavacos (San Alejo Montaneros) (.277 BA, 161 H, 28 HR, 84 RBI, 68 R, 8 SB, 149 G)... Monties ended up seventh in the TU South, 66-88, 23 GB.
Third Place: Errol Sears (Oxford Red Caps) (.309 BA, 4 HR, 67 RBI, 62 R, 9 SB, 117 G)... Red Caps won the TU North pennant by 10 games, 97-57.

TU Most Valuable Player Award: Teddy Stonich (Rolling Hills Racers) (.355 BA (3rd), 215 H (2nd), 37 HR, 132 RBI (2nd), 115 R (1st), 3 SB, 148 G... Racers won the TU West pennant by 8 games, 93-61... Stonich also won the MVP trophy in 2059.
Second Place: Abram Worth (Ginza Ninjas) (6-6, 1.53 ERA, 35 saves, 57 G... Ninjas prevailed in the TU South in the pennant race by 2 games, 89-65.
Third Place: Boomer Carlton (Tuckanarra Tiger Cats) (.325 BA, 35 HR, 131 RBI, 80 R, 151 G)... were second in the TU East standings, 91-63, 4 GB.

Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Award:
Pitcher: Buddy Essex (La Claire Lynx) (13-14, 4.48 ERA, 1 ShO) (1.000 FA)... ranked sixth in the TU West, 74-80, 19 GB.
Catcher: Giles Gilliam (Oxford Red Caps) (.996 FA, 5 PB, 21.8% RTO) (.263 BA, 10 HR, 43 RBI, 50 R, 117 G)... Red Caps captured the TU North Division by 10 games, 97-57.
First Baseman: Drayton Mayfield (Rolling Hills Racers) (.998 FA, 84 assists) (.307 BA, 6 HR, 67 RBI, 66 R, 12 SB, 143 G)... Racers handily won the TU North by 10 games, 97-57.
Second Baseman: Kirk Waner (Fairfax Frogs) (.984 FA, 452 assists) (.287 BA, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 101 R, 16 SB, 148 G)... Frogs wound up in the fourth spot in the TU North standings, 82-72, 15 GB.
Third Baseman: Dick Barney (Arroyo Grande Suns) (.982 FA, 318 assists) (.218 BA, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 80 R, 11 SB, 148 G)... Suns came in fifth in the TU South, 72-82, 17 GB.
Shortstop: Yazzy Ricks (Bayview Vikings) (.981 FA, 488 assists) (.229 BA, 25 HR, 77 RBI, 59 R, 6 SB, 147 G)... the Viks wound up in the fifth position in the TU West, 75-79, 18 GB.
Left Fielder: Pokie Ash (East Point Panthers) (2-time winner) (.997 FA, 340 PO, 3 assists) (.277 BA, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 102 R, 10 SB, 141 G)... finished seventh in the TU East, 67-87, 28 GB.
Center Fielder: Johnny Pendergrass (Summerland) (2-time winner) (.993 FA, 531 PO, 17 assists) (.315 BA, 18 HR, 75 RBI, 83 R, 18 SB, 149 G)... Sunsets were the third-best team in the TU South, 85-69, 4 GB.
Right Fielder: Gideon Tracy (Ginza Ninjas) (.988 FA, 316 PO, 25 assists) (.295 BA, 19 HR, 92 RBI, 88 R, 6 SB, 145 G)... the Karate Kids came in first again by 2 games in the TU South race, 89-65.

Attachment 637823
Thursday, October 28, 2060

MACS' MEEKS, RED CAPS' HARTWIG, TOP IPA SKIPPERS
All it takes to be named Manager of the Year in the Islandian Pro Alliance is biblical and in-depth knowledge of baseball, superb psychological and motivational skills, supreme patience and understanding... all that, plus a roster chocked full of lots and lots of talented pitchers, hitters and defenders... no major injuries... and a little bit of luck thrown in for good measure.

It is really difficult to just pick one in each league... you have to beat out 31 others for the coveted honor... there were many deserving skippers in the IPA this season that met some of those stringent and exacting criteria... Wynnamac's Jerry Meeks guided his team to 104 victories... Ranford's Bert Shippmann posted 99 wins in just his second season... St. John's Nicky Farrugia accomplished a 90-degree turnaround in just one season... that's just in the Ruthlandian Union.

It might even be tougher in the Tycobbian Union... there are a whole hosts of impressive managers in the TU, too... how do you choose between Dennis Hartwig of Oxford with a league-leading 97 triumphs?... Jay Murphy's remarkable makeover in South Fork?... the Stallions went from 70-84 to a terrific 95-59 in just one year... Billy Christianson's fine year in Rolling Hills?... Sogo Takagi's miracle work in Ginza?... and you can't leave out Rocco Bertara of the Mahaska Haymakers, who went from the outhouse and last place to second place this year... from a pathetic 58-96 to 87-67.

All we can say is life is not always fair... maybe we should just give all 64 managers a participation trophy so as not to hurt their tender self-esteem... maybe we should just name all of them co-winners and everybody goes home happy... including their overly-involved and pushy parents... no, life doesn't work that way... or does it?.

We like to pick a number one... and so, away we go!

The 2060 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year is first-time winner, Jerry Meeks of the Wynnamac Sundowners... he's been there for 11 years and has won six division titles and one Pro Cup (2055)... this was Meeks' greatest year... he won the RU East by a ridiculous 25 games... that's how much they dominated... and yet, Meeks did not win in a landslide... he had some serious competition from two other challengers... Meeks just barely beat Ranford's Bert Shippman and St. John's Nicky Farrugia in a very close vote... Meeks received 67 votes, Shippman 65 and Farrugia 60... Shippmann, fresh out of the college circles, turned a downtrodden Ranford club into a pennant winner in his second year... the Crusaders did an about face this year, improving from 74-80 to 94-60.

The voting in the Tycobbian Union was split five ways... the top votegetter was Dennis Hartwig of the Oxford Red Caps... he is the 2060 TU Manager of the Year... Hartwig is also a first-time honoree... his Red Caps have won 5 pennants in the last 9 years... Oxford has topped the TU two years in a row with 97 victories... Hartwig chalked up 47 votes in the poll, Jay Murphy of South Fork was second with 44... third in the balloting was Rocco Bertara of Mahaska with 41... and tied for fourth place were Sogo Takagi of Ginza and Billy Christianson of Rolling Hills, both with 30 votes.

I need to work on the IPA Hall of Fame... after that I will revise the team rosters and create new free agents for the 2061 season.

Congrats on a great 2060 season. i really thought the Macs had the right stuff. But that's why we sim the games.