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Eugene Church · 07-11-2008, 07:30 PM

The Islandian Times

Friday, June 22, 2001

Around the IPA

It must be tough to play for one of the greatest, if not the greatest player in the Islandian Amateur Alliance history. The fifth place Blue Lake Blue Sox (28-35) are managed by Cobb Tyson, a great center fielder and hitter, who boasts the highest career batting average in the IAA. He has had a very successful playing career and managerial career so far, but his previous success has not translated into success in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the first ever purely pay-for-play baseball league in the Islands. At least in the first two months of the campaign.

Tyson told reporters at a recent press conference, "Baseball is 100 per cent of my life."

Tyson has been severely disappointed in the progress of his club. Blue Lake has not had a winning month yet, going 4-6 in April, 15-17 in May and 9-12 in June. They are well back in the standings, 15 games behind.

The crusty Tyson commented on his team, "We are a balanced ballclub - our hitting is bad and our pitching is, too."

The Blue Sox are fourth in the TU West in both categories and fifth in fielding (.976). The team is hitting only .262, but is third in home runs with 58 and dead last in runs scored (257). On the hill Tyson's team has a 4.01 ERA.

Blue Lake's most productive bat belongs to center fielder Donnie Frazier with a .314 average, 13 homers, 37 runs and 40 RBIs. Frazier is a top-notch outfielder, too. First baseman Fred Taranto is batting .321 with 16 doubles, 7 home runs, 27 runs and 25 RBIs and a good glove, third baseman Timmy Smith has a .317 batting average with 7 roundtrippers, 23 runs and 21 RBIs, left fielder Greg Boone with a .293 mark, 39 runs and 21 RBIs, right fielder Fred Collins with a .284 average, 6 homers, 30 runs, 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and second baseman Ken Bennett at .257 with 8 home runs, 19 runs and 42 RBIs and a good defender. Only Frazier and Bennett have the pop to drive in runs.

Tyson does have two fine pitchers in his rotation, both right handers. Bennie West (7-7 2.44) and Jay Clay (5-3 2.87) give Blue Lake a good 1-2 punch. Both West and Clay give quality outings just about every time out. But there isn't much after them as the Blue Sox have tried eight different pitchers as starters this year. Derek Manetti (3-4 4.72) and new signee Ray Davini (0-0) are the latest to get a shot. Tyson's closer Russ Courtney (3-2 3.60) has been dependable with 25 appearances and 6 saves. There's not much help in middle relief. Mickey Dwyer (2-1 3.90) is the best of the lot. Former starters, Pete Henry (3-7 5.23), lefty Donnie Bullock (4-6 5.54) and Jimmy Zell (0-1 6.48) will get a brief trial in long relief according to Tyson. Room will have to be made on the roster for reliever Clint McPherson (1-2 3.56), who has been out sick for about two weeks.

The Blue Sox hold their own with all the teams in the division except for the first place Fairfax Frogs, who have dominated them, winning 8 of 9 this season. Playing the Frogs better would move them up in the division, but fifth or sixth looks likely for Tyson Cobb and Blue Lake.

One would not think a team that can start five .300 hitters would be in last place and 20 games behind, but that is the case of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (24-41). Manager Guy "Lightning" Rondre, former standout southpaw in the company leagues, said he would be happy to get back on the hill with such a strong hitting team.

The Bucs are second in the TU West with a .285 team batting average and third in runs scored with 287, but are missing home run power. Bay St. Clair ranks last with only 34 roundtrippers. Rondre told the press that he is in the market for some pitching and would be willing to part with some of his hitters to get them. The Buccaneers sorely need pitching with a 4.20 ERA, fifth in the division. Rondre also needs to shore up the defense as it is last with a poor .975 fielding average. Rondre is going to be a busy man trying to fill in all of the holes in his ballclub and soon. Bay St. Clair has gone 2-8 in April, 15-18 in May and only 7-15 in June.

Rondre has lots of potential trade bait with three of the top six hitters in the league. First baseman Maury Smith leads the Tyrobbian Union with a .367 average. He has 14 doubles, 9 homers, 45 runs and 49 RBIs. Smith is a talented fielder, too. Fine fielding second baseman Tony Mann is fifth with a .336 mark, 12 doubles, 3 home runs, 42 runs scored and 29 RBIs and catcher Jake Singleton is sixth with a .335 average, 13 doubles, 1 roundtripper, 28 runs and 25 RBIs.

The Buccaneers also have third baseman Bubba Tate, who platoons with Bobby Tracy. Both are over .300 with Tate hitting .336 with 5 home runs, 12 runs and 27 RBIs in 29 starts, while Tracy is batting .310 with 12 runs scored and 18 RBIs in 36 starts. Neither is strong on defense with Tate fielding .907 and Tracy .927.

Rounding out the lineup are shortstop Chuck Hankins, who has a .311 average with 5 homers, 33 runs, 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases and center fielder Nickie Friedrichs with a .298 mark and 19 doubles (2nd), 3 triples and no home runs. He has scored 30 times and driven in 22. The final regular is left fielder Charlie Moon, who is hitting only .252, but has 13 doubles, 1 triple, 8 roundtrippers, 36 runs, 26 RBIs and 6 stolen bases, while leading off.

Shifting over to Rondre's pitching rotation, he has only one reliable starter, lefthander Norm Gross (7-5 3.37). But he may have found another. Rondre moved his closer Adam Lundgren (2-1 2.75) to a starting role and he chalked up two solid wins. Sean Lawrence (2-7 3.99) and Gary Robinson (4-7 4.35) have the other two starting slots. At least for now. The Bucs have three lefties with Lundgren the only righthander. All total they have six southpaws on the squad.

Bay St. Clair's closer is Ken Kazak (0-3 4.32). Ben Crowley (3-6 4.54), Ted Jorgerson (2-5 5.30) and Dennis Coulon (1-2 5.60) are the middle relievers. All of them are portsiders except for Crowley.

With a few smart swaps the Buccaneers could really improve the team and cause some problems in the Tycobbian Union West. Another quality starter and a good closer could do it.

07-11-2008, 07:30 PM	#342
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,225	The Islandian Times Friday, June 22, 2001 Around the IPA It must be tough to play for one of the greatest, if not the greatest player in the Islandian Amateur Alliance history. The fifth place Blue Lake Blue Sox (28-35) are managed by Cobb Tyson, a great center fielder and hitter, who boasts the highest career batting average in the IAA. He has had a very successful playing career and managerial career so far, but his previous success has not translated into success in the Islandian Pro Alliance, the first ever purely pay-for-play baseball league in the Islands. At least in the first two months of the campaign. Tyson told reporters at a recent press conference, "Baseball is 100 per cent of my life." Tyson has been severely disappointed in the progress of his club. Blue Lake has not had a winning month yet, going 4-6 in April, 15-17 in May and 9-12 in June. They are well back in the standings, 15 games behind. The crusty Tyson commented on his team, "We are a balanced ballclub - our hitting is bad and our pitching is, too." The Blue Sox are fourth in the TU West in both categories and fifth in fielding (.976). The team is hitting only .262, but is third in home runs with 58 and dead last in runs scored (257). On the hill Tyson's team has a 4.01 ERA. Blue Lake's most productive bat belongs to center fielder Donnie Frazier with a .314 average, 13 homers, 37 runs and 40 RBIs. Frazier is a top-notch outfielder, too. First baseman Fred Taranto is batting .321 with 16 doubles, 7 home runs, 27 runs and 25 RBIs and a good glove, third baseman Timmy Smith has a .317 batting average with 7 roundtrippers, 23 runs and 21 RBIs, left fielder Greg Boone with a .293 mark, 39 runs and 21 RBIs, right fielder Fred Collins with a .284 average, 6 homers, 30 runs, 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and second baseman Ken Bennett at .257 with 8 home runs, 19 runs and 42 RBIs and a good defender. Only Frazier and Bennett have the pop to drive in runs. Tyson does have two fine pitchers in his rotation, both right handers. Bennie West (7-7 2.44) and Jay Clay (5-3 2.87) give Blue Lake a good 1-2 punch. Both West and Clay give quality outings just about every time out. But there isn't much after them as the Blue Sox have tried eight different pitchers as starters this year. Derek Manetti (3-4 4.72) and new signee Ray Davini (0-0) are the latest to get a shot. Tyson's closer Russ Courtney (3-2 3.60) has been dependable with 25 appearances and 6 saves. There's not much help in middle relief. Mickey Dwyer (2-1 3.90) is the best of the lot. Former starters, Pete Henry (3-7 5.23), lefty Donnie Bullock (4-6 5.54) and Jimmy Zell (0-1 6.48) will get a brief trial in long relief according to Tyson. Room will have to be made on the roster for reliever Clint McPherson (1-2 3.56), who has been out sick for about two weeks. The Blue Sox hold their own with all the teams in the division except for the first place Fairfax Frogs, who have dominated them, winning 8 of 9 this season. Playing the Frogs better would move them up in the division, but fifth or sixth looks likely for Tyson Cobb and Blue Lake. One would not think a team that can start five .300 hitters would be in last place and 20 games behind, but that is the case of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (24-41). Manager Guy "Lightning" Rondre, former standout southpaw in the company leagues, said he would be happy to get back on the hill with such a strong hitting team. The Bucs are second in the TU West with a .285 team batting average and third in runs scored with 287, but are missing home run power. Bay St. Clair ranks last with only 34 roundtrippers. Rondre told the press that he is in the market for some pitching and would be willing to part with some of his hitters to get them. The Buccaneers sorely need pitching with a 4.20 ERA, fifth in the division. Rondre also needs to shore up the defense as it is last with a poor .975 fielding average. Rondre is going to be a busy man trying to fill in all of the holes in his ballclub and soon. Bay St. Clair has gone 2-8 in April, 15-18 in May and only 7-15 in June. Rondre has lots of potential trade bait with three of the top six hitters in the league. First baseman Maury Smith leads the Tyrobbian Union with a .367 average. He has 14 doubles, 9 homers, 45 runs and 49 RBIs. Smith is a talented fielder, too. Fine fielding second baseman Tony Mann is fifth with a .336 mark, 12 doubles, 3 home runs, 42 runs scored and 29 RBIs and catcher Jake Singleton is sixth with a .335 average, 13 doubles, 1 roundtripper, 28 runs and 25 RBIs. The Buccaneers also have third baseman Bubba Tate, who platoons with Bobby Tracy. Both are over .300 with Tate hitting .336 with 5 home runs, 12 runs and 27 RBIs in 29 starts, while Tracy is batting .310 with 12 runs scored and 18 RBIs in 36 starts. Neither is strong on defense with Tate fielding .907 and Tracy .927. Rounding out the lineup are shortstop Chuck Hankins, who has a .311 average with 5 homers, 33 runs, 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases and center fielder Nickie Friedrichs with a .298 mark and 19 doubles (2nd), 3 triples and no home runs. He has scored 30 times and driven in 22. The final regular is left fielder Charlie Moon, who is hitting only .252, but has 13 doubles, 1 triple, 8 roundtrippers, 36 runs, 26 RBIs and 6 stolen bases, while leading off. Shifting over to Rondre's pitching rotation, he has only one reliable starter, lefthander Norm Gross (7-5 3.37). But he may have found another. Rondre moved his closer Adam Lundgren (2-1 2.75) to a starting role and he chalked up two solid wins. Sean Lawrence (2-7 3.99) and Gary Robinson (4-7 4.35) have the other two starting slots. At least for now. The Bucs have three lefties with Lundgren the only righthander. All total they have six southpaws on the squad. Bay St. Clair's closer is Ken Kazak (0-3 4.32). Ben Crowley (3-6 4.54), Ted Jorgerson (2-5 5.30) and Dennis Coulon (1-2 5.60) are the middle relievers. All of them are portsiders except for Crowley. With a few smart swaps the Buccaneers could really improve the team and cause some problems in the Tycobbian Union West. Another quality starter and a good closer could do it. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-12-2008 at 06:59 PM.