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Eugene Church · 10-18-2008, 12:48 AM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

Around the IPA
Tycobbian Union - East Division

Hard times have fallen on the Ozarka Naturals. They were right at the top of the TU East until June, holding first place much of the time. The Nats played outstanding baseball in May with a 20-12 record, dipped drastically to 12-19 in June and are 12-12 thus far this month. They are currently in fourth place, 7 games off the pace, but still in striking distance of first place.

Manager Joe Mac Carney has a club that is the pits when it comes to hitting. Ozarka is batting a pathetic .239 on the season, the worst in the IPA, but they do top the division with 100 home runs. They are last in runs scored. Pitching-wise the Nats are fifth with a 3.98 ERA and they are next-to-last in defense with a .974 fielding percentage.

Thank goodness, the Naturals have some pitching. Carney has some talent on his staff, headed by his fabulous closer Alex DiMaggio (8-4 1.17) with 10 saves in 32 games, Yasuyuki Nakagawa (10-10 3.36) with 11 complete games and two shutouts, Tony Didriksen (9-7 3.61) with two shutouts and Luther Hatch (9-10 3.68) with 13 complete games. Newcomer Sid Hyder (4-2 3.35) also has done well in his six starts. Recent roster add Billy Krsnich (1-1 1.64) has looked good so far in his seven relief appearances. Krsnich is only 17 and is sloted in middle relief along with Donnie Young (5-8 4.43) and Jackie Cunningham (0-2 4.17). Ozarka has also just signed a 26-year-old righthander Marvin Gunn, who purportedly throws a 95 mph fastball.

The Nats have only three dependable batters: All-Star third sacker Doug Cunningham (.267/22 HR/67 RBI/52 R), second baseman Duane Starr (.291/9 HR/41 R/49 R) and center fielder Teddy Braun (.285/9 HR/31 RBI/54 R). Carney has gotten home runs out of first baseman Floyd Snow (.229/17 HR/54 RBI) and left fielder Ronnie Patterson (.238/16 HR/42 RBI/61 R/23 SB), but very little in way of batting average.

Fourth place is where Ozarka is likely to finish in the standings. Pitching alone can't do it. You have to be able to score runs. The Naturals just don't have the players to do any better.

10-18-2008, 12:48 AM	#501
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,816	The Islandian Times Tuesday, July 24, 2001 Around the IPA Tycobbian Union - East Division Hard times have fallen on the Ozarka Naturals. They were right at the top of the TU East until June, holding first place much of the time. The Nats played outstanding baseball in May with a 20-12 record, dipped drastically to 12-19 in June and are 12-12 thus far this month. They are currently in fourth place, 7 games off the pace, but still in striking distance of first place. Manager Joe Mac Carney has a club that is the pits when it comes to hitting. Ozarka is batting a pathetic .239 on the season, the worst in the IPA, but they do top the division with 100 home runs. They are last in runs scored. Pitching-wise the Nats are fifth with a 3.98 ERA and they are next-to-last in defense with a .974 fielding percentage. Thank goodness, the Naturals have some pitching. Carney has some talent on his staff, headed by his fabulous closer Alex DiMaggio (8-4 1.17) with 10 saves in 32 games, Yasuyuki Nakagawa (10-10 3.36) with 11 complete games and two shutouts, Tony Didriksen (9-7 3.61) with two shutouts and Luther Hatch (9-10 3.68) with 13 complete games. Newcomer Sid Hyder (4-2 3.35) also has done well in his six starts. Recent roster add Billy Krsnich (1-1 1.64) has looked good so far in his seven relief appearances. Krsnich is only 17 and is sloted in middle relief along with Donnie Young (5-8 4.43) and Jackie Cunningham (0-2 4.17). Ozarka has also just signed a 26-year-old righthander Marvin Gunn, who purportedly throws a 95 mph fastball. The Nats have only three dependable batters: All-Star third sacker Doug Cunningham (.267/22 HR/67 RBI/52 R), second baseman Duane Starr (.291/9 HR/41 R/49 R) and center fielder Teddy Braun (.285/9 HR/31 RBI/54 R). Carney has gotten home runs out of first baseman Floyd Snow (.229/17 HR/54 RBI) and left fielder Ronnie Patterson (.238/16 HR/42 RBI/61 R/23 SB), but very little in way of batting average. Fourth place is where Ozarka is likely to finish in the standings. Pitching alone can't do it. You have to be able to score runs. The Naturals just don't have the players to do any better. Last edited by Eugene Church; 10-18-2008 at 12:52 AM.