OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

Eugene Church · 09-07-2009, 08:54 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, April 4, 2005

BNN Preseason Poll 2005

Tycobbian Union East Division
The Tycobbian Union East provided the IPA Pro Cup champion last season. The Red Bluff Red Sox under the guidance of septuagenian Mack Connery won the whole kit and caboodle in 2004 despite winning the fewest games of any divisional winners. The defending champs played in the the best-balanced division in the IPA where only 16 games separated the first place Red Sox and the last place Hillsboro Blazers. Maybe they were toughened up during the regular season and well-seasoned for the postseason.

Connery has shaped a solid ball club with very good starters, decent hitting and good chemistry. The Red Sox trio of Milo Mohoski (21-10 2.36), Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77) and Frank Beaudoin (16-13 3.12) give Connery one of the best rotations in the league, coupled with a reliable closer John Dougherty. Red Bluff seems destined for its third division crown in a row.

Cochise Chandler's Midway Wolves were third last season, 4.5 games out of first place. This season they are picked to give Red Bluff a run for their money. Chandler has solid group of four starters - Mac Chaney (19-10 3.66), Nosyt Sani (15-14 3.20), Pedro Shunkaha (13-10 3.38) and C. J. Carper (13-13 3.98). Midway also has a standout closer in Joe Eckermann (4-3 1.80), who saved 24 games and made 59 appearances. The Wolves have the offense to compete with the Red Sox, they just need a few more good arms in middle relief to get the job done. Midway came up second in the BNN poll.

If Frisky Franks ever get any pitching help in High Mesa, the Cowboys could do grave damage in the pennant race. Hitting for average and power and scoring runs is no problem for them. High Mesa led the IPA with a .276 team batting average and runs scored (795), while coming in second to Oxford with 171 home runs. The Cowboys are paced by four .300 hitters: Rolf Kellgren (.338/13 HR/69 RBI/123 R), Ed Granberg (.321/20 HR/116 RBI/107 R), Jay Fessler (.330/10 HR/71 RBI/94 R) and Ken Edelstein (.303/14 HR/100 RBI). Franks also has longball power from Adam Zitek (.263/29 HR/96 RBI) and Lex Neville (.273/24 HR/79 RBI). It's another story on the hill, though. High Mesa finished way down the list with a 4.27 ERA. John Owens (20-14 3.89) and Joey Popovich (18-19 3.78) are the only two dependable hurlers Franks has. The BNN experts are predicting a third-place finish for the Cowboys this season, up from the number four position last year.

In East Point Griff Clarke's Panthers are poised to improve. East Point has a strong starting threesome in its rotation and solid offense. It wouldn't take much for them to climb up in the standings. The Panthers could end up anywhere from second to fifth in the TU East race. Charlie Hale (18-14 3.09), Jarred Robillard (18-14 3.13) and Carl Thompson (16-11 3.88) are the keys to a good season. Clarke still has his studs in the line-up. Sluggers Karol Zadoka (.296/30 HR/94 RBI/109 R) and Rex Sokolov (.280/32 HR/116 RBI/87 R) are still around to spark the offense in a big way. The forecast for East Point is fourth place.

Last year's runner-up, the Tuckanarra Blue Jays, seems to have taken a step or two backwards in 2005 and are rated number five in the preseason balloting. It's tough for skipper Carlton "Lefty" Stevens to contend with just five quality ballplayers. Mike Amato (16-12 3.67) and Titus Bristow (16-17 3.15) are his prime pitchers and Monty Draycott (.267/23 HR/112 RBI), Charley Schofield (.284/23 HR/84 RBI) and Maka Bardinda (.298/14 HR/80 RBI) lead the Blue Jay batters.

South Fork and Ozarka are slated for a sixth and seventh place finish. Both have pretty fair pitching, but poor power. The Stallions (86) and Naturals (91) need vast improvement in homers to make any waves in the TU East. Hillsboro was cellar-bound in 2004 and could be headed for the dungeon again. Lousy pitching (4.72 ERA) is at the core of the Blazers problems. Until they get better pitching, Hillsboro will remain at the bottom of the division.

Prediction: Team (Last Year)
1. Red Bluff Red Sox (1st)
2. Midway Wolves (3rd)
3. High Mesa Cowboys (4th)
4. East Point Panthers (5th)
5. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (2nd)
6. South Fork Stallions (6th)
7. Ozarka Naturals (7th)
8. Hillsboro Blazers (8th)

09-07-2009, 08:54 PM	#1199
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,902	The Islandian Times Monday, April 4, 2005 BNN Preseason Poll 2005 Tycobbian Union East Division The Tycobbian Union East provided the IPA Pro Cup champion last season. The Red Bluff Red Sox under the guidance of septuagenian Mack Connery won the whole kit and caboodle in 2004 despite winning the fewest games of any divisional winners. The defending champs played in the the best-balanced division in the IPA where only 16 games separated the first place Red Sox and the last place Hillsboro Blazers. Maybe they were toughened up during the regular season and well-seasoned for the postseason. Connery has shaped a solid ball club with very good starters, decent hitting and good chemistry. The Red Sox trio of Milo Mohoski (21-10 2.36), Leonard Urban (18-13 2.77) and Frank Beaudoin (16-13 3.12) give Connery one of the best rotations in the league, coupled with a reliable closer John Dougherty. Red Bluff seems destined for its third division crown in a row. Cochise Chandler's Midway Wolves were third last season, 4.5 games out of first place. This season they are picked to give Red Bluff a run for their money. Chandler has solid group of four starters - Mac Chaney (19-10 3.66), Nosyt Sani (15-14 3.20), Pedro Shunkaha (13-10 3.38) and C. J. Carper (13-13 3.98). Midway also has a standout closer in Joe Eckermann (4-3 1.80), who saved 24 games and made 59 appearances. The Wolves have the offense to compete with the Red Sox, they just need a few more good arms in middle relief to get the job done. Midway came up second in the BNN poll. If Frisky Franks ever get any pitching help in High Mesa, the Cowboys could do grave damage in the pennant race. Hitting for average and power and scoring runs is no problem for them. High Mesa led the IPA with a .276 team batting average and runs scored (795), while coming in second to Oxford with 171 home runs. The Cowboys are paced by four .300 hitters: Rolf Kellgren (.338/13 HR/69 RBI/123 R), Ed Granberg (.321/20 HR/116 RBI/107 R), Jay Fessler (.330/10 HR/71 RBI/94 R) and Ken Edelstein (.303/14 HR/100 RBI). Franks also has longball power from Adam Zitek (.263/29 HR/96 RBI) and Lex Neville (.273/24 HR/79 RBI). It's another story on the hill, though. High Mesa finished way down the list with a 4.27 ERA. John Owens (20-14 3.89) and Joey Popovich (18-19 3.78) are the only two dependable hurlers Franks has. The BNN experts are predicting a third-place finish for the Cowboys this season, up from the number four position last year. In East Point Griff Clarke's Panthers are poised to improve. East Point has a strong starting threesome in its rotation and solid offense. It wouldn't take much for them to climb up in the standings. The Panthers could end up anywhere from second to fifth in the TU East race. Charlie Hale (18-14 3.09), Jarred Robillard (18-14 3.13) and Carl Thompson (16-11 3.88) are the keys to a good season. Clarke still has his studs in the line-up. Sluggers Karol Zadoka (.296/30 HR/94 RBI/109 R) and Rex Sokolov (.280/32 HR/116 RBI/87 R) are still around to spark the offense in a big way. The forecast for East Point is fourth place. Last year's runner-up, the Tuckanarra Blue Jays, seems to have taken a step or two backwards in 2005 and are rated number five in the preseason balloting. It's tough for skipper Carlton "Lefty" Stevens to contend with just five quality ballplayers. Mike Amato (16-12 3.67) and Titus Bristow (16-17 3.15) are his prime pitchers and Monty Draycott (.267/23 HR/112 RBI), Charley Schofield (.284/23 HR/84 RBI) and Maka Bardinda (.298/14 HR/80 RBI) lead the Blue Jay batters. South Fork and Ozarka are slated for a sixth and seventh place finish. Both have pretty fair pitching, but poor power. The Stallions (86) and Naturals (91) need vast improvement in homers to make any waves in the TU East. Hillsboro was cellar-bound in 2004 and could be headed for the dungeon again. Lousy pitching (4.72 ERA) is at the core of the Blazers problems. Until they get better pitching, Hillsboro will remain at the bottom of the division. Prediction: Team (Last Year) 1. Red Bluff Red Sox (1st) 2. Midway Wolves (3rd) 3. High Mesa Cowboys (4th) 4. East Point Panthers (5th) 5. Tuckanarra Blue Jays (2nd) 6. South Fork Stallions (6th) 7. Ozarka Naturals (7th) 8. Hillsboro Blazers (8th)