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

Eugene Church · 11-02-2009, 02:46 PM

Middlefield RU West Midseason Leader, 4 Games Over Volusia

The defending IPA Pro Cup champion, the Middlefield Roosters, are on atop the Ruthlandian West at the midseason mark, 4 games up on second place Volusia. Forest City is third 9 games out, followed by Sligo, which trails by 10 games.

Just like they did last year Smitty Michaels' Rattlers are pounding their way to the pennant. Sugar Valley (46-26) leads everybody offensively with a .285 batting average (1st), 112 homers (2nd) and 440 runs (1st). And just like last year they are near the bottom in getting people out with a 4.39 team ERA.

Michaels has three .300 hitters in RF Cecil Clark (.321), 3B Charlie Gamble (.311) and C Mike Kanjorsky (.302). Add in All-Star rookie 2B Sammy Ragsdale (.293) and rookie CF Zeb Baker (.288) and you have a run-scoring machine. Gamble has 23 homers and 64 RBIs, Ragsdale 18 home runs and 52 RBIs and Baker 14 roundtrippers and 46 RBIs. However Middlefield will be missing its terrific CF Bailey Norcross until September or October because of injury. Norcross went out in early June with a .303 batting average, 15 homers and 54 RBIs. In addition, he patrolled the outfield like a Gold Glover. Without him the Roosters are missing a great bat and a great glove. Middlefield's loss is Volusia's gain - the Vigilantes are just four games behind them.

One reason for the high ERA is the fact that Middlefield Park is one of the smallest stadiums in the IPA and is a "home run heaven". Starters Jamie Hicks (9-6 4.50), Joshua Jackson (9-4 4.58) and Dave Webb (6-3 3.83) are better pitchers than the stats show. Michaels has added Denny Yarrow (5-0 1.61) to his starting rotation and he has been sensational in three starts so far. The Roosters are in dire need of late-inning relievers.

Volusia manager Alfonso Feliz has a club that can compete with Middlefield in everything but power. The V's (42-30) are batting .280 (3rd), but have only 52 home runs (24th). If good pitching beats good hitting, then the Vigilantes should do well. Feliz's mound corps is strong with starters Carl Schmitz (10-4 2.77), Hernando Esperados (10-5 2.89), Todd Wolfe (9-7 3.04) and Jose Gonzales (6-2 3.32). And to keep things in its proper perspective, Silver River Stadium ("The Jailhouse") is a pitcher's paradise with its huge dimensions.

Volusia's top bats are All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.327) with 10 homers, 48 RBIs and 55 runs, RF Briscoe Crowder (.309) with 6 home runs, 47 RBIs and 47 runs and SS Scooter Perez (.306) with one dinger, 26 RBIs and 51 runs scored.

The third place Forest City Lumberjacks (37-35), piloted by Robby Jackson, are 9 games in back of Middlefield. The 'Jacks carry a .270 team average (10th) with 77 roundtrippers (6th) and a 3.94 ERA (15th). Jackson's club is not in the class of Middlefield and Volusia.

Offensively Forest City is led by All-Star SS J. T. Edmonds (.307) with 14 homers, 49 RBIs and 47 runs scored, 1B Andy Doiron (.311) with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs and RF Chuck Hill (.293) with 12 homers and 36 runs batted in. The Lumberjacks top pitchers are Al Thibaut (11-2 2.82), Knucks Nomellini (8-9 3.80) and the newly-acquired Pedro Shunkaha (8-4 3.55). Shunkaha was obtained in June from the Midway Wolves of the Tycobbian Union. Forest City has a good set of starters, but Jackson needs help in the bullpen.

The Sligo Rovers (36-36), guided by Eddie Keys, are in fourth place in the RU West race and 10 games off the pace. The Rovers are a little above average ball club with a .270 batting average (9th), 65 homers (12th - tied) and a 3.69 team ERA (10th).

Keys has a good starting foursome in Paul Waskins (3-5 2.19), Dex Edenborough (9-4 3.90), Razzy Raziano (6-8 3.43) and Billy Brewster (6-5 3.74). Waskins has really pitched well, but rarely gets the decision. He has made 17 starts with 9 no-decisions. Sligo also has a good bullpen. Batting-wise All-Star rookie 3B Robby Franklin (.299) is the leader with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 50 runs. Franklin has gotten help from rookie RF James Melton (.308) with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in and 1B Gary Shives (.258) with 11 homers and 43 RBIs.

The Rocky Rapids Snappers (35-37) and Stoner Stars (35-37) are tied for fifth. The Snappers have compiled a .271 batting average (8th) with 53 home runs (22nd) and a poor 4.24 ERA (24th). The Stars are hitting only .261 (17th), but have 68 roundtrippers (8th). On the mound Stoner is atrocious with a sky-high 4.62 ERA (31st).

Rocky Rapids manager Ryan Noland only had two dependable hurlers. All-Star starter Ernie Watkins has blossomed this year with a 12-6 record and a great 2.35 ERA. Closer Doyle Chadwick (3-4 3.62) has also been effective with 16 saves.

The Snapper main run producers are 3B Phil Cates (.337) with 7 homers, 33 RBI and 49 runs, LF Scott Camden (.261) with 11 home runs and 36 runs batted in, 2B Archie Jackman (.296) with 7 roundtrippers and 36 RBIs and SS Travis Belton (.337) with 1 dinger and 29 RBIs.

Willie Dickens pilots the Stoner Stars. He has terrible pitching with a 4.62 ERA (31st) and only average hitting (.261 - 17th) with decent power (69 homers - 8th). Stoner's best arms are Paul Sakarian (6-6 4.28), Dave Pierre (7-4 4.40) and Erich Schrader (7-6 4.93). At the plate the main contributors have been 3B Allen Black (.310) with 15 home runs, 46 runs and 52 RBIs, RF Dutch Rheinecker (.319) with 10 homers and 45 runs driven in and C Benny Stern (.282) with 13 homers, 44 runs and 41 RBIs.

Not much you can say about the Fort Benton Defenders (32-40). It is another dismal year for skipper Robbie Brooks with the Defenders down near the bottom of the standings in seventh place and 14 games out. His club is hitting only .239 (32nd) with little power (47 home runs - 27th), but they do fairly well on the hill with a 3.96 ERA (16th).

Fort Benton does feature an All-Star pitcher in closer Eddy Walker (2-2 1.42), who has chalked up 13 saves and a very good starter in Leroy Hill (7-7 2.48). Ivan Gloeckner has a fine 11-6 record, but carries a high 4.44 ERA.

The Defenders best bats are LF Carl McCord (.266) with 6 home runs, 49 runs scored and 39 batted in and SS Leon Flynn (.247) with a team high 8 roundtrippers, 34 RBIs and 37 runs.

It's been a down year for Clem Rogers, manager of the Colfax Blasters (31-41). The Blasters are coming their best season ever. Last year they finished up in third place and were expecting better things this year, but it hasn't happened. Colfax has fallen into the cellar and are 15 games behind in the race. It may get better for Rogers in the second half as he had traded for two fine Tycobbian Union performers in CF Paul Coniglio from Denton City and SS Warren Lee from Fairfax.

Colfax sports a .261 team batting average with 63 homers (14th) and a 3.86 ERA (13th). Pitching is Rogers' strong point with two excellent starters in Ilya Szabo (7-8 2.69) and Vito Incardona (7-3 3.14). Tommy Fuller (6-8 3.89) and Jasper LaForge (5-9 4.05) are effective starters as well. The Blaster bullpen is non-existent.

Rogers had tried many line-ups so far in an attempt to find some offense. LF Chris Carroll (.293) has been his only solid contributor with 17 roundtrippers and 49 RBIs. Rogers is banking that Coniglio (.254) and Lee (.357) will perk up the offense.

11-02-2009, 02:46 PM	#1294
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,988	Middlefield RU West Midseason Leader, 4 Games Over Volusia The defending IPA Pro Cup champion, the Middlefield Roosters, are on atop the Ruthlandian West at the midseason mark, 4 games up on second place Volusia. Forest City is third 9 games out, followed by Sligo, which trails by 10 games. Just like they did last year Smitty Michaels' Rattlers are pounding their way to the pennant. Sugar Valley (46-26) leads everybody offensively with a .285 batting average (1st), 112 homers (2nd) and 440 runs (1st). And just like last year they are near the bottom in getting people out with a 4.39 team ERA. Michaels has three .300 hitters in RF Cecil Clark (.321), 3B Charlie Gamble (.311) and C Mike Kanjorsky (.302). Add in All-Star rookie 2B Sammy Ragsdale (.293) and rookie CF Zeb Baker (.288) and you have a run-scoring machine. Gamble has 23 homers and 64 RBIs, Ragsdale 18 home runs and 52 RBIs and Baker 14 roundtrippers and 46 RBIs. However Middlefield will be missing its terrific CF Bailey Norcross until September or October because of injury. Norcross went out in early June with a .303 batting average, 15 homers and 54 RBIs. In addition, he patrolled the outfield like a Gold Glover. Without him the Roosters are missing a great bat and a great glove. Middlefield's loss is Volusia's gain - the Vigilantes are just four games behind them. One reason for the high ERA is the fact that Middlefield Park is one of the smallest stadiums in the IPA and is a "home run heaven". Starters Jamie Hicks (9-6 4.50), Joshua Jackson (9-4 4.58) and Dave Webb (6-3 3.83) are better pitchers than the stats show. Michaels has added Denny Yarrow (5-0 1.61) to his starting rotation and he has been sensational in three starts so far. The Roosters are in dire need of late-inning relievers. Volusia manager Alfonso Feliz has a club that can compete with Middlefield in everything but power. The V's (42-30) are batting .280 (3rd), but have only 52 home runs (24th). If good pitching beats good hitting, then the Vigilantes should do well. Feliz's mound corps is strong with starters Carl Schmitz (10-4 2.77), Hernando Esperados (10-5 2.89), Todd Wolfe (9-7 3.04) and Jose Gonzales (6-2 3.32). And to keep things in its proper perspective, Silver River Stadium ("The Jailhouse") is a pitcher's paradise with its huge dimensions. Volusia's top bats are All-Star CF Ryan Raines (.327) with 10 homers, 48 RBIs and 55 runs, RF Briscoe Crowder (.309) with 6 home runs, 47 RBIs and 47 runs and SS Scooter Perez (.306) with one dinger, 26 RBIs and 51 runs scored. The third place Forest City Lumberjacks (37-35), piloted by Robby Jackson, are 9 games in back of Middlefield. The 'Jacks carry a .270 team average (10th) with 77 roundtrippers (6th) and a 3.94 ERA (15th). Jackson's club is not in the class of Middlefield and Volusia. Offensively Forest City is led by All-Star SS J. T. Edmonds (.307) with 14 homers, 49 RBIs and 47 runs scored, 1B Andy Doiron (.311) with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs and RF Chuck Hill (.293) with 12 homers and 36 runs batted in. The Lumberjacks top pitchers are Al Thibaut (11-2 2.82), Knucks Nomellini (8-9 3.80) and the newly-acquired Pedro Shunkaha (8-4 3.55). Shunkaha was obtained in June from the Midway Wolves of the Tycobbian Union. Forest City has a good set of starters, but Jackson needs help in the bullpen. The Sligo Rovers (36-36), guided by Eddie Keys, are in fourth place in the RU West race and 10 games off the pace. The Rovers are a little above average ball club with a .270 batting average (9th), 65 homers (12th - tied) and a 3.69 team ERA (10th). Keys has a good starting foursome in Paul Waskins (3-5 2.19), Dex Edenborough (9-4 3.90), Razzy Raziano (6-8 3.43) and Billy Brewster (6-5 3.74). Waskins has really pitched well, but rarely gets the decision. He has made 17 starts with 9 no-decisions. Sligo also has a good bullpen. Batting-wise All-Star rookie 3B Robby Franklin (.299) is the leader with 15 homers, 49 RBIs and 50 runs. Franklin has gotten help from rookie RF James Melton (.308) with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in and 1B Gary Shives (.258) with 11 homers and 43 RBIs. The Rocky Rapids Snappers (35-37) and Stoner Stars (35-37) are tied for fifth. The Snappers have compiled a .271 batting average (8th) with 53 home runs (22nd) and a poor 4.24 ERA (24th). The Stars are hitting only .261 (17th), but have 68 roundtrippers (8th). On the mound Stoner is atrocious with a sky-high 4.62 ERA (31st). Rocky Rapids manager Ryan Noland only had two dependable hurlers. All-Star starter Ernie Watkins has blossomed this year with a 12-6 record and a great 2.35 ERA. Closer Doyle Chadwick (3-4 3.62) has also been effective with 16 saves. The Snapper main run producers are 3B Phil Cates (.337) with 7 homers, 33 RBI and 49 runs, LF Scott Camden (.261) with 11 home runs and 36 runs batted in, 2B Archie Jackman (.296) with 7 roundtrippers and 36 RBIs and SS Travis Belton (.337) with 1 dinger and 29 RBIs. Willie Dickens pilots the Stoner Stars. He has terrible pitching with a 4.62 ERA (31st) and only average hitting (.261 - 17th) with decent power (69 homers - 8th). Stoner's best arms are Paul Sakarian (6-6 4.28), Dave Pierre (7-4 4.40) and Erich Schrader (7-6 4.93). At the plate the main contributors have been 3B Allen Black (.310) with 15 home runs, 46 runs and 52 RBIs, RF Dutch Rheinecker (.319) with 10 homers and 45 runs driven in and C Benny Stern (.282) with 13 homers, 44 runs and 41 RBIs. Not much you can say about the Fort Benton Defenders (32-40). It is another dismal year for skipper Robbie Brooks with the Defenders down near the bottom of the standings in seventh place and 14 games out. His club is hitting only .239 (32nd) with little power (47 home runs - 27th), but they do fairly well on the hill with a 3.96 ERA (16th). Fort Benton does feature an All-Star pitcher in closer Eddy Walker (2-2 1.42), who has chalked up 13 saves and a very good starter in Leroy Hill (7-7 2.48). Ivan Gloeckner has a fine 11-6 record, but carries a high 4.44 ERA. The Defenders best bats are LF Carl McCord (.266) with 6 home runs, 49 runs scored and 39 batted in and SS Leon Flynn (.247) with a team high 8 roundtrippers, 34 RBIs and 37 runs. It's been a down year for Clem Rogers, manager of the Colfax Blasters (31-41). The Blasters are coming their best season ever. Last year they finished up in third place and were expecting better things this year, but it hasn't happened. Colfax has fallen into the cellar and are 15 games behind in the race. It may get better for Rogers in the second half as he had traded for two fine Tycobbian Union performers in CF Paul Coniglio from Denton City and SS Warren Lee from Fairfax. Colfax sports a .261 team batting average with 63 homers (14th) and a 3.86 ERA (13th). Pitching is Rogers' strong point with two excellent starters in Ilya Szabo (7-8 2.69) and Vito Incardona (7-3 3.14). Tommy Fuller (6-8 3.89) and Jasper LaForge (5-9 4.05) are effective starters as well. The Blaster bullpen is non-existent. Rogers had tried many line-ups so far in an attempt to find some offense. LF Chris Carroll (.293) has been his only solid contributor with 17 roundtrippers and 49 RBIs. Rogers is banking that Coniglio (.254) and Lee (.357) will perk up the offense.