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

Eugene Church · 12-25-2009, 11:01 PM

The Islandian Times

Monday, June 23, 2008

LaGrange Surprise Team in RU North

The surprise team of the Ruthlandian Union North is the LaGrange Sports. Foxy Jimison's club is hitting at a record .296 clip at mid-season and has a 4-game edge over the Ranford Bulls. LaGrange finished seventh last season and came out of nowhere this year. Third place belongs to the Taranto Tars, who trail by 6 games. Rounding out the first division are the Glasco Athtletics, 7 games off the pace. In fifth place are the Far Mounain Redhawks, 9 games out, followed by the sixth place Kilkenny Cats, 12 games behind. Last year's champs, the Ancona Red Elephants, were decimated by free agents and has sunk down to the seventh spot, 13 back. Valmara has also fallen on hard times and has dropped to the cellar and 17 games to the rear.

Best Team BA – LaGrange Sports .296 (1st)
Most Runs – Taranto Tars 428 (1st)
Most HR – Taranto Tars 107 (1st)
Best Team ERA – Ranford Bulls 3.67 (7th)
Best Team Defense – LaGrange Sports .975 (9th - tied)

Worst Team BA: Valmara Vipers .256 (30th)
Fewest Runs: Ancona Red Elephants 332 (26th)
Fewest HR: Far Mountain 49 (26th)
Worst Team ERA: Ancona Red Elephants 4.58 (30th)
Worst Team Defense: Ranford Bulls .966 (32nd - tied)

LaGrange Sports
Foxy Jimison, Manager
This season: 1st place (45-28)
Last season: 7th place (71-83)

Acquistions were the key to LaGrange's success this year... All-Star LF Quincy Peterson (.317/22 HR/61 RBI) has really added offense and defense... coupled with two more All-Stars in SS Bill Nilsen (.306/12 HR/41 RBI) and CF Karl Perret (.338/10 HR/39 RBI/59 R) and that gives Jimison a solid core of regulars... two quality starters were also added to the staff: Jared Robillard (7-7 4.11) from Valka and Dave Webb (10-7 3.21) from Ancona... The Sports have solid hitters throughout the line-up and they are hitting .296 as a team, highest in IPA history... Pitching is not their strong point with a 4.28 ERA (24th), but LaGrange plays pretty good defense (.975 FA).

Ranford Bulls
Page Satcher, Manager
This season: 2nd Place (41-32)
Last season: 2nd Place (87-67)

As usual Page Satcher has the Ranford Bulls near the top of the RU North, just 4 games out... they had a bad April (10-13), but have since played better than .600 ball... Sacher's staff has the best ERA (3.67) in the division and the second-best BA (.280)... Johnny Joseph (6-2 3.19) and Stanley Ross (8-7 2.85) are his best arms... reliever Sammy Shaw (6-0 1.91) has been brilliant... top bats are LF Jose Castillo (.325/10 HR/45 RBI/43 R) and C Walt Horvath (.335/8 HR/29 RBI/44 R)... 1B Billy Massengale (.276/8 HR/46 RBI) is down from last year.

Taranto Tars
Tomasso Lazzorda, Manager
This season: 3rd Place (39-34)
Last season: 3rd Place (83-71)

Taranto also had a lousy April with an 8-15 mark, but have regrouped and played at a .620 pace in May and June... Hitting is the name of the game in Taranto as the Tars sport a .288 BA (2nd) with 107 homers (1st)... pitching-wise they are only average with a 4.03 ERA (15th)... Lazzorda has two All-Star hitters in 2B Ed Miles (.304/16 HR/55 RBI/53 R) and 1B Pietro Skrmetta (.356/6 HR/39 RBI/55 R)... plus SS Jake Travanti (.324/15 HR/49 RBI), 3B Sal Bruno (.293/7 HR/54 RBI/45 R) and C Norm Polochak (.294/12 HR/38 RBI)... on the mound Taranto's best are Sal Pascioni (10-6 3.77), Chris Hall (5-6 3.11), Carlo Bianchi (7-8 3.15)... reliever Ralph Mauriello (2-0 2.96) has done well, too.

Glasco Athletics
McDuffie Hughes, Manager
This season: 4th Place (38-35)
Last season: 5th Place (77-77)

Glasco has improved its hitting this year with a .277 BA (8th) and 81 homers (6th)... less than average pitching with a 4.15 ERA (19th) and good fielding (.976 FA)... Hughes has only two real arms in starter Felipe Branco (6-5 3.27) and reliever Riley McKeever (4-1 3.12)... at the plate the A's best are CF Aidan Latimer (.319/13 HR/38 RBI/47 R), 3B George Ferguson (.292/14 HR/50 RBI/45 R) and LF Bailey Norcross (.277/7 HR/24 RBI/53 R/22 SB).

Far Mountain Redhawks
Alex Groveland, Manager
This season: 5th place (36-37)
Last season: 5th place (77-77)

Manager Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks have batted quite well this year with a .275 BA (10th), but not with much power... the Redhawks have gone deep only 49 times (26th – tied)... But they have good pitching with a 3.75 ERA (9th)... All-Star 2B Duane Parsons (.316/6 HR/63 RBI/) has had a fine season along with SS Don Nilsen (.309/9 HR/42 RBI/46) and LF Benny Colter (.316/7 HR/48 RBI)... on the hill Groveland's top pitchers are Robby Kelly (8-5 2.67), Steffi Crowder (6-7 3.96) and Leroy Hill (7-8 3.96).

Kilkenny Cats
Kieran McKenna, Manager
This season: 6th Place (33-40)
Last season: 8th Place (68-86)

The Kilkenny Cats have improved quite a bit in talent... Skipper Kieran McKenna picked up a quality CF in Lacey Tompkins (.278/10 HR/45 RBI/41 R) and an All-Star SS in Scooter Perez (.310/2 HR/30 RBI/55 R)... RF Marv Nolan (.319/9 HR/32 RBI/41 R) has come of age this year, too... Gregg Neal (10-6 3.46) heads up the pitching corps... Steve Ohlinger (6-8 3.01) gives Kilkenny another quality starter... The Cats just don't hit well... they are hitting .264 (23rd) with only 58 homers (20th)... the team ERA stands at 3.98 (13th).

Ancona Red Elephants
Manny Mickens, Manager
This season: 7th Place (32-41)
Last season: 1st Place (94-70)

It was a glorious year for Manny Mickens last season... Ancona won more game than anyone in the Ruthlandian Union and Mickens was named the TU Manager of the Year... but this season Ancona lost several important players through free agency... 17-game winner Dave Webb signed with LaGrange... All-Star C Rance Murillo signed with Tuckanarra... and 20-game winner Vern Vidmar (1-3 4.10) has been sidelined for most of the season with a back injury... Mickens has seen his team's ERA shoot up from a fine 3.47 to a dismal 4.58 (30th)... the Red Elephants carry a .271 BA (16th) with 75 homers (10th) and are led by LF Lou DiMucci (.318/13 HR/54 RBI/42 R) and CF Tavi Vakros (.325/13 HR/35 RBI/60 R/15 SB).

Valmara Vipers
J. Jackson Samuel, Manager
This season: 8th Place (28-45)
Last season: 4th Place (78-76)

The proud Valmara Vipers have never finished under .500 in its seven-year existence in the IPA, but it looks like that fine record will come to end this season... Valmara lost two standouts to free agency... its all-time home run leader and Gold Glover 1B Masaichi Okawa and infielder Floyd Vinson, a career .305 batter... free agency has cost them quite a few talented players in the last few years and sent them on a downward spiral... The Vipers hit poorly with a .256 BA (30th), field poorly with a .968 FA and are only average in power with 70 home runs (13th) and in pitching with a 4.14 ERA... Vanya Vasylenko (7-6 4.25) and Greg Turchin (6-6 4.09) are Valmara's best pitchers, while All-Star LF Lou Gdowski (.348/14 HR/57 RBI/50 R) is having a very good season... 3B Joe Courtney (.313/6 HR/35 RI/36 R) has also provided some offense, but not like his glory days in Oxford.

12-25-2009, 11:01 PM	#1430
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,902	The Islandian Times Monday, June 23, 2008 LaGrange Surprise Team in RU North The surprise team of the Ruthlandian Union North is the LaGrange Sports. Foxy Jimison's club is hitting at a record .296 clip at mid-season and has a 4-game edge over the Ranford Bulls. LaGrange finished seventh last season and came out of nowhere this year. Third place belongs to the Taranto Tars, who trail by 6 games. Rounding out the first division are the Glasco Athtletics, 7 games off the pace. In fifth place are the Far Mounain Redhawks, 9 games out, followed by the sixth place Kilkenny Cats, 12 games behind. Last year's champs, the Ancona Red Elephants, were decimated by free agents and has sunk down to the seventh spot, 13 back. Valmara has also fallen on hard times and has dropped to the cellar and 17 games to the rear. Best Team BA – LaGrange Sports .296 (1st) Most Runs – Taranto Tars 428 (1st) Most HR – Taranto Tars 107 (1st) Best Team ERA – Ranford Bulls 3.67 (7th) Best Team Defense – LaGrange Sports .975 (9th - tied) Worst Team BA: Valmara Vipers .256 (30th) Fewest Runs: Ancona Red Elephants 332 (26th) Fewest HR: Far Mountain 49 (26th) Worst Team ERA: Ancona Red Elephants 4.58 (30th) Worst Team Defense: Ranford Bulls .966 (32nd - tied) LaGrange Sports Foxy Jimison, Manager This season: 1st place (45-28) Last season: 7th place (71-83) Acquistions were the key to LaGrange's success this year... All-Star LF Quincy Peterson (.317/22 HR/61 RBI) has really added offense and defense... coupled with two more All-Stars in SS Bill Nilsen (.306/12 HR/41 RBI) and CF Karl Perret (.338/10 HR/39 RBI/59 R) and that gives Jimison a solid core of regulars... two quality starters were also added to the staff: Jared Robillard (7-7 4.11) from Valka and Dave Webb (10-7 3.21) from Ancona... The Sports have solid hitters throughout the line-up and they are hitting .296 as a team, highest in IPA history... Pitching is not their strong point with a 4.28 ERA (24th), but LaGrange plays pretty good defense (.975 FA). Ranford Bulls Page Satcher, Manager This season: 2nd Place (41-32) Last season: 2nd Place (87-67) As usual Page Satcher has the Ranford Bulls near the top of the RU North, just 4 games out... they had a bad April (10-13), but have since played better than .600 ball... Sacher's staff has the best ERA (3.67) in the division and the second-best BA (.280)... Johnny Joseph (6-2 3.19) and Stanley Ross (8-7 2.85) are his best arms... reliever Sammy Shaw (6-0 1.91) has been brilliant... top bats are LF Jose Castillo (.325/10 HR/45 RBI/43 R) and C Walt Horvath (.335/8 HR/29 RBI/44 R)... 1B Billy Massengale (.276/8 HR/46 RBI) is down from last year. Taranto Tars Tomasso Lazzorda, Manager This season: 3rd Place (39-34) Last season: 3rd Place (83-71) Taranto also had a lousy April with an 8-15 mark, but have regrouped and played at a .620 pace in May and June... Hitting is the name of the game in Taranto as the Tars sport a .288 BA (2nd) with 107 homers (1st)... pitching-wise they are only average with a 4.03 ERA (15th)... Lazzorda has two All-Star hitters in 2B Ed Miles (.304/16 HR/55 RBI/53 R) and 1B Pietro Skrmetta (.356/6 HR/39 RBI/55 R)... plus SS Jake Travanti (.324/15 HR/49 RBI), 3B Sal Bruno (.293/7 HR/54 RBI/45 R) and C Norm Polochak (.294/12 HR/38 RBI)... on the mound Taranto's best are Sal Pascioni (10-6 3.77), Chris Hall (5-6 3.11), Carlo Bianchi (7-8 3.15)... reliever Ralph Mauriello (2-0 2.96) has done well, too. Glasco Athletics McDuffie Hughes, Manager This season: 4th Place (38-35) Last season: 5th Place (77-77) Glasco has improved its hitting this year with a .277 BA (8th) and 81 homers (6th)... less than average pitching with a 4.15 ERA (19th) and good fielding (.976 FA)... Hughes has only two real arms in starter Felipe Branco (6-5 3.27) and reliever Riley McKeever (4-1 3.12)... at the plate the A's best are CF Aidan Latimer (.319/13 HR/38 RBI/47 R), 3B George Ferguson (.292/14 HR/50 RBI/45 R) and LF Bailey Norcross (.277/7 HR/24 RBI/53 R/22 SB). Far Mountain Redhawks Alex Groveland, Manager This season: 5th place (36-37) Last season: 5th place (77-77) Manager Alex Groveland's Far Mountain Redhawks have batted quite well this year with a .275 BA (10th), but not with much power... the Redhawks have gone deep only 49 times (26th – tied)... But they have good pitching with a 3.75 ERA (9th)... All-Star 2B Duane Parsons (.316/6 HR/63 RBI/) has had a fine season along with SS Don Nilsen (.309/9 HR/42 RBI/46) and LF Benny Colter (.316/7 HR/48 RBI)... on the hill Groveland's top pitchers are Robby Kelly (8-5 2.67), Steffi Crowder (6-7 3.96) and Leroy Hill (7-8 3.96). Kilkenny Cats Kieran McKenna, Manager This season: 6th Place (33-40) Last season: 8th Place (68-86) The Kilkenny Cats have improved quite a bit in talent... Skipper Kieran McKenna picked up a quality CF in Lacey Tompkins (.278/10 HR/45 RBI/41 R) and an All-Star SS in Scooter Perez (.310/2 HR/30 RBI/55 R)... RF Marv Nolan (.319/9 HR/32 RBI/41 R) has come of age this year, too... Gregg Neal (10-6 3.46) heads up the pitching corps... Steve Ohlinger (6-8 3.01) gives Kilkenny another quality starter... The Cats just don't hit well... they are hitting .264 (23rd) with only 58 homers (20th)... the team ERA stands at 3.98 (13th). Ancona Red Elephants Manny Mickens, Manager This season: 7th Place (32-41) Last season: 1st Place (94-70) It was a glorious year for Manny Mickens last season... Ancona won more game than anyone in the Ruthlandian Union and Mickens was named the TU Manager of the Year... but this season Ancona lost several important players through free agency... 17-game winner Dave Webb signed with LaGrange... All-Star C Rance Murillo signed with Tuckanarra... and 20-game winner Vern Vidmar (1-3 4.10) has been sidelined for most of the season with a back injury... Mickens has seen his team's ERA shoot up from a fine 3.47 to a dismal 4.58 (30th)... the Red Elephants carry a .271 BA (16th) with 75 homers (10th) and are led by LF Lou DiMucci (.318/13 HR/54 RBI/42 R) and CF Tavi Vakros (.325/13 HR/35 RBI/60 R/15 SB). Valmara Vipers J. Jackson Samuel, Manager This season: 8th Place (28-45) Last season: 4th Place (78-76) The proud Valmara Vipers have never finished under .500 in its seven-year existence in the IPA, but it looks like that fine record will come to end this season... Valmara lost two standouts to free agency... its all-time home run leader and Gold Glover 1B Masaichi Okawa and infielder Floyd Vinson, a career .305 batter... free agency has cost them quite a few talented players in the last few years and sent them on a downward spiral... The Vipers hit poorly with a .256 BA (30th), field poorly with a .968 FA and are only average in power with 70 home runs (13th) and in pitching with a 4.14 ERA... Vanya Vasylenko (7-6 4.25) and Greg Turchin (6-6 4.09) are Valmara's best pitchers, while All-Star LF Lou Gdowski (.348/14 HR/57 RBI/50 R) is having a very good season... 3B Joe Courtney (.313/6 HR/35 RI/36 R) has also provided some offense, but not like his glory days in Oxford. Last edited by Eugene Church; 12-26-2009 at 01:47 PM.