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Eugene Church · 06-06-2011, 07:05 PM

The Islandian Times
Tuesday, June 18, 2024

2024 Ruthlandian West Mid-Season Recap

Roosters Still Rule Roost In RU West
The defending Ruthlandian West titleholder Middlefield Roosters are still atop the division by a 3-game margin over Rocky Rapids and Sligo. The Forest City Lumberjacks are a close fourth, 4 games behind. Fifth-place Volusia and sixth-place Stoner are 6 and 7 games out respectively, but not likely to challenge in the race.

The Middlefield Roosters (39-34) are the only winning team in the weak RU West... manager Bailey Norcross still depends heavily on firepower with 97 homers (1st), but it has been better pitching the last two years that have really made the difference... the Roosters do well if the team ERA is under 4.00... this season it's an effective 3.57 ERA (16th)... with three capable starters Frank Dean (7-6 3.17), Danny Denver (7-6 3.28) and Glenn Tackett (6-8 3.41), Middlefield is usually in every ball game... closer Waylon Hillman (2-2 2.03) is a big plus, too, with 12 saves... at the plate the Roosters are led by LF Floyd McClellan (.330 BA/16 HR/51 RBI/43 R) and 1B Allan Stewart (.272 BA/26 HR/52 RBI/48 R)... Stewart is the home-run leader in the RU... Middlefield is the best team in a mediocre division.

Rocky Rapids (36-27) and Sligo are tied for the runner-up spot and trail Middlefield by 3 games... Ryan Noland's club is short on pitching except for two decent starters in Don Chaney (9-8 2.43) and Wilcy Lord (8-6 3.48)... 15-year veteran Chaney at age 35 is closing in on 300 wins with a 273-199 record and a 3.03 ERA... the Snappers are only average in hitting with a 2.53 BA (14th) and 53 home runs (14th)... top hitters are LF Rob Barton (.346 BA/2 HR/34 RBI/41 R), 1B Angelo Nardone (.319 BA/13 HR/45 RBI) and CF Tiger Noland (.287 BA/17 HR/37 RBI/44 R)... vet 2B Paul Shelton still drives in runs with 10 homers and 46 RBIs, but is hitting only .245 for average.

Eddie Keys' Sligo Rovers (36-37) were a truly fine team in back-to-back seasons 2021 and 2022 with brilliant pitching... the Rovers even won the Pro Cup in 2021 and were eliminated by the eventual IPA champion Crystal Lake the next year... but Keys no longer has four outstanding starters... three of them are still around, but Luka Abromowitz was traded to Midway last year... Sam Tate (11-6 3.10), Les Patterson (7-6 3.42) and Ralph Okakota (8-6 3.60) still do well, but are not as dominant as in those special seasons... Abromowitz is greatly missed... he is 9-3 with a 2.82 ERA with the first place Midway Wolves in the TU East... apparently Abromowitz is not over-the-hill at 35... Sligo had better hitting in those years, too... The Rovers were the top team in the IPA and looked like they might become a dynasty... but it didn't happen... 2B Garlin Delk (.277 BA/8 HR/40 RBI) and LF Biff Blauer (.308 BA/3 HR/36 RBI) are Keys' only reliable bats.

Fourth place in the RU West belongs to the Forest City Lumberjacks (35-38)... Rob Jackson and his 'Jacks are 4 games off the pace... Jackson has average offense and is only fair on the hill... LF Ryan Ray (.290 BA/15 HR/43 RBI), C George Arnick (.316 BA/4 HR/29 RBI), 2B Jackie Jackson (.306 BA/6 HR/32 RBI) and CF Luc St. Germain (.299 BA/4 HR/29 RBI/49 R) provides the offense... Norm Dawson (8-7 2.79) leads the mound corps.

The Volusia Vigilantes (33-40) have not been to the IPA playoffs since 2017 and this streak has a great chance to continue... the V's are in fifth place and 6 games back in the race... skipper Alfonso Feliz has impressive pitching this year, but not much in the way of offense... Duane Jenkins (9-4 2.95) and Rio Lobo (5-4 2.94) have been sharp as starters... Sixto Moreno (4-10 3.24) is suffering from a lack of run support, but is an effective starter... closer Jaime San Carlos (4-6) has done well with a great 1.80 ERA and 7 saves... 12-year-vet CF Joe DeLucca (.293 BA/9 HR/30 RBI/40 R) is the only decent hitter in the line-up.

The Stoner Stars (32-41) are sixth in the RU West and 6 games behind first place Middlefield... Benny Stern has average pitching, but poor hitting... Billy Chapel (8-7 3.82) and Kirk Robbins (9-8 3.76) are the Stars top starters... Stern has an excellent bullpen with a 1.90 ERA (2nd), led by Frank Robicheaux (0.90), Myron Wood (1.32), Bill Mayes (1.47) and Joel Shepard (2.19)... CF Al Rispone is the only threat in the batting order... Rispone is batting .325 with 6 homers and 37 RBIs.

Clem Rogers and his Colfax Blasters (30-43) are next-to-last and 9 games behind... it's been 8 years since the the Blasters last made the postseason... prior to then, Rogers had a powerhouse that won 7 flags and one Pro Cup in 9 years... it's tough to contend with average arms and mediocre bats... Cliff James (7-10 2.53) and 40-year-old Yuka Nawajuk (9-8 3.67) have been the most consistent starters with 1B Doug Kirkwood (.305 BA/5 HR/44 R) and RF Glen Smith (.318 BA/5 HR/33 RBI) sporting the best bats.

The Fort Benton Defenders (29-44) are headed straight for another last-place finish... this will make it 4 seasons in a row in the RU West basement for manager Robbie Brooks... the Defenders are 10 games out... starter Nick Walker (7-8 3.03) and closer Edd Farmer (1-2 1.82 ERA) with 14 saves top the twirlers... 3B Aino Vaba (.276 BA/8 HR/33 RBI) and 1B Stretch Stookey (.285 BA/4 HR/33 RBI) are the top bats, but not very much to brag about.

Ruthlandian West Forecast:
The Middlefield Roosters clearly look the best in the weak RU West and should take the pennant easily... the Roosters have three solid starters and can go deep at the plate... but don't expect them to be a high seed in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... Rocky Rapids and Sligo will duke it out for the runner-up spot.. both have quality starters, but not enough offense to overtake Middlefield... fourth place will be a contest between Stoner and Volusia... both teams have poor bats and so-so pitching... Colfax will be seventh and Fort Benton last again... neither club has much of anything.

06-06-2011, 07:05 PM	#2561
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,049	*The Islandian Times* Tuesday, June 18, 2024 2024 Ruthlandian West Mid-Season Recap Roosters Still Rule Roost In RU West The defending Ruthlandian West titleholder Middlefield Roosters are still atop the division by a 3-game margin over Rocky Rapids and Sligo. The Forest City Lumberjacks are a close fourth, 4 games behind. Fifth-place Volusia and sixth-place Stoner are 6 and 7 games out respectively, but not likely to challenge in the race. The Middlefield Roosters (39-34) are the only winning team in the weak RU West... manager Bailey Norcross still depends heavily on firepower with 97 homers (1st), but it has been better pitching the last two years that have really made the difference... the Roosters do well if the team ERA is under 4.00... this season it's an effective 3.57 ERA (16th)... with three capable starters Frank Dean (7-6 3.17), Danny Denver (7-6 3.28) and Glenn Tackett (6-8 3.41), Middlefield is usually in every ball game... closer Waylon Hillman (2-2 2.03) is a big plus, too, with 12 saves... at the plate the Roosters are led by LF Floyd McClellan (.330 BA/16 HR/51 RBI/43 R) and 1B Allan Stewart (.272 BA/26 HR/52 RBI/48 R)... Stewart is the home-run leader in the RU... Middlefield is the best team in a mediocre division. Rocky Rapids (36-27) and Sligo are tied for the runner-up spot and trail Middlefield by 3 games... Ryan Noland's club is short on pitching except for two decent starters in Don Chaney (9-8 2.43) and Wilcy Lord (8-6 3.48)... 15-year veteran Chaney at age 35 is closing in on 300 wins with a 273-199 record and a 3.03 ERA... the Snappers are only average in hitting with a 2.53 BA (14th) and 53 home runs (14th)... top hitters are LF Rob Barton (.346 BA/2 HR/34 RBI/41 R), 1B Angelo Nardone (.319 BA/13 HR/45 RBI) and CF Tiger Noland (.287 BA/17 HR/37 RBI/44 R)... vet 2B Paul Shelton still drives in runs with 10 homers and 46 RBIs, but is hitting only .245 for average. Eddie Keys' Sligo Rovers (36-37) were a truly fine team in back-to-back seasons 2021 and 2022 with brilliant pitching... the Rovers even won the Pro Cup in 2021 and were eliminated by the eventual IPA champion Crystal Lake the next year... but Keys no longer has four outstanding starters... three of them are still around, but Luka Abromowitz was traded to Midway last year... Sam Tate (11-6 3.10), Les Patterson (7-6 3.42) and Ralph Okakota (8-6 3.60) still do well, but are not as dominant as in those special seasons... Abromowitz is greatly missed... he is 9-3 with a 2.82 ERA with the first place Midway Wolves in the TU East... apparently Abromowitz is not over-the-hill at 35... Sligo had better hitting in those years, too... The Rovers were the top team in the IPA and looked like they might become a dynasty... but it didn't happen... 2B Garlin Delk (.277 BA/8 HR/40 RBI) and LF Biff Blauer (.308 BA/3 HR/36 RBI) are Keys' only reliable bats. Fourth place in the RU West belongs to the Forest City Lumberjacks (35-38)... Rob Jackson and his 'Jacks are 4 games off the pace... Jackson has average offense and is only fair on the hill... LF Ryan Ray (.290 BA/15 HR/43 RBI), C George Arnick (.316 BA/4 HR/29 RBI), 2B Jackie Jackson (.306 BA/6 HR/32 RBI) and CF Luc St. Germain (.299 BA/4 HR/29 RBI/49 R) provides the offense... Norm Dawson (8-7 2.79) leads the mound corps. The Volusia Vigilantes (33-40) have not been to the IPA playoffs since 2017 and this streak has a great chance to continue... the V's are in fifth place and 6 games back in the race... skipper Alfonso Feliz has impressive pitching this year, but not much in the way of offense... Duane Jenkins (9-4 2.95) and Rio Lobo (5-4 2.94) have been sharp as starters... Sixto Moreno (4-10 3.24) is suffering from a lack of run support, but is an effective starter... closer Jaime San Carlos (4-6) has done well with a great 1.80 ERA and 7 saves... 12-year-vet CF Joe DeLucca (.293 BA/9 HR/30 RBI/40 R) is the only decent hitter in the line-up. The Stoner Stars (32-41) are sixth in the RU West and 6 games behind first place Middlefield... Benny Stern has average pitching, but poor hitting... Billy Chapel (8-7 3.82) and Kirk Robbins (9-8 3.76) are the Stars top starters... Stern has an excellent bullpen with a 1.90 ERA (2nd), led by Frank Robicheaux (0.90), Myron Wood (1.32), Bill Mayes (1.47) and Joel Shepard (2.19)... CF Al Rispone is the only threat in the batting order... Rispone is batting .325 with 6 homers and 37 RBIs. Clem Rogers and his Colfax Blasters (30-43) are next-to-last and 9 games behind... it's been 8 years since the the Blasters last made the postseason... prior to then, Rogers had a powerhouse that won 7 flags and one Pro Cup in 9 years... it's tough to contend with average arms and mediocre bats... Cliff James (7-10 2.53) and 40-year-old Yuka Nawajuk (9-8 3.67) have been the most consistent starters with 1B Doug Kirkwood (.305 BA/5 HR/44 R) and RF Glen Smith (.318 BA/5 HR/33 RBI) sporting the best bats. The Fort Benton Defenders (29-44) are headed straight for another last-place finish... this will make it 4 seasons in a row in the RU West basement for manager Robbie Brooks... the Defenders are 10 games out... starter Nick Walker (7-8 3.03) and closer Edd Farmer (1-2 1.82 ERA) with 14 saves top the twirlers... 3B Aino Vaba (.276 BA/8 HR/33 RBI) and 1B Stretch Stookey (.285 BA/4 HR/33 RBI) are the top bats, but not very much to brag about. Ruthlandian West Forecast: The Middlefield Roosters clearly look the best in the weak RU West and should take the pennant easily... the Roosters have three solid starters and can go deep at the plate... but don't expect them to be a high seed in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs... Rocky Rapids and Sligo will duke it out for the runner-up spot.. both have quality starters, but not enough offense to overtake Middlefield... fourth place will be a contest between Stoner and Volusia... both teams have poor bats and so-so pitching... Colfax will be seventh and Fort Benton last again... neither club has much of anything.