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

Eugene Church · 08-13-2011, 03:12 PM

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

South Fork Favored In Pro Cup Finals
The 25th IPA Pro Cup begins play on Friday afternoon at J. R. Ewing Stadium in South Fork. Middlefield hasn't been to the Pro Cup Finals for the last two decades and South Fork has never been here until now. So who's the favorite? It's easy for the critics and the forecasters. Just go by the season records - the Stallions were tops in the IPA with a 96-58 record, while the Roosters were a lowly 85-69. Or go by what The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll indicated - South Fork was rated the fourth-best team in the playoffs and Middlefield was the worst. All that was based on stats, suppositions, summations and speculation. However on the diamond, South Fork whipped the Pro Cup favorite Rolling Hills Reds and fifth seed Ginza, while the overlooked Roosters knocked off number three Wynnamac and number two Crystal Lake to get their shots at the renowned Pro Cup, symbolic for the best pro baseball team in Islandia.

Serious analysis doesn't go with the heart and choose the underdog Roosters. Most of the experts point out South Fork won more games than anybody over the long regular season. Not only do the Stallions have better starting pitching than Middlefield, they hit better, too. The two bullpens are pretty much even. Defensively South Fork is a little below average (.971 FA) with the glove, while Middlefield is poor (.968 FA).

The experts say this is the first time in the playoffs the Roosters will face a good-hitting team. Crystal Lake and Wynnamac possessed outstanding pitching, but neither Crystal Lake, nor Wynnamac could hit. Those that favor Middlefield counter that South Fork will be facing a team with power for the first time in the playoffs. Middlefield hammered 170 homers in the regular season and top the playoff teams with 15 roundtrippers so far. South Fork went deep 136 times duing the year, but only 5 times in the postseason.

It will be a close series going six or perhaps seven games. One key factor for South Fork will be whether Gary Price can regain his regular season form. Price was 22-14 with a fine 2.95 ERA, but has struggled in the postseason with an 0-3 mark with a high 4.44 ERA. Another key factor will be whether number three starter Jim Tettelbach can sustain his remarkable playoff performance. Tettelbach is 2-0 in 2 starts and has not allowed a run. During the season he was 17-12 with 3.63 ERA.

All things point to a Pro Cup crown for the South Fork Stallions. Manager Duroche "Lips" Leon has the better starters. Rookie Billy Massey was great in the regular season with a 21-10 record and a strong 2.99 ERA... and even better in the postseason with a spotless 4-0 mark and a superb 1.85 ERA. And Tettelbach has been extraordinary. All Leon and the Stallions need is for Price to do it like he did during the season and they are home free. If that happens, it could be a short four or five games series. At the plate in the postseason the Stallions top performers have been SS Kurt Pankewicz with a .300 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBI and 5 runs scored, 2B Norris Nettles with a .314 BA, 0 HR, 5 RBI and 5 runs, CF Shelby Glasscock with a .227 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 runs and 6 SB and LF Patric Giles with a .225 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI and 10 runs scored.

Skipper Bailey Norcross needs his starters to step it up a notch for the Roosters to upset the Stallions. He also needs his bats to keep booming and bombing. Danny Denver is the ace and only consistent starter. Denver went 23-7 with a 3.31 ERA. None of the other starters had winning records. Frank Dean was only 16-17 with a good 3.03 ERA, especially in the small confines of Middlefield Park with its very short dimensions. Rookie Tyrus Cobb was 11-14 with a 3.20 ERA. In the playoffs Denver is 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA, Dean 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA and Cobb 2-1 with a 4.57 ERA. But Cobb has really pitched well in his last two starts after being creamed in his initial start. Offensively in the playoffs Middlefield has been led by 3B Stu Butterworth with a .433 BA, 3 HR, 9 RBI and 8 runs, 1B Keith Yashin with a .326 BA, 5 HR, 8 RBI and 11 runs, CF Tom Daniels with a .306 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI and 5 runs and LF Floyd McClellan with a .341 BA, 3 HR/5 RBI and 9 runs scored.

South Fork will have the homefield advantage. The Stallions were 49-28 at home and 47-30 on the road, while Middlefield played very well at home with a 51-26 mark, but dismally away, posting a poor 34-43 record. South Fork hits right-handers better, compiling an 81-47 record. Against southpaws there were only 15-11. The Roosters were better against lefties with a 22-14 record. They were 63-55 against the righties. Middlefield has four portsiders, while South Fork only has two. Two of the three starters on each team are right-handed.

Pro Cup Prediction: South Fork Stallions in 6 games.

08-13-2011, 03:12 PM	#2676
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,191	The Islandian Times Wednesday, October 8, 2025 South Fork Favored In Pro Cup Finals The 25th IPA Pro Cup begins play on Friday afternoon at J. R. Ewing Stadium in South Fork. Middlefield hasn't been to the Pro Cup Finals for the last two decades and South Fork has never been here until now. So who's the favorite? It's easy for the critics and the forecasters. Just go by the season records - the Stallions were tops in the IPA with a 96-58 record, while the Roosters were a lowly 85-69. Or go by what The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll indicated - South Fork was rated the fourth-best team in the playoffs and Middlefield was the worst. All that was based on stats, suppositions, summations and speculation. However on the diamond, South Fork whipped the Pro Cup favorite Rolling Hills Reds and fifth seed Ginza, while the overlooked Roosters knocked off number three Wynnamac and number two Crystal Lake to get their shots at the renowned Pro Cup, symbolic for the best pro baseball team in Islandia. Serious analysis doesn't go with the heart and choose the underdog Roosters. Most of the experts point out South Fork won more games than anybody over the long regular season. Not only do the Stallions have better starting pitching than Middlefield, they hit better, too. The two bullpens are pretty much even. Defensively South Fork is a little below average (.971 FA) with the glove, while Middlefield is poor (.968 FA). The experts say this is the first time in the playoffs the Roosters will face a good-hitting team. Crystal Lake and Wynnamac possessed outstanding pitching, but neither Crystal Lake, nor Wynnamac could hit. Those that favor Middlefield counter that South Fork will be facing a team with power for the first time in the playoffs. Middlefield hammered 170 homers in the regular season and top the playoff teams with 15 roundtrippers so far. South Fork went deep 136 times duing the year, but only 5 times in the postseason. It will be a close series going six or perhaps seven games. One key factor for South Fork will be whether Gary Price can regain his regular season form. Price was 22-14 with a fine 2.95 ERA, but has struggled in the postseason with an 0-3 mark with a high 4.44 ERA. Another key factor will be whether number three starter Jim Tettelbach can sustain his remarkable playoff performance. Tettelbach is 2-0 in 2 starts and has not allowed a run. During the season he was 17-12 with 3.63 ERA. All things point to a Pro Cup crown for the South Fork Stallions. Manager Duroche "Lips" Leon has the better starters. Rookie Billy Massey was great in the regular season with a 21-10 record and a strong 2.99 ERA... and even better in the postseason with a spotless 4-0 mark and a superb 1.85 ERA. And Tettelbach has been extraordinary. All Leon and the Stallions need is for Price to do it like he did during the season and they are home free. If that happens, it could be a short four or five games series. At the plate in the postseason the Stallions top performers have been SS Kurt Pankewicz with a .300 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBI and 5 runs scored, 2B Norris Nettles with a .314 BA, 0 HR, 5 RBI and 5 runs, CF Shelby Glasscock with a .227 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 runs and 6 SB and LF Patric Giles with a .225 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI and 10 runs scored. Skipper Bailey Norcross needs his starters to step it up a notch for the Roosters to upset the Stallions. He also needs his bats to keep booming and bombing. Danny Denver is the ace and only consistent starter. Denver went 23-7 with a 3.31 ERA. None of the other starters had winning records. Frank Dean was only 16-17 with a good 3.03 ERA, especially in the small confines of Middlefield Park with its very short dimensions. Rookie Tyrus Cobb was 11-14 with a 3.20 ERA. In the playoffs Denver is 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA, Dean 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA and Cobb 2-1 with a 4.57 ERA. But Cobb has really pitched well in his last two starts after being creamed in his initial start. Offensively in the playoffs Middlefield has been led by 3B Stu Butterworth with a .433 BA, 3 HR, 9 RBI and 8 runs, 1B Keith Yashin with a .326 BA, 5 HR, 8 RBI and 11 runs, CF Tom Daniels with a .306 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI and 5 runs and LF Floyd McClellan with a .341 BA, 3 HR/5 RBI and 9 runs scored. South Fork will have the homefield advantage. The Stallions were 49-28 at home and 47-30 on the road, while Middlefield played very well at home with a 51-26 mark, but dismally away, posting a poor 34-43 record. South Fork hits right-handers better, compiling an 81-47 record. Against southpaws there were only 15-11. The Roosters were better against lefties with a 22-14 record. They were 63-55 against the righties. Middlefield has four portsiders, while South Fork only has two. Two of the three starters on each team are right-handed. Pro Cup Prediction: South Fork Stallions in 6 games. Last edited by Eugene Church; 10-04-2023 at 01:05 PM.