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

Eugene Church · 07-17-2012, 08:36 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Wednesday, September 29, 2032

Colfax, San Alejo Picks In IPA Final 4
The number-one seed in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs Elnora has bit the dust and gone home for the season despite winning a near-record 105 games this season. The number-three seed Fairfax suffered the same fate as Elnora. What we have left are the number-two seeded Colfax Blasters and seventh-seeded LaGrange tangling for the Ruthlandian Final 4 crown and fourth-seeded San Alejo taking on the defending IPA Pro Cup champion and fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds. Final 4 clashes get started this Friday afternoon in Colfax and San Alejo.

Colfax and Rolling Hills displayed potent clubs with sweeps in the Elite 8 round. Colfax easily disposed of powerful Elnora and made it look easy, while Rolling Hills rolled past Tuckanarra in fairly easy fashion. It took the other two Final 4 finalists six games to advance. San Alejo emerged from a tough series with the Fairfax Frogs, who were rated the best team in the Tycobbian Union. The Montaneros' standout pitching was too much for Fairfax, the number-three seed. The LaGrange Sports pretty much had their way with the Claxton Diamonds, who were seeded last in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll.

Colfax is playing great and is strongly favored to tame LaGrange in the RU Final 4. The Blasters may be too much for anybody in the IPA to handle this year. This could be Colfax's first Pro Cup since 2009, the year the Blasters set an IPA record with 107 victories. Manager Ilya Szabo has solid bats throughout the order, headed up by C Mitch Fullerton with a .351 BA, 17 HRs, 109 RBIs, SS Dino Manale with a .343 BA, 8 HRs, 74 RBIs and 81 runs and RF Hal Granders with a .280 mark, 3 HRs, 52 RBIs, 98 runs and 67 SBs. On the hill will be Rudy Rosario (22-9/2.44) and Randell Perkins (12-2/2.96).

LaGrange manager Quincy Peterson goes into the RU Final 4 without his injured ace Walt Thurber (22-9/2.23). What a series this would be if Thurber was in the rotation. Rumor is that Thurber might be ready to go in a week or so. Still Peterson has a good, all-around team that can almost match Colfax at the plate and on the mound. Alex Gillespie (24-10/2.73), Ryan Jenssen (20-13/3.21) and Mike York (15-11/3.12) give the Sports a pretty strong rotation. LaGrange has some productive hitters in its lineup with the likes of 2B Whitlow Stokes with a .304 BA, 11 HRs, 56 RBIs, 82 runs and 28 SBs, 1B Chris Charbonnier with a .286 BA, 22 HRs and 67 RBIs, LF Russell Watkins with a .268 BA, 20 HRs and 81 RBIs and C Matt Dunmire with a .266 BA, 25 HRs and 73 RBIs. RF Johnny Brinkman (.352) and SS Al Clotier (.325) have also hit very well in platoon roles.

RU FINAL 4 FORECAST:
Colfax will prevail over LaGrange in six games. It should be a fine series. Colfax gets the home field advantage.

The Tycobbian Union Final 4 between San Alejo and Rolling Hills will be quite a series, too. It could run six or seven games. Top to bottom San Alejo skipper Alberto Herrera has the best pitching in the IPA with impressive starters and a wonderful relief corps, but he may not have the bats to win at this level. 2B Dwight Dickey (.320) is the only standout contact hitter and CF Adrian Otero is one of the few power guys with 25 homers and 86 RBIs, but he batted only .255. On the hill the Montaneros have an abundance of high-quality arms. Herrera's starters will be Ollie Olivares (19-13/2.60), Herb Stewart (18-14/2.90) and Clete Lawson (18-12/2.94)... regular-season starters Mario Aragon (12-7/2.77) and Johnny Brown (14-8/2.36) give him a strong bullpen. Even the Monties' long relievers are very capable. Rolling Hills will have to face effective pitchers throughout the game. San Alejo has no weak pitchers.

But don't feel sorry for the Rolling Hills Reds, the current Pro Cup champ. Manager Matty Christianson has a plethora of prolific hitters to deal with San Alejo's super staff, but his Reds come up short in the mound department, mainly due to injuries to two of his best pitchers, Tom Pierson (21-7/2.54) and Bobby Morris (18-10/3.47). Both will miss all of the playoffs. Yet Christianson is not destitute. He still can call on Buck Myers, who had a great 20-6 season with a 3.11 ERA, along with all-time star Errol Gaudet (15-16/3.93) and young Maury Cantrell (16-14/3.65). Gaudet is now 38-year-old and the years have taken their toll after 14 seasons and a career 256-155 record with a 2.89 ERA, but he still gives you capable starts. The Reds may be a little weak in the bullpen. Rolling Hills' strong point is at the plate; 2B Derek Kristensen with a .340 BA and 73 runs, 3B Billy Christianson with a .311 BA, IPA-leading 123 runs, plus 11 homers and 71 RBIs, C Tony Brinkerhoff with a .280 BA, 15 homers and 91 RBIs and LF Scotty Yiska with a .288 mark, 23 roundtrippers and 79 RBIs. You can also add in two more productive performers: RF Matt Sundberg, who hit .312 in 101 games and drove in 57 runs and SS Freddy Ball with a .311 BA and 52 RBIs in 88 games.

TU FINAL 4 FORECAST:
The Island baseball experts are making San Alejo the favorite in the TU Final 4, predicting that the Montaneros will win a super series in seven games. Home field advantage could be the difference.

(As for me personally, it's too close to call... my mind says San Alejo's pitching is just too good, while my heart say Rolling Hills' experience may rise to the occasion and pull a sentimental upset... what the heck, I'll go with my heart and pick the Reds in seven games.

07-17-2012, 08:36 PM	#3214
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,906	*THE ISLANDIAN TIMES* Wednesday, September 29, 2032 Colfax, San Alejo Picks In IPA Final 4 The number-one seed in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs Elnora has bit the dust and gone home for the season despite winning a near-record 105 games this season. The number-three seed Fairfax suffered the same fate as Elnora. What we have left are the number-two seeded Colfax Blasters and seventh-seeded LaGrange tangling for the Ruthlandian Final 4 crown and fourth-seeded San Alejo taking on the defending IPA Pro Cup champion and fifth-seeded Rolling Hills Reds. Final 4 clashes get started this Friday afternoon in Colfax and San Alejo. Colfax and Rolling Hills displayed potent clubs with sweeps in the Elite 8 round. Colfax easily disposed of powerful Elnora and made it look easy, while Rolling Hills rolled past Tuckanarra in fairly easy fashion. It took the other two Final 4 finalists six games to advance. San Alejo emerged from a tough series with the Fairfax Frogs, who were rated the best team in the Tycobbian Union. The Montaneros' standout pitching was too much for Fairfax, the number-three seed. The LaGrange Sports pretty much had their way with the Claxton Diamonds, who were seeded last in The Islandian Times Pro Cup poll. Colfax is playing great and is strongly favored to tame LaGrange in the RU Final 4. The Blasters may be too much for anybody in the IPA to handle this year. This could be Colfax's first Pro Cup since 2009, the year the Blasters set an IPA record with 107 victories. Manager Ilya Szabo has solid bats throughout the order, headed up by C Mitch Fullerton with a .351 BA, 17 HRs, 109 RBIs, SS Dino Manale with a .343 BA, 8 HRs, 74 RBIs and 81 runs and RF Hal Granders with a .280 mark, 3 HRs, 52 RBIs, 98 runs and 67 SBs. On the hill will be Rudy Rosario (22-9/2.44) and Randell Perkins (12-2/2.96). LaGrange manager Quincy Peterson goes into the RU Final 4 without his injured ace Walt Thurber (22-9/2.23). What a series this would be if Thurber was in the rotation. Rumor is that Thurber might be ready to go in a week or so. Still Peterson has a good, all-around team that can almost match Colfax at the plate and on the mound. Alex Gillespie (24-10/2.73), Ryan Jenssen (20-13/3.21) and Mike York (15-11/3.12) give the Sports a pretty strong rotation. LaGrange has some productive hitters in its lineup with the likes of 2B Whitlow Stokes with a .304 BA, 11 HRs, 56 RBIs, 82 runs and 28 SBs, 1B Chris Charbonnier with a .286 BA, 22 HRs and 67 RBIs, LF Russell Watkins with a .268 BA, 20 HRs and 81 RBIs and C Matt Dunmire with a .266 BA, 25 HRs and 73 RBIs. RF Johnny Brinkman (.352) and SS Al Clotier (.325) have also hit very well in platoon roles. RU FINAL 4 FORECAST: Colfax will prevail over LaGrange in six games. It should be a fine series. Colfax gets the home field advantage. The Tycobbian Union Final 4 between San Alejo and Rolling Hills will be quite a series, too. It could run six or seven games. Top to bottom San Alejo skipper Alberto Herrera has the best pitching in the IPA with impressive starters and a wonderful relief corps, but he may not have the bats to win at this level. 2B Dwight Dickey (.320) is the only standout contact hitter and CF Adrian Otero is one of the few power guys with 25 homers and 86 RBIs, but he batted only .255. On the hill the Montaneros have an abundance of high-quality arms. Herrera's starters will be Ollie Olivares (19-13/2.60), Herb Stewart (18-14/2.90) and Clete Lawson (18-12/2.94)... regular-season starters Mario Aragon (12-7/2.77) and Johnny Brown (14-8/2.36) give him a strong bullpen. Even the Monties' long relievers are very capable. Rolling Hills will have to face effective pitchers throughout the game. San Alejo has no weak pitchers. But don't feel sorry for the Rolling Hills Reds, the current Pro Cup champ. Manager Matty Christianson has a plethora of prolific hitters to deal with San Alejo's super staff, but his Reds come up short in the mound department, mainly due to injuries to two of his best pitchers, Tom Pierson (21-7/2.54) and Bobby Morris (18-10/3.47). Both will miss all of the playoffs. Yet Christianson is not destitute. He still can call on Buck Myers, who had a great 20-6 season with a 3.11 ERA, along with all-time star Errol Gaudet (15-16/3.93) and young Maury Cantrell (16-14/3.65). Gaudet is now 38-year-old and the years have taken their toll after 14 seasons and a career 256-155 record with a 2.89 ERA, but he still gives you capable starts. The Reds may be a little weak in the bullpen. Rolling Hills' strong point is at the plate; 2B Derek Kristensen with a .340 BA and 73 runs, 3B Billy Christianson with a .311 BA, IPA-leading 123 runs, plus 11 homers and 71 RBIs, C Tony Brinkerhoff with a .280 BA, 15 homers and 91 RBIs and LF Scotty Yiska with a .288 mark, 23 roundtrippers and 79 RBIs. You can also add in two more productive performers: RF Matt Sundberg, who hit .312 in 101 games and drove in 57 runs and SS Freddy Ball with a .311 BA and 52 RBIs in 88 games. TU FINAL 4 FORECAST: The Island baseball experts are making San Alejo the favorite in the TU Final 4, predicting that the Montaneros will win a super series in seven games. Home field advantage could be the difference. (As for me personally, it's too close to call... my mind says San Alejo's pitching is just too good, while my heart say Rolling Hills' experience may rise to the occasion and pull a sentimental upset... what the heck, I'll go with my heart and pick the Reds in seven games. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-17-2012 at 08:51 PM.