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

Eugene Church · 08-04-2012, 01:02 AM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 3, 2033

Good Races Forecast In IPA
If all goes according to the preseason prognosticators there will be some hotly-challenged races in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season. However only one defending division champion was picked to repeat. The Tuckanarra Blue Jays are forecast to prevail again in the Tycobbian East. Strange as it may seem the Cold Creek Catamounts of the Ruthlandian Union were chosen to win the 2033 Pro Cup over the Chicopee Braves, the Tycobbian representative. Both clubs made good strides last season after years and years of subpar play and have added several rookies to the mix. Baseball critics think the Catamounts and Braves have what it takes to win big this season.

RU North Prediction
1. Valmara
2. LaGrange
3. Far Mountain
4. Ranford

In the Ruthlandian North last year's winner LaGrange will have to beat back the Valmara Vipers in a close race. The Far Mountain Redhawks added several talented rookies and will improve over a seventh-place finish last year, but will probably be a distant third. The Sports won easily last year, winning by a 10-game cushion over the Ranford Bulls. The Vipers picked up several rookies to add to an already pretty good club. LaGrange stayed pat as far as their roster and will go with the players that won it for them last season. Ranford is pretty much the same team, too.

RU South Prediction
1. Waleska
2. Grand City
3. St. John
4. San Dimas

The Claxton Diamonds captured the RU South by 6 games last season, but the baseball scribes didn't think very highly of them this year and ranked them seventh in the division. They expect it to be a tough race between Waleska and Grand City with St. John and San Dimas having outside chances at the pennant. Claxton is too good of a team to drop off that much. Look for them to be in the fight for the division flag again. Free agent Richie Raeburn (13-5) gives the Diamonds another fine starter. They look even stronger than last season.

RU East Prediction
1. Cold Creek
2. Elnora
3. Wynnamac
4. Belle Plaine

The Elnora All-Stars made a farce of the RU South with 105 wins last year and they have signed several talented rookies to the roster, thus should be a bit better. Common sense tells you that they should repeat as division champ. They won by a remarkable 20 games over the Wynnamac Sundowners last season and by 22 over third-place Cold Creek. But not so according to the so-called experts. Cold Creek is the preseason favorite because of five impressive rookies, who can blister the ball, at least in theory. Time will tell. I look for Elnora to be "the" team again in the RU East. The other contenders have too much ground to make up.

RU West Prediction
1. Fort Benton
2. Stoner
3. Colfax
4. Sligo

The Colfax Blasters were easily the class of the RU West last season and they copped the flag by 14 games over revitalized Rocky Rapids. Colfax was second to Elnora in victories with 98. The baseball analysts are calling it a 3-team contest between the Blasters, Fort Benton and Stoner. All of them have standout pitching. Considering how Colfax romped last season, It's hard to believe somebody can beat them this year.

TU North Prediction
1. Luxora
2. White River
3. Mahaska
4. Blue Lake

Last year's Tycobbian North titlist Fairfax is just one of six clubs expected to be in the hunt for the division crown. The Frogs won 98 games in the TU last year, more games than anyone else, but they are rated only the fifth-best in the division. The loss of the league's MVP Kenny Nikas (25-9) through free agency really hurt the club. Nikas signed a lucrative contract with rival White River, greatly boosting the Rascals' pennant aspirations, who are expected to be in the thick of things come September. Luxora came in second last season and has taken over the favorite's role this year because of its solid mound staff. Blue Lake has also got strong pitching and is ranked fourth in the preseason poll.

TU South Prediction
1. Colchester
2. Arroyo Grande
3. San Alejo
4. Summerland

Any one of five clubs could take the Tycobbian South this year. The IPA champion San Alejo Montaneros are rated neck-and-neck with the Colchester Elites, Arroyo Grande Suns, Summerland Sunsets and Turon Typhoons in perhaps the tightest race in the IPA. The Monties still have a fine pitching corps to defend it Islands title. The Elites have an infusion of talented rookies that is impressing the prognosticators. The Suns added a quality starter in Matt Stevens (18-10), who was with Tuckanarra last season. A fine class of six freshmen has greatly improved the Summerland Sunsets and will give them a shot at the postseason for the first time in years.

TU East Prediction

1. Tuckanarra
2. East Point
3. Hillsboro
4. Ozarka

The Tuckanarra Blue Jays were the only reigning division winner to be chosen in this year's preseason poll. The Tucks still have a solid core of experienced starters, who have helped them take the TU East title 6 times in the last decade, along with 2 Pro Cups. Nine rookies will make or break the Blue Jays this season. As usual the East Point Panthers with its rock-solid starting rotation will be Tuckanarra's biggest competition. The Hillsboro Blazers and Ozarka Naturals are not yet in the same class as the Blue Jays and the Panthers, but they are getting there. Hillsboro has three first-class starters, but really needs help in the pen and at the plate. Ozarka has a fine mound staff, but little in the way of offense.

TU West Prediction
1. Chicopee
2. La Claire
3. Rolling Hills
4. Kenwood

In a surprise the Chicopee Braves were chosen the team most likely to win the Tycobbian Union in the preseason poll. They were picked ahead of the perennial powers Tuckanarra, Rolling Hills, Luxora and the current IPA Pro Cup titleholder San Alejo. the Braves are on the rise after years of being an also-ran. Chicopee came in a close third in 2032 to TU West division champ Rolling Hills and runner-up La Claire winding up just four games off the pace. Rookie CF Alfredo Cobos got rave notices during Spring Training and he will add even more offensive firepower to an already explosive attack. The La Claire Lynx have some excellent starters and some very talented hitters. Bullpen help is the key to the Lynx's success this season. With eight pennants and 2 Pro Cups in the last 13 years, the Rolling Hills Reds still have a quality ball club. They will not give up their crown quietly. However, the Reds will be without their ace Buck Myers (20-6) for the season due to a fractured elbow. Rolling Hills can still put lots of runs on the scoreboard. The Kenwood Wildcats are another potent team at the plate. The Wildcats' lineup is packed with .300 hitters. The key will be the revamped pitching staff. Half of the pitchers will be rookies.

08-04-2012, 01:02 AM	#3247
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,900	*THE ISLANDIAN TIMES* Sunday, April 3, 2033 Good Races Forecast In IPA If all goes according to the preseason prognosticators there will be some hotly-challenged races in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season. However only one defending division champion was picked to repeat. The Tuckanarra Blue Jays are forecast to prevail again in the Tycobbian East. Strange as it may seem the Cold Creek Catamounts of the Ruthlandian Union were chosen to win the 2033 Pro Cup over the Chicopee Braves, the Tycobbian representative. Both clubs made good strides last season after years and years of subpar play and have added several rookies to the mix. Baseball critics think the Catamounts and Braves have what it takes to win big this season. RU North Prediction 1. Valmara 2. LaGrange 3. Far Mountain 4. Ranford In the Ruthlandian North last year's winner LaGrange will have to beat back the Valmara Vipers in a close race. The Far Mountain Redhawks added several talented rookies and will improve over a seventh-place finish last year, but will probably be a distant third. The Sports won easily last year, winning by a 10-game cushion over the Ranford Bulls. The Vipers picked up several rookies to add to an already pretty good club. LaGrange stayed pat as far as their roster and will go with the players that won it for them last season. Ranford is pretty much the same team, too. RU South Prediction 1. Waleska 2. Grand City 3. St. John 4. San Dimas The Claxton Diamonds captured the RU South by 6 games last season, but the baseball scribes didn't think very highly of them this year and ranked them seventh in the division. They expect it to be a tough race between Waleska and Grand City with St. John and San Dimas having outside chances at the pennant. Claxton is too good of a team to drop off that much. Look for them to be in the fight for the division flag again. Free agent Richie Raeburn (13-5) gives the Diamonds another fine starter. They look even stronger than last season. RU East Prediction 1. Cold Creek 2. Elnora 3. Wynnamac 4. Belle Plaine The Elnora All-Stars made a farce of the RU South with 105 wins last year and they have signed several talented rookies to the roster, thus should be a bit better. Common sense tells you that they should repeat as division champ. They won by a remarkable 20 games over the Wynnamac Sundowners last season and by 22 over third-place Cold Creek. But not so according to the so-called experts. Cold Creek is the preseason favorite because of five impressive rookies, who can blister the ball, at least in theory. Time will tell. I look for Elnora to be "the" team again in the RU East. The other contenders have too much ground to make up. RU West Prediction 1. Fort Benton 2. Stoner 3. Colfax 4. Sligo The Colfax Blasters were easily the class of the RU West last season and they copped the flag by 14 games over revitalized Rocky Rapids. Colfax was second to Elnora in victories with 98. The baseball analysts are calling it a 3-team contest between the Blasters, Fort Benton and Stoner. All of them have standout pitching. Considering how Colfax romped last season, It's hard to believe somebody can beat them this year. TU North Prediction 1. Luxora 2. White River 3. Mahaska 4. Blue Lake Last year's Tycobbian North titlist Fairfax is just one of six clubs expected to be in the hunt for the division crown. The Frogs won 98 games in the TU last year, more games than anyone else, but they are rated only the fifth-best in the division. The loss of the league's MVP Kenny Nikas (25-9) through free agency really hurt the club. Nikas signed a lucrative contract with rival White River, greatly boosting the Rascals' pennant aspirations, who are expected to be in the thick of things come September. Luxora came in second last season and has taken over the favorite's role this year because of its solid mound staff. Blue Lake has also got strong pitching and is ranked fourth in the preseason poll. TU South Prediction 1. Colchester 2. Arroyo Grande 3. San Alejo 4. Summerland Any one of five clubs could take the Tycobbian South this year. The IPA champion San Alejo Montaneros are rated neck-and-neck with the Colchester Elites, Arroyo Grande Suns, Summerland Sunsets and Turon Typhoons in perhaps the tightest race in the IPA. The Monties still have a fine pitching corps to defend it Islands title. The Elites have an infusion of talented rookies that is impressing the prognosticators. The Suns added a quality starter in Matt Stevens (18-10), who was with Tuckanarra last season. A fine class of six freshmen has greatly improved the Summerland Sunsets and will give them a shot at the postseason for the first time in years. TU East Prediction 1. Tuckanarra 2. East Point 3. Hillsboro 4. Ozarka The Tuckanarra Blue Jays were the only reigning division winner to be chosen in this year's preseason poll. The Tucks still have a solid core of experienced starters, who have helped them take the TU East title 6 times in the last decade, along with 2 Pro Cups. Nine rookies will make or break the Blue Jays this season. As usual the East Point Panthers with its rock-solid starting rotation will be Tuckanarra's biggest competition. The Hillsboro Blazers and Ozarka Naturals are not yet in the same class as the Blue Jays and the Panthers, but they are getting there. Hillsboro has three first-class starters, but really needs help in the pen and at the plate. Ozarka has a fine mound staff, but little in the way of offense. *TU West Prediction* 1. Chicopee 2. La Claire 3. Rolling Hills 4. Kenwood In a surprise the Chicopee Braves were chosen the team most likely to win the Tycobbian Union in the preseason poll. They were picked ahead of the perennial powers Tuckanarra, Rolling Hills, Luxora and the current IPA Pro Cup titleholder San Alejo. the Braves are on the rise after years of being an also-ran. Chicopee came in a close third in 2032 to TU West division champ Rolling Hills and runner-up La Claire winding up just four games off the pace. Rookie CF Alfredo Cobos got rave notices during Spring Training and he will add even more offensive firepower to an already explosive attack. The La Claire Lynx have some excellent starters and some very talented hitters. Bullpen help is the key to the Lynx's success this season. With eight pennants and 2 Pro Cups in the last 13 years, the Rolling Hills Reds still have a quality ball club. They will not give up their crown quietly. However, the Reds will be without their ace Buck Myers (20-6) for the season due to a fractured elbow. Rolling Hills can still put lots of runs on the scoreboard. The Kenwood Wildcats are another potent team at the plate. The Wildcats' lineup is packed with .300 hitters. The key will be the revamped pitching staff. Half of the pitchers will be rookies. Last edited by Eugene Church; 09-01-2012 at 09:22 PM.