Quote:
Originally Posted by Honorable_Pawn
wow, what an incredible season. Thanks, Eugene...I have really enjoyed this dynasty report. I'm truly looking forward to what you do for an encore after 2050.
It will be nice for me to start from the beginning but I can imagine how hard it will be for you to let go of this league.
If the next 2 seasons are anything like this one it will be a fitting finale to a geat great great dynasty report.
Excellent job. |
Thank you very much for your gracious comments and support.
Yes, it will be a little hard to let the IPA ride off into the sunset after the 2050 season. Like they say, "All good things must come to an end." ... Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Marshal Dillon, the Everly Brothers, the Beatles, Elvis, Sam Cooke, Hank Williams, George Jones, John Wayne, James Garner, Andy Griffith, Bob Hope, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Walter Johnson, Mickey Mantle, Don Zimmer, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, John Henry Lloyd, Buck O'Neal, Jack Elliott, Phil Gravelli, Roy Hobbs, Loco Dillinger, Clyde Kingsford, Nicky Engstrom, Cory Burg, Mila Mohoski, Duncan Welch, Titus Bristow, Ilya Szabo and many other legendary icons of my real life and my make-believe world have come and gone and are greatly missed by me.
I have really enjoyed covering the Islandian Pro Alliance over the years. This year was a special one... not sure why... I think it's because I realize that it won't go on forever.
THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, October 12, 2047
CLOSER COMBS CLAIMS '47 PRO CUP MVP
Hal Combs appeared in only 8 of the Southport 18 playoff games, but the 30-year-old southpaw played a very decisive role with 5 saves and 3 victories, a performance good enough to win the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award. In a very close vote Combs edged out five of his teammates. Center fielder Barney Lewis came in second in the balloting with 25 votes and starter Billy Hoover tallied 23 votes. Tied for fourth were third baseman Craig Glennon, catcher Visalis Vlachos and starter Johnny Swanson, all getting 14 votes apiece.
Combs didn't give up a single run in the postseason. He posted 11 and one-third scoreless innings, struck out nine batters and walked only one in eight relief appearances. Combs figured in 8 of the Sun Sox's 12 wins in the playoffs. He led the IPA in saves during the regular season with 24, while chalking up a 9-7 record with a 2.39 ERA.
Runner-up Barney Lewis led the Sun Sox to the Pro Cup crown in 2044 and captured the MVP honor that year. This year Lewis batted .323 with 6 doubles, 5 homers, 16 RBIs, 14 runs and 16 walks in 18 games.
Billy Hoover went 4-2 with a super 2.01 ERA in the playoffs against three of the most powerful clubs in the IPA: Hartsdale, Red Bluff and Middlefield.
The other three votegetters were also vitally important in the Southport Pro Cup championship drive. Craig Glennon hammered 8 home runs, drove in 17 runs and scored 16, while batting .286. Johnny Swanson went 4-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 6 playoff starting assignments and Visalis Vlachos hit .299 with 4 rountrippers, 15 runs batted in and 9 runs scored.
All six Sun Sox stars were deserving of the MVP trophy. It's a shame it had to go to just one of them.