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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 5, 2048
WESTERNERS GET THE CALL IN RU SOUTH
Waleska lost out by three games last season to the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the Ruthlandian South, but are forecast to be the top dog in the race this year. The oddsmakers are solidly in the Westerners' corner. Claxton and Belair Beach are rated a distant second and third to Waleska with Grand City expected to finish in fourth place.
Rounding out the division will be a revitalized St. John Crusaders tied with Crystal Lake for the fifth spot. St. John was a dismal last in 2047, 26 games out of first. The Crusader management dismantled the team and signed 11 new players. The Valka Blackhawks were ranked seventh in the preseason poll and San Dimas came in dead last.
Waleska is the heavy favorite because of its strong starting rotation and standout bullpen. The Westerners hope rookie first baseman James Ray Kee will give them more punch in the lineup.
The runner-up Claxton Diamonds may have a gem in the batting order with rookie hard-hitting LF Whit Miley and rookie hurler Jared Lipton could be a help in the bullpen and as occasional starter. Miley is a can't miss, so say the soothsayers.
Belair Beach surprisingly sneaked off with the pennant last year in a super tight race. Reliever Denny Perkins could help in the bullpen and rookie SS Alvaro Abreu sports a golden glove and hits with great authority and consistency, but with little power. They will make the Sunbirds stronger this year.
The fourth place Grand City Cybercats have a quality starting four and have added newcomer Gonzie Watson as the fifth starter. Superstrar 1B Benny Hull may get a little help from freshman RF Rob Yando at the plate. Yando has potential according to the scouts, but did not fare well in spring training, batting only .178 with no homers. Manager Thomas Hall said Yando will be in the lineup everyday against righthanders. It's his job to lose.
The St. John Crusaders hope the wholesale roster changes will get them up in the standings. Good things are expected from these first-year performers: RF Cris Henley has the makings of a heavy hitter that hits for a high average, too... 2B Tom Latigo, SS Claude Alton and 1B Al Pace could develop into solid batters... Henley and Pace could go deep often.
The Crystal Lake Crushers were tied for second last season with Waleska and Claxton, so they have a fairly good ballclub. They may be better than sixth place in the standings. The pitching is possibly better with the addition of southpaw Kenny Joyce to the starting rotation. Rookie SS R. C. Bratton will shore up the defense. but he is not much with the bat.
The Valka Blackhawks have a good starting foursome, but need help in the bullpen. That could come from rookie left-handed closer Ricky Cockburn, who the scouts adore. But the Blackhawks have trouble scoring and didn't address this shortcoming in the off-season. So once again, Valka will be near the bottom of the RU South.
The San Dimas Rancheros did the same thing St. John did - they mutilated the roster, cutting people right and left after coming in seventh last year. 10 new rookies are on the squad. - four new pitchers and six position players will debut this season. According to the scouts, reliever Kenny Robinson could be a super fixture in the closer role for years... SS Ricardo Cepeda gives the Rancheros good defense and a solid contact batter... should be a .300 hitter... and CF Enrique Orantez should give them a solid center fielder with good range and a fairly good bat with a little power.
RUTHLANDIAN SOUTH DIVISION PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
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