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Eugene Church · 08-17-2014, 09:56 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 5, 2048

ZORROS RIDE HIGH IN POLLS, TU NORTH PICK
The Luxora Zorros came out of nowhere and are riding high in the preseason polls and forecast to runaway with the division this year. The Z's have been ordained by the high priests of the IPA and blessed with the number one pick in the Tycobbian North Division. Coming in second in the survey were the Hartsdale Hellcats, who won it the last two years. Up-and-coming White River was chosen third and Blue Lake fourth. The Hellcats, Rascals and Blue Sox were one, two, three last year, while the Zorros wound up deep in the second division in seventh place.

Why the Zorros?... they have a fine stafff overall with a solid set of starters and a good offense with pretty fair firepower... player-manager Joel Poche thinks the club is ready to contend... the newcomers are led by rookie 2B Keith Tarleton, a potentially gifted hitter, but with little power... and CF Cesar Torrez, a great glove and modest hitter... RHP Matty Gomes will have to prove himself in the bullpen, but could be a future starter.

Hartsdale is not going to relinguish its crown very easily... the Hellcats are not as strong as the 2046 Pro Cup championship squad, but they are still a very capable club and strong pennant threat... they still have three strong starters, but need help in the bullpen... the offense is only fair, but does still hits with good power... the only rookie expected to play a role this season is reliever Ron Norton.

The White River Rascals ran a heck of race last year, fighting Hartsdale tooth-and-nail before succumbing by only three games... well, the Rascals are better this year on paper with some talented additions to go with two very strong starters... rookie righty Todd Cole has moved into the #3 starting role... and five more rookies will vie for regular spots in the line-up... the baseball world is very impressed with LF Ryne Nyland, 1B Ruben Reeves, two CFs Pudge Tate and Thomas Young and 3B Kenny Yarborough.

Blue Lake rounds out the first division of the Tycobbian North in fourth place... the Blue Sox possess three very good starters and an excellent closer, but they come up somewhat short in scoring runs... they hope rookie RF Burl Baugh will improve that situation... only a fair fielder, he is rated a superior batsman by most of the scouts... two rookie starters Dookie Denton and Antoine Greeleaf will be given slots in the rotation this season.

The fifth-place Oxford Red Caps are just a .500 club at best with pretty fair starters and average bats... the best newcomers are two freshmen pitchers: Mo Eglin will be the #5 starter and Duke Sorrell will be in the bullpen... no rookies will challenge for a regular spot in the batting order.

Mahaska is going the wholesale route by adding 8 rookies to the roster... the Haymakers only have so-so pitching and so-so offense... three rooks are given a chance of contributing this year: look for good things from reliever Marty Mobley, who will start the season in the pen, but should have a good career as a starter... 2B Kody Dafford is good field, but no hit... and 3B Goose Fulton is a solid bat and fielder.

From 2034 to 2045 the North Hills Hawis were terrors in the IPA with 11 pennants and four Pro Cup trophies... now they are an old and mediocre team... only 35-year-old superstar Tony Mack is left of the great mound staff of the glory years... 37-year-old super slugger RF Adam Thurgood is still very much a threat at the plate, but has slowed down considerably on the bases and in the field... to couner the old age the Hawks have signed 9 rookies and expect RF Chuck Coltharpe to eventually blossom into an iconic slugger... 1B Matt McGann to give them a strong bat with power... Carver Dillon to help out in the bullpen... Vinnie Sartucci to be a future starter... and 2B Danny Gaither to provide a good bat with average power and a good glove... when these players blossom, the future could be bright in North Hills again in a few seasons.

The Fairfax Frogs only have decent starters and a decent bullpen... offensively they hit for average, but not much punch... 2B John Velasco carries the club with some help... Velasco is a marvel at age 41... still a .320 batter and 20-homer guy... the Frogs have four neophytes, but they are not expected to contribute much this year... it could be a basement-dwelling season for Fairfax... they haven't been to the playoffs since 2033.

TYCOBBIAN NORTH DIVISION PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

08-17-2014, 09:56 PM	#4328
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,252	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Sunday, April 5, 2048 ZORROS RIDE HIGH IN POLLS, TU NORTH PICK The Luxora Zorros came out of nowhere and are riding high in the preseason polls and forecast to runaway with the division this year. The Z's have been ordained by the high priests of the IPA and blessed with the number one pick in the Tycobbian North Division. Coming in second in the survey were the Hartsdale Hellcats, who won it the last two years. Up-and-coming White River was chosen third and Blue Lake fourth. The Hellcats, Rascals and Blue Sox were one, two, three last year, while the Zorros wound up deep in the second division in seventh place. Why the Zorros?... they have a fine stafff overall with a solid set of starters and a good offense with pretty fair firepower... player-manager Joel Poche thinks the club is ready to contend... the newcomers are led by rookie 2B Keith Tarleton, a potentially gifted hitter, but with little power... and CF Cesar Torrez, a great glove and modest hitter... RHP Matty Gomes will have to prove himself in the bullpen, but could be a future starter. Hartsdale is not going to relinguish its crown very easily... the Hellcats are not as strong as the 2046 Pro Cup championship squad, but they are still a very capable club and strong pennant threat... they still have three strong starters, but need help in the bullpen... the offense is only fair, but does still hits with good power... the only rookie expected to play a role this season is reliever Ron Norton. The White River Rascals ran a heck of race last year, fighting Hartsdale tooth-and-nail before succumbing by only three games... well, the Rascals are better this year on paper with some talented additions to go with two very strong starters... rookie righty Todd Cole has moved into the #3 starting role... and five more rookies will vie for regular spots in the line-up... the baseball world is very impressed with LF Ryne Nyland, 1B Ruben Reeves, two CFs Pudge Tate and Thomas Young and 3B Kenny Yarborough. Blue Lake rounds out the first division of the Tycobbian North in fourth place... the Blue Sox possess three very good starters and an excellent closer, but they come up somewhat short in scoring runs... they hope rookie RF Burl Baugh will improve that situation... only a fair fielder, he is rated a superior batsman by most of the scouts... two rookie starters Dookie Denton and Antoine Greeleaf will be given slots in the rotation this season. The fifth-place Oxford Red Caps are just a .500 club at best with pretty fair starters and average bats... the best newcomers are two freshmen pitchers: Mo Eglin will be the #5 starter and Duke Sorrell will be in the bullpen... no rookies will challenge for a regular spot in the batting order. Mahaska is going the wholesale route by adding 8 rookies to the roster... the Haymakers only have so-so pitching and so-so offense... three rooks are given a chance of contributing this year: look for good things from reliever Marty Mobley, who will start the season in the pen, but should have a good career as a starter... 2B Kody Dafford is good field, but no hit... and 3B Goose Fulton is a solid bat and fielder. From 2034 to 2045 the North Hills Hawis were terrors in the IPA with 11 pennants and four Pro Cup trophies... now they are an old and mediocre team... only 35-year-old superstar Tony Mack is left of the great mound staff of the glory years... 37-year-old super slugger RF Adam Thurgood is still very much a threat at the plate, but has slowed down considerably on the bases and in the field... to couner the old age the Hawks have signed 9 rookies and expect RF Chuck Coltharpe to eventually blossom into an iconic slugger... 1B Matt McGann to give them a strong bat with power... Carver Dillon to help out in the bullpen... Vinnie Sartucci to be a future starter... and 2B Danny Gaither to provide a good bat with average power and a good glove... when these players blossom, the future could be bright in North Hills again in a few seasons. The Fairfax Frogs only have decent starters and a decent bullpen... offensively they hit for average, but not much punch... 2B John Velasco carries the club with some help... Velasco is a marvel at age 41... still a .320 batter and 20-homer guy... the Frogs have four neophytes, but they are not expected to contribute much this year... it could be a basement-dwelling season for Fairfax... they haven't been to the playoffs since 2033. TYCOBBIAN NORTH DIVISION PRESEASON PREDICTIONS Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 08-17-2014 at 09:57 PM.