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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 5, 2048
RED SOX IN DRIVER'S SEAT AGAIN IN TU EAST
For the past four seasons the Red Bluff Red Sox have ruled the Tycobbian East Division and it's quite likely they will rein in their fifth pennant in a row. The Hillsboro Blazers are predicted to be the main opposition and are ranked second in the preseason poll. Third place this year should go to the Midway Wolves and the South Fork Stallions get the nod to come in fourth in the standings.
The High Mesa Cowboys are slotted for fifth this year in the balloting with East Point sixth. Last year Tuckanarra ran a strong second to Red Bluff, but the baseball experts have ranked the Blue Jays seventh this year, just ahead of the last place Ozarka Naturals.
Red Bluff is a powerful team with a strong starting four and super home-run power... the Red Sox only come up short in the relief corps... the Red Sox hope two promising rookies Val Booth and Dan Wickman, will fill the bill in the bullpen... they were the only newcomers to make the club this year.
Hillsboro has never made the postseason... the Blazers have come close only three times... missing out by 2 games in 2020, 4 games in 2033 and 2 games in 2043... it's hard to see them topping Red Bluff this year with average pitching and woeful bats... the Blazers resemble a second-division team, not a front-runner... last year they came in fifth... two rookie infielders will contend for the shortstop spot... Shane Welsh is a wonderful fielder and reliable bat... Terry Murak is a solid glove and decent contact hitter... neither of them have much pop.
The Midway Wolves are usually a mediocre also-ran in the second division... their last playoff appearance was way back in 2027... the Wolves have never won a Pro Cup... with average starters, lackluster offense and a good bullpen, it may be difficult to be a first division club, but that what the baseball prognosticators have forecast for this year... Midway has five rookies, but so far none of them have cracked the starting line-up... however, the scouts give good reports for LF Gator Cantrell, RF Fred Coleman, SS Joey Keswick, CF Matty Matsoukis and 3B Bubby Shivers... they are all decent threats with the bats and have some pop.
The South Fork Stallions won three straight TU East pennants from 2041 to 2043 and captured its second Pro Cup trophy in 2042, but for the last three seasons they have been just a .500 ballclub... the Stallions' main strength is in its three reliable starters... their weaknesses are at the plate and in the bullpen... 9 rookies have made the team, but may not get much playing time... 2048 looks like another run-of-the-mill season for South Fork.
High Mesa hasn't been to the postseason in ages... the Cowboys made the playoffs in the club's first two IPA seasons in 2002 and 2003, winning the Pro Cup in 2002... absolutely nothing since... the Cowpokes have strong pitching, but very little hitting except for its longball capability... they were third last year, but discarded about half of the roster in the offseason to try and get better hitting... High Mesa has signed 11 rookies, three of them hurlers and eight of them position players... apparently the press wasn't impressed as they rated the Cowboys number five in the standings this year... rookie pitcher Dickie Sternfeld is the #5 starter and long reliever and rookie Sal Dellinger will be middle relief... rookie C Dan Parks will start along with SS Adam Chandler and CF Jordy Paulson... all of them are good contact hitters... only Chandler can go deep and he is also an excellent defender... if the newcomers perform well, the Cowboys could be in pennant contention this year.
The East Point Panthers have been seventh or eighth for the last seven seasons... the last playoff appearance was in 2039... they have never won a Pro Cup... the Panthers have little to boast about with little pitching or hitting... two rookie sluggers just might improve the team... 2B Brendan Byrne is a very good hitter, but just fair with the glove... Roland Ritt is a tough out at the plate and a quality defender... both can go deep.
The Tuckanarra Blue Jays finished in the runner-up spot the last two seasons to Red Bluff, especially giving them a tough time last year, winding up only three games behind... the Tucks hit well and pitched well and still have the same personnel... plus rookie 3B Bud Bostic, a big stick with a good glove... yet they were downgraded to seventh place in the standings... an aging mound staff could be the reason why... if the Blue Jays play like last year, Red Bluff will be in for another tough fight.
For the last five years the Ozarka Naturals have finished under the .500 mark... their last playoff appearance was in 2040... the Nats have never won a Pro Cup, though they were in the Finals on five occasions between 2011 and 2020... starting pitching is not very good... but the relievers are very good... while the bats are lousy... rookie Carl Hemus will move into the starting rotation and is highly-touted... seven other freshmen made the team... RF Julien Belizaire is the only regular... he adds a good contact hitter with some punch and a pretty fair glove.
TYCOBBIAN EAST PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
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