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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 3, 2051
RATTLERS TO STRIKE AGAIN IN RU EAST
The Sugar Valley Rattlers are forecast to dominate the Ruthlandian East Division again in 2051... they have won it the last three seasons... and six of the previous eight... even won their first Pro Cup in 2045... no competitors in sight... Belle Plaine can really put runs on the scoreboard, but suffers some on the mound... the rest of the division will be also-rans this year.
Dominant pitching carries Sugar Valley... the starting four are excellent led by Christopher Dunsberry (24-6/2.57), Joe Snow (23-10/2.40), Antonio Cedeno (19-14/2.38) and Cullen Winslow (20-9/3.04)... in the bullpen closer Domenico Renterias has a high 4.17 ERA, but he did put up 25 saves, second best in the IPA in 73 appearances... the offense is just sufficient with Duncan McEllicott (.297/38/99/86) and Carl Ramsey (.272/32/95/90) at the forefront... the Rattlers really miss the big bat of manager Bobby Gamble, career .315 hitter with 530 roundtrippers... Gamble retired in 2049.
The Belle Plaine Musketeeers have been runner-up to Sugar Valley the last few years... and it looks like more of the same this year... not nearly enough pitching... but the Muskies can muscle the ball with the likes of superstar Lenny Buisson (.336/44/108/116) and Chuck Gregory (.352/29/101/75)... Gregory led the IPA with a .352 BA... Buisson was sixth with 44 homers... Phil Lacey (20-14/3.33) and Joe-Joe Bouvier (16-10/4.00) are dependable starters, but the Musketeers lack depth in the starting rotation... the bullpen is pretty good with Takeo Kawamura (8-4/2.16/18 saves) and Lakota Cobos (8-5/3.16/15 saves)... Belle Plaine got Cobos from Ancona in a trade this year... he should be a good acquisition... the Musketeers have to close a 10-game gap between them and Sugar Valley.
ROOSTERS RULE RU WEST AGAIN
Four times in the last six seasons the Middlefield Roosters have ruled the roost in the Ruthlandian West and they are the favorite this year in a two-team tussle with Forest City... the 'Jacks won it in '48 and have been a distant second the last two years.
Longballs and good pitching keep Middlefield in business... superstud Johnny Wyatt (.325/57/133/114) has been fabulous in his first two IPA seasons... 57 homers, 256 RBIs and a .307 batting helped him win the Ruthlandiand MVP two years running... Wyatt was number one in homers with 57 and second in the IPA to Benny Hull of Grand City with 133 RBIs... Hull totaled 135... Timothy Hayworth is also a budding star... he hit .331 last year with 17 homers, 101 runs and 64 RBIs... Russell Martin added 28 home runs, 83 RBIs and scored 87 runs, while batting .260... James Long is the ace of the staff with a 25-8 mark with a sterling 1.78 ERA, tops in the IPA... Long was second in wins... the Roosters have two other capable starters in Carroll Collier (20-15/3.36) and Hollis Dale (16-14/3.78)... and Ricky Farris (10-9/3.35/14 saves) is dependable in the bullpen.
The Forest City Lumberjacks need to hit with more power... they have some fine contact men like last year's Rookie of the Year Heck Callis (339/8/77/82), Ziggy Regan (.305/11/74/103) and Dan Brownmiller (.302/14/85/68)... Hondo Harmon (.285/18/85/69) is their only decent slugger... 30-year-old ace and strikeout king Rusty Howard (22-14/2.46) is the workhorse of the staff with help from Omar Cordero (17-12/3.19) and John McKee (17-12/3.57)... five times Howard has led the RU in strikeouts.
None of the other clubs will likely be in the pennant chase... but the clubs do have some talented players... Jamie Taylor (20-13/1.93) of Rocky Rapids... C Darrell Dillon (.333/31/93/83) of Colfax... Mickey Walsh (21-16/2.61) of Sligo.
2051 Ruthlandian East and West Divisions Preseason Predictions
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