OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

Eugene Church · 07-20-2018, 07:44 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Thursday, September 20, 2057

PRO CUP PLAYOFFS START THIS AFTERNOON
Four ballparks around the Islands will be bustin' at the seams this afternoon as the highly-heralded and much-anticipated Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs get underway... Denton City is picked to win the Tycobbian Union, while Valmara gets the call in the Ruthlandian Union... but it won't be easy for either club... all eight teams in the postseason are given some chance of winning the overall Island championship... it should turn out to be a frenzied fight to the finish.

REDBIRDS WILL MAKE THE RED SOX SEE RED
In the opening round of play in the Tycobbian Union, the Denton City Redbirds (95-60) will tangle with the Red Bluff Red Sox (87-68), conquerors of the mighty Midway Wolves (86-69) in TU West action... three Redbird 20-game winners, Flash Stringfellow (24-12/2.82), Carl Coons (21-14/2.58) and Jayson Mannon (22-9/3.43), will lead the way, backed up by the top closer in the IPA Burnell Kelley (3-2/0.81 ERA/37 saves/54 G) and a slew of sluggers in SS Vincent McCloud (.306/31 HR), CF Winky Biggio (.251/28 HR) and 1B Val Anniston (.269/27 HR).

The Red Sox will be sparked by two 20-game winners, Duane Sturgeon (22-12/2.90) and Wilson Sharpe (20-16/2.99)... Red Bluff possesses some big bats, too, with RF Toni Kulkov (.279/36 HR), 2B Dazzy Bevis (.274/32 HR), rookie CF Paul Gaddison (.299/27 HR) and 1B Monty Lyons (.294/19 HR)... one big shortcoming is the undistinguished Red Sox bullpen, along with the lack of reliable starters past the top two... this will be the difference makers in the series... the Redbirds should take the Red Sox in six games.

TURON TO TAKE OXFORD IN A TYCOBBIAN THRILLER
In the other Tycobbian matchup, it will feature the hard-hitting Oxford Red Caps (88-66) and the rock-solid pitching of the Turon Typhoons (93-61)... the Typhoons will try to knock off the Red Caps with an abundance of standout starters: Yancey Hedges (21-10/3.15), Dickie Parmenter (18-7/2.12), Ivar Jevicks (13-8/2.69) and Ollie Dickenson (15-13/3.38)... Turon is lacking a good bullpen and a good offense... offensively the Typhoons can't match up with Oxford firepower with C Doyle Ashcroft (.252/21 HR), RF Matthew Fears (.276/19 HR), LF Andy Wilkerson (.291/18 HR), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.264/18 HR), CF Maxie Mullinax (.277/12 HR) and 3B Omar Price (.271/10 HR)... they will have to win with the superiority of their starting pitchers... Oxford has one fine starter in Maury Statler (26-10/2.94)... he tied for the most victories in the IPA this year... but the rest of the rotation is questionable with Weldon Eddington (17-11/4.14), R. C. Russell (11-12/4.71) and Dingo Willmon (9-9/4.26)... however, the Red Caps are awesome at the plate with 257 roundtrippers, tops in the IPA… the big sticks are terrific rookie 1B Buddy Blackford (.285/41 HR), 3B Roland Latimer (.253/36 HR), CF Frankie Beckwith (.303/34 HR), LF Wade McGrew (.322/31 HR), RF Ozzy Ackerman (.289/25 HR) and LF Dwayne Wagner (.255/21 HR)… it's really anybody's series to win... but give the series to Turon in a very intense and hotly-contested seven-game series...we'll soon find out if good pitching can beat good hitting.

VAUNTED VIPERS TOP CHOICE IN RU
In the Ruthlandian Union, favored Valmara (96-58) just might have its hands full with the unheralded St. John Crusaders (87-67)... both clubs can score runs and pitch well... the Vipers had the edge in home-run power... that might give them edge in the series... Valmara has a potent offense sparked by five .300 hitters: 1B Timmy Benford (.313/24 HR), rookie 2B Borys Balicki (.312/8 HR), 3B Vladimir Szymanski (.308/10 HR) and rookie SS Alek Stolarski (.302/11 HR)... and C Karol Koska (.241/26 HR) and CF Doc Pollins (.254/19 HR) supply the longballs... the Vipers has a good set of starters in longtime veterans Primo Sirak (19-12/3.97) and Darus Grajek (20-16/3.71)... youngsters Tony Joe Carnes (12-2/3.08) and Lukasz Chojnacki (18-11/3.76) are also reliable starters... the Valmara bullpen is just fair-to-middling with Kris Fourcade (5-2/3.23 ERA/27 saves/42 G) and Carver Dillon (2-0/1.80 ERA/2 saves/25 G).

The Crusaders don't look good on paper offensively, they are short on power, but they did put some runs on the scoreboard with 3B Oswaldo Romero (.288/19 HR), C Tuffy Palmieri (.283/13 HR) and CF Freddie Woodruff (.293/9 HR) doing most of the damage... topping the mound corps are starters Teddy de Grom (18-12/4.06), Tom Smithson (16-13/3.37) and Teddy Howell (14-12/3.35)... last season signee, Gibby Pritchell (5-5/2.73) could get his chance in the starting rotation, too... other possibility is Deke Eubanks (12-14/3.83)... the bullpen is in capable hands, anchored by Mark Faber (2-2/2.62 ERA/23 saves/45 G)... Valmara should take the series in six games... better hitting and pitching should get them past the Crusaders... the Vipers would really relish winning its record-setting fifth Pro Cup this season... it looks like they just might get their chance.

ALL-STARS TOO STRONG FOR DEFENDERS
It will be the Elnora All-Stars (86-68) and the Fort Benton Defenders (87-67) in the other half of the Ruthlandian Union playoffs... both had to get past long-time powerhouses Wynnamac and Middlefield to make the postseason... the Defenders defied the odds by upsetting the reigning IPA champion Middlefield Roosters in the RU West... the All-Stars knocked off the Sundowners in the RU East.

Elnora looks to be the better team with its fine arsenal of bats, home-run power and three quality starters... SS Dickie DeBusshere (.314/31 HR), 1B Gus Abreu (.320/16 HR), CF Keith Colburn (.296/10 HR), C Kuro Ishihara (.284/9 HR), 2B Mickey Wilbur (.267/23 HR) and RF Robb Norwood (.318/16 HR) can put some runs on the scoreboard... and Bud Hathaway (24-10/3.74), Matt Mackowiak (18-13/3.71) and Jerry Bertrand (18-11/3.94) are dependable starters... the bullpen doesn't have a consistently good reliever... but the All-Stars should top Fort Benton in six games... they have better hitting and just enough pitching to get by the Defenders.

Fort Benton hits very well for average, but doesn't go deep very well... pitching is also kind of spotty with no depth... top bats are 1B Mel Lightfoot (.334/17 HR), RF Charlie Bondy (.319/12 HR), CF Kip Drumm (.315/7 HR) and 3B Eamon Hooper (.284/12 HR)... Noel Blissard (19-12/4.01) and Gil Hicks (17-16/3.88) are fairly good starters and Randy Rinehart (5-4/3.09 ERA/24 saves/45 G) is a pretty good closer.

07-20-2018, 07:44 PM	#5883
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,979	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Thursday, September 20, 2057 PRO CUP PLAYOFFS START THIS AFTERNOON Four ballparks around the Islands will be bustin' at the seams this afternoon as the highly-heralded and much-anticipated Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs get underway... Denton City is picked to win the Tycobbian Union, while Valmara gets the call in the Ruthlandian Union... but it won't be easy for either club... all eight teams in the postseason are given some chance of winning the overall Island championship... it should turn out to be a frenzied fight to the finish. REDBIRDS WILL MAKE THE RED SOX SEE RED In the opening round of play in the Tycobbian Union, the Denton City Redbirds (95-60) will tangle with the Red Bluff Red Sox (87-68), conquerors of the mighty Midway Wolves (86-69) in TU West action... three Redbird 20-game winners, Flash Stringfellow (24-12/2.82), Carl Coons (21-14/2.58) and Jayson Mannon (22-9/3.43), will lead the way, backed up by the top closer in the IPA Burnell Kelley (3-2/0.81 ERA/37 saves/54 G) and a slew of sluggers in SS Vincent McCloud (.306/31 HR), CF Winky Biggio (.251/28 HR) and 1B Val Anniston (.269/27 HR). The Red Sox will be sparked by two 20-game winners, Duane Sturgeon (22-12/2.90) and Wilson Sharpe (20-16/2.99)... Red Bluff possesses some big bats, too, with RF Toni Kulkov (.279/36 HR), 2B Dazzy Bevis (.274/32 HR), rookie CF Paul Gaddison (.299/27 HR) and 1B Monty Lyons (.294/19 HR)... one big shortcoming is the undistinguished Red Sox bullpen, along with the lack of reliable starters past the top two... this will be the difference makers in the series... the Redbirds should take the Red Sox in six games. TURON TO TAKE OXFORD IN A TYCOBBIAN THRILLER In the other Tycobbian matchup, it will feature the hard-hitting Oxford Red Caps (88-66) and the rock-solid pitching of the Turon Typhoons (93-61)... the Typhoons will try to knock off the Red Caps with an abundance of standout starters: Yancey Hedges (21-10/3.15), Dickie Parmenter (18-7/2.12), Ivar Jevicks (13-8/2.69) and Ollie Dickenson (15-13/3.38)... Turon is lacking a good bullpen and a good offense... offensively the Typhoons can't match up with Oxford firepower with C Doyle Ashcroft (.252/21 HR), RF Matthew Fears (.276/19 HR), LF Andy Wilkerson (.291/18 HR), 1B Shoyo Yuro (.264/18 HR), CF Maxie Mullinax (.277/12 HR) and 3B Omar Price (.271/10 HR)... they will have to win with the superiority of their starting pitchers... Oxford has one fine starter in Maury Statler (26-10/2.94)... he tied for the most victories in the IPA this year... but the rest of the rotation is questionable with Weldon Eddington (17-11/4.14), R. C. Russell (11-12/4.71) and Dingo Willmon (9-9/4.26)... however, the Red Caps are awesome at the plate with 257 roundtrippers, tops in the IPA… the big sticks are terrific rookie 1B Buddy Blackford (.285/41 HR), 3B Roland Latimer (.253/36 HR), CF Frankie Beckwith (.303/34 HR), LF Wade McGrew (.322/31 HR), RF Ozzy Ackerman (.289/25 HR) and LF Dwayne Wagner (.255/21 HR)… it's really anybody's series to win... but give the series to Turon in a very intense and hotly-contested seven-game series...we'll soon find out if good pitching can beat good hitting. VAUNTED VIPERS TOP CHOICE IN RU In the Ruthlandian Union, favored Valmara (96-58) just might have its hands full with the unheralded St. John Crusaders (87-67)... both clubs can score runs and pitch well... the Vipers had the edge in home-run power... that might give them edge in the series... Valmara has a potent offense sparked by five .300 hitters: 1B Timmy Benford (.313/24 HR), rookie 2B Borys Balicki (.312/8 HR), 3B Vladimir Szymanski (.308/10 HR) and rookie SS Alek Stolarski (.302/11 HR)... and C Karol Koska (.241/26 HR) and CF Doc Pollins (.254/19 HR) supply the longballs... the Vipers has a good set of starters in longtime veterans Primo Sirak (19-12/3.97) and Darus Grajek (20-16/3.71)... youngsters Tony Joe Carnes (12-2/3.08) and Lukasz Chojnacki (18-11/3.76) are also reliable starters... the Valmara bullpen is just fair-to-middling with Kris Fourcade (5-2/3.23 ERA/27 saves/42 G) and Carver Dillon (2-0/1.80 ERA/2 saves/25 G). The Crusaders don't look good on paper offensively, they are short on power, but they did put some runs on the scoreboard with 3B Oswaldo Romero (.288/19 HR), C Tuffy Palmieri (.283/13 HR) and CF Freddie Woodruff (.293/9 HR) doing most of the damage... topping the mound corps are starters Teddy de Grom (18-12/4.06), Tom Smithson (16-13/3.37) and Teddy Howell (14-12/3.35)... last season signee, Gibby Pritchell (5-5/2.73) could get his chance in the starting rotation, too... other possibility is Deke Eubanks (12-14/3.83)... the bullpen is in capable hands, anchored by Mark Faber (2-2/2.62 ERA/23 saves/45 G)... Valmara should take the series in six games... better hitting and pitching should get them past the Crusaders... the Vipers would really relish winning its record-setting fifth Pro Cup this season... it looks like they just might get their chance. ALL-STARS TOO STRONG FOR DEFENDERS It will be the Elnora All-Stars (86-68) and the Fort Benton Defenders (87-67) in the other half of the Ruthlandian Union playoffs... both had to get past long-time powerhouses Wynnamac and Middlefield to make the postseason... the Defenders defied the odds by upsetting the reigning IPA champion Middlefield Roosters in the RU West... the All-Stars knocked off the Sundowners in the RU East. Elnora looks to be the better team with its fine arsenal of bats, home-run power and three quality starters... SS Dickie DeBusshere (.314/31 HR), 1B Gus Abreu (.320/16 HR), CF Keith Colburn (.296/10 HR), C Kuro Ishihara (.284/9 HR), 2B Mickey Wilbur (.267/23 HR) and RF Robb Norwood (.318/16 HR) can put some runs on the scoreboard... and Bud Hathaway (24-10/3.74), Matt Mackowiak (18-13/3.71) and Jerry Bertrand (18-11/3.94) are dependable starters... the bullpen doesn't have a consistently good reliever... but the All-Stars should top Fort Benton in six games... they have better hitting and just enough pitching to get by the Defenders. Fort Benton hits very well for average, but doesn't go deep very well... pitching is also kind of spotty with no depth... top bats are 1B Mel Lightfoot (.334/17 HR), RF Charlie Bondy (.319/12 HR), CF Kip Drumm (.315/7 HR) and 3B Eamon Hooper (.284/12 HR)... Noel Blissard (19-12/4.01) and Gil Hicks (17-16/3.88) are fairly good starters and Randy Rinehart (5-4/3.09 ERA/24 saves/45 G) is a pretty good closer. Last edited by Eugene Church; 07-21-2018 at 11:23 PM.