Thursday, April 1, 2066
PRESEASON PICKS: ANCONA, VALKA, BELLE PLAINE, STONER, EAST POINT, CHICOPEE, LUXORA AND COLCHESTER WILL WIN IPA PENNANTS
Can you believe it?... nothing but losers and also-rans are forecast to win the pennants this year in the Islandian Pro Alliance.
Did you believe it?
Look at today's date... April the first... April Fool's Day.
I must admit I wish it could be so... I dearly love it when a downtrodden team surprises and makes the playoffs... remember the Ginza Karate Kids in '59 and '60... and the Hartsdale Hellcats in '63... sadly, I don't think it's going to happen in 2066... perusing the preseason picks, the baseball gurus are going with the teams that have been the most successful in recent years... not a lot of surprises... however, we might just keep an eye on the Far Mountain Redhawks in the Ruthlandian North, the Mahaska Haymakers in the Tycobbian North and the San Alejo Montaneros in the Tycobbian South... they didn't do well last year, but just might be in the running this year.
Ruthlandian Union Preview
And now... away we go... looking into our IPA crystal ball for the year 2066... the LaGrange Gators are still the class of the RU North and should win their third flag in four years... but they need to keep an eye on Far Mountain, Glasco and Ranford, clubs that could make it interesting for the Gators... LaGrange has very good pitching and solid hitting.
Hands down, it's the Claxton Diamonds again in the Ruthlandian South... the Diamonds have standout pitching as usual... and for a change, a pretty good offense... Claxton is set to win its fourth straight division crown... the Diamonds won the Pro Cup in '64 and they played well in the postseason last year... no real challengers in the RU South... Grand City and St. John are the best of the lot... Claxton is forecast to win by double digits... the Diamonds look like the best team in the Ruthlandian Union this season... LaGrange, Sugar Valley and Sligo are rated second, third and fourth-best.
The Ruthlandian East is shaping up as a very tight three-team affair between Sugar Valley, Wynnamac and Marston... the baseball prognosticators are picking the Rattlers to prevail, followed closely by the Macs and the Nine... Wynnamac is seeking its third pennant in a row.
The Sligo Rovers have had a remarkable run in the Ruthlandian West... in the last 13 seasons, the Rovers have finished second 10 times and won it 3 times... the baseball experts have spoken and this year Sligo is the favorite, but they will be challenged by defending champion Colfax, Fort Benton and Middlefield... the Black Sox will be hard to beat... Colfax has won it 2 of the last 3 years and both seasons went all the way to the Pro Cup Finals.
Tycobbian Union Preview
The Tycobbian Union has been the home of the Pro Cup in 6 of the last 7 years... last year the Southport Sun Sox whipped Colfax in 5 games for the 2065 Pro Cup crown... this year's winner looks like it will come from Oxford, unheralded San Alejo, South Fork or Rolling Hills.
For 6 times in the last 8 seasons the Oxford Red Caps have been the best team in the Tycobbian North... they came in second in the other 2 seasons... the Red Caps are favored, but not by much... upstart Mahaska, White River, Blue Lake and Hartsdale are all poised to give Oxford a good run for their money... no real clear favorite in the TU North... it should be quite year.
In the Tycobbian South race, the baseball pundits are again enamored with the San Alejo Montaneros this year... the Monties won the pennant in '64, but fizzled last year, skidding to sixth place in the standings... this year San Alejo has the offense to go with its solid pitching... the Montaneros are predicted to win by double digits over defending Pro Cup titlist Southport... personally, I find that hard to believe... but EC is just an OOTP Forum sports hack at best and not employed by The Islandian Times or by the Baseball News Network... who cares what I think?... Summerland and Turon are also forecast to be among the better teams in the TU South.
In the Tycobbian East Division, South Fork has sensational pitching, perhaps, the best in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the Stallions are expected to win over 100 games this year and probably win the Pro Cup... they are expected to run away with the Tycobbian East... Ozarka, Red Bluff, High Mesa and last year's champion Tuckanarra will be far out of sight in the South Fork rear view mirror... no one is expected to be within 20 games of the Stallions... not only do they have great pitching, they have some solid hitters, too, with power... 'nuff said... EC is a believer.
And yes, the most powerful team in the Islandian Pro Alliance is still playing baseball... and they are favored to win their 7th consecutive Tycobbian West title... and just like they have in recent times, the Racers will have to fend off the sometimes feisty Kenwood Wildcats again... none of the other six clubs in the TU West appear to be any kind of contenders... the Rolling Hills Express is still rolling and will be trying their hardest to capture its 6th Pro Cup trophy... the Racers can still outhit everybody... a little bit of pitching would go along way in helping them win another Pro Cup trophy.
Ruthlandian Union Predicted Standings North
Tycobbian Union Predicted Standings East
