Saturday, October 19, 2069
CLASSIC DUEL SET FOR IPA PRO CUP SERIES BETWEEN ROLLING HILLS AND CLAXTON
In Islandian Pro Alliance circles it may not get any better than this: the Rolling Hills Racers going up against the Claxton Diamonds... the two dynasties have been dominating for the last decade... the Racers are on a streak of 10 pennants in a row, while the Diamonds have copped 7 pennants in succession... Rolling Hills has been the overall IPA champion 3 times in the last decade... they have also lost in the Pro Cup Finals on 2 occasions in recent years... Claxton has won the Pro Cup Trophy one time in recent memory... they upset the Racers in a sizzling 7-game series in 2064... now the two arch-rivals are back at it... the Pro Cup Series will get started this Wednesday at the Midtown Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills... the Racers posted a 97-57 record this season, the best in the IPA... they will possess the homefield advantage... the Diamonds went 90-64 to take the division crown... Rolling Hills will be seeking their 7th Pro Cup Trophy, while Claxton will be trying to win its second.
This season Claxton has had the easier path to the Pro Cup Finals... they have won 8 of 9 games, beating Taranto in 5 games and sweeping Sligo in 4 straight... while the Racers are 8-5 in the postseason playoffs and sweated out wins both rounds against South Fork and Southport... they skimmed by the Stallions 4 games to 3 and nicked the Sun Sox 4 games to 2... both series were in doubt and could have gone the other way.
Due to its standout hitting Rolling Hills is the Pro Cup favorite... manager Billy Christianson is depending on his bats to win another Pro Cup trophy, coupled with improved pitching, while Claxton skipper Abe Schiffman is banking his mound staff has what it takes to whip the Racers... Rolling Hills is the best-hitting team in Islandian Pro Alliance history... Claxton is not as prolific at the plate as the Racers, but they always seem to come up with enough runs to win the game... they do not totally rely on its pitching corps... the Diamonds are a well-rounded ballclub.
Claxton pitching has been superb in the playoffs... the Diamonds have posted a 1.75 ERA in its 8 games, while its offense has batted .247 with 6 homers and scored 45 runs in 9 games against some very good pitching.
Rolling Hills is also hitting .247 against some strong postseason pitching with 10 roundtrippers and 53 runs in 13 games... the Racers have been solid on the hill, too, with a fine 2.53 ERA against good-hitting teams.
Defensively the two clubs are fairly equal... during the regular season Rolling Hills chalked up a .978 FA and Claxton a .979 FA... but Racers do turn more double play than the Diamonds.
2069 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Series Forecast:
Looking at the stats, Rolling Hills is the superior team and should win the series in 7 games... it all come down to the starting pitchers and the bullpens... who is the best?... Rolling Hills' Carl Lindell, Durrell MacLeod, Coen Bock and Charley Clutterbuck or Claxton's Mark Meisner, Russell Krohn, Shelly Grice and Marv Douglas?... or relievers Brownie Ashmore and Chris Malbrough for the Racers or Matt Goodrum and Alvie London for the Diamonds?... the Racers don't have a stopper like Meisner... he is a level up from all the other starters, a future Hall of Famer... Krohn and Grice may be the difference... should they do well, Claxton will be the IPA champion... the winner of the Pro Cup Series will need good work from the bullpen, too... so far, neither team's bullpen has done well this postseason... after all is said and done, Rolling Hills is aging, lots of players in their mid 30s... the offense is not what it was... they only batted .282 this year, down from over .300 in 2066, 2067 and 2068... but the Racers do have better pitching than in the last few years... some of Claxton's key players are up in age as well... this year is the time to win the Pro Cup for both teams... they will soon be on the decline... but this should be a great series... give it to Claxton... their pitching will win it... probably in 6 games... Rolling Hills never plays as well as its reputation and they have a tendency to lose games they shouldn't... still the Racers are one of my all-time favorite team in IPA history... personally, I hope both teams are just crowned co-champions... just end the season with the Pro Cup Series tied at three games each and declare it a tie... now that would be poetic justice... just like a Hollywood script... the Racers and the Diamonds could ride off into the sunset arm and arm and sharing the renown and much-revered Islandian Pro Cup Trophy... that is the way life is in Islandia... it's a perfect world.