Wednesday, October 1, 2070
CHANGING OF THE GUARD IN THE IPA PLAYOFFS?
Could the times be a-changing in the Islandian Pro Alliance?... a few teams are persistent postseason participants... yes, absolutely the Rolling Hills Racers are back for the 11th straight year... perennials like Wynnamac and Red Bluff are returning after short absences... but a couple of their recurring rivals and nemeses are missing... the tough Claxton Diamonds and the stout-hearted Southport Sun Sox somehow didn't make the cut this year... even the semi-regular and pesky Sligo Rovers and Marston Nine failed to qualify... it looks like a changing of the old guard... there is a new wave of vibrant challengers on the Islands' baseball horizon... Belair Beach is appearing for the first time since 2047... rare partaker White River is here... so are Turon, Valmara and Volusia, who have only made token appearances in the last decade... will the new vanguard knock off the oldtimers?
Once again the odds-on favorite to win the IPA Pro Cup Trophy is mighty Rolling Hills... the Racers are striving to repeat and win their second Pro Cup in a row... the Far Mountain Redhawks hold the record with three Pro Cups in a row... they did it in 2011, 2012 and 2013... only 4 other clubs have ever captured two back-to-back IPA titles, but Eastshore, Tuckanarra, Midway and Southport couldn't do it three consecutive seasons... the Elegants (now Cotton Kings) missed out in 2018, the Blue Jays (now Tiger Cats) failed in 2025, the Wolves came up short in 2055 and the Sun Sox couldn't do it 2067... do the aging Racers have enough left in the gas tank to pull it off and gallop off with their record-setting 8th Pro Cup?... incidentally, Rolling Hills had never won back-to-back Pro Cups.
Best Hitting Overall
1. Rolling Hills
2. Turon
3. Valmara
Best Scoring Runs:
1. Rolling Hills 902 R
2. Turon 820 R
3. Wynnamac 795 R
Best Hitting For Average:
1: Rolling Hills .271 BA
2. Turon .269 BA
3. Belair Beach .262 BA
Best Hitting For Power:
1. Valmara 170 HR
2. White River 160 HR
3. Rolling Hills 145 HR
Best On-Base Percentage:
1. Rolling Hills .346 OBP
2. Turon .342 OPB
3. Wynnamac .328 OBP
Best Pitching Overall
1. Volusia
2. White River
3. Turon
Best Earned Run Average:
1. Volusia 2.82 ERA
2. White River 2.87 ERA
3. Wynnamac 3.25 ERA
Best Home Runs Allowed:
1. Volusia 88 HRA
2. Rolling Hills 90 HRA
3. White River 116 HRA
Best Fielding Average:
1. Red Bluff .969 FA
1. Turon .969 FA
3. Wynnamac .965 FA
2070 Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup Prediction Poll
Rolling Hills Home Page (21 postseason appearances, 7 Pro Cups in 2029, 2031, 2048, 2060, 2062, 2067 and 2069)
1st: Rolling Hills Racers (101-53)
Obviously the Racers know how to win a Pro Cup... they have made a regular habit of winning it... age has taken its toll on Rolling Hills, they are not the young Racers of old or even recently, but they still have the offense to win... veterans Mulbert (38), Stonich (36) and Roubique (35) will have to perform with playoff vigor to win again... retirement is beckoning to all of them... the Racers are the best-hitting team in the postseason by quite a bit... 1 to 8 in the lineup, it's one good hitter after another... there is no letup... victory hinges on getting enough pitching... one strong point is their staff doesn't give up a lot of longballs... Lindell, Malbrough and especially Jordy Wales needs to pitch well... the bullpen has to do well, too... good work will be needed from the middle relievers and longtime closer Brownie Ashmore... Rolling Hills is not a good defensive team (.959 FA)... this could hurt them... good defense and good pitching go together.
Turon Home Page (21 postseason appearances, 4 Pro Cups in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2018)
2nd: Turon Typhoons (99-55)
Turon is a rock-solid team with a good combination of batting, pitching and fielding... they will need good efforts from all three starters to overcome the scoring power of Rolling Hills... Mulroy, Malek and Pearl will be prime to their success... so will closer Edward Carlin... he will have to have a good postseason, too.
Valmara Home Page (26 postseason appearances, 4 Pro Cups in 2026, 2043, 2049 and 2050)
3rd: Valmara Vipers (97-57)
The Vipers could be a player in the postseason this year... they are a good all-around club... no real flaws... solid starters in Zajac, Kaminski and Rummel... good long reliever in Camden and strong closer in Mazur... some reliable sticks with Skarzynski, Santiago and Rynsburger... and some punch and power with Kozak, Viri and Lindmaa.
Wynnamac Home Page (17 postseason appearances, 2 Pro Cups in 2008 and 2055)
4th: Wynnamac Sundowners (99-55)
The Macs are another team that does almost everything well... they have no real weak spots... good batting order top to bottom... an important element in winning the Pro Cup... Wynnamac has better-than-average scoring, hitting, power, pitching and defense... and they don't give up a lot of homers... the Macs' rotation of Crafton, Royal and Mosley look good for the playoffs... and they have a strong closer in Mick Flanders.