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

Eugene Church · 03-16-2023, 08:27 PM

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Pro Cup Starts Tomorrow, Sligo Favored Over White River
Will it be a one-sided series in the Pro Cup this year? It will be one of the top seeds against one of the lowest seeds in this year's Pro Cup Finals. The second-seeded Sligo Rovers (100-54) will represent the Ruthlandian Union and eighth-seeded White River Rascals (81-73) are the Tycobbian Union representative. The lowest seed to ever win the Island championship was the seventh-seeded Kenwood Wildcats in 2014. Last year it was a sixth seed that took the crown, the Crystal Lake Crushers. Sligo is a big favorite this year and is forecast to take the Pro Cup in six games. Sligo had the easier task of the two. The Rovers disposed of fifth seed Sugar Valley and seven seed Grand City, while the Rascals whipped Arroyo Grande and Ozarka, who were ranked number three and number one by the baseball experts prior to the playoffs. Many analysts are rethinking their positions. If White River could beat the Suns and the Naturals, they surely have a chance against anyone in the IPA. Underdogs have been doing quite well in the IPA in recent years.

Sligo skipper Eddie Keys has superb pitching and strong bats and will be tough to beat. Keys' rotation features four 20-game winners including the IPA ERA leader Les Patterson (23-8 2.03), plus Sam Tate (21-9 2.77), Ralph Odakota (20-10 2.98) and Luka Abromowitz (21-7 3.35). In the Rover bullpen, Keys has lefty Lenny Ciaccio (9-7), who posted 26 saves and a fine 2.97 ERA. Sligo is not strong in middle relief, but so far it has not been a problem as the starters all go deep into the game. Sligo starters had a sensational 2.93 ERA and ranked first in the league. White River's starting rotation combined for a lofty 4.22 ERA, 23rd in the league. The Rascals Ron Hendrix (16-15 3.09), Del Brewer (15-14 4.77) and 42-year-old Joe Hudson (17-17 4.49) don't appear to be in the same league as the Rover counterparts. In the bullpen manager Mick Cronyn has a strong closer in Arnie Montel (3-6) with 28 saves and an impressive 2.25 ERA.

Sligo and White River are pretty even at the plate. The Rovers batted .265 (6th) with 148 homers (8th) and 798 runs (2nd), while the Rascals put up a .264 mark with 163 roundtrippers (6th) and scored 782 runs (7th-tied). Sligo has homered 18 times in 13 games in the playoffs, White River has gone deep 16 times in 12 games.

Keys' best bats are 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.298/26 HR/103 RBI/100 R), 3B Manny Alou (.279/23 HR/97 RBI/80 R), LF Biff Blauer (.301/19 HR/94 RBI/94 R), RF Clell Renshaw (.301/13 HR/74 RBI/96 R), CF Chris Michel (.289/14 HR/67 RBI/98 R) and SS Vic Carlin (.243/20 HR/103 RBI/71 R).

Cronyn has some excellent hitters, too, but not quite as many. 1B Marty Blake (.329/40 HR/115 RBI/112 R) heads up the Rascals batting order with help from C Tom Hewlett (.295/18/93 RBI/69 R), RF Hal Littleton (.342/12 HR/68 RBI/74 R) and SS Kenny Young (.278/10 HR/70 RBI/80 R).

Both clubs are only average with the gloves with .970 fielding percentages. Sligo was rated tied for 20th in the Ruthlandian Union and White River was tied for 24th in the Tycobbian Union.

03-16-2023, 08:27 PM	#9448
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,904	*YESTERDAY IN THE IPA* *The Islandian Times* Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Pro Cup Starts Tomorrow, Sligo Favored Over White River Will it be a one-sided series in the Pro Cup this year? It will be one of the top seeds against one of the lowest seeds in this year's Pro Cup Finals. The second-seeded Sligo Rovers (100-54) will represent the Ruthlandian Union and eighth-seeded White River Rascals (81-73) are the Tycobbian Union representative. The lowest seed to ever win the Island championship was the seventh-seeded Kenwood Wildcats in 2014. Last year it was a sixth seed that took the crown, the Crystal Lake Crushers. Sligo is a big favorite this year and is forecast to take the Pro Cup in six games. Sligo had the easier task of the two. The Rovers disposed of fifth seed Sugar Valley and seven seed Grand City, while the Rascals whipped Arroyo Grande and Ozarka, who were ranked number three and number one by the baseball experts prior to the playoffs. Many analysts are rethinking their positions. If White River could beat the Suns and the Naturals, they surely have a chance against anyone in the IPA. Underdogs have been doing quite well in the IPA in recent years. Sligo skipper Eddie Keys has superb pitching and strong bats and will be tough to beat. Keys' rotation features four 20-game winners including the IPA ERA leader Les Patterson (23-8 2.03), plus Sam Tate (21-9 2.77), Ralph Odakota (20-10 2.98) and Luka Abromowitz (21-7 3.35). In the Rover bullpen, Keys has lefty Lenny Ciaccio (9-7), who posted 26 saves and a fine 2.97 ERA. Sligo is not strong in middle relief, but so far it has not been a problem as the starters all go deep into the game. Sligo starters had a sensational 2.93 ERA and ranked first in the league. White River's starting rotation combined for a lofty 4.22 ERA, 23rd in the league. The Rascals Ron Hendrix (16-15 3.09), Del Brewer (15-14 4.77) and 42-year-old Joe Hudson (17-17 4.49) don't appear to be in the same league as the Rover counterparts. In the bullpen manager Mick Cronyn has a strong closer in Arnie Montel (3-6) with 28 saves and an impressive 2.25 ERA. Sligo and White River are pretty even at the plate. The Rovers batted .265 (6th) with 148 homers (8th) and 798 runs (2nd), while the Rascals put up a .264 mark with 163 roundtrippers (6th) and scored 782 runs (7th-tied). Sligo has homered 18 times in 13 games in the playoffs, White River has gone deep 16 times in 12 games. Keys' best bats are 1B Johnny Lee Harder (.298/26 HR/103 RBI/100 R), 3B Manny Alou (.279/23 HR/97 RBI/80 R), LF Biff Blauer (.301/19 HR/94 RBI/94 R), RF Clell Renshaw (.301/13 HR/74 RBI/96 R), CF Chris Michel (.289/14 HR/67 RBI/98 R) and SS Vic Carlin (.243/20 HR/103 RBI/71 R). Cronyn has some excellent hitters, too, but not quite as many. 1B Marty Blake (.329/40 HR/115 RBI/112 R) heads up the Rascals batting order with help from C Tom Hewlett (.295/18/93 RBI/69 R), RF Hal Littleton (.342/12 HR/68 RBI/74 R) and SS Kenny Young (.278/10 HR/70 RBI/80 R). Both clubs are only average with the gloves with .970 fielding percentages. Sligo was rated tied for 20th in the Ruthlandian Union and White River was tied for 24th in the Tycobbian Union.