Tuesday, July 4, 2079
HAYMAKERS ON TOP OF TU NORTH AT MIDSEASON MARK... 7 OF THE TEAMS ARE STILL IN THE RACE
In the preseason poll the baseball prophets were saying that it was a one-team affair in the Tycobbian North. They picked the Luxora Zorros to dominant and rampage through the division by over 10 games. Thus far, it hasn't happened. Only the Fairfax Frogs are out of the hunt in the TU North at the end of the first half of the season. 7 teams are within striking distance, no more than 6 and a half games off the lead. A good second half and a team can win it.
On the 4th of July the Mahaska Haymakers (43-35) are in the precarious driver's seat, one and games in front of the runner-up Blue Lake Blue Caps (41-36), 2 and a half games better than third place White River (40-37) and Oxford (40-37). Preseason choice Luxora (39-38) is just barely above .500 and tied for 5th with last year winner Hartsdale (39-38). They are both 3 and a half games behind. North Hills (36-41) is running 7th and trails by just 6 and a half games. It's euphoria for the TU North fans with almost everybody in the division still in the pennant race. Only Heaven knows who will win it. The three teams with a blended attack - good pitching and good hitting - will have the best chance. That would be Mahaska, Blue Lake and White River. Oxford can hit, but has mediocre pitching. Hartsdale can pitch, but has trouble scoring runs. Luxora is fine at the plate, but comes up short on the mound. North Hills is just average at the plate and just plain bad on the hill. Nope, don't think the Hawks will win it this year.
TURON IN COMMAND IN TU SOUTH
The Turon Typhoons are quite a club with 6 division flags in the last 8 seasons, plus 2 Pro Cup trophies. They captured the Pro Cup last year and will get another chance again this year. Turon is the preseason choice to easily win the Tycobbian South again this year. And it is looking more and more like they will do it. At midyear the Typhoons (50-27) top the standings with a comfortable 7 and a half-game edge over second place Arroyo Grande (43-35), 8 and a half up on third place Cape Coral (42-36)and 10 games ahead of Summerland (40-37) in the fourth spot.
Turon can hold its own offensively, but really stands out on the hill with excellent pitching. No one in the TU South is close to the Typhoons pitching corps. Actually, there are only a few teams in the IPA that can match them on the mound. Bayview in the Tycobbian Union and Taranto, Kilkenny and Elnora in the Ruthlandian Union.
It doesn't appear to be anyone in the TU South that can catch Turon. Arroyo Grande and Cape Coral simply don't have the pitching to do it. Summerland has no chance because of its frail offense. The Typhoons should blow away all challengers in the TU South once again this year. Turon fans are walking around with visions of back-to-back Pro Cup trophies swirling abundantly in their heads.
5-TEAM RACE IN TU EAST... NATS, STALLIONS RUNNING ONE-TWO AT MIDSEASON... BLAZERS, TUCKS, SOX CLING CLOSE
No one ever has a easy time winning the Tycobbian East. Most of the time, there will be several teams in the mix for the division crown. That's how it is looking this year with 5 clubs still in the pennant race at the league's halfway mark. The South Fork Stallions have won the flag 4 times in the last decade with 2 Pro Cups. The Stallions were this season's #1 pick in the preseason poll, followed by High Mesa, Ozarka, Tuckanarra and Hillsboro. The Buckaroos (31-46) have flopped badly and fallen totally out of the race. However, Ozarka (45-32) has done well and possesses a 2 and a half-game edge over runner-up South Fork (42-34) at the All-Star break. Three other teams are hanging close by. Hillsboro (40-38) is third, 5 and a half games out, Tuckanarra (39-38) is fourth, 6 GB, and Red Bluff (39-39) is in the fifth spot in the standings, 6 and a half-game back.
Most of the clubs in the TU East are weak defensively except for South Fork and Hillsboro. Offensively the 5 challengers are about even, but the edge goes to the Naturals, Stallions and Blazers on the mound. The Red Sox fall far behind in pitching, but they can hold their own at the plate. Look for the race to come down to Ozarka and South Fork. The Naturals and the Stallions are fairly even in most respects except in the bullpen, where Ozarka has a wide margin. That might be the key factor in the second half of the season. South Fork usually is a strong second-half team. Beware of the Stallions. The have a tendency to rise to the occasion down the stretch. Hillsboro, Tuckanarra and Red Bluff will have to settle for the third sport. That may be the best they can do.
DC REDBIRDS SURPRISE AT MIDYEAR... THEY WILL HAVE TO STAVE OFF BAYVIEW IN 2-TEAM TUSSLE IN TU WEST
Denton City is making waves in the Tycobbian West. The Redbirds were not highly-regarded in the preseason poll by the baseball gurus, selected far down the list in 5th place, just barely over a .500 team. Yet, here it is midsummer and Denton City (48-29) is thriving, 4 and a half games in front of the preseason favorite Bayview Vikings (44-34). They are 8 and a half games up on fourth place Rolling Hills (40-38), Kenwood (40-38) and La Claire (40-38). None of the three remaining also-rans are capable of moving up and getting into the race.
Denton City can do it all. Fine hitting and scoring, solid pitching, both starters and relievers, and good defense. Nope, the Redbirds don't look like a flash in a pan. Bayview is a fine team, too, but lacks good defense, which could be a difference maker. It is looking more and more like a Denton City-Bayview battle for the TU West title. Like always, Rolling Hills can put runs on the scoreboard, but the Racers are lacking on the hill and with the gloves. Last year's division champion Kenwood has impressive pitching, but the Wildcats just can't score runs like the other contenders. They are woefully weak in home-run power. Only 23 roundtrippers this season so far. La Claire is in the same boat. The Lynx can pitch fairly well, but only have 37 dingers.
