Thursday, April 3, 2087
NO SURPRISES IN IPA - BEST TEAMS STILL PICKED TO WIN DIVISION FLAGS
According to the Islandian Pro Alliance preseason prophets there will no shockers this season. Once again this season the best teams last year will do the best this season in most cases. There will be no major surprises.
Here is a quick preseason perusal of the 8 divisions in the IPA. The baseball experts are giving their blessings to Ancona, current Pro Cup champion Belair Beach, Belle Plaine and Forest City in the Ruthlandian Union races. Hartsdale, Ginza, South Fork and Rolling Hills are favored to hoist pennant flags this season. The Pro Cup participants look like the Belair Beach Sunbirds in the parity-ridden Ruthlandian Union. Actually none of the teams really stand out. The Tycobbian Union will be a rat race between all four division winners. The Hartsdale Hellcats and the Ginza Ninjas stand out above the crowd because of their batting prowess, longball power and solid pitching.
In the RU North current champ Ancona gets a very slight nod over the Ranford Bulls and the LaGrange Gators. Belair Beach is the favorite in the RU South, but it will be a close 3-team race with Grand City and Claxton. In the RU East Belle Plaine will prevail in a tight race with the Wynnamac Sundowners. The Eastshore Cotton Kings and Beechwood Blues are rated long shots, along with current title holder, the Marston Nine. It seems the RU West is always hotly contested. Preseason choice Forest City will be challenged by the Stoner Silver Sox, Volusia Vigilantes and last year's winner, the Rocky Rapids Snappers.
The Tycobbian Union doesn't seem to have as many contenders as the Ruthlandian Union. In the TU North only favored Hartsdale and the second-rated Fairfax Frogs seem to have a chance. The rest of the TU North are also-rans and don't impress the baseball pundits. Last year the Ginza Ninjas won the TU South rather easily and will likely do likewise again this year. No other challengers can match their offense and pitching. Ditto the South Fork Stallions in the TU East. The Hosses are predicted to take the division crown fairly easily again this year. In the TU West perpetual powerhouse Rolling Hills is forecast to win out over the runner-up La Claire Lynx in a close and tense race. The Bayview Vikings and Chicopee Braves will be lurking in the shadows at a distance.
