Tycobbian Union Midseason Summary
There is only one real race at the halfway point in the Tycobbian Union. Four clubs are contending in the TU East, where Hillsboro is up by one and a half games over preseason choice South Fork, 3 games better than third place Tuckanarra and 5 and a half ahead of fourth place Ozarka.
Here's what going on in the TU North at midyear. Simply put, it's a playground for the fantastic Fairfax Frogs, who have already soared to a 9-game advantage. Nobody is close. The Frogs are on pace to pile up 110 victories this year. The IPA record is held by the Rolling Hills Racers, who posted 111 wins in 2066 in the Tycobbian Union. The Colfax Blasters set the Ruthlandian Union record in 2010 with 107 victories. By June Fairfax was an incredible 42-10 with a mindboggling .808 winning percentage and a 12-game lead. They came down-to-earth last month with a 14-12 mark. The Mahaska Haymakers haven't been any kind of slouches, going a strong 31-19 in May and June. During the same period the Frogs were 36-17. Third place Oxford is 16 GB. The Red Caps were 27-26. Fourth place White River went 25-29 and last year's division champion and this year's preseason favorite Hartsdale is a pathetic fifth, 19 GB. The Hellcats haven't had a winning month so far this season. They chalked up a poor 24-29 in the last two months. None of the remaining three clubs are doing well at all. It is going to be a long season for Luxora, Blue Lake and North Hills.
Fairfax hasn't been to the playoffs since 2033. Yep, you would think the drought is finally over. The Frogs are putting up record numbers with a .307 team batting average. They are first in scoring, too. They are second with a very good 3.41 team ERA. Cape Coral holds the IPA record for BA with a .306 in 2075. The Frogs do have flaws. They have a lousy bullpen with a 5.02 ERA, but the starters are rock solid with a 3.07 ERA. Mahaska is known for its good second halves. The Haymakers are a very good team with a .269 BA with good scoring, good power and good pitching. But they are not going to catch Fairfax this year. Yeah, buddy, the pennant race is over and done in the TU North. Everybody is going to have to wait until the proverbial next year.
Ginza is having another stellar season in the TU South. The Ninjas are having a banner year, better than last year when they claimed the division flag fairly easily. They are doing it again and even better. They are hitting better (.276 BA), scoring better (388 runs) and pitching better (3.37 ERA). After a slow start in April, they have put the metal to the pedal with a 36-16 mark the last two months. Ginza was a big favorite to win big again this year. Their main rival, runner-up Arroyo Grande, has been 28-24 in that same period of play and is 7 games off the pace. Third place Southport has gone 27-26 (10 GB) and fourth place. The Sun Sox are just an average ballclub. So are the Summerland Sunsets. However, the Sunsets have improved in May and June with a 30-24 mark. Fifth place Colchester began the season pretty well (14-10), but has faltered since with a 23-29 mark. San Alejo has also fallen back sharply after a good April (14-10) and first place. The Monties have slipped to 22-32 and sixth place in recent months. Cape Coral is not a good club. The Hurricanes are running seventh, 14 and a half-game behind Ginza. The 'Canes carded a poor 23-30 record since May. It's a terrible season for proud Turon. The Typhoons are suffering their worst season since 2067 (63-91). They were not supposed to be this bad. They are dead last in the TU South (17 GB). In May and June Turon was just 23-31.
Yes indeed, there is a pennant race in the Tycobbian East Division. Four clubs are in the fight at the halfway point in the year. From the top spot in the standings to the fourth spot is just a 5 and a half-game spread. Hillsboro is having a fine season with a one and a half-game edge on defending champ and this year's preseason pick, the South Fork Stallions. Tuckanarra is in the third spot, just 3 GB behind and unheralded Ozarka is trailing by 5 and a half games in fourth place. The outlook is for a photo-finish in the TU East. All four challengers look to be in it for the long haul. South Fork was supposed to dominate the division this year. Ozarka was rated to wind up in eighth and last in the race (33 GB). Hillsboro (8 GB) and Tuckanarra (12 GB) were forecast to end up a distant third and fourth.
At midseason the TU East has settled down with the top four clubs all playing good baseball. In May and June the Hillsboro Blazers were 29-24, South Fork Stallions 29-23, the Tucks 32-23 and the Ozarka Naturals were 31-23.
The Blazers are well-rounded with a .281 BA, 374 runs, 70 roundtrippers and a 3.44 ERA. Likewise the Stallions with a .273 BA, 76 homers, 371 runs and a quality 3.51 ERA. The Blue Jays are right up there with the top two teams with a .274 BA, 86 dingers, 362 runs with a little less pitching (3.74 ERA). The lightly-regarded Nats don't seem to be equal to the top contenders with a 3.87 ERA, .261 BA, 299 runs and just 47 home runs. It looks like a three-team battle.
In the Tycobbian West first place La Claire has the best pitching in the IPA by far. The Lynx staff has a sensational 2.96 ERA. Nobody is close. Couple that with some decent offense and you have a darn good team. La Claire sports a .263 BA, 51 homers and 356 runs. They have posted an impressive 38-18 record the last two months. Runner-up Rolling Hills (5 GB) can match the Lynx's offensive numbers with a .264 BA, 54 HRs and 353 runs, but fall far short of them on the hill with a 3.69 ERA. Since May 1st, the Racers are 33-21. Bayview (5 GB) is tied with Rolling Hills for second place and has powerful bats with 93 HRs, 410 runs and a .287 BA, but has mediocre pitching with a 3.90 ERA. Still they have been 30-24 in recent months. Chicopee is in fourth place (9GB). The Braves can put runs on the scoreboard with a .275 BA, 63 homers and 378 runs. Their 3.63 team ERA is pretty good. Chicopee put up a 28-24 mark in May and June.
In the preseason poll all four clubs were forecast to be in the pennant chase. Rolling Hills was a slight favorite over La Claire (3 GB). Bayview (7 GB) and Chicopee (8 GB) were picked to fight it out for third place. It will probably come down to the Lynx and maybe the Racers. La Claire is really looking good because of their superb starters and fine bullpen.
