Thursday, July 1, 2088
HELLCATS HAVE GREAT FIRST HALF IN TU NORTH
Like a cat out of hell the Hartsdale Hellcats have shot to the top of the Tycobbian North and stayed there in the first half of the season. Hartsdale has had it all its way and has a solid lead over two fine clubs, Fairfax and Mahaska. The Fairfax Frogs were the favored in the preseason poll with the Haymakers ranked number two (2 GB) and the Hellcats (6 GB) number three. All three teams are playing very well. The question is can the Hellcats keep it up? So far, so good for Hartsdale. They are 5 and a half games up on runner-up Fairfax and 6 in front of third place Mahaska. The Frogs easily roared away with the TU North division crown last year, winning it by 14 games over Mahaska and 15 better than Hartsdale. The Hellcats copped the pennant 4 straight seasons from '82 to '85, but have been shut out since. The Haymakers prevailed in '86 and the Frogs last year.
All three clubs are evenly matched with a fine offense, very good pitching and good gloves. The race will probably get tighter. Fairfax and Mahaska are hanging in so far, in spite of Hartsdale excellent first half. Thus far the Hellcats can't do anything wrong. The general thinking is they will slow down at some point and give the Frogs and Haymakers a chance to get back in the race. Time will tell. The oddsmakers are still leaning a little towards the Hellcats. The Oxford Red Caps are running a distant fourth, 10 games off the pace, but they are not in the class of the other three teams.
UNSUNG SUNS AND HIGHLY-TOUTED SUNSETS ONLY CONTENDERS IN TU SOUTH
The Arroyo Grande Suns have bolted out of the starting gate and never looked back so far. The unsung Suns were rated 6th in the preseason poll. Since capturing the TU South in 2080, they have slipped back to being just an average team until now. Preseason favorite Summerland is still rated a force to contend with, despite being 7 and a half games back in the pennant race. The Sunsets are a good all-around team and they are expected to put pressure on the Suns in the second half of the season. Summerland hasn't won the division flag since 2074 and hasn't been a serious challenger much either. Many expect Arroyo Grande's bubble to burst in the second half of the year when they finally come down to earth and be the ballclub there are supposed to be. It hasn't happened yet at the midyear mark. Third place Turon trails by 8 and a half games with last year's TU South champion Ginza in the fourth spot and 12 GB. Neither club is given much a chance to get into the race. It will come down to Arroyo Grande and Summerland.
HIGHLY-FAVORED OZARKA ON TOP OF TU EAST, BUT NOT BY MUCH
The Islands baseball pundits and crystal ballers overwhelming chose the Ozarka Naturals to scamper away with the Tycobbian East flag this season by a wide margin, but at the midseason mark, it's a six-team race with Midway (3 GB) and Hillsboro (3 GB) putting up the biggest battle. East Point, defending champion Tuckanarra and South Fork are still lurking in the shadows of the standings. Both the Panthers and the Tucks are behind by 6 and a half games. The Stallions are 7 games back. A good winning streak or a good month would get anyone of them back in the hunt. Nobody in the TU East has much of an offense. The Naturals and Wolves have the best pitching. This favors them in the pennant chase.
It's been years since Midway (2061) and Hillsboro (2062) graced the IPA playoffs. East Point won the whole shebang, pennant and Pro Cup in 2083. South Fork won its last pennant in 2086 and the Tucks nabbed it last year.
LC LYNX BEST IN THE WEST AGAIN THIS SEASON, STILL CHALLENGED BY BRAVES AND RACERS
The 2088 Tycobbian West race was forecast to be a three-team affair between last year's Pro Cup champ and this year's TU West favorite La Claire, Chicopee (1 GB) and Rolling Hills (2 GB) and that is exactly what has transpired at the halfway mark in the season. The Bayview Vikings came in 4th in the preseason poll, way out and a distant 10 GB. The Lynx whipped the Rocky Rapid Snappers in 6 games last year for the IPA overall title. And they are at it again with strong starters, a fine closer and good home-run power. Still, Rolling Hills and Chicopee will make a race of it. Look for the Braves to contest the race the best. They have much better pitching than the Racers. Rolling Hills has won the TU West 3 times in the last 5 seasons. Chicopee claimed the pennant in 2085. La Claire is a very good all-around club and will be hard to beat. Look for the Lynx to do well in the Pro Cup playoffs. They just might be able to repeat and win back-to-back IPA crowns.
2088 Tycobbian Union Midseason Standings
