Wednesday, July 2, 2092
IPA PRESEASON PICKS DOING WELL AT MIDSEASON
The rich always seem to get richer. That's what it seems like in the Islandian Pro Alliance at the midseason mark. 6 of the preseason pennant favorites are in the top spot in the standings and the other two are running near to the top.
And away we go around the IPA, checking out all the pennant races midpoint in the season.
Ruthlandian Union
GATORS WINNING GALORE IN RU NORTH ROUT AND RUNAWAY
Last year the LaGrange Gators went all the way to the Pro Cup Finals and lost to the La Claire Lynx in 6 games. This year they are determined to get back there and win it all this time. The Gators are certainly playing great baseball with a .697 winning percentage halfway through the season. LaGrange already has a gigantic 12 and a half-game margin over runner-up Kilkenny. No one is going to catch the Gators this year. LaGrange has much-improved pitching this season. They will be one of the Pro Cup favorites at playoff time.
BLACKHAWKS UP AT MIDYEAR OVER LAST YEAR'S RU SOUTH CHAMP CLAXTON
The Claxton Diamonds, the defending Ruthlandian South flag winner, and the Valka Blackhawks were forecast to duke it out for the division crown this year. So far it is playing out like that, but it's the Blackhawks flying high in the standings right now with a 5-game edge over the Diamonds. Crystal Lake (7 GB) and Grand City (8 GB) are still in the postseason picture and are still to be reckoned with. Claxton has won the pennant in two of the last three years. Valka hasn't been to the playoffs since 2077. The Diamonds and the Blackhawks are very similar ballclubs. Valka seem to be just a little better on the mound than Claxton. Head-to-head this season the Blackhawks are 8-5 over the Diamonds. That's why they have fairly good lead at midseason. Valka has not had a bad month so far, while Claxton has been lukewarm in April, red-hot in May, but lousy in June. It looks like the Blackhawks are going to fly high this year in the Ruthlandian South and hoist the victory pennant for the first time in 15 years. Valka is one of the 30 or so IPA clubs without a Pro Cup Trophy. They may make the postseason, but they are not Pro Cup contenders. Nope, not likely, not this year. Valka simply doesn't have the offense or the pitching to compete with the powerhouses Forest City and LaGrange in the Ruthlandian Union.
MARSTON AND EASTSHORE ALL ALONE ON TOP OF RU EAST
After 77 games and half a season, it's a red-hot race in the Ruthlandian East. Last year's champ, the Marston Nine jumped out to a solid 6 games lead at the end of May, but the Eastshore Cotton Kings had a sizzling 20-6 month and chopped it down to just one and a half games by July first. Nobody else is really in the chase. Belle Plaine is third, trailing by 9 games with Beechwood and Wynnamac tied for the fourth spot 9 and a half games and 10 games behind. The Nine were ranked number one in the Preseason poll with the Cotton Kings far down the list in fifth place, double-digits behind with a losing record. Marston wins with really good pitching and an average offense. Eastshore is a little better at the plate, but not as good on the hill. In the long run Marston will win its second straight RU East flag, but not do well in the Pro Cup playoffs because of its woeful bats.The Cotton Kings have not been in high cotton since the '85 and '89 seasons when they made the postseason playoff.
FC FIREBIRDS SOARING, SCORING AND SIZZLING AGAIN THIS YEAR IN THE RU WEST
Yeah buddy, times are still good in Forest City. They are again the best in the Ruthlandian West Division, already with a huge double-digit lead at midseason. The Firebirds are on pace to win 106 games this season. Over the last four years they have racked an average of 103 victories. Forest City in on pace to win 106 games this year for the second time in recent seasons. The Firebirds are ranked second in scoring and ERA, fourth in batting average and sixth in homers. They are great in the regular season, but haven't won a Pro Cup in recent years, even though they are always one of the favorites. To their credit, in three of the last four years they have lost in the RU Title Series, all in 7-game series, to the eventual Pro Cup champions: In '88 (Belle Plaine), '89 (Valmara) and '91 (LaGrange). In the other season Valmara eliminated them in the '91 RU Title Series. It is looking like another rematch between the Firebirds and the Gators this season for the RU title.
