ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Dark Horse]

Congrats to the Racers. This is the first time I remember them winning when every team they faced had a legitimate chance to beat them. I really thought the pitching would lead them. But it ended up being the bats that had to come to the rescue in game seven.

Akins and/or Clutterbuck for MVP?

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Congrats to the Racers. This is the first time I remember them winning when every team they faced had a legitimate chance to beat them. I really thought the pitching would lead them. But it ended up being the bats that had to come to the rescue in game seven.

Akin and/or Clutterbuck for MVP?

Rolling Hills has lost a lot of postseason series in the last decade... Southport, Oxford, South Fork and Ginza upended them on several occasions... the Racers always seem to be the big favorites, but they did not always fulfill their high expectations or highly-touted reputation.

How the Racers came back and won game seven is bewildering to me... I am beginning to strongly suspect OOTPB programs dramatic endings like this to keep us hooked to the game... this is not the first time I have seen it happen in the playoffs... when Claxton jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame, I told myself that Rolling Hills would probably win it.

(My comments below are based on just casual observations and not based on statistical research)

You will notice it if you play out your games, there are too many super plays in the outfield... too many diving catches... too many standout plays... it used to show up in the PBP text much more often... not so much anymore as I use the animation... super plays only happen in the outfield... infield web gems were just described in the text... you don't see many standout plays in the infield animations.

I keep score at games when I go to MLB and Minor League games... I put a star by an outstanding play on my scorebook... over the last 20 years I only give out a star a game, if any at all.

OOTP will have 3-5 super plays a game when I use the animation ... that's not realistic.

15 major league games each day will result in less than 10 web gems.
Most of the time we only get 5 or 6 gems on the recap shows.
If you play out 15 OOTP games you would have 50 to 150 web gems each day.

As far as Pro Cup MVP, Akin was picked by the AI as Pro Cup Series MVP.

I always use the entire playoffs as the criterion... I choose the player that did the most over the three rounds.

It will be tough to pick one this year.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Rolling Hills has lost a lot of postseason series in the last decade... Southport, Oxford, South Fork and Ginza upended them on several occasions... the Racers always seem to be the big favorites, but they did not always fulfill their high expectations or highly-touted reputation.

How the Racers came back and won game seven is bewildering to me... I am beginning to strongly suspect OOTPB programs dramatic endings like this to keep us hooked to the game... this is not the first time I have seen it happen in the playoffs... when Claxton jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame, I told myself that Rolling Hills would probably win it.

(My comments below are based on just casual observations and not based on statistical research)

You will notice it if you play out your games, there are too many super plays in the outfield... too many diving catches... too many standout plays... it used to show up in the PBP text much more often... not so much anymore as I use the animation... super plays only happen in the outfield... infield web gems were just described in the text... you don't see many standout plays in the infield animations.

The super plays in the outfield are usually only animation wise. If you read the PbP text a lot of times it's just a simple running catch. It's because the 3D animation is just an approximation, and doesn't always match up with the PbP text.

I keep score at games when I go to MLB and Minor League games... I put a star by an outstanding play on my scorebook... over the last 20 years I only give out a star a game, if any at all.

OOTP will have 3-5 super plays a game when I use the animation ... that's not realistic.

15 major league games each day will result in less than 10 web gems.
Most of the time we only get 5 or 6 gems on the recap shows.
If you play out 15 OOTP games you would have 50 to 150 web gems each day.

As far as Pro Cup MVP, Akin was picked by the AI as Pro Cup Series MVP.

I always use the entire playoffs as the criterion... I choose the player that did the most over the three rounds.

It will be tough to pick one this year.

Amazing finish to your IPA Pro Cup. I've had some incredible endings to my IPA Pro Cups and League Championship Series as well, They should be a rare thing, instead it seems to happen every few years. I'm not complaining though, as it makes it pretty darn exciting. I'd rather see an amazing finish that comes down to the very last pitch, instead of an 11-1 rout which is what I got in my most recent championship series.

As for the super plays in the outfield, I think that most of the times if you read the PbP text it's something along the lines of a simple running catch. It's because the 3D animation is just an approximation of the PbP text, and doesn't always display accurately what actually happened.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

Amazing finish to your IPA Pro Cup. I've had some incredible endings to my IPA Pro Cups and League Championship Series as well, They should be a rare thing, instead it seems to happen every few years. I'm not complaining though, as it makes it pretty darn exciting. I'd rather see an amazing finish that comes down to the very last pitch, instead of an 11-1 rout which is what I got in my most recent championship series.

As for the super plays in the outfield, I think that most of the times if you read the PbP text it's something along the lines of a simple running catch. It's because the 3D animation is just an approximation of the PbP text, and doesn't always display accurately what actually happened.

Haven't used the PBP for several years now... in animation the players seem to make too many diving catches... don't think it happens in real life as much... but I could be wrong... casual observation and small samples can be misleading.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Haven't used the PBP for several years now... in animation the players seem to make too many diving catches... don't think it happens in real life as much... but I could be wrong... casual observation and small samples can be misleading.

Yes, I agree that there are too many diving catches in the animation, hopefully they will be able to adjust that

[Eugene Church]

Thursday, October 31, 2069

RACER SECOND SACKER CLAIBORNE HONORED AS 2069 IPA PRO CUP MVP
The 2069 Pro Cup champion Rolling Hills Racers really was a team effort... this year's Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Award could have gone to a whole host of players that deserved the trophy... in a very close vote Rolling Hills' second baseman Clayton Claiborne was selected... he beat out teammates Jameston Mulbert, Hugo Sutton, Jean-Luc Roubique and Carl Lindell as well as Mark Meisner, Russell Krohn and Fred Hahn of the Claxton Diamonds.

The 32-year-old Claiborne only had a modest .272 BA in the regular season this year, but he excelled with a .333 batting average in 20 postseason games with 16 runs batted in, tops for the Racers, and also played rock-solid defense... Claiborne, a 10-year veteran star, sports a .303 lifetime BA in the Islandian Pro Alliance... he was an All-Star in 2065 and won the Golden Glove in 2066... Claiborne joined the Racers in 2063, coming in a trade with the North Hills Hawks... Rolling Hills has won the Tycobbian West pennant in all of his 7 seasons with the club... the Racers have also nabbed 3 Pro Cup trophies during his tenure with the club... career-wise Claiborne has batted .293 in 106 playoff games with 52 runs batted in and 36 runs scored.

But Claiborne had a lot of competition for the award... Shortstop Jameson Mulbert finished second in the MVP poll... he batted .377 with 6 RBIs and 12 runs scored... in the third spot was center fielder Hugo Sutton, who batted .312 with 4 homers, 14 ribbies and 11 runs... fourth and fifth in the balloting were Claxton's two fine pitchers, Mark Meisner and Russell Krohn... Meisner stood out in the playoffs with a stellar 4-1 mark and a 1.49 ERA in 5 starts... Krohn wound up 3-0 in 4 starts with an impressive 2.03 ERA... sixth place in the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player Poll went to Rolling Hills left fielder Jean-Luc Roubique... he batted .275 with 3 roundtrippers, 10 runs batted in and scored 15 runs... winding up seventh was Claxton's third baseman Fred Hahn... he hit .308 in the postseason with 6 home runs, 14 RBIs and 15 runs... and coming in eighth was Rolling Hills' fine rookie hurler Carl Lindell... in 8 games and 5 starting assignments Lindell posted 4 wins and one loss with a solid 3.07 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, November 2, 2069

IT'S IPA ACCOLADES AND AWARDS TIME... RU GOLD BAT AND TU GOLD BAT GIVEN OUT TO LEMOINE AND ROBERTS
This is the Islandian Pro Alliance Award Season... time to honor all of the standout performances during the 2069 season... in the leadoff spot are the Golden Bat winners... this year's Ruthlandian Union Golden Bat Award goes to Belle Plaine's hard-hitting second baseman Andre Lemoine, while the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Trophy was presented to super-slugging first baseman Roy Roberts of the High Mesa Mustangs... it was the first time Lemoine has won the trophy... it was the second time for Roberts... he also nabbed the award three years ago in 2066.

Andre Lemoine bested superstud Colfax outfielder Lenny Waldrep, who wound up second in the RU Golden Bat voting... a 13-year veteran Waldrep had won it on two previous occasions, 2059 and 2066... ending up in third place in the balloting was Isaac Roy, a young up-and-coming right fielder for the Beechwood Jackrabbits.

Lemoine sparked the Belle Plaine Musketeers to their first-winning season in over 15 years... they were 78-76 and came in fourth in the RU East, 9 and a half games back of division winner Marston... the 27-year-old Lemoine topped the Islandian Pro Alliance and Ruthlandian Union in two categories with a .353 batting average and 211 hits in 151 games... this year's RU Golden Bat had 20 doubles, 4 triples, 28 homers, 100 RBIs, 112 runs, 84 walks and stole 6 bases... in his 7 seasons Lemoine has batted .310 with 97 home runs.

Waldrep had another standout season... playing in 153 games he batted .317 with 171 hits, 27 doubles, 7 triples, 31 roundtrippers, 117 RBIs, scored 110 runs and led the RU with 116 walks... in spite of his fine year Colfax (75-79) came in 6th in the RU West standings, but just 6 and a half games behind pennant winner Sligo.

Isaac Roy sparkled for Beechwood this year... in 153 games he delivered 186 hits with a .311 BA, 23 doubles, 10 triples, 39 home runs, drove in 108 runs, scored 113 times and stole 5 bases... Roy paced the Ruthlandian Union in scoring runs... in 2067 he was named the RU Rookie of the Year.

The 2069 TU Golden Bat winner is a home-run machine... High Mesa's Roy Roberts set the IPA record with 73 clouts in 2066... this year he hit the second-most home runs in history... for the 5th time in his illustrious career Roberts topped the Tycobbian Union in homers.. in a colossal year playing all 154 games he hit .302 with 69 home runs, 164 RBIs and 134 runs... despite his great offensive accomplishments the Mustangs (78-76) only finished 3rd in the TU East, trailing division champion Red Bluff by 6 games... lifetime Roberts is carrying a .290 BA with 514 home runs in his 10 seasons... he is a 6-time All-Star and won the Tycobbian MVP Award in 2066 when he set the HR mark.

Oxford star left fielder Showboat Lynn had a sensational season in 2059, his second year in the IPA... Lynn captured the TU Golden Bat that season... this year he came in second to Roberts in the Golden Bat balloting with 54 homers, 135 RBIs and 110 runs... Lynn batted .292 in 151 games and led the Red Caps (82-72) to the third spot in the Tycobbian East race, just 4 games off the pace of division champ Blue Lake.

The third-place votegetter in the Tycobbian MVP poll was Rolling Hills talented center fielder Hugo Sutton... with his great bat Sutton helped his Racers win their 10th consecutive TU West division title... he has starred for 8 seasons with the club and garnered the TU Golden Bat in 2063 and 2065... this year Sutton was first in the Tycobbian Union with 210 hits, 40 doubles and 21 triples in 154 games... he came in fourth with a .330 BA, drove in 104 runs, scored 124 times and stole 12 bases in a spectacular season.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, November 3, 2069

MEISNER, MEAUX HONORED AS BEST PITCHERS AND GOLDEN ARMS IN THE IPA
Claxton's Mark Meisner and White River's Shorty Meaux were the recipients this season of Islandian Pro Alliance Golden Arm trophies... while Meisner was honored with the 2069 Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm Award for the fifth time in his splendid career, Meaux won the Tycobbian Union Golden Arm Award for the first time.

Meisner outpolled two very capable challengers, Galen Busby of Marston and Linc Christopher of Far Mountain... Meisner started 41 games this season, put up a 19-9 record with 211 Ks in 294 innings, a IPA league-leading 7 shutouts and an impressive 2.45 ERA... the 33-year-old southpaw led the Diamonds to their 7th straight RU South pennant... Meisner was also acclaimed the Golden Arm in '65, '66, '67' and '68... he was also named the RU Most Valuable Player in 2068... overall Meisner is 148-60 with a stellar 2.30 ERA in 13 seasons with the Diamonds... for his first six seasons he was in the bullpen and posted 145 saves.

2069 was a sensational season for Galen Busby... he paced the Marston Nine to the RU East title with marvelous 22-4 mark... Busby topped the Ruthlandian Union with a sparkling 2.24 ERA... he also led the IPA in victories, tied with La Claire's Ivar Rasmussen... in his 6 years with Marston, Busby is 80-40 with a strong 2.79 ERA.

Coming in third in the RU Golden Arm balloting was 13-year veteran Linc Christopher of the Far Mountain Redhawks... this year the big left-hander compiled a record of 21-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 41 starts, leading his team to the third spot in the RU North Division, winding up just 4 games behind in the pennant race... his first 5 seasons were spent with the Midway Wolves in the Tycobbian East... his last 4 years have been with Far Mountain... overall Christopher has logged a 112-89 mark with a 3.36 ERA.

Shorty Meaux is a man of small statue, just 5 foot 5 inches in height, but he stands mighty tall on the hill... Meaux is the King of the Mountain this season in the Tycobbian Union - the 2069 TU Golden Arm winner... not only did the 26-year-old lefty make 28 starts, he also made 30 relief appearances, posting a 20-13 record with a 1.97 ERA, the best in the IPA... he also was number one in strikeouts with 255... Meaux is a 5-year veteran with a 63-43 mark and an overall 2.85 ERA... Meaux was the prime reason the White River Rascals (79-75) finished fourth in the Tycobbian North Division.

39-year-old Pat McFarlane of the Oxford Red Caps was the runner-up to Meaux... twice before McFarlane won the Golden Arm Award, 2061 and 2067... this year he stood out with a 21-15 record with 302 innings and 39 starts, compiling a fine 2.67 ERA... his Red Caps came in third in the TU North pennant race, just 4 games behind division winner Blue Lake... lifetime McFarlane is 168-105 with an excellent 2.67 ERA.

The third-best votegetter in the TU Golden Arm race was a grizzled 37-year-old pitcher Rance Hasbrough of the Denton City Redbirds... Hasbrough had a career year this season, going 20-5 with a superb 2.70 ERA in 40 starts and sparking his Redbirds to a second-place finish behind powerhouse Rolling Hills in the Tycobbian West... in 15 seasons with Denton City Hasbrough is 207-165 with a 3.40 ERA.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, November 3, 2069

BEST ROOKS IN 2069 ANNOUNCED BY IPA
The pitchers got the best of the hitters this season in the Islandian Pro Alliance... at least in the voting for the best newcomers debuting into the league... the top rookies this year were both hurlers... the 2069 Ruthlandian Union Rookie of the Year was Valmara's Jaromir Kaminski... the victor in the Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year poll was Bayview twirler Odin Carlson.

Kaminski is a 22-year-old southpaw... in his freshman year with the Vipers he was 16-13 in 38 starts with an impressive 2.70 ERA... Kaminski tossed 5 shutouts, completed 10 games, fanned 230 batters in 276 innings and allowed only 71 bases on balls... Valmara (82-72) came in a strong fourth in the Ruthlandian North, winding up 7 games back of pennant-winning Taranto.

Kaminski's teammate, Herm Rynsburger, finished number two in the best-rookie balloting... the 24-year-old Rynsburger stood out in right field and at first base for the Vipers... he batted .284 in 137 games with 152 hits, 26 doubles, 5 triples, 27 home runs, 82 RBIs, 89 runs and stole 8 bases.

In third place for the RU Rookie Award was Belair Beach's second sacker Evan Murdoch... at age 19 he stood out with a .324 BA in 125 games with 149 hits, 21 doubles, 6 triples, 8 roundtrippers, 59 RBIs, 91 runs and 13 stolen bases... Murdoch also chalked up a fine .442 OPB, walking 97 times... he was instrumental in the Sunbirds (82-72) soaring from last place to third place in the RU South race.

The top newcomer in the Tycobbian Union was a 21-year-old righty, Odin Carlson... the Bayview rookie phenom started 40 games and fired 304 innings, chalking up a 21-14 mark with 162 Ks, 87 walks, while posting a first-rate 2.57 ERA... Carlson made 30 quality starts, had 6 shutouts and 18 complete games... because of this terrific season Carlson was honored as the 2069 Tycobbian Union Rookie of the Year... he helped the Vikings (82-72) wind up fourth in the TU West standings, 15 games behind IPA champion Rolling Hills.

Turon's fine first-year hurler, Ivan Malek, was the runner-up to Carlson in the top rookie race... Malek also won 20 games with 8 losses, made 34 starts, tossing 246 innings with 171 strikeouts and 42 walks... the 22-year-old right-hander hurled 3 shutouts, completed 10 games and made 24 quality starts... Malek was a big reason the Typhoons almost won the TU South Division... Turon (92-62) lost out by just 3 games to the strong Southport Sun Sox.

Rookie batters seem to have it tougher than rookie pitchers overall in the IPA... the best of the new bats in the Tycobbian Union was Summerland first baseman Neal Crichton... he drove in 90 runs in 129 games, hit .296 with 140 base hits, 17 two-baggers, 10 triples, 19 homers, scored 92 times and stole 12 bases, while playing rock-solid defense... however, the Sunsets (75-79) wound up a distant fourth in the TU South, 20 games off the pace of champion Southport.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Monday, November 4, 2069

IPA TOP DEFENDERS AWARDED GOLDEN GLOVES
The guys who play defense the best are described as "flashing the leather" and "good with the glove"... and on occasion "good field, no hit"... regardless, the top defenders do make a difference in the game's outcome and are highly valued in baseball circles... the Islandian Pro Alliance annually gives out the Golden Glove Awards... today the most outstanding glovemen in the league for 2069 were announced and Golden Glove Trophies will be presented to 18 top-notch defenders.

2069 Ruthlandian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Eddie Rocha (Wynnamac Sundowners) (1.000 FA/39 G/15 PO/34 Assists/2 DP) (12-16/4.09 ERA) (First-Time Winner Rookie)
Catcher: Rudi Stoffelmeier (Fort Benton Generals) (.992 FA/134 G/80 Assists/6 DP/7 PB/45.2% RTO/3.25 CERA) (.250 BA/5 HR/44 RBI/59 R/13 SB) (First-Time Winner)
First Baseman: Cliff Hawthorne (Sligo Rovers) (.995 FA/154 G/114 Assists/123 DP) (.212 BA/30 HR/98 RBI/80 R/8 SB) (2-Time Winner)
Second Baseman: Lyndon Hazzard (Grand City Cybercats) (.985 FA/151 G/503 Assists/98 DP) (.297 BA/17 HR/78 RBI/92 R/12 SB) (First-Time Winner)
Third Baseman: Benny Jobe (Glasco Foxhounds) (.983 FA/149 G/292 Assists/23 DP) (.246 BA/15 HR/67 RBI/66 R) (2-Time Winner)
Shortstop: Napoleon Gueydan (Belle Plaine Musketeers) (.978 FA/150 G/522 Assists/116 DP) (.254 BA/11 HR/76 RBI/52 R) (First-Time Winner)
Left Fielder: Leevi Lindmaa (Valmara Vipers) (.997 FA/143 G/291 PO/5 Assists/2 DP) (.253 BA/20 HR/78 RBI/66 R/5 SB) (First-Time Winner)
Center Fielder: Justin Lowe (Glasco Foxhounds) (.992 FA/149 G/583 PO/12 Assists/3 DP) (.261 BA/3 HR/42 R/80 R/11 SB) (2-Time Winner)
Right Fielder: Bucky Havens (Ranford Bulls) (.994 FA/143 G/334 PO/13 Assists/2 DP) (.262 BA/17 HR/74 RBI/69 R/3 SB) (First-Time Winner)

2069 Tycobbian Union Golden Glove Team
Pitcher: Brent Konigsen (Kenwood Wildcats) (1.000 FA/49 G/22 PO/30 Assists/4 DP) (18-12/4.34 ERA) (First-Time Winner)
Catcher: Tory Akins (Rolling Hills Racers) (.999 FA/127 G/58 Assists/8 DP/7 PB/33.3% RTO/3.16 CERA) (.263 BA/8 HR/67 RBI/54 R) (First-Time Winner)
First Baseman: Sasha Osinski (Southport Sun Sox) (.997 FA/154 G/127 Assists/123 DP) (.288 BA/34 HR/99 RBI/110 R/9 SB) (2-Time Winner)
Second Baseman: Carl Mendelsohn (Colchester Elites) (.989 FA/142 G/441 Assists/89 DP) (.231 BA/6 HR/45 RBI/48 R/1 SB) (2-Time Winner)
Third Baseman: Andrew Woodfork (South Fork Stallions) (.984 FA/139 G/294 Assists/20 DP) (.230 BA/19 HR/61 RBI/70 R/1 SB) (First-Time Winner)
Shortstop: Jay Coursey (Denton City Redbirds) (.978 FA/150 G/513 Assists/102 DP) (.270 BA/7 HR/51 RBI/63 R/2 SB) (First-Time Winner)
Left Fielder: Derrek Yorke (Fairfax Frogs) (.993 FA/138 G/275 PO/11 Assists/2 DP) (.287 BA/17 HR/92 RBI/64 R/1 SB) (First-Time Winner)
Center Fielder: Jarred Hanley (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) (.995 FA/151 G/534 PO/20 Assists/7 DP) (.240 BA/7 HR/52 RBI/57 R/9 SB) (2-Time Winner)
Right Fielder: Manny Cedano (Bay St. Clair Buccaneers) (.980 FA/151 G/334 PO/14 Assists/3 DP) (.239 BA/22 HR/75 RBI/79 R/2 SB) (First-Time Winner)

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, November 5, 2069

BUSBY EDGES MEISNER FOR RU MVP... SUTTON NIPS ROBERTS FOR TU MVP HONOR
The Islandian Pro Alliance most prestigious individual honor is the League's Most Valuable Player Awards... Golden Bats, Golden Arms and Golden Gloves are important, but it's the MVP trophies that have a special place during the awards season... these awards go to the players deemed most influencial to a team's success during the season... not only do the MVP's have a fine season, they are an important ingredient in the team's success... the IPA Most Valuable Players are indeed the IPA Players of the Year.

The 2069 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award goes to Galen Busby of the Marston Nine... the 26-year-old Busby was one of the main factors in the RU East pennant race... he paced Marston to their third division crown in four seasons... Busby had an astounding year winning 22 games and losing only 4 times... he tied for the lead in the IPA in victories... Busby, a right-hander, hurled 277 innings, fanned 222 batters, posted 4 shutouts, made an IPA-leading 34 quality starts and led the Ruthlandian Union with an excellent 2.24 ERA... Busby finished a close second to Mark Meisner, this year's Golden Arm recipient... lifetime Busby has chalked up an 80-40 mark in his 6 years with Marston... his career ERA stands at 2.79... this is the first time Busby has been named the RU Most Valuable Player.

Second place in the MVP poll went to another hurler, this year's Golden Arm, Mark Meisner... the 33-year-old lefty continued his great career with a 19-9 record and a 2.45 ERA... Meisner led the IPA with 7 shutouts and 34 quality starts... he tied for the lead in the most starts with 41... for the 7th straight season Meisner has been very instrumental in Claxton capturing the RU South Division crown... in his 13 seasons with the Diamonds he is an overall 148-60 with a career 2.30 ERA... Meisner was a reliever his first 6 years... he also has 145 saves to his credit.

2069 was a fine year for pitchers in the Ruthlandian Union... third place in the Most Valuable Player balloting was another pitcher... it was Busby's teammate and favorite closer, Sammy Lasorda... just in his second season with the Marston Nine, Lasorda made 86 appearances with 25 saves, 12-12 record and a fine 2.82 ERA... the 26-year-old left-hander was a crucial part of the Marston division title this year.

It was a batsman that reigned supreme in the Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player voting in 2069... for the second time in his stellar career center fielder Hugo Sutton of the Rolling Hills Racers was acclaimed the TU player of the year... he also nabbed the award in 2063... Sutton, age 29, had a spectacular season... he played in all 154 games, hitting .330 with 211 hits, 40 doubles, 21 triples, 25 homers, 104 RBIs, 124 runs and 12 stolen bases... Sutton also sparked the Racers to their 10th consecutive pennant in the Tycobbian West Division... in his 8 seasons Sutton sports a lofty .325 lifetime batting average with 207 roundtrippers, 874 RBIs, 898 runs and 152 stolen bases... this year's MVP also won the Golden Bat in 2063 and 2065... Sutton is also a 6-time All-Star.

High Mesa's marvelous first baseman Roy Roberts had a superlative season with 69 home runs, the second-best total in IPA history... only Roberts has ever done better with 73 in 2066... he also nabbed the 2069 Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award... despite this super season the 30-year-old superstar still finished a very close second to MVP Sutton... in 154 games Roberts batted .302, topped the IPA with 164 RBIs and 134 runs.. the Mustangs ran a good race in the TU East, winding up fourth in the standings, trailing division champion South Fork by just 6 games.

There was one pitcher worthy of the MVP honor in the Tycobbian Union... that was 33-year-old veteran right-hander Rance Hasbrough of the Denton City Redbirds... he shined brightly with a 20-5 mark and a strong 2.70 ERA, starting 40 games, working 290 innings and fanning 230 batters in 32 quality starts... Hasbrough's worth exploits helped Denton City have a fine season, going 89-65 and finishing second to the mighty Rolling Hills Racers in the TU West race... in his 15 seasons with the Redbirds Hasbrough has compiled a sparkling 207-165 record with a 3.40 ERA.

2069 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award

[Eugene Church]

2069 Tycobbian Union Most Valuable Player Award

[Sundance]

Finally got caught up! Was sad to see the Stallions get bounced from the playoffs, but what a season to even get in!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Sundance

Finally got caught up! Was sad to see the Stallions get bounced from the playoffs, but what a season to even get in!

Sundance, thanks for checking out the IPA and posting.

Yes indeed, South Fork had a really good season... picked to wind up sixth, they turned on the burners in September and unexpectedly won the TU East.

Then they almost upset Rolling Hills in the first round... they had a 3-2 edge in the series, but just didn't have the offense to compete with the powerful Racers.

Excellent pitching in the three games they won... they held the Racers to 4 runs in those three games... really something.

[Eugene Church]

Wednesday, November 5, 2069

IPA TOP MANAGERS ACCLAIMED... AWARDS GO TO MARSTON'S WOODWARD AND BLUE LAKE'S DENHAM
There was an abundance of worthy skippers in the Islandian Pro Alliance this season... just look at how many were nominated in the 2069 Manager of the Year polls... there were four challengers in each league... none of this year's top managers ran away with the awards... they were all hotly-contested.

Here are the contenders for the 2069 Ruthlandian Union Manager of the Year: Taranto's Lenny Buisson, Belair Beach's Brock Josephson, Valka's Matvey Kazak and Marston's Russ Woodward.

Nominated for the 2069 Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year: Blue Lake's Dookie Denham, Southport's Lorne Evans, South Fork's Jay Murphy and Turon's Nate Scottsdale.

And the winners were Russ Woodward of the Marston Nine, the RU Manager of the Year and the TU Manager of the Year, Dookie Denham of the Blue Lake Blue Caps

Woodward improved his Marston club from 5th place, 73-81 and 21 GB in 2068 to first place in the RU East with an 88-67 mark...Woodward has been at the helm of the Nine since 2047.

Lenny Buisson came in second in the balloting... he led the Taranto Tars to the RU North division title... his club was third in 2068 with an 81-73 record and 13 games off the pace... his Tars jumped to 89-65 this season and won the pennant... this was Buisson's third year as skipper.

In the third spot for the RU Manager of the Year honor was Brock Josephson of the Belair Beach Sunbirds... in his second season he guided the Sunbirds from 8th place and 65-89, 27 games behind in the '68 pennant race to a vastly-improved 82-72 and third place in the RU South this year... Belair Beach wound up 8 games back of pennant-winning Claxton.

Fourth place in the top skipper voting went to Matvey Kazak of the Valka Blackhawks... also in his second year as manager he upped the Blackhawks from 4th place and 14 games behind in the race with a 78-78 record in the RU South to a very close second place... Valka ran a great race and were edged out by the Claxton Diamonds by just one game... the Blackhawks improved to 89-65 this season and almost upset perennial power Claxton.

The competition was just as heated and just as close in the Tycobbian Union... the 2069 TU Manager of the Year trophy was presented to Dookie Denham, second-year skipper of the resurgent Blue Lake Blue Caps, who leaped from 7th place, 71-83 and 19 games out to the Tycobbian North division crown... the Blue Caps finished 86-68 this season... they edged the Hartsdale Hellcats by one game to win the pennant.

South Fork's Jay Murphy was the runner-up to Denham... his Stallions moved up from 6th in the TU East standings and 16 games out of first place with a 76-78 mark in '68 to the division title with an 84-70 record... Murphy has been the field manager for the Stallions since 2058... South Fork won a squeaker over the Red Bluff Red Sox, nipping them by just one game.

Longtime Southport skipper Lorne Evans ranked third in the best manager poll this year... his Sun Sox won the pennant in '68 with an 86-68 mark... this year they shined with a 95-59 record and again copped the Tycobbian South flag... this was Evans' 22nd year as the Southport manager.

Nate Scottsdale inherited a pretty good ballclub in Turon in his first year in 2068... he sparked the Typhoons to a second-place finish and 5 GB with a good 81-73 record... they got much better this season but still wound up second with a 92-62 mark and 3 games back of Southport.

[Eugene Church]

That wraps up the 2069 Islandian Pro Alliance season.

Will begin work on the 2070 season soon, but first I need to see the last time I picked an all-decade team... I may need to do one for the 2050s and the 2060s... also need to check on additions to the IPA Hall of Fame for this year.

A special thanks to all of you who are still following the IPA... I very much appreciate it.

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

That wraps up the 2069 Islandian Pro Alliance season.

Will begin work on the 2070 season soon, but first I need to see the last time I picked an all-decade team... I may need to do one for the 2050s and the 2060s... also need to check on additions to the IPA Hall of Fame for this year.

A special thanks to all of you who are still following the IPA... I very much appreciate it.

Looking forward to the 70th season!