ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

2088 Ruthlandian West Season Review

FIREBIRDS TOTALLY TORCH RU WEST
The Forest City Firebirds were hands down the best in the west this year. They took charge in June by 6 games and proceeded to totally dominate the Ruthlandian West the rest of the season. Nobody came close to them. Second place Colfax was a startling 17 games behind, third place Rocky Rapids was a stunning 24 game off the pace and fourth place Volusia was a very distant 30 games behind in the Firebirds' rear view mirror. Rocky Rapids was the winner last season and went to the Pro Cup Finals. Forest City had the best scoring machine, best pitching corps and the top defense in the division. No one else could match them overall. Colfax and Rocky Rapids had the edge in only one category. That was in home-run power. The Snappers sent 211 soaring out of the park and the Black Sox slammed 199 homers. But even in this category, the Firebirds were no slouches. They hammered 164 roundtrippers. That's why Forest City topped the IPA with 105 victories this year. They were tied with La Grange of the RU North for the most wins. La Claire of the TU West finished third in the IPA with 101 triumphs. Naturally, all three clubs are forecast to be potent forces in the playoffs this season. The Firebirds will be trying to chalk up their 2nd Pro Cup. They won their only one way back in 2068.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

2088 Tycobbian North Season Review

HELLCATS HOT AUGUST WINS THE TU NORTH
Last year's powerhouse victor and this year's slight preseason favorite Fairfax was the choice to repeat in the Tycobbian North. The Frogs decimated everybody in sight last year, winning the division by 14 games. They were picked to sweep through the playoffs, too, and bring home the IPA Pro Cup Trophy for the first time. But that never transpired. Fairfax flopped badly in the first round and was soundly thrashed by Tuckanarra in a one-sided first-round series. This season the Frogs were supposed to win a tight race with the Mahaska Haymakers with Hartsdale and Oxford also in the running, too. Instead it was Hartsdale that led wire-to-wire. The Hellcats started off very well and had themselves a 6-game margin over Fairfax by June 1 and 8 up on Mahaska. Oxford was a very distant fourth, 10 games back. The Frogs and the Haymakers challenged at midseason and closed the gap to one and 5 games respectively. The Hellcats got blazing hot in August and went 20-7 to created a massive 9-game edge over Fairfax (15-12) and 12-game lead over Mahaska (11-16) going into September. Hartsdale coasted the rest of the way and eventually topped the Frogs by 6 games and the Haymakers by 11. Oxford wound up in the fourth position 12 games off the pace. The Hellcats are rock-solid all-around with a fine attack with good power, strong pitching and excellent defense. Hartsdale should go far in the postseason. They captured Pro Cups in 2046 and 2063. Number 3 this year is not out of the question.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

2088 Tycobbian South Season Review

SUNSETS EDGE TYPHOONS FOR TU SOUTH TITLE IN FINAL-DAY PHOTO FINISH
The Tycobbian South race came down to the last day of the regular season in a photo finish. First place Summerland had a scant one-game lead on second place Turon. Unheroically both teams lost on the final day and the TU South title went to the Summerland Sunsets. For the first time since 2074 the Sunsets earned a spot in the IPA playoffs. In almost 9 decades of play the Sunsets have never won the Pro Cup.

Like a ball of fire the Arroyo Grande Suns blazed to a huge 9-game lead at the midyear mark and had everything their way. The Suns did everything right the first half of the season, but they swooned badly in the second half, did nothing right and finished 5 games behind champion Summerland and 4 games back of runner-up Turon.

The Sunsets soared in the second half with a 43-32 record, the same as the surging Typhoons. The front-running Suns staggered home with a poor 31-45 mark and wound up in the third spot in the final standings. It all came down to pitching and Summerland had it. The Sunsets also played standout defense. Offensively, the three contenders were fairly equal. Summerland has a solid team. They could do well in the postseason playoffs because they pitch so well and have a fairly good offense. Don't let their 88-66 season mislead you. The Sunsets play in a tough division with some very good teams.

[Eugene Church]

[jksander]

Was flipping through this last night and grazing, picking random pages to read through, and I have to say this blew my mind, Eugene ... I've done plenty of deep dive dynasties where I play out every game and write them up, and have multiple 300,000+ word files as evidence, but I've never imagined being able to hold my interest or anyone else's through something that started in 2007 and is still ongoing. Bravo!

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jksander

Was flipping through this last night and grazing, picking random pages to read through, and I have to say this blew my mind, Eugene ... I've done plenty of deep dive dynasties where I play out every game and write them up, and have multiple 300,000+ word files as evidence, but I've never imagined being able to hold my interest or anyone else's through something that started in 2007 and is still ongoing. Bravo!

Thank you, jksander.
Appreciate your comment.

I have almost retired the Islandian Pro Alliance about 10 times over the years. I think the reason I keep going is that I don't want to start a new league and have to get new graphics created for it. My IPA unis and logos were done by some of the best graphics guys on the OOTP Mods Forum.
I love my graphics. Playing out my playoffs games is really enjoyable. Good graphics are perhaps 50% of my enjoyment and immersion.

Another motivation is to reach 100 seasons and 1 million views.
No one has ever reached that mark on the OOTP Dynasty Forum.
txranger and his thread on the OOTP Mods and Graphics Forum will soon top the 3 million views mark, which is astounding. He and knuckler were the key contributors to that thread. They also have done about 75% of the graphics for my IPA.

[Eugene Church]

I just checked other OOTP Forums to see if there were any with more views than txranger's wonderful thread.

Would you believe t_wil1 on the OOTP Mods Forum Rosters, Photos and Quickstarts has over 12 millions views.
Remarkable!

[jksander]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

I just checked other OOTP Forums to see if there were any with more views than txranger's wonderful thread.

Would you believe t_wil1 on the OOTP Mods Forum Rosters, Photos and Quickstarts has over 12 millions views.
Remarkable!

Absolutely insane ... but I shouldn't be surprised by anything about these forums. I disappeared for almost 20 years, remembered my old login, and then went through and read all my old private messages between me and the likes of TC Dale that were from back when I was in COLLEGE. These forums are a treasure trove for sure

[Eugene Church]

Monday, September 28, 2088

2088 Tycobbian East Season Review

PRESEASON FAVORED NATS CRUISE TO TU EAST FLAG
The Island baseball pundits were right on this year. The Ozarka Naturals were the heavy favorite to cop the Tycobbian East flag this year and they did it quite easily, whipping second place Midway by 9 games, third place Tuckanarra by 12 and fourth place South Fork and East Point by 13 games. The Nats did it with wonderful starting pitching and just fair-to-middling offense. Ozarka returns to the IPA postseason for the first time since 2082 and 2084. The Naturals have made the playoffs on 17 occasions and have never won the Pro Cup, though they reached the Pro Cup Finals 5 times during their heyday and Golden Days back in the first two decades of the Islandian Pro Alliance. Each year in that era Ozarka would dominate the regular season. They won the TU East 13 times in 21 years, 10 times in 12 years and 7 times in succession. The Naturals were often the Pro Cup choice, but they never won it. Talk about being a bridesmaid and never a bride. That was the Nats.

This season the TU East was a good race until midseason. Ozarka led the Midway Wolves and Hillsboro Blazers by 3.5 games and 4 respectively at the end of June. In August the Nats sizzled with a 22-5 mark and moved up to a 7-game margin. By September they were 14 games in front. Midway was the surprise team this year. The Wolves were forecast to be a cellar-dweller this season.

Last year's Tycobbian East title winner was Tuckanarra in a close race with Ozarka (2 GB), South Fork (2 GB) and Hillsboro (5 GB).

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Monday, September 27, 2088

2088 Tycobbian West Season Review

CURRENT IPA KING LA CLAIRE RESOUNDING REPEAT WINNER IN TU WEST
The defending Pro Cup champion La Claire were only challenged for half the season in the Tycobbian West. The runner-up Chicopee Braves (5 GB) and the third place Rolling Hills Racers (4 GB) hung close until July, then both of them faded into oblivion with second-half swoons. By season's end La Claire destroyed both of them by 13 and 16 games, respectively. Great starting pitching and a solid offensive attack more than did the job, enabling the Lynx to repeat as the TU West flag winner and get another shot at winning the IPA Pro Cup Trophy in back-to-back seasons. La Claire had made only 7 previous appearances in the postseason with only one Pro Cup Trophy to show for it. The Lynx were a very slight favorite in the preseason poll to win the division once again in a close battle with Chicopee and Rolling Hills.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Friday, October 8, 2088

SCRIBES AND MEDIA MAKE LA CLAIRE PRO CUP CHOICE IN 88TH PRO CUP PLAYOFFS
Last year's IPA Pro Cup champion La Claire is the prime choice to cop its second straight title according to the Island baseball media, scribes and broadcasters. The Lynx are rated the best all-around club that can do it all. Forest City, Hartsdale and LaGrange are given the best chance of derailing La Claire's repeat hopes. Belair Beach with two Pro Cups in their possession in the last four seasons are rated a dark horse in the postseason predictions. The bottom of the barrel teams, Ozarka, Belle Plaine and Summerland did not get a lot of support.

In the opening round of action #1 La Claire will host #8 Summerland, #2 Forest City will welcome tough #5 Belair Beach, #3 Hartsdale at home will take on #6 Ozarka and #4 La Grange will be at their place pitted against #7 Belle Plaine.

If playoff experience means anything, Hartsdale has made 17 appearances and won 2 Pro Cups (2046 and 2063). Ozarka has made the postseason 17 times, but has never won a Pro Cup. However, the Naturals made it to the Pro Cup finals on 5 occasions and lost, but not recently. Belair Beach had made the Pro Cup party 14 times with 3 Pro Cups (2071, 2084, 2086). LaGrange is winless in 13 attempts. Favorite La Claire has been a rare participant with only 7 appearances and one title (2087). Same stats for Forest City. 7 postseason appearances with one Pro Cup trophy (2068). Summerland has been to the playoffs just 6 times and never won the cherished Pro Cup. And finally, poor Belle Plaine has made the cut only 3 times and had never won the Pro Cup.

2088 Islandian Pro Cup Poll by The Islandian Times

1. LA CLAIRE LYNX (101-53)
Strong in all categories except for defense.
Starters go deep. Bullpen is excellent.

2. Forest City Firebirds (105-49)
On paper may be the top team... excels in everything.

3. Hartsdale Hellcats (96-58)
Good all-around... but starters don't go deep... bullpen questionable... best offensive threat All-Star third baseman Eli Kulacz is out for at least the first round of the playoffs... he will be sorely missed... .305 BA, 28 HRs and 95 RBIs.

4. LaGrange Gators (105-49)
Top attack in the playoffs by far... starters go deep... possess pretty good relief corps... has solid defense.

5. Belair Beach Sunbirds (90-64)
Not a flashy club in any regard, but they win games... do well in the postseason in recent years.

6. Ozarka Naturals (92-62)
May have the best pitching staff by far... led the IPA in complete games by far... however, the offense is just average with little power... to win the Pro Cup, the offense must be productive... pitching alone cannot win it.

7. Belle Plaine Musketeers (90-64)
Might be better than the scribes and broadcasters think... the Muskies can hit the ball with power and score runs... strong defense... starters are pretty good... bullpen is weak.

8. Summerland (88-66)
Had the worst record as far as playoff clubs... the Sunsets might sneak up on someone... they have three fine starters and a fine closer... offense can score with some good pop... excellent defense... may be best defendes in IPA... Summerland may be better than their record... the Sunsets play in a very competitive division with Turon, Ginza, San Alejo and Southport. All-Star catcher Hennie Hendriks will not play in the first round, due to an injury... He plays excellent defense and is a quality bat... Hendriks batted .289 with 13 homers in the regular season in 132 games.

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 10, 2088

FOREST CITY, SUMMERLAND AND OZARKA IMPRESS IN IPA OPENERS
The Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup playoffs are underway with a bang. In the opening Tycobbian Union games the unsung #8 Summerland Sunsets, known for its fine pitchers, rose up and nipped the reigning Pro Cup champion and this year's Pro Cup favorite La Claire 2-1 and #6 Ozarka rode its fine pitching to torch the #3-ranked hard-hitting Hartsdale Hellcats 8-1. Over in the Ruthlandian Union the #2 Forest City Firebirds blistered the #5 Belair Beach Sunbirds 8-1 and #7 Belle Plaine rallied in the 9th frame and came away with a 7-6 triumph over #4-rated LaGrange. All series in the IPA playoffs are best-of-seven.

Tycobbian Union First Round
SUNSETS SNEAK PAST POWERFUL LYNX IN OPENER IN LA CLAIRE
21-year-old rookie right-hander Paul Pegram silenced the La Claire bats 2-1 on the road at Capitol Park Stadium to take a one-game lead in the best-of-seven series. Pegram was 20-7 during the season with a splendid 2.64 ERA. He went the distance, gave up 6 hits, fanned 3 and walked 4. Pegram outdueled 19-year-old rookie Don Bartels, who chalked up an excellent 22-8 mark with a 2.49 ERA. Bartels went 7 frames, yielded 2 runs on 7 hits with 5 Ks and 3 bases on balls. Summerland tallied both runs in the top of the first inning with a bases-loaded RBI by Bruce Quarterman and a wild pitch. The Lynx posted their only score in the 2nd frame on a pair doubles by Judah Woods and Don Carlin. The Sunsets were limited to just 7 hits in the game.

NATS VETERAN LEFTY PARTRIDGE HURLS 4-HITTER AND TOPS HELLCATS HUMPHREY IN HARTSDALE OPENER
Ozarka 14-year veteran and 202-game winner Mordecai Partridge fashioned a strong 4-hitter to stop the Hartsdale Hellcats at their own homeplace Pioneer Park 8-1. Partridge tossed a complete game, surrendering only one run on 4 hits with one walk and 8 strikeouts. He rang up a 20-7 season with a 2.56 ERA. The Nats got 9 hits off of 3 hurlers. Vladya Grigorovich and Tommy Kingston homered and batted in 2 runs apiece. Rikki Inkamara also doubled across a pair of scores. Hellcat loser Sid Humphrey had a rare bad outing this year and couldn't hold a 1-0 lead. The Naturals went to town on him and slammed him for 8 runs in 6 innings. Humphrey had a brilliant year, going 25-2 with a sensational 2.12 ERA. He is also 34 and has registered a 199-160 record with a 3.35 ERA in his 14 seasons.

Ruthandian Union First Round
FIREBIRDS BURN SUNBIRDS AT HOME IN FIRST-ROUND OPENER
The highly-regarded Forest City Firebirds burned the Belair Beach Sunbirds 8-1 in the opening game of the playoff series, played at Riverfront Stadium in Forest City. Winner Shannon Slate (19-10/2.52 ERA) shut down the Sunbirds on one run and 6 hits in his 7 innings. He whiffed 5 and walked 3 batters. Curt Leininger (3-0/3.31 ERA) got the last 4 outs for him and held the Sunbirds scoreless. The big bats were booming for the Firebirds, sparked by Milt DeRozier with 3 ribbies and Fuzz Smiley and Jim Raver with 2 runs batted in each. Smiley and DeRozier both homered in the game. Forest City busted the 1-1 game open in the 6th frame with 4 scores. Gardiner Palmquist (14-11/3.65 ERA) lost it, ripped for 5 runs in 6 innings. The Firebirds outhit the Sunbirds 9 to 7.

MUSKIES TOP GATORS IN SEESAW AFFAIR IN LAGRANGE
In a tight, hard-fought battle with four lead changes at The Swamp in LaGrange, Belle Plaine finally outlasted the Gators 7-6 with 2 runs in the top of the 9th. Dominique Roche tied the score with a two-bagger and Callum Hayford won it with a two-out RBI base hit. The Musketeers won despite 3 homers by Jed Mayfield, Clem Pollard and Bruno Lutz. The Muskies socked 11 hits, while the Gators had 9. Dominique Roche rapped 4 hits and drove in 2 runs and Callum Hayford cracked a pair and batted in 3 runs. Claude Mayeux also plated 2 scores. Neither starter was effective. Belle Plaine roughed up Richard Cartier (20-3/2.96 ERA) for 5 runs in 7 innings, while LaGrange banged Anton Petit (17-10/2.84 ERA) around for 6 runs in 7 plus frames. Johnny Koonce (12-5/4.15 ERA) gained the victory with one and one-third perfect innings. Jules Dufour (7-10/4.25 ERA) was pinned with the defeat by giving up 2 runs in his 2 innings, both in the 9th.

[Eugene Church]

Very special thanks to my good buddy and friend, CD.
He is a great editor. He noticed I posted the wrong home page for the Hartsdale Hellcats in my IPA Pro Cup Predictions.

Really appreciate your help, CD.