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Eugene Church · 10-20-2008, 01:51 AM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

Around the IPA
Tycobbian Union - West Division

Rob Jackson's Blue Lake Blue Sox are tied for third place with Arlon, but they are playing like a first place club right now. The Blue Sox are 7-3 over the last 10 games, took 2 of 3 from the first place Fairfax Frogs and are 14-11 in July. Still they are 8 games behind in the standings.

Thus far in the season Blue Lake is just an average ballclub with a .265 batting average, fourth in the TU West, and just an average club with a 3.94 ERA, also fourth in the rankings. They have good power, tied for second with 88 roundtrippers, and good fielding, tied for second with a .978 percentage.

Topping the Blue Sox at bat are All-Star center fielder Donnie Frazier (.291/15 D/3 T/16 HR/52 RI/54 R/4 SB), All-Star third baseman Timmy Smith (.324/18 D/5 T/11 HR/45 RBI/42 R), first baseman Fred Taranto (.302/23 D/2 T/12 HR/41 RBI/49 R) and second baseman Ken Bennett (.266/17 D/2 T/16 HR/59 RBI/42 R/5 SB). Other contributors are left fielder Greg Boone (.295/21 D/0 T/3 HR/30 RBI/61 R/9 SB) and right fielder Fred Collins (.288/17 D/3 T/8 Hr/29 RBI/42 R/17 SB). Scoring runs has been a big problem Rob Jackson's team. Blue Lake is a very distant fourth in the division, having chalked up only 416 runs this year. Fairfax leads with 490, Bayview is second with 477 and Bay St. Clair is third with 451. New right fielder Doyle Osborne may pep up the attack. In 10 starts he is hitting .320 with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 7 runs batted in, scored 8 times and stolen 3 bases.

A big plus for the Blue Sox is two very fine All-Star starters, Bennie West and Jay Clay. Lack of scoring has especially hurt them. West (11-9 3.04) and Clay (11-4 2.76) could have 3-4 more victories with better run support. Manager Rob Jackson has been hard put to find his #3 and #4 starters. He has tried nine pitchers in those slots so far. Previous starters still on the roster, Clint McPherson (3-5 4.46) and Derek Manetti (6-8 4.47), are both now middle relievers. Neil Krogstad (2-0 2.79) and Mickey Dwyer (2-1 3.02) are the latest additions to Jackson's starting rotation. Blue Lake is strong at the closer position with Russ Courtney (5-3 2.51) with 11 saves in 36 appearances.

The keys to success for the Blue Lake Blue Sox can be found in scoring more runs and finding a starter or two to go with West and Clay. If Jackson can do that, his club could be in the fight for second with Bayview and Arlon. The Blue Sox could end up anywhere from second to fourth in the TU West this season.

10-20-2008, 01:51 AM	#506
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,947	The Islandian Times Tuesday, July 24, 2001 Around the IPA Tycobbian Union - West Division Rob Jackson's Blue Lake Blue Sox are tied for third place with Arlon, but they are playing like a first place club right now. The Blue Sox are 7-3 over the last 10 games, took 2 of 3 from the first place Fairfax Frogs and are 14-11 in July. Still they are 8 games behind in the standings. Thus far in the season Blue Lake is just an average ballclub with a .265 batting average, fourth in the TU West, and just an average club with a 3.94 ERA, also fourth in the rankings. They have good power, tied for second with 88 roundtrippers, and good fielding, tied for second with a .978 percentage. Topping the Blue Sox at bat are All-Star center fielder Donnie Frazier (.291/15 D/3 T/16 HR/52 RI/54 R/4 SB), All-Star third baseman Timmy Smith (.324/18 D/5 T/11 HR/45 RBI/42 R), first baseman Fred Taranto (.302/23 D/2 T/12 HR/41 RBI/49 R) and second baseman Ken Bennett (.266/17 D/2 T/16 HR/59 RBI/42 R/5 SB). Other contributors are left fielder Greg Boone (.295/21 D/0 T/3 HR/30 RBI/61 R/9 SB) and right fielder Fred Collins (.288/17 D/3 T/8 Hr/29 RBI/42 R/17 SB). Scoring runs has been a big problem Rob Jackson's team. Blue Lake is a very distant fourth in the division, having chalked up only 416 runs this year. Fairfax leads with 490, Bayview is second with 477 and Bay St. Clair is third with 451. New right fielder Doyle Osborne may pep up the attack. In 10 starts he is hitting .320 with 2 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 7 runs batted in, scored 8 times and stolen 3 bases. A big plus for the Blue Sox is two very fine All-Star starters, Bennie West and Jay Clay. Lack of scoring has especially hurt them. West (11-9 3.04) and Clay (11-4 2.76) could have 3-4 more victories with better run support. Manager Rob Jackson has been hard put to find his #3 and #4 starters. He has tried nine pitchers in those slots so far. Previous starters still on the roster, Clint McPherson (3-5 4.46) and Derek Manetti (6-8 4.47), are both now middle relievers. Neil Krogstad (2-0 2.79) and Mickey Dwyer (2-1 3.02) are the latest additions to Jackson's starting rotation. Blue Lake is strong at the closer position with Russ Courtney (5-3 2.51) with 11 saves in 36 appearances. The keys to success for the Blue Lake Blue Sox can be found in scoring more runs and finding a starter or two to go with West and Clay. If Jackson can do that, his club could be in the fight for second with Bayview and Arlon. The Blue Sox could end up anywhere from second to fourth in the TU West this season.