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Eugene Church · 09-27-2009, 10:57 PM

The Islandian Times

Tuesday, August 22, 2005

Ruthlandian Union East Division Standings

Rattlers Romp to 8-Game Bulge in RU East
Highly-touted Sugar Valley has certainly lived up to expectations in the Ruthlandian Union East pennant chase. The Rattlers have run away from the pack since the All-Star game and built up a commanding eight-game lead. Six clubs were bunched within three games of one another at the halfway point, but that spread has greatly increased over the last two months.

It's been a topsy-turvy race as far as the preseason prognostications. Elnora was rated the best team in the division, but has dropped out of sight and down to a sixth-place tie. Second division picks Cold Creek and Eastshore have surprised the experts and risen up to a second-place tie, while Marston is fourth in the standings, 10 games off the pace.

It's been a delightful season thus far for manager Gibby Bobkins. His Sugar Valley Rattlers (80-48) have been the scourge of the league. You name it and they do it well - .269 BA (2nd-tied), 130 HR (2nd), 637 runs (2nd), 3.33 ERA (3rd) and .978 FA (2nd).

On the hill the Rattlers are brilliant with Gregg Neal (19-7 2.89), Hec Skurgan (15-4 2.38), Jay Washington (17-10 2.85) and Frankie Jardine (10-5 2.74). They are the best starting rotation in the entire IPA. In the bullpen closer Harvey Hines (5-7 3.00) has done an adequate job with 20 saves.

Sugar Valley also excels at the plate, sparked by 1B Ron Armstrong (.323/26 HR/101 RBI/80 R), SS Flipper Bird (.292/21 HR/88 RBI/89 R/23 SB), LF Bruno DiPirro (.330/13 HR/74 RBI/93 R/29 SB), CF Freddie Vaux (.287/9 HR/45 RBI/98 R/38 SB) and 3B Jorge Vargas (.311/15 HR/72 RBI).

Bobkins told the press, "We were the second-best team in the IPA last season. This year we are going to be the best." Sugar Valley lost the Pro Cup in five games to champion Red Bluff in 2004. The fiery manager could be right. His club was the favorite to win the Pro Cup last year.

Two upstart also-rans are making a run at the postseason this year. The Cold Creek Catamounts (72-56) and Eastshore Elegants (72-56) seem to be in the race to stay, but will have to contend with the Marston Nine (70-58) and Belle Plaine Musketeers (69-59) for the second playoff position.

On paper Cold Creek is the choice of most of the baseball analysts. T. Kelly Holmes' team sports a fine .269 BA (2nd-tied) with 113 home runs (4th) and a standout 3.30 ERA (1st). He has three quality starters in Kyle Peterson (15-8 2.58), Payton Saunders (12-5 2.03) and Tommy Weeks (12-10 3.01). Cold Creek also has a good closer in Buzzy Lewis (7-4 3.10), who has registered 18 saves in 55 appearances.

Holmes has some quality bats, too. Topping his batting order are LF Fernando Baldera (.322/23 HR/109 RBI), CF Trip Holmes (.273/19 HR/59 RBI/95 R/25 SB) and rookie 3B Kelsey Yates (.266/19 HR/72 RBI). The Catamounts have recently activated their fine shortstop Russ Russell (.352), who has missed three months of the season. His presence will give them another good bat.

Eastshore's strong point is its firepower. The Elegants are ranked first with 144 roundtrippers. Manager Killer Brewster boasts six players with double-digit home runs, led by RF Ron Dizon (.284/29 HR/95 RBI/82 R), LF Darrel Alston (.289/32 HR/89 RBI/101 R) and CF Chris Krychevsky (.288/16 HR/68 RBI).

On the mound Brewster's staff is rated fourth-best with a 3.83 ERA. The Elegants have credible starters in Ivar Jorgerson (18-12 3.12), Fred Duhon (15-12 3.85), Stony Blackwell (12-9 4.12) and Steve Ohlinger (10-10 3.82). In relief Brewster's bullpen ace is Tommy Ladner (3-2 2.61). Ladner has performed quite well with 23 saves and has worked in 51 games.

The Marston Nine offense is solid with a .274 BA (1st) and 117 homers (3rd), but Johnny Walters' pitching corps hasn't kept pace with the hitters. The team ERA is down near the bottom with lowly 4.08 ERA (7th), topped only by Wynnamac's miserable 4.39 ERA (8th).

Marston's attack is led by SS Don Nichols (.361/19 HR/68 RBI/109 R/32 SB), who has the highest batting average in the RU. Rookie 3B Jimmy Holman (.309/21 HR/87 RBI), CF Dennis Riley (.300/15 HR/81 RBI/79 R/15 SB) and rookie RF Helmut Graczyk (.283/19 HR/75 RBI) have also made their presence felt in the line-up.

Walters does have some decent starters. It is in the bullpen where Marston has suffered most. The Nine have three good starters in Vinnie Gardner (16-8 3.62), Mark Falzone (13-13 3.41) and rookie Hayden Bagshaw (11-8 3.85). Walters has a new #4 starter Jan Arnick and he has really come through so far with a sparking 4-0 record and 2.72 ERA in five starts. Closer Booger Burchfield (4-6 3.57) also has a resurgence in the last two months and lowered his ERA from over 5.00 and piled up 27 saves in 65 games. This pitching turnaround could liven up the battle for second place down the stretch. Marston is only two games behind Cold Creek and Eastshore. Better pitching could be decisive.

Don't count out Boo Ladrieux's Belle Plaine Musketeers (69-59). They are currently fifth in the RU East, 11 games out of first and still very much in the hunt for the playoffs. The Musketeer mound corps has chalked up an impressive 3.32 ERA (2nd) led by the likes of Pistol Pete Westberry (17-9 3.20), Milo Anthony (14-12 3.11), Jorge Bonilla (8-4 2.64) and Guy Mercier (9-11 3.26). It gets even better in the bullpen with closer Kent Wells (2-2 1.96), who has saved 23 games and appeared in 58 games.

Scoring has been Belle Plaine biggest problem. The Muskies have little power with only 82 home runs (8th), although they are batting .266 (5th). RF Cris Willis (.328/7 HR/60 RBI/75 R/11 SB), LF Juan Mendez (.328/5 HR/32 RBI/85 R) and 1B Scott Theriot (.266/11 HR/87 RBI) provide what little production they have.

Elnora (64-64) and Beachwood (64-64) are in a sixth-place tie and trail by 16 games. Neither has a chance to go to the postseason, an especial disappointment for manager Zoggy White and his All-Stars. Elnora has won the RU East the past two years and were favored to do it a third time.

Elnora finds themselves with a serious shortage of pitching this season. The All-Stars team ERA has dipped to 3.91 (6th). All of his starting rotation have had off years. Charlie Murphy (9-16 4.03) has slumped drastically from 22 wins in 2004. Even stalwarts Lou Horn (14-10 3.89) and Taylor Gibbs (13-15 3.23) have suffered letdowns this season. There is one bright spot for Elnora. Closer Matty Wilkerson (9-2 2.56) continues to shine in the bullpen.

White's offense has not produced, either. At least, not like they have in the past. Elnora is batting .268 (4th), has 105 homers (6th), but is not producing runs. They have scored 588 runs and are ranked fifth. White's best batters are 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.307/16 HR/75 RBI) and C Todd Simons (.305/12 HR/70 RBI). Elnora just doesn't have the numbers to compete this season. Sixth may be the best that the All-Stars can achieve this year.

The Beechwood Bobcats live and die on the strong right arm of Dek Jumonville (20-8 2.53), who has done supremely well in 2005. No surprise the Bobcats are having a tough season. Skipper Bret George's ball club is ranked lowly in all of the statistical categories. Only RF Cris Willis (.305/17 HR/59 RBI/93 R/19 SB) is much of a threat in the line-up. Seventh place is the most likely finish for Beechwood.

For the fourth year in a row it is manager Matt Donnelly's fate to miss the playoffs. His Wynnamac Sundowners (52-76) just don't have the talent to compete. When your team has a 4.39 ERA (8th), not too many good things can come from it. Last year's 20-game winner Caleb Browne (12-13 4.24) has seen his victories go way down and his ERA shoot way up. Only Ron Walters (13-12 3.53) has been adequate. Combine the bad pitching with weak hitting and you have a recipe for last place.

09-27-2009, 10:57 PM	#1223
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,944	The Islandian Times Tuesday, August 22, 2005 Ruthlandian Union East Division Standings Rattlers Romp to 8-Game Bulge in RU East Highly-touted Sugar Valley has certainly lived up to expectations in the Ruthlandian Union East pennant chase. The Rattlers have run away from the pack since the All-Star game and built up a commanding eight-game lead. Six clubs were bunched within three games of one another at the halfway point, but that spread has greatly increased over the last two months. It's been a topsy-turvy race as far as the preseason prognostications. Elnora was rated the best team in the division, but has dropped out of sight and down to a sixth-place tie. Second division picks Cold Creek and Eastshore have surprised the experts and risen up to a second-place tie, while Marston is fourth in the standings, 10 games off the pace. It's been a delightful season thus far for manager Gibby Bobkins. His Sugar Valley Rattlers (80-48) have been the scourge of the league. You name it and they do it well - .269 BA (2nd-tied), 130 HR (2nd), 637 runs (2nd), 3.33 ERA (3rd) and .978 FA (2nd). On the hill the Rattlers are brilliant with Gregg Neal (19-7 2.89), Hec Skurgan (15-4 2.38), Jay Washington (17-10 2.85) and Frankie Jardine (10-5 2.74). They are the best starting rotation in the entire IPA. In the bullpen closer Harvey Hines (5-7 3.00) has done an adequate job with 20 saves. Sugar Valley also excels at the plate, sparked by 1B Ron Armstrong (.323/26 HR/101 RBI/80 R), SS Flipper Bird (.292/21 HR/88 RBI/89 R/23 SB), LF Bruno DiPirro (.330/13 HR/74 RBI/93 R/29 SB), CF Freddie Vaux (.287/9 HR/45 RBI/98 R/38 SB) and 3B Jorge Vargas (.311/15 HR/72 RBI). Bobkins told the press, "We were the second-best team in the IPA last season. This year we are going to be the best." Sugar Valley lost the Pro Cup in five games to champion Red Bluff in 2004. The fiery manager could be right. His club was the favorite to win the Pro Cup last year. Two upstart also-rans are making a run at the postseason this year. The Cold Creek Catamounts (72-56) and Eastshore Elegants (72-56) seem to be in the race to stay, but will have to contend with the Marston Nine (70-58) and Belle Plaine Musketeers (69-59) for the second playoff position. On paper Cold Creek is the choice of most of the baseball analysts. T. Kelly Holmes' team sports a fine .269 BA (2nd-tied) with 113 home runs (4th) and a standout 3.30 ERA (1st). He has three quality starters in Kyle Peterson (15-8 2.58), Payton Saunders (12-5 2.03) and Tommy Weeks (12-10 3.01). Cold Creek also has a good closer in Buzzy Lewis (7-4 3.10), who has registered 18 saves in 55 appearances. Holmes has some quality bats, too. Topping his batting order are LF Fernando Baldera (.322/23 HR/109 RBI), CF Trip Holmes (.273/19 HR/59 RBI/95 R/25 SB) and rookie 3B Kelsey Yates (.266/19 HR/72 RBI). The Catamounts have recently activated their fine shortstop Russ Russell (.352), who has missed three months of the season. His presence will give them another good bat. Eastshore's strong point is its firepower. The Elegants are ranked first with 144 roundtrippers. Manager Killer Brewster boasts six players with double-digit home runs, led by RF Ron Dizon (.284/29 HR/95 RBI/82 R), LF Darrel Alston (.289/32 HR/89 RBI/101 R) and CF Chris Krychevsky (.288/16 HR/68 RBI). On the mound Brewster's staff is rated fourth-best with a 3.83 ERA. The Elegants have credible starters in Ivar Jorgerson (18-12 3.12), Fred Duhon (15-12 3.85), Stony Blackwell (12-9 4.12) and Steve Ohlinger (10-10 3.82). In relief Brewster's bullpen ace is Tommy Ladner (3-2 2.61). Ladner has performed quite well with 23 saves and has worked in 51 games. The Marston Nine offense is solid with a .274 BA (1st) and 117 homers (3rd), but Johnny Walters' pitching corps hasn't kept pace with the hitters. The team ERA is down near the bottom with lowly 4.08 ERA (7th), topped only by Wynnamac's miserable 4.39 ERA (8th). Marston's attack is led by SS Don Nichols (.361/19 HR/68 RBI/109 R/32 SB), who has the highest batting average in the RU. Rookie 3B Jimmy Holman (.309/21 HR/87 RBI), CF Dennis Riley (.300/15 HR/81 RBI/79 R/15 SB) and rookie RF Helmut Graczyk (.283/19 HR/75 RBI) have also made their presence felt in the line-up. Walters does have some decent starters. It is in the bullpen where Marston has suffered most. The Nine have three good starters in Vinnie Gardner (16-8 3.62), Mark Falzone (13-13 3.41) and rookie Hayden Bagshaw (11-8 3.85). Walters has a new #4 starter Jan Arnick and he has really come through so far with a sparking 4-0 record and 2.72 ERA in five starts. Closer Booger Burchfield (4-6 3.57) also has a resurgence in the last two months and lowered his ERA from over 5.00 and piled up 27 saves in 65 games. This pitching turnaround could liven up the battle for second place down the stretch. Marston is only two games behind Cold Creek and Eastshore. Better pitching could be decisive. Don't count out Boo Ladrieux's Belle Plaine Musketeers (69-59). They are currently fifth in the RU East, 11 games out of first and still very much in the hunt for the playoffs. The Musketeer mound corps has chalked up an impressive 3.32 ERA (2nd) led by the likes of Pistol Pete Westberry (17-9 3.20), Milo Anthony (14-12 3.11), Jorge Bonilla (8-4 2.64) and Guy Mercier (9-11 3.26). It gets even better in the bullpen with closer Kent Wells (2-2 1.96), who has saved 23 games and appeared in 58 games. Scoring has been Belle Plaine biggest problem. The Muskies have little power with only 82 home runs (8th), although they are batting .266 (5th). RF Cris Willis (.328/7 HR/60 RBI/75 R/11 SB), LF Juan Mendez (.328/5 HR/32 RBI/85 R) and 1B Scott Theriot (.266/11 HR/87 RBI) provide what little production they have. Elnora (64-64) and Beachwood (64-64) are in a sixth-place tie and trail by 16 games. Neither has a chance to go to the postseason, an especial disappointment for manager Zoggy White and his All-Stars. Elnora has won the RU East the past two years and were favored to do it a third time. Elnora finds themselves with a serious shortage of pitching this season. The All-Stars team ERA has dipped to 3.91 (6th). All of his starting rotation have had off years. Charlie Murphy (9-16 4.03) has slumped drastically from 22 wins in 2004. Even stalwarts Lou Horn (14-10 3.89) and Taylor Gibbs (13-15 3.23) have suffered letdowns this season. There is one bright spot for Elnora. Closer Matty Wilkerson (9-2 2.56) continues to shine in the bullpen. White's offense has not produced, either. At least, not like they have in the past. Elnora is batting .268 (4th), has 105 homers (6th), but is not producing runs. They have scored 588 runs and are ranked fifth. White's best batters are 3B Dmitri Vrotsos (.307/16 HR/75 RBI) and C Todd Simons (.305/12 HR/70 RBI). Elnora just doesn't have the numbers to compete this season. Sixth may be the best that the All-Stars can achieve this year. The Beechwood Bobcats live and die on the strong right arm of Dek Jumonville (20-8 2.53), who has done supremely well in 2005. No surprise the Bobcats are having a tough season. Skipper Bret George's ball club is ranked lowly in all of the statistical categories. Only RF Cris Willis (.305/17 HR/59 RBI/93 R/19 SB) is much of a threat in the line-up. Seventh place is the most likely finish for Beechwood. For the fourth year in a row it is manager Matt Donnelly's fate to miss the playoffs. His Wynnamac Sundowners (52-76) just don't have the talent to compete. When your team has a 4.39 ERA (8th), not too many good things can come from it. Last year's 20-game winner Caleb Browne (12-13 4.24) has seen his victories go way down and his ERA shoot way up. Only Ron Walters (13-12 3.53) has been adequate. Combine the bad pitching with weak hitting and you have a recipe for last place.