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Eugene Church · 02-10-2012, 11:42 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, June 18, 2030

2030 Tycobbian East Mid-Season Recap

Panthers On The Prowl, Lead TU East
For 17 years from 2009 to 2026 the East Point Panthers were doomed to the Tycobbian East second division... but all that has changed in the last few years with two second-place finishes in 2027 and 2028 and a third place spot last season... now the Panthers are really on the prowl and ready to win it all... they have the best record at mid-season in the Tycobbian Union and second best in the IPA... East Point is 46-25 at the All-Star break, topped only by Colfax in the RU West with a 47-24 mark... the Panthers have a one-game edge on the resurgent Ozarka Naturals and a 4-game margin over last year's division champion, the Tuckanarra Blue Jays... at the halfway point in the schedule there are only three teams in the hunt... fourth place South Fork is 9 games off the pace and doesn't seem to be a pennant threat.

This season first place East Point has added punch to the offense and can score runs... added in with a fine pitching staff and you have a potent ballclub... the Panthers sport a .265 BA (19th) with 84 homers (3rd) and have scored 350 runs (4th)... that combined with a 3.20 team ERA (1st) and you've got a first class contender... not only for the TU East crown, but for the Pro Cup as well... All-Star Frank Blair (10-5/2.17), All-Star Joe Foley (10-3/2.56) and Stephen Edwards (9-1/3.57) and Dixie Brooks (7-8/3.63) gives them a solid rotation... Jack Bolden (1-1/2.94/13 saves) gives them an effective closer in the bullpen... the Panthers are also talented at the plate, sparked by All-Star Tetsu Tanaka (.336 BA/19 HR), Kenko Aoki (.275 BA/20 HR), Wally Wright (.294 BA/6 HR) and Kyle Pike (.299 BA/7 HR).

Recent years have not been kind to the once-powerful Ozarka Naturals, who captured 11 pennants in 16 seasons during the glory years 2006-2021... after a dismal 8th place in 2028, they improved to 5th last year and up to second place this season, trailing by just a game... the Nats hit well with a .274 BA and scores well with 349 runs (5th)... with fairly good pitching... the staff has a 3.48 ERA (8th)... All-Star George Jenkins (.341 BA/13 HR) is the big gun, along with All-Star James Couch (.313 BA/4 HR), Byron Glenn (.286 BA/11 HR) and Lonnie Gillespie (.315 BA/1 HR)... on the hill the standouts are new free agent All-Star Sam Tate (10-3/2.91) from Tuckanarra, Stan Carey (8-5/3.34), Norm Phillips (9-4/3.71) and Brady Bell (7-6/3.66)... Ozarka may not be a flash in the pan... they have some solid ballplayers... they could give East Point and Tuckanarra a tussle this year.

With 5 TU East crowns in 7 years last year's pennant winner, the third place Tuckanarra Blue Jays, are not ready to give up the throne or throw in the towel... the Tucks don't have the stats the Panthers and Naturals have, but they still have plenty of talent with All-Star pitcher Quinn Starr (11-4/2.06) and Philip Marston (9-6/3.83) as starters and Rob Howe (6-0/0.51/3 saves) in the bullpen... the top Blue Jay bats are All-Star Jed Turchin (.356 BA/12 HR), Trevor Dowd (.319 BA/6 HR) and Ted Sabonis (.295 BA/1 HR)... superstar Lynn Starr is having a down year, but is still quite productive with 12 homers and 44 RBIs, though he is hitting only .257... a strong second half by Starr would do wonders for the Tucks' pennant hopes.

The South Fork Stallions are in fourth place in the standings and behind by 9 games... South Fork just doesn't have the hosses to take the TU East title... the Stallions are batting only .246 (31st) and are ranked last in scoring (32nd)... but they do have quality pitching with a 3.51 team ERA (10th)... Richie Raeburn (8-5/3.36) and new free agent acquisition from Crystal Lake of the RU South, Duncan Welch (6-7/2.78), are both reliable starters, but need more help from last year's 21-game winner Ozz Gatsby, who is 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA... bullpen ace Al Thompson (2-1/3.03) easily tops the IPA with 18 saves... four free agents were expected to make the Stallions into contenders, but it hasn't happened... Dean Woods (.289 BA/14 HR) from Sugar Valley in the RU East has done pretty well, while another 38-year-old signee Andy Pearson (.266 BA/4 HR) from Arroyo Grande and an 11-time All-Star is showing signs of age... Corbett Brooks (.255 BA/5 HR) came over from Red Bluff and is in the throes of a bad year... normally Woods and Brooks are 30-homer and 100-RBI guys... Patric Giles (.264 BA/11 HR) has been a reliable batsman for the club.

You have to go back to 2022 for the last time the Red Bluff Red Sox made the first division and all the way back to 2009 when they made the postseason... the Red Sox are 11 games off the pace in fifth place... they are probably headed for another second-division finish... Jack Phillips (8-4/2.56) and Trini Corona (6-4/3.78) are the most effective starters, in the batter's box it's Pat Ellis (.331 BA/9 HR), Billy Barton (.302 BA/5 HR) and newcomer Floyd McClellan (.291/BA/14 HR) from the Middlefield Roosters as a free agent are the top run producers for Red Bluff.

The Hillsboro Blazers bolted up to second place last year, but have come back to reality this year, resting in sixth place, 13 games behind... sadly the Blazers have never, ever made the postseason in the club's 29 years in the IPA... not gonna happen this year either... Hillsboro has good pitching (3.36 ERA/5th), but not much hitting (.250 BA/30th)... Gregg Hughes (5-4/2.07) and Marty Anderson (8-6/3.09) are solid starters and Duke Mahoney (2-4/2.81/12 saves) is effective in the bullpen... Bill Kelly (.290 BA/6 HR), Brian Hatcher (.296 BA/11 HR) and Biggy Washington (.265 BA/12 HR) are the only reliable bats.

Midway won the TU East pennant in 2027, but it's been a slow descent since, falling to 4th in 2028 and 2029 and now even further, down to 7th place and 19 games behind leading East Point... you have to go back to 2010 for a worse year... the crux of the Wolves problem is horrendous pitching (4.45 ERA-31st) and not a lot of offense either (.263 BA/20th), ranking 27th in runs with 285... at age 29 Bobby Dorignac (7-6/3.35) still gets the job done, but doesn't get much help on the mound or at the plate... Midway's most dependable bats are Lanky Mato (.316 BA/7 HR), Rob Gigler (.293 BA/8 HR) and Eduardo Villanueva (.298 BA/5 HR)... longtime batting leader Rusty Graves had a poor first half with a .255 mark, 9 homers and 31 runs.

During the High Mesa Cowboys' first two years of existence in the IPA, they made the playoffs both years and even won the Pro Cup in the second season in 2002, but absolutely nothing since... the Cowpokes are currently in the TU East basement and 21 games out... they also rank near the bottom in pitching (4.39 ERA/29th) and batting (.253 BA/27th)... Roger Hart is a pretty fair starter with an 8-7 record and 3.46 ERA... not much after him on the staff... Bill Andrews (.303 BA/15 HR) and Freddy Franks (.280 BA/6 HR) carry the offensive load... Jack Elliott, perhaps the greatest player in IPA history is winding down a fabulous career in serious decline... at 36 Elliott is batting just .237 with 7 homers and 16 RBIs... lifetime he is a .335 hitter and averages 45 homers and 120 RBIs a season... this may be Elliott's last season.

02-10-2012, 11:42 PM	#2965
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,956	*THE ISLANDIAN TIMES* Tuesday, June 18, 2030 2030 Tycobbian East Mid-Season Recap Panthers On The Prowl, Lead TU East For 17 years from 2009 to 2026 the East Point Panthers were doomed to the Tycobbian East second division... but all that has changed in the last few years with two second-place finishes in 2027 and 2028 and a third place spot last season... now the Panthers are really on the prowl and ready to win it all... they have the best record at mid-season in the Tycobbian Union and second best in the IPA... East Point is 46-25 at the All-Star break, topped only by Colfax in the RU West with a 47-24 mark... the Panthers have a one-game edge on the resurgent Ozarka Naturals and a 4-game margin over last year's division champion, the Tuckanarra Blue Jays... at the halfway point in the schedule there are only three teams in the hunt... fourth place South Fork is 9 games off the pace and doesn't seem to be a pennant threat. This season first place East Point has added punch to the offense and can score runs... added in with a fine pitching staff and you have a potent ballclub... the Panthers sport a .265 BA (19th) with 84 homers (3rd) and have scored 350 runs (4th)... that combined with a 3.20 team ERA (1st) and you've got a first class contender... not only for the TU East crown, but for the Pro Cup as well... All-Star Frank Blair (10-5/2.17), All-Star Joe Foley (10-3/2.56) and Stephen Edwards (9-1/3.57) and Dixie Brooks (7-8/3.63) gives them a solid rotation... Jack Bolden (1-1/2.94/13 saves) gives them an effective closer in the bullpen... the Panthers are also talented at the plate, sparked by All-Star Tetsu Tanaka (.336 BA/19 HR), Kenko Aoki (.275 BA/20 HR), Wally Wright (.294 BA/6 HR) and Kyle Pike (.299 BA/7 HR). Recent years have not been kind to the once-powerful Ozarka Naturals, who captured 11 pennants in 16 seasons during the glory years 2006-2021... after a dismal 8th place in 2028, they improved to 5th last year and up to second place this season, trailing by just a game... the Nats hit well with a .274 BA and scores well with 349 runs (5th)... with fairly good pitching... the staff has a 3.48 ERA (8th)... All-Star George Jenkins (.341 BA/13 HR) is the big gun, along with All-Star James Couch (.313 BA/4 HR), Byron Glenn (.286 BA/11 HR) and Lonnie Gillespie (.315 BA/1 HR)... on the hill the standouts are new free agent All-Star Sam Tate (10-3/2.91) from Tuckanarra, Stan Carey (8-5/3.34), Norm Phillips (9-4/3.71) and Brady Bell (7-6/3.66)... Ozarka may not be a flash in the pan... they have some solid ballplayers... they could give East Point and Tuckanarra a tussle this year. With 5 TU East crowns in 7 years last year's pennant winner, the third place Tuckanarra Blue Jays, are not ready to give up the throne or throw in the towel... the Tucks don't have the stats the Panthers and Naturals have, but they still have plenty of talent with All-Star pitcher Quinn Starr (11-4/2.06) and Philip Marston (9-6/3.83) as starters and Rob Howe (6-0/0.51/3 saves) in the bullpen... the top Blue Jay bats are All-Star Jed Turchin (.356 BA/12 HR), Trevor Dowd (.319 BA/6 HR) and Ted Sabonis (.295 BA/1 HR)... superstar Lynn Starr is having a down year, but is still quite productive with 12 homers and 44 RBIs, though he is hitting only .257... a strong second half by Starr would do wonders for the Tucks' pennant hopes. The South Fork Stallions are in fourth place in the standings and behind by 9 games... South Fork just doesn't have the hosses to take the TU East title... the Stallions are batting only .246 (31st) and are ranked last in scoring (32nd)... but they do have quality pitching with a 3.51 team ERA (10th)... Richie Raeburn (8-5/3.36) and new free agent acquisition from Crystal Lake of the RU South, Duncan Welch (6-7/2.78), are both reliable starters, but need more help from last year's 21-game winner Ozz Gatsby, who is 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA... bullpen ace Al Thompson (2-1/3.03) easily tops the IPA with 18 saves... four free agents were expected to make the Stallions into contenders, but it hasn't happened... Dean Woods (.289 BA/14 HR) from Sugar Valley in the RU East has done pretty well, while another 38-year-old signee Andy Pearson (.266 BA/4 HR) from Arroyo Grande and an 11-time All-Star is showing signs of age... Corbett Brooks (.255 BA/5 HR) came over from Red Bluff and is in the throes of a bad year... normally Woods and Brooks are 30-homer and 100-RBI guys... Patric Giles (.264 BA/11 HR) has been a reliable batsman for the club. You have to go back to 2022 for the last time the Red Bluff Red Sox made the first division and all the way back to 2009 when they made the postseason... the Red Sox are 11 games off the pace in fifth place... they are probably headed for another second-division finish... Jack Phillips (8-4/2.56) and Trini Corona (6-4/3.78) are the most effective starters, in the batter's box it's Pat Ellis (.331 BA/9 HR), Billy Barton (.302 BA/5 HR) and newcomer Floyd McClellan (.291/BA/14 HR) from the Middlefield Roosters as a free agent are the top run producers for Red Bluff. The Hillsboro Blazers bolted up to second place last year, but have come back to reality this year, resting in sixth place, 13 games behind... sadly the Blazers have never, ever made the postseason in the club's 29 years in the IPA... not gonna happen this year either... Hillsboro has good pitching (3.36 ERA/5th), but not much hitting (.250 BA/30th)... Gregg Hughes (5-4/2.07) and Marty Anderson (8-6/3.09) are solid starters and Duke Mahoney (2-4/2.81/12 saves) is effective in the bullpen... Bill Kelly (.290 BA/6 HR), Brian Hatcher (.296 BA/11 HR) and Biggy Washington (.265 BA/12 HR) are the only reliable bats. Midway won the TU East pennant in 2027, but it's been a slow descent since, falling to 4th in 2028 and 2029 and now even further, down to 7th place and 19 games behind leading East Point... you have to go back to 2010 for a worse year... the crux of the Wolves problem is horrendous pitching (4.45 ERA-31st) and not a lot of offense either (.263 BA/20th), ranking 27th in runs with 285... at age 29 Bobby Dorignac (7-6/3.35) still gets the job done, but doesn't get much help on the mound or at the plate... Midway's most dependable bats are Lanky Mato (.316 BA/7 HR), Rob Gigler (.293 BA/8 HR) and Eduardo Villanueva (.298 BA/5 HR)... longtime batting leader Rusty Graves had a poor first half with a .255 mark, 9 homers and 31 runs. During the High Mesa Cowboys' first two years of existence in the IPA, they made the playoffs both years and even won the Pro Cup in the second season in 2002, but absolutely nothing since... the Cowpokes are currently in the TU East basement and 21 games out... they also rank near the bottom in pitching (4.39 ERA/29th) and batting (.253 BA/27th)... Roger Hart is a pretty fair starter with an 8-7 record and 3.46 ERA... not much after him on the staff... Bill Andrews (.303 BA/15 HR) and Freddy Franks (.280 BA/6 HR) carry the offensive load... Jack Elliott, perhaps the greatest player in IPA history is winding down a fabulous career in serious decline... at 36 Elliott is batting just .237 with 7 homers and 16 RBIs... lifetime he is a .335 hitter and averages 45 homers and 120 RBIs a season... this may be Elliott's last season. Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 02-29-2012 at 12:47 PM.