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Eugene Church · 08-16-2014, 05:31 PM

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, April 5, 2048

RATTLERS RATED TOPS IN RU EAST
Like the RU North and South, there won't be much of a pennant race in the Ruthlandian East either according to the Islands' baseball know-it-alls. They are predicting Sugar Valley as the top team in the division in a breeze over second place Belle Plaine, third place Marston and fourth place Cold Creek. Last year's titlist in a surprise was the Marston Nine with the Rattlers seven games back. Sugar Valley was the top choice last year.

The preseason poll has the rest of the division as follows: Wynnamac in the fifth spot, Eastshore sixth, Elnora seventh and in last place the Beechwood Bobcats.

Sugar Valley pretty much is playing a pat hand this year with only two new rookies on the roster. Neither of them is expected to make much of an impact. The Rattlers sitll possess strong starting pitching and good power at the plate. They are the class of the division.

The Belle Plaine Musketeers have contended only twice in the last two decades and they haven't been to the postseason since 2005. They have average pitching, but solid offense that just might be better this year with the rookie LF Terry Lee Dobbs, who is well thought of. Dobbs could hit for a high average with fair power. He has good speed and can handle the field well.

Defending division champ Marston goes into the season more optimistic than last year. They still have a strong mound corps and have added a talented newcomer in hurler Whiz Fairburn. Offensively the Nine could be improved as well with new 2B Damien D'Amboise, a talented lead-off hitter. Marston certainly doesn't think they are a third place team. Manager Russ Woodward is looking to repeat as champ.

In Cold Creek, it was a case of massive change in the off-season. Desperate for better hitting, they go into the new year with 11 rookies. Four of them will be strong contenders for a regular spot in the line-up. The sports analysts are looking favorably on RF Dontrelle Leopold, 2B Milt Swallow and 1B Kinnojo Matsuzaki, all are solid hitters. Leopold and Swallow can go deep, but Matsuzaki is a contact man with only fair power. LF Al Radcliffe can do the job at the plate with power, but is suspect in the field. The Catamounts were fourth last year and look to be improved this year. They still have a better-than-average staff. Freshman right-hander Spooky Robison will start the season in the pen, but could challenge for the number four and five slots in the rotation.

The Wynnamac Sundowners were a distant third last season and are pretty much the same team this year. No rookies of any importance made the squad. Fifth place is probably the best the W'Macs can do.

The Eastshore Elegants were sixth in the RU East last year and that's where the experts placed them this season. The Elegants have a capable starting four and the best closer in the Islands in Jody Friday, last year's Ruthlandian MVP and Golden Arm winner. However, they need some offense to move up in the standings. None of the rookie bats are likely to start. Rookie Trent Niven could help some in the relief corps and as a spot starter.

The Elnora All-Stars have an aging pitching staff and have not added any new blood to the roster. The All-Stars still have some gifted bats in their line-up. Moving up in the division depends on an improved mound corps.

In an attempt to escape the cellar for the second year in a row, the Beechwood Bobcats made sweeping changes with eight rookie additions. 1B Bronco Elkins, RF Rod McClellan and pitcher Larry Pearson could contribute this season. Elkins has monster credentials. The Bobcats might get out of the basement, but really don't have the talent to climb much in the standings.

RUTHLANDIAN EAST DIVISION PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

08-16-2014, 05:31 PM	#4326
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,946	THE ISLANDIAN TIMES Sunday, April 5, 2048 RATTLERS RATED TOPS IN RU EAST Like the RU North and South, there won't be much of a pennant race in the Ruthlandian East either according to the Islands' baseball know-it-alls. They are predicting Sugar Valley as the top team in the division in a breeze over second place Belle Plaine, third place Marston and fourth place Cold Creek. Last year's titlist in a surprise was the Marston Nine with the Rattlers seven games back. Sugar Valley was the top choice last year. The preseason poll has the rest of the division as follows: Wynnamac in the fifth spot, Eastshore sixth, Elnora seventh and in last place the Beechwood Bobcats. Sugar Valley pretty much is playing a pat hand this year with only two new rookies on the roster. Neither of them is expected to make much of an impact. The Rattlers sitll possess strong starting pitching and good power at the plate. They are the class of the division. The Belle Plaine Musketeers have contended only twice in the last two decades and they haven't been to the postseason since 2005. They have average pitching, but solid offense that just might be better this year with the rookie LF Terry Lee Dobbs, who is well thought of. Dobbs could hit for a high average with fair power. He has good speed and can handle the field well. Defending division champ Marston goes into the season more optimistic than last year. They still have a strong mound corps and have added a talented newcomer in hurler Whiz Fairburn. Offensively the Nine could be improved as well with new 2B Damien D'Amboise, a talented lead-off hitter. Marston certainly doesn't think they are a third place team. Manager Russ Woodward is looking to repeat as champ. In Cold Creek, it was a case of massive change in the off-season. Desperate for better hitting, they go into the new year with 11 rookies. Four of them will be strong contenders for a regular spot in the line-up. The sports analysts are looking favorably on RF Dontrelle Leopold, 2B Milt Swallow and 1B Kinnojo Matsuzaki, all are solid hitters. Leopold and Swallow can go deep, but Matsuzaki is a contact man with only fair power. LF Al Radcliffe can do the job at the plate with power, but is suspect in the field. The Catamounts were fourth last year and look to be improved this year. They still have a better-than-average staff. Freshman right-hander Spooky Robison will start the season in the pen, but could challenge for the number four and five slots in the rotation. The Wynnamac Sundowners were a distant third last season and are pretty much the same team this year. No rookies of any importance made the squad. Fifth place is probably the best the W'Macs can do. The Eastshore Elegants were sixth in the RU East last year and that's where the experts placed them this season. The Elegants have a capable starting four and the best closer in the Islands in Jody Friday, last year's Ruthlandian MVP and Golden Arm winner. However, they need some offense to move up in the standings. None of the rookie bats are likely to start. Rookie Trent Niven could help some in the relief corps and as a spot starter. The Elnora All-Stars have an aging pitching staff and have not added any new blood to the roster. The All-Stars still have some gifted bats in their line-up. Moving up in the division depends on an improved mound corps. In an attempt to escape the cellar for the second year in a row, the Beechwood Bobcats made sweeping changes with eight rookie additions. 1B Bronco Elkins, RF Rod McClellan and pitcher Larry Pearson could contribute this season. Elkins has monster credentials. The Bobcats might get out of the basement, but really don't have the talent to climb much in the standings. RUTHLANDIAN EAST DIVISION PRESEASON PREDICTIONS Attached Images Last edited by Eugene Church; 08-19-2014 at 04:47 PM.