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THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 5, 2049
FC 'JACKS WILL WIN AGAIN IN RU WEST
Success has been a long time coming for the Forest City Lumberjacks. It was 46 years between playoff appearances. Now they might just come in bunches. The oddsmakers are picking the 'Jacks to repeat in the Ruthlandian West, but it won't be an easy task. They predict that the Rocky Rapids Snappers and the Middlefield Roosters will make it hard for Forest City to win back-to-back division titles. The oddsmakers have made it a toss-up between those three clubs.
1. FOREST CITY: Last year the Lumberjacks (92-62) won the RU West with brilliant pitching... they set a new IPA record with a ridiculously low 2.41 team ERA, besting Beechwood's old mark of 2.57 posted in 2026... and the entire staff is back and ready to go again... and the weak bats are back again, too... the Lumberjacks are hoping two rookie sluggers, 1B D. J. Ewell and RF Bum Kelso might help put more runs on the scoreboard for their anemic offense... Kelso is the younger brother of famed longballer David Kelso of the Red Bluff Red Sox, who has totaled 579 homers in his illustrious career... both rooks fared well in Spring training, showing good potential... the starting five are back again for another run: Rusty Howard (21-12/1.65), who led the IPA in ERA is still the ace, but he has a lot of help from Omar Cordero (21-8/2.31), John McKee (18-15/2.63), Walter Gibbons (15-11/2.83/2 saves) and Richie Meyers (10-7/2.16/13 saves)... the Lumberjack lineup doesn't have any threat at all from the returnees... last year's leaders were C Bob Brisdon (.292/13 HR/63 RBI), LF Otto Glintmeyer (.293/11 HR/65 RBI) and SS Timmy Tarbell (.286/13 HR/56 RBI)... not any good numbers among them.
2. ROCKY RAPIDS: the Snappers were a distant third last season at 79-75... they have impressive pitching with three fine starters: Buster Noland (21-16/2.46), Jamie Taylor (17-16/2.78) and Dirk Halstad (17-14/3.51)... the fourth starter Kevin Dillard (14-13/4.14) is inconsistent, but capable at times... Taylor was the RU MVP and Golden Arm just three years ago... the Snappers have a decent offense with star 2B Marty Featherstone (.302/35 HR/100 RBI/93 runs), 1B Masaharu Kawasaki (.276/28 HR/104 RBI/80 runs), C Carney Kirkpatrick (.300/22 HR/89 RBI) and 3B Duncan Musselwhite (.279/5 HR/48 RBI/96 runs)... Rocky Rapids could give Forest City a good run for the pennant with its solid pitching and hitting.
3. MIDDLEFIELD: last year was not a good one for the Roosters... they slipped from division champ (95-59) to fifth place (73-81), a drastic shock... their great pitching went south last season... only Carroll Collier (21-11/2.18) of the starting four had a good year... it was subpar for James Long (16-17/3.50) and Larry Wheelhouse (15-17/3.52), who both chalked up 20 wins in 2047... Middlefield should be right back up there in contention if Long and Wheelhouse return to form... batting-wise the Roosters don't hit much for average, but they can go deep... six regulars each hit more than 20 homers last year, led by CF Norman Antonioni (.239/37 HR/72 RBI), RF Sidney Conner (.263/35 HR/86 RBI), CF Russell Martin (.274/30 HR/84 RBI/94 runs), 1B Cliff Patterson (.287/29 HR/80 RBI), 2B Ike Gary (.241/26 HR/76 RBI/91 runs) and SS Jimmy Beach (.258/20/50 RBI).
4. STONER: the Stars wound up seventh the last two seasons with identical 64-90 records... it's been a decade since they were pennant contenders... according to the baseball pollsters they might edge into the first division of the RU West this year... the Stars have a group of solid starters in Fred Gunn (14-13/2.80), Billy Horton (14-13/3.28), Rip Martin (5-7/2.94/5 saves), Took Noonan (10-14/3.44/2 saves) and Brian Cole (13-18/3.55)... add rookie southpaw Jayson Mannon into the mix and you have the making of a fine mound staff... Mannon has stood out in the Spring... Stoner needs help in the bullpen... they also really need some help at the plate... the offense is pathetic with no legitimate threats in the lineup... the best of the lot are RF Emmett Tread (.267/14 HR/79 RBI/72 runs) and 3B Ralph Sackett (.255/12 HR/74 RBI).
5. COLFAX: the Blasters have not made the postseason since 2042 and have been housed in the second division all those years except for last year when they wound up 77-77 in fourth place... Colfax is only so-so on the hill and at the plate... Dante Breeland (14-16/3.13) is the most effective...Rollie Abbott (16-9/3.78/10 saves) and Jorgen Krogstad (15-12/3.71) were the top winners... the bullpen needs help... Abbott was the best reliever, but was moved into a starting slot at mid-year... the Blasters have only one player that lives up to their nickname... C Darrell Dillon (.280/32 HR/106 RBI/83 runs) is a solid hitter with good power... the only other good hitter in the batting order is LF Robb Maddux (.309/14 HR/63 RBI/86 runs).
6. SLIGO: the Rovers had their best year in a decade last season, coming in a distant second to Forest City with an 82-72 mark (10 GB)... Sligo has a good starting rotation with Mickey Walsh (21-13/2.24), Randall Steele (20-14/2.78), Art Hacker (17-13/3.79) and Freddy Avery (14-15/3.55)... they also have a good closer in Buzz Bumgartner (5-5/2.45/10 saves)... but the Rovers are plain bad offensively... RF Sidney Elmore (.250/27 HR/80 RBI/81 runs) and 1B Denny Simmons (.297/7 HR/57 RBI/68 runs) provide most of the offense.
7. VOLUSIA: the Vigilantes were second two years ago (84-70), but dipped to 70-84 into the sixth spot in the standings last season as the offense took a plunge... the mound corps is only fair... the starting rotation consists of Will Thompson (18-19/3.54), Mateus Branco (14-12/3.89), Drew Selby (12-18/3.22) and Casimiro Ramires (13-17/3.72)... the V's have a good bullpen with Bill Nussbaum (6-2/2.48/2 saves) and Afonso Tavora (2-2/2.73/5 saves)... the bats were only fair with CF Lonny Womack (.271/29 HR/84 RBI/83 runs), C George Ruffino (.273/26 HR/61 RBI/72 runs), 1B Kris Wilson (.298/21 HR/75 RBI/66 runs) and 2B Cazzie Carvalho (.283/13 HR/60 RBI/68 runs).
8. FORT BENTON: the Defenders were bad last year, ending up in the cellar (55-99), but look to be even worst this season... five times in the last seven seasons they have been a last place team... only one time in the club's history has it made the playoffs... that was back in 2037... it'll be more of the same this year and for several years to come... the Defenders don't hit well and they don't pitch well... the only thing they do very well is lose... Dick Shepard (14-21/3.55) is the only competent starter... and Darius Kimberly (9-9/2.78/15 saves) is a pretty good closer... nothing much in the lineup... 1B Todd Higginbotham (.277/19 HR/82 RBI/61 runs) was the club leader in everything... no one else came close to his numbers... Fort Benton fans don't have much to look forward to this season.
2049 Ruthlandian West Preseason Predictions and Projected Statistics
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