OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Eugene Church · 08-18-2020, 09:58 PM

Name: NORTH ISLAND VIEW BANNER.png
Views: 247
Size: 26.5 KB

Saturday, June 13, 1953

YANKS SITTING PRETTY IN NIRL FIRST DIVISION
The magic number countdown has begun in the North Island Recreational League First Division... it is sitting at 3 with just 5 games to go... the New Yerby Yankees (10-5) are sitting pretty with a 3-game lead over the other 5 ballclubs, who are all below .500 with 7-8 records... it is unlikely anyone can catch them... one of the contenders would have to win 4 or 5 games down the stretch to have a shot at the pennant.

New Yerby (10-5) has had the best pitching in the league so far with a 2.93 ERA... the Yanks don't hit much for average (.223 BA), but they are right up with leaders with 69 runs scored... all the Yankees need down the stretch is 3 victories and they will clinch the title... New Yerby is blessed with a solid starter in Andy Breland (7-4, 2.89 ERA), a good defense (.971 FA) and better scoring than they look like they have... the Yankees win in spite of poor hitting... they only have two .300 hitters, center fielder Dave Holcomb (.350) and left fielder Rex Markham (.316)... they depend on RBIs from their only powerballer, Billy Welch, who has 4 homers and 12 RBIs, but is only batting .185... another big plus for the Yankees is their bullpen... whenever Breland has needed help, the bullpen has come through for them... the relievers have posted a superb 1.13 ERA.

Joliet (7-8) and Jackson (7-8) look like the main contenders, but they have their work really cut out for them... if one of them goes 5-0 and finished 12-8, they still might not catch New Yerby... the Green Giants won the NIRL First Division title last year, but they slumbered too long in March and April with a 3-6 record... it's only in the last month that they have played like a champion... they have a fairly good starter in Mario Vespucci (6-2, 3.22 ERA), but don't have a dependable relief corps... but Joliet leads the league in scoring runs... center fielder Zach McDonald (.288), Clancy Dupepe (.292), Tim Lytle (.286), Erik Berman (.327) and Nick Pierce (.283) are a pretty solid bunch of hitters... the Green Giants are not as good as the Yanks with the gloves (.957 FA).

The Jackson Jackalopes (7-8) have the most talented pitcher in the league, Jalen McCoy (6-6, 2.98 ERA), but he is plagued by control problems at times... when they have to go to the bullpen, there isn't a quality hurler there... Jackson also plays the best defense with a .977 FA... the Jacks have difficulty scoring, but recent additions to the lineup have paid off... top hitters are right fielder Billy Mann (.339), third baseman Irv Keller (.315) and catcher Doug Collings (.370)... first sacker Tommy Warner (.450) has really lifted up the attack since being added to the lineup in early May.

Stockdale's (7-8) chances are slim... they just don't have a solid and dependable pitcher... Raymond Koch (4-4, 3.21 ERA) has been the number one starter, but he has tailed off the last month or so and given way to Jeff Kelly (3-1, 4.08 ERA) in recent weeks... Kelly has not been effective in his last 2 starts... it is up in the air as to who they will start down the stretch... last year's top gun Sarge York has been a bust this year with an 0-2 record and a lofty 5.73 ERA... he stood out last year with a 10-6 mark and a 3.15 ERA when the Mustangs won the NISD title... Stockdale is also poor defensively with a .948 FA... the Mustangs are fairly good at the plate with 13 homers, led by first baseman Andy Kessler (.403), shortstop Jake Marshall (.291), second baseman Kasey Clark (.317), right fielder Pat Bryan (.310) and left fielder Ben Wasko (.295).

The Wafford Eagles (7-8) have played well at times this year, but have also played poorly... it is highly unlikely they will overtake New Yerby... they have three fine hitters in first baseman Frankie Lentini (.370), catcher Chase Hibbard (.418) and Manny Valasco (.309), but the rest of them are useless... Ron Myles (5-4, 4.03) has gotten most of the starts this year, but has been hit-and-miss... he is 1-3 in his last 5 starts... Denny Fitzgerald (1-3, 3.05) has looked the best on the staff, but he is injured and not likely to return this year... on defense the Eagles handle the gloves fine with a .969 FA... Wafford started poorly, going 1-4 in March, but then perked up with a 6-4 mark... they seem to be on the downgrade right now... the Eagles look like they may be headed back to the NIRL Second Division next year.

What has happened to the Dutton Coyotes (7-8)... they have the best record in Island baseball leagues (53-32)... the Coyotes won the NIRL Second League in 1950... won the NIRL First Division in 1951... came in second in the NIRL First Division in 1952... but Dutton will probably join Wafford and be relegated back to the NIRL Second Division... lousy pitching is the culprit... the starters have posted a gaudy 4.79 ERA this season... plus the Coyotes are awful defensively with a .940 FA... yes, they do hit homers (20) and can score runs (72), but they can't overcome the poor pitching... Stuart Johnson (2-2, 3.70 ERA) and Nick Walters (2-4, 3.68 ERA) are just mediocre pitchers... top hitters are third baseman Dante Martorelli (.339), left fielder Karl Krieger (.309), right fielder Coy Baker (.315), first baseman Mike Sawyer (.276) and catcher Jack Puckett (.267).

Name: NIRL FIRST DIVISION COMPLETE LEAGUE STATS INCLUDING STANDINGS.png
Views: 203
Size: 105.6 KB

Name: NIRL FIRST DIVISION COMPLETE LEAGUE STATS INCLUDING STANDINGS.png
Views: 203
Size: 105.6 KB

Name: NIRL FIRST DIVISION FIELDING STATS.png
Views: 195
Size: 57.6 KB

Name: NIRL FIRST DIVISION LEADERBOARDS.png
Views: 210
Size: 247.4 KB

08-18-2020, 09:58 PM	#1720
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 36,325	Saturday, June 13, 1953 YANKS SITTING PRETTY IN NIRL FIRST DIVISION The magic number countdown has begun in the North Island Recreational League First Division... it is sitting at 3 with just 5 games to go... the New Yerby Yankees (10-5) are sitting pretty with a 3-game lead over the other 5 ballclubs, who are all below .500 with 7-8 records... it is unlikely anyone can catch them... one of the contenders would have to win 4 or 5 games down the stretch to have a shot at the pennant. New Yerby (10-5) has had the best pitching in the league so far with a 2.93 ERA... the Yanks don't hit much for average (.223 BA), but they are right up with leaders with 69 runs scored... all the Yankees need down the stretch is 3 victories and they will clinch the title... New Yerby is blessed with a solid starter in Andy Breland (7-4, 2.89 ERA), a good defense (.971 FA) and better scoring than they look like they have... the Yankees win in spite of poor hitting... they only have two .300 hitters, center fielder Dave Holcomb (.350) and left fielder Rex Markham (.316)... they depend on RBIs from their only powerballer, Billy Welch, who has 4 homers and 12 RBIs, but is only batting .185... another big plus for the Yankees is their bullpen... whenever Breland has needed help, the bullpen has come through for them... the relievers have posted a superb 1.13 ERA. Joliet (7-8) and Jackson (7-8) look like the main contenders, but they have their work really cut out for them... if one of them goes 5-0 and finished 12-8, they still might not catch New Yerby... the Green Giants won the NIRL First Division title last year, but they slumbered too long in March and April with a 3-6 record... it's only in the last month that they have played like a champion... they have a fairly good starter in Mario Vespucci (6-2, 3.22 ERA), but don't have a dependable relief corps... but Joliet leads the league in scoring runs... center fielder Zach McDonald (.288), Clancy Dupepe (.292), Tim Lytle (.286), Erik Berman (.327) and Nick Pierce (.283) are a pretty solid bunch of hitters... the Green Giants are not as good as the Yanks with the gloves (.957 FA). The Jackson Jackalopes (7-8) have the most talented pitcher in the league, Jalen McCoy (6-6, 2.98 ERA), but he is plagued by control problems at times... when they have to go to the bullpen, there isn't a quality hurler there... Jackson also plays the best defense with a .977 FA... the Jacks have difficulty scoring, but recent additions to the lineup have paid off... top hitters are right fielder Billy Mann (.339), third baseman Irv Keller (.315) and catcher Doug Collings (.370)... first sacker Tommy Warner (.450) has really lifted up the attack since being added to the lineup in early May. Stockdale's (7-8) chances are slim... they just don't have a solid and dependable pitcher... Raymond Koch (4-4, 3.21 ERA) has been the number one starter, but he has tailed off the last month or so and given way to Jeff Kelly (3-1, 4.08 ERA) in recent weeks... Kelly has not been effective in his last 2 starts... it is up in the air as to who they will start down the stretch... last year's top gun Sarge York has been a bust this year with an 0-2 record and a lofty 5.73 ERA... he stood out last year with a 10-6 mark and a 3.15 ERA when the Mustangs won the NISD title... Stockdale is also poor defensively with a .948 FA... the Mustangs are fairly good at the plate with 13 homers, led by first baseman Andy Kessler (.403), shortstop Jake Marshall (.291), second baseman Kasey Clark (.317), right fielder Pat Bryan (.310) and left fielder Ben Wasko (.295). The Wafford Eagles (7-8) have played well at times this year, but have also played poorly... it is highly unlikely they will overtake New Yerby... they have three fine hitters in first baseman Frankie Lentini (.370), catcher Chase Hibbard (.418) and Manny Valasco (.309), but the rest of them are useless... Ron Myles (5-4, 4.03) has gotten most of the starts this year, but has been hit-and-miss... he is 1-3 in his last 5 starts... Denny Fitzgerald (1-3, 3.05) has looked the best on the staff, but he is injured and not likely to return this year... on defense the Eagles handle the gloves fine with a .969 FA... Wafford started poorly, going 1-4 in March, but then perked up with a 6-4 mark... they seem to be on the downgrade right now... the Eagles look like they may be headed back to the NIRL Second Division next year. What has happened to the Dutton Coyotes (7-8)... they have the best record in Island baseball leagues (53-32)... the Coyotes won the NIRL Second League in 1950... won the NIRL First Division in 1951... came in second in the NIRL First Division in 1952... but Dutton will probably join Wafford and be relegated back to the NIRL Second Division... lousy pitching is the culprit... the starters have posted a gaudy 4.79 ERA this season... plus the Coyotes are awful defensively with a .940 FA... yes, they do hit homers (20) and can score runs (72), but they can't overcome the poor pitching... Stuart Johnson (2-2, 3.70 ERA) and Nick Walters (2-4, 3.68 ERA) are just mediocre pitchers... top hitters are third baseman Dante Martorelli (.339), left fielder Karl Krieger (.309), right fielder Coy Baker (.315), first baseman Mike Sawyer (.276) and catcher Jack Puckett (.267). Last edited by Eugene Church; 08-18-2020 at 10:31 PM.