Wednesday, April 4, 2091
AND AWAY THEY GO - 91ST SEASON IN IPA - THE BOYS ARE BACK!
Spring has sprung!
Baseball is back in the Islands. Our world will soon be filled with runs, hits and errors. Season 91 will get underway this Friday afternoon at 32 glorious green mansions. The baseball prognosticators are busy trying to figure out who is who in the diamond world. Will the La Claire Lynx be able to repeat as Pro Cup champion? In a word --- Nope. The last time it happened was many moons ago, back in 2065 and 2066 when the Southport Sun Sox accomplished this difficult task. Back-to-back IPA titles have occurred only 7 times in the league's history. 5 of last year's division winners are forecast to win again including the title-winning Lynx. Will last year's Pro Cup finalist Valmara win their second Pro Cup in the last three years. Once again, in a word --- Nope. That only happens about as often as teams repeating as Pro Cup champion.
PRO CUP POSSIBLES --- FOREST CITY VS SOUTH FORK
The outlook is for Forest City to reign supreme again in the Ruthlandian Union, while South Fork gets the nod in the Tycobbian Union. On paper the Firebirds are the best ballclub in the Islands with the Stallions a close second. Valmara and La Claire figure to be their biggest challengers for the overall IPA crown.
Let take a quick perusal of what the prognosticators are predicting will come to pass in this brand-spanking new season.
RUTHLANDIAN UNION PREDICTIONS
IN A CLOSE 3-TEAM RACE VIPERS THE TEAM-TO-BEAT IN RU NORTH AGAIN
Last year's Ruthlandian North flag winner Valmara will do it again for the third consecutive season in a pretty close race with up-and-rising Kilkenny and Far Mountain. The Cats were well down the list last season in 6th place, 21 GB. The Redhawks ran a great race last year, beaten out by just 3 games by the Vipers. Neither club has made the playoffs lately. Kilkenny last won the RU North in 2077 and 2078. Far Mountain's last division crown came in 2083. Rookie pitchers just might make a serious title contender out of the Kilkenny Cats.
BLACKHAWKS AND SKIPPERS PRIME TEAMS IN RU SOUTH
Most of the baseball media think it will be just a two-team affair in the Ruthlandian South between the Valka Blackhawks and the Crystal Lake Skippers with the Grand City Cybercats and the Claxton Diamonds distant dark-horse possibilities. The baseball experts forecast gloom and doom this year for powerhouse Belair Beach. The Sunbirds are picked to finish 6th this season in the RU South. Belair Beach has won the division 6 times in the last 9 years. They are the defending champion. Claxton won it in 2089, Grand City in 2087 and Valka's last title came in 2077.
MACS AND NINE TO FIGHT IT OUT IN RU EAST
This year the Islands' baseball crystal ballers foresee just two challengers in the Ruthlandian East pennant hunt. The Wynnamac Sundowners and the Marston Nine seem to be the best of the lot with Eastshore Cotton Kings and the current division flag holder Belle Plaine trailing in the shadows. The Sundowners have been recent also-rans and last made the playoffs in 2083. The Nine has contended the previous three seasons and won the division title in 2086. The Cotton Kings won in 2089 and made a pretty good run last year, losing out to Belle Plaine by 7 games. The Musketeers are not aging and look like they are as good as ever, maybe a little improved, however, the pundits are predicting they will wind up a distant 4th in the RU East standings. Belle Plaine has won the division crown 3 times in the last 4 seasons. The Muskies won the Pro Cup in 2088.
FC FIREBIRDS EASY PICK IN RU WEST, JUST A ONE-TEAM RACE
It the "same old, same old" in the Ruthlandian West. The Forest City Firebirds will torch all comers again this season and easily claim its fourth successive division flag. Once again they will be the choice to win the Pro Cup Trophy. Once again the Firebirds will win the division crown with only token competition. The Colfax Black Sox will again do their best and wind up in second place, way ahead of the other 6 RU West also-rans. Do you think Forest City just plays in a weak division? Is that the reason for their great regular-season domination? The Firebirds always do well in the first round of the Pro Cup playoffs and then get eliminated in the RU Title Series. But to be fair, Forest City lost to IPA Pro Cup champion Belle Plaine in 2088, to Pro Cup champion Valmara in 2089 and last year to Pro Cup finalist Valmara. So it is quite possible they are a pretty fair ballclub.
TYCOBBIAN UNION PREDICTIONS
HELLCATS HEADED FOR HEAVEN ATOP TU NORTH
According to the Islands' top baseball analysts Hartsdale will continue to do well in Tycobbian North circles. The Hellcats have captured the pennant in 5 of the last 9 years and they have the best chance to do it again. They are the class of the division with the best offense. No one, not even last season's champion White River, will rival the Hellcats. Blue Lake, Oxford and White River will battling it out for second place. The Blue Caps only have a good team once every decade. Blue Lake last made the playoffs in 2069. It is not obvious why the press is so big on them this year. The Red Caps have had winning ballclub for the last four years, even winning 101 games and the pennant in 2089. The Rascals were the top team last year and finished third in the standings in 2088. White River still has good pitching and is still a good ballclub. It's their less-than-average offense that holds them back.
DEFENDING TU SOUTH CHAMP SUMMERLAND WILL STAVE OFF SOUTHPORT AGAIN
The two clubs with the best mound corps will again stand out in the Tycobbian South pennant race. The Summerland Sunsets are set to win their fourth straight flag, but they will still have the Southport Sun Sox putting a lot of pressure on them again. The homer-hitting Arroyo Grande Suns may get into the fracas and come in third. The Suns have been a winning club for the last decade. However, their last postseason appearance was in 2080. The other five teams will end up far behind the front three in the TU South this season.
DOMINANT SOUTH FORK FAVORED AGAIN IN TU EAST
For the fourth time in the last six seasons the South Fork Stallions will win the Tycobbian East division title and do it in dominating fashion. The Stallions are by far the best team in the division. One and all, the sportswriters and scribblers are picking them to win a third straight pennant. No one can really compare to them. The Ozarka Naturals will try and keep it fairly close. The Nats won the pennant in 2088 and have played well in each of the last three seasons. When it comes to talent, compared to South Fork, Ozarka is not in the ballpark. Forget about the remaining teams. None of them will rival South Fork and Ozarka this season.
LA CLAIRE SHOOTING FOR 3RD PRO CUP IN 5 YEARS
Strong pitching and solid bats will spark the La Clair Lynx to a fifth consecutive Tycobbian West crown and could possibly lead the reigning Pro Cup champion to a third Pro Cup title. The Lynx also won it in 2090 and in 2087. The Kenwood Wildcats are the best bet to slow down the La Claire pennant express, but it is not likely. Neither the Rolling Hills Racers, nor the Chicopee Braves can do it either. All three teams can match the Lynx at the plate, but not on the hill. The Wildcats last made the playoffs in 2082, winning the Pro Cup, but have been pathetic since. The Racers always have a competitive ball team, but they have not won the pennant since 2086. The Braves made the playoffs in 2085, but have been mediocre ever since.
