Wednesday, April 2, 2092
SAME OLD SAME OLD IN IPA IN SEASON 92
The Hot Stove League has come and gone, so has Spring Training. It's time to down to business and play baseball for real. Having said that, we will now delve into the hypothetical --- the IPA Preseason Predictions --- once we get the preseason previews out of the way we will really have baseball for real.
If the 2092 IPA season plays out as per the pundits, 7 of the reigning pennant winners will be back making a run for the IPA Pro Cup, emblematic of baseball supremacy in the Islands. Top picks to battle for the Pro Cup in October will be Ruthlandian Union champ Forest City and Tycobbian Union champ Summerland. The Firebirds are favored to defeat the Sunsets in the Pro Cup Series. Better offense is the difference.
Around the IPA: 2092 Season Preview
Tycobbian Union
WR RASCALS RATED TOPS IN TU NORTH WITH SUPERIOR PITCHING AND HR POWER
Teams that put runs on the scoreboard, hit with HR power and possess fairly good pitching can do well in the Islandian Pro Alliance. Last year's Tycobbian North champion Hartsdale won it using that formula. The White River Rascals never really fell out of contention. They won two years ago and just missed out by one game last season to the Hellcats. The Rascals are favored this year over the Hellcats because of better power and much better pitching. White River is forecast to win the division in a pretty close race with Hartsdale (5 GB) and Oxford (6 GB). The Mahaska Haymakers are picked a distant fourth place, 10 games behind the leaders.
Playoff History Review
White River:
18 postseason appearances... only Pro Cup in '80... last division title 2090
Hartsdale:
22 playoff appearances... 2 Pro Cups in '43 and '63... last division title in 2091
Oxford:
16 pennants... 2 Pro Cups in '07 and '61... last division crown 2089
Mahaska:
Only 8 postseason appearances... no Pro Cups... last made the playoffs in 2086
Luxora:
12 times in the playoffs.. no Pro Cups... last postseason appearance in 2058
North Hills:
13 division crowns... 4 Pro Cups in '34, '36, '38 and '41... last playoffs in 2045
Blue Lake:
Made playoffs only 4 times... one Pro Cup in 2030... last postseason was 2069
Fairfax:
9 postseasons... no Pro Cups... last playoffs in 2087
NO CONTEST AGAIN IN TU SOUTH, SUMMERLAND TO DOMINATE AGAIN
Yes indeed, the Tycobbian South has been the personal domain of the Summerland Sunsets for the last four seasons, three of which they won by double-digit games. Yes indeed the Sunsets are the team to beat and by a wide margin again. No one is close to them on the hill or at the plate. Summerland will take the division flag for the 5th straight year and they have a good chance at winning the first Pro Cup in the team's history. Arroyo Grande (17 GB), Southport (19 GB) and Cape Coral (20 GB) will tussle for second place, along with Ginza (20 GB).
Playoff History Review
Summerland:
10 TU South titles... no Pro Cups... won the division 4 times in a row, '88 through '91... favorite this season
Arroyo Grande:
5 postseason appearances... no Pro Cups... last pennant in 2080
Southport:
17 playoffs... 4 Pro Cups in '44, '47, '65 and '66... most recent pennant in 2066
Cape Coral:
10 division flags... no Pro Cups... made postseason in '81 and '82
Ginza:
11 pennants... one Pro Cup in '59... made playoffs in 2086 and 2087...
Turon:
made playoffs 30 times... 6 Pro Cups in '03, '06, '09, '18, '72 and '78... most recent postseason was in 2084
Colchester:
5 postseason appearances... no Pro Cups... last playoff appearance in 2083
San Alejo:
appeared in playoffs 12 times... one Pro Cup in '32... last division pennant in 2085
FOUR-TEAM FRACAS IN TU EAST BETWEEN SOUTH FORK, OZARKA, RED BLUFF AND TUCKS
Look for a close race in the Tycobbian East this season between reigning champ South Fork, Ozarka, Red Bluff and Tuckanarra. The Stallions have prevailed 4 times in the last 6 seasons and are looking to win a 4th consecutive pennant, but it won't be easy. Still South Fork looks to be a good bet to win. The Stallions have the best offense, home-run power and the best mound corps --- not by a lot --- but still have the edge in both categories over the other rivals.
South Fork:
16 playoffs appearances... 4 Pro Cups in '25, '42, '73 and '77... have won the division the last 3 seasons, '89 through '91, also in '86.
Ozarka:
18 postseason appearances... no Pro Cups, but played in 5 Pro Cup Series from 2011 to 2020... most recent division title in 2088.
Red Bluff:
made the playoffs on 14 occasions... 2 Pro Cups in '04 and '57... last pennant came in 2079
Tuckanarra:
25 times in the postseason... 3 Pro Cups in '23, '24 and '35... last TU East pennant was in 2087
High Mesa:
6 pennants... one Pro Cup in '02... division champion in '85
Midway:
9 division titles... 2 Pro Cups in '53 and '54... no postseason appearances since 2061
Hillsboro:
only 2 playoffs appearances... no Pro Cups... last pennant came way back in 2067
East Point:
10 pennants... one Pro Cup in 2083... last postseason was the same year in 2083
PRO CUP CHAMP LC LYNX PICKED BEST IN THE TU WEST AGAIN --- BUT WILL BE CHALLENGED BY ROLLING HILLS AND BAYVIEW
The La Claire Lynx are the current kings of the IPA with two consecutive Pro Cup titles and 5 straight Tycobbian West titles. The Lynx also have won 3 Pro Cups in just 5 years, which is amazing. La Claire is the preseason favorite this year, yet they will have to earn it according to the baseball prognosticators. The Rolling Hills Racers and the Bayview Vikings will be barking at their heels. The Racers are always in the pennant chase. All three contenders have excellent pitching --- offense will make the difference. None of the three are very prolific at the plate.
La Claire:
11 postseason playoffs... 3 Pro Cups in 5 years ('87, '90 and '91)... the Lynx have nabbed the TU West 5 consecutives seasons from '87 to '91... La Claire is an IPA dynasty in recent years, joining Far Mountain (2009-2013 with 3 Pro Cups), North Hills (2034-2043 with 4 Pro Cups) and Rolling Hills (2060-2069 with 4 Pro Cups)
Rolling Hills:
30 playoffs... an amazing 10 Pro Cups in '29, '31, '48, '60, '62,
'67, '69, '75, '79 and '81... the last playoff appearance was in 2086
Bayview:
Just 6 postseason appearances... no Pro Cups... sadly, the last pennant came long ago in 2016
Kenwood:
14 TU division flags... 2 Pro Cups in '14 and '82... last playoff appearance was that same season as the Pro Cup in 2082
Denton City:
13 times in the playoffs... no Pro Cups... 2059 was the last pennant-winning season
Chicopee:
5 pennants... no Pro Cups... last playoff appearance was in 2085
Arlon:
9 division crowns... one Pro Cup in '51... most recent postseason appearance was years ago in '58.
Bay St. Clair:
11 playoff appearances... no Pro Cups... no pennants since 2049 and 2050
