ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

7th Place (tie): Hartsdale Hellcats (66-88) (30 GB)

Hartsdale was among four or five clubs that might harass powerful Oxford a little bit for a little while this year in the pennant chase, but the Hellcats were bad from the git-go and wound up tied for the TU North cellar... the Hellcats can hit fairly well with good power, but the pitching is pathetic.

Hartsdale doesn't have a storied history in the IPA... just 9 playoff appearances with one Pro Cup trophy... they upset mighty Valmara in seven games in the 2046 Pro Cup Series by taking games six and seven with super pitching performances... the Hellcats haven't won a division crown since 2047... have been stuck in the second division of the TU North for the last nine seasons.

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, September 20, 2061

TYPHOONS SOARED, SUNS SWOONED IN TU SOUTH
The preseason pollsters were picking Southport to capture the Tycobbian South in a tough battle with the Turon Typhoons... however, it didn't play out that way... Ginza and Summerland were chosen a distant third and fourth... the perennial also-ran Arroyo Grande Suns were selected seventh in the pennant hunt... but, lo and behold, the Suns moved into first place in June and looked like a winner until they swooned in September and lost out to Turon by one game... the race was settled on the final day of the season... the Typhoons won the last game, the Suns lost the final game.

Turon (87-67) lagged most of the season five to six games out in fourth place, but the Typhoons caught fire in August and soared to the TU South division title with a 28-17 mark the final six weeks... Arroyo Grande (86-68) staggered down the stretch at 21-24 and dropped to second place... third place Summerland (82-72) hung close to the top until September and then sagged to 22-23, falling five games back... favorite Southport (80-74) never really contended, lagging behind by five to seven games most of the campaign... the Sun Sox trailed champion Turon by seven games at season's end.



1st Place: Turon Typhoons (87-67)
Outlook: This was the sixth division flag in the last decade for the Typhoons... they won five in six years from '52 to '57... Turon will be seeking its fifth Pro Cup trophy this year... the Typhoons were victors in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2018, but they are not likely to get it... the offense is just average with only modest home-run power... defense is very good... and the starters are good... Turon might be the least likely to win the IPA crown this year.

[Eugene Church]

2nd Place: Arroyo Grande Suns (86-68) (1 GB)
Outlook: a heartbreaking year for the Suns... the last pennant was almost 50 years ago... they sure looked like the winners unless they slumped in the last weeks of the season... Arroyo Grande had a chance to force a playoff, but lost the last day of the regular season... the Suns came up one game short of the playoffs... they have only graced the postseason four times in the team's history with no Pro Cups to show for their feeble play.

However, this was a very exciting season... the Suns had dynamite power in their batting order... the starting lineup boasted hitters that hit at least 18 out of the park with four of them having 30 or more... Arroyo Grande easily outhomered everybody in the Islandian Pro Alliance with 252 roundtrippers this season... that was the key to the standout season... the pitching was fairly good with five capable and consistent starters, but the bullpen was terrible... they were very good defensively, too.

[Eugene Church]

3rd Place: Summerland Sunsets (82-72) (5 GB)
Outlook: the Sunsets are a young team and should a solid contender for a few years to come... they have finished third the past three seasons... Summerland has run good races the last two years... this year the Sunsets were right up near first place the entire season, but slumped in September (7-12) and fell out of the race... it was their only bad month of the year... Summerland's last pennant came years ago in 2046... they have made the postseason playoffs only four times in its history... and have never been blessed with a Pro Cup trophy.

Summerland plays in a monster park with 353 feet down each line... they have trouble scoring, but always seem to have strong pitching... the Sunsets had five steady and capable starters this year with a good bullpen... at the plate they had average power with 137 homers, but ranked near the bottom in scoring... Summerland played very good defense (.979 FA)… the Sunsets need to upgrade their offense... get a couple of good contact hitters to add to the batting order... trade a few quality pitchers for them.

[Eugene Church]

4th Place: Southport Sun Sox (80-74) (7 GB)
Outlook: the Sun Sox were the choice to win the Tycobbian South this year in a tight tussle with Turon... but Southport only challenged in the first month... they dropped back into the pack in June and stayed there, ending up seven games behind in the race and winding up fourth in the standings... they had a good year, but didn't challenge the leaders much.

The Sun Sox's strong point was its pitching with five pretty fair starters... offense was borderline average with not a lot of longball power... but they hit very well for average... and Southport could handle the gloves as good as anybody in the IPA with an excellent .982 FA... the Sun Sox attack could sure use a 40-HR guy.

Recent history has been good to Southport with 17 first-division finishes in the last 20 seasons with two Pro Cups (2044, 2047)... 12 times the Sun Sox have made the playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

5th Place: Ginza Ninjas (77-77) (10 GB)
Outlook: picked by the pollsters to end up third or fourth in the TU South, the Ninjas played well until June and then floundered out of the race and never got back into it... this was after being the Cinderella club for the previous two seasons, when they surprisingly won the pennant... even winning an unexpected Pro Cup in '59... Ginza survived on fine pitching and timely hitting in those glory seasons... this year the offense was just mediocre at best with not much punch or power... plus the pitching was not quite as good... the Ninjas need to retool a bit... the team is beginning to show its age.

Ginza has not made the postseason very often in its history... just nine times overall... but it did win one Pro Cup (2059)... and make a lot of noise last year... they lost to the eventual Pro Cup winner, the Rolling Hills Racers... it took the powerhouse Racers seven games to eliminate the Karate Kids in the Tycobbian title series.

[Eugene Church]

6th Place: San Alejo Montaneros (67-87) (20 GB)
Outlook: the Monties were rated sixth in the preseason poll and that's exactly where they wound up... they only had one good month... that was April (15-11) when the were tied for second place, one game out of the top spot in the Tycobbian South... but San Alejo couldn't stand prosperity and soon sank down to the second division and stayed there the rest of the year, winding way behind in the pennant chase... the Montaneros didn't score well, but hit quite a few homers (153)... and the starting pitching was fairly good... defense was just average with a .975 FA.

For twenty seasons, '32 to '53, San Alejo did well... they regularly finished in the first division of the TU South most of the those years... the Montaneros featured really good pitching... won six pennants and one Pro Cup (2032)... since '54 the Monties have been stuck in the second division, going nowhere.

[Eugene Church]

7th Place: Colchester Elites (62-92) (25 GB)
Outlook: the Elites have been a bad ballclub the last 25 seasons... only one time did they finish in the first division of the TU South... only twice did they finish with a .500 mark ('42, '51)... the current club is just plain bad, ranking near the bottom in offense, pitching and defense (.973 FA)... one of the few positives is Colchester had good power with 163 homers (9th).

Colchester has made the playoffs only four times in its IPA history and have never come close to a Pro Cup title... they always lost in the first round or second round.

[Eugene Church]

8th Place: Cape Coral Hurricanes (60-94) (27 GB)
Outlook: the 'Canes can certainly hit the ball with a .283 average... they can score runs better-than-average... and they have decent home-run power with 126 roundtrippers... but they can't get anybody out... Cape Coral has the worst starting rotation in the IPA with a 5.13 ERA... and they are just about the worst team defensively (.970 FA)... consequently, the Hurricanes came in dead last in the TU South... the last time the Hurricanes won a pennant was in 2041... they have just been a lackluster team for the last two decades... about half the time they finished with a .500 or better mark, playing middle-of-the-park baseball.

Historically Cape Coral has made eight postseason appearances, but they have never won a Pro Cup... the 'Canes usually lost in the early rounds... but four times they were beaten by the eventual Pro Cup winner... Turon knocked them out in '03 and '06... Blue Lake whipped them in '30... and North Hills got the best of Cape Coral in '41.

[Eugene Church]

Sorry, folks... it's tough to cover 64 teams.

And I'm not doing it very well, either.

Two more divisions to go... and then we'll get to the Pro Cup playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

Tuesday, September 20, 2061

MIDDIES BEAT BACK TUCKS, SOUTH FORK IN TU EAST
The Tycobbian East was forecast to be a three-team affair between Midway, South Fork and Red Bluff... but five clubs were in the race the first half of the season... the Middies (95-59) took command in May, June and July with a torrid 56-28 record... the Wolves built up a good lead and then held off all of the challengers... Tuckanarra (90-64) wound up in the runner-up spot, five games behind... South Fork (88-66) was third, trailing by seven games... the High Mesa Mustangs (82-72) came in fourth, a distant 13 games back... and well-rated Red Bluff (80-74) finished in the fifth spot in the standings, 15 GB.

Midway didn't have a bad month during the campaign, but did tail off a little bit in the last six weeks to 24-21... a weak May (14-15) cost the Tuckanarra Tiger Cats dearly... they lost seven games to the Wolves (21-7) in that month... the South Fork Stallions' nemesis was a weak September (8-9)... that was their only poor month of play... the High Mesa Mustangs slumped in June (11-15) and never recovered... and the fifth place Red Bluff Red Sox faltered badly to 23-34 in July and August and fell completely out of the race in the second half of the season.

[Eugene Church]

1st Place: MIDWAY WOLVES (95-59)
Outlook: For the last decade Midway had been the primary power in the Tycobbian East and the Islandian Pro Alliance, winning six pennants and two Pro Cups (2053, 2054)... and even coming close to a third one in 2055... in their history nine times the Wolves have won the TU East.

The Middies have it all, ranking at the top in scoring runs (3rd), hitting homers (4th) and play defense very well with a .980 FA... and they have a very good pitching staff, especially the starting rotation (6th)... the Wolves will be one of the Pro Cup favorites... they are a solid, all-around club... they will get a good chance to prove it in the first round of the IPA playoffs... they will go up against the current Pro Cup champion, the Rolling Hills Racers.

[Eugene Church]

2nd Place: Tuckanarra Tiger Cats (90-64) (5 GB)
Outlook: The Tucks have been a winning team for the last six years... really been in the race the last two seasons, winding up second each time... contended some with a fourth-place finish in '59... the Tiger Cats have not made the postseason since '49, but they have a storied history with 18 playoff appearances and three Pro Cups (2023, 2024, 2035).

This year the hitting (7th) and scoring (4th) were fine with good home-run power (7th)... Tuckanarra has a quality starting rotation (13th), but the bullpen is weak (20th)... team fielding is below par (.973 FA)... league average is .976 FA... the Tucks had a mediocre May (14-15), while pennant-winning Midway sizzled (21-14)… that was the difference... the Tiger Cats are a young, talented and up-and-coming club... the future is good.

[Eugene Church]

3rd Place: South Fork Stallions (88-66) (7 GB)
Outlook: The Stallions had a solid season except for a poor showing the last month of the season (8-9)... they feature good hitting (8th) with average scoring (18th) and good power (13th-tied)... and the best pitching in the IPA, tied with Wynnamac of the Ruthlandian Union with a 3.23 ERA.

South Fork won the TU East last year with super pitching... they were beaten in a six-game series by Rolling Hills, the 2060 Pro Cup champion... the Stallions have only made the playoffs seven times, but they have won two Pro Cup trophies (2025, 2042).

[Eugene Church]

4th Place: High Mesa Mustangs (82-72) (13 GB)
Outlook: High Mesa has excellent power (5th) with good scoring (13th), but needs to improve the team batting average (26th)... the Mustangs have some quality starters (10th) and a better-than-average bullpen (10th)... defense is average (.976 FA)... a weak June (11-15) kept the Hosses from making a fairly good run for the division crown.

In its club history High Mesa has only graced the playoffs on four occasions... but the Mustangs have posted a winning mark in 12 of the last 15 seasons...'59 was the most recent pennant... however, they do have a Pro Cup trophy... High Mesa won the IPA crown in 2002, the second year of the league.

[Eugene Church]

5th Place: Red Bluff Red Sox (80-74) (15 GB)
Outlook: Beginning in '57, the Red Sox really got into things in the TU East... they won their second Pro Cup that year... remained in contention in '58 and '59... a thorn in Midway's side... finishing second both years... but they have slipped the last two seasons... but still a good ballclub... Red Bluff still hits homers (small ballpark), but doesn't have the offense it used to have... however, they have much improved its pitching... the starters are rated third-best in the Tycobbian Union... the bullpen is substandard... the Red Sox don't hit well (28th)... are just average scoring runs (16th)... but they can still go deep (8th)... defense is below average with a .974 FA.

Red Bluff began the year well, topping the TU East at the end of April (15-10)... fell to second and 4 GB at the end of May, despite a fine 18-11 mark... Midway had a great May (21-8)... slipped to third place by July 1st (14-12), trailed by six games... really stumbled in July (11-18) and dropped 13 games off the pace and into the fourth spot in the standings... at that point, the Red Sox's season was kaput.

Overall in Red Bluff history, the Red Sox have made the postseason nine times with two Pro Cups (2004, 2057)... they had a great run 2044 to 2047 with four straight TU East division titles... also captured three division flags 2003, 2004 and 2005.

[Eugene Church]

6th Place: Hillsboro Blazers (71-83) (24 GB)
Outlook: The Blazers were selected seventh by the preseason pollsters and they were pretty much right... Hillsboro was a steady sixth all season long... overall in its history, the Blazers have been a poor franchise... they spent their first 16 years in the TU East second division... Hillsboro got a little better, but not by much... the Blazers' overall record is far below .500 at .475... only once has the club made the playoffs... that was in '51... they really had a good team that year... the Blazers lost a tough seven-game series to Arlon in the first round... Arlon went on to win the IPA Pro Cup that season, easily winning the next two rounds in five games each... Hillsboro gave them the biggest test by far.

This year's team has good firepower (6th), everybody in the starting lineup hit at least 10 homers... average hitting (21st) and scoring (19th)... Hillsboro has lousy pitching (27th)... and is a bad fielding club (.971 FA).

[Eugene Church]

7th Place: East Point Panthers (62-92) (33 GB)
Outlook: Crummy year for the Panthers... stayed mired in last place until right near the end of the season... they finally edged past Ozarka by one game... only one good thing to say about the Panthers... they did hit a few homers (17th), but didn't anything else well... however, four of the starters are quality pitchers.

East Point has not had a successful IPA history, losing far more games than they won (.464)... only made the postseason playoff seven times through the years... never won a Pro Cup, but they did come close one time... the Panthers were beaten out in a seven-game series by the Elnora All-Stars in 2033... the best years East Point has ever had was 2050 to 2057... they made the first division eight seasons in a row and won the pennant in '50 and '52... since '57 they have be in decline the last four seasons... just not a good team any longer.

[Eugene Church]

8th Place: Ozarka Naturals (61-93) (34 GB)
Outlook: The Nats have not played well since 2056 when they finished third with an 83-71 mark (18 GB)... the last TU East flag came way, way back in 2040... but Ozarka does have a fine IPA history with 15 playoff appearances, but no Pro Cup titles... from 2003 to 2021 the Naturals nabbed 13 pennants, seven of them in a row (2015-2021)... in '21 the Nats won 106 games, the second-best record of all-time, topped only by Colfax in 2010 and Midway in 2054... Ozarka also won 105 games in 2016... the Naturals played in five Pro Cup Finals (2011, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2020)... the closest they came was losing in seven games to the Far Mountain Redhawks in 2011... the Redhawks were were of the finest teams ever in the IPA annals that year... they won an unprecedented three Pro Cups from 2011 to 2013.

Currently Ozarka has a good and solid mound corps (5th) and a good defense (.977 FA)... but the offense is horrendous, ranking 32nd in scoring and 29th in batting average... also rated 31st in homers... the future does not bode well for the fans in Ozarka.

[Eugene Church]

I'm gonna do the last division this evening... the Tycobbian West... and try to wrap up the season recaps... and get to the fun part... playing the games in the IPA Pro Cup playoffs.