This weekend is the Illowa APBA League’s All-Star Game. A 10-team basic league, the IAL has been in existence since 1975. Each year, we all get together to play our best players. This year’s event will take place in Downers Grove, Illinois.
It’s the Country Gents vs. City Boys. The players are selected via ballot (I am now thinking about how complicated this was before email. Back then, ballots were sent by postal mail).
This year, the results are in and you can see the entire roster and player stats. The Missoula Rattlesnakes’ Julio Teheran (7-2, 3.66 ERA) will take the hill. He will square off against the Green Rock Bombers’ Jimmy Nelson (14-1, 2.67 ERA).
Here are the starting nine for the City Boys:
| 1 | Andrus, Elvis | SS | 9 | NH |
| 2 | Yelich, Christian | LF | 3 | CH |
| 3 | Trout, Mike | CF | 3 | NH |
| 4 | Arenado, Nolan | 3B | 6 | NH |
| 5 | Goldschmidt, Paul | 1B | 5 | NH |
| 6 | Upton, Justin | RF | 3 | CH |
| 7 | Contreras, Wilson | C | 7 | CH |
| 8 | Gennett, Scooter | 2B | 6 | CH |
| 9 | Teheran, Julio | P | 2 | RS |
…and the Country Gents (and I use that term loosely):
| 1 | Altuve, Jose | 2B | 8 | HS |
| 2 | Turner, Trea | SS | 8 | HS |
| 3 | Judge, Aaron | RF | 3 | GB |
| 4 | Freeman, Freddie | 1B | 4 | MP |
| 5 | Blackmon, Charlie | CF | 2 | MP |
| 6 | Rendon, Anthony | 3B | 5 | HS |
| 7 | Davis, Khris | LF | 2 | UP |
| 8 | Posey, Buster | C | 8 | MP |
| 9 | Nelson, Jimmy | P | 1 | GB |
Don’t look for any of my Thunderchickens among the Country Gents’ starters. We do have two reserves in Eric Hosmer and Kris Bryant and two pitchers in Stephen Strasburg and rookie John Brebbia.
On a more somber note, we will be without our commissioner this weekend. Mike Bunch is in the hospital due to complications during surgery. Mike is one of the most good-natured, humble and honest people that we in the IAL know. So honest that we made him commissioner-for-life. He also is father to two other fine IAL members, Marcus and Dan. By now, Mike is affectionately called “Papa Bunch” or just “Pops”.
Fortunately, Mike is making a recovery. Our league has been texting about it all day. Mike if you are reading this, the weekend won’t be the same without you. Maybe we can call you when it’s time for Giancarlo to bat, eh?
Get well, buddy!
