September started with several call ups: C Edwards, 2B Carruth, RF Cecil, RP Sianez, and RP Avilla. I also activated 2B Drexler from his rehab assignment.
The month started with the Expos winning 3 of 3 versus the Braves and 3 of 3 versus the A's. At this point, I moved SP Womble to the bullpen to create an opening in the rotation for SP prospect Tejada.
The Expos then won 3 of 4 versus the D'backs and 3 of 3 versus the Padres. At this point, the Expos clinched a postseason spot. The Expos continued with wins in 3 of 3 versus the Cardinals and 1 of 4 versus the Cubs. The win versus the Cubs clinched the third straight NL East title for the Expos. It also marked the end of the AAA season and I called up SP Castiglione, SP Turkel, and 2B Pellot. I also gave SP prospect Guarjado a one appearance call up as I didn't want to waste half a month of his service time for just a handful of insignificant innings.
The Expos closed out the season with wins in 0 of 3 versus the Nationals, 3 of 3 versus the Phillies, 2 of 4 versus the Mets, and 0 of 3 versus the Pirates.
This adds up to a 21-12 record for the month and 103-59 (.636) record for the season. The Expos won the NL East by 17 games and finished with the second best record in the NL and MLB. CL Bedingfield was named the NL Pitcher of the Month.
Below are the stats for batters in September (not including the five October games):
1B Flores led the way with a terrific month. LF Derringer and SS Warren played nearly as well and CF Pruner and 2B Draxler were just behind them. It is good to see Draxler put a solid month together, especially after the little he did play early in the season was mostly sub-par.
And the pitchers:
SP Diplan, SP Killough, and SP Britland pitched well out of the rotation. CL Bedingfield did have a spectacular month (20.2 IP, 1.31 ERA, 0.67 FIP, 29/2 K/BB ratio). RP Mosqueda, RP Sianez, RP Takara, and RP Carson all had good months out of the bullpen as well.
Next, the Expos will learn who they will face in their NL Division Series match up...