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2039 Regular Season
Eastern League Review
Led by Brett Knight (19-11, 3.16 ERA) and Rob Penney (.312, 35 HR, 97 RBI) Boston claimed the Atlantic division title for the fourth season in a row winning 93 games, finishing four ahead of New York (89-73) who hit 195 homeruns with 1B Jerry Wright (43) and C Roberto Saldana (31) leading the way. The Senators finished the season on a hot streak (winning 12 of their last 15 games) but earlier inconsistencies cost them a chance at overhauling Boston for the division crown. Philadelphia finished the season with 76 wins their worst return since 2030, as their new look offense sans Matt Henderson and Mike Willis struggled to score consistently, Washington (70-92) failed to build on their 86-win 2038 campaign with injuries the main reason for their decline while Baltimore slumped to a 68-94 record held back by the league’s worst offense.
Chicago (98-64) with star SS David Evans (.349, 27 HR, 113 RBI) and the EL’s top pitching staff led by Eugene Fey (19-9, 3.09 ERA), Mario Chavez (17-4, 2.99 ERA) and Sueng-Jae Park (17-8, 2.61 ERA) leading the way knocked Indianapolis (94-68) off the top to claim the Central division crown, the Racers boasted the EL’s #2 scoring offense (805 runs) but suffered several key injuries during the season allowing the Zephyrs to edge ahead in the standings. St. Louis (78-84) stumbled through another disappointing season but this time could not blame injuries for their poor form, Cleveland’s new manager Pat Bennett lifted the Corsairs to a 68-94 season, turning the team over to the new guard, SS Chad Hammond (25 y/o), 1B Blake Hanson (26 y/o), CF Alex Bayley (23 y/o) and pitcher Pedro Nieves (23 y/o) with mixed results. Bringing up the rear were Detroit who ended the season 65-97 and with their first basement finish in seven years.
Atlanta followed up their excellent 2038 season with another strong campaign comfortably taking the Southeast division with a 97-65 record, Mike Hicks (.271, 24 HR, 75 RBI) and C Luis Guerra (.281, 23 HR, 73 RBI) provided most of the offense but it was their pitching that led the way (15 shutouts and the EL #1 bullpen). Trailing in their wake were big spending Charlotte (87-75) with rookie sensation 1B Haden Bowden (.328, 32 HR, 95 RBI) and RF Michael Miller (.320, 22 HR, 107 RBI) the stars of the show, and Tampa Bay (86-76) owners of the EL #1 offense, driven by LF Joe Scott (.344, 34 HR, 114 RBI), 2B Steve Blanton (.288, 35 HR, 119 RBI) and youngsters 1B Pedro Castillo (25 HR) and CF Michael Sleigh (24 HR). New Orleans ended a streak of four straight sub-70 win campaigns by winning 70 games, 1B Rick Flynn (.310, 44 HR, 107 RBI) carrying the offensive load, Miami struggled through another underwhelming season to finish 69-93.
Final Standings
Atlantic Division
Boston 93-69*
New York 89-73
Philadelphia 76-86
Washington 70-92
Baltimore 68-94
Central Division
Chicago 98-64*
Indianapolis 94-68*
St. Louis 78-84
Cleveland 68-94
Detroit 65-97
Southeast Division
Atlanta 97-65*
Charlotte 87-75
Tampa Bay 86-76
New Orleans 70-92
Miami 69-93
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