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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-20-2023, 04:38 AM

For the first time since their 1965-71 run of dominance in the Bolivar League, Medellin was North Division champ. The Mutiny finished 98-64, seven games ahead of their only real competition in Ciudad Guayana. Last year’s division winner Caracas dropped to sixth at 74-88. Defending Bolivar League champ Cali won the South Division for back-back-seasons. The Cyclones were 95-67, fending off a solid challenge from 93-69 Guayaquil and 87-75 La Paz. Cali easily had the best offense in the Bolivar League with 803 runs scored; only two other teams were even above 700.

League MVP went to Santa Cruz designated hitter Lincoln Ruvalcaba. The fifth year Bolivian switch hitter led in home runs (56), total bases (420), slugging (.647), OPS (.992), and wRC+ (170), adding 6.9 WAR and 123 RBI. The Crawfish would trade Ruvalcaba to his hometown squad La Paz in the offseason. Medellin’s Casimiro Salgado was Pitcher of the Year in his debut with the Mutiny, having been traded from Maracaibo in the offseason. The 29-year old Honduran was the WARlord (9.4) and leader in WHIP (0.83), quality starts (26), and wins (22-5). He added a 2.21 ERA over 269.1 innings with 279 strikeouts.

The Southern Cone League saw a turnover at the top of the standings in 1986. Defending Copa Sudamerica champ Cordoba fell off hard from 96 wins to only 70, while defending Brazil Division champ Belo Horizonte dropped from 102 wins to a third place 89-73. Sao Paulo won the Brazil Division at 99-63, finishing eight better than Recife. The Padres had taken third twice since their 1983 championship season. In the South Division, Concepcion ran away with it at 94-68 for their second berth in three years.

Belo Horizonte RF Yago Prata had another powerful season, winning back-to-back MVPs. His .353 average was only seven points shy of getting a Triple Crown thanks to 65 home runs and 137 RBI. Prata became only the third Beisbol Sudamerica hitter to hit 65+ dingers in a season. The fifth-year Brazilian lefty also led in runs (113), total bases (447), slugging (.738), OPS (1.121), wRC+ (234), and WAR (11.1). Rosario’s Pepito Cortina snagged Pitcher of the Year with the 27-year old Argentinian leading in ERA (1.90), and strikeouts (381). He added 9.3 WAR and a 17-7 record over 246 innings. Cortina also provided positive value as a hitter with a .293 average and 0.6 WAR. The highlight of the season came on August 5 when Cortina threw BSA’s 38^th perfect game, striking out 11 against Sao Paulo.

Cali claimed back-to-back Bolivar League Championship Series wins, defeating Medellin 4-1 in the final. It was the sixth pennant for the Cyclones, who also won the title in 1948, 1949, 1950, and 1952. In the Southern Cone Championship, Sao Paulo swept Concepcion to put the Padres on top for the second time in four years. Sao Paulo now has 12 pennants, the most of any team in either league.

The 56^th Copa Sudamerica saw Cali finally get over the hump after going 0-5 in their previous finals appearances, including the prior season’s defeat to Cordoba. The Cyclones topped Sao Paulo 4-2. Catcher Sancho Sanchez was the finals MVP, posting 13 hits, 6 runs, 3 home runs, and 7 RBI over 11 playoff starts. Cali is the first Colombian team to win the cup since Medellin in 1969.

Other notes: In addition to Pepito Cortina’s perfecto, Recife’s Norberto Qartim was perfect on September 23. He had the 39^th perfect game and struck out 11 against Rosario. Lazaro Rodriguez became the third pitcher to reach 5500 career strikeouts.

1986 also was the final season of the two-division set up for both BSA leagues. Expansion in 1987 would add two more teams for 15 in each league, leading to realignment to three divisions of five teams each. This would also lead to a playoff expansion for the first time in BSA history as the field going forward would have the three division champs and one wild card.

12-20-2023, 04:38 AM	#803
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,030	1986 in BSA For the first time since their 1965-71 run of dominance in the Bolivar League, Medellin was North Division champ. The Mutiny finished 98-64, seven games ahead of their only real competition in Ciudad Guayana. Last year’s division winner Caracas dropped to sixth at 74-88. Defending Bolivar League champ Cali won the South Division for back-back-seasons. The Cyclones were 95-67, fending off a solid challenge from 93-69 Guayaquil and 87-75 La Paz. Cali easily had the best offense in the Bolivar League with 803 runs scored; only two other teams were even above 700. League MVP went to Santa Cruz designated hitter Lincoln Ruvalcaba. The fifth year Bolivian switch hitter led in home runs (56), total bases (420), slugging (.647), OPS (.992), and wRC+ (170), adding 6.9 WAR and 123 RBI. The Crawfish would trade Ruvalcaba to his hometown squad La Paz in the offseason. Medellin’s Casimiro Salgado was Pitcher of the Year in his debut with the Mutiny, having been traded from Maracaibo in the offseason. The 29-year old Honduran was the WARlord (9.4) and leader in WHIP (0.83), quality starts (26), and wins (22-5). He added a 2.21 ERA over 269.1 innings with 279 strikeouts. The Southern Cone League saw a turnover at the top of the standings in 1986. Defending Copa Sudamerica champ Cordoba fell off hard from 96 wins to only 70, while defending Brazil Division champ Belo Horizonte dropped from 102 wins to a third place 89-73. Sao Paulo won the Brazil Division at 99-63, finishing eight better than Recife. The Padres had taken third twice since their 1983 championship season. In the South Division, Concepcion ran away with it at 94-68 for their second berth in three years. Belo Horizonte RF Yago Prata had another powerful season, winning back-to-back MVPs. His .353 average was only seven points shy of getting a Triple Crown thanks to 65 home runs and 137 RBI. Prata became only the third Beisbol Sudamerica hitter to hit 65+ dingers in a season. The fifth-year Brazilian lefty also led in runs (113), total bases (447), slugging (.738), OPS (1.121), wRC+ (234), and WAR (11.1). Rosario’s Pepito Cortina snagged Pitcher of the Year with the 27-year old Argentinian leading in ERA (1.90), and strikeouts (381). He added 9.3 WAR and a 17-7 record over 246 innings. Cortina also provided positive value as a hitter with a .293 average and 0.6 WAR. The highlight of the season came on August 5 when Cortina threw BSA’s 38^th perfect game, striking out 11 against Sao Paulo. Cali claimed back-to-back Bolivar League Championship Series wins, defeating Medellin 4-1 in the final. It was the sixth pennant for the Cyclones, who also won the title in 1948, 1949, 1950, and 1952. In the Southern Cone Championship, Sao Paulo swept Concepcion to put the Padres on top for the second time in four years. Sao Paulo now has 12 pennants, the most of any team in either league. The 56^th Copa Sudamerica saw Cali finally get over the hump after going 0-5 in their previous finals appearances, including the prior season’s defeat to Cordoba. The Cyclones topped Sao Paulo 4-2. Catcher Sancho Sanchez was the finals MVP, posting 13 hits, 6 runs, 3 home runs, and 7 RBI over 11 playoff starts. Cali is the first Colombian team to win the cup since Medellin in 1969. Other notes: In addition to Pepito Cortina’s perfecto, Recife’s Norberto Qartim was perfect on September 23. He had the 39^th perfect game and struck out 11 against Rosario. Lazaro Rodriguez became the third pitcher to reach 5500 career strikeouts. 1986 also was the final season of the two-division set up for both BSA leagues. Expansion in 1987 would add two more teams for 15 in each league, leading to realignment to three divisions of five teams each. This would also lead to a playoff expansion for the first time in BSA history as the field going forward would have the three division champs and one wild card. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)