[JayW UK]

2043 Regular Season

Eastern League Review

Boston’s seven-year hold on the Atlantic division crown came to an end at the hands of Philadelphia, the Independence rode a solid, if unspectacular offense and a middle of the road pitching staff (with only off-season signing Mariano Rojo (19-4, 2.80 ERA) standing out) to the title, winning 92 games. Baltimore (86-76), with CF Cesar Amaya (.317, 30 HR, 99 RBI) producing a strong sophomore campaign, finished as runners up while New York (80-82), despite typically solid season’s from 1B Jerry Wright (.289, 41 HR, 99 RBI) and C Roberto Saldana (.293, 40 HR, 98 RBI) faded during September to slip below .500. Boston (72-90) slumped to their first losing record in nine years despite excellent seasons from LF Rob Penney (.285, 39 HR, 101 RBI) and CF Weldon Render (.312, 27 HR, 97 RBI), while Washington with the league’s worst pitching, endured their fourth straight year in the division basement, struggling to a disappointing 69-93 season which led to calls from frustrated fans for a managerial change for 2044.
With LF Allen Hood (.325, 38 HR, 122 RBI) and 1B Mitch Higgins (.313, 38 HR, 103 RBI) driving the EL’s #2 offense and Juan Cuesta (18-8, 2.85 ERA) at the head of a strong rotation, Indianapolis (99-63) returned to the top of the Central division for the first time in five years, although it took a final day victory to guarantee the division crown. Behind the EL’s best pitching staff featuring ace Les Scott (16-10, 2.68 ERA, 326 K) and off-season addition Brett Knight (14-6, 2.86 ERA), St. Louis pushed the Racers all the way, winning a franchise record 98-games and claiming the EL wildcard spot along the way. A mid-season swoon (a 24-29 record in June/July) saw defending champions Chicago slip from contention eventually coming home third with a respectable 91-71 campaign while Cleveland finished fourth with an 87-75 record. The Corsairs boasted the EL’s most potent offense (clubbing 207 HR) with SS David Browne (.290, 38 HR, 130 RBI) and 1B Blake Hanson (.324, 36 HR, 117 RBI) leading the way but below par pitching held them back with only Tad Tjaeder (13-10, 4.10 ERA) winning more than ten games. Bringing up the rear yet again were Detroit as under first-time manager Ramon Acosta the Giants slid backwards to finish a very disappointing 69-93, more was expected from Acosta whose strengths lay in coaching his pitchers, the whole pitching staff underperformed with only Francisco Montoya 12-6, 4.46 ERA showing promise whist Allan Albano and Todd Hudson combined for a miserable 11-37, 4.71 ERA record).
Tampa Bay took the Southeast division on the back of the EL’s top scoring offense winning 88-games, that tally could have been so many more but for their Jekyl and Hyde pitching, the starters were dead last in the EL for ERA while their bullpen, led by the impressive Billy-Ray Sanders (12-6, 2.67 ERA and 33 saves), was top three. New Orleans finished second with a 79-83 record an improvement of ten games from 2042, and while star LF Jim Hopkins (.345, 49 HR, 130 RBI) carried the offense by himself, clubbing nearly a third of the team’s homeruns (Luis Lima was second with 16 !!) the Blues were held back by a lack of depth and below average pitching. Miami finished third with an identical 79-83 record and like the blues an up-and-down campaign from their pitching staff prevented the team from truly challenging their in-state rivals for the division, their top two starters Albert Warner and Jonathan Furze combined for a 32-14, 2.86 ERA record whilst their next three starters Roberto Gomez, Francis Rogers and Jesus Castillo sported a dismal 17-42, 6.08 ERA line. Finishing fourth with a 78-84 record, Charlotte’s season played out in similar fashion to 2042 but with roles reversed, as their pitching improved (EL #5) but their once powerful offense floundered, hitting only 122 homeruns (the lowest total in club history). Atlanta slipped back from 87 to just 71-wins as injuries decimated their offense, although their pitching remained strong the lack of scoring left them no margin for error.

Final Standings

Atlantic division
Philadelphia 92-70*
Baltimore 86-76
New York 80-82
Boston 72-90
Washington 65-97

Central division
Indianapolis 99-63*
St Louis 98-64*
Chicago 91-71
Cleveland 87-75
Detroit 69-93

Southeast division
Tampa Bay 88-74*
New Orleans 79-83
Miami 79-83
Charlotte 78-84
Atlanta 71-91