The Durham Knights finished their final season with a bang, sweeping the Moline Greens into the dustbin of rebuilding and securing another SJL shoe for GM Nick Shosho. Durham was led by resurrected OF Josh Hamilton and RHP Zeike Greike and was anchored up the middle by Joe Mauer, Vernon Wells, and Michael Young. After the season, Knights GM Trader Nick left the league. His successor, Wayne Griswold, moved the franchise west to Sacramento, where it became the River City Hardballers and contended with a roster that was built for the short term, so that River City would have to wait until the 7th round of the 2009 draft for its first pick. Then again, two Durham championships in three years has a way of making long-term planning a suckers' game.Elsewhere, long-time league GM Mike Isaacs turned his Chicago Cockroaches over to Kenny Green, who announced no plans to relocate the team. Both Griswold and Green inherit winning clubs, the winningest teams in the North and South, respectively. Chicago topped the Northern division with 101 wins behind aces Carlos Zambrano and Roy Halladay before dropping a close divisional playoff to second-place Moline. The Madison Mavericks, meanwhile, moved to Kanab, Utah, and became the Hotties under new GM, Mary Beth Melchior. Kanab is home of Best Friends Animal Society, which now cares for many of the dogs who formerly belonged to Michael Vick. The Hotties will be donating $1 for each home run they hit next season to Best Friends -- and has asked other league teams to consider donating $1 for each HR hit against the Hotties to BF, or to their local animal shelter.
Like bark on a hardy pine, the league changes, and the league endures.
Final Standings
Northern_Standings,_Pitching___W___L___pct.__GB___ERA__CG_ShO__RS__Sv___IP_____R___ER___H___BA___BB___K__WP 5 Chicago Cockroaches 101 61 .623 - 4.14 14 9 5.2 53 1464 719 673 1446 .256 616 1271 51 9 Moline Greens 98 64 .605 3 3.85 14 18 5.1 57 1448.1 664 619 1391 .249 565 1347 67 3 Robber Barons 84 78 .519 17 3.92 6 12 3.9 44 1459.1 678 636 1439 .256 633 1147 50 13 Hagerstown Hobgoblins 82 80 .506 19 4.19 2 11 4.6 50 1479.1 748 688 1490 .260 712 1179 51 7 Harrisburg Heroes 81 81 .500 20 3.75 20 11 4.6 39 1451.1 680 605 1424 .252 520 1402 36 11 Newark Five Spot 68 94 .420 33 5.52 3 7 5.1 39 1445.2 944 886 1681 .290 671 1052 53 15 Aldwych Thanes 65 97 .401 36 5.14 3 9 4.9 41 1426 882 814 1544 .276 708 996 59 1 Baltimore Hons 65 97 .401 36 5.55 1 2 4.9 40 1429.1 939 881 1633 .287 720 1100 59 Southern_Standings,_Pitching___W___L___pct.__GB___ERA__CG_ShO__RS__Sv___IP_____R___ER___H___BA___BB___K__WP 8 Durham Knights 102 60 .630 - 3.71 9 17 5.3 54 1462.1 652 603 1463 .259 533 1200 45 6 Kansas City Whirlwind 95 67 .586 7 4.58 5 12 5.7 49 1447 793 736 1521 .267 641 1140 53 4 Florida Panthers 79 83 .488 23 4.24 5 15 4.7 43 1449.1 768 682 1441 .258 657 1129 59 14 Fort Lauderdale 79 83 .488 23 4.32 7 13 4.5 45 1455.1 755 698 1548 .269 585 1115 51 2 Madison Mavericks 77 85 .475 25 4.48 4 11 4.9 37 1451 807 722 1576 .274 593 1095 57 12 St. Louis Sprockets 75 87 .463 27 4.72 8 12 4.8 35 1463.2 818 767 1524 .267 600 1174 43 16 Mudville Slugs 73 89 .451 29 4.88 6 12 4.8 29 1467.2 876 795 1600 .275 665 1120 56 10 Savannah Carpetbaggers 72 90 .444 30 4.92 4 10 4.5 40 1454.1 844 795 1617 .279 681 1157 47 ____AB____R____H___D___T__HR__RBI__BB___K___BA__OBA__SlgA__SH__F_SF_GDP__SB__CS__LOB__OP__DP__E__OSB_OCS_PB 5 5712 841 1563 313 28 205 830 675 1135 .274 .348 .446 91 28 50 102 77 14 1357 190 103 92 66 20 13 9 5586 832 1516 323 46 195 818 682 1191 .271 .348 .450 100 34 51 114 87 31 1295 149 97 89 49 25 8 3 5533 632 1397 274 27 129 621 525 1038 .252 .315 .382 113 46 49 121 54 24 1206 157 117 78 71 27 14 13 5772 745 1534 276 34 195 735 547 1119 .266 .327 .427 96 33 52 113 59 21 1283 140 118 96 72 16 7 7 5601 747 1438 285 38 179 737 591 1305 .257 .326 .417 92 31 39 91 107 38 1227 129 101 147 70 13 5 11 5822 832 1606 314 27 200 816 669 1190 .276 .348 .442 41 13 47 143 39 13 1367 110 112 124 77 23 9 15 5675 794 1542 339 26 172 783 668 1082 .272 .346 .432 56 22 48 136 32 10 1338 145 110 93 69 28 11 1 5666 791 1522 317 34 178 773 611 1050 .269 .337 .431 61 22 51 118 62 19 1264 160 137 98 77 30 8 8 5748 852 1586 324 32 199 838 647 1185 .276 .347 .447 64 24 48 107 78 12 1330 171 126 89 56 17 5 6 5783 923 1719 326 31 176 910 655 1029 .297 .365 .456 89 32 66 124 148 22 1374 154 103 99 66 16 12 4 5628 767 1470 314 26 187 753 680 1250 .261 .338 .426 65 23 54 122 60 24 1305 160 126 103 62 20 8 14 5703 731 1474 321 43 183 716 524 1203 .258 .319 .426 60 20 36 105 77 26 1223 144 124 91 79 10 6 2 5749 801 1526 335 25 208 790 652 1362 .265 .338 .441 47 18 39 117 62 14 1315 117 127 114 78 18 9 12 5672 770 1518 285 24 148 752 705 954 .268 .345 .405 122 42 65 127 71 24 1388 130 109 88 56 30 8 16 5750 779 1500 325 35 208 762 621 1289 .261 .331 .438 88 25 41 106 39 16 1294 166 132 121 84 15 11 10 5688 730 1427 292 25 189 713 648 1242 .251 .326 .411 61 21 35 115 47 18 1310 154 119 108 67 18 14 ____________________After_7_-_Ahead__Tied_Behind__1-Run_Ex.In.__v.RHP_v.LHP 5 Chicago Cockroaches 77- 4 11- 8 13-49 27-14 8- 7 62-43 39-18 9 Moline Greens 79- 8 13-11 6-45 24-20 6- 5 60-48 38-16 3 Robber Barons 64- 5 7- 5 13-68 39-20 13- 4 57-58 27-20 13 Hagerstown Hobgoblins 63- 7 6-12 13-61 35-25 13- 7 62-55 20-25 7 Harrisburg Heroes 68- 8 7-12 6-61 26-25 8- 6 62-55 19-26 11 Newark Five Spot 54- 9 8- 5 6-80 14-24 3- 9 45-65 23-29 15 Aldwych Thanes 53-12 7- 3 5-82 11-37 2- 4 44-67 21-30 1 Baltimore Hons 55-11 6- 7 4-79 17-25 4- 7 41-69 24-28 8 Durham Knights 83- 4 11- 7 8-49 22-15 7- 7 68-41 34-19 6 Kansas City Whirlwind 77- 4 7- 9 11-54 28-17 7- 5 65-49 30-18 4 Florida Panthers 64- 8 5-10 10-65 17-30 4- 9 52-62 27-21 14 Fort Lauderdale 68-11 6- 5 5-67 28-27 8- 9 54-62 25-21 2 Madison Mavericks 62- 4 6- 5 9-76 17-16 7- 5 56-58 21-27 12 St. Louis Sprockets 59-10 8-11 8-66 21-22 6-10 54-56 21-31 16 Mudville Slugs 61-12 9- 9 3-68 21-29 9-11 48-60 25-29 10 Savannah Carpetbaggers 55- 8 12-10 5-72 19-20 8- 8 45-67 27-23 ______________________________vs.5__vs.9__vs.3__vs.13_vs.7__vs.11_vs.15_vs.1____vs.8__vs.6__vs.4__vs.14_vs.2__vs.12_vs.16_vs.10 5 Chicago Cockroaches - 8-4 5-7 6-6 7-5 7-5 10-2 10-2 7-3 5-4 8-1 6-4 5-5 2-8 7-3 8-2 9 Moline Greens 4-8 - 10-2 10-2 7-5 7-5 10-2 9-3 4-5 3-7 6-4 4-6 6-4 5-5 8-2 5-4 3 Robber Barons 7-5 2-10 - 7-5 12-0 8-4 4-8 8-4 3-7 4-6 5-4 7-3 3-6 4-6 5-5 5-5 13 Hagerstown Hobgoblins 6-6 2-10 5-7 - 5-7 8-4 6-6 6-6 4-6 4-6 5-5 4-5 7-3 8-1 7-3 5-5 7 Harrisburg Heroes 5-7 5-7 0-12 7-5 - 7-5 8-4 6-6 2-7 5-4 4-6 4-6 8-2 9-1 7-3 4-6 11 Newark Five Spot 5-7 5-7 4-8 4-8 5-7 - 6-6 6-6 4-6 3-7 5-5 3-7 5-5 5-4 5-5 3-6 15 Aldwych Thanes 2-10 2-10 8-4 6-6 4-8 6-6 - 6-6 2-8 3-7 4-6 5-4 4-6 3-7 2-7 8-2 1 Baltimore Hons 2-10 3-9 4-8 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 - 7-3 4-6 3-7 3-7 5-4 3-7 3-6 4-6 8 Durham Knights 3-7 5-4 7-3 6-4 7-2 6-4 8-2 3-7 - 8-4 9-3 8-4 9-3 7-5 7-5 9-3 6 Kansas City Whirlwind 4-5 7-3 6-4 6-4 4-5 7-3 7-3 6-4 4-8 - 9-3 6-6 6-6 7-5 7-5 9-3 4 Florida Panthers 1-8 4-6 4-5 5-5 6-4 5-5 6-4 7-3 3-9 3-9 - 7-5 5-7 8-4 7-5 8-4 14 Fort Lauderdale 4-6 6-4 3-7 5-4 6-4 7-3 4-5 7-3 4-8 6-6 5-7 - 4-8 4-8 8-4 6-6 2 Madison Mavericks 5-5 4-6 6-3 3-7 2-8 5-5 6-4 4-5 3-9 6-6 7-5 8-4 - 7-5 5-7 6-6 12 St. Louis Sprockets 8-2 5-5 6-4 1-8 1-9 4-5 7-3 7-3 5-7 5-7 4-8 8-4 5-7 - 4-8 5-7 16 Mudville Slugs 3-7 2-8 5-5 3-7 3-7 5-5 7-2 6-3 5-7 5-7 5-7 4-8 7-5 8-4 - 5-7 10 Savannah Carpetbaggers 2-8 4-5 5-5 5-5 6-4 6-3 2-8 6-4 3-9 3-9 4-8 6-6 6-6 7-5 7-5 -League Leaders
________Runs____________________Hits_________________Home_Runs____________Runs_Batted_In___
12 Ramirez,Ha 134 6 Suzuki,Ic 239 11 Howard,Ry 52 6 Rodriguez,Al 140
6 Suzuki,Ic 130 15 Pedroia,Du 237 15 Dunn,Ad 41 11 Howard,Ry 138
6 Holliday,Ma 129 9 Reyes(NYN),Jo 209 6 Ramirez,Ma 40 9 Braun(Mil),Ry 135
5 Sizemore,Gr 127 8 Hamilton,Jo 204 9 Braun(Mil),Ry 40 6 Ramirez,Ma 134
8 Hamilton,Jo 127 8 Young,Mi 201 6 Rodriguez,Al 39 12 Ibanez,Ra 124
12 Pujols,Al 125 12 Pujols,Al 200 2 Cabrera,Mi 39 1 Berkman,La 123
6 Ramirez,Ma 124 6 Ramirez,Ma 198 12 Pujols,Al 38 12 Pujols,Al 122
1 Utley,Ch 120 2 Roberts,Br 197 12 Ramirez,Ha 37 8 Beltran,Ca 120
9 Burrell,Pa 118 8 Mauer,Jo 196 9 Burrell,Pa 37 7 Fielder,Pr 118
15 Pedroia,Du 117 6 Holliday,Ma 196 11 Quentin,Ca 36 1 Utley,Ch 118
9 Reyes(NYN),Jo 117 12 Ramirez,Ha 195 7 Fielder,Pr 36 8 Hamilton,Jo 116
7 Wright,Da 115 5 Morneau,Ju 193 5 Sizemore,Gr 35 2 Cabrera,Mi 114
2 Roberts,Br 112 3 Rios,Al 191 14 Dye,Je 35 5 Ramirez,Ar 112
16 Youkilis,Ke 111 13 Ordonez,Ma 191 1 Utley,Ch 35 14 Dye,Je 111
6 Rodriguez,Al 111 1 Lee,De 190 8 Hamilton,Jo 34 12 Ramirez,Ha 110
2 Bay,Ja 110 7 Wright,Da 190 7 Wright,Da 34 15 Dunn,Ad 109
___Batting_Average__________On_Base_Average__________Slugging_Average__________Stolen_Bases____
11 Jones,Ch .363 11 Jones,Ch .473 12 Pujols,Al .648 9 Reyes(NYN),Jo 66
12 Pujols,Al .358 12 Pujols,Al .465 6 Ramirez,Ma .606 14 Rollins,Ji 52
6 Ramirez,Ma .336 4 Bradley,Mi .446 6 Rodriguez,Al .588 6 Suzuki,Ic 50
8 Mauer,Jo .336 6 Ramirez,Ma .436 4 Bradley,Mi .579 12 Ramirez,Ha 44
4 Bradley,Mi .330 8 Mauer,Jo .420 11 Quentin,Ca .576 2 Roberts,Br 42
15 Pedroia,Du .330 1 Berkman,La .417 9 Braun(Mil),Ry .576 4 Upton,B. 40
6 Holliday,Ma .328 6 Holliday,Ma .415 16 Youkilis,Ke .572 5 Sizemore,Gr 39
6 Kinsler,Ia .325 13 Teixeira,Ma .411 11 Jones,Ch .568 13 Damon,Jo 34
6 Suzuki,Ic .323 12 Ramirez,Ha .406 1 Berkman,La .558 7 Crawford,Ca 31
13 Ordonez,Ma .321 6 Rodriguez,Al .401 6 Holliday,Ma .551 1 Victorino,Sh 31
16 Youkilis,Ke .317 11 Quentin,Ca .398 12 Ramirez,Ha .551 3 Rios,Al 30
13 Teixeira,Ma .313 16 Youkilis,Ke .393 13 Teixeira,Ma .551 5 Ellsbury,Ja 29
6 Rodriguez,Al .311 9 Martin,Ru .389 11 Howard,Ry .547 6 Holliday,Ma 28
1 Berkman,La .311 7 Wright,Da .384 2 Cabrera,Mi .547 15 Kemp,Ma 28
2 Nady,Xa .309 8 Guillen,Ca .384 2 Huff,Au .539 8 Beltran,Ca 23
5 Guerrero,Vl .305 6 Kinsler,Ia .383 7 Soriano,Al .537 10 Hart(Mil),Co 22
________Wins_____________Earned_Run_Average____________Saves________________Strikeouts_____
9 Lincecum,Ti 20 9 Lincecum,Ti 2.47 5 Okajima,Hi 43 7 Sabathia,C. 280
9 Haren,Da 19 5 Halladay,Ro 2.69 14 Pena(Ari),To 41 9 Lincecum,Ti 273
5 Zambrano,Ca 19 9 Lee,Cl 2.90 8 Rodriguez,Fr 39 5 Halladay,Ro 220
7 Sabathia,C. 18 7 Sabathia,C. 2.94 6 Jenks,Bo 39 4 Santana,Er 217
5 Halladay,Ro 17 3 Dempster,Ry 2.96 10 Broxton,Jo 37 9 Haren,Da 214
8 Garza,Ma 17 6 Peavy,Ja 2.97 9 Cruz,Ju 34 7 Hamels,Co 214
12 Shields,Ja 16 14 Lackey,Jo 3.14 1 Papelbon,Jo 33 8 Greinke,Za 210
8 Greinke,Za 16 12 Sheets,Be 3.20 4 Hoffman,Tr 31 7 Billingsle,Ch 206
9 Lee,Cl 15 9 Haren,Da 3.24 7 Wood,Ke 31 2 Hernandez,Fe 197
6 Oswalt,Ro 15 8 Greinke,Za 3.27 13 Wagner,Bi 24 5 Volquez,Ed 196
9 Cain,Ma 15 5 Volquez,Ed 3.32 11 Sherrill,Ge 23 1 Kazmir,Sc 195
14 Moyer,Ja 15 3 Saunders,Jo 3.39 9 Bautista,De 17 5 Beckett,Jo 193
5 tied with 14 2 Lester,Jo 3.40 12 Saito,Ta 17 8 Harden,Ri 193
12 Nolasco,Ri 3.40 15 Hanrahan,Jo 16 12 Shields,Ja 190
7 Hamels,Co 3.52 15 Kuo,Ho 14 6 Peavy,Ja 185
6 Oswalt,Ro 3.54 3 Cordero,Fr 14 9 Cain,Ma 185
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