BATTALION WRAP UP FOURTH STRAIGHT UL EAST TITLE AS 2025 REGULAR SEASON WINDS DOWN

Whitby Battalion teammates mob each other celebrating their fourth consecutive UL East division title and wrapping up the UL's top seed for the 2025 SIMBL postseason.  The Battalion will face off against the UL West Champion Cleveland Brownies in the first round of the ULDS.

9/29/2025 Division Leaders:

UL East: Whitby Clinched
UL Central: Calgary over Dallas 4.0 GB
UL West: Cleveland Clinched

SL East: Rochester over Chicago 3.0 GB
SL Central: Asheville over Las Vegas 4.0 GB
SL West: San Diego over Sacramento 2.0 GB

UL Wildcard: New York over Dallas 1.0 GB
SL Wildcard: Chicago/Rochester Clinched

The 2025 SIMBL season is down to its last seven games and last SIM coming up on Saturday April 27, 2013.

Congratulations to Whitby GM John Callahan on his Battalion wrapping up their fourth consecutive UL East title.  The Battalion clinched the top record and #1 seed in the UL for the second straight season as well and will likely face Cleveland GM Jonathan Fitzgerald in the 2025 first round ULDS as his Brownies have already clinched their third straight UL West title as well.

The Calgary Clippers of GM Christian DeMarco seek their ninth consecutive UL Central title and lead the defending UL Champion Dallas Texans of GM Robert Don by four games with seven to play in the 2025 regular season.

Dallas has closed the gap to one game on the UL wildcard led by New York GM Chris Gattuso's Enforcers who are seeking to make their first SIMBL postseason appearance in 15 seasons since the 2010 season.

The red-hot Chicago Hitmen of GM John Bowden have closed their season-long deficit to the Rochester Roosters of GM Jamey Carter to three games with seven to play in another wild finish in the SL East.  Rochester has a magic number of five to defend their division crown from last season while either the Roosters and the Hitmen have already clinched at least a SL wildcard berth. Chicago has gone a sizzling 22-5 in August and 20-6 in September for a 42-11 record as the SIMBL's hottest second-half team.

The Asheville Smokies of GM Pete McGowan lead the three-time defending champion Las Vegas Hustlers of GM Carl Hannah by four games with seven to play in the SL Central.  The Smokies seek their first SIMBL playoff appearance since the 2018 season and their first division crown since the the inaugural SIMBL season in 2005, some 20 seasons ago.

San Diego GM Kevin Norris' defending SIMBL Champion Warewolves lead the upstart Sacramento Giants of GM Jason Gregory by two games in the SL West.  The Giants also seek their first SIMBL postseason berth since the 2018 season.  The Hollywood Stars of GM Rodney Baylor see their five-season streak of reaching the playoffs ended as well as their two-season grip on the divisional title.

The 2025 SIMBL regular season will conclude with 2025 SIM 26 this upcoming Saturday with any one-game playoffs needed taken care of later on Saturday and 2025 ULDS Games 1-3 held shortly after.

Good luck to the remaining contending teams as we wrap up the final seven games of the regular season.

WHITBY'S HUTCHINSON & HOLLYWOOD'S FLYNT WIN 2025 SIM 25 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK AWARDS

7 Games & 1 SIM Left In Regular Season

Whitby Battalion third baseman Ernest Hutchinson rose above the controversy surrounding his soon-to-expire contract, thriving under pressure last week and copping the Player of the Week award in the Union League.

Hutchinson put up a .667 batting average (8-12) with 1 home run, 8 RBIs and scored 3 times.

For the season Hutchinson is batting .320 with 39 hits and 4 home runs. He has scored 16 times and batted in 23.

Veteran Jason Flynt had a great week at the plate for the Stars to capture the majority of votes for Player of the Week in the Syndicate League.

The 34-year-old Hollywood right fielder built a .421 average on the strength of 8 hits in 19 at-bats, 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.

Flynt is batting .223 with 28 home runs and 83 RBIs this season.

2025 SIM 25 NEWS:

Monday, September 29th, 2025

RF Jason Flynt of the Hollywood Stars honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Player of the Week Award.

3B Ernest Hutchinson of the Whitby Battalion honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Player of the Week Award.

Saturday, September 27th, 2025

Dallas Texans: Chris Gill pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Toronto Rush with 10 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Friday, September 26th, 2025

Calgary Clippers: Robert Swift pitches a 2-hit shutout against the Texas Roadrunners with 8 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Knoxville Lumberkings: Joe Hayes goes 5-5 against the Las Vegas Hustlers, with 1 2B, 1 RBI and 2 R.

Thursday, September 25th, 2025

Las Vegas Hustlers: Bruno Guy pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Chicago Hitmen with 8 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!

Monday, September 22nd, 2025

Whitby Battalion: Ryan Thomas pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Texas Roadrunners with 5 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

2025 SIM 25 MAJOR INJURIES:

None

2025 SIM 25 MAJOR TRANSACTIONS:

Sunday, September 28th, 2025

Bristol Owls: Signed 2B Dennis Daniels to a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $3,400,000. .

Thursday, September 25th, 2025

Dallas Texans: Signed SP Tom Clifton to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,790,000.

LANCE'S LISTS: A LOOK AT 2025 SIMBL MIDDLE RELIEVER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES

Current SIMBL Contenders Sporting Top Bullpens

With the arrival of three-time UL Fireman Of The Year closer Barrett Jenkins last off-season via free agency, two-time SL Fireman Of The Year Dez Jordan (above right) has been reassigned to a middle reliever role for Asheville.  The 24 year-old former 2019 first round draft pick has led the Smokies to be the top-rated bullpen in the SIMBL this season which has them contending for their first playoff berth in seven seasons.  Jordan will attempt to join First File Era's Oregon's Charles Vue and Bristol's Richard Bell as the only pitchers to win Middle Reliever Of The Year and Fireman Of The Year awards in two roles in their SIMBL careers.  'Sugar Bear' has currently thrown 101.2 innings with a 2.04 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 131 strikeouts for the SL Central-leading Smokies.

By Lance Stanley
SIMBL Contributor

PAST SIMBL NEW FILE ERA MIDDLE RELIEVERS OF THE YEAR:

2024 UL: Larry Hamilton Toronto
2023 UL: Chet Fisher Montreal
2022 UL: Bob Detty Calgary
2021 UL: Bob Detty Calgary
2020 UL: Billy Ray Mendette Calgary
2019 UL: Manny Silva Toronto

2024 SL: Ron Orr Chicago
2023 SL: Darrell Brown Knoxville
2022 SL: Andrew Walker Hawaii
2021 SL: Artie Caldwell Colchester
2020 SL: Bernard Perrini Asheville
2019 SL: Jeremiah Rose Sunnyvale

Hi again youngsters.  Lance Stanley reporting.

With the SIMBL's 2025 season down to the final 13 games and final two SIMs we have thoroughly looked at Slugger Of The Year and Hurler Of The Year candidates in a very crowded field this year.

The same competition can be said for this season's SIMBL Middle Relievers Of The Year.

It is obvious elementary that traditional contenders in the SIMBL have had solid to above average bullpens.  With the new wave of young relievers emerging out of the shadows of the 2019 SIMBL New File Era Inaugural Draft now and starting to star in the league emphasis is more and more on forming a solid bullpen nucleus to contend.

The Asheville Smokies are contending for their first postseason berth since the 2018 season largely due to their elite bullpen built through the draft which features former first round picks Dez Jordan, Troy Sesco and Angelino Castro along with veteran Ed Hartz all having SL MROTY-caliber seasons. The Smokies also signed three-time UL Fireman Of The Year Barrett Jenkins away from Calgary this past off-season to give them a fearsome bullpen that could shutdown any team in any series.  Jenkins has not disappointed in his first season in Asheville with a blistering 0.98 ERA and 38 saves and is a candidate for the SL Fireman Of The Year Award. 

In a listing of team bullpen ERA's, most current contending teams are on top of the list obviously sporting solid relievers.

Let's take a look at serious contenders (non-closers) for the awards given to the most dominate middle relievers in the SIMBL each season for 2025.  50 innings pitched minimum:

UNION LEAGUE MIDDLE RELIEVER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES:

Chet Fisher Westbury 8-2 1.23 ERA 80.2 IP 0.97 WHIP
Chad Bryan New York 10-2 1.68 ERA 91.1 IP 0.85 WHIP
Antonio Contreras Toronto 4-1 1.58 ERA 57.0 IP 0.98 WHIP
Luis Martinez Calgary 5-2 1.80 ERA 85.0 IP 1.06 WHIP
Carlos Aguilar Toronto 3-2 2.10 ERA 64.1 IP 1.03 WHIP
Richard Beatty Oregon 4-3 2.00 ERA 85.1 IP 1.17 WHIP
Bob Detty Calgary 5-4 1.86 ERA 111.1 IP 0.99 WHIP
Clarence Foster New York 3-2 2.24 ERA 92.1 IP 1.10 WHIP
Tim Cain Bristol 0-0 2.35 ERA 53.2 IP 1.17 WHIP

SYNDICATE LEAGUE MIDDLE RELIEVER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES:

Chris Ross Knoxville 3-2 1.48 ERA 61.0 IP 0.98 WHIP
Maurice Thomas San Diego 5-3 2.45 ERA 95.2 IP 1.05 WHIP
David Butler Knoxville 3-2 2.06 ERA 70.0 IP 1.11 WHIP
Jimmy Kenney Chicago 9-2 2.68 ERA 74.0 IP 0.89 WHIP
Larry Thomas Las Vegas 3-4 2.09 ERA 60.1 IP 1.14 WHIP
Dez Jordan Asheville 9-4 2.04 ERA 101.2 IP 0.80 WHIP
Billy Ray Mendette Las Vegas 4-2 2.04 ERA 83.2 IP 1.12 WHIP
Angelino Castro Asheville 6-2 2.30 ERA 66.2 IP 0.96 WHIP
Francisco Leon Hollywood 7-2 2.49 ERA 76.0 IP 0.95 WHIP
Troy Sesco Asheville 4-1 2.61 ERA 69.0 IP 1.08 WHIP
Bryan Bender Boston 0-2 2.25 ERA 56.0 IP 0.96 WHIP
Ed Hartz Asheville 2-1 2.48 ERA 69.0 IP 1.20 WHIP

9/22/2025 SIMBL BULLPEN ERAS:

2.12 ASHEVILLE
2.22 ROCHESTER
2.25 CHICAGO
2.52 CALGARY
2.53 LAS VEGAS
2.71 WESTBURY
2.72 NEW YORK
2.87 HOLLYWOOD
2.99 CLEVELAND
3.06 KNOXVILLE
3.13 SAN DIEGO
3.43 DALLAS
3.45 TORONTO
3.59 BRISTOL
3.67 SAN DIEGO
3.75 HAWAII
3.99 TEXAS
4.11 SEATTLE
4.12 BOSTON
4.17 WHITBY
4.25 DEER LAKE
4.35 BEND
4.52 TAMPA BAY
4.59 OREGON

BROWNIES, HITMEN FIRST TO CLINCH 2025 SIMBL POSTSEASON BERTHS

After Historic Late-Season Collapse Last Season, Chicago Clinches First Franchise Playoff Berth Since 2018 Season

Cleveland Brownies teammates celebrate clinching their third consecutive UL West division title.  The Brownies advanced to the 2024 ULCS last season losing to Dallas in six games.

The Chicago Hitmen rebounded from a historic late-season collapse in 2024 and take the monkey off the backs and celebrate clinching their first SIMBL postseason berth in seven seasons.  The Hitmen stand five games back of SL East division leader Rochester with 13 games to play and have at least clinched the SL wildcard spot.

Congratulations to Cleveland GM Jonathan Fitzgerald whose Brownies clinched their third consecutive UL West division title and advance to the 2025 SIMBL postseason.  It is the seventh division title in franchise history and the Brownies will be making their ninth overall appearance in the SIMBL playoffs.

Congratulations to Chicago GM John Bowden as his Hitmen rebound from a disastarous late-season collapse last season that deprived them of the SL East division title and losing two one-game playoffs that kept them out of the postseason entirely.  Chicago clinches at least the SL wildcard and stand five games behind SL East division leader Rochester with 13 games to play in the 2025 regular season.

The Hitmen watched an eleven game lead over Rochester evaporate over the last month of last season then lost back-to-back one-game wildcard playoffs in heartbreaking fashion to Rochester and San Diego last season in one of the biggest late-season collapses in SIMBL history as Bowden watched helplessly.  The Hitmen, who acquired high-profile SP free agent Craig Byrd last off-season and who is having a Hurler Of The Year-caliber season in his first season in Chicago, make their first postseason appearance since the 2018 season and the eighth in franchise history.  The Hitmen lost to Bristol in the eleventh inning of Game Seven in the 2017 SIMBL Coveted Cup.

With 13 games and 2 SIMs to go in the regular season here's the magic numbers for each current division leader:

UL East: Whitby 6
UL Central: Calgary 10
UL West: Cleveland Clinched

SL East: Rochester 9
SL Central: Asheville 8
SL West: San Diego 13

UL Wildcard: New York 11
SL Wildcard: Chicago/Rochester Clinched

OWLS' WILSON & REVOLUTION'S MEDINA EARN 2025 SIM 24 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK HONORS

13 Games & 2 SIMs To Go In Regular Season

Ash Wilson is respected by most Bristol Owls fans for his no-frills style of play. The 29-year-old first baseman went about his business with vigor last week to grab the Union League Player of the Week honors.

He compiled a .556 average (10-18) with 2 home runs, 9 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Currently Wilson is batting .256 with 19 home runs and 52 RBIs.

There's nothing like being in the prime of your baseball career -- and playing like it. Just ask Pancho Medina, the Boston third baseman, who swung a sweet bat all week to not only aid his team, but also pick up the Syndicate League Player of the Week honors.

Medina piled up 9 hits in 20 at-bats, 1 home run and 5 RBIs while hitting .450.

Medina is hitting .279 this year with 7 home runs, 42 RBIs and 44 runs scored. He has 124 hits in 445 at-bats, 42 walks and a .355 on-base percentage. Medina has played in 127 games.

2025 SIM 24 NEWS:

Monday, September 22nd, 2025

1B Ash Wilson of the Bristol Owls honored: Wins the SIMBL UL Player of the Week Award.

3B Pancho Medina of the Boston Revolution honored: Wins the SIMBL SL Player of the Week Award.

Sunday, September 21st, 2025

Whitby Battalion: Troy Bloomingdale goes 5-5 against the Dallas Texans, with 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI and 4 R.

Friday, September 19th, 2025

Westbury Cannons: Sean Turner got suspended 3 games after ejection following a brawl.

Cleveland Brownies: Manuel Ramirez got suspended 3 games after ejection following a brawl.

Calgary Clippers: Vinny Corleone pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Bend Bandits with 7 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed!

Wednesday, September 17th, 2025

New York Enforcers: Julius Day goes 5-5 against the Calgary Clippers, with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 4 R.

Hawaii Pineapples: Julian Romano pitches a 3-hit shutout against the Deer Lake Direwolves with 3 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!

2025 SIM 24 MAJOR INJURIES:

Saturday, September 20th, 2025

Oregon Pioneers: SP Ed Bartlett was injured while pitching. The Diagnosis: elbow soreness. He's expected to miss about 4 weeks.

Friday, September 19th, 2025

Westbury Cannons: Bill Wilhelm has suffered a setback in his recovery. He is not expected to recover for another 1-2 weeks.

2025 SIM 24 MAJOR TRANSACTIONS:

Saturday, September 20th, 2025

Dallas Texans: Signed MR Ricardo Ruiz to a 1-year contract extension worth a total of $1,110,000.

Friday, September 19th, 2025

Chicago Hitmen: Signed CL Aaron Vukevich to a 2-year contract extension worth a total of $21,000,000.

Toronto Rush: Signed CL Larry Hamilton to a 4-year contract extension worth a total of $12,240,000.