The Greatest MLB Showdown Project: MLB Showdown 2000-2001 Sim League: Update after Game 141, plus ***NO-HITTER ALERT***

This post brings the latest update in the Sim League series. Old posts are below:

Teams have now played 141 games each. Full stats after 141 games can be found here.

It took just over 1500 games for the league's first no-hitter to be thrown, and it's not by who you would expect:

Bruce Chen: 9 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 BB, 5 K

Somehow, Birmingham's Bruce Chen and his 2 control threw the first league no-hitter, not Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, or the the other high-tier players. Through 120 games, Chen was 7-6 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.76 WHIP, averaging 1.17 hits per inning. But in his four starts covered by this update, Chen went 4-0 with an 0.87 ERA and 0.61 WHIP, allowing just 13 hits in 31 innings.

Eastern Conference

Williams Division

Nothing changed much in the Williams Division, as Columbus and Ottawa each went 11-10, gaining a game on Providence who went 10-11. Columbus was led by 01 BS Manny Ramirez, who batted .430 with 10 HR and 22 RBI and 01 BS Mark McGwire, who leads the league with a 1.113 OPS. Buffalo went 10-11 as well. With 21 games to go, Providence holds a 7 game division lead, led by 01 BS Pedro Martinez, who went 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA, to remain the only qualified pitcher in the league with a sub-2 ERA (1.88), as well as holding the league lead in WHIP (1.05). Columbus and Ottawa are tied for second in the wild card race. Buffalo is five games behind them, despite having the wins leader, 01 BS Jarrod Washburn (16-7, 2.58 ERA).

Musial Division

Memphis and Nashville each went 11-9, and Indianapolis went 12-8 to gain a game on each. Indianapolis was powered by 01 BS Barry Bonds, who hit .312 with 10 HR and 22 RBI. Louisville went only 8-12, falling from 2nd to last in the division. Memphis holds a five game lead going into the final 21 game stretch. Indianapolis is four behind the 2nd place wild card team.

Aaron Division

In the Aaron Division, the drama between Birmingham and Charlotte climbed to an even higher level. After 40, 80, and 100 games, the two were tied each step of the way. Between games 101 and 120, Charlotte pulled apart, taking a seven game division lead. But in the 21 games in this update, Birmingham went 14-7 to Charlotte's 7-14, making back all seven games and returning to a tie. They were led by 01 PR Bruce Chen (see above), who won all four of his starts, including his no-hitter, and 01 BS Jason Giambi, who leads the league in OBP (.452).

Third place Jacksonville sits 18 games behind them, all but eliminated with 21 games to play, and also 9 games out of the wild card. 00 BS Kevin Brown finally pitched like he does for me, going 1-4 with a 5.91 ERA. Orlando went 12-9, led by 00 PR Ramiro Mendoza going 3-1 with a 1.16 ERA, but has no division chance. They are all but eliminated from the wild card as well, down 15. On the plus side, 01 BS Nomar Garciaparra leads the league in batting average (.381) and is the only player above 200 hits so far (211).

Western Conference

Mays Division

In the Mays division, Portland extended their lead by a game, going 13-8 to Calgary's 12-9. 00 Promo Andruw Jones hit .370 with 9 HR, 22 RBI, and 21 R for Calgary, and now leads the league in runs (114) and slugging (.678). 01 BS Tony Batista hit .324 with 7 HR and 21 RBI for Portland and Kerry Wood went 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA and a ridiculous 15.97 K/9 on the mound for them. Closer 00 BS Scott Sullivan dominated as well, now leading the league with 41 saves in 43 opportunities (1.27 ERA). Anchorage fell farther out of the race, only going 9-12. Vancouver went 7-14, with 00 BS Omar Oliveras going 0-4 with a 4.91 ERA. With 21 to play, Calgary is only 4 behind Portland for the division, and leads the wild card race. Anchorage and Vancouver both have playoff hopes, respectively 4 and 6 games out of the wild card.

Gibson Division

In the Gibson division, league-best team Las Vegas went 11-10, led by 00 PR Andres Galaragga, who hit .366 with 9 HR and 25 RBI in the 21 games. Boise gained 3 games on them, going 14-7, but at 14 games behind have almost no division chance. They only are two games behind in the wild card. Salt Lake City and Sacramento are both eliminated from the division, and are respectively 11 and and 14 games behind in the wild card.

Koufax Division

Albuquerque extended their division lead from 1 to 3 games, going 13-8, led by 01 BS Todd Helton who now leads the league in homers (47), RBI (121), and XBH (101). Tuscon and Oklahoma City each went 11-10, and San Antonio only 7-14. Tucson is three back in the division but holds the second wild card spot, led by 01 BS Randy Johnson, league leader in IP (220.67) and the only pitcher above 300 K (332). Oklahoma City has an outside chance at the division, 6 games back, but is only 3 games out of the wild card. San Antonio, at 11 games back in the division and 8 in the wild card, is probably eliminated.

Hitting Leaders

AVG: