The Week That Was Off Season Special 2056.

[Clayman]

The Majors.

Athens Fighting Centaurs 73-89, .451 PCT, 17 GB

In 2054 the Centaurs welcomed GM Thomas back into the Athens family, the previous year they'd finished 88-74 and the seeds of a charge for the GBC Championship in 54 were sowed. Least that's what it seemed like, that was until the 54 season had finished and the Centaurs had finished with an 82-80 record. 2055 looked like a visit to the promised land was on the horizon, records tumbled in Athens a 99 win season breaking the previous record of 95 held by the 2052 Centaurs, Quinn Greene was on fire, Max Shepperson finally looked like he was on course to take over the Mighty Quinn spot of captain of Athens, Harry Kivlehan and Zephyr Orphanides made up the Grand Slam Club of Athens.

Even pitchers like Deron Alexander 12-8, Uthman Amir 13-8, Jin-suk 'Sarge' Im 14-5 and Ragnvard Lamm 14-8 all hit double figures in the wins column. A record which equalled the record set in 2053 when Steffan Gimsing 13-10, Liam Johnston 11-11, Mick Joo 13-11 and Satyajit Neel 11-14 all got double figures in wins. However the Class of 53 finished with a 48-46 record were as the Class of 55 record stands at 53-29, 5 wins more but a big 17 defeats less. Sadly for the Centaurs they only had Beni Ihilani with double figure wins this season with a 11-9 record, although Richie Vanness had a record of 7-2 when his season was cut short in August with a serious shoulder inflammation.

Injuries did take there toll on Athens this season with Richie Vanness not the only one visiting the treatment table. Of the batting line up that was favoured most by Athens Quinn Greene, Max Shepperson, Miguel Moya, Wally Geoghegan, Naganori 'Haystack' Kohara, Sulayman Sami and Boris Aplechnev all spent time under the team trainer then you wonder if the Witch Doctor is called for rather than the Team Doctor.

Make no bones about it though, broken ones or not Athens aren't using it as an excuse for there drop off from last season. GM Thomas admitted they just aren't good enough, there hitting isn't as strong as in years gone by, there pitching is below average at best and doesn't come close to shoring up the bats. Is it a case of rip it up and start again, more than likely but are the Centaurs a ball club that can do that, it's not been there way in the past so is it in the future only time will tell.