2039.06 - The Long Beach Independent - Surfers Finish in 5th Place at 81-81

[Lane]

.500 MEANS LAST PLACE IN TOUGH FLP
81-81 WOULD HAVE BEEN 2ND PLACE IN HEARTLAND

September 30, 2039
Long Beach, CA

A mid-September surge provided brief hope of a playoff run, but the Surfers fell short of the playoffs for just the third time since 2028. The 81-81 record means that they still have not been under .500 since 2028 and marks the end of what should be considered a successful decade for the franchise.

It could also be a turning point for the team, as the core of the team from the 2029 championship has aged and there is young talent coming up the pipeline. Starting pitcher Danya Tchekanov may lead the charge, or he could be a prize trade chip. There hasn't been much noise lately from absentee GM Stephen Lane, or the rest of the Long Beach front office.

The team has young talent, and likely the budget to fill holes in the offseason. With expansion and realignment coming, the BBA will look very different in just a few short weeks. Expansion draft lists will be due after the Landis, and two new teams will be poaching players from the existing BBA teams. That also means two more teams to fight over free agents with.

The realignment to 4 divisions of 8 teams means that the already stacked Pacific will add the always competitive Seattle Storm to the mix, in addition to the Vancouver Mounties and expansion Portland Lumberjacks. Stay tuned for what should be an exciting offseason, especially if the GM decides to show up again and actually run the team.

[RonCo]

Always happy to have anyone else in second place in the heartland.

[7teen]

It's starting to hit me that a team in the new division I'm in finished 5th with a .500 record and didn't show up.......

Tells himself that I guess they'll finish 6th next year then...