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FuzzyRussianHat · 11-13-2024, 05:40 AM

Yet again in the Taiwan-Philippine Association, it was Zamboanga and Taipei earning the top spots by a healthy margin. The Zebras, winner of the TPA pennant in four of the last five seasons, claimed the Philippine League at 103-59. Zamboanga had historically great pitching, setting TPA records for team ERA (1.96) and fewest runs allowed (359). Their 334 earned runs allowed and 5.97 H/9 were both the second-best in TPA history. Zamboanga’s closest foes in the PL were Cagayan de Oro at 90-72 and Davao at 87-75.

Taipei’s streak atop the Taiwan League grew to seven seasons, tying the longest postseason streak in Austronesia Professional Baseball history (2005-11 Davao). Tainan was a distant second place at 90-72. The Tigercats took first in the TL for the ninth time in ten years and posted their seventh 100+ win season of that stretch. Never before in APB did a team post nine playoff berths in a decade. While the Zebras had the fewest runs allowed, Taipei scored the most at 590.

Taipei’s Sheng-Chie Wu earned Taiwan-Philippine Association MVP. The 35-year old center fielder came to the Tigercats before the 2017 season in a trade from Kaohsiung. Wu led in hits (191), batting average (.326), OPS (.914), and WAR (8.4). He added a 181 wRC+, 24 home runs, and 77 RBI.

For the sixth time in seven years, Zamboanga ace Ching-Chen Yao was Pitcher of the Year. He joined Afiq Parker and Sahid Fakhruddin as APB’s only six-time POTY winners. The 30-year old Taiwanese lefty led in ERA (1.61), strikeouts (347), WHIP (0.67), K/BB (12.4), FIP- (21), and WAR (10.7). Yao had a 15-9 record and 10 saves over 195.1 innings with a 172 ERA+. It was his sixth time leading in ERA, strikeouts, and WAR. Yao also led in WHIP for the seventh consecutive year.

As impressive as his 2018 was, it was his weakest WAR season of his seven year odyssey. From 2012-18, Yao has posted an incredible 95.3 WAR, averaging 13.6 per year for one of the most impressive tears by any pitcher in world history. The Zebras locked him up in the winter expecting more, extending Yao at $105,400,000 over six years.

Reigning APB champ Johor Bahru had the Sundaland Association’s top seed for the third straight year. The Blue Wings dominated the Malacca League at 108-54, tying 1966 Medan for the most wins in SA history. JB also set new Sundaland Association records for runs scored (653), triples (106), and team slugging (.407). The runs and triples marks remain SA bests as of 2037. Singapore was a distant second at 87-75, followed by 86-76 Medan and 85-77 Pekanbaru.

The Java Sea League saw Palembang on top for the first time since 2007. The Panthers ran away with it at 101-61, while defending champ Semarang was second at 90-72. Palembang allowed the fewest runs in the SA at 401. Once proud Jakarta was notably an abysmal 48-114, which was the third-worst record in Sundaland Association history ahead of only 1966 Surabaya (46-116) and 1967 Singapore (45-117).

Buwono Gunawan earned his first Sundaland Association MVP and his fourth overall. The Indonesian first baseman had won the TPA MVP in 2013, 2016, and 2017 with Taichung. For 2018, Gunawan signed a mammoth eight-year, $141,600,000 free agent deal with Medan. He led in runs (88), total bases (312), OBP (.356), slugging (.550), OPS (.907), and wRC+ (196). Gunawan also had 10.2 WAR, 29 home runs, 83 RBI, and 93 stolen bases.

At only 28-years old following the 2018 season, Gunawan had already compiled 65.7 WAR. He seemed on his way to an inner-circle Hall of Fame level career. Gunawan took second in 2019 and 2020 MVP voting. However in spring training 2021, he suffered a catastrophic ACL tear in his right knee. Gunawan suffered a setback a few months later and forced to retire, tragically cutting short a remarkable brief career.

Rahmat Hasjim became a four-time Pitcher of the Year winner in his debut season for Bandung. He had won his first three from 2010-12 with Surabaya, then spent 2013-17 in Jakarta. Hasjim joined the Blackhawks on a three-year, $34,900,000 deal for 2018. The 35-year old Indonesian had the most innings (284) and complete games (18). Hasjim added a 1.71 ERA, 313 strikeouts, 15-12 record, 149 ERA+, and 7.0 WAR.

For the fifth time in six years, Zamboanga defeated Taipei in the Taiwan-Philippine Association Championship, this time in six games. The Zebras earned their eighth pennant, all coming since 2001. Despite their historic dominance in Taiwan, the Tigercats have gone 1-8 in the association final over the last decade. Meanwhile, Johor Bahru repeated as Sundaland Association champ, rolling Palembang 4-1.

The 54^th APB Championship was the second-ever finals rematch, joining Manila versus Jakarta in 1985-86. Zamboanga got revenge on Johor Bahru, taking the series 4-2 and giving the Zebras their second-ever APB cup (2013). RF Jhimmy Labrera was finals MVP in his seventh season with Zamboanga. The 30-year old Filipino had 11 playoff games and 9 starts with 9 hits, 3 runs, 1 double, 3 homers, and 6 RBI.

Other notes: Kuala Lumpur’s Raja Kamal threw APB’s 41^st perfect game, striking out 13 against Jakarta on July 4. Donnie Luzon became the fifth pitcher to 250 career wins, finishing his career with 258. That ranks sixth as of 2037. Rahmat Hasjim and Yu-Ren Yang both reached 200 wins, making 22 pitchers to do so. Hasjim also became the 29^th to reach 3500 strikeouts. Evan Yanizar became the first reliever to 400 career saves.

Wil Tabaldo became the seventh APB slugger to 500 home runs and the first to cross that mark since 2003. RF Shih-Chieh Tseng won his tenth Gold Glove, becoming only the third APB player at any position with ten. 1B Widodo Megawati won his eighth Gold Glove. RF Yee Ibrahim won his seventh Silver Slugger.

11-13-2024, 05:40 AM	#1789
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,945	2018 in APB Yet again in the Taiwan-Philippine Association, it was Zamboanga and Taipei earning the top spots by a healthy margin. The Zebras, winner of the TPA pennant in four of the last five seasons, claimed the Philippine League at 103-59. Zamboanga had historically great pitching, setting TPA records for team ERA (1.96) and fewest runs allowed (359). Their 334 earned runs allowed and 5.97 H/9 were both the second-best in TPA history. Zamboanga’s closest foes in the PL were Cagayan de Oro at 90-72 and Davao at 87-75. Taipei’s streak atop the Taiwan League grew to seven seasons, tying the longest postseason streak in Austronesia Professional Baseball history (2005-11 Davao). Tainan was a distant second place at 90-72. The Tigercats took first in the TL for the ninth time in ten years and posted their seventh 100+ win season of that stretch. Never before in APB did a team post nine playoff berths in a decade. While the Zebras had the fewest runs allowed, Taipei scored the most at 590. Taipei’s Sheng-Chie Wu earned Taiwan-Philippine Association MVP. The 35-year old center fielder came to the Tigercats before the 2017 season in a trade from Kaohsiung. Wu led in hits (191), batting average (.326), OPS (.914), and WAR (8.4). He added a 181 wRC+, 24 home runs, and 77 RBI. For the sixth time in seven years, Zamboanga ace Ching-Chen Yao was Pitcher of the Year. He joined Afiq Parker and Sahid Fakhruddin as APB’s only six-time POTY winners. The 30-year old Taiwanese lefty led in ERA (1.61), strikeouts (347), WHIP (0.67), K/BB (12.4), FIP- (21), and WAR (10.7). Yao had a 15-9 record and 10 saves over 195.1 innings with a 172 ERA+. It was his sixth time leading in ERA, strikeouts, and WAR. Yao also led in WHIP for the seventh consecutive year. As impressive as his 2018 was, it was his weakest WAR season of his seven year odyssey. From 2012-18, Yao has posted an incredible 95.3 WAR, averaging 13.6 per year for one of the most impressive tears by any pitcher in world history. The Zebras locked him up in the winter expecting more, extending Yao at $105,400,000 over six years. Reigning APB champ Johor Bahru had the Sundaland Association’s top seed for the third straight year. The Blue Wings dominated the Malacca League at 108-54, tying 1966 Medan for the most wins in SA history. JB also set new Sundaland Association records for runs scored (653), triples (106), and team slugging (.407). The runs and triples marks remain SA bests as of 2037. Singapore was a distant second at 87-75, followed by 86-76 Medan and 85-77 Pekanbaru. The Java Sea League saw Palembang on top for the first time since 2007. The Panthers ran away with it at 101-61, while defending champ Semarang was second at 90-72. Palembang allowed the fewest runs in the SA at 401. Once proud Jakarta was notably an abysmal 48-114, which was the third-worst record in Sundaland Association history ahead of only 1966 Surabaya (46-116) and 1967 Singapore (45-117). Buwono Gunawan earned his first Sundaland Association MVP and his fourth overall. The Indonesian first baseman had won the TPA MVP in 2013, 2016, and 2017 with Taichung. For 2018, Gunawan signed a mammoth eight-year, $141,600,000 free agent deal with Medan. He led in runs (88), total bases (312), OBP (.356), slugging (.550), OPS (.907), and wRC+ (196). Gunawan also had 10.2 WAR, 29 home runs, 83 RBI, and 93 stolen bases. At only 28-years old following the 2018 season, Gunawan had already compiled 65.7 WAR. He seemed on his way to an inner-circle Hall of Fame level career. Gunawan took second in 2019 and 2020 MVP voting. However in spring training 2021, he suffered a catastrophic ACL tear in his right knee. Gunawan suffered a setback a few months later and forced to retire, tragically cutting short a remarkable brief career. Rahmat Hasjim became a four-time Pitcher of the Year winner in his debut season for Bandung. He had won his first three from 2010-12 with Surabaya, then spent 2013-17 in Jakarta. Hasjim joined the Blackhawks on a three-year, $34,900,000 deal for 2018. The 35-year old Indonesian had the most innings (284) and complete games (18). Hasjim added a 1.71 ERA, 313 strikeouts, 15-12 record, 149 ERA+, and 7.0 WAR. For the fifth time in six years, Zamboanga defeated Taipei in the Taiwan-Philippine Association Championship, this time in six games. The Zebras earned their eighth pennant, all coming since 2001. Despite their historic dominance in Taiwan, the Tigercats have gone 1-8 in the association final over the last decade. Meanwhile, Johor Bahru repeated as Sundaland Association champ, rolling Palembang 4-1. The 54^th APB Championship was the second-ever finals rematch, joining Manila versus Jakarta in 1985-86. Zamboanga got revenge on Johor Bahru, taking the series 4-2 and giving the Zebras their second-ever APB cup (2013). RF Jhimmy Labrera was finals MVP in his seventh season with Zamboanga. The 30-year old Filipino had 11 playoff games and 9 starts with 9 hits, 3 runs, 1 double, 3 homers, and 6 RBI. Other notes: Kuala Lumpur’s Raja Kamal threw APB’s 41^st perfect game, striking out 13 against Jakarta on July 4. Donnie Luzon became the fifth pitcher to 250 career wins, finishing his career with 258. That ranks sixth as of 2037. Rahmat Hasjim and Yu-Ren Yang both reached 200 wins, making 22 pitchers to do so. Hasjim also became the 29^th to reach 3500 strikeouts. Evan Yanizar became the first reliever to 400 career saves. Wil Tabaldo became the seventh APB slugger to 500 home runs and the first to cross that mark since 2003. RF Shih-Chieh Tseng won his tenth Gold Glove, becoming only the third APB player at any position with ten. 1B Widodo Megawati won his eighth Gold Glove. RF Yee Ibrahim won his seventh Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)