OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 11-24-2023, 04:24 AM

For the first time since their 1972 China Series win, Tianjin earned a playoff spot. The Jackrabbits finished first in the Northern League at 101-61, leading in both runs scored (544) and fewest allowed (387). Last year’s Chinese League Baseball runner-up Nanjing took the second playoff spot at 92-70. Xi’an was a distant third at 85-77, while last year’s first place squad Qingdao dropped to below .500 with a ninth place 79-83.

Tianjin fourth-year RF Mingqi Dai was the Northern League MVP. Nicknamed “Bumblebee,” the 25-year old lefty was one RBI short of a Triple Crown with 38 home runs, 105 RBI, and a .334 average. Dai also led in runs (107), hits (185), total bases (371), OBP (.391), slugging (.670), OPS (1.061), and wRC+ (266). His 13.3 WAR was the third ever by a CLB batter to that point, but he was second in the league to Libo Li. The Qingdao CF had 14.0 WAR with strong defense helping him, although he had a .964 OPS, 33 home runs, and 106 RBI.

Tianjin also had Pitcher of the Year in Bongxiang Bai. The #1 overall draft pick in 1980, he bounced back from a torn UCL suffered midway through 1981. The 24-year old lefty led in ERA (1.66), WHIP (0.70), K/BB (19.5), FIP- (29), and WAR (10.4), adding 292 strikeouts in 217 innings and a 16-8 record. Sadly for Bai, this would be his peak with two more UCL ruptures later in the 1980s ending his career prematurely. He’d have a 1.70 ERA in 1046 career innings and 40.0 WAR, but he’d only play parts of six seasons. Also of note, Yongjie Xie won a historic sixth Reliever of the Year. In a season split between Beijing and Harbin, he posted a 0.44 ERA with 208 strikeouts in 101.1 innings and 7.5 WAR.

The Southern League was incredibly tight in 1983. Chongqing very narrowly finished first at 93-69, while Macau finished second at 92-70. It was the second-ever playoff berth for both the Cavaliers and Magicians. Defending CLB champion Hong Kong and Wuhan both tied for third at 91-71, barely missing the playoff field. Chengdu, winners of 101 games the prior year, were also in the mix in fifth at 89-73; just four games out of first.

Chengdu RF Haojian Yu won back-to-back Southern League MVPs. The 28-year old righty led in runs (92), home runs (45), RBI (109), total bases (337), slugging (.588), OPS (.917), and wRC+ (196), adding 7.7 WAR. Shenzhen’s Xinyu Dai won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year, leading the league with 120 WAR, 362 strikeouts, 282.1 innings, 22 complete games, and a 43 FIP-. Dai added a 1.82 ERA and 16-13 record.

Both first place finishers prevailed in their semifinal series against the opposing league’s second place finisher. Tianjin topped Macau 4-2, while Chongqing swept Nanjing. For the Jackrabbits, this sent them to the championship for the third time, having been the 1971 runner-up and 1972 champion. For the Cavaliers, it was their first time in the finals. The 14^th China Series ultimately gave Tianjin its second ring, as they would sweep Chongqing. Pitcher Tai Zhang was the finals MVP, making two postseason starts with two runs allowed over 16 innings for a 1.12 ERA with 11 strikeouts.

Other notes: Zhijan Dong became the first CLB pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts. Chiming Chen became the second to 200 wins. Xinze Yan became the second batter to 2000 hits. Hongchen Wang and Hao Lan became the fourth and fifth batters to have 1000 runs scored. Lan also became the second to 400 home runs and won his eighth Silver Slugger at LF. . Shenchao An won his record 12^th Gold Glove at first base. Junjie Hsiung won his eighth Gold Glove at shortstop. Two-way player Nick Wei won his 11^th Silver Slugger, his ninth for pitching.

11-24-2023, 04:24 AM	#728
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,816	1983 in CLB For the first time since their 1972 China Series win, Tianjin earned a playoff spot. The Jackrabbits finished first in the Northern League at 101-61, leading in both runs scored (544) and fewest allowed (387). Last year’s Chinese League Baseball runner-up Nanjing took the second playoff spot at 92-70. Xi’an was a distant third at 85-77, while last year’s first place squad Qingdao dropped to below .500 with a ninth place 79-83. Tianjin fourth-year RF Mingqi Dai was the Northern League MVP. Nicknamed “Bumblebee,” the 25-year old lefty was one RBI short of a Triple Crown with 38 home runs, 105 RBI, and a .334 average. Dai also led in runs (107), hits (185), total bases (371), OBP (.391), slugging (.670), OPS (1.061), and wRC+ (266). His 13.3 WAR was the third ever by a CLB batter to that point, but he was second in the league to Libo Li. The Qingdao CF had 14.0 WAR with strong defense helping him, although he had a .964 OPS, 33 home runs, and 106 RBI. Tianjin also had Pitcher of the Year in Bongxiang Bai. The #1 overall draft pick in 1980, he bounced back from a torn UCL suffered midway through 1981. The 24-year old lefty led in ERA (1.66), WHIP (0.70), K/BB (19.5), FIP- (29), and WAR (10.4), adding 292 strikeouts in 217 innings and a 16-8 record. Sadly for Bai, this would be his peak with two more UCL ruptures later in the 1980s ending his career prematurely. He’d have a 1.70 ERA in 1046 career innings and 40.0 WAR, but he’d only play parts of six seasons. Also of note, Yongjie Xie won a historic sixth Reliever of the Year. In a season split between Beijing and Harbin, he posted a 0.44 ERA with 208 strikeouts in 101.1 innings and 7.5 WAR. The Southern League was incredibly tight in 1983. Chongqing very narrowly finished first at 93-69, while Macau finished second at 92-70. It was the second-ever playoff berth for both the Cavaliers and Magicians. Defending CLB champion Hong Kong and Wuhan both tied for third at 91-71, barely missing the playoff field. Chengdu, winners of 101 games the prior year, were also in the mix in fifth at 89-73; just four games out of first. Chengdu RF Haojian Yu won back-to-back Southern League MVPs. The 28-year old righty led in runs (92), home runs (45), RBI (109), total bases (337), slugging (.588), OPS (.917), and wRC+ (196), adding 7.7 WAR. Shenzhen’s Xinyu Dai won back-to-back Pitcher of the Year, leading the league with 120 WAR, 362 strikeouts, 282.1 innings, 22 complete games, and a 43 FIP-. Dai added a 1.82 ERA and 16-13 record. Both first place finishers prevailed in their semifinal series against the opposing league’s second place finisher. Tianjin topped Macau 4-2, while Chongqing swept Nanjing. For the Jackrabbits, this sent them to the championship for the third time, having been the 1971 runner-up and 1972 champion. For the Cavaliers, it was their first time in the finals. The 14^th China Series ultimately gave Tianjin its second ring, as they would sweep Chongqing. Pitcher Tai Zhang was the finals MVP, making two postseason starts with two runs allowed over 16 innings for a 1.12 ERA with 11 strikeouts. Other notes: Zhijan Dong became the first CLB pitcher to 3500 career strikeouts. Chiming Chen became the second to 200 wins. Xinze Yan became the second batter to 2000 hits. Hongchen Wang and Hao Lan became the fourth and fifth batters to have 1000 runs scored. Lan also became the second to 400 home runs and won his eighth Silver Slugger at LF. . Shenchao An won his record 12^th Gold Glove at first base. Junjie Hsiung won his eighth Gold Glove at shortstop. Two-way player Nick Wei won his 11^th Silver Slugger, his ninth for pitching. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)