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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-14-2024, 12:38 PM

Following their historic sixth Mexican League title in six years and a record-setting 116-46 season, Monterrey very nearly saw their playoff streak snapped. The Matadors dropped to only 86-76, which tied them with Torreon for first in the North Division. Monterrey defeated the Tomahawks in the tiebreaker game to extend their playoff streak to nine, tying the CABA record set from 1966-74 by Ecatepec. Hermosillo and Juarez were both also in the division hunt at 82-80. Tijuana, who had been the wild card in four straight seasons, fell to 80-82.

The down year for Monterrey gave Ecatepec the chance to post the Mexican League’s best record. The Explosion did so emphatically at 107-55 atop the South Division, impressively bouncing back from a lousy 71 win 1995. It was their third division title in four years. In the wild card race, Guadalajara (94-68) held off Leon (92-70) to advance. This ended a five-year playoff drought for the Hellhounds.

Ecatepec swept the top awards, led by an impressive debut by RF Velasquez Saavedra. After five great seasons with Honduras, Saavedra cased in with the Explosion on an eight-year, $21,180,000 deal. The 26-year old Guatemalan righty rewarded the investment with an MVP, leading in runs (130), triples (25), walks (92), total bases (405), OBP (.433), slugging (.732), OPS (1.166), wRC+ (220), and WAR (12.2). Saavedra also had 47 home runs, 122 RBI, a .335 average, and won a Gold Glove. Pitcher of the Year went to Vincente Chung, returning to the rotation after being stuck on the reserve roster all of 1994 and 1995. The 26-year old Brazilian lefty led in wins (21-4), K/BB (8.5), quality starts (25), and FIP- (63). Chung added 7.9 WAR over 236.1 innings with a 2.67 ERA and 297 strikeouts. The Explosion also had Rookie of the Year 1B Hector Renteria, who had 41 home runs and 5.1 WAR in his debut.

Monterrey won the wild card round with a sweep of Guadalajara to earn a seventh straight Mexican League Championship Series berth. For the first time in that run, they were considered the underdog against Ecatepec. It was their third meeting in the MLCS recently with the Matadors winning in 1993 and the Explosion taking it in 1994. Despite home field and the 20-win difference in records, it was Monterrey taking the title over Ecatepec in a seven-game classic. It was the first time since 1988 that the MLCS needed all seven games. This gave the Matadors repeat ML pennants and their sixth in seven years. Monterrey became the third Mexican franchise to win six titles in seven years, joining 1913-19 Tijuana and 1967-73 Mexico City.

The Caribbean League’s Continental Division was very top heavy as both Salvador and Honduras extended playoff streaks. The Stallions won the division at 110-52 for a third consecutive berth, while the Horsemen at 105-57 were the wild card with a fourth straight playoff appearance. In the Caribbean Division, Havana (92-70) ended up on top of Santo Domingo by two games. This was the Hurricanes’ first playoff appearance in a decade and their first division title since 1977. Santiago, the league champ last year, was tied for third with Haiti at 85-77.

Santo Domingo CF Hugh Boerboom became a three-time Caribbean League MVP. The 33-year old Aruban slugger smacked a career-best 57 home runs and also led in RBI (124), total bases (380), and slugging (.634). Boerboom added a .307 average and 7.2 WAR.

Meanwhile, Salvador righty Rafael Perez won his first Pitcher of the Year and became the first Triple Crown pitcher since Junior Vergara’s 1980s dominance The 28-year old Dominican had joined the Stallions in the offseason on a seven-year, $16,020,000 deal after beginning with Panama. Perez had a 23-5 record, 2.25 ERA, and 307 strikeouts, while also leading in innings pitched (276.1), WHIP (0.92), quality starts (28), FIP- (66), and WAR (9.0). He also won a Gold Glove, his second. Salvador closer Ruy Torres also became a four-time Reliever of the Year in only six seasons. The 28-year old Panamanian would leave for MLB in the offseason with a relatively unremarkable MLB tenure.

Havana had home field advantage as the division champ and the one game handicap, but still got rolled in the wild card round 3-1 by Honduras. The Horsemen couldn’t hold up to their division rival Salvador, as the Stallions won the Caribbean League Championship Series 4-1. Salvador earned a second pennant in three years and their seventh in franchise history.

Despite the recent success for both, Monterrey and Salvador hadn’t met recently in the Central American Baseball Association Championship. It wasn’t their first encounter though, as the Stallions beat the Matadors 4-2 in the 1965 edition. In the 86^th finale, Monterrey survived a seven game classic to repeat as champs and secure their fifth ring in seven years. The Matadors are only the second team in CABA history to win five titles in seven years, joining Mexico City’s six from 1967-73. LF Pedro Nugent was both MLCS MVP and finals MVP. The 29-year old Jamaican had 16 hits, 13 runs 5 triples, 5 home runs, and 11 RBI in 16 playoff starts.

Other notes: For back-to-back seasons, CABA had zero no-hitters. Romeo Verguet had a notable year for milestones, crossing 500 home runs, 1500 RBI, and 2500 hits.

03-14-2024, 12:38 PM	#1060
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,589	1996 in CABA Following their historic sixth Mexican League title in six years and a record-setting 116-46 season, Monterrey very nearly saw their playoff streak snapped. The Matadors dropped to only 86-76, which tied them with Torreon for first in the North Division. Monterrey defeated the Tomahawks in the tiebreaker game to extend their playoff streak to nine, tying the CABA record set from 1966-74 by Ecatepec. Hermosillo and Juarez were both also in the division hunt at 82-80. Tijuana, who had been the wild card in four straight seasons, fell to 80-82. The down year for Monterrey gave Ecatepec the chance to post the Mexican League’s best record. The Explosion did so emphatically at 107-55 atop the South Division, impressively bouncing back from a lousy 71 win 1995. It was their third division title in four years. In the wild card race, Guadalajara (94-68) held off Leon (92-70) to advance. This ended a five-year playoff drought for the Hellhounds. Ecatepec swept the top awards, led by an impressive debut by RF Velasquez Saavedra. After five great seasons with Honduras, Saavedra cased in with the Explosion on an eight-year, $21,180,000 deal. The 26-year old Guatemalan righty rewarded the investment with an MVP, leading in runs (130), triples (25), walks (92), total bases (405), OBP (.433), slugging (.732), OPS (1.166), wRC+ (220), and WAR (12.2). Saavedra also had 47 home runs, 122 RBI, a .335 average, and won a Gold Glove. Pitcher of the Year went to Vincente Chung, returning to the rotation after being stuck on the reserve roster all of 1994 and 1995. The 26-year old Brazilian lefty led in wins (21-4), K/BB (8.5), quality starts (25), and FIP- (63). Chung added 7.9 WAR over 236.1 innings with a 2.67 ERA and 297 strikeouts. The Explosion also had Rookie of the Year 1B Hector Renteria, who had 41 home runs and 5.1 WAR in his debut. Monterrey won the wild card round with a sweep of Guadalajara to earn a seventh straight Mexican League Championship Series berth. For the first time in that run, they were considered the underdog against Ecatepec. It was their third meeting in the MLCS recently with the Matadors winning in 1993 and the Explosion taking it in 1994. Despite home field and the 20-win difference in records, it was Monterrey taking the title over Ecatepec in a seven-game classic. It was the first time since 1988 that the MLCS needed all seven games. This gave the Matadors repeat ML pennants and their sixth in seven years. Monterrey became the third Mexican franchise to win six titles in seven years, joining 1913-19 Tijuana and 1967-73 Mexico City. The Caribbean League’s Continental Division was very top heavy as both Salvador and Honduras extended playoff streaks. The Stallions won the division at 110-52 for a third consecutive berth, while the Horsemen at 105-57 were the wild card with a fourth straight playoff appearance. In the Caribbean Division, Havana (92-70) ended up on top of Santo Domingo by two games. This was the Hurricanes’ first playoff appearance in a decade and their first division title since 1977. Santiago, the league champ last year, was tied for third with Haiti at 85-77. Santo Domingo CF Hugh Boerboom became a three-time Caribbean League MVP. The 33-year old Aruban slugger smacked a career-best 57 home runs and also led in RBI (124), total bases (380), and slugging (.634). Boerboom added a .307 average and 7.2 WAR. Meanwhile, Salvador righty Rafael Perez won his first Pitcher of the Year and became the first Triple Crown pitcher since Junior Vergara’s 1980s dominance The 28-year old Dominican had joined the Stallions in the offseason on a seven-year, $16,020,000 deal after beginning with Panama. Perez had a 23-5 record, 2.25 ERA, and 307 strikeouts, while also leading in innings pitched (276.1), WHIP (0.92), quality starts (28), FIP- (66), and WAR (9.0). He also won a Gold Glove, his second. Salvador closer Ruy Torres also became a four-time Reliever of the Year in only six seasons. The 28-year old Panamanian would leave for MLB in the offseason with a relatively unremarkable MLB tenure. Havana had home field advantage as the division champ and the one game handicap, but still got rolled in the wild card round 3-1 by Honduras. The Horsemen couldn’t hold up to their division rival Salvador, as the Stallions won the Caribbean League Championship Series 4-1. Salvador earned a second pennant in three years and their seventh in franchise history. Despite the recent success for both, Monterrey and Salvador hadn’t met recently in the Central American Baseball Association Championship. It wasn’t their first encounter though, as the Stallions beat the Matadors 4-2 in the 1965 edition. In the 86^th finale, Monterrey survived a seven game classic to repeat as champs and secure their fifth ring in seven years. The Matadors are only the second team in CABA history to win five titles in seven years, joining Mexico City’s six from 1967-73. LF Pedro Nugent was both MLCS MVP and finals MVP. The 29-year old Jamaican had 16 hits, 13 runs 5 triples, 5 home runs, and 11 RBI in 16 playoff starts. Other notes: For back-to-back seasons, CABA had zero no-hitters. Romeo Verguet had a notable year for milestones, crossing 500 home runs, 1500 RBI, and 2500 hits. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)