OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 03-14-2024, 05:38 PM

Defending National Association champ Boston set a franchise-best at 109-53, dominating a strong Northeast Division. The second and third best records in the NA were both in the Northeast and earned wild cards. Toronto finished 99-63 and Ottawa was 98-64. The Elks ended a three-year playoff drought and the Timberwolves ended a two-year one. Buffalo, who had made the playoffs the prior two seasons out of the Northeast, plummeted to only 69 wins.

The Lower Midwest Division saw a tie for first between Indianapolis and Columbus at 93-69, while St. Louis was one back at 92-70. The Racers won the tiebreaker game for their second playoff berth in three years and denied the Chargers’ bid for a division title three-peat. This was Indy’s first division title since 1988. The Racers also earned the #2 seed and the first round bye. Wichita, winners of 90 games last year and in the 1995 wild card hunt, collapsed and went 68-94.

New York secured the East Division title at 90-72 for their sixth playoff appearance in eight years. Philadelphia fell two games short, Brooklyn was six away, and last year’s National Association runner-up Washington dropped to 80-82. The Upper Midwest Division had Minneapolis on top at 88-74, ending a playoff drought taking back to 1982. Cleveland’s three year division title streak ended with the Cobras finishing at 79-83.

National Association MVP went to Indianapolis 1B Salvador Villasenor. The Racers gave him an eight-year, $24,000,000 extension the prior summer and were rewarded for their investment. The 29-year old Spaniard led in hits (221), RBI (138), total bases (402), average (.373), slugging (.678), OPS (1.101), wRC+ (228), and WAR (10.4). His 46 home runs left him four away from a Triple Crown. New York’s Pitcher Fahri Unal won Pitcher of the Year in his second MLB season. The 30-year old Turk had come to the Yankees on a six-year, $22,560,000 deal after winning two Pitcher of the Year awards with Bursa of the Asian Baseball Federation. Unal had a 17-7 record, 2.43 ERA, 274.1 innings, 217 strikeouts, and 7.2 WAR. He also had a no-hitter on September 27 with eight strikeouts and two walks against Winnipeg.

In the first round of the playoffs, Minneapolis beat Toronto 2-0 and New York topped Ottawa 2-1. Both second round series went all five games but had the favored squads advance. Boston edged the Moose and Indianapolis outlasted the Yankees. The Red Sox were looking for repeat pennants, while the Racers earned their first National Association Championship Series appearance from 1977. Boston was a heavy favorite, but Indy upset them 4-2 to earn their eighth pennant (1931, 36, 52, 57, 59, 74, 77, 96).

The American Association was guaranteed to see a new champ, as defending World Series champion Denver struggled to a 71-91 campaign. Edmonton ended a four-year playoff drought and posted the AA’s best record at 101-61 on top of the Northwest Division. The other bye went to San Francisco at 100-62 atop the Southwest Division, earning a fourth consecutive playoff berth. San Diego was close behind at 98-64, earning the first wild card and ending a playoff drought dating back to 1986. For the second wild card, Oakland (92-70) edged out Los Angeles (91-71) and Atlanta (90-72). The Owls had an even longer playoff drought back to 1981.

Nashville ended the longest drought of any team in 1996, winning the Southeast Division at 92-70. The Knights hadn’t been a playoff team since 1978 and hadn’t won a division title since all the way back in 1956. Atlanta at 90-72 fell two games short of both the division and the second wild card. Charlotte (87-75) was also in the mix. Last year’s division winner Tampa dropped to 71-91. The South Central Division had Dallas (88-74) squeak by defending winner Houston (87-75) and New Orleans (84-78). The Dalmatians snapped a four-year postseason skid.

Edmonton first baseman Isaac McKenna won American Association MVP in only his third season. The 23-year old Canadian lefty led in home runs (49), RBI (143), runs (112), OBP (.409), OPS (1.018), wRC+ (172) and WAR (9.1), while adding a .318 average and 193 hits. Pitcher of the Year was another upcoming star in San Diego’s Bradrabahu Abhimani. The 24-year old Indian lefty had a 20-8 record, 2.64 ERA, 272.2 innings, 234 strikeouts, and 6.7 WAR.

Dallas downed San Diego 2-1 and Nashville ousted Oakland 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs. The Knights went onto upset San Francisco 3-1 in the second round, while Edmonton dropped the Dalmatians 3-0. This was Nashville’s first American Association Championship Series appearance since 1956, long before the Eels franchise existed. It was Edmonton’s second AACS, having won the 1988 pennant. The Eels earned their second title 4-2 over Nashville.

In the 96^th World Series, Major League Baseball was guaranteed to have its 39^th unique franchise on top. Indianapolis had been there seven times previously, but took runner-up each time. Their curse continued as Edmonton rolled to the title in five games. Veteran LF Xavier Escobar won World Series MVP in his 11th season as an Eel. The 31-year old Brazilian had 21 hits, 15 runs, 5 home runs, and 13 RBI in 14 playoff starts. The Racers are now 0-8 in the World Series, which are the most finals defeats in any world league by a team without a title. Meanwhile between Edmonton and Calgary, four of the last 11 trophies ended up in Alberta.

Other notes: Brian Ostrovskaya became the 19^th member of the 600 home run club and also crossed 1500 RBI. Phil Sannes was the 51^st member of the 3000 hit club. T.J. Nakabayashi became the eighth pitcher to reach 4000 strikeouts.

03-14-2024, 05:38 PM	#1061
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,884	1996 in MLB Defending National Association champ Boston set a franchise-best at 109-53, dominating a strong Northeast Division. The second and third best records in the NA were both in the Northeast and earned wild cards. Toronto finished 99-63 and Ottawa was 98-64. The Elks ended a three-year playoff drought and the Timberwolves ended a two-year one. Buffalo, who had made the playoffs the prior two seasons out of the Northeast, plummeted to only 69 wins. The Lower Midwest Division saw a tie for first between Indianapolis and Columbus at 93-69, while St. Louis was one back at 92-70. The Racers won the tiebreaker game for their second playoff berth in three years and denied the Chargers’ bid for a division title three-peat. This was Indy’s first division title since 1988. The Racers also earned the #2 seed and the first round bye. Wichita, winners of 90 games last year and in the 1995 wild card hunt, collapsed and went 68-94. New York secured the East Division title at 90-72 for their sixth playoff appearance in eight years. Philadelphia fell two games short, Brooklyn was six away, and last year’s National Association runner-up Washington dropped to 80-82. The Upper Midwest Division had Minneapolis on top at 88-74, ending a playoff drought taking back to 1982. Cleveland’s three year division title streak ended with the Cobras finishing at 79-83. National Association MVP went to Indianapolis 1B Salvador Villasenor. The Racers gave him an eight-year, $24,000,000 extension the prior summer and were rewarded for their investment. The 29-year old Spaniard led in hits (221), RBI (138), total bases (402), average (.373), slugging (.678), OPS (1.101), wRC+ (228), and WAR (10.4). His 46 home runs left him four away from a Triple Crown. New York’s Pitcher Fahri Unal won Pitcher of the Year in his second MLB season. The 30-year old Turk had come to the Yankees on a six-year, $22,560,000 deal after winning two Pitcher of the Year awards with Bursa of the Asian Baseball Federation. Unal had a 17-7 record, 2.43 ERA, 274.1 innings, 217 strikeouts, and 7.2 WAR. He also had a no-hitter on September 27 with eight strikeouts and two walks against Winnipeg. In the first round of the playoffs, Minneapolis beat Toronto 2-0 and New York topped Ottawa 2-1. Both second round series went all five games but had the favored squads advance. Boston edged the Moose and Indianapolis outlasted the Yankees. The Red Sox were looking for repeat pennants, while the Racers earned their first National Association Championship Series appearance from 1977. Boston was a heavy favorite, but Indy upset them 4-2 to earn their eighth pennant (1931, 36, 52, 57, 59, 74, 77, 96). The American Association was guaranteed to see a new champ, as defending World Series champion Denver struggled to a 71-91 campaign. Edmonton ended a four-year playoff drought and posted the AA’s best record at 101-61 on top of the Northwest Division. The other bye went to San Francisco at 100-62 atop the Southwest Division, earning a fourth consecutive playoff berth. San Diego was close behind at 98-64, earning the first wild card and ending a playoff drought dating back to 1986. For the second wild card, Oakland (92-70) edged out Los Angeles (91-71) and Atlanta (90-72). The Owls had an even longer playoff drought back to 1981. Nashville ended the longest drought of any team in 1996, winning the Southeast Division at 92-70. The Knights hadn’t been a playoff team since 1978 and hadn’t won a division title since all the way back in 1956. Atlanta at 90-72 fell two games short of both the division and the second wild card. Charlotte (87-75) was also in the mix. Last year’s division winner Tampa dropped to 71-91. The South Central Division had Dallas (88-74) squeak by defending winner Houston (87-75) and New Orleans (84-78). The Dalmatians snapped a four-year postseason skid. Edmonton first baseman Isaac McKenna won American Association MVP in only his third season. The 23-year old Canadian lefty led in home runs (49), RBI (143), runs (112), OBP (.409), OPS (1.018), wRC+ (172) and WAR (9.1), while adding a .318 average and 193 hits. Pitcher of the Year was another upcoming star in San Diego’s Bradrabahu Abhimani. The 24-year old Indian lefty had a 20-8 record, 2.64 ERA, 272.2 innings, 234 strikeouts, and 6.7 WAR. Dallas downed San Diego 2-1 and Nashville ousted Oakland 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs. The Knights went onto upset San Francisco 3-1 in the second round, while Edmonton dropped the Dalmatians 3-0. This was Nashville’s first American Association Championship Series appearance since 1956, long before the Eels franchise existed. It was Edmonton’s second AACS, having won the 1988 pennant. The Eels earned their second title 4-2 over Nashville. In the 96^th World Series, Major League Baseball was guaranteed to have its 39^th unique franchise on top. Indianapolis had been there seven times previously, but took runner-up each time. Their curse continued as Edmonton rolled to the title in five games. Veteran LF Xavier Escobar won World Series MVP in his 11th season as an Eel. The 31-year old Brazilian had 21 hits, 15 runs, 5 home runs, and 13 RBI in 14 playoff starts. The Racers are now 0-8 in the World Series, which are the most finals defeats in any world league by a team without a title. Meanwhile between Edmonton and Calgary, four of the last 11 trophies ended up in Alberta. Other notes: Brian Ostrovskaya became the 19^th member of the 600 home run club and also crossed 1500 RBI. Phil Sannes was the 51^st member of the 3000 hit club. T.J. Nakabayashi became the eighth pitcher to reach 4000 strikeouts. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)