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FuzzyRussianHat · 04-01-2024, 03:31 AM

Defending Japan League champion Sapporo posted the top record in 1998 at 101-61, earning a fifth consecutive North Division title. Kawasaki snapped a 13 year playoff drought by winning the Capital Division at 100-62. The Killer Whales’ success ended Tokyo’s six-year reign atop the division. The Tides were third in the division at 88-74, also behind 90-72 Yokohama. The West Division saw an opening emerge as Kitakyushu went from 109 wins in 1997 to a lousy 72 wins. Kumamoto took the opening at 92-70, earning their second-ever playoff berth along with the 1988 campaign. Hiroshima was a close second at 88-74. The weakest division winner was Kobe at 84-78, repeating in the Central. Nagoya finished two games back.

Yokohama’s Hyeon-Seong Yang won Japan League MVP. The mustachioed 25-year old first baseman led in runs (103), hits (207), doubles (48), home runs (60), RBI (142), total bases (435), slugging (.720), OPS (1.097), wRC+ (231), and WAR (10.3). Yang’s .343 batting average left him three points shy of a Triple Crown, which hasn’t been achieved by a batter in EAB since 1966. Sapporo’s Morikazu Ichikawa secured Pitcher of the Year, leading the JL in wins (22-6), strikeouts (314), complete games (15), and WAR (7.4). He added a 2.43 ERA in 266.2 innings. A two-way star who also played center field, he won his fourth Silver Slugger as a pitcher and added 4.9 WAR, 28 home runs, and 151 wRC+ offensively. The 27–year old Ichikawa had signed a five-year, $12,360,000 extension the prior spring with the Swordfish.

Sapporo beat Kobe 3-1 and Kawasaki survived 3-2 in a challenge by Kumamoto for the first round of the playoffs. The Killer Whales hadn’t been to the Japan League Championship Series since 1985, while the Swordfish were making a fourth consecutive appearance. Sapporo earned repeat pennants, claiming the JLCS 4-2 over Kawasaki. The Swordfish now had 14 Japan League crowns to their name, double the amount of their closest competitors.

The Korea League saw a notable shakeup with defending EAB champ Yongin, Busan, and Ulsan each missing the playoffs. All three teams had advanced in four consecutive seasons. The top seed in 1998 was 102-60 Daegu atop the South Division. This was the Diamondbacks’ first playoff berth in a decade. The Blue Jays (89-73) and Swallows (88-74) were well away in the division race and ultimately just short in the wild card hunt. Suwon at 95-67 was the only repeat playoff team, winning the North Division. The Snappers earned a third straight appearance and their sixth of the 1990s. Close behind were Bucheon (93-69) and Seongnam (91-71), taking the wild cards. The Bolts ended a four-year playoff drought and the Spiders snapped a six-year skid. The Gold Sox, who saw three KL pennants and two EAB titles in the prior four years, were delightfully mid at 80-82.

Ulsan may have missed the playoffs, but 1B Byung-Tak Wie became a three-time Korea League MVP. The 28-year old lefty led in runs (118), home runs (54), total bases (405), OBP (.421), slugging (.714), OPS (1.135), wRC+ (196), and WAR (9.5). Wie also added a .351 average and 120 RBI. Pitcher of the Year was Suwon’s Si-Hyeon Park. Nicknamed “Cheese” for his love of all things dairy, Park led in strikeouts (304), quality starts (23), and shutouts (5). The 29-year old added a 19-8 record, 2.84 ERA, 269.1 innings, and 5.9 WAR.

Both wild card teams advanced out of the first round. Seongnam stunned top seed Daegu in five games, while Bucheon earned a road sweep over Suwon. It was the third-ever Korea League Championship Series berth for the expansion Bolts, who were defeated in 1990 and 1993. The Spiders hadn’t gotten that far since 1991 and had been the one to best Bucheon in 1990. The 1998 KLCS lacked drama ultimately as the Bolts swept Seongnam for their first pennant. With Bucheon’s win, that leaves Daejeon as the only Korea League team without at least one title.

In the 78^th East Asian Championship, the perennial contender Sapporo beat the finals newcomer Bucheon 4-2. It was the first time taking the EAB title since 1981 for Sapporo, who are now 6-8 in their myriad finals appearances. Finals MVP was league MVP Morikazu Ichikawa, who set a playoff record with four complete games in five starts. He had a 1.48 ERA over 42.2 innings with 55 strikeouts and 1.8 WAR. Not only that, but Ichikawa offensively had 15 hits, 12 runs, 6 home runs, and 14 RBI in 16 playoff games. His two-way effort makes a case for one of the most impressive postseason runs in baseball history by one player.

Other notes: Osaka’s Kachi Ishii threw EAB’s 30^th Perfect Game on August 18 with 14 strikeouts against Yokohama. Ji-Hu Kim became the 18^th member of the 3000 hit club. He would play three more seasons and finish with 3295, retiring fifth all-time. Kim is still 11^th as of 2037. RF Do-Un Chi won his eighth Gold Glove.

04-01-2024, 03:31 AM	#1113
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,644	1998 in EAB Defending Japan League champion Sapporo posted the top record in 1998 at 101-61, earning a fifth consecutive North Division title. Kawasaki snapped a 13 year playoff drought by winning the Capital Division at 100-62. The Killer Whales’ success ended Tokyo’s six-year reign atop the division. The Tides were third in the division at 88-74, also behind 90-72 Yokohama. The West Division saw an opening emerge as Kitakyushu went from 109 wins in 1997 to a lousy 72 wins. Kumamoto took the opening at 92-70, earning their second-ever playoff berth along with the 1988 campaign. Hiroshima was a close second at 88-74. The weakest division winner was Kobe at 84-78, repeating in the Central. Nagoya finished two games back. Yokohama’s Hyeon-Seong Yang won Japan League MVP. The mustachioed 25-year old first baseman led in runs (103), hits (207), doubles (48), home runs (60), RBI (142), total bases (435), slugging (.720), OPS (1.097), wRC+ (231), and WAR (10.3). Yang’s .343 batting average left him three points shy of a Triple Crown, which hasn’t been achieved by a batter in EAB since 1966. Sapporo’s Morikazu Ichikawa secured Pitcher of the Year, leading the JL in wins (22-6), strikeouts (314), complete games (15), and WAR (7.4). He added a 2.43 ERA in 266.2 innings. A two-way star who also played center field, he won his fourth Silver Slugger as a pitcher and added 4.9 WAR, 28 home runs, and 151 wRC+ offensively. The 27–year old Ichikawa had signed a five-year, $12,360,000 extension the prior spring with the Swordfish. Sapporo beat Kobe 3-1 and Kawasaki survived 3-2 in a challenge by Kumamoto for the first round of the playoffs. The Killer Whales hadn’t been to the Japan League Championship Series since 1985, while the Swordfish were making a fourth consecutive appearance. Sapporo earned repeat pennants, claiming the JLCS 4-2 over Kawasaki. The Swordfish now had 14 Japan League crowns to their name, double the amount of their closest competitors. The Korea League saw a notable shakeup with defending EAB champ Yongin, Busan, and Ulsan each missing the playoffs. All three teams had advanced in four consecutive seasons. The top seed in 1998 was 102-60 Daegu atop the South Division. This was the Diamondbacks’ first playoff berth in a decade. The Blue Jays (89-73) and Swallows (88-74) were well away in the division race and ultimately just short in the wild card hunt. Suwon at 95-67 was the only repeat playoff team, winning the North Division. The Snappers earned a third straight appearance and their sixth of the 1990s. Close behind were Bucheon (93-69) and Seongnam (91-71), taking the wild cards. The Bolts ended a four-year playoff drought and the Spiders snapped a six-year skid. The Gold Sox, who saw three KL pennants and two EAB titles in the prior four years, were delightfully mid at 80-82. Ulsan may have missed the playoffs, but 1B Byung-Tak Wie became a three-time Korea League MVP. The 28-year old lefty led in runs (118), home runs (54), total bases (405), OBP (.421), slugging (.714), OPS (1.135), wRC+ (196), and WAR (9.5). Wie also added a .351 average and 120 RBI. Pitcher of the Year was Suwon’s Si-Hyeon Park. Nicknamed “Cheese” for his love of all things dairy, Park led in strikeouts (304), quality starts (23), and shutouts (5). The 29-year old added a 19-8 record, 2.84 ERA, 269.1 innings, and 5.9 WAR. Both wild card teams advanced out of the first round. Seongnam stunned top seed Daegu in five games, while Bucheon earned a road sweep over Suwon. It was the third-ever Korea League Championship Series berth for the expansion Bolts, who were defeated in 1990 and 1993. The Spiders hadn’t gotten that far since 1991 and had been the one to best Bucheon in 1990. The 1998 KLCS lacked drama ultimately as the Bolts swept Seongnam for their first pennant. With Bucheon’s win, that leaves Daejeon as the only Korea League team without at least one title. In the 78^th East Asian Championship, the perennial contender Sapporo beat the finals newcomer Bucheon 4-2. It was the first time taking the EAB title since 1981 for Sapporo, who are now 6-8 in their myriad finals appearances. Finals MVP was league MVP Morikazu Ichikawa, who set a playoff record with four complete games in five starts. He had a 1.48 ERA over 42.2 innings with 55 strikeouts and 1.8 WAR. Not only that, but Ichikawa offensively had 15 hits, 12 runs, 6 home runs, and 14 RBI in 16 playoff games. His two-way effort makes a case for one of the most impressive postseason runs in baseball history by one player. Other notes: Osaka’s Kachi Ishii threw EAB’s 30^th Perfect Game on August 18 with 14 strikeouts against Yokohama. Ji-Hu Kim became the 18^th member of the 3000 hit club. He would play three more seasons and finish with 3295, retiring fifth all-time. Kim is still 11^th as of 2037. RF Do-Un Chi won his eighth Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)