OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 05-06-2024, 03:24 PM

The 2002 World Baseball Championship was the 56^th edition of the event and the first to be hosted in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. In Division 1, Ukraine advanced at 7-2, edging out both Egypt and Sweden by one game. This was the seventh division title for the Ukrainians, although they hadn’t done it in a decade. The two-time reigning world champ United States grabbed D2 at 8-1, two games ahead of both Colombia and Ethiopia. It was the 47^th time getting to the elite eight for the Americans.

After a five year title drought, China advanced with an 8-1 record in Division 3, fending off a spirited 7-2 Bangladesh. This was the 20^th division title for the Chinese. Division 4 saw a tie for first at 7-2 between Japan and Poland. The head-to-head tiebreaker went to the Japanese, advancing for the 16^th time. They ended their own significant drought dating back to 1989. Russia, last year’s runner-up, tied for fourth in the division at 5-4.

Cuba claimed a tough Division 5 at 8-1, beating both Argentina and Australia by one game. This was the fifth division win for the Cubans, who last did it in 1993. Division 6 went to 8-1 England, besting Brazil by one game. It was the sixth division title for the English, who last made it in 1999. The Brazilians are now on a three-year drought for the first time since the early 1980s.

In Division 7, Spain and the Netherlands tied at 6-3, while the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Tanzania were each 5-4. The Dutch had the head-to-head tiebreaker, moving on for the sixth time and the first time since 1989. In D8, Germany rolled at 8-1, while Indonesia, Italy, Myanmar, and Pakistan were each 6-3. The Germans now have eight division titles, ending a drought back to their 1991 runner-up effort. With that, the defending champion US was the only team in the playoff field who also was in the field in either 2001 or 2000. For the first time since 1983 as well, half of the division winners were European teams.

The United States dominated Round Robin Group A at 6-0, earning a third straight semifinal berth and a 41^st final four appearance. Germany took second at 3-3, while the Netherlands was 2-4 and Cuba was 1-5. The Germans picked up their fifth-ever semifinal appearance. In Group B, Japan and China both advanced at 4-2, while both Ukraine and England finished 2-4. It was the seventh semifinal for the Japanese and 15^th for the Chinese.

The Americans won their semi 3-1 against Japan to earn an unprecedented 37^th championship appearance. China and Germany went the distance with the Chinese surviving in five games. That earned China its tenth championship berth and first since 1996. Germany officially was third and Japan was fourth, which was the best finish for either nation in more than a decade.

The 56^th World Championship was the sixth finals meeting between the United States and China. The Americans won in their 1971, 74, 75, and 96 encounters, while the lone Chinese win came in 1994. That was the most recent world title for China, with their most recent appearance being the 1996 loss. The series was a classic, the first to go all seven games since Canada’s epic win over the Chinese in 1995. China took the series to deny another American three-peat. The win makes China 5-5 all-time in the final with titles in 1970, 79, 93, 94, and now 2002. The US sits at 32-5 in their finals tries.

Although Japan lost in the semifinal, they had the tournament MVP and Best Pitcher. The former was RF Koji Iwasaki, a 28-year old fresh off a 71 home run season with Saitama. In 19 starts, Iwasaki had 27 hits, 21 runs, 4 doubles, 12 home runs, 23 RBI, a .342/.391/.848 slash, 255 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR. Natsu Kishimoto won Best Pitcher, a 24-year old lefty for Kyoto. He tossed 10.2 scoreless innings in three appearances with 17 strikeouts, one walk, and five this allowed.

Other notes: For the entire event, the United States compiled 269 hits as a team, setting a new WBC record. This would remain the high until the Americans beat it in 2031 with 272 hits. Taiwan’s Ying-Shan Hu became the ninth player to hit for the cycle in the WBC, doing it against Switzerland. With their title, China is now tied with Mexico for fourth in the all-time tournament stats.

05-06-2024, 03:24 PM	#1220
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,804	2002 World Baseball Championship The 2002 World Baseball Championship was the 56^th edition of the event and the first to be hosted in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. In Division 1, Ukraine advanced at 7-2, edging out both Egypt and Sweden by one game. This was the seventh division title for the Ukrainians, although they hadn’t done it in a decade. The two-time reigning world champ United States grabbed D2 at 8-1, two games ahead of both Colombia and Ethiopia. It was the 47^th time getting to the elite eight for the Americans. After a five year title drought, China advanced with an 8-1 record in Division 3, fending off a spirited 7-2 Bangladesh. This was the 20^th division title for the Chinese. Division 4 saw a tie for first at 7-2 between Japan and Poland. The head-to-head tiebreaker went to the Japanese, advancing for the 16^th time. They ended their own significant drought dating back to 1989. Russia, last year’s runner-up, tied for fourth in the division at 5-4. Cuba claimed a tough Division 5 at 8-1, beating both Argentina and Australia by one game. This was the fifth division win for the Cubans, who last did it in 1993. Division 6 went to 8-1 England, besting Brazil by one game. It was the sixth division title for the English, who last made it in 1999. The Brazilians are now on a three-year drought for the first time since the early 1980s. In Division 7, Spain and the Netherlands tied at 6-3, while the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Tanzania were each 5-4. The Dutch had the head-to-head tiebreaker, moving on for the sixth time and the first time since 1989. In D8, Germany rolled at 8-1, while Indonesia, Italy, Myanmar, and Pakistan were each 6-3. The Germans now have eight division titles, ending a drought back to their 1991 runner-up effort. With that, the defending champion US was the only team in the playoff field who also was in the field in either 2001 or 2000. For the first time since 1983 as well, half of the division winners were European teams. The United States dominated Round Robin Group A at 6-0, earning a third straight semifinal berth and a 41^st final four appearance. Germany took second at 3-3, while the Netherlands was 2-4 and Cuba was 1-5. The Germans picked up their fifth-ever semifinal appearance. In Group B, Japan and China both advanced at 4-2, while both Ukraine and England finished 2-4. It was the seventh semifinal for the Japanese and 15^th for the Chinese. The Americans won their semi 3-1 against Japan to earn an unprecedented 37^th championship appearance. China and Germany went the distance with the Chinese surviving in five games. That earned China its tenth championship berth and first since 1996. Germany officially was third and Japan was fourth, which was the best finish for either nation in more than a decade. The 56^th World Championship was the sixth finals meeting between the United States and China. The Americans won in their 1971, 74, 75, and 96 encounters, while the lone Chinese win came in 1994. That was the most recent world title for China, with their most recent appearance being the 1996 loss. The series was a classic, the first to go all seven games since Canada’s epic win over the Chinese in 1995. China took the series to deny another American three-peat. The win makes China 5-5 all-time in the final with titles in 1970, 79, 93, 94, and now 2002. The US sits at 32-5 in their finals tries. Although Japan lost in the semifinal, they had the tournament MVP and Best Pitcher. The former was RF Koji Iwasaki, a 28-year old fresh off a 71 home run season with Saitama. In 19 starts, Iwasaki had 27 hits, 21 runs, 4 doubles, 12 home runs, 23 RBI, a .342/.391/.848 slash, 255 wRC+, and 2.1 WAR. Natsu Kishimoto won Best Pitcher, a 24-year old lefty for Kyoto. He tossed 10.2 scoreless innings in three appearances with 17 strikeouts, one walk, and five this allowed. Other notes: For the entire event, the United States compiled 269 hits as a team, setting a new WBC record. This would remain the high until the Americans beat it in 2031 with 272 hits. Taiwan’s Ying-Shan Hu became the ninth player to hit for the cycle in the WBC, doing it against Switzerland. With their title, China is now tied with Mexico for fourth in the all-time tournament stats. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)