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FuzzyRussianHat · 05-19-2024, 06:06 PM

For the first time since 1987, Melbourne won the Australasia League title. It was the sixth pennant for the Mets along with their 1967-70 dynasty. Adelaide was their only real competitor, six games back in second at 94-68. Reigning Oceania Champion Brisbane fell to fifth place at 77-85.

Melbourne shortstop Tyler Straw won his third MVP in four years. The 26-year old posted the fifth Triple Crown season by an OBA hitter with 61 home runs, 149 RBI, and a .321 average. His RBI tally and his 135 runs were both the second-most in OBA history. Straw also led in total bases (421), slugging (.711), OPS (1.097), wRC+ (186), and WAR (12.4). This was the most WAR by a position player in OBA not named Jimmy Caliw (Caliw has the top five seasons, Straw is sixth). Straw certainly lived up to the eight-year, $28,920,000 extension he had signed the prior winter.

Pitcher of the Year was fourth-year Adelaide lefty Jarome Galuvao. The 25-year old from American Samoa led in wins (26-6), ERA (2.13), WHIP (1.02), quality starts (32), FIP- (64), and WAR (10.1). He also struck out 265 batters over 304.2 innings.

The Pacific League had an intense battle for the top spot between defending champ Fiji and Tahiti. Both finished 105-57, requiring a one-game playoff for the title. The Tropics won over the Freedom, earning their first pennant since 1976. It was Tahiti’s sixth pennant overall. The Freedom posted the second-best record in OBA history by a second place team, only behind Honolulu’s 108-win 1992.

Tahiti LF Arjita Gabeja won his second Pacific League MVP in three years. The 24-year old Fijian lefty led in runs (127), home runs (58), RBI (141), total bases (404), OBP (.394), slugging (.697), OPS (1.091), wRC+ (206), and WAR (9.1). Gabeja’s .329 average was nine points shy of earning a Triple Crown. Tahiti locked up Gabeja in the offseason with an eight-year, $29,560,000 deal.

New Caledonia’s Crow Xue repeated as Pitcher of the Year in his third season. The 25-year old Hongkonger led in ERA (2.07), innings (344), quality starts (35), and shutouts (5). He added 10.9 WAR and 314 strikeouts for a 22-12 record. The Colonels would give Xue a six-year, $21,680,000 extension after the 2004 campaign.

Also worth noting was Honolulu 2B Kalos Ryniker, who won Rookie of the Year. He set a record for the most WAR by a ROTY winner with 8.8. The Solomon Islander led in hits with 200 and added 37 home runs, 119 RBI, and a .331/.360/.568 slash.

The 44^th Oceania Championship was a seven game classic. Tahiti edged Melbourne to earn their third overall title (1965, 1975, 2003). For the fifth time in six years, the finals went seven games. Rookie 1B Jimmy Moreno was finals MVP as the 22-year old Filipino had 14 hits, 5 runs, 5 doubles, and 4 RBI over 7 playoff starts.

Other notes: Melbourne’s George Philip set a playoff record, drawing nine walks. Fiji as a team had 259 doubles and Samoa had 103 triples, both of which were Pacific League records. In a bad record, Honolulu’s Omar Ba allowed 63 home runs. Tahiti’s Jimmy Moreno became the seventh OBA hitter to record a six-hit game. After three consecutive seasons without a single no-hitter, three were thrown in 2003. Adelaide’s Joel Landry notably struck out 16 against Sydney, tying the OBA record for Ks in a no-no. SS Jay Lawrence won his 11^th Gold Glove.

05-19-2024, 06:06 PM	#1259
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,207	2003 in OBA For the first time since 1987, Melbourne won the Australasia League title. It was the sixth pennant for the Mets along with their 1967-70 dynasty. Adelaide was their only real competitor, six games back in second at 94-68. Reigning Oceania Champion Brisbane fell to fifth place at 77-85. Melbourne shortstop Tyler Straw won his third MVP in four years. The 26-year old posted the fifth Triple Crown season by an OBA hitter with 61 home runs, 149 RBI, and a .321 average. His RBI tally and his 135 runs were both the second-most in OBA history. Straw also led in total bases (421), slugging (.711), OPS (1.097), wRC+ (186), and WAR (12.4). This was the most WAR by a position player in OBA not named Jimmy Caliw (Caliw has the top five seasons, Straw is sixth). Straw certainly lived up to the eight-year, $28,920,000 extension he had signed the prior winter. Pitcher of the Year was fourth-year Adelaide lefty Jarome Galuvao. The 25-year old from American Samoa led in wins (26-6), ERA (2.13), WHIP (1.02), quality starts (32), FIP- (64), and WAR (10.1). He also struck out 265 batters over 304.2 innings. The Pacific League had an intense battle for the top spot between defending champ Fiji and Tahiti. Both finished 105-57, requiring a one-game playoff for the title. The Tropics won over the Freedom, earning their first pennant since 1976. It was Tahiti’s sixth pennant overall. The Freedom posted the second-best record in OBA history by a second place team, only behind Honolulu’s 108-win 1992. Tahiti LF Arjita Gabeja won his second Pacific League MVP in three years. The 24-year old Fijian lefty led in runs (127), home runs (58), RBI (141), total bases (404), OBP (.394), slugging (.697), OPS (1.091), wRC+ (206), and WAR (9.1). Gabeja’s .329 average was nine points shy of earning a Triple Crown. Tahiti locked up Gabeja in the offseason with an eight-year, $29,560,000 deal. New Caledonia’s Crow Xue repeated as Pitcher of the Year in his third season. The 25-year old Hongkonger led in ERA (2.07), innings (344), quality starts (35), and shutouts (5). He added 10.9 WAR and 314 strikeouts for a 22-12 record. The Colonels would give Xue a six-year, $21,680,000 extension after the 2004 campaign. Also worth noting was Honolulu 2B Kalos Ryniker, who won Rookie of the Year. He set a record for the most WAR by a ROTY winner with 8.8. The Solomon Islander led in hits with 200 and added 37 home runs, 119 RBI, and a .331/.360/.568 slash. The 44^th Oceania Championship was a seven game classic. Tahiti edged Melbourne to earn their third overall title (1965, 1975, 2003). For the fifth time in six years, the finals went seven games. Rookie 1B Jimmy Moreno was finals MVP as the 22-year old Filipino had 14 hits, 5 runs, 5 doubles, and 4 RBI over 7 playoff starts. Other notes: Melbourne’s George Philip set a playoff record, drawing nine walks. Fiji as a team had 259 doubles and Samoa had 103 triples, both of which were Pacific League records. In a bad record, Honolulu’s Omar Ba allowed 63 home runs. Tahiti’s Jimmy Moreno became the seventh OBA hitter to record a six-hit game. After three consecutive seasons without a single no-hitter, three were thrown in 2003. Adelaide’s Joel Landry notably struck out 16 against Sydney, tying the OBA record for Ks in a no-no. SS Jay Lawrence won his 11^th Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)