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FuzzyRussianHat · 05-20-2024, 05:57 AM

Three-time defending Eurasian Professional Baseball champ Minsk dominated the European League again, taking first at 104-58. Their world record postseason streak extended to 23 seasons with their 16^th first place finish in that stretch. Moscow and St. Petersburg tied for second at 91-71 with the one-game playoff going to the Mules. Moscow earned its second playoff berth in three years. Kazan, who topped the standings the prior season, dropped to fourth at 85-77.

European League MVP was St. Petersburg 1B Taimuraz Antropov. The 29-year old Russian led in hits (179), RBI (102), total bases (319), OBP (.341), slugging (.529), OPS (.870), wRC+ (201), and WAR (9.0). Antropov added 36 home runs, a .297 average, and a Gold Glove. The Polar Bears would sign him to a three-year, $14,680,000 extension just before the 2005 season.

Minsk ace Markiyan Konoplya earned a fourth straight Pitcher of the Year. The 29-year old Ukrainian was two wins short of a Triple Crown with a 20-7 record, 1.60 ERA, and 330 strikeouts over 270.2 innings. He also led in WAR (8.5), and FIP- (62). Konoplya joined Igor Bury and Matvey Ivanov as the only EPB pitchers to win POTY in four straight years.

Krasnoyarsk and Yekaterinburg were miles ahead of the rest of the Asian League. The Cossacks narrowly repeated as the first place team at 104-58, earning a third straight playoff berth. The Yaks were one game back at 103-57 for their fourth berth in five years. Yekaterinburg had a team ERA of 2.19, the third best in AL history. Omsk, last year’s ALCS winner, was a very distant third place at 83-79.

Asian League MVP went to Krasnoyarsk 3B Boxuan Long. The 28-year old from China led in doubles (44), total bases (317), triple slash (.315/.404/.567), OPS (.971), wRC+ (175), and WAR (8.5). Long added 31 home runs and 95 RBI. He had signed an eight-year, $21,100,000 extension with the Cossacks prior to the 2003 season.

Yekaterinburg’s Matvey Ivanov won a historic fifth straight Pitcher of the Year by tossing EPB’s seventh Triple Crown season for a pitcher. The 28-year old lefty had a 26-7 record, 1.24 ERA, and 392 strikeouts over 296.2 innings. Ivanov also led in WHIP (0.69), shutouts (7), FIP- (40), and WAR (13.5). His WAR total was the sixth best season by an EPB pitcher with the fifth-best WHIP and sixth best ERA. The highlight was the 31^st EPB perfect game on June 1 with 16 strikeouts against Novosibirsk. This was Ivanov’s second no-hitter of his career.

Minsk and Moscow met in a rematch of the 2001 European League Championship Series. It was a seven-game classic, but the Miners prevailed again for their fourth consecutive pennant. Minsk is the only EPB franchise to win four-in-a-row, having also done it from 1988-91. The Asian League Championship Series was also a 2001 rematch with Krasnoyarsk and Yekaterinburg. The Cossacks had home field, but the Yaks got revenge and pulled off the upset 4-2. This was Yekaterinburg’s second title in four years and their sixth pennant overall.

The 49^th EPB Championship was the fourth time Minsk and Yekaterinburg met for the title. The Yaks beat the Miners in the inaugural championship in 1955. Yekaterinburg won again in 1989, but Minsk took the most recent encounter in 2000, starting off their streak of three straight titles. The Yaks denied the Miners’ four-peat bid with sweep. Yekaterinburg now has four EPB rings; their three wins against Minsk plus their 1970 title versus Tirana. POTY Matvey Ivanov was finals MVP, going 3-0 in the postseason with a 1.45 ERA over 18.2 innings and 21 strikeouts.

Other notes: RF Sapar Durdyew won his tenth straight and final Gold Glove. Durdyew also secured a ninth straight Silver Slugger. SS Gleb Khassanov won his tenth Silver Slugger.

05-20-2024, 05:57 AM	#1260
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,910	2003 in EPB Three-time defending Eurasian Professional Baseball champ Minsk dominated the European League again, taking first at 104-58. Their world record postseason streak extended to 23 seasons with their 16^th first place finish in that stretch. Moscow and St. Petersburg tied for second at 91-71 with the one-game playoff going to the Mules. Moscow earned its second playoff berth in three years. Kazan, who topped the standings the prior season, dropped to fourth at 85-77. European League MVP was St. Petersburg 1B Taimuraz Antropov. The 29-year old Russian led in hits (179), RBI (102), total bases (319), OBP (.341), slugging (.529), OPS (.870), wRC+ (201), and WAR (9.0). Antropov added 36 home runs, a .297 average, and a Gold Glove. The Polar Bears would sign him to a three-year, $14,680,000 extension just before the 2005 season. Minsk ace Markiyan Konoplya earned a fourth straight Pitcher of the Year. The 29-year old Ukrainian was two wins short of a Triple Crown with a 20-7 record, 1.60 ERA, and 330 strikeouts over 270.2 innings. He also led in WAR (8.5), and FIP- (62). Konoplya joined Igor Bury and Matvey Ivanov as the only EPB pitchers to win POTY in four straight years. Krasnoyarsk and Yekaterinburg were miles ahead of the rest of the Asian League. The Cossacks narrowly repeated as the first place team at 104-58, earning a third straight playoff berth. The Yaks were one game back at 103-57 for their fourth berth in five years. Yekaterinburg had a team ERA of 2.19, the third best in AL history. Omsk, last year’s ALCS winner, was a very distant third place at 83-79. Asian League MVP went to Krasnoyarsk 3B Boxuan Long. The 28-year old from China led in doubles (44), total bases (317), triple slash (.315/.404/.567), OPS (.971), wRC+ (175), and WAR (8.5). Long added 31 home runs and 95 RBI. He had signed an eight-year, $21,100,000 extension with the Cossacks prior to the 2003 season. Yekaterinburg’s Matvey Ivanov won a historic fifth straight Pitcher of the Year by tossing EPB’s seventh Triple Crown season for a pitcher. The 28-year old lefty had a 26-7 record, 1.24 ERA, and 392 strikeouts over 296.2 innings. Ivanov also led in WHIP (0.69), shutouts (7), FIP- (40), and WAR (13.5). His WAR total was the sixth best season by an EPB pitcher with the fifth-best WHIP and sixth best ERA. The highlight was the 31^st EPB perfect game on June 1 with 16 strikeouts against Novosibirsk. This was Ivanov’s second no-hitter of his career. Minsk and Moscow met in a rematch of the 2001 European League Championship Series. It was a seven-game classic, but the Miners prevailed again for their fourth consecutive pennant. Minsk is the only EPB franchise to win four-in-a-row, having also done it from 1988-91. The Asian League Championship Series was also a 2001 rematch with Krasnoyarsk and Yekaterinburg. The Cossacks had home field, but the Yaks got revenge and pulled off the upset 4-2. This was Yekaterinburg’s second title in four years and their sixth pennant overall. The 49^th EPB Championship was the fourth time Minsk and Yekaterinburg met for the title. The Yaks beat the Miners in the inaugural championship in 1955. Yekaterinburg won again in 1989, but Minsk took the most recent encounter in 2000, starting off their streak of three straight titles. The Yaks denied the Miners’ four-peat bid with sweep. Yekaterinburg now has four EPB rings; their three wins against Minsk plus their 1970 title versus Tirana. POTY Matvey Ivanov was finals MVP, going 3-0 in the postseason with a 1.45 ERA over 18.2 innings and 21 strikeouts. Other notes: RF Sapar Durdyew won his tenth straight and final Gold Glove. Durdyew also secured a ninth straight Silver Slugger. SS Gleb Khassanov won his tenth Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)