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FuzzyRussianHat · 07-04-2024, 12:55 PM

2007 saw a shakeup in the European League with Volgograd a surprise first place at 91-71. The Voyagers became the first of the 2000 expansion teams to earn a playoff spot. Defending Eurasian Professional Baseball champion Moscow was a close second at 89-73, growing their playoff streak to three seasons. St. Petersburg was third at 86-76 and Kazan was fourth at 83-79.

Also historic was Minsk in sixth at 78-84. This was only the third-ever losing season for the Miners, joining the 1978 and 1980 campaigns. They’ve now missed the playoffs three years running after only missing thrice in 50 years from 1955-2004.

St. Petersburg RF Jov Sakharov won his fourth consecutive European League MVP. The 29-year old Russian righty led in hits (168), triples (14), RBI (99), total bases (326), slugging (.556), and WAR (9.7). Sakharov also had 35 home runs and a .287 batting average. The Polar Bears had given their icon an eight-year, $32,760,000 extension the prior summer.

In his second year with St. Petersburg, Markiyan Konoplya won his seventh Pitcher of the Year award. The 33-year old Ukrainian had won the previous five with Minsk and joined Matvey Ivanov as the only EPB pitchers to win 7+ POTYs. Konoplya led in ERA (1.71), strikeouts (293), WHIP (0.80), shutouts (7), FIP- (58), and WAR (8.4). It was his eighth straight year leading in Ks. Konoplya also had a 13-11 record over 247 innings.

Yekaterinburg finished first in the Asian League standings for the fourth straight season and earned their eighth playoff berth in nine years. The reigning AL champ went 100-62, earning a fifth straight 100+ win season. Ufa had a big turnaround from 65 wins to 91-71, earning the wild card and their first playoff berth since 1998. The Fiends edged Novosibirsk by two and Krasnoyarsk by seven for the wild card.

Yaks DH Sarxan Niftaliyev was the Asian League MVP in his 12^th season. It was his third MVP, having previously won way back in 1999 and 2000. The 34-year old Russian lefty had 37 home runs, 118 RBI, a .296/.353/.532 slash, and 5.9 WAR. This ended his impressive run with Yekaterinburg, as Niftaliyev took a three-year, $10,880,000 free agency deal with Minsk in the offseason.

Yekaterinburg ace Matvey Ivanov won a historic ninth consecutive Pitcher of the year. He joined CABA’s Junior Vergara and BSA’s Lazaro Rodriguez as the only players in any pro league to earn the feat. Ivanov is the only one to do his consecutively. The 32-year old Russian left won his seventh straight ERA title, posting a 1.94 mark.

Ivanov also led in strikeouts (329), innings (269.1), WHIP (0.79), K/BB (10.3), quality starts (23), complete games (20), FIP- (55), and WAR (9.8). His 20-10 record left him three wins short of another Triple Crown. Yekaterinburg gave him a five-year, $19,600,000 contract extension in the spring. His quest to be EPB’s all-time GOAT pitcher would see a setback soon with a damaged elbow ligament in early 2009.

Volgograd had home field advantage in their first-ever European League Championship Series, but they weren’t ready for the big time. Moscow swept them to repeat and earn a fifth pennant overall. In the Asian League Championship Series, Ufa was making their first appearance since 1967. They put up a nice fight, but lost to Yekaterinburg 4-2. For the Yaks, this was back-to-back titles, their fourth in five years, and their fifth of the 2000s.

In the prior year’s EPB Championship, Moscow edged Yekaterinburg in a seven game classic. The 53^rd finale was also a seven game thriller, but the Yaks got revenge over the Mules. This gave Yekaterinburg its third ring in five years as well as its sixth overall (1955, 1970, 1989, 2003, 2004, 2007). RF Vasili Maksymov was finals MVP in his 10^th season with the Yaks. In 13 playoff starts, he had 9 hits, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 homer, 3 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.

Other notes: CF Miroslaw Skowronek won his ninth Gold Glove.

07-04-2024, 12:55 PM	#1396
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,800	2007 in EPB 2007 saw a shakeup in the European League with Volgograd a surprise first place at 91-71. The Voyagers became the first of the 2000 expansion teams to earn a playoff spot. Defending Eurasian Professional Baseball champion Moscow was a close second at 89-73, growing their playoff streak to three seasons. St. Petersburg was third at 86-76 and Kazan was fourth at 83-79. Also historic was Minsk in sixth at 78-84. This was only the third-ever losing season for the Miners, joining the 1978 and 1980 campaigns. They’ve now missed the playoffs three years running after only missing thrice in 50 years from 1955-2004. St. Petersburg RF Jov Sakharov won his fourth consecutive European League MVP. The 29-year old Russian righty led in hits (168), triples (14), RBI (99), total bases (326), slugging (.556), and WAR (9.7). Sakharov also had 35 home runs and a .287 batting average. The Polar Bears had given their icon an eight-year, $32,760,000 extension the prior summer. In his second year with St. Petersburg, Markiyan Konoplya won his seventh Pitcher of the Year award. The 33-year old Ukrainian had won the previous five with Minsk and joined Matvey Ivanov as the only EPB pitchers to win 7+ POTYs. Konoplya led in ERA (1.71), strikeouts (293), WHIP (0.80), shutouts (7), FIP- (58), and WAR (8.4). It was his eighth straight year leading in Ks. Konoplya also had a 13-11 record over 247 innings. Yekaterinburg finished first in the Asian League standings for the fourth straight season and earned their eighth playoff berth in nine years. The reigning AL champ went 100-62, earning a fifth straight 100+ win season. Ufa had a big turnaround from 65 wins to 91-71, earning the wild card and their first playoff berth since 1998. The Fiends edged Novosibirsk by two and Krasnoyarsk by seven for the wild card. Yaks DH Sarxan Niftaliyev was the Asian League MVP in his 12^th season. It was his third MVP, having previously won way back in 1999 and 2000. The 34-year old Russian lefty had 37 home runs, 118 RBI, a .296/.353/.532 slash, and 5.9 WAR. This ended his impressive run with Yekaterinburg, as Niftaliyev took a three-year, $10,880,000 free agency deal with Minsk in the offseason. Yekaterinburg ace Matvey Ivanov won a historic ninth consecutive Pitcher of the year. He joined CABA’s Junior Vergara and BSA’s Lazaro Rodriguez as the only players in any pro league to earn the feat. Ivanov is the only one to do his consecutively. The 32-year old Russian left won his seventh straight ERA title, posting a 1.94 mark. Ivanov also led in strikeouts (329), innings (269.1), WHIP (0.79), K/BB (10.3), quality starts (23), complete games (20), FIP- (55), and WAR (9.8). His 20-10 record left him three wins short of another Triple Crown. Yekaterinburg gave him a five-year, $19,600,000 contract extension in the spring. His quest to be EPB’s all-time GOAT pitcher would see a setback soon with a damaged elbow ligament in early 2009. Volgograd had home field advantage in their first-ever European League Championship Series, but they weren’t ready for the big time. Moscow swept them to repeat and earn a fifth pennant overall. In the Asian League Championship Series, Ufa was making their first appearance since 1967. They put up a nice fight, but lost to Yekaterinburg 4-2. For the Yaks, this was back-to-back titles, their fourth in five years, and their fifth of the 2000s. In the prior year’s EPB Championship, Moscow edged Yekaterinburg in a seven game classic. The 53^rd finale was also a seven game thriller, but the Yaks got revenge over the Mules. This gave Yekaterinburg its third ring in five years as well as its sixth overall (1955, 1970, 1989, 2003, 2004, 2007). RF Vasili Maksymov was finals MVP in his 10^th season with the Yaks. In 13 playoff starts, he had 9 hits, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 homer, 3 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. Other notes: CF Miroslaw Skowronek won his ninth Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)