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FuzzyRussianHat · 07-11-2024, 01:23 PM

The 2008 World Baseball Championship was the 62^nd edition of the event and was hosted in Argentina for the second time, this time centered in Cordoba. In Division 1, Ethiopia advanced at 7-2, edging out 6-3 efforts by Algeria and Taiwan. It was the second division win for the Ethiopians, who also did it in 2006. The defending world champion United States was the lone unbeaten team, rolling to 9-0 in Division 2. It was the 51^st time the Americans made it to the elite eight.

Turkey took Division 3 at 8-1, beating last year’s runner-up China by one game and the Philippines by two. This was Turkey’s fourth division title and their second in three years. Division 4 had a tie for first at 6-3 between the Netherlands and Japan, while Brazil, Guatemala, and Myanmar were each 5-4. The Dutch had the tiebreaker for their seventh division win and first since 2002.

Russia won Division 5 at 7-2, defeating neighbor Finland by one and four others by two. This was the 15^th division win for the Russians and first since their 2001 runner-up campaign. D6 went to 8-1 Australia, who topped both Italy and South Korea by two. This was the fifth division win for the Australians, ending a ten year title drought.

Mexico claimed Division 7 at 8-1 with Spain, Nigeria, and Israel all at 6-3. The Mexicans advanced for the 27^th time and joined the US as the only teams to earn repeat division titles this year. Indonesia prevailed at 8-1 in Division 8 with Pakistan the closest foe at 6-3. The Indonesians moved forward for the 18^th time with their first title since 2003.

The United States won Round Robin Group A at 4-2, continuing their dominance with a 45^th semifinal berth. The Netherlands and Turkey tied at 3-3 and Mexico was 2-4. The Dutch took the tiebreaker for their second-ever semifinal appearance, joining their fourth place finish back in 1989.

Ethiopia and Indonesia tied for the top spot in Group B at 4-2, while both Russia and Australia were 2-4. It was the first-ever semifinal for the Ethiopians and the 11^th for the Indonesians, who last did it as the runner-up in 2000. Ethiopia joined Nigeria as the only African nations thus far to make it to the final four.

The United States defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the semifinal for a 41^st finals appearance and their seventh of the 2000s. The Netherlands swept Ethiopia to give the Dutch their first finals appearance. The Indonesians were officially third for the fourth time, while Ethiopia’s fourth place was a new best.

The Americans dominated the Dutch with a sweep in the 62^nd World Championship, giving the US back-to-back titles and their sixth of the decade. The Americans are now 36-5 all-time in the championship. The Netherlands became the 23^rd unique nation to earn a trip to the championship series

Fifth-year Virginia Beach RF Ezekiel Thomas was the Tournament MVP and earned it with a historic effort. In 23 starts, the New Yorker had 39 hits, 31 runs, 8 doubles, 18 home runs, 46 RBI, 101 total bases, a .390/.443/1.010 slash, 313 wRC+, and 3.5 WAR. The 46 RBI broke Connor Neumeyer’s record of 40 from 1972 and still remains the top mark as of 2037.

Thomas also tied Adam Lewis’s hits record from 1951 and set a new position player WAR record with 3.49, passing Neumeyer’s 3.48. He missed the runs record and homer record both by two behind Neumeyer’s 1972. As of 2037, Thomas’s 2008 effort is still second in WAR, fifth in homers, fourth in hits, and eighth in runs.

The Americans also had the best pitcher in TJ Douglas, the reigning American Association Reliever of the Year with Houston. The 28-year old Texan had two starts and six relief appearances, tossing 23.2 scoreless innings with 62 strikeouts, 6 walks, and only 3 hits allowed.

Other notes: 2008 had two no-hitters in the WBC with the first by Ecuador’s Nacho Toscano with 10 strikeouts and two walks against Serbia. Belgium’s Yannick de Vries had the other with 15 Ks and 4 walks versus Guatemala. Below are the updated all-time tournament stats. Indonesia’s third place allowed them to pass Japan for the seventh place spot all-time.

07-11-2024, 01:23 PM	#1417
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,897	2008 World Baseball Championship The 2008 World Baseball Championship was the 62^nd edition of the event and was hosted in Argentina for the second time, this time centered in Cordoba. In Division 1, Ethiopia advanced at 7-2, edging out 6-3 efforts by Algeria and Taiwan. It was the second division win for the Ethiopians, who also did it in 2006. The defending world champion United States was the lone unbeaten team, rolling to 9-0 in Division 2. It was the 51^st time the Americans made it to the elite eight. Turkey took Division 3 at 8-1, beating last year’s runner-up China by one game and the Philippines by two. This was Turkey’s fourth division title and their second in three years. Division 4 had a tie for first at 6-3 between the Netherlands and Japan, while Brazil, Guatemala, and Myanmar were each 5-4. The Dutch had the tiebreaker for their seventh division win and first since 2002. Russia won Division 5 at 7-2, defeating neighbor Finland by one and four others by two. This was the 15^th division win for the Russians and first since their 2001 runner-up campaign. D6 went to 8-1 Australia, who topped both Italy and South Korea by two. This was the fifth division win for the Australians, ending a ten year title drought. Mexico claimed Division 7 at 8-1 with Spain, Nigeria, and Israel all at 6-3. The Mexicans advanced for the 27^th time and joined the US as the only teams to earn repeat division titles this year. Indonesia prevailed at 8-1 in Division 8 with Pakistan the closest foe at 6-3. The Indonesians moved forward for the 18^th time with their first title since 2003. The United States won Round Robin Group A at 4-2, continuing their dominance with a 45^th semifinal berth. The Netherlands and Turkey tied at 3-3 and Mexico was 2-4. The Dutch took the tiebreaker for their second-ever semifinal appearance, joining their fourth place finish back in 1989. Ethiopia and Indonesia tied for the top spot in Group B at 4-2, while both Russia and Australia were 2-4. It was the first-ever semifinal for the Ethiopians and the 11^th for the Indonesians, who last did it as the runner-up in 2000. Ethiopia joined Nigeria as the only African nations thus far to make it to the final four. The United States defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the semifinal for a 41^st finals appearance and their seventh of the 2000s. The Netherlands swept Ethiopia to give the Dutch their first finals appearance. The Indonesians were officially third for the fourth time, while Ethiopia’s fourth place was a new best. The Americans dominated the Dutch with a sweep in the 62^nd World Championship, giving the US back-to-back titles and their sixth of the decade. The Americans are now 36-5 all-time in the championship. The Netherlands became the 23^rd unique nation to earn a trip to the championship series Fifth-year Virginia Beach RF Ezekiel Thomas was the Tournament MVP and earned it with a historic effort. In 23 starts, the New Yorker had 39 hits, 31 runs, 8 doubles, 18 home runs, 46 RBI, 101 total bases, a .390/.443/1.010 slash, 313 wRC+, and 3.5 WAR. The 46 RBI broke Connor Neumeyer’s record of 40 from 1972 and still remains the top mark as of 2037. Thomas also tied Adam Lewis’s hits record from 1951 and set a new position player WAR record with 3.49, passing Neumeyer’s 3.48. He missed the runs record and homer record both by two behind Neumeyer’s 1972. As of 2037, Thomas’s 2008 effort is still second in WAR, fifth in homers, fourth in hits, and eighth in runs. The Americans also had the best pitcher in TJ Douglas, the reigning American Association Reliever of the Year with Houston. The 28-year old Texan had two starts and six relief appearances, tossing 23.2 scoreless innings with 62 strikeouts, 6 walks, and only 3 hits allowed. Other notes: 2008 had two no-hitters in the WBC with the first by Ecuador’s Nacho Toscano with 10 strikeouts and two walks against Serbia. Belgium’s Yannick de Vries had the other with 15 Ks and 4 walks versus Guatemala. Below are the updated all-time tournament stats. Indonesia’s third place allowed them to pass Japan for the seventh place spot all-time. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)