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FuzzyRussianHat · 09-03-2024, 02:49 PM

Only five wins separated the top seed in the Mexican League from the wild cards. At 92-70, Juarez took the top mark and won their first North Division title since 2006. The Jesters did get back-to-back playoff berths. Both wild cards were in the division with defending ML champ Chihuahua and Monterrey both at 87-75. It was repeat playoff berths for both squads. In the North, Torreon was four games back on the wild card squads and Hermosillo was six away.

Ecatepec’s reign in the South Division continued, but barely. The Explosion finished 87-75 for their sixth straight division title and their 18^th division win in 20 years. Puebla (86-76) was only one game short of Ecatepec and the wild cards. Merida (84-78), Mexico City (83-79), Guadalajara (81-81) and even Leon (80-82) and Queretaro (80-82) had a legit shot. Despite the tight races, the Mexican League ended up with the same four playoff teams as the prior year.

For the third time in four years, Ecatepec’s Casimiro Salceda won Mexican League MVP. The 36-year old Mexican first baseman led in hits (224), runs (127), doubles (45), RBI (143), total bases (437), triple slash (.365/.415/.712), OPS (1.126), wRC+ (209), and WAR (9.7). Salceda’s 50 home runs left him two short of a Triple Crown. He also became the 26^th to reach 1500 career RBI and the 47^th to reach 2500 career hits. Salceda played one more season with the Explosion before playing three final seasons with Honduras.

Pitcher of the Year went to Hermosillo’s Jamarca Akim. In his third season as a starter, the 23-year old Jamaican righty led in WAR (8.1), FIP- (64), and shutouts (4). Akim added a 2.69 ERA over 254 innings, 16-9 record, 278 strikeouts, and 138 ERA+. Notably on September 1, he tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks versus Mexico City. The Hyenas wisely locked Akim up to be their ace long-term with a six-year, $66,000,000 extension in November.

Despite the closeness in the standings, both division champs earned first round playoff sweeps with Juarez over Chihuahua and Ecatepec over Monterrey. These two had been finals rivals in the early 2000s with the Jesters earning their first Mexican League Championship Series appearance since their 2005-06 repeat pennants. For the Explosion, it was their sixth straight MLCS and their 17^th time in the MLCS in 20 years.

In a seven-game classic, Juarez edged Ecatepec to earn their 12^th Mexican League title. Recent results haven’t favored the Explosion, who are now 1-6 in their last seven MLCS berths. Ecatepec is 8-9 overall over the last 20 MLCS tries.

Reigning CABA Champion Honduras led the way in the Caribbean League at 106-56. They had won last year as a wild card, earning their first Continental Division title since 2007. It was a tight race in the Island Division with Santo Domingo (98-64) edging Haiti (97-65) by one game. The Dolphins repeated as division champs and earned a fourth straight playoff berth. The Herons returned to the playoffs after having their 14-year streak stopped in 2011.

For the second wild card, Nicaragua and Panama tied at 93-69 with Jamaica two behind at 91-71. The Parrots won a tiebreaker game over the Navigators for their second wild card in five years. This is big for a traditionally weak Panama, whose last berth prior to this run was their 1946 championship season. The Navigators saw their four-year streak end, having been the #1 seed with 100+ wins in the prior three seasons.

Costa Rica at 72-90 was a non-factor, but their first baseman Juan Castro won Caribbean League MVP. It was his second MVP, having also won it way back In 2005. The 33-year old Panamanian righty led in OPS (1.034) and wRC+ (171). Castro had 7.1 WAR, a .332 average, 199 hits, 114 runs, 53 home runs, and 113 RBI.

Pitcher of the Year was Panama’s Ricky Tejada in a surprise breakout season. The 29-year old Honduran pitched the most innings (268.2) and had four shutouts. Tejeda had a 2.61 ERA, 180 strikeouts, 19-6 record, 152 ERA+, and 6.0 WAR. This would be his last year with the Parrots, signing with his home country squad in the winter for six years and $79,100,000. Unfortunately for the Horsemen, Tejeda’s production would be subpar for them.

The division champs rolled to first round sweeps with Honduras downing Panama and Santo Domingo rolling Haiti. Although the Dolphins had been a playoff regular recently, they hadn’t gotten to the Caribbean League Championship Series since 1994. Honduras was the major favorite to repeat with home field advantage, but SD pulled off the upset 4-2. Santo Domingo won its 13^th pennant and ended a 27-year title drought going back to their 1980s dynasty.

The 102^nd Central American Baseball Association Championship rekindled the 1980s battles of Santo Domingo and Juarez. The Jesters beat the Dolphins in the 1981 for their most recent title, while SD got revenge in 1982 and 1994. Santo Domingo’s most recent win had come in 1985 against Hermosillo. For excitement, the series would be a dud with the Dolphins sweeping Juarez for their eighth CABA title.

That put Santo Domingo at 8-5 all-time in the championship, while the Jesters fell to a lackluster 3-9. LF Nicolas Espinoza was finals MVP, having signed with the Dolphins for 2012 after eight seasons with Tijuana. In 12 playoff starts, he had 15 hits, 8 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, and 11 RBI. With eight titles, SD was tied with Monterrey, Honduras, and Ecatepec for the second-most. Mexico City remained the all-time leader with ten rings.

Other notes: Yonder Aguirre became the 44^th member of the 500 home run club. Ian Paniagua became the 27^th pitcher to reach 3500 career strikeouts. Vicente Gonzalez became only the third to 400 career saves. He retired in 2012 with 402, which ranks fourth all-time in 2037.

09-03-2024, 02:49 PM	#1579
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,174	2012 in CABA Only five wins separated the top seed in the Mexican League from the wild cards. At 92-70, Juarez took the top mark and won their first North Division title since 2006. The Jesters did get back-to-back playoff berths. Both wild cards were in the division with defending ML champ Chihuahua and Monterrey both at 87-75. It was repeat playoff berths for both squads. In the North, Torreon was four games back on the wild card squads and Hermosillo was six away. Ecatepec’s reign in the South Division continued, but barely. The Explosion finished 87-75 for their sixth straight division title and their 18^th division win in 20 years. Puebla (86-76) was only one game short of Ecatepec and the wild cards. Merida (84-78), Mexico City (83-79), Guadalajara (81-81) and even Leon (80-82) and Queretaro (80-82) had a legit shot. Despite the tight races, the Mexican League ended up with the same four playoff teams as the prior year. For the third time in four years, Ecatepec’s Casimiro Salceda won Mexican League MVP. The 36-year old Mexican first baseman led in hits (224), runs (127), doubles (45), RBI (143), total bases (437), triple slash (.365/.415/.712), OPS (1.126), wRC+ (209), and WAR (9.7). Salceda’s 50 home runs left him two short of a Triple Crown. He also became the 26^th to reach 1500 career RBI and the 47^th to reach 2500 career hits. Salceda played one more season with the Explosion before playing three final seasons with Honduras. Pitcher of the Year went to Hermosillo’s Jamarca Akim. In his third season as a starter, the 23-year old Jamaican righty led in WAR (8.1), FIP- (64), and shutouts (4). Akim added a 2.69 ERA over 254 innings, 16-9 record, 278 strikeouts, and 138 ERA+. Notably on September 1, he tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and two walks versus Mexico City. The Hyenas wisely locked Akim up to be their ace long-term with a six-year, $66,000,000 extension in November. Despite the closeness in the standings, both division champs earned first round playoff sweeps with Juarez over Chihuahua and Ecatepec over Monterrey. These two had been finals rivals in the early 2000s with the Jesters earning their first Mexican League Championship Series appearance since their 2005-06 repeat pennants. For the Explosion, it was their sixth straight MLCS and their 17^th time in the MLCS in 20 years. In a seven-game classic, Juarez edged Ecatepec to earn their 12^th Mexican League title. Recent results haven’t favored the Explosion, who are now 1-6 in their last seven MLCS berths. Ecatepec is 8-9 overall over the last 20 MLCS tries. Reigning CABA Champion Honduras led the way in the Caribbean League at 106-56. They had won last year as a wild card, earning their first Continental Division title since 2007. It was a tight race in the Island Division with Santo Domingo (98-64) edging Haiti (97-65) by one game. The Dolphins repeated as division champs and earned a fourth straight playoff berth. The Herons returned to the playoffs after having their 14-year streak stopped in 2011. For the second wild card, Nicaragua and Panama tied at 93-69 with Jamaica two behind at 91-71. The Parrots won a tiebreaker game over the Navigators for their second wild card in five years. This is big for a traditionally weak Panama, whose last berth prior to this run was their 1946 championship season. The Navigators saw their four-year streak end, having been the #1 seed with 100+ wins in the prior three seasons. Costa Rica at 72-90 was a non-factor, but their first baseman Juan Castro won Caribbean League MVP. It was his second MVP, having also won it way back In 2005. The 33-year old Panamanian righty led in OPS (1.034) and wRC+ (171). Castro had 7.1 WAR, a .332 average, 199 hits, 114 runs, 53 home runs, and 113 RBI. Pitcher of the Year was Panama’s Ricky Tejada in a surprise breakout season. The 29-year old Honduran pitched the most innings (268.2) and had four shutouts. Tejeda had a 2.61 ERA, 180 strikeouts, 19-6 record, 152 ERA+, and 6.0 WAR. This would be his last year with the Parrots, signing with his home country squad in the winter for six years and $79,100,000. Unfortunately for the Horsemen, Tejeda’s production would be subpar for them. The division champs rolled to first round sweeps with Honduras downing Panama and Santo Domingo rolling Haiti. Although the Dolphins had been a playoff regular recently, they hadn’t gotten to the Caribbean League Championship Series since 1994. Honduras was the major favorite to repeat with home field advantage, but SD pulled off the upset 4-2. Santo Domingo won its 13^th pennant and ended a 27-year title drought going back to their 1980s dynasty. The 102^nd Central American Baseball Association Championship rekindled the 1980s battles of Santo Domingo and Juarez. The Jesters beat the Dolphins in the 1981 for their most recent title, while SD got revenge in 1982 and 1994. Santo Domingo’s most recent win had come in 1985 against Hermosillo. For excitement, the series would be a dud with the Dolphins sweeping Juarez for their eighth CABA title. That put Santo Domingo at 8-5 all-time in the championship, while the Jesters fell to a lackluster 3-9. LF Nicolas Espinoza was finals MVP, having signed with the Dolphins for 2012 after eight seasons with Tijuana. In 12 playoff starts, he had 15 hits, 8 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, and 11 RBI. With eight titles, SD was tied with Monterrey, Honduras, and Ecatepec for the second-most. Mexico City remained the all-time leader with ten rings. Other notes: Yonder Aguirre became the 44^th member of the 500 home run club. Ian Paniagua became the 27^th pitcher to reach 3500 career strikeouts. Vicente Gonzalez became only the third to 400 career saves. He retired in 2012 with 402, which ranks fourth all-time in 2037. __________________ 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)