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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-09-2024, 07:06 PM

The European League’s South Division had an intense battle between Voronezh and Volgograd for the EL’s top seed. The Zephyrs took it at 107-55, one game better than 106-56 Volgograd. Voronezh had the EL’s top record for the third time in four years. For the Voyagers, the expanded playoff meant they easily got the first wild card, although would have to play on the road. It was Volgograd’s second playoff berth (2007) since joining EPB in 2000. They were the top scoring teams in the EL by 100+ with Voronezh at 769 runs and Volgograd at 752.

Defending EL champ Moscow at 95-67 won the new North Division by 11 games, extending their playoff streak to three years. The Mules earned their sixth berth in seven years and allowed the fewest runs by a healthy margin at 483. For the second wild card, Minsk (84-78) narrowly edged out 83-79 efforts by St. Petersburg and Krasnodar. The Miners ended an eight-year playoff drought. Prior to that skid, Minsk had missed the playoffs only seven times total from 1955-2011.

Volgograd swept the top awards, led by European League MVP Roman Sheshukov. The 27-year old Russian center fielder was the WARlord (10.8) and won a Gold Glove. Sheshukov had a 1.005 OPS, 186 wRC+, 36 home runs, and 107 RBI. The Voyagers wisely gave him an eight-year, $56,600,000 extension prior to the 2020 season.

Sheshukov took the top honor despite the efforts of Voronezh 1B Zygmunt Socha, who posted the 11^th ever Triple Crown season by an EPB batter. The 28-year old Polish lefty had 49 home runs, 137 RBI, and a .334 average. Socha also led in OPS (1.017), wRC+ (190), runs (114), hits (199), and total bases (375). It was Sheshukov’s defense in CF and higher WAR (10.8 to 8.8) which got him MVP despite Socha’s impressive bat. Socha stayed one more year with the Zephyrs before leaving for MLB.

Repeating as Pitcher of the Year was Volgograd righty Svyatoslav Tyahnybok. The 26-year old Ukrainian righty led in wins with a 22-7 record. In his fifth season, Tyahnybok posted a 2.39 ERA over 271.1 innings, 336 strikeouts, 142 ERA+, and 8.8 WAR.

Voronezh swept Minsk in the first round and Volgograd survived 3-2 over Moscow on the road. The two South Division powers had a highly anticipated matchup in the European League Championship Series, considering one win separated them in the regular season. The ELCS was a dud though as the Voyagers crushed the Zephyrs in a road sweep to win their first-ever pennant. Volgograd became the first of the 2000 expansion teams with a pennant.

Krasnoyarsk exploded for a 116-46 record atop the Asian League, which was tied for the third-best record in AL history behind only 1966 Omsk (120-42) and the same year’s Bishkek (119-43). The Cossacks earned a third consecutive playoff berth and their fourth in five years. The East Division champs led all EPB teams in fewest runs allowed (432) and led the AL in scoring (713).

The West Division was also top heavy with Perm on top at 106-56 for their first-ever playoff berth since joining in the 2008 expansion. Defending EPB champ Chelyabinsk was second at 99-63, easily taking the first wild card. There was an 11-game gap to the second wild card at Ulaanbaatar at 88-74 with no other teams above .500. The Boars earned their second wild card in four years.

Asian League MVP went to Ulaanbaatar RF Afzal Koveshnikov, who previously took the top honor back in 2015. In his ninth year for the Boars, the 29-year old Russian lefty led in the triple slash (.338/.378/.621), OPS (.999), wRC+ (188), WAR (9.1), total bases (373), and RBI (126). Koveshnikov added 41 homers and 96 runs.

Krasnoyarsk’s Yevgeni Lyubimov won Pitcher of the Year and posted the 13^th pitching Triple Crown season in EPB history. The 26-year old Belarusian lefty had a 22-6 record, 1.46 ERA, and 355 strikeouts over 265.1 innings. Lyubimov also led in WHIP (0.79), quality starts (28), shutouts (5), ERA+ (228), FIP- (46), and WAR (11.6). As of 2037, his ERA is the 24^th-best qualifying season in EPB history.

In the first round, Krasnoyarsk defeated Ulaanbaatar 3-1 while Chelyabinsk upset Perm 3-1. This set up a rematch in the Asian League Championship Series with the Cossacks again having home field advantage. Despite the 17-win difference, the Cadets again earned the road win and defeated Krasnoyarsk 4-1. The repeat gave Chelyabinsk their fifth AL pennant (1962, 1978, 1991, 2019, 2020).

Chelyabinsk became the first team to repeat as EPB champ since Yekaterinburg in 2007-08. The Cadets defeated Volgograd 4-2 in the 66^th Eurasian Professional Baseball Championship, becoming three-time champs (1978, 2019, 2020). 2B Anatoliy Dmitrenko had an impressive postseason, winning MVP in all three rounds. The 27-year old Belarusian had 15 playoff starts with 25 hits, 10 runs, 4 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBI, 7 walks, and an 1.173 OPS.

Other notes: Adam Dyzymala had a 28-game hitting streak for Minsk, which was five away from Wolfgang Lind’s EPB record 33 from 2006. Gaspar Osvath became the 18^th member of the 500 home run club. Gergely Teller became the 17^th reliever to 300 saves. 1B Artur Sagdutullin won his 11^th consecutive Gold Glove, extending his position record. RF Elbeyi Shevchenko won his 11^th Gold Glove. 3B Vladyslav Chychykov won his tenth Silver Slugger. LF Yuriy Isakov won his seventh Slugger.

12-09-2024, 07:06 PM	#1870
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,895	2020 in EPB The European League’s South Division had an intense battle between Voronezh and Volgograd for the EL’s top seed. The Zephyrs took it at 107-55, one game better than 106-56 Volgograd. Voronezh had the EL’s top record for the third time in four years. For the Voyagers, the expanded playoff meant they easily got the first wild card, although would have to play on the road. It was Volgograd’s second playoff berth (2007) since joining EPB in 2000. They were the top scoring teams in the EL by 100+ with Voronezh at 769 runs and Volgograd at 752. Defending EL champ Moscow at 95-67 won the new North Division by 11 games, extending their playoff streak to three years. The Mules earned their sixth berth in seven years and allowed the fewest runs by a healthy margin at 483. For the second wild card, Minsk (84-78) narrowly edged out 83-79 efforts by St. Petersburg and Krasnodar. The Miners ended an eight-year playoff drought. Prior to that skid, Minsk had missed the playoffs only seven times total from 1955-2011. Volgograd swept the top awards, led by European League MVP Roman Sheshukov. The 27-year old Russian center fielder was the WARlord (10.8) and won a Gold Glove. Sheshukov had a 1.005 OPS, 186 wRC+, 36 home runs, and 107 RBI. The Voyagers wisely gave him an eight-year, $56,600,000 extension prior to the 2020 season. Sheshukov took the top honor despite the efforts of Voronezh 1B Zygmunt Socha, who posted the 11^th ever Triple Crown season by an EPB batter. The 28-year old Polish lefty had 49 home runs, 137 RBI, and a .334 average. Socha also led in OPS (1.017), wRC+ (190), runs (114), hits (199), and total bases (375). It was Sheshukov’s defense in CF and higher WAR (10.8 to 8.8) which got him MVP despite Socha’s impressive bat. Socha stayed one more year with the Zephyrs before leaving for MLB. Repeating as Pitcher of the Year was Volgograd righty Svyatoslav Tyahnybok. The 26-year old Ukrainian righty led in wins with a 22-7 record. In his fifth season, Tyahnybok posted a 2.39 ERA over 271.1 innings, 336 strikeouts, 142 ERA+, and 8.8 WAR. Voronezh swept Minsk in the first round and Volgograd survived 3-2 over Moscow on the road. The two South Division powers had a highly anticipated matchup in the European League Championship Series, considering one win separated them in the regular season. The ELCS was a dud though as the Voyagers crushed the Zephyrs in a road sweep to win their first-ever pennant. Volgograd became the first of the 2000 expansion teams with a pennant. Krasnoyarsk exploded for a 116-46 record atop the Asian League, which was tied for the third-best record in AL history behind only 1966 Omsk (120-42) and the same year’s Bishkek (119-43). The Cossacks earned a third consecutive playoff berth and their fourth in five years. The East Division champs led all EPB teams in fewest runs allowed (432) and led the AL in scoring (713). The West Division was also top heavy with Perm on top at 106-56 for their first-ever playoff berth since joining in the 2008 expansion. Defending EPB champ Chelyabinsk was second at 99-63, easily taking the first wild card. There was an 11-game gap to the second wild card at Ulaanbaatar at 88-74 with no other teams above .500. The Boars earned their second wild card in four years. Asian League MVP went to Ulaanbaatar RF Afzal Koveshnikov, who previously took the top honor back in 2015. In his ninth year for the Boars, the 29-year old Russian lefty led in the triple slash (.338/.378/.621), OPS (.999), wRC+ (188), WAR (9.1), total bases (373), and RBI (126). Koveshnikov added 41 homers and 96 runs. Krasnoyarsk’s Yevgeni Lyubimov won Pitcher of the Year and posted the 13^th pitching Triple Crown season in EPB history. The 26-year old Belarusian lefty had a 22-6 record, 1.46 ERA, and 355 strikeouts over 265.1 innings. Lyubimov also led in WHIP (0.79), quality starts (28), shutouts (5), ERA+ (228), FIP- (46), and WAR (11.6). As of 2037, his ERA is the 24^th-best qualifying season in EPB history. In the first round, Krasnoyarsk defeated Ulaanbaatar 3-1 while Chelyabinsk upset Perm 3-1. This set up a rematch in the Asian League Championship Series with the Cossacks again having home field advantage. Despite the 17-win difference, the Cadets again earned the road win and defeated Krasnoyarsk 4-1. The repeat gave Chelyabinsk their fifth AL pennant (1962, 1978, 1991, 2019, 2020). Chelyabinsk became the first team to repeat as EPB champ since Yekaterinburg in 2007-08. The Cadets defeated Volgograd 4-2 in the 66^th Eurasian Professional Baseball Championship, becoming three-time champs (1978, 2019, 2020). 2B Anatoliy Dmitrenko had an impressive postseason, winning MVP in all three rounds. The 27-year old Belarusian had 15 playoff starts with 25 hits, 10 runs, 4 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBI, 7 walks, and an 1.173 OPS. Other notes: Adam Dyzymala had a 28-game hitting streak for Minsk, which was five away from Wolfgang Lind’s EPB record 33 from 2006. Gaspar Osvath became the 18^th member of the 500 home run club. Gergely Teller became the 17^th reliever to 300 saves. 1B Artur Sagdutullin won his 11^th consecutive Gold Glove, extending his position record. RF Elbeyi Shevchenko won his 11^th Gold Glove. 3B Vladyslav Chychykov won his tenth Silver Slugger. LF Yuriy Isakov won his seventh Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)