OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 12-22-2024, 01:23 PM

Changchun had Chinese League Baseball’s best record in 2021 by a healthy margin atop the Northern League at 107-55. The Camels earned their fourth playoff berth in six years and finished first for the third time of that run. Changchun allowed the fewest runs at 401 and scored the third most at 566. Reigning CLB champ Shenyang finished second by a solid margin at 95-67, but were still 12 away from the Camels. The Swans grew their playoff streak to five seasons and led in runs scored at 577.

The remaining playoff spots went to Nanjing (89-73) and Shijiazhuang (87-75) with both teams getting their third playoff berth in four years. Next closest were Harbin (83-79), Beijing (82-80), and Zhengzhou (81-81). Last year’s NL runner-up Xi’an fell to 14^th at 72-90. Hangzhou also went from a wild card the prior year down to only 78-84.

Legendary Shenyang two-way star Chuchuan Cao repeated as Northern League MVP, winning it for the fifth time (2013, 15, 17, 20, 21). He was second in Pitcher of the Year voting, denying that repeat and a possible sixth POTY. On the mound, the 32-year old lefty led in pitching WAR (9.9) for the eighth time in his decade-long career. Cao also led in innings pitched (289), K/BB (13.1), quality starts (29), and complete games (26), tying CLB’s single-season CG record. He had a 1.96 ERA, 141 ERA+, 19-11 record, and 327 strikeouts.

Cao won his ninth Silver Slugger, playing 78 games in left field in addition to his pitching starts. At the plate, he had 6.1 WAR, a 160 wRC+, 21 home runs, 63 RBI, and 64 runs. Cao had a combined 16.0 WAR, which was the sixth-best of his career and the 25^th-best for any player in any world league. This gave Cao a combined 158.3 WAR for his career, passing SS Junjie Hsiung’s 152.6 as the all-time CLB WARlord.

This would be Cao’s final CLB season, finishing on the mound with a 177-88 record, 1.75 ERA, 2566.2 innings, 3242 strikeouts, 149 ERA+, and 97.2 WAR. At the plate, he had 1252 games, a .292/.333/.486 slash, 174 wRC+, 61.1 WAR, 153 homers, 444 stolen bases, and 586 RBI. As of 2037, he ranks 5^th in pitching WAR and 13^th in strikeouts. Cao’s baseball career would continue in Australia, signing in the offseason with OBA’s Sydney Snakes at $43,200,000 over four years.

Beating Cao for Pitcher of the Year was Shijiazhuang righty Len Goh. The 29-year old Hongkonger led in ERA (1.40) and WHIP (0.77). Goh posted a 13-7 record over 238 innings, 280 strikeouts, 195 ERA+, and 8.4 WAR. He was in his eighth year for the Serpents, signing a five-year, $60,300,000 extension after the 2019 campaign.

In the Round Robin, Nanjing was the top team at 4-2 to earn their second semifinal trip in four years. Shenyang and Shijiazhuang tied at 3-3 while top seed Changchun fared worst at 2-4 despite their regular season dominance. The Swans advanced to their fifth straight semifinal via the tiebreaker, but their repeat bid was denied 4-2 by Nanjing in a rematch of the 2018 semi. The Nuggets earned their fifth trip to the China Series (1070, 1982, 1996, 2018, 2021).

In a tight race for the Southern League’s top spot, Hong Kong (94-68) edged out Foshan (92-70). Both teams grew their playoff streaks to four years, although this was HK’s first time leading the standings in that run. For the remaining two playoff spots, there were six teams within five games of each other. Advancing both at 87-75 were Guangzhou and Kunming. The Gamecocks ended a three year playoff drought and the Muscles stopped a four-year skid..

Falling just short were Changsha (85-77), Xiamen (85-77), Dongguan (83-79), and Nanning (82-80). Defending SL camp Macau also fell short at 80-82 and Shantou’s five-year playoff streak ended with their 78-84 finish. Despite missing the playoffs, the Donkeys scored the most runs in CLB at 591 and the Mutts allowed the fewest at 401.

Southern League MVP went to Changsha LF Tao Cai in only his third season. The 24-year old righty led in home runs (59), RBI (126), runs (109), total bases (395), slugging (.671), and OPS (1.036). Cai had a .302 batting average, 215 wRC+, and 11.6 WAR. He missed out on the WARlord by a fraction to Kunming’s Shimin Loy, who finished third in MVP voting.

Loy’s season was especially significant though as it was his rookie year, having been picked #1 by the Muscle in 2020. He set the new CLB record for WAR by a Rookie of the Year winner, beating Cheng Kang’s 10.8 from 2012. It was among the best rookie years in any world league, although it was still behind the all-time mark of 13.9 by ABF stud Nizami Aghazade in 2012.

Repeating as Pitcher of the Year was Hong Kong righty Dalong Li. The seventh-year righty led in wins (20-6), WHIP (0.79), quality starts (30), FIP- (60), and WAR (7.7). Li posted a 1.82 ERA over 238 innings with 235 strikeouts and a 157 ERA+. He agreed to a four-year, $44,700,000 extension with the Champions in the offseason.

Top seed Hong Kong took top honors in the Round Robin at 4-2, while Guangzhou and Foshan were 3-3 and Kunming was 2-4. The tiebreaker favored the Gamecocks over the Flyers, giving Guangzhou its second semifinal in five years. The Champions got their third semifinal try in four years and again prevailed, although they needed all seven games to outlast the Gamecocks. HK earned its seventh trip to the China Series (1978, 1982, 1997, 2007, 2018, 2019, 2021).

The 52^nd China Series was the third finals meeting between Nanjing and Hong Kong. Back in 1982, the Champions won their first-ever title by beating the Nuggets 4-2. More recently in 2018, Nanjing swept HK to win its second title, putting the trophy next to their 1996 win. 2021 followed the same script as 2018 with a Nuggets sweep. Seventh-year LF Xun Luo was finals MVP, getting 10 hits, 7 runs, 2 homers, and 8 RBI over 16 playoff games.

Other notes: Zhen Zhang became the 10^th member of the 400 home run club, the 14^th to 2000 hits, the 11^th to 1000 RBI, and the 13^th to 1000 runs scored. Boyu Long and Cheng Kang also reached 1000 RBI, making 13 players to do so. Zhang (CF) and Long (RF) both won their eighth Silver Sluggers.

12-22-2024, 01:23 PM	#1907
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,963	2021 in CLB Changchun had Chinese League Baseball’s best record in 2021 by a healthy margin atop the Northern League at 107-55. The Camels earned their fourth playoff berth in six years and finished first for the third time of that run. Changchun allowed the fewest runs at 401 and scored the third most at 566. Reigning CLB champ Shenyang finished second by a solid margin at 95-67, but were still 12 away from the Camels. The Swans grew their playoff streak to five seasons and led in runs scored at 577. The remaining playoff spots went to Nanjing (89-73) and Shijiazhuang (87-75) with both teams getting their third playoff berth in four years. Next closest were Harbin (83-79), Beijing (82-80), and Zhengzhou (81-81). Last year’s NL runner-up Xi’an fell to 14^th at 72-90. Hangzhou also went from a wild card the prior year down to only 78-84. Legendary Shenyang two-way star Chuchuan Cao repeated as Northern League MVP, winning it for the fifth time (2013, 15, 17, 20, 21). He was second in Pitcher of the Year voting, denying that repeat and a possible sixth POTY. On the mound, the 32-year old lefty led in pitching WAR (9.9) for the eighth time in his decade-long career. Cao also led in innings pitched (289), K/BB (13.1), quality starts (29), and complete games (26), tying CLB’s single-season CG record. He had a 1.96 ERA, 141 ERA+, 19-11 record, and 327 strikeouts. Cao won his ninth Silver Slugger, playing 78 games in left field in addition to his pitching starts. At the plate, he had 6.1 WAR, a 160 wRC+, 21 home runs, 63 RBI, and 64 runs. Cao had a combined 16.0 WAR, which was the sixth-best of his career and the 25^th-best for any player in any world league. This gave Cao a combined 158.3 WAR for his career, passing SS Junjie Hsiung’s 152.6 as the all-time CLB WARlord. This would be Cao’s final CLB season, finishing on the mound with a 177-88 record, 1.75 ERA, 2566.2 innings, 3242 strikeouts, 149 ERA+, and 97.2 WAR. At the plate, he had 1252 games, a .292/.333/.486 slash, 174 wRC+, 61.1 WAR, 153 homers, 444 stolen bases, and 586 RBI. As of 2037, he ranks 5^th in pitching WAR and 13^th in strikeouts. Cao’s baseball career would continue in Australia, signing in the offseason with OBA’s Sydney Snakes at $43,200,000 over four years. Beating Cao for Pitcher of the Year was Shijiazhuang righty Len Goh. The 29-year old Hongkonger led in ERA (1.40) and WHIP (0.77). Goh posted a 13-7 record over 238 innings, 280 strikeouts, 195 ERA+, and 8.4 WAR. He was in his eighth year for the Serpents, signing a five-year, $60,300,000 extension after the 2019 campaign. In the Round Robin, Nanjing was the top team at 4-2 to earn their second semifinal trip in four years. Shenyang and Shijiazhuang tied at 3-3 while top seed Changchun fared worst at 2-4 despite their regular season dominance. The Swans advanced to their fifth straight semifinal via the tiebreaker, but their repeat bid was denied 4-2 by Nanjing in a rematch of the 2018 semi. The Nuggets earned their fifth trip to the China Series (1070, 1982, 1996, 2018, 2021). In a tight race for the Southern League’s top spot, Hong Kong (94-68) edged out Foshan (92-70). Both teams grew their playoff streaks to four years, although this was HK’s first time leading the standings in that run. For the remaining two playoff spots, there were six teams within five games of each other. Advancing both at 87-75 were Guangzhou and Kunming. The Gamecocks ended a three year playoff drought and the Muscles stopped a four-year skid.. Falling just short were Changsha (85-77), Xiamen (85-77), Dongguan (83-79), and Nanning (82-80). Defending SL camp Macau also fell short at 80-82 and Shantou’s five-year playoff streak ended with their 78-84 finish. Despite missing the playoffs, the Donkeys scored the most runs in CLB at 591 and the Mutts allowed the fewest at 401. Southern League MVP went to Changsha LF Tao Cai in only his third season. The 24-year old righty led in home runs (59), RBI (126), runs (109), total bases (395), slugging (.671), and OPS (1.036). Cai had a .302 batting average, 215 wRC+, and 11.6 WAR. He missed out on the WARlord by a fraction to Kunming’s Shimin Loy, who finished third in MVP voting. Loy’s season was especially significant though as it was his rookie year, having been picked #1 by the Muscle in 2020. He set the new CLB record for WAR by a Rookie of the Year winner, beating Cheng Kang’s 10.8 from 2012. It was among the best rookie years in any world league, although it was still behind the all-time mark of 13.9 by ABF stud Nizami Aghazade in 2012. Repeating as Pitcher of the Year was Hong Kong righty Dalong Li. The seventh-year righty led in wins (20-6), WHIP (0.79), quality starts (30), FIP- (60), and WAR (7.7). Li posted a 1.82 ERA over 238 innings with 235 strikeouts and a 157 ERA+. He agreed to a four-year, $44,700,000 extension with the Champions in the offseason. Top seed Hong Kong took top honors in the Round Robin at 4-2, while Guangzhou and Foshan were 3-3 and Kunming was 2-4. The tiebreaker favored the Gamecocks over the Flyers, giving Guangzhou its second semifinal in five years. The Champions got their third semifinal try in four years and again prevailed, although they needed all seven games to outlast the Gamecocks. HK earned its seventh trip to the China Series (1978, 1982, 1997, 2007, 2018, 2019, 2021). The 52^nd China Series was the third finals meeting between Nanjing and Hong Kong. Back in 1982, the Champions won their first-ever title by beating the Nuggets 4-2. More recently in 2018, Nanjing swept HK to win its second title, putting the trophy next to their 1996 win. 2021 followed the same script as 2018 with a Nuggets sweep. Seventh-year LF Xun Luo was finals MVP, getting 10 hits, 7 runs, 2 homers, and 8 RBI over 16 playoff games. Other notes: Zhen Zhang became the 10^th member of the 400 home run club, the 14^th to 2000 hits, the 11^th to 1000 RBI, and the 13^th to 1000 runs scored. Boyu Long and Cheng Kang also reached 1000 RBI, making 13 players to do so. Zhang (CF) and Long (RF) both won their eighth Silver Sluggers. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)