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FuzzyRussianHat · 01-30-2025, 06:10 PM

In a competitive Indian League in 2024, only six wins separated the top seed from the lowest. Reigning South Asia Baseball champ Visakhapatnam took the top seed at 97-65 and repeated as South Division champ. The Volts were the only division champ to win their crown by double-digit games, 11 games better than 86-76 Hyderabad.

The Central Division was again a three-team battle between Jaipur, Kolkata, and Delhi. Last year, the Jokers missed the cut at 101-61 since the Cosmos (103-60) and Drillers (102-61) both narrowly edged them out. This time, Jaipur was first at 93-69 to end a seven-year playoff drought. It was only their second berth in 15 years.

Like 2023, Kolkata and Delhi ended the regular season tied, but this time only one could advance. The Cosmos won the tiebreaker game to win the wild card, extending their playoff streak to four years and ending the Drillers’ streak at four. Kolkata allowed the fewest runs in the IL at 569.

Meanwhile in the West Division, Ahmedabad was first at 92-70 to end a three-year playoff drought. Last year’s division champ Pune was second at 87-75, missing the wild card by three and the division by five. The Purple Knights scored the most runs (726) despite falling short. Mumbai’s collapse was complete at 64-98, a steep drop after winning the pennant only two years prior.

Ahmedabad’s Abhiji Srivas became the fifth player in SAB history to win MVP five times. The 29-year old first and second baseman had previously taken the Indian League’s top honor from 2018-21. In 2024, Srivas led in runs (114), RBI (113), triple slash (.357/.413/.721), OPS (1.134), wRC+ (242), and WAR (10.4). Srivas added 47 home runs and 39 stolen bases, winning his seventh Silver Slugger.

Picking up Pitcher of the Year was Kolkata’s Bounthavy Xayavong. The 28-year old Laotian righty won the ERA title (1.99) in his sixth season. Xayavong had a 14-4 record in 194.2 innings, 233 strikeouts, 179 ERA+, and 6.6 WAR.

Both first round playoff matchups needed all five games. Visakhapatnam survived against Kolkata and Ahmedabad got the road win over Jaipur. For the Animals, this was their first Indian League Championship Series berth since 2012 with a title drought going back to 2002 and the end of the epic dynasty run. Meanwhile the Volts were going for the repeat, which they had also previously done in 2012-13 (including a win over Ahmedabad).

The series went all seven games and came down to the final frame. In the bottom of the ninth inning, part-time starting first baseman Gian Babul won it for Visakhapatnam on a solo home run, taking game seven and the series 4-3. The series had seen plenty of drama, including a 6-5, 12 inning Volts win back in game three.

Both Dhaka and Bangkok shared the Southeast Asia League’s best record at 98-64. The tiebreaker gave the defending Baseball Grand Champion and SEAL champ Dobermans the top seed to grow their playoff streak to four seasons. The competition in the North Division for Dhaka was much weaker with their closest rivals being Hanoi and Hai Phong both at 86-76. The Bobcats ended an eight-year playoff drought and won their first South Division title since 2010.

It wasn’t a cakewalk for Bangkok, who outlasted Da Nang (97-65) and Ho Chi Minh City (94-68) for the division crown. The Nailers earned repeat playoff spots and their fourth berth in five years. For the Hedgehogs, this ended a 14-year playoff drought dating back to their 2009 SAB title.

The Bobcats led SEAL in scoring with 931 runs and set a new league team record with 355 doubles. HCMC allowed the fewest runs at 607. Also of note was Yangon’s drop to 76-86, ending their historic world record playoff streak at 29 seasons. The Green Dragons hadn’t missed the playoffs or posting a losing season going back to their 68-94 finish in 1994.

Southeast Asia League MVP went to Bangkok CF Pyae Sin Nyo in his fifth season. The 25-year old Burmese righty led in runs (218), triple slash (.380/.426/.678), OPS (1.103), wRC+ (189), and WAR (11.3). Nyo added 217 hits, 34 doubles, 40 home runs, 135 RBI, and 69 stolen bases. Nyo was originally spotted by Hanoi, but was traded before his debut in 2019. The Bobcats found a gem and gave Nyo a seven-year, $111,300,000 extension after the 2025 season.

Dhaka lefty Dusit Kyo won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons. The 27-year old from Thailand led in WHIP at 0.96 and posted a 2.79 ERA over 212.2 innings. Kyo had 281 strikeouts, a 14-7 record, 151 ERA+, and 6.6 WAR.

Ho Chi Minh City upset Dhaka 3-1 in the first round while Bangkok survived 3-2 against Da Nang. The Bobcats were one of two original SEAL teams without a pennant and their only prior LCS trip was way back in 1987. That was against the Hedgehogs and was the first of their 14 titles from 1987-2009. Since that last one in 2009, HCMC had largely struggled with no playoff berths and only one 90+ win season until 2024. In a seven-game classic, Ho Chi Minh City prevailed to return to the throne.

In the 45^th South Asia Baseball Championship, Visakhapatnam defeated Ho Chi Minh City to become the first repeat champ since Hanoi in 2007-08. This also ended a run of parity for the top spot as the prior six years had seen six different champs. The walkoff hero of the ILCS Gian Babul won finals MVP as well. The 26-year old 1B had 16 playoff starts with 15 hits, 10 runs, 8 homers, 14 RBI, and 4 doubles.

Other notes: World home run leader Majed Darwish became SAB’s all-time WARlord, finishing his second season with Da Nang at 172.0. This passed Ratan Canduri’s 169.1 for the top spot and made Darwish only the seventh position player in baseball history to get above 170. At age 41, Darwish led the league in home runs (53) for the 12^th time and RBI (146) for the 13^th time. He won his SAB-record 14^th Silver Slugger and his third as a first baseman, having won ten as a DH and one in left field.

Darwish’s world records grew to a staggering 1225 home runs, 2947 RBI, and 2586 runs scored. He also became the third SAB player to reach 3500 hits, ending the season at 3645. Darwish was still third behind Manju Abbas (3897) and Canduri (3770). After two years for the Nailers, the long-time Hanoi legend would sign with Dhaka in 2025 to a three-year, $46,900,000 deal.

In more mortal tallies, Yasir Malkawi became the 14^th member of the 600 home run club and the 19^th to 1500 RBI. Saw Kyaw Hla was the 26^th to reach 500 homers. Franklin Tung became the 16^th pitcher to 3500 strikeouts. Amu Singh and Akram Pnnuru became the 14^th and 15^th to get 300 saves. Singh set a playoff record for K/9 at 18.80. He struck out 39 batters over 18.2 innings with a 2.89 ERA for Visakhapatnam.

01-30-2025, 06:10 PM	#2024
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,613	2024 in SAB In a competitive Indian League in 2024, only six wins separated the top seed from the lowest. Reigning South Asia Baseball champ Visakhapatnam took the top seed at 97-65 and repeated as South Division champ. The Volts were the only division champ to win their crown by double-digit games, 11 games better than 86-76 Hyderabad. The Central Division was again a three-team battle between Jaipur, Kolkata, and Delhi. Last year, the Jokers missed the cut at 101-61 since the Cosmos (103-60) and Drillers (102-61) both narrowly edged them out. This time, Jaipur was first at 93-69 to end a seven-year playoff drought. It was only their second berth in 15 years. Like 2023, Kolkata and Delhi ended the regular season tied, but this time only one could advance. The Cosmos won the tiebreaker game to win the wild card, extending their playoff streak to four years and ending the Drillers’ streak at four. Kolkata allowed the fewest runs in the IL at 569. Meanwhile in the West Division, Ahmedabad was first at 92-70 to end a three-year playoff drought. Last year’s division champ Pune was second at 87-75, missing the wild card by three and the division by five. The Purple Knights scored the most runs (726) despite falling short. Mumbai’s collapse was complete at 64-98, a steep drop after winning the pennant only two years prior. Ahmedabad’s Abhiji Srivas became the fifth player in SAB history to win MVP five times. The 29-year old first and second baseman had previously taken the Indian League’s top honor from 2018-21. In 2024, Srivas led in runs (114), RBI (113), triple slash (.357/.413/.721), OPS (1.134), wRC+ (242), and WAR (10.4). Srivas added 47 home runs and 39 stolen bases, winning his seventh Silver Slugger. Picking up Pitcher of the Year was Kolkata’s Bounthavy Xayavong. The 28-year old Laotian righty won the ERA title (1.99) in his sixth season. Xayavong had a 14-4 record in 194.2 innings, 233 strikeouts, 179 ERA+, and 6.6 WAR. Both first round playoff matchups needed all five games. Visakhapatnam survived against Kolkata and Ahmedabad got the road win over Jaipur. For the Animals, this was their first Indian League Championship Series berth since 2012 with a title drought going back to 2002 and the end of the epic dynasty run. Meanwhile the Volts were going for the repeat, which they had also previously done in 2012-13 (including a win over Ahmedabad). The series went all seven games and came down to the final frame. In the bottom of the ninth inning, part-time starting first baseman Gian Babul won it for Visakhapatnam on a solo home run, taking game seven and the series 4-3. The series had seen plenty of drama, including a 6-5, 12 inning Volts win back in game three. Both Dhaka and Bangkok shared the Southeast Asia League’s best record at 98-64. The tiebreaker gave the defending Baseball Grand Champion and SEAL champ Dobermans the top seed to grow their playoff streak to four seasons. The competition in the North Division for Dhaka was much weaker with their closest rivals being Hanoi and Hai Phong both at 86-76. The Bobcats ended an eight-year playoff drought and won their first South Division title since 2010. It wasn’t a cakewalk for Bangkok, who outlasted Da Nang (97-65) and Ho Chi Minh City (94-68) for the division crown. The Nailers earned repeat playoff spots and their fourth berth in five years. For the Hedgehogs, this ended a 14-year playoff drought dating back to their 2009 SAB title. The Bobcats led SEAL in scoring with 931 runs and set a new league team record with 355 doubles. HCMC allowed the fewest runs at 607. Also of note was Yangon’s drop to 76-86, ending their historic world record playoff streak at 29 seasons. The Green Dragons hadn’t missed the playoffs or posting a losing season going back to their 68-94 finish in 1994. Southeast Asia League MVP went to Bangkok CF Pyae Sin Nyo in his fifth season. The 25-year old Burmese righty led in runs (218), triple slash (.380/.426/.678), OPS (1.103), wRC+ (189), and WAR (11.3). Nyo added 217 hits, 34 doubles, 40 home runs, 135 RBI, and 69 stolen bases. Nyo was originally spotted by Hanoi, but was traded before his debut in 2019. The Bobcats found a gem and gave Nyo a seven-year, $111,300,000 extension after the 2025 season. Dhaka lefty Dusit Kyo won his second Pitcher of the Year in three seasons. The 27-year old from Thailand led in WHIP at 0.96 and posted a 2.79 ERA over 212.2 innings. Kyo had 281 strikeouts, a 14-7 record, 151 ERA+, and 6.6 WAR. Ho Chi Minh City upset Dhaka 3-1 in the first round while Bangkok survived 3-2 against Da Nang. The Bobcats were one of two original SEAL teams without a pennant and their only prior LCS trip was way back in 1987. That was against the Hedgehogs and was the first of their 14 titles from 1987-2009. Since that last one in 2009, HCMC had largely struggled with no playoff berths and only one 90+ win season until 2024. In a seven-game classic, Ho Chi Minh City prevailed to return to the throne. In the 45^th South Asia Baseball Championship, Visakhapatnam defeated Ho Chi Minh City to become the first repeat champ since Hanoi in 2007-08. This also ended a run of parity for the top spot as the prior six years had seen six different champs. The walkoff hero of the ILCS Gian Babul won finals MVP as well. The 26-year old 1B had 16 playoff starts with 15 hits, 10 runs, 8 homers, 14 RBI, and 4 doubles. Other notes: World home run leader Majed Darwish became SAB’s all-time WARlord, finishing his second season with Da Nang at 172.0. This passed Ratan Canduri’s 169.1 for the top spot and made Darwish only the seventh position player in baseball history to get above 170. At age 41, Darwish led the league in home runs (53) for the 12^th time and RBI (146) for the 13^th time. He won his SAB-record 14^th Silver Slugger and his third as a first baseman, having won ten as a DH and one in left field. Darwish’s world records grew to a staggering 1225 home runs, 2947 RBI, and 2586 runs scored. He also became the third SAB player to reach 3500 hits, ending the season at 3645. Darwish was still third behind Manju Abbas (3897) and Canduri (3770). After two years for the Nailers, the long-time Hanoi legend would sign with Dhaka in 2025 to a three-year, $46,900,000 deal. In more mortal tallies, Yasir Malkawi became the 14^th member of the 600 home run club and the 19^th to 1500 RBI. Saw Kyaw Hla was the 26^th to reach 500 homers. Franklin Tung became the 16^th pitcher to 3500 strikeouts. Amu Singh and Akram Pnnuru became the 14^th and 15^th to get 300 saves. Singh set a playoff record for K/9 at 18.80. He struck out 39 batters over 18.2 innings with a 2.89 ERA for Visakhapatnam. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)