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FuzzyRussianHat · 05-30-2024, 05:18 AM

The EPB European League was very top heavy in 2004 with the four original franchises each at 94+ wins and the four newer expansion squads at 72 wins or lower. After taking fourth in 2003, Kazan claimed the top spot at 104-58. This was the Crusaders’ sixth playoff berth in eight years. Four-time defending EL champ Minsk took the second place spot at 102-60, growing their world-record playoff streak to 24 years. Falling short of the playoffs were Moscow (96-66) and St. Petersburg (94-68).

European League MVP went to St. Petersburg RF Jov Sakharov. The 26-year old Russian led in runs (90), hits (187), doubles (33), triples (15), total bases (322), stolen bases (85), triple slash (.320/.370/.551), OPS (.921), wRC+ (211), and WAR (11.9). Sakharov also had 24 home runs and 81 RBI.

Minsk’s Markiyan Konoplya won his fifth consecutive Pitcher of the Year. He joined Matvey Ivanov, Igor Bury, and Bogdan Chirita as the only five-time winners and joined only Ivanov in having won five in a row. The 30-year old Ukrainian righty led in ERA (1.88), strikeouts (335), WHIP (0.77), and WAR (7.7). He had a 19-9 record in 291.1 innings, falling two wins short of the Triple Crown. Konoplya would play one more year with the Miners, then leave for St. Petersburg in free agency on a five-year, $27,000,000 deal. Also of note, Moscow’s Shahin Lebedev became a three-time Relieve rof the Year winner.

Defending Eurasian Professional Baseball champ Yekaterinburg looked even better in 2004. The Yaks set a franchise record at 116-46, which was tied for the third-best record in Asian League history. Yekaterinburg led the AL in runs (695) and fewest allowed (438). The Yaks earned a fifth playoff berth in six years. Krasnoyarsk had its own impressive 104-58 season to take the wild card and extend its playoff streak to four years. There was a 22 game gap to third place Irkutsk at 82-80.

Leading the Yekaterinburg offense was 1B Benjamin Bodnar, who had the first Triple Crown season on offense in EPB since 1992. It was the eighth overall and a major breakout for Bodnar, who hadn’t really been a league-leader previously. The 30-year old Hungarian led in runs (122), hits (193), home runs (128), total bases (402), triple slash (.329/.384/.686), OPS (1.070), wRC+ (223), and WAR (11.6). He was the first EPB hitter since 1999 to hit 50+ homers in a season. Although Bodnar played for another decade, he’d be plagued by knee troubles and never again complete a full season for the Yaks.

History was also made as Yekaterinburg’s Matvey Ivanov won his sixth straight Pitcher of the Year, becoming EPB’s first six-time winner. The 29-year old Russian led in wins (20-6), ERA (1.26), shutouts (9), FIP- (30), and WAR (11.2). Ivanov added 304 strikeouts over 228.1 innings and a 0.73 WHIP. The season featured a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts and one walk on July 23 versus Ulaanbaatar. It was the third no-no of Ivanov’s career and he also placed third in MVP voting.

Kazan had home field advantage, but Minsk wasn’t ready to let the dynasty get interrupted. The Miners won the European League Championship Series 4-3 over the Crusaders for a fifth consecutive pennant and the 18^th in franchise history. The Asian League Championship Series rematch also was a seven game classic. Yekaterinburg survived Krasnoyarsk to repeat as AL champs and win their third pennant in five years. The Yaks are now seven-time AL champs.

In the 50^th EPB Championship, Yekaterinburg won their rematch 4-1 over Minsk to repeat as champs. It was the fifth time these squads had met in the finale with the Yaks controlling the series 4-1. Veteran catcher Nikita Romaschenko was the finals MVP in his 15^th pro season and third with Yekaterinburg. In 12 playoff starts, the 36-year old had 14 hits, 6 runs, 2 home runs, and 10 RBI.

At 116-46, the Yaks now hold the EPB record for most wins by a team that won it all, passing 1995 Irkutsk at 115-47. They are five-time champs, having beaten Minsk in 1965, 1989, 2003, and 2004; along with the 1970 title against Tirana. Yekaterinburg wouldn’t be done yet in the 2000s, but the 2004 squad stands out as a contender for EPB’s all-time best team.

Other notes: CF Miroslaw Skowronek won his seventh Gold Glove. SS Gleb Khassanov won his 11^th Silver Slugger, tying the record by C Samir Allahverdiyev for the most at any position in EPB.

05-30-2024, 05:18 AM	#1290
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,735	2004 in EPB The EPB European League was very top heavy in 2004 with the four original franchises each at 94+ wins and the four newer expansion squads at 72 wins or lower. After taking fourth in 2003, Kazan claimed the top spot at 104-58. This was the Crusaders’ sixth playoff berth in eight years. Four-time defending EL champ Minsk took the second place spot at 102-60, growing their world-record playoff streak to 24 years. Falling short of the playoffs were Moscow (96-66) and St. Petersburg (94-68). European League MVP went to St. Petersburg RF Jov Sakharov. The 26-year old Russian led in runs (90), hits (187), doubles (33), triples (15), total bases (322), stolen bases (85), triple slash (.320/.370/.551), OPS (.921), wRC+ (211), and WAR (11.9). Sakharov also had 24 home runs and 81 RBI. Minsk’s Markiyan Konoplya won his fifth consecutive Pitcher of the Year. He joined Matvey Ivanov, Igor Bury, and Bogdan Chirita as the only five-time winners and joined only Ivanov in having won five in a row. The 30-year old Ukrainian righty led in ERA (1.88), strikeouts (335), WHIP (0.77), and WAR (7.7). He had a 19-9 record in 291.1 innings, falling two wins short of the Triple Crown. Konoplya would play one more year with the Miners, then leave for St. Petersburg in free agency on a five-year, $27,000,000 deal. Also of note, Moscow’s Shahin Lebedev became a three-time Relieve rof the Year winner. Defending Eurasian Professional Baseball champ Yekaterinburg looked even better in 2004. The Yaks set a franchise record at 116-46, which was tied for the third-best record in Asian League history. Yekaterinburg led the AL in runs (695) and fewest allowed (438). The Yaks earned a fifth playoff berth in six years. Krasnoyarsk had its own impressive 104-58 season to take the wild card and extend its playoff streak to four years. There was a 22 game gap to third place Irkutsk at 82-80. Leading the Yekaterinburg offense was 1B Benjamin Bodnar, who had the first Triple Crown season on offense in EPB since 1992. It was the eighth overall and a major breakout for Bodnar, who hadn’t really been a league-leader previously. The 30-year old Hungarian led in runs (122), hits (193), home runs (128), total bases (402), triple slash (.329/.384/.686), OPS (1.070), wRC+ (223), and WAR (11.6). He was the first EPB hitter since 1999 to hit 50+ homers in a season. Although Bodnar played for another decade, he’d be plagued by knee troubles and never again complete a full season for the Yaks. History was also made as Yekaterinburg’s Matvey Ivanov won his sixth straight Pitcher of the Year, becoming EPB’s first six-time winner. The 29-year old Russian led in wins (20-6), ERA (1.26), shutouts (9), FIP- (30), and WAR (11.2). Ivanov added 304 strikeouts over 228.1 innings and a 0.73 WHIP. The season featured a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts and one walk on July 23 versus Ulaanbaatar. It was the third no-no of Ivanov’s career and he also placed third in MVP voting. Kazan had home field advantage, but Minsk wasn’t ready to let the dynasty get interrupted. The Miners won the European League Championship Series 4-3 over the Crusaders for a fifth consecutive pennant and the 18^th in franchise history. The Asian League Championship Series rematch also was a seven game classic. Yekaterinburg survived Krasnoyarsk to repeat as AL champs and win their third pennant in five years. The Yaks are now seven-time AL champs. In the 50^th EPB Championship, Yekaterinburg won their rematch 4-1 over Minsk to repeat as champs. It was the fifth time these squads had met in the finale with the Yaks controlling the series 4-1. Veteran catcher Nikita Romaschenko was the finals MVP in his 15^th pro season and third with Yekaterinburg. In 12 playoff starts, the 36-year old had 14 hits, 6 runs, 2 home runs, and 10 RBI. At 116-46, the Yaks now hold the EPB record for most wins by a team that won it all, passing 1995 Irkutsk at 115-47. They are five-time champs, having beaten Minsk in 1965, 1989, 2003, and 2004; along with the 1970 title against Tirana. Yekaterinburg wouldn’t be done yet in the 2000s, but the 2004 squad stands out as a contender for EPB’s all-time best team. Other notes: CF Miroslaw Skowronek won his seventh Gold Glove. SS Gleb Khassanov won his 11^th Silver Slugger, tying the record by C Samir Allahverdiyev for the most at any position in EPB. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)