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Old 05-31-2024, 04:11 AM   #1293
FuzzyRussianHat
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Join Date: Dec 2020
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2004 in EAB



Hiroshima had a monster year, setting a franchise record and leading all of East Asia Baseball at 110-52. This was the most wins any Japan League team had posted since Sapporo’s 121-41 mark in 1950. The Hammerheads extended the longest active playoff streak in EAB with their sixth straight West Division title.

Defending JL champ Niigata won a fourth consecutive North Division title at 92-70, holding off Saitama by three games. Kawasaki’s playoff streak ended at six seasons. Tokyo at 89-73 took the Capital Division for the first time since 1997, edging the Killer Whales by one game. A weak Central Division was claimed by 84-78 Kobe, ending a four-year postseason drought. Osaka, who won 109 games the prior year and had won three straight division titles, took second at 81-81.

Japan League MVP was Niigata first baseman Hidenosuke Mazaki. The 29-year old won the honor despite missing about two months to injury. In 127 games, he led in slugging (.676), OPS (1.045), and wRC+ (210). Mazaki added 8.3 WAR, 47 home runs, and 98 RBI, as well as a third Gold Glove.

Pitcher of the Year was fifth-year Kitakyushu righty Sekien Ida. He led in ERA (1.61), WHIP (0.80), and quality starts (29). Ida added 332 stirkeouts in 246 innings with a 16-6 record and 7.6 WAR. The Kodiaks had wisely committed to Ida with a six-year, $24,040,000 extension sided in May 2003.

Hiroshima survived in five games against Kobe in the first round of the playoffs and Niigata topped Tokyo 3-1. This set up a rematch in the Japan League Championship Series. The 110-win Hammerheads seemed primed to finally get their first pennant of their six-year playoff streak, winning the first three games of the JLCS. Hiroshima blew the lead though as the Green Dragons rallied from the 3-0 hole to repeat as champs. It was the first-time in JLCS history that a team choked away a 3-0 series lead. Niigata earned their fourth pennant (1990, 1991, 2003, 2004).



Incheon had the best record in the Korea League, winning the North Division at 103-59. The 2002 East Asian Champion Inferno extended their playoff streak to four years. Reigning EAB champ Seongnam was second at 97-65, getting the wild card and extending their playoff streak to four as well. At 89-73, Seoul grabbed the second wild card. The Seahawks hadn’t made the playoffs since 1989.

Ulsan’s postseason streak grew to five years. The Swallows won the South Division at 93-67. Jeonju was second at 87-75, six short in the division and two behind Seoul for the wild card. After winning 103 games the prior year, Daegu was a non-factor at 77-85. This was the first time the Diamondbacks had seen a losing season since 1992. This, despite having the KL’s biggest payroll at over $140 million.

For the third time in four years, Jeonju designated hitter Soo-Geun Yim was the Korea League MVP. The 25-year old lefty led in runs (117), home runs (59), total bases (405), and slugging (.633). Yim added 195 hits, 124 RBI, 305 hits, and 7.0 WAR.

Pitcher of the Year went to veteran journeyman Ik-Soo Ryu. The 33-year old had played with Jeonju, Seoul, and Kobe before landing with Busan in 2004. He had a banner year with the lead league in wins (19-9), ERA (2.41), and innings (283.2). Ryu also had 237 strikeouts and 6.7 WAR.

Both wild cards pulled off round one playoff wins. Seoul shocked Incheon 3-1, while Seongnam swept Ulsan. This set up the repeat opportunity for the Spiders, while the Seahawks hadn’t been to the Korea League Championship Series in 14 years. Seoul stunned Seongnam by not only winning the KLCS, but sweeping the defending champs. The Seahawks became five-time KL champs (1948, 49, 51, 79, 2004).



The 84th East Asian Championship was a classic between Seoul and Niigata which needed ten innings in game seven. The Seahawks went ahead in the top half of the tenth to win game seven 3-1 and the series 4-3. Finals MVP was 2B Koichiro Seki, with the 25-year old getting 24 hits, 10 runs, 6 doubles, 2 homers, and 11 RBI in 15 playoff starts. This was the third EAB title for Seoul, who won it all in 1948 and 1979. The Green Dragons are now 1-3 in their finals appearances after taking runner-up in back-to-back years.



Other notes: Yutaka Kobayashi became the fourth pitcher to 300 career wis and sixth pitcher to 4500 career strikeouts. Kobayashi would retire after the 2005 season with 302 wins and 4610 Ks. As of 2037, he’s fourth and fifth respectively on the all-time leaderboards. Jung-Sang Ryu became the 49th member of the 500 home run club. SS Tokuei Kato won his tenth Gold Glove, setting a new EAB record for the position.

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