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FuzzyRussianHat · 05-31-2024, 11:53 AM

The 2004 playoff field in the Mexican League was a repeat of 2003 with very similar positioning a swell. Five-time defending ML champ Ecatepec again was the #1 seed, winning the South Division at 105-57. The Explosion grew their division title streak to nine years with 11 titles in the last 12 seasons.

Torreon repeated as North Division champ, earning a third division title in four years. The Tomahawks had to fight hard though to take the division though, tying for the top spot at 99-63 with Juarez while Monterrey was at 97-65. Torreon won the tiebreaker game to take first, leaving the Jesters and Matadors as the wild cards. Monterrey’s CABA-record playoff streak grew to 17 seasons, while Juarez got their third straight and fourth in five years. The next closest teams in the wild card hunt were Hermosillo (89-73), Puebla (87-75), and Chihuahua (86-76).

For the second time in three years, Chihuahua 1B Donald Gonzalez was Mexican League MVP. The 25-year old Puerto Rican led in runs (134), hits (228), home runs (54), total bases (447), OBP (.424), slugging (.733), OPS (1.157), wRC+ (237), and WAR (11.9). Gonzalez’s .374 batting average and 115 RBI fell one point and five knocks shy of a Triple Crown.

Monterrey veteran Daniel Fontan won his second Pitcher of the Year a decade after his first one. The 33-year old Honduran had bounced between the rotation and the closer role since winning the 1995 POTY as a starter. He returned to the rotation in 2004 after leading in saves in 2003, posting a league-best 1.83 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 25 quality starts, and 63 FIP-. Fontan added 7.1 WAR over 216.2 innings with 290 strikeouts and a 13-11 record.

Ecatepec swept Monterrey 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs while Torreon survived in a five game challenge from Juarez. For the Matadors, they now have five straight first-round exits after being the dynasty of the 1990s. Explosion versus Tomahawks was the Mexican League Championship Series matchup for the third time in four years. Just like the prior two, it was Ecatepec on top of Torreon. The Explosion won the series 4-2 to win a sixth pennant in a row.

Only Mexico City’s seven-peat from 1967-73 stands as a longer stretch of unbroken dominance in the Mexican League. With 13 overall titles, Ecatepec passes the Aztecs for the second-most ML pennants. They’re still behind Monterrey’s 17.

Three of the same four teams made the Caribbean League playoffs in 2004, although the switch came at the top spot. After missing the field last year, Havana won the Island Division at 104-58. Although the Hurricanes earned a second berth in three years, it was their first division title since 1997. They wrestled away the top spot from Haiti, who was still strong at 99-63. The Herons’ division streak ended at seven seasons, but their playoff streak grew to eight with the wild card.

Defending CABA champion Honduras earned a fourth consecutive Continental Division title at 101-61. The Horsemen’s playoff streak grew to seven years. Salvador was a repeat wild card, finishing 94-68. The closest competitors for the final spot were Trinidad (91-71), and Nicaragua (89-73). Suriname, who stunned everyone last year by earning a wild card in their inaugural season, fell back to earth at 73-89.

Although the Silverbacks couldn’t match their magical run, 1B Corneles Menendez repeated as Caribbean League MVP. The 31-year old Puerto Rican led in RBI (157) and total bases (414). Menendez joined Stevie Montoya as the only CABA players with back-to-back 150+ RBI seasons. He also had 57 home runs, 201 hits, a .320/.342/.659 slash, and 7.7 WAR. Menendez would decline his contract option after two seasons in Suriname and sign a five-year, $32,100,000 deal in the offseason with Salvador.

In his second year with his home country team Honduras, Julio Sandoval won Pitcher of the Year. The 29-year old had the 17^th pitching Triple Crown season and the first since 1996, posting a 24-3 record, 2.11 ERA, and 351 strikeouts over 282 innings. Sandoval also led with 27 quality starts and had 8.6 WAR. Also of note, Haiti’s Alejandro Valadez won a third straight Reliever of the Year.

Havana topped Salvador 3-1 and Honduras survived 3-2 over Haiti in the first round of the playoffs. The Horsemen earned repeat Caribbean League Championship Series berths and their fifth in six years. The one gap in that run was 2002, which the Hurricanes lost to Haiti in. Honduras took the CLCS 4-1 over Havana to repeat as Caribbean champion. It was the Horsemen’s 16^th pennant, the most of any CL team.

The 94^th Central American Baseball Association Championship was a rematch of the prior year between Ecatepec and Honduras. The prior year, the Horsemen swept the Explosion, handing Ecatepec a third consecutive defeat. The Explosion got their revenge, besting Honduras in a seven game classic. This was Ecatepec’s third CABA title in six years and their seventh overall (1929, 31, 32, 43, 99, 2000, 04). Veteran CF Leonardo Andrade was finals MVP in his lone season with Ecatepec. The 36-year old had 15 playoff starts with 19 hits, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 9 RBI.

Other notes: In their second season, expansion Cancun had an all-time stinker of a season at 45-117. It was the second-worst record in CABA history with only 1912 Guadalajara worse at 40-122. Haiti’s pitching staff had a 10.36 K/9, the second-best mark in Caribbean League history. Incidentally, Santo Domingo’s 5.45 K/9 and 869 strikeouts in 2004 were new CL worsts. Salvador’s pitching staff allowed 199 walks with a 1.22 BB/9; both of which are still second-best in CL history as of 2037.

Jacky Castillo became the sixth CABA member of the 700 home run club. It would be his final season as he ended with 703 dingers, which sits ninth all-time as of 2037. Sanson Delgado became the 12^th to 1500 runs scored. Rafael Perez was the 11^th pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. Honduras’ Jose Cardenas had a 31-game hit streak. SS Rafino Piloto won his ninth Gold Glove. SS David Davila earned his ninth Silver Slugger.

05-31-2024, 11:53 AM	#1294
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,729	2004 in CABA The 2004 playoff field in the Mexican League was a repeat of 2003 with very similar positioning a swell. Five-time defending ML champ Ecatepec again was the #1 seed, winning the South Division at 105-57. The Explosion grew their division title streak to nine years with 11 titles in the last 12 seasons. Torreon repeated as North Division champ, earning a third division title in four years. The Tomahawks had to fight hard though to take the division though, tying for the top spot at 99-63 with Juarez while Monterrey was at 97-65. Torreon won the tiebreaker game to take first, leaving the Jesters and Matadors as the wild cards. Monterrey’s CABA-record playoff streak grew to 17 seasons, while Juarez got their third straight and fourth in five years. The next closest teams in the wild card hunt were Hermosillo (89-73), Puebla (87-75), and Chihuahua (86-76). For the second time in three years, Chihuahua 1B Donald Gonzalez was Mexican League MVP. The 25-year old Puerto Rican led in runs (134), hits (228), home runs (54), total bases (447), OBP (.424), slugging (.733), OPS (1.157), wRC+ (237), and WAR (11.9). Gonzalez’s .374 batting average and 115 RBI fell one point and five knocks shy of a Triple Crown. Monterrey veteran Daniel Fontan won his second Pitcher of the Year a decade after his first one. The 33-year old Honduran had bounced between the rotation and the closer role since winning the 1995 POTY as a starter. He returned to the rotation in 2004 after leading in saves in 2003, posting a league-best 1.83 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 25 quality starts, and 63 FIP-. Fontan added 7.1 WAR over 216.2 innings with 290 strikeouts and a 13-11 record. Ecatepec swept Monterrey 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs while Torreon survived in a five game challenge from Juarez. For the Matadors, they now have five straight first-round exits after being the dynasty of the 1990s. Explosion versus Tomahawks was the Mexican League Championship Series matchup for the third time in four years. Just like the prior two, it was Ecatepec on top of Torreon. The Explosion won the series 4-2 to win a sixth pennant in a row. Only Mexico City’s seven-peat from 1967-73 stands as a longer stretch of unbroken dominance in the Mexican League. With 13 overall titles, Ecatepec passes the Aztecs for the second-most ML pennants. They’re still behind Monterrey’s 17. Three of the same four teams made the Caribbean League playoffs in 2004, although the switch came at the top spot. After missing the field last year, Havana won the Island Division at 104-58. Although the Hurricanes earned a second berth in three years, it was their first division title since 1997. They wrestled away the top spot from Haiti, who was still strong at 99-63. The Herons’ division streak ended at seven seasons, but their playoff streak grew to eight with the wild card. Defending CABA champion Honduras earned a fourth consecutive Continental Division title at 101-61. The Horsemen’s playoff streak grew to seven years. Salvador was a repeat wild card, finishing 94-68. The closest competitors for the final spot were Trinidad (91-71), and Nicaragua (89-73). Suriname, who stunned everyone last year by earning a wild card in their inaugural season, fell back to earth at 73-89. Although the Silverbacks couldn’t match their magical run, 1B Corneles Menendez repeated as Caribbean League MVP. The 31-year old Puerto Rican led in RBI (157) and total bases (414). Menendez joined Stevie Montoya as the only CABA players with back-to-back 150+ RBI seasons. He also had 57 home runs, 201 hits, a .320/.342/.659 slash, and 7.7 WAR. Menendez would decline his contract option after two seasons in Suriname and sign a five-year, $32,100,000 deal in the offseason with Salvador. In his second year with his home country team Honduras, Julio Sandoval won Pitcher of the Year. The 29-year old had the 17^th pitching Triple Crown season and the first since 1996, posting a 24-3 record, 2.11 ERA, and 351 strikeouts over 282 innings. Sandoval also led with 27 quality starts and had 8.6 WAR. Also of note, Haiti’s Alejandro Valadez won a third straight Reliever of the Year. Havana topped Salvador 3-1 and Honduras survived 3-2 over Haiti in the first round of the playoffs. The Horsemen earned repeat Caribbean League Championship Series berths and their fifth in six years. The one gap in that run was 2002, which the Hurricanes lost to Haiti in. Honduras took the CLCS 4-1 over Havana to repeat as Caribbean champion. It was the Horsemen’s 16^th pennant, the most of any CL team. The 94^th Central American Baseball Association Championship was a rematch of the prior year between Ecatepec and Honduras. The prior year, the Horsemen swept the Explosion, handing Ecatepec a third consecutive defeat. The Explosion got their revenge, besting Honduras in a seven game classic. This was Ecatepec’s third CABA title in six years and their seventh overall (1929, 31, 32, 43, 99, 2000, 04). Veteran CF Leonardo Andrade was finals MVP in his lone season with Ecatepec. The 36-year old had 15 playoff starts with 19 hits, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 9 RBI. Other notes: In their second season, expansion Cancun had an all-time stinker of a season at 45-117. It was the second-worst record in CABA history with only 1912 Guadalajara worse at 40-122. Haiti’s pitching staff had a 10.36 K/9, the second-best mark in Caribbean League history. Incidentally, Santo Domingo’s 5.45 K/9 and 869 strikeouts in 2004 were new CL worsts. Salvador’s pitching staff allowed 199 walks with a 1.22 BB/9; both of which are still second-best in CL history as of 2037. Jacky Castillo became the sixth CABA member of the 700 home run club. It would be his final season as he ended with 703 dingers, which sits ninth all-time as of 2037. Sanson Delgado became the 12^th to 1500 runs scored. Rafael Perez was the 11^th pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. Honduras’ Jose Cardenas had a 31-game hit streak. SS Rafino Piloto won his ninth Gold Glove. SS David Davila earned his ninth Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)