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FuzzyRussianHat · 06-13-2024, 04:21 AM

Since 1988, the Central American Baseball Association had been the only major baseball league to require only five years of service time to reach free agency. For 2005, CABA expanded it back to six years, which is more restrictive but is still tied for the lowest of any league. CABA would keep it at six years until 2030, when the players won the fight to push it back to five.

For the third year in a row, the Mexican League had the same four teams earn playoff spots. Six-time defending ML champ and reigning CABA champ Ecatepec yet again dominated the South Division at 110-52. The Explosion earned the top seed and grew their division title streak to 10 years. There was a 26 game gap to second place Leon. There hasn’t been a wild card out of the South Division since 1996.

Positions did swap in the North Division. This time, Juarez took the top spot at 100-62, extending their playoff streak to four seasons. Last year’s division champ Torreon and Monterrey were both 93-69, taking the wild cards. The Matadors had the tiebreaker for the #3 seed and grew their CABA record playoff streak to 18 years. The Tomahawks picked up a third straight berth and their fourth in five years. The only nearby foe in the wild card race was Hermosillo at 88-74.

Chihuahua was 85-77, again led by historic offense from 1B Donald Gonzalez. The 26-year old Puerto Rican won Mexican League MVP for the third time in four years and posted his second Triple Crown season. Gonzalez also set the CABA single-season record with 151 runs scored, passing Stevie Montoya’s 148 from 1998. This is still the top mark as of 2037.

Gonzalez led in hits (232), home runs (62), RBI (144), total bases (466), triple slash (.380/.443/.764), OPS (1.207), and wRC+ (246). Amazingly, his 12.7 WAR was just behind Mexicali’s Iwan Valen, who used Gold Glove defense in center field to get to 12.8. Gonzalez was in great company, joining legends Kiko Velazquez and Prometheo Garcia as the only CABA batters with multiple Triple Crown years.

Ecatapec’s Gorilla Gomez was the Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old Dominican signed with the Explosion in 2003 after largely forgettable years with Juarez. Gomez led in wins at 22-7 and posted a 2.35 ERA over 241 innings with 313 strikeouts and 8.7 WAR.

The division champs won in the first round of the playoffs as Ecatepec downed Torreon 3-1 and Juarez outlasted Monterrey 3-2. For the sixth year in a row, the Matadors were denied a Mexican League Championship Series appearance. The Explosion got their seventh straight, while the Jesters had their first since 2002.

Juarez was the ones to finally snap Ecatepec’s hold on the throne, taking the MLCS 4-2 in an upset. This prevented the Explosion from seven straight pennants and was the first for the Jesters since 1988. Juarez is now nine-time Mexican League champs.

The Caribbean League also lacked parity with the same playoff teams as the prior year as well. The division champs and wild cards did switch positions though. Haiti at 108-54 won the Island Division and took the top seed, expanding their playoff streak to nine years. Havana was second in the division at 93-69, which earned the second wild card. The Hurricanes got their third berth in four years. Bahamas was close by at 91-71, but just short.

Salvador won the Continental Division at 98-64 for their third straight playoff berth and 12^th since 1992. However, it was their first division title since 2000 due to Honduras’ hold on the spot. The two-time defending Caribbean champ Horsemen went 95-67 to take the first wild card. Honduras’ playoff streak grew to eight with their 15^th berth since 1988. Costa Rica was also solid at 90-72, but were three games behind Havana for the second wild card.

Costa Rica DH Juan Castro earned Caribbean League MVP. The 26-year old Panamanian led in home runs (60), RBI (139), total bases (422), slugging (.686), OPS (1.091), and wRC+ (184). Castro added 8.4 WAR and a .337 average. The Rays had locked him up in the prior offseason on an eight-year, $43,320,000 deal.

Pitcher of the Year went to Bahamas’ righty Jeronimo Martin. The 23-year old Nicaraguan led in wins at 23-5 and posted a 2.64 ERA over 265.2 innings, 254 strikeouts, and 6.2 WAR. It was the one standout season in an otherwise unremarkable career. Also of note, Haiti’s Alejandro Valadez won a fourth consecutive Reliever of the Year award, leading in saves at 45 and posting 5.6 WAR and 159 strikeouts in 91 innings.

Haiti survived in five against Havana in the first round of the playoffs, while Salvador swept defending champ Honduras. It was the sixth time in the last decade in the Caribbean League Championship Series for both the Herons and Stallions, although they hadn’t met each other since Salvador’s 1997 and 1998 wins. The Herons were the favorite, but the Stallions won a seven-game thriller. This was Salvador’s first pennant since their 1996-99 four-peat and their 11^th title overall.

The 95^th CABA Championship was the second finals meeting between Juarez and Salvador. Back in 1978, the Jesters won 4-2 over the Stallions to repeat as champs. This time, Salvador won it 4-1 to become seven-time CABA champs (1915, 64, 65, 94, 97, 98, 05). Since 1990, five franchises (Salvador, Monterrey, Ecatepec, Haiti, Honduras) have split 16 titles between them. 3B Eric Bolton was finals MVP, a journeyman American who had been generally a career backup. In 14 playoff starts, he had 14 hits, 4 runs, 3 extra base hits, and 10 RBI.

Other notes: Haiti’s Pasqual Cantu tossed CABA’s 31^st Perfect Game on May 15, striking out eight against Santo Domingo. Hugh Boerboom became the ninth member of the 3000 hit club. He played one more year and ended with 3083. Maikel Loya became the 22^nd to 1500 RBI. Rafael Perez became the ninth pitcher to 250 career wins, ending his final season with 255. CF Iwan Valen won his seventh Gold Glove and won his sixth Silver Slugger. SS David Davila won his 10^th Silver Slugger.

06-13-2024, 04:21 AM	#1332
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,728	2005 in CABA Since 1988, the Central American Baseball Association had been the only major baseball league to require only five years of service time to reach free agency. For 2005, CABA expanded it back to six years, which is more restrictive but is still tied for the lowest of any league. CABA would keep it at six years until 2030, when the players won the fight to push it back to five. For the third year in a row, the Mexican League had the same four teams earn playoff spots. Six-time defending ML champ and reigning CABA champ Ecatepec yet again dominated the South Division at 110-52. The Explosion earned the top seed and grew their division title streak to 10 years. There was a 26 game gap to second place Leon. There hasn’t been a wild card out of the South Division since 1996. Positions did swap in the North Division. This time, Juarez took the top spot at 100-62, extending their playoff streak to four seasons. Last year’s division champ Torreon and Monterrey were both 93-69, taking the wild cards. The Matadors had the tiebreaker for the #3 seed and grew their CABA record playoff streak to 18 years. The Tomahawks picked up a third straight berth and their fourth in five years. The only nearby foe in the wild card race was Hermosillo at 88-74. Chihuahua was 85-77, again led by historic offense from 1B Donald Gonzalez. The 26-year old Puerto Rican won Mexican League MVP for the third time in four years and posted his second Triple Crown season. Gonzalez also set the CABA single-season record with 151 runs scored, passing Stevie Montoya’s 148 from 1998. This is still the top mark as of 2037. Gonzalez led in hits (232), home runs (62), RBI (144), total bases (466), triple slash (.380/.443/.764), OPS (1.207), and wRC+ (246). Amazingly, his 12.7 WAR was just behind Mexicali’s Iwan Valen, who used Gold Glove defense in center field to get to 12.8. Gonzalez was in great company, joining legends Kiko Velazquez and Prometheo Garcia as the only CABA batters with multiple Triple Crown years. Ecatapec’s Gorilla Gomez was the Pitcher of the Year. The 28-year old Dominican signed with the Explosion in 2003 after largely forgettable years with Juarez. Gomez led in wins at 22-7 and posted a 2.35 ERA over 241 innings with 313 strikeouts and 8.7 WAR. The division champs won in the first round of the playoffs as Ecatepec downed Torreon 3-1 and Juarez outlasted Monterrey 3-2. For the sixth year in a row, the Matadors were denied a Mexican League Championship Series appearance. The Explosion got their seventh straight, while the Jesters had their first since 2002. Juarez was the ones to finally snap Ecatepec’s hold on the throne, taking the MLCS 4-2 in an upset. This prevented the Explosion from seven straight pennants and was the first for the Jesters since 1988. Juarez is now nine-time Mexican League champs. The Caribbean League also lacked parity with the same playoff teams as the prior year as well. The division champs and wild cards did switch positions though. Haiti at 108-54 won the Island Division and took the top seed, expanding their playoff streak to nine years. Havana was second in the division at 93-69, which earned the second wild card. The Hurricanes got their third berth in four years. Bahamas was close by at 91-71, but just short. Salvador won the Continental Division at 98-64 for their third straight playoff berth and 12^th since 1992. However, it was their first division title since 2000 due to Honduras’ hold on the spot. The two-time defending Caribbean champ Horsemen went 95-67 to take the first wild card. Honduras’ playoff streak grew to eight with their 15^th berth since 1988. Costa Rica was also solid at 90-72, but were three games behind Havana for the second wild card. Costa Rica DH Juan Castro earned Caribbean League MVP. The 26-year old Panamanian led in home runs (60), RBI (139), total bases (422), slugging (.686), OPS (1.091), and wRC+ (184). Castro added 8.4 WAR and a .337 average. The Rays had locked him up in the prior offseason on an eight-year, $43,320,000 deal. Pitcher of the Year went to Bahamas’ righty Jeronimo Martin. The 23-year old Nicaraguan led in wins at 23-5 and posted a 2.64 ERA over 265.2 innings, 254 strikeouts, and 6.2 WAR. It was the one standout season in an otherwise unremarkable career. Also of note, Haiti’s Alejandro Valadez won a fourth consecutive Reliever of the Year award, leading in saves at 45 and posting 5.6 WAR and 159 strikeouts in 91 innings. Haiti survived in five against Havana in the first round of the playoffs, while Salvador swept defending champ Honduras. It was the sixth time in the last decade in the Caribbean League Championship Series for both the Herons and Stallions, although they hadn’t met each other since Salvador’s 1997 and 1998 wins. The Herons were the favorite, but the Stallions won a seven-game thriller. This was Salvador’s first pennant since their 1996-99 four-peat and their 11^th title overall. The 95^th CABA Championship was the second finals meeting between Juarez and Salvador. Back in 1978, the Jesters won 4-2 over the Stallions to repeat as champs. This time, Salvador won it 4-1 to become seven-time CABA champs (1915, 64, 65, 94, 97, 98, 05). Since 1990, five franchises (Salvador, Monterrey, Ecatepec, Haiti, Honduras) have split 16 titles between them. 3B Eric Bolton was finals MVP, a journeyman American who had been generally a career backup. In 14 playoff starts, he had 14 hits, 4 runs, 3 extra base hits, and 10 RBI. Other notes: Haiti’s Pasqual Cantu tossed CABA’s 31^st Perfect Game on May 15, striking out eight against Santo Domingo. Hugh Boerboom became the ninth member of the 3000 hit club. He played one more year and ended with 3083. Maikel Loya became the 22^nd to 1500 RBI. Rafael Perez became the ninth pitcher to 250 career wins, ending his final season with 255. CF Iwan Valen won his seventh Gold Glove and won his sixth Silver Slugger. SS David Davila won his 10^th Silver Slugger. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)