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FuzzyRussianHat · 06-21-2024, 11:45 AM

The Chinese Northern League had a major shift in 2005 with all three playoff teams ending significant droughts. Nanjing was first at 97-65, earning their first playoff spot and winning season since 1997. Zhengzhou was second at 94-68, snapping a postseason skid back to 1995. The biggest drought was third place Qingdao at 88-74, ending a 13-year streak dating back to 1992. That had been the longest active drought in the Northern League and the second longest in all of Chinese League Baseball.

There was a six game drop from the Devils in third to fourth place Hangzhou and Jinan at 82-80. Each of last year’s playoff teams fell below .500 with Tianjin at 77-85, Dalian at 79-83, and Shanghai at 71-91. For the Jackrabbits specifically, that was their first time with a losing record since 1997.

Despite Tianjin’s general misfortune, SS Baogang Tian still repeated as Northern League MVP, winning the award for the third time. The 29-year old led in WAR (12.7), wRC+ (202), hits (204), total bases (330), slugging (.543), and OPS (.915). Dalian’s Cheng Song won Pitcher of the Year for the second time in three years. The 30-year old righty led in ERA (1.39), strikeouts (320), WHIP (0.71), K/BB (13.3), complete games (19), shutouts (7), FIP- (42), and WAR (9.4). Song had a 14-9 record over 233.2 innings.

The Southern League also had a shakeup with two of the three playoff teams breaking their own lengthy droughts. Xiamen was first at 99-63, getting their first berth since 1994. The lone returning playoff team was two-time defending CLB champ Changsha in second at 90-72. The Cannons grew their playoff streak to four seasons.

In third was Shenzhen at 87-75, ending what was the longest active playoff drought in CLB. The Spartans hadn’t earned a postseason appearance in 14 seasons, dating back to 1991. Macau, the China Series runner-up the past two years, took fourth place at 83-79, four games behind Shenzhen. Wuhan was fifth at 81-81, ending their five-year playoff streak.

Changsha’s Feng Du earned Southern League MVP. The 25-year old first baseman led in hits (208), doubles (34), total bases (334), average (.338), OBP (.373), OPS (.917), and wRC+ (220). Du added 9.1 WAR and 26 home runs. He had won China Series MVP in the prior two years, earning an eight-year, $28,320,000 extension after the 2005 season. Du would play three more years for Changsha, then opt out and leave for Europe.

His Changsha teammate Lei Li won his third consecutive Pitcher of the Year, as the 26-year old righty led in WHIP (0.67), shutouts (6), and FIP- (36). Li added a 1.29 ERA over 202.2 innings with 292 strikeouts, 8.4 WAR, a 16-4 record, and 16 saves. He beat out the unrelated Yihe Li of Wuhan for the honor despite Yihe’s 0.98 ERA. That was only the fifth time in CLB history that a qualifying starter had a sub-one ERA. Yihe Li also led in wins (21) and WAR (8.8).

Changsha swept Qingdao and Zhengzhou swept Shenzhen in the first round of the playoffs. The Cannons outlasted Nanjing in a seven-game classic, becoming the first team to earn three straight China Series berths since Dalian’s six-peat from 1989-94. On the other side, Xiamen topped Zhengzhou 4-1 to earn their second-ever finals berth, having taken runner-up in 1981.

In the 37^th China Series, Changsha had a shot to be only the second-ever squad to take three straight CLB titles. The series was an all-timer and became only the second in CLB history to need an extra-innings game seven to decide it (1974). After 12 innings, Xiamen came up the 4-2 winner to deny the three-peat.

Finals MVP and semifinal MVP went to 1B Xiaofei Su. Nicknamed “Ironfist,” the 27-year old in 12 playoff starts had 17 hits, 9 runs, 1 double, 6 home runs, and 15 RBI. The Mutts became the 15^th of CLB’s original 24 franchises to claim the China Series crown.

Other notes: 2006 was notable for having three perfect games, making 37 in CLB’s history to date. It wasn’t the first time there had been three in a season in the dead ball Chinese League, as it had also happened in 1997, 1990, and 1981. The first was Chongqing’s Sheng Zhou with 11 Ks versus Macau on June 11. On July 7, Harbin’s Zihao Xu fanned 15 versus Hangzhou. Then on September 19, Zhengzhou’s Jun Hu had 6 Ks against Dalian. For all three guys, it was the only no-hitters of their careers.

06-21-2024, 11:45 AM	#1357
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,731	2006 in CLB The Chinese Northern League had a major shift in 2005 with all three playoff teams ending significant droughts. Nanjing was first at 97-65, earning their first playoff spot and winning season since 1997. Zhengzhou was second at 94-68, snapping a postseason skid back to 1995. The biggest drought was third place Qingdao at 88-74, ending a 13-year streak dating back to 1992. That had been the longest active drought in the Northern League and the second longest in all of Chinese League Baseball. There was a six game drop from the Devils in third to fourth place Hangzhou and Jinan at 82-80. Each of last year’s playoff teams fell below .500 with Tianjin at 77-85, Dalian at 79-83, and Shanghai at 71-91. For the Jackrabbits specifically, that was their first time with a losing record since 1997. Despite Tianjin’s general misfortune, SS Baogang Tian still repeated as Northern League MVP, winning the award for the third time. The 29-year old led in WAR (12.7), wRC+ (202), hits (204), total bases (330), slugging (.543), and OPS (.915). Dalian’s Cheng Song won Pitcher of the Year for the second time in three years. The 30-year old righty led in ERA (1.39), strikeouts (320), WHIP (0.71), K/BB (13.3), complete games (19), shutouts (7), FIP- (42), and WAR (9.4). Song had a 14-9 record over 233.2 innings. The Southern League also had a shakeup with two of the three playoff teams breaking their own lengthy droughts. Xiamen was first at 99-63, getting their first berth since 1994. The lone returning playoff team was two-time defending CLB champ Changsha in second at 90-72. The Cannons grew their playoff streak to four seasons. In third was Shenzhen at 87-75, ending what was the longest active playoff drought in CLB. The Spartans hadn’t earned a postseason appearance in 14 seasons, dating back to 1991. Macau, the China Series runner-up the past two years, took fourth place at 83-79, four games behind Shenzhen. Wuhan was fifth at 81-81, ending their five-year playoff streak. Changsha’s Feng Du earned Southern League MVP. The 25-year old first baseman led in hits (208), doubles (34), total bases (334), average (.338), OBP (.373), OPS (.917), and wRC+ (220). Du added 9.1 WAR and 26 home runs. He had won China Series MVP in the prior two years, earning an eight-year, $28,320,000 extension after the 2005 season. Du would play three more years for Changsha, then opt out and leave for Europe. His Changsha teammate Lei Li won his third consecutive Pitcher of the Year, as the 26-year old righty led in WHIP (0.67), shutouts (6), and FIP- (36). Li added a 1.29 ERA over 202.2 innings with 292 strikeouts, 8.4 WAR, a 16-4 record, and 16 saves. He beat out the unrelated Yihe Li of Wuhan for the honor despite Yihe’s 0.98 ERA. That was only the fifth time in CLB history that a qualifying starter had a sub-one ERA. Yihe Li also led in wins (21) and WAR (8.8). Changsha swept Qingdao and Zhengzhou swept Shenzhen in the first round of the playoffs. The Cannons outlasted Nanjing in a seven-game classic, becoming the first team to earn three straight China Series berths since Dalian’s six-peat from 1989-94. On the other side, Xiamen topped Zhengzhou 4-1 to earn their second-ever finals berth, having taken runner-up in 1981. In the 37^th China Series, Changsha had a shot to be only the second-ever squad to take three straight CLB titles. The series was an all-timer and became only the second in CLB history to need an extra-innings game seven to decide it (1974). After 12 innings, Xiamen came up the 4-2 winner to deny the three-peat. Finals MVP and semifinal MVP went to 1B Xiaofei Su. Nicknamed “Ironfist,” the 27-year old in 12 playoff starts had 17 hits, 9 runs, 1 double, 6 home runs, and 15 RBI. The Mutts became the 15^th of CLB’s original 24 franchises to claim the China Series crown. Other notes: 2006 was notable for having three perfect games, making 37 in CLB’s history to date. It wasn’t the first time there had been three in a season in the dead ball Chinese League, as it had also happened in 1997, 1990, and 1981. The first was Chongqing’s Sheng Zhou with 11 Ks versus Macau on June 11. On July 7, Harbin’s Zihao Xu fanned 15 versus Hangzhou. Then on September 19, Zhengzhou’s Jun Hu had 6 Ks against Dalian. For all three guys, it was the only no-hitters of their careers. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)