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FuzzyRussianHat · 07-27-2024, 01:57 PM

Nagoya had a historic 117-45 season, dominating the Japan League in 2009 and repeating as Central Division champs. This was the third-most wins in JL history behind only Sapporo’s 121-41 in 1950 and Yokohama’s 118-44 in 1924.

Fukuoka won the #2 seed at 96-66, tying their own single-season team record from 1997 with 287 doubles. Last year’s top seed Hiroshima fell off hard from 106 wins to a mere 79-83. This was the first time the Hammerheads had posting a losing record since 1993. The Frogs earned their second division title in three years.

Tokyo took a fourth consecutive Capital Division with their best record since 1994 at 93-69. Chiba gave them a run, but fell short at 90-72. This time, the terrible division was the North. Defending East Asia Baseball champ Niigata struggled to 78-84, but that was enough to win the division still by two games over Sendai. The Green Dragons won a fourth consecutive division title and their eighth of the decade.

Despite a weaker season for Hiroshima, their star LF Hitoshi Kubota won his third straight Japan League MVP. The 26-year old switch hitter led in home runs (54), slugging (.669), OPS (1.056), wRC+ (207), and WAR (8.1). Kubota added 115 RBI and a .326 batting average.

Kitakyushu’s Sekien Ida repeated as Pitcher of the Year. It was his third, having also won in 2004. The 31-year old Ida led in ERA (2.07), and WHIP (0.78), adding an 11-10 record over 204.1 innings, 268 strikeouts, a 163 ERA+, and 6.6 WAR. It was Ida’s fourth ERA title. The Kodiaks locked up their ace to another six years and $47,400,000 before the season started.

Also notable was Fukuoka’s Heihachiro Okasawa winning a fourth straight Reliever of the Year, posting 6.7 WAR, a 414 ERA+, 0.84 ERA, 33 saves, and 170 strikeouts in 86 innings. The effort also earned him a second place in Pitcher of the Year voting and a second in WAR.

Despite a 39-win difference between the two, Nagoya had to work hard to eliminate defending champ Niigata 3-2 in the first round. The Nightowls earned their first Japan League Championship Series appearance since 2000. Fukuoka topped Tokyo 3-1 on the other side, giving the Frogs their first JCLS since their 1980 pennant. The winner was guaranteed to end a long drought, since Nagoya’s last pennant was 1979. The Nightowls prevailed 4-2 over Fukuoka to become eight-time league champs.

The Korea League had a shakeup with only one playoff team back from the prior year. Busan took the top seed at 106-56 atop the South Division for their second berth in three years. The Blue Jays hadn’t seen a division title since 1996. Gwangju was second in the division at 98-64, repeating as a wild card.

Suwon claimed the North Division at 100-62, ending an eight-year playoff and division title streak. For the second wild card, Daegu (91-71) edged Seongnam (89-73) and defending KL champ Goyang (87-75). The Diamondbacks snapped a five-year postseason drought. Yongin finished 85-77, ending their four-year streak.

Goyang 1B Seung-U Lee picked up Korea League MVP. The 30-year old lefty led in hits (226), RBI (124), and batting average (.367). Lee added 37 home runs, a 1.017 OPS, 176 wRC+, and 7.6 WAR.

Pitcher of the Year was Dong-Hyun Jung, who signed a six-year, $53,400,000 free agent deal with Busan for 2009. He had previously been with Seongnam, winning POTY there in 2004. Jung led in wins (20-3), ERA (1.84), WHIP (0.82), K/BB (9.7), quality starts (27), FIP- (49), and WAR (10.9). Jung had a 204 ERA+ and 330 strikeouts in 253.2 innings, falling 14 Ks short of a Triple Crown. He also had a no-hitter in April with eight strikeouts and three walks versus Gwangju.

Busan swept Daegu in the first round and Suwon survived in five over Gwangju. It was first Korea League Championship Series since 1996 for the Blue Jays and the first since 1997 for the Snappers. Busan bested Suwon 4-2 in the KLCS to end a 29-year title drought. It was the 11^th ring overall for the Blue Jays.

The 89^th East Asian Championship renewed an ancient finals rivalry. Nagoya beat Busan in both the 1934 and 1940 finales. Both had multiple titles from long ago, but neither had won it all in more than 35 years. The Nightowls again proved to be the Blue Jays’ kryptonite, taking the series 4-2. It was their fifth EAB title, joining the two prior wins over Busan, plus titles in 1931 and most recently in 1964.

This Nagoya group made history as the winningest Japanese team to win it all at 117-45. The only teams to win more games in EAB and claim the championship were 1928 Hamhung at 119-43 and 1921 Pyongyang at 118-44. Doing it in a modern context was especially impressive, as there hadn’t been an EAB team with 115+ wins since 1969.

Other notes: Koji Iwasaki became the 27^th member of the 600 home run club. RF Soo-Geun Yim won his eighth Silver Slugger and 2B Yoo Sen won his seventh.

Offensive numbers in EAB stayed remarkably consistent in the 2000s compared to recent decades. The Japan League had a .247 batting average and 3.41 ERA, which both grade out as below average on the historical scale. With the DH, the Korea League was a higher 3.84 ERA and .261 average; both of which grade as above average. Both remained steady in the coming years.

07-27-2024, 01:57 PM	#1465
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,285	2009 in EAB Nagoya had a historic 117-45 season, dominating the Japan League in 2009 and repeating as Central Division champs. This was the third-most wins in JL history behind only Sapporo’s 121-41 in 1950 and Yokohama’s 118-44 in 1924. Fukuoka won the #2 seed at 96-66, tying their own single-season team record from 1997 with 287 doubles. Last year’s top seed Hiroshima fell off hard from 106 wins to a mere 79-83. This was the first time the Hammerheads had posting a losing record since 1993. The Frogs earned their second division title in three years. Tokyo took a fourth consecutive Capital Division with their best record since 1994 at 93-69. Chiba gave them a run, but fell short at 90-72. This time, the terrible division was the North. Defending East Asia Baseball champ Niigata struggled to 78-84, but that was enough to win the division still by two games over Sendai. The Green Dragons won a fourth consecutive division title and their eighth of the decade. Despite a weaker season for Hiroshima, their star LF Hitoshi Kubota won his third straight Japan League MVP. The 26-year old switch hitter led in home runs (54), slugging (.669), OPS (1.056), wRC+ (207), and WAR (8.1). Kubota added 115 RBI and a .326 batting average. Kitakyushu’s Sekien Ida repeated as Pitcher of the Year. It was his third, having also won in 2004. The 31-year old Ida led in ERA (2.07), and WHIP (0.78), adding an 11-10 record over 204.1 innings, 268 strikeouts, a 163 ERA+, and 6.6 WAR. It was Ida’s fourth ERA title. The Kodiaks locked up their ace to another six years and $47,400,000 before the season started. Also notable was Fukuoka’s Heihachiro Okasawa winning a fourth straight Reliever of the Year, posting 6.7 WAR, a 414 ERA+, 0.84 ERA, 33 saves, and 170 strikeouts in 86 innings. The effort also earned him a second place in Pitcher of the Year voting and a second in WAR. Despite a 39-win difference between the two, Nagoya had to work hard to eliminate defending champ Niigata 3-2 in the first round. The Nightowls earned their first Japan League Championship Series appearance since 2000. Fukuoka topped Tokyo 3-1 on the other side, giving the Frogs their first JCLS since their 1980 pennant. The winner was guaranteed to end a long drought, since Nagoya’s last pennant was 1979. The Nightowls prevailed 4-2 over Fukuoka to become eight-time league champs. The Korea League had a shakeup with only one playoff team back from the prior year. Busan took the top seed at 106-56 atop the South Division for their second berth in three years. The Blue Jays hadn’t seen a division title since 1996. Gwangju was second in the division at 98-64, repeating as a wild card. Suwon claimed the North Division at 100-62, ending an eight-year playoff and division title streak. For the second wild card, Daegu (91-71) edged Seongnam (89-73) and defending KL champ Goyang (87-75). The Diamondbacks snapped a five-year postseason drought. Yongin finished 85-77, ending their four-year streak. Goyang 1B Seung-U Lee picked up Korea League MVP. The 30-year old lefty led in hits (226), RBI (124), and batting average (.367). Lee added 37 home runs, a 1.017 OPS, 176 wRC+, and 7.6 WAR. Pitcher of the Year was Dong-Hyun Jung, who signed a six-year, $53,400,000 free agent deal with Busan for 2009. He had previously been with Seongnam, winning POTY there in 2004. Jung led in wins (20-3), ERA (1.84), WHIP (0.82), K/BB (9.7), quality starts (27), FIP- (49), and WAR (10.9). Jung had a 204 ERA+ and 330 strikeouts in 253.2 innings, falling 14 Ks short of a Triple Crown. He also had a no-hitter in April with eight strikeouts and three walks versus Gwangju. Busan swept Daegu in the first round and Suwon survived in five over Gwangju. It was first Korea League Championship Series since 1996 for the Blue Jays and the first since 1997 for the Snappers. Busan bested Suwon 4-2 in the KLCS to end a 29-year title drought. It was the 11^th ring overall for the Blue Jays. The 89^th East Asian Championship renewed an ancient finals rivalry. Nagoya beat Busan in both the 1934 and 1940 finales. Both had multiple titles from long ago, but neither had won it all in more than 35 years. The Nightowls again proved to be the Blue Jays’ kryptonite, taking the series 4-2. It was their fifth EAB title, joining the two prior wins over Busan, plus titles in 1931 and most recently in 1964. This Nagoya group made history as the winningest Japanese team to win it all at 117-45. The only teams to win more games in EAB and claim the championship were 1928 Hamhung at 119-43 and 1921 Pyongyang at 118-44. Doing it in a modern context was especially impressive, as there hadn’t been an EAB team with 115+ wins since 1969. Other notes: Koji Iwasaki became the 27^th member of the 600 home run club. RF Soo-Geun Yim won his eighth Silver Slugger and 2B Yoo Sen won his seventh. Offensive numbers in EAB stayed remarkably consistent in the 2000s compared to recent decades. The Japan League had a .247 batting average and 3.41 ERA, which both grade out as below average on the historical scale. With the DH, the Korea League was a higher 3.84 ERA and .261 average; both of which grade as above average. Both remained steady in the coming years. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)