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FuzzyRussianHat · 03-16-2025, 08:49 AM

The battle for the Japan League’s top seed came down to defending East Asia Baseball champ Sapporo and Chiba. The Comets ended up grabbing it and the Capital Division title at 100-62, while the Swordfish were 99-63 atop the North Division. Chiba earned their third playoff trip in five years and led the league in scoring with 766 runs. Sapporo got their fourth division title in five years. The Swordfish had to fend off 95-67 Niigata, who got the first wild card for their second berth in three years.

Hiroshima repeated as West Division champ at 95-67, fending off Fukuoka by six games. The Hammerheads had the fewest runs allowed at 517. A tight Central Division had Kobe (93-69) outlast Kyoto (91-71), and Nagoya (89-73). The Blaze picked up their fifth consecutive division title.

The Kamikaze at 91-71 ended as the second wild card to end a four-year playoff drought. They were one ahead of Saitama (90-72) and two ahead of both Nagoya and Fukuoka (89-73). That ended the Frogs’ playoff streak at seven years, which was the longest active streak in the Japan League.

MVP went to Hiroshima 1B Hyung-Gwang Sohn in his fourth year as a starter. The 25-year old lefty led in runs (124), home runs (62), RBI (130), walks (78), total bases (406), OBP (.413), slugging (.719), OPS (1.132), wRC+ (241), and WAR (11.7). Sohn added 183 hits and a .324 batting average. The prior spring, the Hammerheads gave Sohn a five-year, $69,200,000 extension.

Pitcher of the Year was Kobe’s Tsuneo Takao in his seventh season. The 27-year old righty had an 18-8 record, 1.86 ERA, 222.2 innings, 324 strikeouts, 0.83 WHIP, 183 ERA+, and 8.3 WAR. Takao didn’t lead in any stat, but was second in ERA, WAR, and WHIP; and finished third in strikeouts. The highlight of the season came on July 19 as Takao threw EAB’s 39^th Perfect Game in a 15 strikeout performance against Niigata. This was his second career no-hitter as he also had one in 2021.

The Green Dragons would edge the Blaze 2-1 in the wild card round while Hiroshima topped Kobe 2-1. Both pulled off divisional series upsets as the Hammerheads outlasted defending champ Sapporo 3-2 and Niigata ousted Chiba 3-1. The Green Dragons earned their first Japan League Championship Series trip since their 2008 title, while Hiroshima earned back-to-back trips.

For the first time since 2012, the JLCS was a sweep with Niigata clobbering Hiroshima 4-0. The Green Dragons became seven-time Japan League champs (1990, 1991, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2027), an impressive haul for a 1978 expansion team. The Hammerheads now have been defeated in six straight JLCS trips. Hiroshima has made it more than any other team in the 21^st Century, but they’ve gone 2-8 in their trips.

Four teams were within three games of the Korea League’s top seed in 2027. Goyang barely took it at 98-64 atop the North Division, ending a seven-year playoff drought. Incheon was one back in the division at 97-65, giving the defending KL champs the first wild card. Busan won the South Division for the fourth straight year at 97-65 with Ulsan next at 95-67. The Blue Jays’ playoff streak grew to eight, the longest-active streak in EAB. The Swallows got repeat playoff trips as the second wild card and allowed the fewest runs at 525.

There was an eight game drop to the third wild card spot which went to 87-75 Yongin, ending their six-year playoff drought. Hamhung (84-78) and Pyongyang (82-80) were the closest competitors. The Heat led the league with 752 runs, while the Pythons’ pitching staff had 1613 strikeouts. That was the third-most Ks in KL history and the most in a century. At 80-82, Changwon’s six-year playoff streak ended and they had their first losing season since 2014.

Last year’s KLCS runner-up Gwangju also notably dropped to 75-87. Despite that, Grays DH Han Yi won his third Korea League MVP in four seasons. The 26-year old lefty led in hits (210), runs (114), homers (56), total bases (411), triple slash (.354/.414/.693), OPS (1.107), wRC+ (198), and WAR (9.8). Yi’s 129 RBI fell seven short of a Triple Crown.

Meanwhile Ulsan ace Jin-Yu Jun became EAB’s first Triple Crown pitcher since 2018 with the 20^th such season. The third-year righty repeated as Pitcher of the Year with a 21-9 record, 2.25 ERA, and 332 strikeouts in 243.2 innings. Jun also was the leader in WHIP (0.88), FIP- (47), and WAR (10.3).

Ulsan edged Yongin 2-1 in the wild card round, then upset top seed Goyang 3-1 in the divisional series. The Swallows secured their first Korea League Championship Series trip since their 2015 pennant. Defending champ Incheon battered Busan 3-0 and went the distance against Ulsan. The Inferno survived 4-3 to repeat, becoming five time Korean champs (1950, 1954, 2002, 2026, 2027).

Incheon was denied the overall title again as Niigata took the 107^th East Asian Championship 4-2. The Green Dragons became four-time EAB champs (1991, 2006, 2008, 2027) and continued Japan’s recent finals dominance. The JL champ has won the title in seven consecutive seasons, the longest such streak in EAB history.

2026 Japan League MVP Masanori Fukuoka was the finals MVP. In 17 starts, the 25-year old LF had 31 hits, 19 runs, 4 doubles, 5 homers, 14 RBI, 7 steals, 1.258 OPS, and 1.6 WAR. His effort was the second-most hits and third-most runs in EAB playoff history.

Other notes: Chiba’s Naohisa Sakiyama had a four home run game against Yokohama, the 14^th four-homer game in EAB history. Yeo-San Park became the 36^th member of the 600 home run club and Ji-Hwan Kimw as the 74^th to 500 dingers. Kunihiko Ishiguro was the 35^th to score 1500 runs. Takerou Kanayama was the 97^th to reach 2500 hits. SS Jae-Won Park and RF Chae-Yun Choi both won their 8^th Gold Gloves.

In pitching milestones, Nobuyoshi Yamauchi was the 14^th to reach 250 career wins. Akikazu Yoshida and Toshikuni Naikai were the 68^th and 69^th to 200 wins. Naikai became the 19^th to 4000 strikeouts, while Yun-Jae Paek and Il-Hwan Lee became the 45^th and 46^th to 3500 Ks.

It was the final year for the seven-time Pitcher of the Year winner Naikai, who had declined sharply after various injuries in his early 30s. He was done at only age 35, but his dominance was absurd with a 202-67 record, 1.80 ERA, 2544.1 innings, 4054 strikeouts, 365 walks, 188 ERA+, 36 FIP-, and 126.7 WAR.

Naikai retired as EAB’s career leader in K/9 (14.34), WHIP (0.78), winning percentage (.751), and opponent’s OBP (.213). He was also second in opponent’s OPS and ERA behind only EAB saves leader Oki Tanaka. Even with a relatively lower inning count, Naikai also made it to third in pitching WAR. He’ll forever be remembered for his 2020 season, considered by many to be the greatest pitching season in baseball history. That year, he had an 0.64 ERA over 240 innings, 445 strikeouts, 22 walks, 19-1 record, 7 shutouts, 528 ERA+, 0 FIP-, and 18.5 WAR.

03-16-2025, 08:49 AM	#2151
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,884	2027 in EAB The battle for the Japan League’s top seed came down to defending East Asia Baseball champ Sapporo and Chiba. The Comets ended up grabbing it and the Capital Division title at 100-62, while the Swordfish were 99-63 atop the North Division. Chiba earned their third playoff trip in five years and led the league in scoring with 766 runs. Sapporo got their fourth division title in five years. The Swordfish had to fend off 95-67 Niigata, who got the first wild card for their second berth in three years. Hiroshima repeated as West Division champ at 95-67, fending off Fukuoka by six games. The Hammerheads had the fewest runs allowed at 517. A tight Central Division had Kobe (93-69) outlast Kyoto (91-71), and Nagoya (89-73). The Blaze picked up their fifth consecutive division title. The Kamikaze at 91-71 ended as the second wild card to end a four-year playoff drought. They were one ahead of Saitama (90-72) and two ahead of both Nagoya and Fukuoka (89-73). That ended the Frogs’ playoff streak at seven years, which was the longest active streak in the Japan League. MVP went to Hiroshima 1B Hyung-Gwang Sohn in his fourth year as a starter. The 25-year old lefty led in runs (124), home runs (62), RBI (130), walks (78), total bases (406), OBP (.413), slugging (.719), OPS (1.132), wRC+ (241), and WAR (11.7). Sohn added 183 hits and a .324 batting average. The prior spring, the Hammerheads gave Sohn a five-year, $69,200,000 extension. Pitcher of the Year was Kobe’s Tsuneo Takao in his seventh season. The 27-year old righty had an 18-8 record, 1.86 ERA, 222.2 innings, 324 strikeouts, 0.83 WHIP, 183 ERA+, and 8.3 WAR. Takao didn’t lead in any stat, but was second in ERA, WAR, and WHIP; and finished third in strikeouts. The highlight of the season came on July 19 as Takao threw EAB’s 39^th Perfect Game in a 15 strikeout performance against Niigata. This was his second career no-hitter as he also had one in 2021. The Green Dragons would edge the Blaze 2-1 in the wild card round while Hiroshima topped Kobe 2-1. Both pulled off divisional series upsets as the Hammerheads outlasted defending champ Sapporo 3-2 and Niigata ousted Chiba 3-1. The Green Dragons earned their first Japan League Championship Series trip since their 2008 title, while Hiroshima earned back-to-back trips. For the first time since 2012, the JLCS was a sweep with Niigata clobbering Hiroshima 4-0. The Green Dragons became seven-time Japan League champs (1990, 1991, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2027), an impressive haul for a 1978 expansion team. The Hammerheads now have been defeated in six straight JLCS trips. Hiroshima has made it more than any other team in the 21^st Century, but they’ve gone 2-8 in their trips. Four teams were within three games of the Korea League’s top seed in 2027. Goyang barely took it at 98-64 atop the North Division, ending a seven-year playoff drought. Incheon was one back in the division at 97-65, giving the defending KL champs the first wild card. Busan won the South Division for the fourth straight year at 97-65 with Ulsan next at 95-67. The Blue Jays’ playoff streak grew to eight, the longest-active streak in EAB. The Swallows got repeat playoff trips as the second wild card and allowed the fewest runs at 525. There was an eight game drop to the third wild card spot which went to 87-75 Yongin, ending their six-year playoff drought. Hamhung (84-78) and Pyongyang (82-80) were the closest competitors. The Heat led the league with 752 runs, while the Pythons’ pitching staff had 1613 strikeouts. That was the third-most Ks in KL history and the most in a century. At 80-82, Changwon’s six-year playoff streak ended and they had their first losing season since 2014. Last year’s KLCS runner-up Gwangju also notably dropped to 75-87. Despite that, Grays DH Han Yi won his third Korea League MVP in four seasons. The 26-year old lefty led in hits (210), runs (114), homers (56), total bases (411), triple slash (.354/.414/.693), OPS (1.107), wRC+ (198), and WAR (9.8). Yi’s 129 RBI fell seven short of a Triple Crown. Meanwhile Ulsan ace Jin-Yu Jun became EAB’s first Triple Crown pitcher since 2018 with the 20^th such season. The third-year righty repeated as Pitcher of the Year with a 21-9 record, 2.25 ERA, and 332 strikeouts in 243.2 innings. Jun also was the leader in WHIP (0.88), FIP- (47), and WAR (10.3). Ulsan edged Yongin 2-1 in the wild card round, then upset top seed Goyang 3-1 in the divisional series. The Swallows secured their first Korea League Championship Series trip since their 2015 pennant. Defending champ Incheon battered Busan 3-0 and went the distance against Ulsan. The Inferno survived 4-3 to repeat, becoming five time Korean champs (1950, 1954, 2002, 2026, 2027). Incheon was denied the overall title again as Niigata took the 107^th East Asian Championship 4-2. The Green Dragons became four-time EAB champs (1991, 2006, 2008, 2027) and continued Japan’s recent finals dominance. The JL champ has won the title in seven consecutive seasons, the longest such streak in EAB history. 2026 Japan League MVP Masanori Fukuoka was the finals MVP. In 17 starts, the 25-year old LF had 31 hits, 19 runs, 4 doubles, 5 homers, 14 RBI, 7 steals, 1.258 OPS, and 1.6 WAR. His effort was the second-most hits and third-most runs in EAB playoff history. Other notes: Chiba’s Naohisa Sakiyama had a four home run game against Yokohama, the 14^th four-homer game in EAB history. Yeo-San Park became the 36^th member of the 600 home run club and Ji-Hwan Kimw as the 74^th to 500 dingers. Kunihiko Ishiguro was the 35^th to score 1500 runs. Takerou Kanayama was the 97^th to reach 2500 hits. SS Jae-Won Park and RF Chae-Yun Choi both won their 8^th Gold Gloves. In pitching milestones, Nobuyoshi Yamauchi was the 14^th to reach 250 career wins. Akikazu Yoshida and Toshikuni Naikai were the 68^th and 69^th to 200 wins. Naikai became the 19^th to 4000 strikeouts, while Yun-Jae Paek and Il-Hwan Lee became the 45^th and 46^th to 3500 Ks. It was the final year for the seven-time Pitcher of the Year winner Naikai, who had declined sharply after various injuries in his early 30s. He was done at only age 35, but his dominance was absurd with a 202-67 record, 1.80 ERA, 2544.1 innings, 4054 strikeouts, 365 walks, 188 ERA+, 36 FIP-, and 126.7 WAR. Naikai retired as EAB’s career leader in K/9 (14.34), WHIP (0.78), winning percentage (.751), and opponent’s OBP (.213). He was also second in opponent’s OPS and ERA behind only EAB saves leader Oki Tanaka. Even with a relatively lower inning count, Naikai also made it to third in pitching WAR. He’ll forever be remembered for his 2020 season, considered by many to be the greatest pitching season in baseball history. That year, he had an 0.64 ERA over 240 innings, 445 strikeouts, 22 walks, 19-1 record, 7 shutouts, 528 ERA+, 0 FIP-, and 18.5 WAR. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)