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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-01-2025, 08:11 AM

The World Baseball Championship had expanded from 96 to 112 teams for 2031, but opted to go even bigger for 2038. The game’s popularity had only continued to grow and at this point, all but the smallest countries had a major professional team. Youth and amateur participation had also grown significantly with smaller countries lobbying for another WBC expansion so they could participate. Officials always liked chances to grow the sport and thus another expansion and reformat of the WBC came for 2038.

The big jump was from 112 teams up to 160 total. With the 2031 change, 16 playoff teams advanced with the top two teams out of eight divisions. The 2038 expansion switched to a 16-division format with ten teams each and only the first place team advancing. Previously, all teams in a division played once, which led to 13 games in the most recent format. Officials didn’t want to take away guaranteed games which would happen with smaller divisions playing once, so the divisional format was opened up to a double round robin. Each team would play each other twice for 18 games in the initial stage.

Apart from there being 16 division champs and no wild cards, the playoff format otherwise remained unchanged. The 16 teams advanced to four-team double round robin groups with the best two in those groups making the elite eight. The quarterfinals were best-of-three, semifinal best-of-five, and World Championship best-of-seven.

The 2038 WBC was the 92^nd edition and the primary host city was Santiago, Dominican Republic. Division 1 was very competitive with Ethiopia holding on at 12-6 over both Colombia and Ivory Coast at 11-7 and both El Salvador and the DR at 10-8. The Ethiopians had lost both of their games to the Ivory Coast, but swept the Colombians (including a 6-5, 10 inning affair). Ethiopia earned its eighth playoff appearance with four in the last seven years.

Italy emerged from Division 2 at 13-5, fending off 12-6 runs from both Latvia and Peru. The Italians ended on a five-game win streak, including a 3-1 victory in their finale over the Peruvians. Italy advanced for the first time since 2033 and 23^rd time overall. It was an impressive debut for the Latvians, one of the small countries making its WBC debut with the expanded field.

Algeria earned Division 3 at 14-4 thanks to a 7-1 record in one-run games. China and Jordan were the nearest foes at 12-6 each. This was only the third-ever postseason trip for the Algerians, joining their shocking 2030 world title and 2012. England (13-5) bested Japan (12-6) and Bolivia (11-7) in Division 4. The English had 1-0 and 6-3 wins over the Japanese. England earned its 13^th division title and ended a four-year drought.

Division 5 saw Australia (14-4) outrace Malaysia (13-5), Argentina (12-6) and 11-7 efforts by Ecuador and Hungary. The Aussies split their early games with Malaysia, but their 7-6 win in ten innings proved critical down the stretch. The Australians secured back-to-back postseason trips for the first time and now have advance ten times.

Austria at 13-5 survived over both South Korea and Germany at 12-6, plus both Belgium and Cuba at 11-7. The Austrians had built up a big lead at 12-2, allowing them to hold on despite dropping their last two games to their closest foes. Austria now has four playoff trips in six years and nine overall.

Egypt won Division 7 at 14-4 with Canada giving chase at 13-5. They split their series with the Egyptian win being a 4-3, 14 inning marathon. Egypt remains hot with three straight postseason berths and six in seven years. They’ve advanced 11 times overall.

Division 8 was a three team race with Brazil (14-4) taking first ahead of Afghanistan (13-5) and the Czech Republic (12-6). The Brazilians swept both the Czechs and Afghans, including a 3-1 win over the latter in their penultimate contest. Brazil has 40 postseason trips to their name and five in the 2030s. They have the third most appearances behind only the United States and Canada.

Nigeria (15-3) won a fierce battle over Nicaragua (14-4) in Division 9. The Nigerians ended on a seven game winning streak, including a 2-0 result over the Nicaraguans. Nigeria advanced for the 11^th time overall and the second time in three years. Indonesia at 15-3 controlled Division 10 with Myanmar (13-5) and Bangladesh (12-6) as their nearest foes. The Indonesians have secured a third successive playoff trip and their sixth of the 2030s. They’ve advanced 33 times overall.

The four-time defending world champ United States was by far the most impressive team at 17-1 in Division 11 with their lone loss to Serbia 4-3. The Americans have a nine-year postseason streak and a very nice 69 berths overall. Venezuela prevailed at 14-4 in D12 with Vietnam one back at 13-5. They were even entering the final day, but the Venezuelans took the finale 6-1 to advance. Venezuela has advanced eight times, most recently 2030. The Netherlands, last year’s runner-up, was tied for fourth at 10-8 with Romania.

Division 13 had the biggest surprise winner with Suriname at 12-6, edging out 11-7 Thailand and Switzerland and also 10-8 Sweden and Sri Lanka. The Surinamese had only even qualified twice before in WBC history and the excitement of a smaller nation advancing was what officials hoped for. Suriname became the 93^rd unique nation to advance out of the divisional stage. Spain clobbered the Division 14 field with Mexico a very distant second at 12-6. This was the Spaniards’ 13^th postseason berth and first since 2029.

The most competitive group was Division 15 with Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine each tied at 12-6, plus Poland and Saudi Arabia were 11-7. The Pakistanis defeated the Kazakhs 11-4 in the finale, which gave Pakistan the tiebreaker. They had dropped the earlier game to Kazakhstan, but had swept Ukraine; while the Ukrainians split with Kazakhstan. The Pakistanis earned their 11^th postseason trip and fourth in a decade.

Lastly in a top-heavy Division 16, the Philippines at 16-2 took top honors over 15-3 South Africa. The Filipinos swept the South Africans, including a 4-1 result in the penultimate match to clinch. The Philippines have advanced 19 times and thrice in the last five seasons.

12-01-2025, 08:11 AM	#2593
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,530	2038 World Baseball Championship (Part 1) The World Baseball Championship had expanded from 96 to 112 teams for 2031, but opted to go even bigger for 2038. The game’s popularity had only continued to grow and at this point, all but the smallest countries had a major professional team. Youth and amateur participation had also grown significantly with smaller countries lobbying for another WBC expansion so they could participate. Officials always liked chances to grow the sport and thus another expansion and reformat of the WBC came for 2038. The big jump was from 112 teams up to 160 total. With the 2031 change, 16 playoff teams advanced with the top two teams out of eight divisions. The 2038 expansion switched to a 16-division format with ten teams each and only the first place team advancing. Previously, all teams in a division played once, which led to 13 games in the most recent format. Officials didn’t want to take away guaranteed games which would happen with smaller divisions playing once, so the divisional format was opened up to a double round robin. Each team would play each other twice for 18 games in the initial stage. Apart from there being 16 division champs and no wild cards, the playoff format otherwise remained unchanged. The 16 teams advanced to four-team double round robin groups with the best two in those groups making the elite eight. The quarterfinals were best-of-three, semifinal best-of-five, and World Championship best-of-seven. The 2038 WBC was the 92^nd edition and the primary host city was Santiago, Dominican Republic. Division 1 was very competitive with Ethiopia holding on at 12-6 over both Colombia and Ivory Coast at 11-7 and both El Salvador and the DR at 10-8. The Ethiopians had lost both of their games to the Ivory Coast, but swept the Colombians (including a 6-5, 10 inning affair). Ethiopia earned its eighth playoff appearance with four in the last seven years. Italy emerged from Division 2 at 13-5, fending off 12-6 runs from both Latvia and Peru. The Italians ended on a five-game win streak, including a 3-1 victory in their finale over the Peruvians. Italy advanced for the first time since 2033 and 23^rd time overall. It was an impressive debut for the Latvians, one of the small countries making its WBC debut with the expanded field. Algeria earned Division 3 at 14-4 thanks to a 7-1 record in one-run games. China and Jordan were the nearest foes at 12-6 each. This was only the third-ever postseason trip for the Algerians, joining their shocking 2030 world title and 2012. England (13-5) bested Japan (12-6) and Bolivia (11-7) in Division 4. The English had 1-0 and 6-3 wins over the Japanese. England earned its 13^th division title and ended a four-year drought. Division 5 saw Australia (14-4) outrace Malaysia (13-5), Argentina (12-6) and 11-7 efforts by Ecuador and Hungary. The Aussies split their early games with Malaysia, but their 7-6 win in ten innings proved critical down the stretch. The Australians secured back-to-back postseason trips for the first time and now have advance ten times. Austria at 13-5 survived over both South Korea and Germany at 12-6, plus both Belgium and Cuba at 11-7. The Austrians had built up a big lead at 12-2, allowing them to hold on despite dropping their last two games to their closest foes. Austria now has four playoff trips in six years and nine overall. Egypt won Division 7 at 14-4 with Canada giving chase at 13-5. They split their series with the Egyptian win being a 4-3, 14 inning marathon. Egypt remains hot with three straight postseason berths and six in seven years. They’ve advanced 11 times overall. Division 8 was a three team race with Brazil (14-4) taking first ahead of Afghanistan (13-5) and the Czech Republic (12-6). The Brazilians swept both the Czechs and Afghans, including a 3-1 win over the latter in their penultimate contest. Brazil has 40 postseason trips to their name and five in the 2030s. They have the third most appearances behind only the United States and Canada. Nigeria (15-3) won a fierce battle over Nicaragua (14-4) in Division 9. The Nigerians ended on a seven game winning streak, including a 2-0 result over the Nicaraguans. Nigeria advanced for the 11^th time overall and the second time in three years. Indonesia at 15-3 controlled Division 10 with Myanmar (13-5) and Bangladesh (12-6) as their nearest foes. The Indonesians have secured a third successive playoff trip and their sixth of the 2030s. They’ve advanced 33 times overall. The four-time defending world champ United States was by far the most impressive team at 17-1 in Division 11 with their lone loss to Serbia 4-3. The Americans have a nine-year postseason streak and a very nice 69 berths overall. Venezuela prevailed at 14-4 in D12 with Vietnam one back at 13-5. They were even entering the final day, but the Venezuelans took the finale 6-1 to advance. Venezuela has advanced eight times, most recently 2030. The Netherlands, last year’s runner-up, was tied for fourth at 10-8 with Romania. Division 13 had the biggest surprise winner with Suriname at 12-6, edging out 11-7 Thailand and Switzerland and also 10-8 Sweden and Sri Lanka. The Surinamese had only even qualified twice before in WBC history and the excitement of a smaller nation advancing was what officials hoped for. Suriname became the 93^rd unique nation to advance out of the divisional stage. Spain clobbered the Division 14 field with Mexico a very distant second at 12-6. This was the Spaniards’ 13^th postseason berth and first since 2029. The most competitive group was Division 15 with Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine each tied at 12-6, plus Poland and Saudi Arabia were 11-7. The Pakistanis defeated the Kazakhs 11-4 in the finale, which gave Pakistan the tiebreaker. They had dropped the earlier game to Kazakhstan, but had swept Ukraine; while the Ukrainians split with Kazakhstan. The Pakistanis earned their 11^th postseason trip and fourth in a decade. Lastly in a top-heavy Division 16, the Philippines at 16-2 took top honors over 15-3 South Africa. The Filipinos swept the South Africans, including a 4-1 result in the penultimate match to clinch. The Philippines have advanced 19 times and thrice in the last five seasons. __________________ 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)