Growing Baseball Worldwide: A Business Dynasty

[CivicEvo]

The IBF has announced the 2021 International competition schedule. After the United States took home the 2020 World Cup, the IBF will move back into regional play for 2021. With the addition of Colombia as a 12th national team, the IBF has moved to two regions, Americas and Eurasia, as listed below.

The Americas Region will run an 8 team tournament, with two groups of four. As usual, the top two teams of each group will play a single elimination tournament to determine the champion.

The Eurasia Region will run a 4 team tournament, with the top two teams of round robin play facing off in a one game championship to determine the championship.

The regions and groups are as follows (world rank in parenthesis):

Americas Region



Group A
United States (1)
Puerto Rico (4)
Venezuela (6)
Colombia (12)



Group B
Mexico (2)
Canada (3)
Cuba (9)
Dominican Republic (10)

Eurasia Region



Group A
Japan (5)
South Korea (7)
Australia (8)
Netherlands (11)

The tournaments will get under way in the new year!

[CivicEvo]

Final 2020 Standings



League Leaders



Shortlist Update

Los Angeles SP Julien Kieffer (CAN) [6-2, 2.77] will miss the regular season with elbow inflammation.

Washington 2B Mike Wellwood (USA) [.226-0-16] will be out 2 weeks with a fractured foot.

Houston LF Ben Bailey (USA) [.342-10-31] returned from the disabled list.

Houston RP Andy Newsome (USA) [3-0, 5.65] was activated from the disabled list.

Washington LF Robert Delattre (CAN) [.289-3-29] was activated from the disabled list.



Final 2020 Standings



League Leaders



Shortlist Update

Mexico City SP Andres Pantoja (MEX) [6-2, 2.30] will be out for over a month with elbow tendonitis.



Final 2020 Standings



League Leaders

Shortlist Update

None




Final 2020 Standings

League Leaders





Standings: September 1, 2020



Shortlist Updates

None

[CivicEvo]

2020 Wild Card Round

(4) Washington (41-35) vs. (5) Houston (39-37)

Game 1: Washington - 3; Houston - 1
Game 2: Washington - 4; Houston - 0
Game 3: Houston - 4; Washington - 3
Game 4: Washington - 8; Houston - 3
Game 5: Houston - 9; Washington - 3
Game 6: Houston - 3; Washington - 1
Game 7: Washington - 5; Houston - 4

Washington wins the series 4-3 and will face Dallas in a 2019 USABL Cup rematch in the next round!

Series MVP: CF Calvin Bence (AUS) - Washington



2020 Wild Card Round

(1) Puebla (40-24) vs. (4) Mexico City (35-29)

Game 1: Mexico City - 1; Puebla - 0
Game 2: Mexico City - 3; Puebla - 1
Game 3: Mexico City - 4; Puebla - 1
Game 4: Puebla - 4; Mexico City - 0
Game 5: Mexico City - 5; Puebla - 2

Mexico City wins the series 4-1 and heads back to the MEXBL Cup Finals.

Series MVP: CF Tony Cortes (MEX) - Mexico City

(2) Guadalajara (38-26) vs. (3) Monterrey (37-27)

Game 1: Monterrey - 6; Guadalajara - 1
Game 2: Guadalajara - 3; Monterrey - 0
Game 3: Guadalajara - 4; Monterrey - 1
Game 4: Guadalajara - 3; Monterrey - 2
Game 5: Guadalajara - 7; Monterrey - 1

Guadalajara advances to the MEXBL Cup Finals!

Series MVP: 2B Chris Sanchez (MEX) - Guadalajara



2020 Wild Card Round

(2) Vancouver (33-23) vs. (3) Toronto (31-25)

Game 1: Vancouver - 4; Toronto - 0
Game 2: Vancouver - 6; Toronto - 2
Game 3: Toronto - 4; Vancouver - 2
Game 4: Toronto - 10; Vancouver - 9
Game 5: Toronto - 8; Vancouver - 5
Game 6: Toronto - 7; Vancouver - 0

Toronto takes down the 3-time reigning CAN Cup Champion!

Series MVP: RF Brenton Byers (CAN) - Toronto



Standings: September 11, 2020

[CivicEvo]

Similar to the nation rankings, the IBF has adopted a system similar to the UEFA Club Coefficient method (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_c...ub_coefficient). As such, the entire history of the club championships has been backdated and updated to reflect this drastic change. The end result is reflected below in the official 2020 IBF Club Rankings:



The 2020 Club World Cup will also be underway very shortly, and as such, the groups of this competition have been released. They are as follows.

Group 1-A
Three Game Round Robin Qualifying Group - Top 2 Advance

Carolina (PUR)
Bayamon (PUR)
Ponce (PUR)
Winnipeg (CAN)

Group A
Dallas (USA)
Monterrey (MEX)
Calgary (CAN)
Qualifier 2

Group B
Puebla (MEX)
Philadelphia (USA)
Mexico City (MEX)
Qualifier 1

Group C
Miami (USA)
Guadalajara (MEX)
Edmonton (CAN)
Juarez (MEX)

Group D
Chicago (USA)
San Francisco (USA)
Leon (MEX)
Valencia (VEN)

Group E
Washington (USA)
Los Angeles (USA)
Maracaibo (VEN)
Caracas (VEN)

Group F
Ottawa (CAN)
Toronto (CAN)
Toluca (MEX)
Torreon (MEX)

Group G
Houston (USA)
Vancouver (CAN)
Tijuana (MEX)
Montreal (CAN)

Group H
Boston (USA)
New York (USA)
Atlanta (USA)
San Juan (PUR)

The tournament gets under way after the championship season!

[CivicEvo]

This will be a mostly shorter update as 3 leagues have had their finals end. However, we will wait to report until next week's championship week.






2020 Semifinal Round

(1) Dallas (54-22) vs. (4) Washington (41-35)

Game 1: Dallas - 11; Washington - 4
Game 2: Washington - 11; Dallas - 4
Game 3: Washington - 5; Dallas - 1
Game 4: Dallas - 5; Washington - 2
Game 5: Washington - 7; Dallas - 2
Game 6: Dallas - 6; Washington - 0
Game 7: Dallas - 9; Washington - 5

Dallas advances back to the USABL Cup Finals!

Series MVP: 2B Tony Gomez (MEX) - Dallas

(2) Miami (52-24) vs. (3) Chicago (44-32)

Game 1: Miami - 4; Chicago - 2
Game 2: Chicago - 9; Miami - 3
Game 3: Chicago - 3; Miami - 1
Game 4: Chicago - 7; Miami - 2
Game 5: Miami - 2; Chicago - 1
Game 6: Miami - 6; Chicago - 3
Game 7: Miami - 1; Chicago - 0

Miami advances to their first ever USABL Cup Final!

Series MVP: RF Corey Nuss (USA) - Miami



2020 Final Standings



League Leaders



It'll be Maracaibo vs. Caracas playing for the VEN Cup Championship for the fifth consecutive year.

Championship Week is next!

[CivicEvo]

2020 USA Championship(1) Dallas (54-22) vs. (2) Miami (52-24)

Game 1: Miami - 4; Dallas - 2
Game 2: Dallas - 3; Miami - 1
Game 3: Dallas - 5; Miami - 1
Game 4: Dallas - 2; Miami - 0
Game 5: Dallas - 6; Miami - 2

Dallas wins their third title in five years, and continues the alternation that's gone on since 2015 with Washington!

Series MVP: 1B Victor Gonzalez (PAN) - Dallas





2020 MEX Championship
(2) Guadalajara (38-26) vs. (4) Mexico City (35-29)

Game 1: Mexico City - 8; Guadalajara - 6
Game 2: Guadalajara - 6; Mexico City - 1
Game 3: Guadalajara - 2; Mexico City - 1
Game 4: Guadalajara - 8; Mexico City - 3
Game 5: Mexico City - 5; Guadalajara - 2
Game 6: Guadalajara - 5; Mexico City - 1

Guadalajara wins their first ever MEX Championship!

Series MVP: CF Ricky Loaiza (MEX) - Guadalajara





2020 CAN Championship

(1) Ottawa (35-21) vs. (3) Toronto (31-25)

Game 1: Toronto - 6; Ottawa - 5
Game 2: Ottawa - 9; Toronto - 8
Game 3: Toronto - 10; Ottawa - 3
Game 4: Ottawa - 5; Toronto - 3
Game 5: Ottawa - 5; Toronto - 2
Game 6: Ottawa - 3; Toronto - 2

Ottawa wins their fourth CAN Championship!

Series MVP: LF Joe Moran (USA) - Ottawa





2020 VEN Championship

(1) Maracaibo (23-7) vs. (2) Caracas (17-13)

Game 1: Maracaibo - 10; Caracas - 7
Game 2: Maracaibo - 6; Caracas - 5
Game 3: Maracaibo - 11; Caracas - 0
Game 4: Maracaibo - 3; Caracas - 0

Maracaibo sweeps the series and takes home their third VEN Championship!

Series MVP: CF Christian Teslo (CAN) - Maracaibo





2020 PUR Championship

(1) San Juan (30-10) vs. (2) Carolina (24-17)

Game 1: San Juan - 2; Carolina - 1
Game 2: San Juan - 6; Carolina - 4
Game 3: San Juan - 10; Carolina - 0
Game 4: San Juan - 6; Carolina - 2

San Juan sweeps the series and takes home their 3rd consecutive PUR Championship!

Series MVP: RF Carlos Cruz (PUR) - San Juan



The 2020 Club World Cup begins next!

[T27]

Can you please post an updated file for the next season

[CivicEvo]

As mentioned, there was a four-team round robin tournament, based on both current club rankings and association club seasons, to get into this year's main draw. The teams that took place were:

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Bayamon (PUR) - 2.00 (26th Overall)
Carolina (PUR) - 0.40 (32nd Overall)
Ponce (PUR) - New (33rd Overall)
Winnipeg (CAN) - New (34th Overall)

The Results



Bayamon and Carolina qualify for the main draw.

Results of the Round Robin will be up tonight.

Originally Posted by T27

Can you please post an updated file for the next season

Yes, absolutely. Will post the 2020 file before the calendar year is up.

[CivicEvo]

November 4 - November 9
Mexico City, Mexico
Six Game Round Robin - Top two enter tournament stage.
Results Below

Group A

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Dallas (USA) - 21.30 - 1st (1st USA)
Calgary (CAN) - 5.40 - 17th (4th CAN)
Monterrey (MEX) - 3.10 - 20th (5th MEX)
Carolina (PUR) - 0.40 - 32nd (3rd PUR)



Group B

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Mexico City (MEX) - 21.10 - 2nd (1st MEX)
Philadelphia (USA) - 7.60 - 12th (8th USA)
Puebla (MEX) - 6.60 - 16th (3rd MEX)
Bayamon (PUR) - 2.00 - 26th (1st PUR)



Group C

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Miami (USA) - 8.90 - 8th (6th USA)
Guadalajara (MEX) - 7.10 - 14th (2nd MEX)
Edmonton (CAN) - 2.00 - 24th (6th CAN)
Juarez (MEX) - 2.00 - 25th (8th MEX)


Group D

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Chicago (USA) - 13.40 - 5th (4th USA)
San Francisco (USA) - 7.30 - 13th (9th USA)
Leon (MEX) - 2.20 - 22nd (6th MEX)
Valencia (VEN) - 2.00 - 28th (2nd VEN)



Group E

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Washington (USA) - 16.00 - 3rd (2nd USA)
Los Angeles (USA) - 8.90 - 7th (5th USA)
Maracaibo (VEN) - 3.00 - 21st (1st VEN)
Caracas (VEN) - 1.60 - 30th (3rd VEN)



Group F
Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Ottawa (CAN) - 9.70 - 6th (1st CAN)
Toronto (CAN) - 7.70 - 11th (3rd CAN)
Toluca (MEX) - 4.00 - 18th (4th MEX)
Torreon (MEX) - 1.60 - 29th (9th MEX)



Group G

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
Houston (USA) - 14.50 - 4th (3rd USA)
Vancouver (CAN) - 8.20 - 10th (2nd CAN)
Montreal (CAN) - 3.60 - 19th (5th CAN)
Tijuana (MEX) - 2.10 - 23rd (7th MEX)


Group H

Team - League - Points - Overall Rank
New York (USA) - 8.70 - 9th (7th USA)
Boston (USA) - 7.00 - 15th (10th USA)
Atlanta (USA) - 2.00 - 27th (11th USA)
San Juan (PUR) - 1.20 - 31st (2nd PUR)



Seeds

(1) Miami [USA] - 5-1 - +29 RD
(2) Los Angeles [USA] - 5-1 - +20 RD
(3) San Francisco [USA] - 5-1 - +19 RD
(4) Chicago [USA] - 5-1 - +15 RD
(5) Ottawa [CAN] - 5-1 - +9 RD
(6) New York [USA] - 4-2 - +26 RD
(7) Dallas [USA] - 4-2 - +24 RD
(8) Montreal [CAN] - 4-2 - +12 RD
(9) Puebla [MEX] - 4-2 - +9 RD
(10) Boston [USA] - 4-2 - +9 RD
(11) Washington [USA] - 4-2 - +5 RD
(12) Guadalajara [MEX] - 4-2 - +3 RD
(13) Houston [USA] - 4-2 - +1 RD
(14) Toluca [MEX] - 3-3 - +11 RD
(15) Mexico City [MEX] - 3-3 - +5 RD
(16) Calgary [CAN] - 3-3 - -1 RD

Tournament Matchups
To be played tomorrow - Tournament will reseed after each round

(1) Miami [USA] vs. (16) Calgary [CAN]
(2) Los Angeles [USA] vs. (15) Mexico City [MEX]
(3) San Francisco [USA] vs. (14) Toluca [MEX]
(4) Chicago [USA] vs. (13) Houston [USA]
(5) Ottawa [CAN] vs. (12) Guadalajara [MEX]
(6) New York [USA] vs. (11) Washington [USA]
(7) Dallas [USA] vs. (10) Boston [USA]
(8) Montreal [CAN] vs. (9) Puebla [CAN]

[CivicEvo]

November 11 - November 17
Mexico City, Mexico
Single Elimination Reseeded Tournament

Seeds

(1) Miami [USA] - 5-1 - +29 RD
(2) Los Angeles [USA] - 5-1 - +20 RD
(3) San Francisco [USA] - 5-1 - +19 RD
(4) Chicago [USA] - 5-1 - +15 RD
(5) Ottawa [CAN] - 5-1 - +9 RD
(6) New York [USA] - 4-2 - +26 RD
(7) Dallas [USA] - 4-2 - +24 RD
(8) Montreal [CAN] - 4-2 - +12 RD
(9) Puebla [MEX] - 4-2 - +9 RD
(10) Boston [USA] - 4-2 - +9 RD
(11) Washington [USA] - 4-2 - +5 RD
(12) Guadalajara [MEX] - 4-2 - +3 RD
(13) Houston [USA] - 4-2 - +1 RD
(14) Toluca [MEX] - 3-3 - +11 RD
(15) Mexico City [MEX] - 3-3 - +5 RD
(16) Calgary [CAN] - 3-3 - -1 RD

Tournament Matchups
To be played tomorrow - Tournament will reseed after each round

(1) Miami [USA] vs. (16) Calgary [CAN]
(2) Los Angeles [USA] vs. (15) Mexico City [MEX]
(3) San Francisco [USA] vs. (14) Toluca [MEX]
(4) Chicago [USA] vs. (13) Houston [USA]
(5) Ottawa [CAN] vs. (12) Guadalajara [MEX]
(6) New York [USA] vs. (11) Washington [USA]
(7) Dallas [USA] vs. (10) Boston [USA]
(8) Montreal [CAN] vs. (9) Puebla [CAN]

--

First Round

(1) Miami - 7; (16) Calgary - 3
(2) Los Angeles - 10; (15) Mexico City - 6
(3) San Francisco - 2; (14) Toluca - 7
(4) Chicago - 3; (13) Houston - 9
(5) Ottawa - 6; (12) Guadalajara - 3
(6) New York - 4; (11) Washington - 2
(7) Dallas - 13; (10) Boston - 1
(8) Montreal - 0; (9) Puebla - 2

Quarterfinals

(1) Miami - 5; (14) Toluca - 4
(2) Los Angeles - 7; (13) Houston - 6
(5) Ottawa - 5; (9) Puebla - 4
(6) New York - 0; (7) Dallas - 3

Semifinals

(1) Miami - 10; (7) Dallas - 5
(2) Los Angeles - 11; (5) Ottawa - 1

--

The Finals






Los Angeles wins the finals 8-5 and wins the 2020 Club World Cup!





The final post of calendar year 2017 before our short break will be to finalize the 2020 Awards season. Congrats to LA!

[CivicEvo]

United States Baseball League

Most Valuable Player
Victor Gonzalez (PAN) - 1B - Dallas (2nd)

Pitcher of the Year
Antonio Lopez (MEX) - SP - New York (2nd)

Rookie of the Year
Duk-yeo Kweon (KOR) - CF - New York

Reliever of the Year
Danny Dewar (USA) - RP - Miami (1st)

First Team All-Stars
Pitcher: Antonio Lopez (MEX) - New York (2nd)
Catcher: Marcos Eguia (PAN) - Houston (2nd)
First Base: Victor Gonzalez (PAN) - Dallas (3rd)
Second Base: Tony Gomez (MEX) - Dallas (5th)
Third Base: Alex Munoz (USA) - Miami (1st)
Shortstop: Tony Ruiz (CRC) - Chicago (2nd)
Left Field: Jose Mendez (DOM) - Miami (1st)
Center Field: Jose Guzman (PUR) - Los Angeles (4th)
Right Field: Arturo Calderon (CRC) - Boston (4th)

Second Team All-Stars
Pitcher: Kyle Morehouse (USA) - Washington
Catcher: Nasir Hussaini (USA) - Dallas
First Base: Devin Clark (CAN) - Miami
Second Base: Kyle Lewellen (USA) - Chicago
Third Base: Jorge Calderon (MEX) - Dallas
Shortstop: Nick Muglia (USA) - New York
Left Field: Ben Bailey (USA) - Houston
Center Field: Reinaart van Etten (NED) - Dallas
Right Field: Yong-u Che (KOR) - Washington



Mexico Baseball League

Most Valuable Player
Mauricio Garcia (MEX) - RF - Juarez (1st)

Pitcher of the Year
Santiago Garduno (MEX) - SP - Mexico City (8th)

Rookie of the Year
Vicente Nuanez (MEX) - C - Leon

Reliever of the Year
Danny Castillo (MEX) - RP - Monterrey (2nd)

All-Stars
Pitcher: Santiago Garduno (MEX) - Mexico City (8th)
Catcher: Dave Goodman (USA) - Monterrey (2nd)
First Base: Danny Cervantiaz (MEX) - Guadalajara (1st)
Second Base: Carlos Perez (MEX) - Puebla (4th)
Third Base: Armando Juarez (MEX) - Toluca (2nd)
Shortstop: Daisuke Yamashiro (JPN) - Puebla (2nd)
Left Field: Santiago Acuna (MEX) - Mexico City (3rd)
Center Field: Tony Fuentes (PUR) - Monterrey (4th)
Right Field: Mauricio Garcia (MEX) - Juarez (1st)



Canada Baseball League

Most Valuable Player
Antonio Gamez (VEN) - SS - Toronto (1st)

Pitcher of the Year
Regis Bernard (CAN) - SP - Toronto (1st)

Rookie of the Year
Matt May (USA) - SP - Montreal

Reliever of the Year
Luis Sandoval (GUA) - RP - Vancouver (2nd)

All-Stars
Pitcher: Regis Bernard (CAN) - Toronto (1st)
Catcher: Chang-ho Park (USA) - Ottawa (2nd)
First Base: Tom Downey (CAN) - Toronto (3rd)
Second Base: Bill Bolitho (AUS) - Calgary (2nd)
Third Base: David Salomon (GUA) - Toronto (1st)
Shortstop: Antonio Gamez (VEN) - Toronto (2nd)
Left Field: Larry Berry (CAN) - Vancouver (1st)
Center Field: Dave Spinks (CAN) - Vancouver (3rd)
Right Field: Michel Sanchez (CAN) - Edmonton (1st - RF)



Puerto Rico Baseball League

Most Valuable Player
Josh Kneller (USA) - 2B - San Juan (1st)

Pitcher of the Year
John Turner (USA) - SP - San Juan (1st)

Rookie of the Year
Rogelio Serrano (PUR) - LF - Carolina

Reliever of the Year
Jake Mortimer (USA) - RP - Carolina (1st - PUR)

All-Stars
Pitcher: John Turner (USA) - San Juan (1st)
Catcher: Doug Wemp (CAN) - Bayamon (1st)
First Base: Hector Alejandro (PUR) - Bayamon (1st - 1B)
Second Base: Josh Kneller (USA) - San Juan (1st)
Third Base: Carlos Segura (PUR) - Bayamon (1st)
Shortstop: Fernando Martinez (PUR) - Bayamon (1st)
Left Field: Miguel Garcia (PUR) - San Juan (1st - LF)
Center Field: Conor Kitchens (USA) - San Juan (1st)
Right Field: Lorenzo Juarez (PUR) - Bayamon (2nd)



Venezuela Baseball League

Most Valuable Player
Christian Teslo (CAN) - CF - Maracaibo (4th)

Pitcher of the Year
Pierangelo Baldato (VEN) - SP - Maracaibo (4th)

Rookie of the Year
Tokinobu Watanabe (JPN) - RP - Maracaibo

Reliever of the Year
Jose Valdes (MEX) - RP - Maracaibo (2nd)

All-Stars
Pitcher: Pierangelo Baldato (VEN) - Maracaibo (4th)
Catcher: Henry Swerdlow (CAN) - Valencia (1st - VEN)
First Base: Willie Armas (VEN) - Caracas (1st)
Second Base: Andy Reed (USA) - Caracas (1st)
Third Base: Ernesto Amaro (CUB) - Caracas (5th)
Shortstop: Alard de Rooij (NED) - Caracas (1st)
Left Field: Rob Conway (USA) - Maracaibo (3rd)
Center Field: Christian Teslo (CAN) - Maracaibo (4th)
Right Field: Juan Valdez (VEN) - Valencia (1st - RF)

That concludes the 2020 season and the calendar year of 2017. Taking a few weeks off as stated to avoid burnout, but we'll be back mid-January with the shortlist, updating IBF WAR rankings, and the start of the 2021 season with the Regional International Championships. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year.

[CivicEvo]

We're not really restarting, don't worry, but this dynasty is officially back. Took some time off, regrouped, thought through some things, and I think there's some good stuff ahead. With the start of the new tournament cycle, I thought it was a good time to revisit what was working and what's been a little more tedious as the league has grown (i.e. things I want to automate more). I've listed a few things that will be "changing" below:

Regions

The biggest change is how we are going to classify regions going forward. In the game, there are 244 nations, and eventually, we will be using 240 of them (only Vatican City, Tokelau, Niue, and Rapa Nui will be unused. As a result, to standardize formats, I've scrapped the divisional and continental listings. Going forward there will be:

30 8-team regions
15 16-team super regions
5 48-team mega regions
The World

These regions will form over time and for a while, there will be changing names and potentially some weirdness in the geography. I've already mapped out the end-state and so I will be doing my best as a new team begins international play each season. That's begun with this year's regional tournament (there are now two regions), and will be reflected in this year's rankings.


The 10-Day Update & Calendar

Previously, each league had a staggered start that would end at some point in September. Not anymore. Each league will start on June 1st (for now), and end when they end. Once the year ends for an individual league, the league will essentially go dark until October 1st, which will be the official start of the off-season for the IBF.

Each day will sim 10 days. Each update will correspond with that 10 day period - during the season, it will just be standings updates and a few of the same content pieces to keep you updated on the world (new teams, rankings, new registered countries, more rankings) with the standings listed.

As each league finishes up their season, I will post a summary of the year with the final standings, playoffs, leaders, shortlisted guys (that's staying), anything else that is pertinent.

This will also include the Hall of Fame...

Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is moving to a voting process at the league level. The IBF Hall of Fame will stay, but as the league gets bigger, we're going to simplify it down to just league HOFs and ultimately the IBF HOF. Going forward, it will be possible for a player to be in multiple league Halls of Fame where applicable.

So, going forward just two levels: team and league. I'm essentially wiping this piece entirely clean for a restart. This is probably the only time I will do this, but it just became too much to manage.

Interleague Trading Window

As more teams have entered the league, trades can get a bit... out of hand and unrealistic. So, to fix for that, teams will be permitted to trade with any team in the world between October 15 - December 31 (trade freq. will be set to Average). During the rest of the year, teams can only trade with other teams currently in their league. Trading will be set to Low from November 15 - December 31. Once the window closes, the intra-league trading setting will be on Very Low until the season begins in June.

I tested this for a time last season, and it gets pretty active, so hoping as things progress further we continue to see big moves made during that month.

Champions League

The Champions League will largely be moving formats this year. More on that later, but going forward, not every team will be playing after the season is finished... sort of.

For example, this season only 24 of the 36 teams will qualify for the regional championship. Of those 24, just 8 will be auto-qualified into the round robin. More of that to come.

League Cups

New for 2021 will be the addition of League Cups (akin to FA Cup and Copa Del Rey) which WILL include all teams from a specific nation. These will operate very similarly to the FA Cup and will include rounds with teams entering in various stages. While we are not at promo/rel just yet, it's starting to enter the radar so we'll be implementing this in 2021. This is NOT the same as the league playoffs.

What this means is each year a league will have:

Regular Season Champion
League Playoff Champion
Country Cup Champion

As of now, there's no "bonus" for any of these, just something fun to add to get more immersive in the league (and hopefully anyone who reads has teams they root for!). One thing for sure the dynasty is trending towards is what I had originally predicted: that this is a story of teams and geography, players less so.

Quickstarts / Logos

I owe everyone a quickstart, which I promised late last year. I've recently begun the project to restructure logos and jerseys and caps, and it's about halfway finished. Once it is, I will post the template online for download again. Just bear with me a little longer, but I am getting through a lot of these quickly.

Encyclopedia

This is something I've wanted to do for a while, and I am actually going to commit to it. I will be linking out to it once sharable, but it will be... somewhere, and as stated above, mostly team focused. Stay tuned for that as well.

That about does it for now. We'll be truly back tomorrow with the Eurasia Region tournament between Japan, South Korea, Australia, and The Netherlands.

[CivicEvo]

Eurasia Region



Group A
Japan (5)
South Korea (7)
Australia (8)
Netherlands (11)

The Games
Six Game Round Robin - Top 2 Face off in Championship

March 1
Netherlands - 4; Japan - 3 (F/10)
South Korea - 5; Australia - 2

March 2
Australia - 2; Netherlands - 1
South Korea - 3; Japan - 1

March 3
Australia - 5; Japan - 0
Netherlands - 3; South Korea - 0

March 4
Netherlands - 6; Japan - 1
South Korea - 3; Australia - 2

March 5
Netherlands - 19; Australia - 6
South Korea - 3; Japan - 2

March 6
Australia - 13; Japan - 7
Netherlands - 5; South Korea - 0

The Standings



Championship Game



Tournament Awards

Batter: CF Reinaart van Etten (NED) - Dallas [USA]
Pitcher: P Myun-gu Kim (KOR) - Puebla [MEX]
Reliever: P Sang-kuk Shon (KOR) - Washington [USA]

Tournament All-Star Team
P Myun-gu Kim (KOR) - Puebla [MEX]
C Etienne Harmsen (NED) - Guadalajara [MEX]
1B Toby Tattersall (AUS) - Boston [USA]
2B Yuri Barendregt (NED) - Dallas [USA]
3B Bum-kyoo Chung (KOR) - Torreon [MEX]
SS Hyun-il Ko (KOR) - Dallas [USA]
LF Yoon-tae Sohn (KOR) - New York [USA]
CF Reinaart van Etten (NED) - Dallas [USA]
RF Take Maas (NED) - Miami [USA]

Champions









South Korea has won their first ever international championship!

Tomorrow: The Americas

[CivicEvo]

Americas Region



Group A
United States (1)
Puerto Rico (4)
Venezuela (6)
Colombia (12)

The Games

March 15
United States - 7; Colombia - 0
Venezuela - 2; Puerto Rico - 0

March 16
Venezuela - 6; Colombia - 4
Puerto Rico - 4; United States - 1

March 17
United States - 2; Venezuela - 1
Puerto Rico - 7; Colombia - 3

March 19
United States - 6; Colombia - 0
Puerto Rico - 7; Venezuela - 5

March 20
Colombia - 8; Venezuela - 3
Puerto Rico - 5; United States - 4

March 21
Venezuela - 4; United States - 0
Puerto Rico - 2; Colombia - 1

The Standings



Total shocker with the United States eliminated! Venezuela moves on to the finals with the adoption of the new tiebreaker rules of H2H Aggregate Score!



Group B
Mexico (2)
Canada (3)
Cuba (9)
Dominican Republic (10)

The Games

March 15
Mexico - 5; Cuba - 0
Dominican Republic - 5; Canada - 2

March 16
Mexico - 4; Canada - 1
Cuba - 4; Dominican Republic - 2

March 17
Mexico - 4; Cuba - 0
Canada - 6; Dominican Republic - 5

March 19
Canada - 6; Mexico - 4
Dominican Republic - 3; Cuba - 0

March 20
Cuba - 5; Canada - 2
Mexico - 4; Dominican Republic - 3

March 21
Cuba - 5; Canada - 3
Mexico - 2; Dominican Republic - 1

The Standings



Playoff Tree - Single Elimination



Semifinal Round

Mexico - 2; Cuba - 1
Venezuela - 7; Puerto Rico - 6

Championship Game



Wow! In a total and complete upset, 6th ranked Venezuela wins the 2021 Americas Regional Championship! It is the nation's first ever international title!

Tournament Awards

Batter: CF Jose Guzman (PUR) - Los Angeles [USA]
Pitcher: P Antonio Lopez (MEX) - New York [USA]
Reliever: P Jose Correa (VEN) - Philadelphia [USA]

Tournament All-Star Team
P Antonio Lopez (MEX) - New York [USA]
C Lupe Rincones (DOM) - Miami [USA]
1B Willie Armas (VEN) - Caracas [VEN]
2B Tony Fuentes (PUR) - Monterrey [MEX]
3B Alex Martinez (COL) - Free Agent
SS Antonio Gamez (VEN) - Toronto [CAN]
LF Victor Rosado (VEN) - Boston [USA]
CF Jose Guzman (PUR) - Los Angeles [USA]
RF Manny Pantoja (MEX) - Toluca [MEX]

Champions









Between South Korea and Venezuela, I would say this is proof the game is growing! Very exciting times at the IBF as we head into the 2021 offseason reports.

[CivicEvo]

I meant to record the top 25 free agents as part of the series, but forgot. That said, here is what I can recall of them:

SS Antonio Santos (MEX): Signed with Los Angeles, 6/$101K
3B Ed Mathews (CAN): Signed with Los Angeles, 6/$101K
RF Jose Rojas (MEX): Signed with Houston, 6/$102K
SP Andy Stewart (USA): Signed with Boston, 3/$36K
1B Johnny Rivera (MEX): Signed with Atlanta, 6/$84K
CF Michel Sanchez (CAN): Signed with Winnipeg, 5/$23K
RP Myun-gu Kim (KOR): Remains Free Agent
SP Andres Pantoja (MEX): Remains Free Agent

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Tomorrow begins the 2021 season. I will be simming June 1 - June 10, 2021 and sharing the standings, as well as an update on how many players are currently in the universe as well as growth at the country level.

[CivicEvo]

The IBF released a list of registered players by nation below:



Biggest Gainers (League): United States (38), Puerto Rico (27), Mexico (25)

Biggest Gainers (Non-League): Dominican Republic (8), Brazil (8), Panama (7)
Overall, the federation gained 215 new players year over year (an 8.67% increase), for a new total of 2,732 registered players eligible for one of the league's 36 clubs.

Standings: July 10, 2021

[CivicEvo]

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The International Baseball Federation has released today news that three new teams will begin play in existing association leagues for the 2021 season.



CANBL: Quebec City



The Canada Baseball League is announcing today that the Quebec Baseball Club will be the eighth CANBL franchise, and will join the league for the 2022 season.

Québec City sits on the Saint Lawrence River in Canada's mostly French-speaking Québec province. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.





PURBL: Caguas




The Puerto Rico Baseball League is announcing today that the Caguas Baseball Club will be the fifth PURBL franchise, and will join the league for the 2022 season.

Caguas, founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey.








VENBL: Barquisimeto




The Venezuela Baseball League is announcing today that the Barquisimeto Baseball Club will be the fourth VENBL franchise, and will join the league for the 2022 season.


Barquisimeto is a city on the Turbio River and the capital of Lara state, in northwestern Venezuela. It’s known for its modern cathedral and the Barquisimeto Museum, which displays regional artworks. The central Bararida Zoological Institute and Botanical Garden is a park and zoo featuring pumas, manatees and hippos. West of the center, El Obelisco is a tower offering panoramic city views.





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Standings: June 20, 2021

[CivicEvo]

Today, the IBF announced that two new countries have registered and been approved as a member of the International Baseball Federation. This means that aspiring baseball players from the following two nations will be eligible to sign with any of the federation's teams across 5 leagues (United States, Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico) during the upcoming off-season. This year, some big names:



France
Capital: Paris
Continent: Europe
France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower. The country is also renowned for its wines and sophisticated cuisine. Lascaux’s ancient cave drawings, Lyon’s Roman theater and the vast Palace of Versailles attest to its rich history.



India
Capital: New Delhi
Continent: Asia

India is a vast South Asian country with diverse terrain – from Himalayan peaks to Indian Ocean coastline – and history reaching back 5 millennia. In the north, Mughal Empire landmarks include Delhi’s Red Fort complex and massive Jama Masjid mosque, plus Agra’s iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum. Pilgrims bathe in the Ganges in Varanasi, and Rishikesh is a yoga centre and base for Himalayan trekking.

Recent History of Registered Nations

2012 - Nicaragua, Curacao, Aruba
2013 - China, Germany, Taiwan
2014 - England
2015 - Brazil, Italy
2016 - Argentina, South Africa
2017 - Philippines
2018 - Chile, New Zealand, Guatemala, El Salvador
2019 - Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti
2020 - Netherlands Antilles, Sint Maarten, US Virgin Islands
2021 - France, India

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Standings: July 1, 2021

[CivicEvo]

The International Baseball Federation released the nation rankings after the 2021 tournaments:



Mexico takes over the #1 spot from the United States
Netherlands the biggest riser at +2 after a 5-win tournament
Japan the biggest drop at -6 after an 0-6 showing in the Eurasia round robin.

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Standings: July 11, 2021

[CivicEvo]

Seoul, South Korea
July 15, 2021

The International Baseball Federation is excited to announce the creation of the world's sixth baseball league; the South Korea Baseball League (KOR), which will begin play next year. This league is the output of the recent success that South Korea has had as a baseball nation, culminating in the country's first international championship in 2021 with their Eurasia Regional Championship.

As funding continues to ramp up, the league will start next season as a 20-game challenge series, akin to how the Venezuelan league began. This model worked well in South America, and IBF officials expect that to carry through to Asia. Now, let's meet the two teams that will be competing:

Seoul



Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. Notable attractions include futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a convention hall with curving architecture and a rooftop park; Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once had more than 7,000 rooms; and Jogyesa Temple, site of ancient locust and pine trees.

Incheon



Incheon, a South Korean city bordering the capital of Seoul, has long been a transportation hub. The ultramodern, massive Incheon International Airport, with railway connections to Seoul, features a casino, spa and golf course. Yeonan Pier, close to the popular Incheon Fish Market, is the starting point for many boat tours. Incheon is also known for its beach-lined islands, including Yeongjong and Muui-dong.



Map of the League



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Standings: July 21, 2021







Final Standings & Playoff Trees













Likely one final update before the PUR/VEN Country Cup draws are released, then we'll do two updates highlighting the completed baseball year in both Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Stay tuned for those!