Operation Sports Forums - View Single Post - Baseball: The World's Game (OOTP 22 Fictional World)

MrNFL_FanIQ · 03-28-2024, 04:31 AM

The 1998 World Baseball Championship was the 52^nd edition of the event. It returned to Mexico for the first time since 1967, this time centered in Juarez. In Division 1, Taiwan took top honors at 8-1, two ahead of second place Ukraine. It is the sixth time the Taiwanese have advanced and the fourth time in the 1990s. The two-time defending world champion United States secured D2 at 8-1, holding off a 7-2 Turkey and 6-3 efforts by Bangladesh and the Philippines. The Americans have gotten to the elite eight or further 44 times now.

Australia tore through Division 3 at 9-0 with only 7-2 Poland really competing. This was only the fourth division title for the Australians, who last did it with their runner-up 1982 campaign. Division 4 had Ghana and England tie for first at 7-2, while both Ecuador and Russia were 6-3. The Ghanaians had the head-to-head tiebreaker, moving forward for the second time-ever (1995). Over in Division 5, Canada (8-1) edged Italy (7-2), Malaysia (7-2), and India (6-3). The Canadians have advanced 32 times and six times in the 1990s.

The other team to go unbeaten in divisional play was Brazil at 9-0 atop Division 6. This was Brazil’s 28^th time in the elite eight, the most appearances apart from the US and Canada. D7 had Mexico and Switzerland tied at 7-2. The Mexicans advanced on the tiebreaker for repeat division titles and their 22^nd elite eight berth. Lastly in a competitive Division 8, neighbors Portugal and Spain tied for first at 6-3. Cuba, Indonesia, and Thailand were each one back. The Portuguese had the tiebreaker for their first-ever division title. They became the 67^th unique nation to advance at least once. The US and Mexico were the only teams to make it back to the Round Robin from the prior edition.

The Americans were atop Group A at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Brazil. Both Portugal and Canada finished 2-4. It was the 38^th time the United States had been to the final four and the 16^th for the Brazilians. Mexico and Taiwan both prevailed in Group B at 4-2, while both Ghana and Australia were 2-4. It was the 12^th time to the semifinals for the Mexicans and the sixth for the Taiwanese.

In the semifinal, the United States topped Taiwan 3-1 and Mexico beat Brazil 3-1. Officially, the Taiwanese were third and the Brazilians were fourth. The Americans advanced to their 34^th championship berth, holding an impressive 29-4 record in their previous finals. The Mexicans earned their ninth trip, having gone 4-4 previously. This was their first time in the championship though since all the way back in 1981.

The 1998 World Championship between the traditional powers. Mexico defeated the United States in their first finals clash in 1950. Two years later, the Americans got them back. The US took their third meeting in 1961 and claimed the 1981 battle. In the 1998 finale, the Americans were on top yet again, taking the series 4-2. It was the 30^th world title for the US and gave them a three-peat.

Despite being the runner-up, Mexico had the Tournament MVP in Julio Villa. A 32-year old MLB veteran in his second year with Portland, the left fielder had 32 hits, 23 runs, 7 home runs, 14 RBI, 17 walks, 16 stolen bases, a .333/.439/.594 slash, and 2.1 WAR. Canada’s Daniel Grondin won Best Pitcher in an impressive debut. The righty was the 26^th overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft by Calgary and hadn’t even debuted in MLB yet. Grondin tossed 19.2 WBC innings with a 4-0 record, 0.46 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and 1.4 WAR.

Other notes: Poland had a 1.12 team ERA in their nine games, setting a WBC record. Among their great outings was a 14 strikeout, 2 walk no-hitter by Wojciech Grzybek against China. Panama’s Aitor Moran also had a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and five walks over India. Nigeria’s Segun William had a four home run game against DR Congo. Taiwan’s Yi-Cheng Sun became the eighth player to hit for the cycle, doing it against Costa Rica.

Below are the all-time tournament stats. Mexico’s effort allowed them to enter a tie for fourth place in total points with China.

03-28-2024, 04:31 AM	#1085
MrNFL_FanIQ MVP OVR: 18 Join Date: Oct 2008	1998 World Baseball Championship The 1998 World Baseball Championship was the 52^nd edition of the event. It returned to Mexico for the first time since 1967, this time centered in Juarez. In Division 1, Taiwan took top honors at 8-1, two ahead of second place Ukraine. It is the sixth time the Taiwanese have advanced and the fourth time in the 1990s. The two-time defending world champion United States secured D2 at 8-1, holding off a 7-2 Turkey and 6-3 efforts by Bangladesh and the Philippines. The Americans have gotten to the elite eight or further 44 times now. Australia tore through Division 3 at 9-0 with only 7-2 Poland really competing. This was only the fourth division title for the Australians, who last did it with their runner-up 1982 campaign. Division 4 had Ghana and England tie for first at 7-2, while both Ecuador and Russia were 6-3. The Ghanaians had the head-to-head tiebreaker, moving forward for the second time-ever (1995). Over in Division 5, Canada (8-1) edged Italy (7-2), Malaysia (7-2), and India (6-3). The Canadians have advanced 32 times and six times in the 1990s. The other team to go unbeaten in divisional play was Brazil at 9-0 atop Division 6. This was Brazil’s 28^th time in the elite eight, the most appearances apart from the US and Canada. D7 had Mexico and Switzerland tied at 7-2. The Mexicans advanced on the tiebreaker for repeat division titles and their 22^nd elite eight berth. Lastly in a competitive Division 8, neighbors Portugal and Spain tied for first at 6-3. Cuba, Indonesia, and Thailand were each one back. The Portuguese had the tiebreaker for their first-ever division title. They became the 67^th unique nation to advance at least once. The US and Mexico were the only teams to make it back to the Round Robin from the prior edition. The Americans were atop Group A at 5-1, advancing along with 3-3 Brazil. Both Portugal and Canada finished 2-4. It was the 38^th time the United States had been to the final four and the 16^th for the Brazilians. Mexico and Taiwan both prevailed in Group B at 4-2, while both Ghana and Australia were 2-4. It was the 12^th time to the semifinals for the Mexicans and the sixth for the Taiwanese. In the semifinal, the United States topped Taiwan 3-1 and Mexico beat Brazil 3-1. Officially, the Taiwanese were third and the Brazilians were fourth. The Americans advanced to their 34^th championship berth, holding an impressive 29-4 record in their previous finals. The Mexicans earned their ninth trip, having gone 4-4 previously. This was their first time in the championship though since all the way back in 1981. The 1998 World Championship between the traditional powers. Mexico defeated the United States in their first finals clash in 1950. Two years later, the Americans got them back. The US took their third meeting in 1961 and claimed the 1981 battle. In the 1998 finale, the Americans were on top yet again, taking the series 4-2. It was the 30^th world title for the US and gave them a three-peat. Despite being the runner-up, Mexico had the Tournament MVP in Julio Villa. A 32-year old MLB veteran in his second year with Portland, the left fielder had 32 hits, 23 runs, 7 home runs, 14 RBI, 17 walks, 16 stolen bases, a .333/.439/.594 slash, and 2.1 WAR. Canada’s Daniel Grondin won Best Pitcher in an impressive debut. The righty was the 26^th overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft by Calgary and hadn’t even debuted in MLB yet. Grondin tossed 19.2 WBC innings with a 4-0 record, 0.46 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and 1.4 WAR. Other notes: Poland had a 1.12 team ERA in their nine games, setting a WBC record. Among their great outings was a 14 strikeout, 2 walk no-hitter by Wojciech Grzybek against China. Panama’s Aitor Moran also had a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and five walks over India. Nigeria’s Segun William had a four home run game against DR Congo. Taiwan’s Yi-Cheng Sun became the eighth player to hit for the cycle, doing it against Costa Rica. Below are the all-time tournament stats. Mexico’s effort allowed them to enter a tie for fourth place in total points with China. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game OOTP 22 Fictional World Stories