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2022 Regular Season
Western League Review
In the west the Midwest Division battle went the distance with Oklahoma City and Minneapolis finishing the season tied with 90-72 records setting up a one game playoff. OKC took the elimination game 6-3 ending the Bears remarkable season, at the all-star break they were third in the standing 10 games off the pace. Denver, despite boasting stars such as Anthony Barrett (17-8, 2.49 ERA), Ben Douglas (27 HR), 1B Jamie Boden (25 HR) and 3B Joe Rutherford (25 HR) and the NABL’s top payroll could only muster 83 wins to finish third while Kansas City struggled to a club worst 67-95 record to finish last despite having one of the western league’s top offenses led by the trio of LF Dixon Bodean (.370, 38 HR, 112 RBI, 1B Michael Jennings (.294, 27HR, 96 RBI) and 2B Jack Underwood (265, 27 HR, 85 RBI).
In the Southwest Division Houston made a late season run to take the crown for the first time in 5 years, finishing 87-75 seven games ahead of Phoenix (80-82) who’s abysmal September (8-21) cost them the division title. The rest of the division didn’t even win 200 games between them, Austin failed to build on their 2021 division crown and fell alarmingly from 83 to 66 wins, Dallas (64-98) continued to struggle while Las Vegas suffered key injuries to their rotation and slumped to a 64-98 record.
Los Angeles continued to go from strength to strength, winning their fifth straight division title all the while collecting an NABL record 111 wins along the way, keyed by the Western league’s top offense, led by star 1B Gabriel Mendez (.310, 43 HR, 126 RBI) and the NABL’s best pitching unit, with Max Castle (20-3, 2.31 ERA) topping the bill, they were most people’s favourite for the World Series. San Diego rode the Pedro Escobar (18-9, 2.17 ERA) and Benny McCauney (18-6, 2.14 ERA) led pitching staff (2nd best in the NABL behind LA) to a franchise best 98-64 record and their first playoff appearance. Third place went to San Jose, who’s 93-wins was the most a team had won and not made the postseason since OKC won 93 in 2015, despite not making the playoffs 2022 was the clubs’ best season yet and garnered skipper Pedro Garcia some Manager of the Year love. Sanfrancisco dropped to a disappointing 72-90 record to finish fourth while Seattle (69-93) completed a fourth straight season with less than 70 wins and missed the playoffs for the sixth year in a row, although the play of 24-year-old SS Jose Velasquez (.322, 21 HR, 109 RBI) gave the Pioneers fans hope for a brighter future.
Final Standings
Midwest Division
Oklahoma City 91-72* +
Minneapolis 90-73 +
Denver 83-79
Kansas City 67-95
Southwest Division
Houston 87-75*
Phoenix 80-82
Austin 66-96
Dallas 64-98
Las Vegas 64-98
Pacific Division
Los Angeles 111-51*
San Diego 98-64*
San Jose 93-69
Sanfrancisco 72-90
Seattle 69-93
Play-In Game
+ Oklahoma City defeats Minneapolis to claim Midwest Division title.
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