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2024 Regular Season
Western League Review
Denver and Oklahoma City renewed their rivalry in the Midwest division. The two teams had the biggest payrolls in the west and the top two offenses to boot, but it was Denver, led by LF Dixon Bodean (.388, 52 HR, 126 RBI) and rising star, CF Raul Escobar (.309, 36 HR, 78 RBI + 34 SB) who came out on top, taking the division with a record of 100-62, while OKC faded down the stretch to finish 92-70. Minneapolis (87-75) finished third despite boasting the top pitching staff in the NABL led by Dave Cahill (19-6, 2.43 ERA) and an offense powered by slugging LF Claude Cummins (.292, 47 HR, 117 RB), while Kansas City once again found themselves in the basement of the best division in baseball winning just 68 games.
The Southwest division was a season long three-way tussle between Austin, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Austin did just enough to hold off the other two to take the division title by one game and return to the playoffs after a 2-year absence. Las Vegas (82-80) had the league’s third best pitching staff with off-season signing Anthony Barrett (18-13, 2.44 ERA) leading the way, but the Gamblers offense just did not score enough runs, evidenced by their league worst offense, scoring only 570 runs on the season. Phoenix (82-80) finished the season strong to but still missed the playoffs for the tenth consecutive year, while Dallas (76-86) slipped to fourth in the division despite winning one more game than in 2023. Houston were the biggest surprise on the season slipping from first to worst, finishing the campaign with a hugely disappointing 76-86 record.
Behind their Raul Vazquez (16-6, 2,54 ERA) and Max Castle (16-11, 2.92 ERA) led pitching staff, Los Angeles cruised to their seventh straight Pacific division title with a 97-65 record, San Jose finished second with 90 wins also relying on pitching with Raul Pena (18-13, 2.76 ERA) and relief pitcher John Guy (10-2, 2.92 ERA) in particular standing out. San Diego slipped to third in the division with an identical 83-79 record to their 2023 campaign while Sanfrancisco (62-100) and Seattle (56-106) occupied the division basement with both squads blooding a number of promising youngsters throughout the lost season.
Final Standings
Midwest Division
Denver 100-62 *
Oklahoma City 92-70 *
Minneapolis 87-75
Kansas City 68-94
Southwest Division
Austin 83-79 *
Las Vegas 82-80
Phoenix 82-80
Dallas 76-86
Houston 76-86
Pacific Division
Los Angeles 97-65 *
San Jose 90-72
San Diego 83-79
Sanfrancisco 62-100
Seattle 56-106
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