OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

JayW UK · 08-05-2025, 03:15 AM

2026 Regular Season

Western League Review

The anticipated three horse race in the Midwest division did not materialize, instead Kansas City rode quality pitching from the likes of Jose Roa (19-9, 3.93 ERA) and Mark Fort (17-12, 2.87 ERA) and a hot September (losing only eight games during the month) to pull away and win the division with a 92-70 record. Of the three teams expected to challenge only OKC, led by off-season signing 1B Brian Watson (.278, 33 HR, 96 RBI) put up any kind of fight, pulling within three games entering September, only to fall away and finish a distant second, a full twelve games back at 80-82. Defending champs Denver, despite strong campaigns from LF Dixon Bodean (.329, 44 HR, 122 RBI) and 1B Jamie Boden (.302, 40 HR, 105 RBI), had a nightmare start to the season (more on that later) but eventually finished strong, ending up in third place with a 79-83 record while Minneapolis slumped to a 77-85 record, a five-year low to finish last.

In the Southwest division a season-long three-way tussle between defending champs Houston, Las Vegas and Phoenix went down to the wire with Las Vegas eventually riding Dave Cahill (21-9, 1.81 ERA) and the league’s top pitching staff to a 96-66 record and their third division crown. Phoenix (90-72) held off defending champions Houston (89-73) on the last day of the season to advance to the playoffs for the first time in twelve years. Austin (78-84) and Dallas (73-89) brought up the rear, both teams too inconsistent to mount any sort of challenge.

San Diego Mariners (100-62) leaned heavily on a pitching staff featuring Mike Fulton (17-6, 2.58 ERA), Felipe Sanchez (16-10, 2.90 ERA) and Pedro Escobar (13-13, 2.74 ERA), a necessity given their below average offense. Los Angeles bounced back from their disastrous 2025 season but still finished well off the pace on 85 wins, Seattle proved their run to the World Series was not the beginning of a new dynasty, by slumping to a disappointing 77-85 record. Both Sanfrancisco (61-101) and San Jose (57-105) endured miserable seasons, with both teams struggling to put runs on the board while also being unable to stop the opposition from scoring.

Final Standings

Midwest Division
Kansas City 92-70 *
Oklahoma City 80-82
Denver 79-83
Minneapolis 77-85

Southwest Division
Las Vegas 96-66 *
Phoenix 90-72 *
Houston 89-73
Austin 78-84
Dallas 73-89

Pacific Division
San Diego 100-62 *
Los Angeles 85-77
Seattle 77-85
Sanfrancisco 61-101
San Jose 57-105

08-05-2025, 03:15 AM	#86
JayW UK Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2019 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 276	2026 Regular Season Western League Review The anticipated three horse race in the Midwest division did not materialize, instead Kansas City rode quality pitching from the likes of Jose Roa (19-9, 3.93 ERA) and Mark Fort (17-12, 2.87 ERA) and a hot September (losing only eight games during the month) to pull away and win the division with a 92-70 record. Of the three teams expected to challenge only OKC, led by off-season signing 1B Brian Watson (.278, 33 HR, 96 RBI) put up any kind of fight, pulling within three games entering September, only to fall away and finish a distant second, a full twelve games back at 80-82. Defending champs Denver, despite strong campaigns from LF Dixon Bodean (.329, 44 HR, 122 RBI) and 1B Jamie Boden (.302, 40 HR, 105 RBI), had a nightmare start to the season (more on that later) but eventually finished strong, ending up in third place with a 79-83 record while Minneapolis slumped to a 77-85 record, a five-year low to finish last. In the Southwest division a season-long three-way tussle between defending champs Houston, Las Vegas and Phoenix went down to the wire with Las Vegas eventually riding Dave Cahill (21-9, 1.81 ERA) and the league’s top pitching staff to a 96-66 record and their third division crown. Phoenix (90-72) held off defending champions Houston (89-73) on the last day of the season to advance to the playoffs for the first time in twelve years. Austin (78-84) and Dallas (73-89) brought up the rear, both teams too inconsistent to mount any sort of challenge. San Diego Mariners (100-62) leaned heavily on a pitching staff featuring Mike Fulton (17-6, 2.58 ERA), Felipe Sanchez (16-10, 2.90 ERA) and Pedro Escobar (13-13, 2.74 ERA), a necessity given their below average offense. Los Angeles bounced back from their disastrous 2025 season but still finished well off the pace on 85 wins, Seattle proved their run to the World Series was not the beginning of a new dynasty, by slumping to a disappointing 77-85 record. Both Sanfrancisco (61-101) and San Jose (57-105) endured miserable seasons, with both teams struggling to put runs on the board while also being unable to stop the opposition from scoring. Final Standings Midwest Division Kansas City 92-70 * Oklahoma City 80-82 Denver 79-83 Minneapolis 77-85 Southwest Division Las Vegas 96-66 * Phoenix 90-72 * Houston 89-73 Austin 78-84 Dallas 73-89 Pacific Division San Diego 100-62 * Los Angeles 85-77 Seattle 77-85 Sanfrancisco 61-101 San Jose 57-105 Last edited by JayW UK; 08-05-2025 at 04:34 PM.