[JayW UK]

2036 Regular Season

Western League Review

With Rafer MacNeil (20-8, 2.61 ERA) heading a solid pitching staff and RF Chance Merritt (27 HR, 83 RBI) along with 1B Randy Harrington (27 HR, 94 RBI) providing the offensive fireworks, Oklahoma City (93-69) won their fifth straight Midwest division title pulling away from Minneapolis (86-76) over the final month to claim the crown, neck and neck with OKC entering September, an eight-game losing streak ended any hopes Minneapolis had of unseating OKC from the summit. Denver (79-83) led by LF Ramon Vega (.255, 36 HR, 111 RBI) and 2B Jack Underwood (.298, 30 HR, 93 RBI) clubbed 170 homeruns and owned the top scoring offense in the west but their pitching was substandard, resulting in another frustrating season for the Wildcats. Kansas City (77-85) hampered by of one of the lowest payrolls in the NABL (77M) unleashed several young stars on the league, with 22-year-old 2B Tom Carter (.344, 4 HR, 56 RBI, 36SB) and 24-year-old 3B Juan Torres (.282, 30 HR, 102 RBI) in particular standing out for the Tornadoes, while Omaha dropped back into the division basement after a one-year hiatus finishing with a 75-87 record.
After his record breaking 2035 campaign, Joseph Floores was at it again, producing another excellent season (.261, 44 HR, 121 RBI) as the Gamblers stormed back to the top of the Southwest division despite the injury bug hitting their pitching rotation hard during the season (staff ace Holden Willis managed to play only 20 games). As a result, the Gamblers were forced to lean heavily on their relief corps who, led by Michinori Morita (18-3, 2.71 ERA in 74 games), rose to the challenge and, along with the WL top scoring offense, helped Las Vegas (101-61) secure their fourth 100-win season. Led by young stars RF Wolfgang Worns (.331, 22 HR, 99 RBI, 48 SB), SS Hector Soto (.338, 16 HR, 90 RBI) and C Marv Wilson (.277, 20 HR, 74 RBI) Houston became everyone’s second favourite team with their exciting brand of baseball, finishing the season in second place with a 94-68 record and securing the WL wildcard spot (their first postseason berth in ten years). Austin struggled once again finishing a disappointing 68-94 while Dallas fresh off a World Series appearance stumbled out of the gate leading to a disastrous 15-30 start and a managerial change, the season remained a struggle as injuries and poor form robbed the team of any momentum and ultimately led to a very disjointed 64-win campaign. Even the WL #3 offense, paced by 2B Ronnie Butler (.263, 30 HR, 105 RBI) and 3B Michael Ford (.325, 26 HR, 84 RBI) couldn’t help Phoenix, as the worst pitching staff in the NABL coughed up lead after lead leaving the Eagles mired in the Southwest basement with a 64-98 record.
San Jose (96-66) were once again back on the top of the pile in the Pacific division, carried by excellent team defense and solid pitching the Spartans rolled to their third division title in four years. Los Angeles again flattered to deceive, boasting a pitching staff rated amongst the best in the NABL the Lynx failed to capitalise, finishing the season with a 91-71 record (their best since a 97-win campaign in 2024), Sanfrancisco slipped back to 88-74 to miss the playoffs for the 18th time in 19 years, the Gold’s struggles on the mound undoing the good work by C Sancho Guerra (.298, 27 HR, 95 RBI), Herminio Azurara (.262, 30 HR, 122 RBI) and company. San Diego topped out at 80 wins, a huge improvement over the previous season’s haul of 59 but fell short of expectations while Seattle finished with a 70-92 record, their lone bright spot a promising 10-15, 3.44 ERA campaign from 22-year-old pitcher A.J Hiers.

Final Standings

Midwest Division
Oklahoma City 93-69*
Minneapolis 86-76
Denver 79-83
Kansas City 77-85
Omaha 75-87

Southwest Division
Las Vegas 101-61*
Houston 94-68*
Austin 68-94
Dallas 64-98
Phoenix 64-98

Pacific Division
San Jose 96-66*
Los Angeles 91-71
Sanfrancisco 88-74
San Diego 80-72
Seattle 70-92