[JayW UK]

2042 Regular Season

Western League Review

On the back of the WL’s #3 pitching staff led by Rafer MacNeil (20-4, 2.20 ERA) and #4 offense with C Alessandro Sighel (.292, 25 HR, 106 RBI) and LF Julian Morin (.297, 27 HR, 91 RBI) leading the way, Oklahoma City (95-67) returned to the top of the Midwest division, ending Omaha’s three year run as champions. Jacobie Harksdale (15-12, 2.89 ERA) struggled to recapture the form that earned him the 2041 WL Outstanding Pitcher award, as Omaha slipped from 102-wins to just 88, their final day defeat at the hands of Denver cost the Braves the chance of making the postseason, as they missed out on the Wildcard spot by just one game. In Christian Eberlein’s second season, Denver improved to 82-wins but were still a long way off contending, whilst a superb season from pitcher Seung-Jae Park (16-6, 2.86 ERA) could not lift Minneapolis (79-83) any closer to the playoffs as injuries and underwhelming play held them back. Even superhuman efforts from LF Glenn McGhee (.297, 40 HR, 108 RBI) and 3B Mario Balderas (.302, 29 HR, 93 RBI) couldn’t help Kansas City (63-99), as the WL’s weakest pitching staff just couldn’t prevent their opponents from scoring.
A strong first campaign from off-season acquisition Jose Vazquez (17-8, 3.58 ERA) coupled with clutch hitting from the likes of 3B Joseph Floores, RF Danny Wheeler and SS Joaquin Corona helped Las Vegas (92-70) unseat Phoenix at the summit of the Southwest division. Even though they were led by an explosive offense (220 HR), featuring LF Adrian Ramirez (.318, 44 HR, 112 RBI), Domingo Vargas (.368, 28 HR, 100 RBI) and SS Brandon Buck (.363, 20 HR, 106 RBI) with a pitching staff headlined by twin aces Steve Gream (18-5, 2.97 ERA) and Nick Ford (18-9, 3.97 ERA) Phoenix still somehow contrived to miss the playoffs, finishing the season 87-75. Austin continued to tread water finishing with an 80-82 record, their third consecutive third place finish, while both Houston (70-92) and Dallas (68-94) struggled with identical issues, misfiring offenses and ineffective pitching, only Chris McAndrew (HOU) with 14 and Alfonso Barkai (DAL) 13, had double figure wins for the two clubs.
With an offense powered by 1B Herminio Azurara (.262, 28 HR, 106 RBI) and LF Dave Butler (.274, 31 HR, 74 RBI) and a strong pitching staff led by Bill Roberts (16-8, 3.67 ERA) and newcomer Benton Hartman (13-4, 3.03 ERA), Sanfrancisco proved to be the best team in the league, winning an NABL high 97-games on their way to a second consecutive Pacific division crown. With stalwarts Joe Taylor (14-5, 2.52 ERA) and Enrique Benevides (13-5, 2.71 ERA) leading the way, Los Angeles (89-73) used strong pitching to spark a late run (8-2 over the final ten games) to snatch the WL wildcard spot away from Omaha. New San Diego manager Terry Nelson had his charges playing better than anyone expected, as despite a lightweight offense (only RF James Britt, .263, 28 HR, 103 RBI and 24-year-old CF Jonah Covington, .255, 19 HR, 61 RBI offering a threat) the Mariners finished the season 79-83 and were in fact the owners of the fifth best record in the entire league over the final two months of play. San Jose’s pitchers were inconsistent all season, opening day starter Sean O’Lannigan (5-19, 5.72 ERA) struggled while #5 starter Julio Mejia (16-8, 3.20 ERA) rose to the challenge as the Spartans sputtered to a 74-88 finish, while Seattle (65-97) made it twelve years without a winning season with another hugely disappointing campaign.

Final Standings

Midwest division
Oklahoma City 95-67*
Omaha 88-74
Denver 82-80
Minneapolis 79-83
Kansas City 63-99

Southwest division
Las Vegas 92-70*
Phoenix 87-75
Austin 80-82
Houston 70-92
Dallas 68-94

Pacific division
Sanfrancisco 97-65*
Los Angeles 89-73*
San Diego 79-83
San Jose 74-88
Seattle 65-97