2022 ACBA Season preview
Today is the day we have all been waiting for: ACBA OPENING DAY 2022!
By now hopefully you have listened to the season preview episode of Inside the ACBA - and if you live under a rock, here is a link to catch up on what the pundits had to say about all twelve teams this year.
The quick and dirty rundown:
Without further adieu, we present the 2022 regular season and playoff predictions. Best of luck, and play ball!
-- Nick Keene, ACBA Commissioner
(Polling credits: Cheslock, Keene)
By now hopefully you have listened to the season preview episode of Inside the ACBA - and if you live under a rock, here is a link to catch up on what the pundits had to say about all twelve teams this year.
The quick and dirty rundown:
- Three franchises changed hands this offseason - Tucson sold to Silly (yes, it's a real place), the Golden Spikes were relocated to Indiana and rebranded as the Freight Train, and the Mules (nee the Iron Pigs) were sent to a galaxy far, far away to become the Tatooine Raiders.
- Two franchises were eliminated via contraction - so long, Washington and Zion Canyon.
- Michigan and Lehigh Valley were realigned to the National League, with Tucson / Silly moving to the American League.
- Flint and Senhollow look to build on their Hall of Fame candidacies and have a clearer path to the 2022 AL pennant with the offseason league changes - but it will not be easy.
- Detroit looks to prove their improbable 2021 playoff appearance was a sign of the future.
- The Solons lick their wounds and look to rebound from barely missing the playoffs to contending for what could be their second division crown in three seasons.
- After cruising to the NL pennant in 2021, Nashville faces heated competition from two of the top three AL teams last year in what could be a fascinating season-long race for NL supremacy.
- Don't sleep on Austin and Warren - these teams are better than their 2021 finishes suggest.
- Of the newcomers, the Indiana Freight Train should be the best of the bunch and could go worst to first - or miss the playoffs entirely. Tatooine probably next best but green, and the Phillies appear to be set for a rebuilding year that has been a long time coming for a franchise that somehow seemed to have an annual ticket to the NLCS over the past half-decade.
Without further adieu, we present the 2022 regular season and playoff predictions. Best of luck, and play ball!
-- Nick Keene, ACBA Commissioner
(Polling credits: Cheslock, Keene)
2021 final standings
2022 projected standings
postseason predictions
American League Divisional Series
(1) Flint over (4) Detroit (4-2)
(3) Sacramento over (2) Indiana (4-2)
National League Divisional Series
(1) Michigan over (4) Warren (4-2)
(2) Nashville over (3) Lehigh Valley (4-3)
American League Championship
(1) Flint over (3) Sacramento (4-3)
National League Championship
(1) Michigan over (2) Nashville (4-2)
ACBA World Series
(1) Flint over (1) Michigan (4-3)
(1) Flint over (4) Detroit (4-2)
(3) Sacramento over (2) Indiana (4-2)
National League Divisional Series
(1) Michigan over (4) Warren (4-2)
(2) Nashville over (3) Lehigh Valley (4-3)
American League Championship
(1) Flint over (3) Sacramento (4-3)
National League Championship
(1) Michigan over (2) Nashville (4-2)
ACBA World Series
(1) Flint over (1) Michigan (4-3)