Ullamaliztli (A different ball game)
 

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/wp-conte...les-de-Aro.jpg

The prehispanic ball game, known in Nahuatl as Ullamaliztli, has been played in what is modern-day Mexico since at least 1,200 BCE. This hip-ball game was prevalent throughout mesoamerican cultures, as courts have been found from Arizona to El Salvador. What probably began as a ritual tradition later became a political tradition, and in some cases an alternative to wars, before ultimately becoming a sport played solely for recreation (although in some areas and cultures, natives still kept the ritual aspect of it).


Although the hip-ball game was the most popular variant across all eras and cultures, there is evidence of other variations of the game existing, including a stick-ball game.


In this alternate timeline, this stick-ball game has transformed over hundreds of years. Nowadays, Tlaquicheros (throwers) lob a small rubber ball to Tlapalleros (strikers) who attempt to hit the ball in the air. The rules are the same as for our timeline's baseball (3 strikes for an out, 4 balls for a walk, etc.), but the terminology used is in Nahuatl and represents the historically ritualistic nature of the game, which was meant to encompass the duality of the universe (day and night, life and death, etc.)


In our timeline, the conquering Spanish banned the traditional ballgame due to its ritualistic nature. In this alternate timeline, this never happened, allowing the game to thrive and even partaking in it and infusing some influence from European games. (We won't go into the social, political or whatever other details of alternate timelines in this simulation. I just thought this would be an interesting backstory to begin a fictional OOTP league in Mexico and use it as an excuse to learn more about my own culture and history.)


Some amateur Ullamaliztli clubs formally began their activities during the peace of the 2nd Mexican Empire between 1864 and 1867. It was said that Maximilian I, who was known for promoting and preserving native culture, took up the game himself.


This period was immediately followed by Benito Juárez' presidency and then Porfirio Díaz' dictatorship from 1876 to 1911. Although the dictatorship proved to be an economically stable time, this came at the expense of the working class. The higher class preferred to practice European sports, such as football, as they were considered more prestigious. Díaz was overthrown in a bloody Revolution war that lasted 10 years.


https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b...a26134~mv2.png

The year is now 1935, following the Reconstruction period. Ullamaliztli remains a popular game amongst the working class, many of whom have mastered their craft. Exhibition games between the amateur clubs are watched by hundreds of visitors. Mexican entrepeneurs discuss the possibility of the creation of a professional league. This will enable them to charge visitors to watch the game, as well as paying the best players who would be able to focus solely on playing the game.

I have finished painstakingly editing of my world to include all of Mexico's 2,469 municipalities with the correct names and populations as of the 2020 census. My original plan was to set it to the 1930 census and update it every 10 years or so but then figured it would take longer to edit than to even sim 10 years.

Anyway, we're ready to get started. The concept of preseason doesn't exist in this league yet, so we're all set for Opening Day! In the following posts, we'll delve into team profiles, going over their best players and seeing what the media predicts them to do this season! As a note, this is my first time ever doing my own logos (and drawing in general) so please don't judge me too harshly.

Firstly, it's the Tunas de San Luis.

https://i.imgur.com/vtA67oH.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/bs0zQxk.png

https://live.staticflickr.com/4902/4...85f35df8_b.jpg

As San Luis Potosí (located in the state of the same name) is a land-locked city, the team is not named after the fish but rather after the fruit of several cacti species (I believe they call it prickly pear in the USA). This fruit also gives the team their trademark color of bright pink.

https://www.jornada.com.mx/2015/09/2...031n1est-1.jpg

They are owned by Ricardo Martínez, a San Luis native who comes from a wealthy family with Spanish roots who ultimately make their money from a handful of the many silver mines in the region. This will allow him to pump a good amount of money into the club and let the ballgame people do their thing. However, he is also known as a somewhat ruthless owner who's not afraid of changing managers. As he is a fan of the sport, he balances priorities between profit and winning.

They are managed by Jesús Grana, also a San Luis native. He's a controlling manager who plays the ballgame in a conventional way. He has a good track record at handling both developing and aging players.

Predicted record: 4th place, 45-39 (4 GB) - .278 AVG (4th) - 2.46 ERA (2nd)

Now let's take a look at their playing staff:

LHP Francisco Camacho - 31 y/o from Irapuato, Guanajuato
The captain of the team, Camacho is expected to be San Luis' ace this year. He's not the hardest thrower, reaching up to 91 mph, but a good blend of a curveball, changeup and sinker make his stuff good enough to avoid hard contact. Camacho is one of the best pitchers in the league but might be limited by injury concerns at his age.

RHP César Plascencia - 28 y/o from León, Guanajuato
Below average overall, his good curveball makes him suitable enough to start games for San Luis. Not the best player, but always a hard worker, Plascencia will play second fiddle to Camacho.

RHP Luis García - 33 y/o from Mexquitic, San Luis
Born just 20 km away from San Luis city, García might just be at the tail-end of his career. His ball placement is good enough for a starting spot and his changeup will shoulder the majority of the load as he looks to have a successful season.

RHP Juan Rocha - 33 y/o from San Diego, Guanajuato
Despite being one of the most talented relievers in the league, he has been called "clubhouse cancer" by fellow teammates in the amateur ranks. The sidearm action of his fastball-slider combo will make for a lot of easy ground balls.

C José López - 25 y/o from Teapa, Tabasco
López is an above average defender, albeit with one of the best arms in the league. He possesses good discipline and power when making contact with the ball.

1B Daniel Aguirre - 26 y/o from San Luis, San Luis
A durable bat, Aguirre will rarely strike out and will make good enough contact with the ball. Altough on the slower side and not too good in defense, the hometown kid should be a positive contributor to the team.

2B Max Braud - 29 y/o from Salamanca, Guanajuato
One of the best at his position, Braud excels both on the field and in the hitter's box, although he won't hit many home runs. His french ancestry and name have earned him the nickname "El Emperador" (The Emperor) after Maximilian the I, Mexico's 2nd emperor.

3B Eduardo Arreola - 24 y/o from Soyaniquilpan, Estado de México
Average with the glove, Arreola's good contact, power and ability to avoid striking out will keep him in the lineup. His work ethic and durability should also ensure he stays in the league for a while.

SS Marcos Martínez - 25 y/o from Villa de Cos, Zacatecas
Not the strongest batter, although he has a good enough grip on the strike zone, Martínez truly excels at fielding with his great arm being the highlight of his skill set.

LF Jesús Guajardo - 35 y/o from San Luis, San Luis
Mainly a 3rd baseman, his bat is too good to keep on the bench. He should be able to hit a good number of home runs.

CF Guillermo Aceves - 33 y/o from Guadalupe, Zacatecas
Blazing speed on the basepaths and on the field, Aceves has become unmotivated at his age. Injury concerns could also play a role in what could be one of his final seasons.

RF Roberto Hernández - 26 y/o from Rincón de Romos, Aguascalientes
Overall a solid player, he's only slightly limited by his ability to make contact with the ball although he should improve once he matures as a ballplayer.

Bench (OVR/POT)
C Daniel Figueras - 27 y/o from Juventino Rosas, Guanajuato (40/40)
2B Francisco Escamilla - 28 y/o from León, Guanajuato (50/50)
2B Oziel Rojas - 17 y/o from Guadalajara, Jalisco (20/65)
LF David López - 26 y/o from Morelia, Michoacán (40/40)
LF Pedro Santos - 28 y/o from Asientos, Aguascalientes (35/35)
CF Ángel Morales - 33 y/o from Guadalupe, Zacatecas (40/40)

Reserve
C Juan Cortez - 38 y/o from Matehuala, San Luis (35/35)
1B Mario Hernández - 27 y/o from Soledad, San Luis (35/35)
1B Félix Saldívar - 26 y/o from Corregidora, Querétaro (35/35)
2B Alejandro López - 18 y/o from Los Cabos, Baja California Sur (20/45)
CF Alberto Campana - 19 y/o from Huimanguillo, Tabasco (20/45)
RF Rubén Escobar - 28 y/o from Soledad, San Luis (35/35)

https://i.imgur.com/zaDwwQk.png

You, sir, have my utmost attention.

Thanks a lot for the comment, really means a lot coming from you! Can't say I haven't been inspired by your thread on this forum haha :rolleyes:

Next up, it's the Jaguares de México.

https://i.imgur.com/tHYCEEW.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/CKQi14V.png

Based in Mexico City's Parque General Lázaro Cárdenas, the team is of course named after the Mexica Empire's jaguar warriors, or Ocelopilli. (Fun fact: the ocelot is named after the Nahuatl word ocelotl which is actually what they called jaguars).

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EXnsrnaWoAMil-7.jpg

Jaguar warriors belonged to the Mexica lower class, and so this team is considered the "popular" team of Mexico's capital and with far fewer resources than their local rivals. The Eagle and the Jaguar were chosen as symbols for day and night respectively (as they are diurnal and nocturnal hunters), just another example of the duality that was present in everyday life during prehispanic times. These warriors used to wear jaguar skins to battle as they believed they would gain the jaguar's powers. A whole jaguar skin is probably overkill when standing in the batter's box so our ballgame warriors will be wearing pinstripes instead.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ar_warrior.jpg

Owned by Mexico City's agriculture institution*, 64 year-old Alejandro Carrillo has been designated to look over the team. Very hands-off and patient, Carrillo will attempt to use a small amount of the institution's budget to see how they can profit.

*It wasn't rare for early Mexican sports teams to be owned by public institutions. Examples include baseball teams Agrario, Agricultura, Tránsito and even footballing greats Atlante were at one point owned by Mexico's Social Security institution.

The Jaguars are managed by Julio Reyes. Hailing from Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Reyes is known for being easygoing. His past as a legendary infielder might shape his future as a manager in the league.

Predicted Record: 41-43 (8 GB) - .276 AVG (5th) - 2.78 ERA (7th)

Here's their pitching staff and starting lineup:

LHP Andrés Amaya - 21 y/o from Mexico City
Amaya seems to never get tired of throwing. His low velocity stuff won't get him a lot of strikeouts, but the ability to place his fastballs, sliders and sinkers wherever he wants make him the #1 starter of this Mexico team.

LHP Luis Helguera - 39 y/o from Mexico City
Your ordinary Ullamaliztli thrower, Helguera can "move his changeup at will" according to batters who faced him in the amateur ranks. This season will show wether he has anything left in the tank.

RHP David Garza - 32 y/o from Mexico City
Known more for livening up the dressing room than for his pitching ability. Garza can throw 5 different pitches but none of them are really outstanding.

RHP Melvin Ramírez - 27 y/o from Mexico City
Average overall, he has been called "lazy" by his coaches which means he won't ever throw more than one or two innings.

C Alfredo Hernández - 23 y/o from Irapuato, Guanajuato
Leading by example, "Bala" (The Bullet) is known for his great defense and hitting power.

1B David Arroyo - 23 y/o from Coacalco, Estado de México
A slow learner and a slow runner, Arroyo is mostly known for his hitting ability.

2B Antonio Sánchez - 24 y/o from Monterrey, Nuevo León
"El Regio" is not one to draw attention to himself. Even so, he catches the eye on the field as he seems to be somewhat of a 5-tool player.

3B Rico Santistevan - 29 y/o from Atoyac, Jalisco
Good on both sides of the ball, he makes the Jaguares fans proud.

SS Omar Morales - 22 y/o from Tlayacapan, Morelos
Morales has good contact skills, is good at avoiding strikeouts and a great runner. However, his greatest ability is with the glove as he doesn't let any ball through.

LF José Palmerín - 23 y/o from Gómez Palacio, Durango
A versatile fielder, Palmerín excels at putting the ball in play.

CF Rubén González - 32 y/o from Tlalnepantla, Estado de México
Great fielding and speed make up for his lack of hitting skill.

RF Salvador Velázquez - 25 y/o from Mexico City
It is said that Salvador knows whether it's a ball or a strike even before the ball is thrown. He'll be frequently on base and will compete for the stolen bases title. He's also pretty good on defense, making him one of the favorites for the first Tlatoani Award.

Bench
C Miguel Maltos - 29 y/o from Tlalnepantla, Estado de México (45/45)
1B Joaquín González - 22 y/o from Temascalcingo, Estado de México (40/45)
1B Héctor Muñoz - 32 y/o from Ecatepec, Estado de México (35/35)
SS José Chávez - 35 y/o from Mexico City (35/35)
SS José Colindres - 22 y/o from Amecameca, Estado de México (50/50)
RF Alejandro Partida - 27 y/o from Cuautitlán, Estado de México (40/40)

Reserve
C Jesús Serrano - 22 y/o from Zinacantepec, Estado de México (40/40)
2B David Sabedra - 37 y/o from Ixtapaluca, Estado de México (30/30)
3B Ignacio Gutiérrez - 33 y/o from Mexico City (30/30)
3B David Pizarro - 18 y/o from Mexico City (20/65)
RF Francisco Arias - 30 y/o from Tlaquiltenango, Morelos (35/35)

https://i.imgur.com/1wlk5Zo.png

Interesting concept.

Our 3rd team is the Serpientes de Puebla.

https://i.imgur.com/wFeNF2w.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/k6pLiCW.png

The team from the Angelópolis, nicknamed so due to the abundance of churches around the city, will use the mote of the Snakes. I don't exactly remember why I landed on this nickname but I decided to turn a capital P into a snake for their logo. I'm not 100% on the result and might end up going with just the P without the snake eye and tongue at some point but whatever.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d7/f3/02/d...674b7b810b.jpg

The team colors are blue and white and you might notice a pattern within the P. These are characteristics of the very typical Talavera pottery which is only made in the region.

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/artic...l-Talavera.jpg

Having acquired his wealth in the textile industry, Roberto Covarrubias (now 53), will run the Puebla club. Even if he won't be too involved with the club's running, he will be very demanding of the people who are, expecting profits from what looks to be a very generous fund set apart for the team.

The team will be run by Francisco Herrera, who hails from Zinacantepec, Estado de México. He's an average, easygoing coach who will prefer for the veterans to do the heavy lifting.

Let's take a look at their roster:

RHP Rafael Sianez - 34 y/o from Córdoba, Veracruz
Speaking of veterans, Sianez and his pinpoint control will headline the Snakes' rotation.

Martín Pérez - 26 y/o from Atlixco, Puebla
Overall below average, Pérez is a hustler and will throw all 5 of his pitches for maximum effort.

RHP Cuauhtémoc Espinoza - 30 y/o from Huejotzingo, Puebla
Scouts have called him a "borderline starter", his skillset is very limited.

RHP Iván Moctezuma - 36 y/o from Tezontepec, Hidalgo
Despite having average control and stuff, his pitches will move all over the plate, leading to a lot of weak contact. Moctezuma only throws an above average slider and below average changeup and lacks the stamina to pitch long outings.

C Guillermo Mendez - 32 y/o from Ocoyucan, Puebla
A highly intelligent leader, Mendez makes up for a lack of arm behind the plate with great defensive and framing abilities. He has excellent discipline from both sides of the plate.

1B Omar de Jesús - 33 y/o from Los Reyes, Puebla
A below average 3B being moved to first, de Jesús will put the ball in play most of the time.

2B Fernando del Toro - 27 y/o from Coatepec, Puebla
del Toro is highly disciplined and has good hitting skills. His defense at 2B is above average.

3B Andrés Martínez - 30 y/o from Atzitzihuacán, Puebla
Martínez is a very versatile fielder and his hitting skills are just good enough to keep in the lineup.

SS Manuel Portillo - 28 y/o from Xalapa, Veracruz
With the ability to get to any ball without making mistakes, Portillo is a favorite for the Temanahui Award. His bat is not great but he will battle in every at bat.

LF Antonio Tapia - 30 y/o from Pueblo Viejo, Veracruz
A good corner OF, Tapia has the ability to frequently put the ball in the gaps.

CF Jorge Ramírez - 26 y/o from Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco
Jorge will be standing on the next base before the ball gets to the catcher. He has great range and just about average batting skills.

RF Daniel Rivera - 32 y/o from Sombrerete, Zacatecas
Either from his bat or his eye, Rivera will find himself on the basepaths frequently.

Bench
C Alejandro Pérez - 28 y/o from San Matías, Puebla (40/40)
1B León San Juan - 32 y/o from Hueyapan, Veracruz (40/40)
3B Roberto Hernández - 30 y/o from Cholula, Puebla (30/30)
LF Héctor Ramírez - 24 y/o from Zihuatanejo, Guerrero (50/50)
CF Mario Lemus - 27 y/o from Venustiano Carranza, Puebla (45/45)
RF Pedro Landaverde - 30 y/o from Tuxpan, Veracruz (35/35)

Reserve
C Miguel de León - 16 y/o from Chihuahua, Chihuahua (20/45)
1B Enrique Pérez - 21 y/o from San Quintín, Baja California (20/55)
2B José Beas - 17 y/o from Concordia, Sinaloa (20/45)
2B Miguel Martínez - 26 y/o from Veracruz, Veracruz (30/30)
SS Roberto León - 19 y/o from Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo (20/45)
LF Miguel Arellano - 22 y/o from Mexico City (40/40)
LF Israel Cabrera - 26 y/o from Nogales, Veracruz (25/25)
LF Miguel Díaz - 23 y/o from Tuxtla, Veracruz (35/35)

https://i.imgur.com/GBR6dyG.png

This is an amazing concept - I'm also fascinated by this game, and I did a logo for Yucatán that night be useful to you. I liked the idea of having a team representing this ancient sport... but to make a whole league out of it is a fabulous idea :)

I also love the prickly pear and the snake pattern S!

Thanks for the comment!




Thanks for the comment and the logo offer, I appreciate it, but I do have a concept for a team based in Mérida which I'll show off in a future post.


A note on the Mesoamerican ballgame concept: OOTP is of course a baseball simulation which is why I set the backstory that this game "evolved" into baseball for the simulation. There is actually evidence of ball and stick games being played and some of them have survived, although they are more similar to hockey than baseball.



All 8 cities I picked for the initial season have one or more prehispanic sites with ballgame courts in their vicinity. However, I am planning for this league to expand and eventually include other major cities.

Fun stuff! I tried to move the White Sox to Mexico City in an online league of mine ... Mexico is way overdue for MLB inclusion

I moved the Diamondbacks to Mexico City (took on the Diablos mantle) in one of my online leagues. Tbh I don't think Mexico will get much MLB baseball soon, aside from an increase in Mexico Series games and perhaps another shot at hosting the WBC. Our leagues are growing though, the winter league in particular is very popular as a lot of the players come from MiLB (quite a few with MLB experience) so it makes for good viewing.

Busy week, but we're back with our next team: Flechas de León!

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6b/11/e9/6...d684325cde.jpg

Guanajuato is known for being one of the country's cultural hubs. The state is home to the mummies, old architecture, mines, legends of all kind and a very rich history, especially during the Independence period. Its most populated city is León although the capital is Guanajuato, Guanajuato.

The city is known for its colonial tradition, especially in its architecture and cultural events such as the Festival Cervantino which celebrates colonial arts and music. It is also known as a city of leatherworkers, especially in shoemaking and, more recently, for the hot air balloon festival. As I wanted to keep the league more prehispanic themed, I just named the club after the arrows which were commonly used by native peoples for hunting and in war.

Team colors are green and white, as green is the color of the city flag.

https://i.imgur.com/NgiXCIG.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/PXdaEl2.png

The team will be ran by local leather businessman Catarino García. The 49 year-old doesn't have too much money, but he is lenient and hands-off. He is hoping to turn the team into a winner.

The manager is a Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas native by the name of Julio Padilla. He's a poor manager and coach, but at only 30 years old there's enough room to grow.

Let's take a look at their players:

LHP Alejandro Carranza - 25 y/o from San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Carranza throws great breaking stuff, but his movement is way below par. His control is good enough to play professionally.

RHP Luis Cruz - 26 y/o from San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora
Cruz is above average in all rubrics but lacks the ability to pitch long stints.

RHP Antonio Aguilar - 29 y/o from León, Guanajuato
His stuff is far from good but he can put the ball wherever he wants. His sidearm action and great movement will fetch lots of groundballs.

RHP Joaquín Cuestas - 25 y/o from Querétaro, Querétaro
An above average and hard-working reliever, his stuff might be good enough to pitch longer relief stints.

C Victor Albornoz - 22 y/o from Ecatepec, Estado de México
Very disciplined hitter with good power and a cannon for an arm.

1B Julio Pera - 25 y/o from Trancoso, Zacatecas
Above average hitter, below average everything else.

2B Agustín Castrillo - 28 y/o from Cd. Fernández, San Luis
Castrillo is a versatile fielder with a good eye but is generally unmotivated.

3B Gustavo Ruiz - 27 y/o from La Paz, Baja California Sur
An aggressive hitter but a good hitter. Ruiz' arm is one of the best in the league though he might have difficulties getting to balls.

SS Francisco Pérez - 30 y/o from Irapuato, Guanajuato
An excellent fielder, his bat doesn't really play at this level but he might draw a decent number of walks.

LF Andrés Suárez - 28 y/o from Tepic, Nayarit
He's aggressive power hitter who will only swing at strikes. Suárez is an above average fielder.

CF Valentín Trejo - 27 y/o from Soledad, San Luis
Very speedy, Trejo will battle at the plate every time.

RF Carlos Moya - 40 y/o from Villa de Cos, Zacatecas
Very experienced at the plate, he will put the ball in play most of the time. His lack of hustle might become an issue when fielding.

Bench
C Ignacio Montoya - 28 y/o from Villa de Ramos, San Luis (40/40)
1B Roberto Torres - 25 y/o from Fresnillo, Zacatecas (40/40)
2B Pedro Hernández - 31 y/o from Querétaro, Querétaro (40/40)
LF Francisco Carrera - 32 y/o from Villa de la Paz, San Luis (40/40)
CF Alejandro Fregoso - 25 y/o from Soledad, San Luis (30/30)
RF Xavier Nieves - 37 y/o from Celaya, Guanajuato (35/35)

Reserves
LHP Adalberto Dondiego - 23 y/o from Manuel Doblado, Guanjuato (45/45)
C Guillermo Meraz - 16 y/o from Ciudad Valles, San Luis (20/50)
C Jorge Quirino - 36 y/o from Tepezala, Aguascalientes (30/30)
2B Baldomero Ceballos - 21 y/o from Puebla, Puebla (20/45)
3B Victor Alcantar - 37 y/o from León, Guanajuato (35/35)
SS Jorge Cabrera - 16 y/o from Ciudad Valles, San Luis (20/45)
LF Carlos Carrillo - 17 y/o from Corregidora, Querétaro (20/60)
LF Leocadio Guajardo - 40 y/o from Zaragoza, San Luis (35/35)

https://i.imgur.com/SuLWdkA.png

Up next we're travelling to the coastal city of Mérida, capital of the state of Yucatán. This state is known for its rich Mayan history, with many of its
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/85/98...18d568ad9d.jpg

The "white city", named so due to the calcium-rich materials that were used to build the city in colonial times, will host the Aulladores baseball team.

https://i.imgur.com/7NflZPw.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/qfUzERO.png

The team gets its nickname from the howler monkeys (monos aulladores in spanish) that inhabit the peninsula's lush jungles.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ra%29_Cayo.jpg

Owned by 52 year-old Luis Galicia, the team will be trying to compete with a relatively small budget. Galicia, a descendant of a colonial family, is the owner of a big piece of land which is used to grow henequen. He's a fan of the sport and wishes for the team to be a winner, but will only treat it as a side project and won't invest huge amounts of money.

The team is managed by Iván Egas, who was born in Kanasín, Yucatán. The 45 year old has a reputation as a run of the mill manager and coach. However, the players Mérida has managed to collect before the start of the season are anything but:

LHP Roberto García - 24 y/o from Toluca, Estado de México
A league-average pitcher, Roberto has great control and the movement on his curve and sinker will fetch lots of ground balls.

RHP Omar Xiu - 41 y/o from Mérida, Yucatán
Below average overall, his experience will give him a plus. He gets along with everyone in the dugout.

RHP Eulalio Sánchez - 36 y/o from Acajete, Puebla
Another below average pitcher with a wide repertoire, he would be able to throw lots of innings but injuries might be a concern at this stage of his career.

RHP Remigio Rodríguez - 26 y/o from Oztolotepec, Estado de México
Remigio is a durable curve-fastball thrower who will get strikeouts as a relief pitcher.

C José Trujillo - 24 y/o from Solidaridad, Quintana Roo
As a native of the peninsula, Trujillo loves the team and is looking forward to captaining it to glory. He'll be leading by example as his great ability as a catcher and at the plate make him one of the best at his position.

1B Santiago Salas - 35 y/o from Emiliano Zapata, Tabasco
Arguably one of the best hitters in the league, Salas' bat truly makes up for his lack of defensive skill. He's as loyal and hard working as any.

2B Quirino Ek - 32 y/o from Río Lagartos, Yucatán
Ek works hard to overcome his faults, making him a very good defender at every position he has tried. His bat is definitely below average though, but he will battle out each turn.

3B Enrique Canul - 27 y/o from Uayma, Yucatán
El Caimán, as he is known, has a cannon for an arm and the ability to reach most balls when defending. At the plate, he's disciplined and will put power behind the ball in every turn.

SS Antonio Monterrosa - 26 y/o from Oztolotepec
His swing and glove have potential to be one of the best in history. Not the fastest but knows when and how to run to get that extra base.

LF Héctor Pérez - 25 y/o from Mexico City
Durable and just above average at everything he does, Pérez would be a solid if unspectacular contributor on any team.

CF Celestino de la Rosa - 35 y/o from Cunduacán, Tabasco
One of the best amateur players in the country, perhaps the professional league came along too late for him to truly cement his legacy. His bat skills are top tier, with him being able to wait for the perfect throw to hit into the gaps. His speed is also an asset that will come into play both on the basepaths and with the glove.

RF Tomás Durán - 24 y/o from Nacajuca, Tabasco
Durán is only good with the bat and will hit for power but the team will wish someone else would go out and field instead.

Bench
C Fernando Padrón - 35 y/o from Teapa, Tabasco (30/30)
1B Efraín Cuxum - 29 y/o from Mérida, Yucatán (45/45)
SS Melquiades Espinoza - 22 y/o from Veracruz, Veracruz (45/45)
LF Carlos Córdova - 22 y/o from Tizimín, Yucatán (35/35)
LF Fermín Rivera - 29 y/o from Cárdenas, Tabasco (30/30)

Reserves
LHP Ángel Chacón - 29 y/o from Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo (20/20)
RHP Nazario Román - 40 y/o from Ahualulco, San Luis (25/25)
RHP Alfonso Simental - 16 y/o from Culiacán, Sinaloa (20/55)
RHP David Venegas - 28 y/o from Solidaridad, Quintana Roo (20/20)
RHP Carlos Monterrosa - 30 y/o from Centro, Tabasco (45/45)
RHP Felipe Martínez - 31 y/o from Mexico City (40/40)
C Jorge Velez - 16 y/o from Poncitlán, Jalisco (20/35)
2B Evaristo González - 35 y/o from Campeche, Campeche (30/30)
2B José Guzmán - 33 y/o from Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo (40/40)
2B Orlando Rosas - 16 y/o from León, Guanajuato (20/55)
2B Héctor Solís - 35 y/o from Campeche, Campeche (35/35)
CF José Contreras - 19 y/o from Tamazunchale, San Luis (20/60)

https://i.imgur.com/j7IwJNv.png

We stay on the Atlantic/Gulf coast but this time more north, to Tampico in the state of Tamaulipas.

https://www.mexicoenfotos.com/MX12486388739871.jpg

Tampico means "place of the water-dogs" in the native tének dialect. It is neither the capital of Tamaulipas (that honor belongs to Ciudad Victoria) nor the most populated city (it is currently Reynosa), but it used to be the latter when the 1930 census was completed and so it will host the Jaibas (crabs) in its Estadio del Golfo.

https://i.imgur.com/QsSUNCh.png

While the city is named after the otters that inhabit the Tamesí river and several of the lagoons in the zone (or perhaps it was actual domestic dogs, it's still up for debate), I have chosen to name the team after the blue crab which is the main fishing product of the zone. Full disclaimer: this logo I didn't draw myself, it's instead just a recolored version of the Tampico-Madero football team, whose colors I absolutely love and are what I had in mind when creating this team's identity.

https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...7381/large.jpg

The team is owned by who else but the owner of several important fisheries in the zone, with many of the crabs ending up north of the border. This man is 53 year-old Alfonso Montalvo, he'll be a charitable owner who wishes for the team to be successful on the field.

In charge of the team is a 33 year-old hailing from Sahuayo, Michoacán. Aurelio Valenzuela is a former infielder who is a fan of "smallball" tactics. He'll need to prove himself with one of the poorest playing squads in the league.

Speaking of the squad, let's see who's on the roster:

RHP Francisco Barajas - 26 y/o from Saltillo, Coahuila
A great pitcher with great intangibles, Barajas is no doubt the best player on the team. He'll contend for the Atlatl Award, that is if the defenders behind him are up to par...

RHP Zenón Sandoval - 32 y/o from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Sandoval is fragile at his age and has way below average stuff and movement.

RHP Eulogio Martínez - 38 y/o from Victoria, Tamaulipas
Another very experienced, very below average, fragile pitcher fills out the Crabs' rotation.

LHP Humberto Nieto - 28 y/o from Victoria, Tamaulipas
He's very hard to hit off due to his submarine style from the left hand side, though he's not used to throwing long stints and his injury proneness will also factor into how many innings he throws.

C Jonathan González - 26 y/o from Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit
González is a good catcher with a cannon for an arm. His bat is not the best but he'll make the opponent throw as many balls as possible.

1B Efraín Armenta - 32 y/o from Altamira, Tamaulipas
Formerly a catcher, his defense is not good enough to keep at that position anymore. However, his bat is really good with elite eye and great pop making up for below average bat-to-ball skills.

2B Nelson Barrientos - 32 y/o from Monclova, Coahuila
A very speedy and versatile fielder, Barrientos is not expected to wow anyone with the bat.

3B Gabriel Rivas - 35 y/o from González, Tamaulipas
Another great fielder with elite arm, his specialty is making contact with the ball though he's not the strongest hitter.

SS David García - 33 y/o from Guadalupe, Nuevo León
Despite being more than good enough with the bat and with the glove, he's a very selfish player who tends to put in less effort than his teammates.

LF Rogelio Cabrera - 33 y/o from Cadereyta, Nuevo León
His bat is just good enough but he's very slow and it also shows when fielding.

CF Abelardo Rivera - 27 y/o from Torreón, Coahuila
While not the greatest at making contact with the ball, his hits somehow frequently find the gaps and Rivera is not afraid of using his blistering speed at all times. His defense is also great but lapses in concentration mean an above average amount of errors.

RF Ulises Dueñas - 25 y/o from Apodaca, Nuevo León
Dueñas is defensively great, though his slow speed allows him to get to less balls, which is why he's moved to right field. He won't make contact often but his hits are more likely to go over the fence.

Bench
1B Artemio Chavez - 35 y/o from Guadalupe, Nuevo León (40/40)
1B Filiberto López - 26 y/o from Guadalupe, Nuevo León (45/45)
2B Roberto Soto - 34 y/o from Jaumave, Tamaulipas (40/40)
3B Andrés Torres - 23 y/o from Apodaca, Nuevo León (50/50)
LF Victor Espinosa - 33 y/o from Torreón, Coahuila (40/40)
RF David Casillas - 31 y/o from Matamoros, Tamaulipas (30/30)

Reserves
RHP Rogelio Hernández - 16 y/o from Tepatitlán, Jalisco (20/80)
RHP Pedro León - 16 y/o from Tizayuca, Hidalgo (20/50)
LHP Miguel Zúñiga - 20 y/o from Tamazula, Durango (20/55)
RHP Mario Quesada - 34 y/o from Villa de Álvarez, Colima (40/40)
C Jorge Ramos - 31 y/o from Acuña, Coahuila (35/35)
2B Mario Vicente - 19 y/o from Xichu, Guanajuato (20/45)

https://i.imgur.com/IZ0bRy9.png

Second to last, we have the other Mexico City team: Águilas de México.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsAXPK-U...pg&name=medium

https://i.imgur.com/i2U6JFC.pnghttps://i.imgur.com/WFBddfN.png

This is another logo I didn't do, just a recolored version of the "Made in Mexico" logo. The nickname is of course based on Mexico's national bird, which can be found on the flag. The reason the Golden Eagle can be found on the flag is due to the myth of the founding of Tenochtitlán; after Huitzilopochtli told the then-enslaved Mexica people to leave Aztlán in order to reach promised lands, they were told to build the new city on the site where they found an eagle perched on a cactus while eating a snake. (There is debate as to wether the bird was truly supposed to be an eagle, a crested caracara or another bird). To go along with the foundation myth, the team will play in Parque Huitzilopochtli, the main mythological figure of Mexica culture and founder of Tenochtitlán.

https://images.reporteindigo.com/wp-...nochtitlan.jpg

The team is owned by entrepeneur Israel López. He'll pour all of his wealth into the team, but at the end of the day, López also demands a profit on his investments.

Running the day-to-day is Zapopan, Jalisco native Alejandro Elías. He used to be a legendary outfielder and is considered one of the best coaches in the country.

Will the playing squad be up to scratch? Let's take a look:

RHP Ezequiel Anguiano - 28 y/o from Ecatepec, Estado de México
Anguiano doesn't throw any breaking balls, but his mix of fastballs is good enough to get outs effectively.

LHP Leo Álvarez - 26 y/o from La Paz, Estado de México
His sidearm action and knuckle curve will fetch lots of strikeouts, but "Padre" will have trouble with the longball and location.

RHP Antonio Castañeda - 26 y/o from Ecatepec, Estado de México
His stuff isn't too good but he's a durable pitcher with good enough control to pitch a complete game.

LHP Mario Rodríguez - 33 y/o from Atenco, Estado de México
The veteran lefty throws a great slider and is good at attacking the zone, however the way he throws has him tired after a couple of innings.

C Octavio Nieves - 33 y/o from Cholula, Puebla
A known dressing room prankster, Nieves is great behind the plate. His bat is average at best but has raw power ability.

1B Miguel González - 25 y/o from Zapopan, Jalisco
Miguel is good at making strong contact, as well as an above average defender.

2B Octavio Torres - 31 y/o from Huehuetoca, Estado de México
His bat is pretty solid and he'll rarely strikeout. Octavio's glove is also great but he lacks throwing strength.

3B Ramón Martínez - 29 y/o from Mexico City
Formerly great at the hot corner, his bat is still serviceable but might be best as a 1B.

SS Carlos Castro - 32 y/o from Atizapan, Estado de México
Castro's a below average SS with a below average bat.

LF Edwin Acosta - 27 y/o from Kanasín, Yucatán
Solid on all fronts, batting cleanup will give him ample opportunity to show his talent.

CF Reynaldo Caratachea - 25 y/o from Ecatepec, Estado de México
His Spanish heritage has earned him the nickname "El Vasco". Caratachea is a very speedy outfielder with a disciplined bat, he won't hit it out the park but is fast enough to get extra bases frequently.

RF Luis García - 25 y/o from Mexico City
García has great bat-to-ball skills and a cannon for an arm.

Bench
C José Canto - 22 y/o from Nicolás Romero, Estado de México (45/45)
2B Carlos Ramírez - 25 y/o from Melchor Ocampo, Estado de México (40/40)
3B Daniel Sierra - 26 y/o from Mexico City (40/40)
LF Aureliano Guajardo - 30 y/o from Mexico City (40/40)
LF Isaac Mendez - 25 y/o from Huehuetoca, Estado de México (40/40)
RF César Porras - 23 y/o from Cuernavaca, Morelos (35/35)

Reserve
RHP Raúl Romero - 17 y/o from Mérida, Yucatán (20/60)
RHP Jonathan Tirado - 33 y/o from Mexico City (30/30)
RHP Severino de León - 33 y/o from Tlalnelhuayocan, Veracruz (45/40)
RHP Antonio Plata - 20 y/o from Rioverde, San Luis (20/55)
C Francisco Carreto - 29 y/o from Ecatepec, Estado de México (30/30)
C Luis García - 22 y/o from Toluca, Estado de México (40/40)
1B César Castellanos - 24 y/o from Mexico City (35/35)
SS Rubén Rivera - 16 y/o from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (20/45)
RF Carlos Garduño - 26 y/o from Tianguistenco, Estado de México (30/30)

https://i.imgur.com/yk9UWMN.png

Nitpicky question I know, but even though this version of baseball is based on the Mesoamerican "Ball Game" I presume you will not "retire" all of the players from the teams that don't win the championship as representations of human sacrifices :p:p:p:p:p

:D I'll look at other ways to enshrine our all time greats, perhaps copying what you do north of the border with this "Hall of Fame" thing.

Finally, to top off our team previews we visit my hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco.

https://iphonegr.mural.com.mx/libre/...agencompleta=1

The second biggest city in the country (in modern times), Guadalajara was at one point the capital of New Galicia. It was and still is one of the most important economic and cultural hubs in Mexico. Of course I could name the team after the lions that appear in its flag, or maybe "the Pearls" after one of the city's nicknames. Instead I turned to the volcanic activity in the zone. The Tequila (which means place of jagged rocks) and Colima volcanoes are nearby, both being sources of the sacred rock: obsidian.

https://i.imgur.com/zbFcqkN.png

The team is owned by local entrepreneur José González, who made his fortune selling newspapers. A bit short on patience, González is not afraid of spending money to help the team win.

57 years old, Roberto Rodríguez has been appointed as team manager. The former infielder has been hailed as an excellent coach and manager, often using unorthodox tactics to get an edge.

Here are the players at his disposal:

RHP Faustino Campos - 27 y/o from El Salto, Jalisco
A great pitcher who'll throw a lot of innings, he's also a very respected figure in the clubhouse.

LHP Carlos Casillas - 21 y/o from Zapopan, Jalisco
Carlos' all around excellence at such a young age make him a candidate for both the newcomer and pitcher awards.

RHP Jacinto Santos - 27 y/o from Hidalgo, Michoacán
A great option to round out the rotation, his talent makes up for a lack of work ethic.

LHP Raúl González - 29 y/o from Sta. Bárbara, Chihuahua
Your run-of-the-mill pitcher, Raúl lacks the stamina to pitch long outings.

C Eliseo Rodríguez - 28 y/o from Tlajomulco, Jalisco
Rodríguez is one of the best behind the plate, though his arm and bat are lacking.

1B Alberto Ávila - 25 y/o from Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
He's talented with the bat but not strong enough to put the ball in the seats.

2B César Loaiza - 23 y/o from Pto. Vallarta, Jalisco
Loaiza is another favorite for the newcomer award and one of the most talanted hitters in the league.

3B David Tovar - 31 y/o from Ameca, Jalisco
The veteran still has one of the best arms in the league, though his contact skills have declined he is still a very disciplined hitter. Overall a positive influence in the clubhouse.

SS Jonás Alegría - 35 y/o from Tepic, Nayarit
A great fielder at his age, his ample experience prevents him from making any sort of mistakes. Not the best hitter but has a good grasp on the strike zone and will at least put the ball in play more often than not.

LF Javier Álvarez - 27 y/o from Jiutepec, Morelos
A below average bat but he's one of the fastest players out there and has perfected the art of the bunt.

CF Raúl Pérez - 23 y/o from Zapopan, Jalisco
Already one of the best young players in the game, Pérez strives for perfection.

RF Guillermo Villanueva - 27 y/o from Tenancingo, Estado de México
Memo is great with the bat, but he never really learned how to properly field and his slowness doesn't help him either.

Bench
C José Ángeles - 25 y/o from Tizayuca, Hidalgo (40/40)
1B Ismael Acuña - 36 y/o from Arandas, Jalisco (40/40)
1B Carlos Rodríguez - 26 y/o from Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo (45/45)
2B Amador Gallegos - 26 y/o from Morelia, Michoacán (45/45)
3B Ángel Ziranda - 21 y/o from Nahuatzén, Michoacán (50/50)
LF José Contreras - 29 y/o from Morelia, Michoacán (40/40)

Reserve
RHP Hermenegildo Lomas - 26 y/o from Saltillo, Coahuila (30/30)
RHP Roberto Olmos - 33 y/o from Atlixco, Puebla (30/30)
LHP Iván Solano - 41 y/o from Acuña, Coahuila (25/25)
RHP Mario Jiménez - 25 y/o from Churintzio, Michoacán (35/35)
C Luis Saldivar - 27 y/o from Acuitzio, Michoacán (35/35)
2B José Pérez - 16 y/o from Pto. Vallarta, Jalisco (20/45)
2B Gerardo Román - 31 y/o from Venustiano Carranza, Michoacán (35/35)
3B Ángel Vargas - 32 y/o from Xalisco, Nayarit (40/40)
SS Javier Zayas - 18 y/o from Escobedo, Nuevo León (20/45)
LF Oscar Valladolid - 25 y/o from Chietla, Puebla (50/50)
RF Luis Alonso - 28 y/o from Etzatlán, Jalisco (35/35)
RF Tezcatlipoca de León - 30 y/o from Morelia, Michoacán (25/25)

https://i.imgur.com/itGQTSz.png

Before we dive into Opening Day, let's take a look at the experts' consensus predicted standings:

https://i.imgur.com/1439DgH.png

The league is set to be a close one, with all teams but Tampico predicted to be within 10 games of each other.

It's easy to see why Puebla and Guadalajara are predicted to finish 1st and 2nd. The Snakes have what's probably the best lineup in the league while the Obsidians have the best rotation in the league.

The rest of the teams in the top 7 have balanced rosters with 1-2 strong players surrounded by an average squad. Meanwhile, Tampico's best players form a battery only once every 3 games, with the rest of the team being solidly below average.

Will the season play out like this? What kind of surprises will spring up as the 84 games are played? Only time will tell, but for now, it's time for Opening Day!

Here are the matchups:

Puebla @ Mérida
RHP Rafael Sianez vs LHP Roberto García

Águilas @ Tampico
RHP Ezequiel Anguiano vs RHP Francisco Barajas

León @ San Luis
LHP Alejandro Carranza vs LHP Francisco Camacho

Guadalajara @ Jaguares
LHP Carlos Casillas vs LHP Andrés Amaya

The first season of a new league is always fun because of how close it tends to be.

With that in mind: c'mon Jaibas what the hell did you all do to prep for the season?