So, how'd the rest of
April go?
In total 8 series (24 games) were played this month and the standings are pretty close, with all teams within 10 games of each other. Though it is clear which teams have played better to start off the season, perhaps the gaps will shorten.
Let's dive into the first month of professional baseball!
Aulladores de Mérida (1st, 17-7, L10: 6-4)
The Yucatán team had an excellent start, sweeping their first 3 series against Puebla, Jaguares and Tampico before San Luis handed them their first loss (4-2) and their first series loss (2-1). They'd lose two more series this month, against León and Puebla but also won their series against the Águilas and swept Guadalajara.
The team got even better this month, as they agreed terms with power-hitting catcher Roberto Cruz (32 y/o from Mexico City, 55 OVR), RHP Jesús Pérez (31 y/o from Miahuatlán, Puebla, 55 OVR) and LF Guillermo Cigarroa (26 y/o from Comalapa, Chiapas, 60 OVR) within the first two weeks. They've also just signed young RF Edwin Esparza (22 y/o from León, Guanajuato, 80 OVR) and rounded out their pitching staff with LHP José García (32 y/o from Villahermosa, Tabasco, 50 OVR).
Best batters:
2B Quirino Ek: 24 G, .325/.364/.386, 2 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI
3B Enrique Canul: 23 G, .260/.313/.364, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
SS Antonio Monterrosa: 24 G, .287/.305/.386, 6 2B, 2 3B, 10 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Jesús Pérez: 5 GS, 1.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 6.3 K%
LHP Roberto García: 8 GS, 3.85 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 5.2 K%
LHP José García: 2 GS, 1.02 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 4.2 K%
Tunas de San Luis (2nd, 16-8, L10: 6-4)
San Luis also had an excellent start though their longest streak was only 4 games. Their highlights came when winning the series against Mérida and when they swept the Águilas. Overall, they won all series they played in until the last one of the month against León.
The Prickly Pears also made several signings from the free player pool, beginning with LHP Roberto Bañuelos (27 y/o from Tenango, Oaxaca, 55 OVR). They then went on to sign one of the best available players in the versatile SS Rogelio Herrán who is a smart and hard working leader. Halfway through the month they got LF Antonio Quevedo (24 y/o from Juárez, Chihuahua, 45 OVR). In the last week they signed two great players in RHP Roberto Mestre (23 y/o from Escuintla, Chiapas, 60 OVR) and LF Miguel Muñoz (27 y/o from Gral. Escobedo, Nuevo León, 60 OVR).
Best batters:
CF Guillermo Aceves: 24 G, .340/.379/.468, 6 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI
2B Max Braud: 24 G, .318/.410/.398, 5 2B, 1 3B, 12 RBI
SS Rogelio Herrán: 17 G, .294/.304/.324, 2 2B, 4 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Roberto Mestre: 4 G, 2 GS, 1 SV, 1.50 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 6.4 K%
LHP Francisco Camacho: 9 GS, 3.19 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 4.4 K%
RHP César Plascencia: 8 GS, 2.34 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 5.2 K% (Thrower of the Month)
Serpientes de Puebla (3rd, 14-10, L10: 6-4)
Puebla's off to a good start which included a 6 game winning streak. Highlights include sweeps of León and Águilas, despite being swept by Mérida. Overall series record this month: 5-3.
The Snakes made only one signing in veteran LHP Miguel Cazares (38 y/o from Chihuahua, Chihuahua, 50 OVR).
Best batters:
C Guillermo Mendez: 20 G, .278/.318/.329, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
2B Fernando del Toro: 24 G, .237/.321/.299, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
CF Jorge Ramírez: 24 G, .210/.233/.290, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Miguel Cazares: 4 G, 3 GS, 2.01 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 4.8 K%
RHP Martín Pérez: 10 G, 3 GS, 1.57 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 4.0 K%
RHP Cuauhtémoc Espinoza: 13 G, 7 GS, 2.96 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 4.1 K%
Flechas de León (4th, 13-11, L10: 8-2)
The emerald outfit was off to a 2-8 start before turning it around winning their last 5 series of the month, including a sweep of Guadalajara at home.
They were very active in making signings from the pool, also having to replace star RF Carlos Moya (19 G, .291/309/.316) who fractured his ankle and will probably miss the rest of the season. Overall, they made 7 signings including 1B José González (36 y/o from Jilotepec, Edo. Méx., 60 OVR), CF Juan Negrete (25 y/o from Zacapoaxtla, Puebla, 80 OVR) and RF Manuel Gil (28 y/o from Huixquilucan, Edo. Méx., 55 OVR).
Best batters:
SS Francisco Pérez: 24 G, .365/.402/.529, 4 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI (Hitter of the Month)
2B Agustín Castrillo: 23 G, .360/.378/.372, 1 2B, 6 RBI
1B José González: 18 G, .333/.405/.409, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Luis Cruz: 8 GS, 2.01 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 7.7 K%
RHP Antonio Aguilar: 9 G, 8 GS, 3.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 4.5 K%
LHP Alejandro Carranza: 8 GS, 5.29 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 5.9 K%
Águilas de México (5th, 10-14, L10: 2-8)
The Eagles won 3 of their first 4 series before falling off. They just recently snapped a 7 game losing streak which included series losses to Mérida, Puebla and Tampico.
The team from the capital hopes to get better and have picked up two more players from the free player pool in 3B David Herrera (24 y/o from Irapuato, Guanajuato, 70 OVR) and RF Victor Barrios (29 y/o from Huaquechula, Puebla, 55 OVR).
Best batters:
1B Miguel González: 20 G, .377/.415/.442, 2 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
CF Reynaldo Caratachea: 24 G, .314/.345/.410, 8 2B, 1 3B, 8 RBI
2B Octavio Torres: 24 G, .365/.402/.417, 5 2B, 10 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Ezequiel Anguiano: 9 G, 8 GS, 1 SV, 4.43 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 7.0 K%
LHP Leo Álvarez: 9 G, 8 GS, 3.20 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 6.7 K%
RHP Antonio Castañeda: 8 GS, 4.69 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 5.3 K%
Jaguares de México (6th, 9-15, L10: 4-6)
The Jaguars had a bad month, winning only 2 series, against Guadalajara and Puebla. Losing their two best players didn't help the poor month they had, with RF Salvador Velázquez (3 weeks with a sprained elbow) and new signing CF Armando Rodríguez (5 weeks with a sprained ankle) both coming down.
Speaking of new signings, the Jaguars made 4 of them this month. The aforementioned Armando Rodríguez (30 y/o from Torreón, Coahuila, 70 OVR) was the best of the crop. The other signings were LF Gregorio Pérez (26 y/o from Cerralvo, Nuevo León, 55 OVR), 2B Mario Abeyta (27 y/o from Juárez, Chihuahua, 55 OVR) and LHP Iván Solano (just 5 days after being released by Guadalajara).
Best batters:
CF Rubén González: 22 G, .308/.325/.321, 1 2B, 9 RBI
C Alfredo Hernández: 22 G, .247/.293/.325, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI
3B Rico Santistevan: 24 G, .269/.292/.312, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Andrés Amaya: 9 G, 8 GS, 2.85 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 4.7 K%
LHP Luis Helguera: 8 GS, 3.61 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 5.8 K%
RHP David Garza: 8 GS, 3.03 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 4.7 K%
Obsidianas de Guadalajara (7th, 9-15, L10: 3-7)
Despite being predicted to be one of the best, Guadalajara is struggling to find form early in the season, winning series against Águilas and Tampico and being swept by Mérida and León.
Although they have made 4 signings, none is really an improvement, with experienced LF José Mancilla (36 y/o from Puebla, Puebla, 55 OVR) being the highlight of the bunch.
Best batters:
2B César Loaiza: 24 G, .330/.373/.436, 8 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI
RF Guillermo Villanueva: 22 G, .315/.333/.382, 6 2B, 9 RBI
CF Raúl Pérez: 24 G, .296/.303/.380, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Carlos Casillas: 9 G, 8 GS, 3.52 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.2 K%
RHP Jacinto Santos: 11 G, 9 GS, 2.42 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 4.7 K%
RHP Faustino Campos: 10 G, 7 GS, 3.61 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 4.3 K%
Jaibas de Tampico (8th, 8-16, L10: 5-5)
After starting the year 3-12, the northeastern club has improved, winning series against both Mexico City clubs.
After CF Abelardo Rivera injured his knee (out 8 months), Tampico have greatly improved their squad, making a grand total of 9 signings this month. Highlights include: 2B Julio Ortiz (34 y/o from Mexico City, 55 OVR), CF Jesús Rodríguez (30 y/o from Campeche, Campeche, 70 OVR), SS Andrés Martínez (24 y/o from Jalapa, Oaxaca, 75 OVR), RHP Israel Pastrana (22 y/o from Comitán, Chiapas, 60 OVR) and LF Ricardo Palacios (27 y/o from Mexico City, 75 OVR). With some great talents in these signings, Tampico fans will be hoping for a marked improvement the rest of the season.
Best batters:
SS David García: 22 G, .325/.352/.410, 4 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI
3B Andrés Torres: 23 G, .237/.274/.362, 6 2B, 2 3B, 7 RBI
RF Ulises Dueñas: 24 G, .218/.253/.321, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Francisco Barajas: 14 G, 12 GS, 1.72 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 5.6 K%
RHP Israel Pastrana: 3 GS, 2.16 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.1 K%
RHP Omar Xiu: 2 GS, 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 4.4 K% (one start with Tampico after being released by Mérida)
A very interesting first month, it may be too early to start picking favorites and with the teams at the bottom of the standings making moves from the free player pool we might see some big changes in the standings come June. Only 2 full months remain in the season, we'll see how things pan out!