The
1936 Ullamaliztli Namiqui season has come to an end! Let's see who took the first championship home.
And the 1936 Champions are...
Aulladores de Mérida!
A very stong finish allowed the peninsula team to fend off runs by Puebla, Guadalajara and León and secure the title for the club. Let's take a look at how the Monkeys and the rest of the league did in June:
Aulladores de Mérida - 1st (NC) - 55-29 (17-8 June, 7-1 July)
The Howlers only lost series against the Eagles and Arrows, completing 4 sweeps in the last month (and 9 days) en route to their first championship! It was truly a dominant season for the Mérida club, as they had a winning record against all teams but León (5-7).
Best batters:
CF Celestino de la Rosa - .304/.383/.415, 9 2B,
10 3B, 2 HR, 22 SB, 31 RBI
SS Antonio Monterrosa - .339/.356/
.439,
119 H, 14 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 10 SB, 41 RBI
C José Trujillo - .341/.381/.393, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 39 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Jesús Pérez - 17-7, 25 GS, 1.76 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 6.2 K%
LHP Roberto García - 16-11, 28 GS, 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 4.7 K%
LHP José García - 11-7, 22 GS, 2.98 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4.0 K%
Serpientes de Puebla - 2nd (+1) - 47-37 (13-12 June, 7-1 July)
The Snakes had a good try at the championship this year, but losing series against Mérida, Guadalajara and Águilas in the last month hurt their chances and they ultimately came 2nd. They were 1st in pitching and defense so they have a good base to build upon for next season.
Best batters:
1B Daniel Rivera - .299/.394/.363, 14 2B, 2 HR, 3 SB, 30 RBI
LF Hector Ramírez - .306/.336/.384, 11 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 1 SB, 29 RBI
RF Antonio Tapia - .297/.326/.386, 17 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 5 SB, 20 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Rafael Sianez - 13-7, 22 GS, 1.83 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 4.2 K%
LHP Miguel Cazares - 13-10, 23 GS, 2.30 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6.9 K%
RHP Martín Pérez - 9-11, 10 GS, 3.00 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 4.2 K%
Obsidianas de Guadalajara - 3rd (+2) - 45-39 (16-9 June, 3-5 July)
The Obsidians were one of the hottest teams in the last two months, going 36-24 since May, though it wasn't good enough to claim the top spot. Their fans have a lot to look forward to, as their best players are on the younger side and with a budget in the league's top 3 the team can only get better.
Best batters:
2B César Loaiza -
.347/.383/.435,
.818 OPS, 15 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 10 SB, 30 RBI
SS Ricky Solorio - .328/.349/.391, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 SB, 28 RBI
LF Oscar Valladolid - .316/.346/.368, 8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 SB, 24 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Carlos Casillas - 10-12, 22 GS, 2.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 6.3 K%
RHP Faustino Campos - 11-13, 26 GS, 2.71 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 5.2 K%
RHP Jacinto Santos - 19-11, 31 GS, 2.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 5.7 K%
Flechas de León - 4th (NC) - 43-41 (14-11 June, 2-6 July)
The Arrows had an alright month, sweeping Guadalajara and San Luis. They were in the conversation for title contenders but ultimately didn't move up or down, ending up in the mid-table spot. They have some top players but might need to get top reinforcements before seriously contending.
Best batters:
C Victor Albornoz - .317/
.403/.404, 12 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 2 SB, 29 RBI
LF Andrés Suárez - .292/.364/.391, 15 2B, 1 3B,
5 HR, 10 SB, 34 RBI
SS Francisco Pérez - .285/.316/.379, 9 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 4 SB, 31 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Luis Cruz - 12-10, 28 GS, 1.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP,
7.5 K%
RHP Antonio Aguilar - 12-14, 28 GS, 2.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 4.6 K%
LHP Alejandro Carranza - 9-10, 20 GS, 3.33 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 5.3 K%
Jaguares de México - 5th (+2) - 41-43 (14-12 June, 6-2 July)
The Jaguars finished strongly, thanks in large part to their excellent defense. Overall the team isn't all that good, with only a couple standouts and their budget isn't the biggest, so it might take a while before they compete.
Best batters:
3B Rico Santistevan - .311/.342/.387, 13 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 SB, 30 RBI
LF Gregorio Pérez - .299/.322/.388, 17 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 SB, 17 RBI
C Alfredo Hernández - .260/.287/.345, 11 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 1 SB, 13 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Andrés Amaya - 13-14, 29 GS, 2.66 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 4.8 K%
LHP Luis Helguera - 14-15, 28 GS, 2.57 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 5.2 K%
RHP David Garza - 5-8, 13 GS, 3.06 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 5.1 K%
Tunas de San Luis - 6th (-4) - 40-44 (7-18 June, 4-4 July)
The Tunas completely dropped off, having been closely in second place at the end of May. They only scored 62 runs in the last month, allowing 99 of them as they tumbled down the standings. A return to form next season could see them compete again as they definitely have the talent to do so.
Best batters:
CF Guillermo Aceves - .303/.328/.398, 16 2B,
5 HR,
30 SB, 22 RBI
1B Daniel Aguirre - .303/.316/.358, 4 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 32 RBI
2B Max Braud - .275/.333/.339, 11 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 4 SB, 24 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Francisco Camacho - 15-14, 29 GS, 2.25 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 5.9 K%
RHP Roberto Mestre - 9-15, 22 GS, 3.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 6.5 K%
RHP César Plascencia - 12-9, 28 GS, 2.45 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 5.8 K%
Águilas de México - 7th (-1) - 36-48 (11-15 June, 1-7 July)
The Eagles ended the season going 4-18, cementing their second-to-last finish. The Capital club will be looking to improve at pretty much every position next season.
Best batters:
CF Reynaldo Caratachea - .324/.363/.419,
18 2B, 7 3B, 23 SB, 20 RBI
RF Victor Barrios - .317/.374/.388, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 1 SB, 25 RBI
1B Miguel González - .329/.351/.404, 13 2B, 3 HR, 1 SB, 26 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Ezequiel Anguiano - 10-18, 28 GS, 3.89 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 6.8 K%
LHP Leo Álvarez - 12-14, 28 GS, 3.30 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 6.8 K%
RHP Antonio Castañeda - 12-15, 2.84 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4.5 K%
Jaibas de Tampico - 8th (NC) - 29-55 (9-16 June, 2-6 July)
Despite finishing last, Tampico managed to surpass their preseason prediction by 4 wins. Their new signings fit well into the club, and having them for a full year next time out will be a positive spot for fans.
Best batters:
CF Jesús Rodríguez - .318/.343/.405, 10 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 23 SB, 26 RBI
3B Gabriel Rivas - .302/.327/.342, 5 2B, 1 HR, 3 SB, 10 RBI
RF Ricardo Palacios - .274/.335/.321, 8 2B, 2 3B, 13 SB, 8 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Francisco Barajas - 9-11, 32 GS, 2.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 5.5 K%
RHP Israel Pastrana - 7-15, 23 GS, 2.85 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 6.2 K%
RHP Omar Xiu - 6-4, 10 GS, 2.16 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 4.8 K%
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Overall a very fun, competitive first season. Statistically, things turned out pretty much how I wanted it to, though I noticed a couple of thigs I want to tweak for next year. In the next post we'll go over the award winners!