With just one month left in the season, let's take a look at the standings after
May 1937.
The competition is tighter than ever, with all teams within 10 games of first place. Mérida an Puebla have recovered tremendously, while San Luis and León had disappointing months. Tampico and both Mexico City clubs battle it out at the bottom but remain close to the fight.
I thought it might be fun to incorporate AI generated images into the fictional universe, so here are our players of the month:
San Luis' Roberto Mestre wins pitcher of the month for the first time after a great May which saw his ERA go from 2.16 to 1.69.
Despite being bottom of the league, Águilas have Victor Barrios who is now a 2x Hitter of the Month. His OPS went from .730 to .779 this month and he's 2nd in the race for the batting title.
Anyway, let's dive into the teams' performances this month:
Obsidianas de Guadalajara - 1st (NC), 14-12 in May
The team slowed down, though they still managed a winning month to remain 1st. Their offense has been average at best so far, but their pitching might be enough to carry them to a championship as they are 11-6 in one-run games.
Best hitters (Stats in May/Overall stats):
2B César Loaiza - .308/.339/.423, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB - .350/.392/.482, 9 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 3 SB
LF Oscar Valladolid - .303/.340/.360, 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI - .255/.293/.321, 5 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI
RF José Mancilla - .265/.299/.382, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI - .264/.308/.353, 9 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 2 SB
Rotation:
RHP Jacinto Santos - 50.1 IP, 1.79 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 11.6 K% - 108.1 IP, 1.83 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 11.5 K%
LHP Carlos Casillas - 59.2 IP, 2.72 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 10.7 K% - 126.2 IP, 2.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 10.6 K%
RHP Faustino Campos - 56.1 IP, 2.88 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.6 K% - 106.1 IP, 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11.4 K%
RHP Roberto Olmos - 42.2 IP, 2.32 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 14.0 K% - 93.2 IP, 2.11 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 12.6 K%
Aulladores de Mérida - 2nd (+4), 17-9 in May
A fantastic month has them in the middle of the race to defend their title. Seems like they've been cured of their Championitis and have also made a pair of trades to bolster the squad for the run. On the 17th they traded LF Carlos Cordova, who had only played 3 games for the Monkeys last season, in a move that got them RHP Jonathan Tirado and C Luis García from the Águilas. 3 days before the deadline, Mérida also sent the Eagles several prospects in SS Melquiades Espinoza (.429/.467/.536 in 19 games last year), C Jorge Velez and RHP Alfonso Simental to reinforce their second base with Octavio Torres (.272/.312/.340 in 132 games with the capital club).
Best hitters:
CF Celestino de la Rosa - .275/.448/.412, 3 2B, 4 3B, 12 RBI, 5 SB - .256/.399/.401, 10 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 10 SB
C José Trujillo - .338/.349/.400, 2 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI - .317/.345/.391, 3 2B, 3 HR, 27 RBI
1B Santiago Salas - .270/.333/.380, 5 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI - .278/.365/.371, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 2 SB
Rotation:
RHP Jesús Pérez - 46 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 9.8 K% - 106 IP, 1.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 8.9 K%
LHP José García - 55.1 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 4.2 K% - 103.1 IP, 3.14 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 6.5 K%
LHP Roberto García - 56.1 IP, 2.56 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 9.8 K% - 102 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.6 K%
RHP Eulalio Sánchez - 44.1 IP, 1.62 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.4 K% - 99 IP, 2.00 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 8.0 K%
Serpientes de Puebla - 3rd (+4), 16-10 in May
Another team who had a great month of May, the Snakes went straight up the table as a result. They've become the 2nd best offense in the league and also made a couple of moves to aid their pitching situation. Puebla sent LF Miguel Arellano (.265/.306/.294 in 26 games last year) to Tampico, getting veteran RHP Eulogio Martínez (253.2 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7.7 K% in 37 games with Tampico). One day later, they swapped LF Miguel Díaz, who made just 4 appearances with Puebla, for the Águilas' reliever Severino de León (26 IP, 2.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 11.7 K% this season).
Best hitters:
LF Héctor Ramírez - .295/.330/.453, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI - .277/.310/.398, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 20 RBI
CF Jorge Ramírez - .324/.357/.426, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 12 SB - .300/.329/.392, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 25 SB
1B Daniel Rivera - .286/.419/.345, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI - .253/.360/.303, 6 2B, 1 HR, 19 RBI
Rotation:
RHP Rafael Sianez - 51.1 IP, 1.05 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 7.2 K% - 111.2 IP, 1.21 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 7.1 K%
LHP Miguel Cazares - 44.2 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 9.1 K% - 93.1 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.5 K%
RHP Martín Pérez - 49.1 IP, 4.20 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 9.2 K% - 92.2 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 10.4 K%
RHP Victor Villarroel - 47.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 11.2 K% - 93 IP, 4.35 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 9.6 K%
Tunas de San Luis - 4th (-1), 11-15 in May
San Luis dropped off this month, only winning series against Guadalajara and Tampico. They're still 3rd in both runs allowed and scored though, with a 3-11 record in one-run games. They're still a good squad and will need to be consistent in order to compete.
Best hitters:
2B Max Braud - .330/.388/.330, 6 RBI, 1 SB - .305/.350/.342, 4 2B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 2 SB
3B Carlos Renderos - .302/.362/.354, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBI, 2 SB - .291/.341/.342, 6 2B, 2 3B, 13 RBI, 3 SB
1B Francisco Escamilla - .289/.312/.356, 1 HR, 6 RBI - .287/.326/.425, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Francisco Camacho - 44.2 IP, 4.23 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.9 K% - 105 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.4 K%
RHP Roberto Mestre - 56.2 IP, 1.27 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 14.0 K% - 106.2 IP, 1.69 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.2 K%
RHP César Plascencia - 57 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 13.9 K% - 107 IP, 2.36 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 14.7 K%
RHP Luis García - 45.2 IP, 5.12 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 7.4 K% - 88.2 IP, 3.45 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 7.3 K%
Flechas de León - 5th (-3), 10-16 in May
A terrible 6 loss run towards the end of the month, with the resurgence of several teams, helped León drop to the middle of the pack. With one month left and in their current form, it might take a miracle for them to get close to the top again.
Best hitters:
1B Julio Pera - .316/.355/.439, 3 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 1 SB - .333/.361/.396, 3 2B, 2 3B, 11 RBI, 2 SB
LF Andrés Suárez - .302/.364/.375, 4 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 SB - .283/.348/.380, 6 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 2 SB
RF Manuel Gil - .296/.327/.398, 1 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 5 SB - .293/.325/.370, 2 2B, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 7 SB
Rotation:
RHP Antonio Aguilar - 43.2 IP, 3.30 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 8.2 K% - 97.1 IP, 3.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.7 K%
LHP Alejandro Carranza - 42.2 IP, 3.16 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 10.6 K% - 90 IP, 2.90 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 11.3 K%
LHP Jonathan Estrada - 51.1 IP, 1.58 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.7 K% - 94 IP, 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.7 K%
RHP Luis Cruz - 42.1 IP, 4.04 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 10.4 K% - 89 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 9.6 K%
Jaguares de México - 6th (-1), 13-13 in May
The Jaguars had a good month, all things considered, winning 4 of their series this month. They might have 1st place in Batting WAR but are last in Runs Scored and will have to transform their talent into runs to help their decent pitching.
Best hitters:
RF Salvador Velázquez - .320/.387/.430, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 4 SB - .244/.324/.305, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 9 SB
C Alfredo Hernández - .320/.354/.440, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI - .281/.317/.366, 4 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI
3B Rico Santistevan - .292/.351/.404, 4 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI - .275/.326/.371, 5 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI
Rotation:
LHP Andrés Amaya - 50.2 IP, 2.49 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 7.3 K% - 111 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8.5 K%
LHP Luis Helguera - 49.2 IP, 1.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 9.3 K% - 112.2 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 9.5 K%
RHP David Garza - 12 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 1.9 K% - 52.2 IP, 4.61 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 2.7 K%
RHP Nazario Román - 40 IP, 2.92 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 5.3 K% - 56.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 5.1 K%
Jaibas de Tampico - 7th (-3), 12-14 in May
Tampico won 12 games for the 2nd month in a row and are now 5 wins away from last year's tally. Despite the marked improvement, they're still the 2nd worst team in the league.
Best hitters:
LF Ricardo Palacios - .309/.393/.394, 5 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB - .331/.424/.431, 10 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 10 SB
3B Gabriel Rivas - .291/.322/.349, 2 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB - .260/.297/.324, 2 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 2 SB
CF Jesús Rodríguez - .284/.313/.347, 3 2B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 6 SB - .249/.286/.312, 9 2B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 12 SB
Rotation:
RHP Israel Pastrana - 46 IP, 2.15 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 10.9 K% - 103.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.4 K%
RHP Francisco Barajas - 55.1 IP, 2.11 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 10 K% - 78 IP, 1.85 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 10.5 K%
RHP Zenón Sandoval - 55 IP, 5.07 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 9.9 K% - 103.1 IP, 4.96 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 10 K%
RHP Eluogio Martínez - 47 IP, 1.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9.5 K% - 109 IP, 2.72 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 11.5 K% (Has since been traded to Puebla)
Águilas de México - 8th (NC), 11-15 in May
The batting average leaders are struggling to win games and the team is set to be worst going into the near future as they traded away two decent pitchers and one of their best players. Long term, however, they might be great if they play their cards right as they currently have 5 prospects considered as Top 100 players for the future.
Best hitters:
3B David Herrera - .347/.392/.495, 5 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI - .310/.368/.391, 6 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI
2B Octacio Torres - .333/.408/.460, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI - .262/.305/.356, 10 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI (Traded to Mérida)
RF Victor Barrios - .350/.420/.400, 5 2B, 10 RBI - .335/.390/.388, 10 2B, 16 RBI, 1 SB
Rotation:
RHP Ezequiel Anguiano - 53 IP, 2.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 11.6 K% - 98.2 IP, 3.28 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 11.8 K%
LHP Leo Álvarez - 45.2 IP, 2.96 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 11.9 K% - 97.2 IP, 3.04 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 13.7 K%
RHP Antonio Castañeda - 53.2 IP, 4.02 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 8 K% - 110.2 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 8.7 K%
RHP Jonathan Tirado - 41.1 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 8.5 K% - 86.1 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 8.2 K% (Traded to Mérida)
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Another successful month and it's a tight race for the title. Will it remain this way or is Guadalajara (or perhaps another team) going to run away with it? Who'll be the award winners this year? All of that and more in the next update. Thanks for reading! Any comments appreciated!