The
1943 Preparation has come to and end, for the first time lasting two weeks!
Top Hitters:
RF Edwin Esparza (MER) - 9-18, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB
2B Oziel Rojas (LEO) - 12-27, 4 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB
LF Héctor Ramírez (MER) - 16-34, 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Top Pitchers:
RHP Omar Sánchez (LEO) - 16.2 IP, 1.62 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10 K, 7 BB
RHP Vicente González (AGS) - 14.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 13 K, 4 BB
RHP Israel Pastrana (PUE) - 8.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 4 K, 1 BB
Now let's see what the experts predict for this year:
The predictions are looking a bit different than last year's standings is the first impression I have.
Jaibas de Tampico look like favorites to win their first ever title after 2 consecutive winning seasons. They barely missed out in 1941, coming just 4 games back of Mérida. Perhaps the greatest addition this year was Rich Faircloth, a control-focused, Californian pitcher who signed a 5 year deal with Tampico. In his first season, Faircloth is one of the "dark horse" favorites for the Atlatl Award, alongside teammate Luis Cruz. Tampico also reinforced their lineup with Mexican-Italian Orlando Melara, Michoacán RF Iván Alvear and left-hitting catcher Javier Baca. All eyes will be on the squad that GM José Valdovinos has put together after just 3 years in charge.
Defending champions
Aulladores de Mérida will try to equal San Luis' feat of winning 3 championships in a row, adding a veteran pitcher in Leovigildo Esparza to their rotation and strengthening their lineup with Carlos Renderos, who was part of the San Luis three-peat squad. Guadalajara are also expected to be thereabouts, despite not adding to a squad that came 4th last year. The pundits predict a three horse race this year, with Tampico edging it out by just 3 games, so let's expect another tight and exciting season!
Elsewhere,
León and
San Luis are expected to drop off a bit and hang around the middle of the table with the expansion teams. Entering their 4th season, it seems like
Monterrey and
Aguascalientes have stagnated and are still far from being contenders. This year though, Monterrey has a new manager in Roberto Rodríguez. Rodríguez was previously manager of a Guadalajara team that contended for the title in the early years of the league.
At the bottom of the league are
Puebla and
Águilas de México. Puebla were also contenders at one point, dropping off in 1940 and are now coming off consecutive 9th place finishes. The Eagles have been very disappointing since 1936, being the richest club in the capital of Mexico but having nothing to show for it. They instead have 5 last place finishes, and could add another one for 5 in a row. Who would have thought their 6th place in an 8 team league in 1938 would be their highest finish to date.
After this small preview, the players seem to have shaken off the rust and are ready for Ullamaliztli Namiqui's 8th season! It seems to be another exciting one at the top with at least 3 teams vying for the title.