1944 End of Season Review
Going 9-11 in their last 20 didn't do any favors to the San Luis team, but their early dominance was enough for
Tunas de San Luis to win the 1944 Championship by just one game! Despite not being the best, the Tunas were a solid all round team finishing 3rd in offense and 2nd in defense. San Luis win their 4th title, their first since 1939!
Key players:
RHP Roberto Mestre - 13-3, 1.98 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 75 K, 58 BB
RHP Leovigildo Esparza - 10-4, 2.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 41 K, 47 BB
RHP Faustino Campos - 9-9, 3.22 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 66 K, 58 BB
RHP Jacinto Santos - 10-10, 3.28 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 54 K, 42 BB
RF David Galván - .287/.368/.405, 26 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 17 SB
C Victor Albornoz - .298/.389/.435, 20 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 54 RBI
LF Oscar Valladolid - .333/.399/.440, 17 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 71 RBI, 1 SB
SS Harold Montgomery - .245/.340/.302, 14 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 46 RBI, 14.7 ZR (SS)
It was a close one in the end, as Tampico had a very hot finish and Jaguares ending up close as well. July 28th was the last day Jaguares held the second spot, when a hot Blue Crabs team came storming up the table. The northeastern club went 28-12 to close out the season and were just 2 games away from overtaking a slumping San Luis team. I wasn't meant to be though, even if Tampico were the second best offense with the likes of C Guillermo Meraz (.307/.385/.488) and the best defense behind a rotation that included Luis Cruz (12-5, 2.34 ERA), Jonathan Estrada (13-7, 2.43 ERA) and Rich Faircloth (8-3, 2.76 ERA). Jaguares were chasing all season long, but a mediocre 22-19 end to their season meant they were relegated to 3rd place. It was a disappointing finish for the best offense in the league, but this very talented squad will be ready to go again next year.
1943 Champions León had the most disappointing season, ending up in last place for the first time in history! To finish 22 games back just one year after winning it all is the toughest of blows and it cost manager Antonio Huerta his job. They kept the highest payroll in the league, but nothing went right for them. The rotation, while talented, saw every pitcher but Primitivo Espinosa put up worse numbers than in 1943. They also struggled offensively, missing key players such as C Miguel Aldava (4 weeks) and 2B Oziel Rojas (9 weeks) for significant periods of time, while other regulars and replacement players hit at or below league average. Perhaps the new manager can retool what is still a talented squad and get them over the ultimate championship hangover.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff and Player Movement
- As mentioned above, León let manager Antonio Huerta go after 3 years in charge. He held a 172-152 record, winning the 1943 Ullamaliztli Namiqui.
- 4 big time pitchers retired from the league, here are their numbers:
RHP Antonio Aguilar - 1936-44 - León and Puebla - Retires at 37
Career: 200 G, 194 GS, 78-79, 1,486 IP, 3.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 431 K, 358 BB, 22.7 WAR
Best Season: 30 G, 28 GS, 12-14, 252 IP, 2.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 47 K, 42 BB, 3.7 WAR with León in 1936
Achievements: 1943 Champion with León, 10th in career wins, 6th in career shutouts (17)
LHP Francisco Camacho - 1936-44 - San Luis - Retires at 39
Career: 185 G, 148 GS, 84-49, 1,210.2 IP, 2.71 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 440 K, 334 BB, 17.7 WAR
Best Season: 30 G, 29 GS, 15-14, 252.1 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 60 K, 48 BB, 3.2 WAR with San Luis in 1936
Achievements: 1936 and 1941 Temanahui at P, 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1944 Champion with San Luis, 8th in career wins, 4th in career shutouts (21)
RHP Ezequiel Anguiano - 1936-44 - Águilas and León - Retires at 36
Career: 171 G, 106 GS, 43-65, 928 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 391 K, 300 BB, 11.2 WAR
Best Season: 23 G, 21 GS, 8-11, 173.1 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 86 K, 51 BB, 3.2 WAR with Águilas in 1937
Achievements: 1938 Teyaotlani at P
RHP César Plascencia - 1936-44 - San Luis, Tampico, Águilas and Guadalajara - Retires at 36
Career: 162 G, 136 GS, 51-60, 1,053 IP, 3.51 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 438 K, 352 BB, 6.5 WAR
Best Season: 21 GS, 9-9, 175.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 97 K, 38 BB, 2.1 WAR with San Luis in 1937
Achievements: 1937 and 1938 Champion with San Luis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Onto the
1944 Awards!
Tlatoani Award
For the first time in his illustrious career, Mérida outfielder Edwin Esparza has won the Tlatoani Award! Despite Mérida not competing for the title this year, Esparza was a great asset for them. He hit .327/.377/.502, leading the league in slugging as well as OPS (.880). This year he was 3rd in hits (145), doubles (32) and triples (8). His 5.1 WAR saw him second only to Tampico C Guillermo Meraz who had a 5.2. Esparza's clear offensive superiority as well as better defensive performance, albeit at a less demanding position, sees the Mérida right fielder win his first Tlatoani Award.
Runners up were Meraz (.307/.385/.488, 5.2 WAR) and Jaguares SS José Serrano (.305/.370/.398, 5.0 WAR).
Atlatl Award
Here's a familiar face: San Luis righty Roberto Mestre wins his third Atlatl Award, 5 years after! Some say he never stopped dominating, even calling him underrated, but this was Mestre's best season since 1939 by most metrics. His 13-3 record was the best in the league, and he also finished 2nd in ERA (1.98), 5th in WHIP (1.13) and strikeouts (75), and 1st in quality starts (21) and shutouts (6). While his 3.9 WAR might not be all that impressive, his overall performance was the best in the league as he aided the Tunas to their 4th title.
Runners up were Tampico righty Luis Cruz (12-5, 2.34 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 4.0 WAR) and 1943 winner Esteban Ramírez (7-10, 3.32 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 4.3 WAR).
Moyaomamachtiani Award
After playing for Campeche in the Youth Championship last year, 2B José García became the professional league's best newcomer. The 18 year-old hit .304/.322/.422 with 27 doubles, 3 triples and a homer for 40 RBI. The Águilas 2B led all newcomers in slugging, OPS (.743), doubles and RBI. Alongside his batting skills, his great defense make him one to watch for the future.
Runners up were a pair of backstops, from Guadalajara David Cruz (.322/.376/.366, 2.7 WAR) and from Mérida Ernesto González (.267/.361/.348, 1.6 WAR).
Temanahui Award
P Luis Cruz (TAM) - 2nd, 1.000 PCT, 2.9 ZR, 13 RTO
C José López (AGU) - 1st, .995 PCT, 4.1 ZR, 26 RTO (46.4%)
1B Enrique Pérez (AGS) - 1st, .994 PCT, 6.5 ZR
2B Ehécatl Cocom (AGS) - 1st, .953 PCT, 3.2 ZR
3B Heriberto Rodríguez (MTY) - 3rd, .957 PCT, 9.0 ZR
SS José Parra (MTY) - 2nd, .956 PCT, 28.0 ZR
LF Antonio Cervantes (JAG) - 1st, 1.000 PCT, 11.5 ZR
CF Raúl Pérez (TAM) - 3rd, .978 PCT, 18.0 ZR
RF David de la Rosa (GDL) - 1st, .955 PCT, 11.5 ZR
Teyaotlani Award
P Primitivo Espinosa (LEO) - 1st, .315/.362/.333, 1 2B, 12 RBI
C Guillermo Meraz (TAM) - 1st, .307/.385/.488, 21 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 56 RBI
1B Mario Morales (TAM) - 5th, .265/.376/.470, 24 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR, 55 RBI
2B Gabriel Barrón (JAG) - 1st, .351/.438/.412, 20 2B, 2 HR, 61 RBI
3B Carlos Renderos (MER) - 3rd, .288/.351/.429, 30 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 48 RBI
SS José Serrano (JAG) - 2nd, .305/.370/.398, 22 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 65 RBI
LF Orlando Melara (TAM) - 2nd, .302/.415/.446, 30 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 50 RBI
CF Alberto Campana (PUE) - 1st, .301/.335/.474, 19 2B, 8 3B, 14 HR, 86 RBI
RF Edwin Esparza (MER) - 4th, .327/.377/.502, 32 2B, 8 3B, 10 HR, 60 RBI
Mayas de Kanasín (MER) win the Reserve League (67-41). Their best player was SS Manuel Monje (.287/.414/.408, 6.7 WAR). Jaguares de Chiapas (35-13-4) win the Youth Championship final 4-2 against Olmecas de Tabasco (28-14-10).