1945 End of Season Review!
As advertised,
Jaguares de México win the 1945 Ullamaliztli Namiqui! San Luis helped them out by losing a pair of games before their all important final series matchup. It is their second win in history and their first since the 1940 title. C David Hernández, C José López and LHP Carlos Casillas were part of both championship squads.
Key players:
LHP Pablo Hinojosa - 14-5, 182.1 IP, 2.02 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 74 K, 44 BB, 3.1 WPA
LHP Carlos Casillas - 12-6, 184 IP, 2.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 93 K, 52 BB, 2.6 WPA
3B William Middleton - 108 G, .299/.377/.408, 20 2B, 7 3B, 4 HR, 68 RBI, 6 SB, 3.5 WPA
2B Gabriel Barrón - 104 G, .311/.410/.410, 25 2B, 5 HR, 52 RBI, 5 SB, 2.1 WPA
SS José Serrano - 107 G, .307/.372/.417, 30 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 61 RBI, 1.4 WPA
This was the most lopsided win since the previous Jaguares title, when they won by 14 games. León were pretty average, but consistent winning had them in second place. San Luis were statistically the 2nd best team in the league on both sides of the ball, but some key losses left them unable to compete in the end. Tampico were preseason favorites, but this just shows having the best rotation is not enough, with their 7th place in runs scored leaving them back in 4th place. At the bottom of the table, the expansion teams and the other capital club, Águilas, are becoming used to the basement.
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Staff and player movement
- Iván Moctezuma is out in Puebla, ending his stint after 4 years and a 181-251 record. His best season came this year in 1945, when the Snakes came in 7th place.
- Tampico let go of Félix Leyva after 7 years. Leyva built an amazing squad, but has been unable to win with it. His final record is 376-356, with his best finish being 2nd place in 1944.
- 7 players retired this year, here are the most well-known names:
LHP José García - 1936-45 - Mérida, Puebla and Tampico - Retires at 42
Career: 220 G, 185 GS, 91-72, 1,440 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 432 K, 354 BB, 23.1 WAR
Best season: 25 GS, 11-9, 176.1 IP, 3.11 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 72 K, 74 BB, 3.7 WAR with Mérida in 1941
Achievements: 1937 and 1939 Temanahui Award at P, 1936, 1941 and 1942 Champion with Mérida
Leaderboard: 8th in Career W, 12th in Career WAR and SHO (14), 13th in Career GS and IP, 18th in Career G and K
RHP Primitivo Espinosa - 1940-45 - Aguascalientes, Tampico, León and San Luis - Retires at 46
Career: 113 GS, 34-47, 800 IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 256 K, 222 BB, 15.1 WAR
Best season: 26 GS, 11-7, 177.1 IP, 2.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 74 K, 56 BB, 4.5 WAR with Aguascalientes in 1940
Achievements: 1944 Teyaotlani Award at P
LF Raúl Alvarado - 1940-45 - Monterrey, Aguascalientes and Guadalajara - Retires at 40
Career: 598 G, .259/.357/.410, 536 H, 100 2B, 5 3B, 68 HR, 291 RBI, 5 SB, 13.7 WAR
Best season: 105 G, .322/.411/.532, 25 2B, 2 3B, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 2 SB, 6.2 WAR with Aguascalientes in 1942
Achievements: 1942 Tlatoani Award, 1940 Temanahui Award at SS, 1942 Teyaotlani Award at LF
Leaderboard: 4th in Career HR, 15th in Career SLG, 20th in Career OBP
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So, who won the
1945 Awards?
Tlatoani Award
A dominant offensive performance saw Edwin Esparza put up career numbers, improving on his already-dominant 1944 season. The Mérida outfielder hit .305/.374/.504. He lead the league in slugging, OPS, HR (17) and RBI (83). He was 2nd in WAR (5.3), which led some to vote for José Serrano, but Esparza outhit Serrano and the majority deemed his hitting to be more valuable than Serrano's defense, earning Esparza his 2nd Tlatoani!
Runners up were Jaguares' Serrano (.307/.372/.417, 7.9 WAR) and Monterrey C Guillermo Meraz (.287/.369/.491, 5.2 WAR).
Atlatl Award
While already 29, no player in history has come into the league and had a bigger impact than RHP John Nestle. The Jaibas pitcher held a 17-5 record, leading the league in wins, IP (191.1 IP), ERA (1.65), shutouts (8), WHIP (0.97), and pitcher WAR (5.0). He is unanimously the best pitcher in the league, with 6 years remaining on his deal.
Runners up were León's Esteban Ramírez (11-8, 2.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 3.7 WAR) and Águilas' Leo López (9-9, 2.31 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.3 WAR).
Moyaomamachtiani Award
As previously mentioned, John Nestle became the best newcomer in league history. Runners up were Tuzos' 3B Néstor Rentería (.271/.321/.345, 2.8 WAR) and Guadalajara's Ángel Hernández (.251/.308/.326, 1.6 WAR).
Temanahui Award
P Carlos Delgado (MTY) - 1st, 1.000 PCT, 3.3 ZR
C Miguel de León (AGU) - 1st, .993 PCT, 5.6 ZR, 57.1% RTO (36)
1B Ricardo Palacios (MTY) - 1st, .991 PCT, 2.7 ZR
2B Javier Acevedo (TAM) - 1st, .979 PCT, 27.5 ZR
3B Carlos Renderos (MER) - 4th, .950 PCT, 7.7 ZR
SS José Serrano (JAG) - 2nd, .959 PCT, 29 ZR
LF Antonio Cervantes (JAG) - 2nd, .985 PCT, 14.5 ZR
CF Raúl Pérez (TAM) - 4th, .979 PCT, 14 ZR
RF David Galván (SNL) - 2nd, .982 PCT, 11.7 ZR
Teyaotlani Award
P Filiberto Soto (AGU) - 1st, .333/.346/.353, 1 2B, 4 RBI
C Guillermo Meraz (MTY) - 2nd, .287/.369/.491, 16 2B, 2 3B, 17 HR, 49 RBI
1B Orlando Melara (TAM) - 3rd, .288/.384/.402, 20 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 33 RBI
2B Gabriel Barrón (JAG) - 2nd, .311/.410/.410, 25 2B, 5 HR, 52 RBI
3B William Middleton (JAG) - 1st, .299/.377/.408, 20 2B, 7 3B, 4 HR, 68 RBI
SS Rubén Riviera (GDL) - 1st, .310/.357/.473, 28 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI
LF Antonio Cervantes (JAG) - 1st, .311/.388/.359, 12 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 41 RBI
CF Andrés Tapia (JAG) - 1st, .286/.350/.391, 11 2B, 10 3B, 2 HR, 45 RBI
RF Edwin Esparza (MER) - 5th, .305/.374/.504, 22 2B, 5 3B, 17 HR, 83 RBI
Marlines de Vallarta (GDL) won the reserve league with a 61-47 record. CF David Rodriguez (.217/.373/.304, 4.8 WAR) was their best player. Quintana Roo (34-13-5) beat Tamaulipas (26-17-9) in the final, 4 runs to 1.