[jasg224]

April 1947 - Ullamaliztli Namiqui Update

The league has had a chaotic start with a few surprises along the way.



The preseason favorites are tied at the top! Jaguares pull ahead with a 2-1 record against San Luis. Let's go team by team:

Jaguares de México had an amazing month, going 17-6. They won every single series they had this month: @ MER 2-1, vs SNL 2-1, @ AGS 2-1, vs PUE 2-1, vs GDL 3-0, @ MTY 3-0, vs LEO 2-1, vs AGU 1-1. Their best wins include(chronologically): a 9-6 win against Mérida where they scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th; a 3-hit shutout from Carlos Casillas against Aguascalientes; a 23-3 smashing of Guadalajara in a double-header, where 3 players got 4 hits and Gabriel Barrón had 7 RBI.

Stats-wise their rotation is 6th in ERA:
LH Antonio Juárez - 5 GS, 39.2 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 11 BB, 21 K
LH Carlos Casillas - 5 GS, 32.1 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 7 BB, 21 K
LH Pablo Hinojosa - 5 GS, 36 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 6 BB, 18 K
LH Ramón Ortiz - 4 GS, 28 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 12 BB, 14 K
RH Javier Fernández - 4 GS, 27 IP, 5.00 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 12 BB, 11 K

Juárez, who once fought for the top prospect spot with teammate Ricky Repollet, is doing great leading the staff in just his 2nd season in the capital. Carlos Casillas is now 30 strikeouts away from becoming the first pitcher in league history to set 1,000 batters down. Ramón Ortiz is transitioning nicely into the rotation, making his first 4 starts after 140 relief appearances.

They are the best team offensively according to runs scored, AVG, OBP and OPS! Here are their top hitters:
3B William Middleton - .446/.485/.696, 5 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 2 SB (100%)
2B Francisco Rojas - .276/.372/.429, 5 2B, 5 3B, 5 RBI, 2 SB (50%)
1B Gabriel Barrón - .392/.449/.588, 7 2B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 4 SB (40%)
RF Salvador Velázquez - .302/.410/.488, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 18 RBI
CF Andrés Tapia - .321/.382/.444, 8 2B, 1 3B, 14 RBI

Middleton is taking the league by storm, perhaps calling out for attention from teams up north as the end of his contract inches closer. Paco Rojas is going harder than ever in his 3rd ULN season. 20 year-old Andrés Tapia is already looking like a veteran hitter, and he has come a long way since he made his debut at 17. With such talent up and down the order, it's clear why Jaguares are in first place.

Tunas de San Luis are the second place team, and their only series loss has come against first place Jaguares: vs AGU 3-0, @ JAG 1-2, vs MER 2-1, vs TAM 2-1, @ AGS 2-1, vs PUE 3-0, @ GDL 2-1, vs MTY 2-0. Their best wins were: a 4-hit CGSO from Alejandro Ubilla on Opening Day; a 4-hit CGSO from Ubilla against Puebla; a 3-hit CGSO from Mestre against Puebla.

With performances like that, their rotation is 1st in ERA and the club is 2nd in runs allowed:
RH Alejandro Ubilla - 5 GS, 38.1 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8 BB, 13 K
RH Roberto Mestre - 5 GS, 39 IP, 1.62 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 10 BB, 16 K
RH Francisco Barajas - 5 GS, 40.1 IP, 1.79 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 9 BB, 21 K
RH José Pérez - 4 GS, 28 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 12 BB, 12 K
LH Andrés Amaya - 4 GS, 32 IP, 1.41 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 11 BB, 11 K

Ubilla is looking like Mestre's true heir at just 23. It will be a tough call between teammates, as Roberto himself is putting in some serious work while he chases his 4th Atlatl award. A 38 year-old Barajas is also looking like his younger self, hoping to get one more ring before he retires. José Pérez is another highlight, with great performances that don't show it's his first time in a ULN rotation. Amaya has the lowest ERA of the bunch, pitching in the #5 spot, showing that San Luis' arms are an unstoppable force right now.

Their offense isn't lagging behind and they're 3rd in runs scored, here's their top hitters:
CF Aureliano Domínguez - .379/.433/.547, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 2 SB (66%)
LF Alberto Campana - .312/.350/.452, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB (12%)
3B Ángel Ziranda - .349/.411/.523, 3 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 1 SB (25%)
C Ernesto González - .275/.326/.300, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 1 SB (100%)
1B Celestino Valadez - .237/.273/.376, 2 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB (25%)

Domínguez, 21, is having a breakout year but time will tell if he can stay healthy in this one. Alberto Campana is looking like the hitter he was set to become when he won the 1940 Moyaomamachtiani award. But overall, their offense is reliant on timely hitting and teamwork.

Tuzos de Aguascalientes are our first surprise! A surprising hot start puts them in contention early: at LEO 2-1, at AGU 3-0, vs JAG 1-2, at MER 3-0, vs SNL 1-2, vs TAM 2-1, at PUE 1-2, vs GDL 2-0. Their best wins were: a 3-hit CGSO from Daniel Rivera vs León; a 5-4 win against León were Jesús Martínez put them on top with a 2-run double in the top of the 9th; an 11-8 win against Jaguares thanks to a 4-run rally in the bottom of the 8th; a 3-2 win over Mérida thanks to a Jordan Garcia HR in the top of the 9th; a 3-2 win over San Luis with a Jorge Ávila walkoff double; a 5-hit CGSO from Raúl Romero vs Tampico; a 5-hit CGSO from Raúl Romero vs Puebla; a 3-hit CGSO from Daniel Rivera vs Guadalajara.

Their pitching has been magnificent, they're 1st in runs allowed and 2nd in rotation ERA:
RH Raúl Romero - 5 GS, 39.2 IP, 1.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 8 BB, 18 K
RH Daniel Rivera - 5 GS, 44.1 IP, 1.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 13 BB, 21 K
LH Luis Flores - 4 GS, 30.2 IP, 1.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 7 BB, 14 K
RH Jacinto Santos - 4 GS, 30 IP, 4.20 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 11 BB, 10 K
RH Vinicio Arizpe - 3 GS, 23.1 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 3 BB, 6 K

Most have come to thrive in Aguascalientes, as all except for Jacinto Santos are debuting with the Gophers. They're just one game back, and they look like real contenders for the first time this year.

Pitching is near perfect, but the dramatic late wins are also thanks to the 2nd best offense in the league, powered by:
RF Jordan Garcia - .293/.314/.525, 7 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI
1B Antonio Monterrosa - .275/.370/.407, 6 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 3 SB (60%)
SS Roberto Jiménez - .276/.356/.421, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB (50%)
CF Ricardo Santos - .267/.330/.400, 8 2B, 2 3B, 12 RBI, 3 SB (43%)
2B José García - .289/.337/.371, 4 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 4 SB (67%)

Jordan García is having a breakout year, after being a solid but unspectacular player with Guadalajara, Tampico, Puebla and even a one year stint for Tuzos in 1944. He's returned with vengeance and is now tied in the league lead for XBH. If he can keep it up and young stars like José García and Néstor Rentería can contribute, they are dark horses for a championship!

4th are Jaibas de Tampico, though inconsistency has been the name of their game: vs GDL 3-0, at MER 1-2, vs MTY 2-1, at SNL 1-2, vs LEO 1-2, at AGS 1-2, vs AGU 2-1, at PUE 1-1. Fun fact: the team hasn't won on a tuesday yet. Their best wins are: a 3-hit CGSO from John Nestle against Guadalajara on Opening Day; an 8-7 win against Guadalajara with David Herrera hitting a walkoff single in the 15th; a 6-hit CGSO from Juan González against Aguascalientes; a Miguel Zapata walkoff for a 2-1 win in 10 against Águilas; a 5-4 win in 10 against Puebla, Javier Acevedo with a clutch hit in the top of the 10th.

Their rotation is struggling right now and it seems like even John Nestle can't cope with being the lone ace. They're 8th in runs against and 7th in starter ERA:
RH John Nestle - 5 GS, 40 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 6 BB, 17 K
LH Felipe Osorio - 5 GS, 38.2 IP, 5.59 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 12 BB, 13 K
RH Juan González - 5 GS, 36 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 11 BB, 19 K
RH Luis Cruz - 4 GS, 25.2 IP, 3.16 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 6 BB, 15 K
LH Roberto García - 4 GS, 28 IP, 4.18 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 10 BB, 15 K

Just a bunch of veterans (Osorio is the youngest at 30) trying to hang on, this is definitely an area of improvement if they wish to go back-to-back.

Their hitting is keeping them right where they belong, though it's coming from unexpected sources:
3B Raúl Martínez - .323/.381/.427, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB (25%)
SS Oscar Hernández - .322/.378/.478, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 17 RBI
CF José Contreras - .295/.323/.358, 6 2B, 11 RBI, 3 SB (38%)
C Miguel Zapata - .211/.333/.225, 1 2B, 4 RBI
LF Edwin Esparza - .344/.370/.510, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SB (58%)

Their offense is also on-and-off. Martínez is having a career season, and 23 year-old Hernández had a .159 career average in 72 games before the season. Different players are contributing but, like Esparza and his negative WPA, something's overall wrong with the offense, and they aren't producing as much as they should be.

Aulladores de Mérida are just one game below .500: vs JAG 1-2, vs TAM 2-1, at SNL 1-2, vs AGS 0-3, at PUE 1-2, vs GDL 3-0, vs MTY 3-0, at LEO 0-2. Their best wins: a 4-3 win against Puebla thanks to a single from Esteban Casillas in the top of the 9th; a 4-3 win over Monterrey with Carlos Renderos walking with the bases loaded in the 11th; a walkoff double from Manuel Vargas vs Monterrey for a 2-1 win.

Their pitching is sort of pushing them forward, they're 4th in runs against and 5th in starter ERA:
RH Omar Huerta - 5 GS, 36 IP, 1.50 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 9 BB, 18 K
RH Raúl Cobo - 5 GS, 31.2 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 9 BB, 5 K
RH José Barrios - 5 GS, 35.1 IP, 2.55 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8 BB, 13 K
RH Sergio Fonseca - 4 GS, 21 IP, 6.86 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 8 BB, 8 K
RH Rafael Jerez - 3 G, 1 GS, 9.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 3 BB, 1 K

The young pitchers at the top of the rotation have been showing up! If they continue on this streak, they might even be dark horses for the title. That is, if the offense contributes...

The lineup has been the real let-down, and are currently 9th in runs scored:
CF Manuel Vargas - .269/.352/.333, 2 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 1 SB (25%)
1B Esteban Casillas - .293/.350/.380, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI
RF Jonathan Cervantes - .297/.411/.365, 2 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB (33%)
C José Trujillo - .280/.341/.387, 8 2B, 6 RBI, 1 SB (100%)
2B Oziel Rojas - .289/.330/.320, 1 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, 2 SB (50%)

With only a few players producing, it's clear why this team is behind in the race. Scoring more than 3 runs per game is a must if the Howlers want to escape mid-table mediocrity.

Cardenales de Monterrey are next, and they're on a pretty bad streak to end the month: vs PUE 3-0, at GDL 2-1, at TAM 1-2, vs LEO 3-0, at AGU 1-2, vs JAG 0-3, vs MER 0-3, at SNL 0-2. They started the month with some nice wins though: a 2-1 Opening Day win with Manuel Ramírez (and an error) walking it off with a single; a 5-4 win over León with David Rosado and Luis Estrada getting back to back RBIs to walk it off.

The Cardenales have allowed the 7th most runs with the 8th highest starter ERA:
RH Carlos Delgado - 5 GS, 29.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 12 BB, 20 K
RH Antonio Rodríguez - 5 GS, 36.2 IP, 4.17 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 23 BB, 11 K
RH Juan Martínez - 5 GS, 34.2 IP, 3.89 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 15 BB, 12 K
LH Edgar Vasquez - 4 GS, 24 IP, 1.88 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 7 BB, 10 K
LH Alex García - 3 GS, 11 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 7 BB, 6 K

Their offense is 6th in runs scored:
1B César Loaiza - .312/.350/.441, 6 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 1 SB (50%)
2B Jesús Ramírez - .302/.355/.407, 6 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI
CF David Rosado - .360/.379/.470, 9 2B, 1 3B, 8 RBI, 1 SB (14%)
C Guillermo Meraz - .273/.341/.442, 4 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI
SS Luis Estrada - .271/.361/.329, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 2 SB (33%)

Not even the current Tlatoani can save Monterrey from another mid season.

Serpientes de Puebla have been inconsistent: at MTY 0-3, vs LEO 3-0, at AGU 1-2, at JAG 1-2, vs MER 2-1, at SNL 0-3, vs AGS 2-1, vs TAM 1-1. Some pretty nice wins: 3-2 vs León with 2 runs in the bottom 8th; 11-1 vs Puebla scoring 10 runs in the bottom 8th; 5-3 vs Aguascalientes with 4 runs in the bottom 8th; 9-8 vs Aguascalientes, they were 7-4 down in the bottom 8th, scored 2 runs, 1 in the bottom 9th, allowed one in the 10th but walked it off with a 2 run bottom of the 10th; a 5-4 win with a walkoff in the 12th.

Their young rotation is amazing, 3rd in runs against and 3rd in starter ERA:
RH Antonio Moreno - 5 GS, 38.2 IP, 0.93 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 7 BB, 19 K
RH Jesús Espinoza - 5 GS, 33.2 IP, 4.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 12 BB, 16 K
RH Jesús Martínez - 5 GS, 33.2 IP, 2.67 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 4 BB, 14 K
RH Victor Villarroel - 4 GS, 29.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 13 BB, 9 K
RH José Hernández - 4 GS, 24.2 IP, 4.74 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 12 BB, 12 K

Martínez and Hernández are both rookies, and all but Villarroel are 24 or younger. Will they continue or will they become frustrated at the lack of run support?

If their lineup could hit the broad side of a barn, they might be able to do something this season. They're currently 6th in runs scored with a .244 team average:
3B Pedro Ayala - .315/.378/.483, 6 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI
RF Iván Alvear - .315/.378/.393, 4 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
1B Juan Garnica - .268/.337/.378, 7 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBI
C Victor Albornoz - .183/.253/.211, 2 2B, 8 RBI
CF Armando Correa - .229/.264/.265, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 2 SB (40%)

Their core either need to step up or perhaps other players could shine through, but something has to be done about this offensive slump.

Flechas de León are suffering from a terrible 3-9 start: vs AGS 0-3, at PUE 0-3, vs GDL 3-0, at MTY 0-3, at TAM 2-1, vs AGU 2-1, at JAG 1-2, vs MER 2-0. Notable games: 4-3 win vs Tampico with a run in the top 11th; 8-7 win vs Águilas with a bottom 12th walkoff; 5-3 win vs Jaguares with a pair of runs in the top 12th; 2-1 win vs Mérida with a walkoff in the 9th.

Pitching hasn't been good, they're 9th in both runs allowed and starters ERA:
LH Esteban Ramírez - 5 GS, 36 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 17 BB, 13 K
RH Alejandro Hernández - 5 GS, 31.2 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 7 BB, 16 K
RH Leovigildo Esparza - 5 GS, 35 IP, 3.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 9 BB, 9 K
RH Luis Euceda - 4 GS, 23.1 IP, 5.79 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 7 BB, 11 K
LH Urbano Sepúlveda - 4 GS, 23.1 IP, 5.79 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 12 BB, 6 K

Having an Atlatl and a Moyaomamachtiani winner is not enough for this rotation to be good apparently. 19 year old Euceda is not ready for this level and 41 year old Sepúlveda is way past his prime.

The Arrows are 5th in runs scored, but their underlying numbers show they get hits when it matters most:
RF Mario Díaz - .453/.509/.674, 8 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 1 SB
2B Francisco Castro - .310/.404/.345, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 4 SB
C Miguel Aldava - .284/.372/.297, 1 2B, 6 RBI, 1 SB (33%)
SS Roberto Sánchez - .219/.256/.288, 3 2B, 1 3B, 8 RBI
3B Miguel Galván - .222/.292/.272, 4 2B, 8 RBI

While they have some clutch performers, they have yet to build around them and that's affecting their output this year.

Águilas de México are also recovering from a bad start: at SNL 0-3, vs AGS 0-3, vs PUE 2-1, at GDL 0-3, vs MTY 2-1, at LEO 2-1, at TAM 1-2, vs JAG 1-1. Notable games: 4-3 vs Monterrey with a walkoff in the bottom 9th; 15-0 vs Monterrey with Alejandro Rivera pitching a 3 hit CGSO and Ricky Rodriguez going 5-5 with 4 RBI; 4-3 vs León with a run in the top 10th; 8-6 vs Tampico where Tampico scored 1 in the 9th, 1 in the 10th and 1 in the 12th but Águilas scored 1 in the 10th and 3 in the top 12th.

Pitching's decent but not good enough to compete. 6th in runs against and 4th in starters ERA:
LH Filiberto Soto - 5 GS, 33.2 IP, 2.41 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 12 BB, 12 K
LH David Guevara - 5 GS, 32.1 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 18 BB, 12 K
RH Alfonso Simental - 5 GS, 31.2 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 10 BB, 17 K
RH Alejandro Rivera - 4 GS, 30.1 IP, 2.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8 BB, 12 K
RH Artemio Holguín - 4 GS, 23 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 12 BB, 10 K

Hot prospects Guevara and Rivera are surrounded by veterans like Holguín and Soto, and the formula is proving somewhat successful. Perhaps next year if Guevara and Rivera explode, the Eagles might compete.

Their hitting has been clutch, 6th in runs scored despite being 8th in AVG:
CF David García - .349/.419/.470, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI
SS Omar Tiscareño - .273/.341/.338, 5 2B, 6 RBI
2B Antonio Sánchez - .284/.327/.462, 8 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 2 SB (33%)
C Miguel de León - .230/.287/.287, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI
LF Carlos Flores - .221/.308/.421, 4 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB (43%)

Finally, Obsidianas de Guadalajara just keep sinking after their 2nd place finish in 1941: at TAM 0-3, vs MTY 1-2, at LEO 0-3, vs AGU 3-0, at JAG 0-3, at MER 0-3, vs SNL 1-2, at AGS 0-2. Notable games: 2-1 vs Águilas with a walkoff in the 13th.

Dead last in runs against and starters ERA:
RH Diego Hernández - 5 GS, 35 IP, 5.14 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 11 BB, 10 K
LH Daniel Sánchez - 5 GS, 31.2 IP, 4.83 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 11 BB, 10 K
RH Gerardo Uribe - 5 GS, 31 IP, 8.13 ERA, 2.10 WHIP, 16 BB, 16 K
RH Juan Cárdenas - 4 GS, 17.2 IP, 14.77 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 10 BB, 9 K
LH Arturo Ortiz - 4 GS, 28.2 IP, 3.77 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 11 BB, 9 K

Dead last in pretty much all offensive categories as well:
3B Fausto Alcántara - .233/.307/.322, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB (66%)
C Noé Aguilera - .250/.324/.281, 2 2B, 4 RBI
3B Mateo Castañeda - .266/.348/.329, 5 2B, 8 RBI
RF David Arroyo - .208/.266/.278, 3 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI
1B Sergio Ramírez - .300/.337/.338, 3 2B, 5 RBI