Saturday, March 12, 2011

QUINTANA ROO TIGRES (2010 record: 56-47)

The Tigres had a good season in 2010, making the playoffs under manager Matias Carrillo and settling a bit in the front office after the Peralta family took the “For Sale” sign off the team. Still, it’ll be tough for the Cancun nine to repeat their on-field success without Bobby Cramer in Tigres togs.

Cramer (13-3/2.95) parlayed a summer with Quintana Roo as the LMB’s best pitcher into four starts and two wins during his MLB debut with Oakland in September. Left behind were Arturo Barradas (8-5/5.46), Pablo Ortega (2-6/8.24) and Juan Ramon Mares (2-5/4.77) among the starters. Efficient closer Scott Chiasson (2-2/2.67/24 saves) is very good, but the overall quality of Tigres pitching drops quite a bit in 2011.

Quintana Roo hit .301 as a team last year despite some regulars having off-years. OF brothers Albino (.329/6/44) and Sergio (.323/10/55) Contreras both had nice years, as did vet 2B Carlos Gastelum (.325/5/43), but SS Flavio Romero (.251), UT Kevin Flores (.294), and 3Bs Jaime Trejo (.298) and Abel Martinez (.311/11/49) combined with Gastelum for 59 errors. Obregon’s postseason hero C Iker Franco (.259/11/69) needs to rebound from a quiet 2010 and 1B Carlos Sievers (.285) needs to turn back time.

The Tigres should compete well in the weaker LMB South, but ultimately won’t overcome the loss of Cramer.

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