BBM TO RETURN IN JUNE

Hola Everybody,

After a nearly month-long hiatus brought on by a temporary added workload at my "real" job (the one that pays the bills), I'll be bringing Baseball Mexico back the first week of June. The format will undergo some minor surgery: There will be no more daily scores and highlights, but there WILL be three short-form stories per week (Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays) while a weekly capsule rundown for each LMB team is also planned for posting on weekends. I've cleared out the older posts on the blog's main page, but everything ever posted on BBM is still archived via the column on the right hand side.

The BBM Mexican League 2011 Season Guide will soon be on sale via eBay. With the LMB season at the midway point, it should be a valuable resource during the stretch drive of the regular season and the playoffs in August. If you don't want to wait for the Guide to be available on eBay, send me an email at BaseballMexico@live.com and I'll give you details on how you can order your copy directly. It's the only Mexican League guide available this year, and no serious fan really should be without it (in my humble opinion, of course).

Back Soon,
Bruce

Mexican League result of Monday, May 2, 2011

Mexico City 9-15-0, OAXACA 1-5-4
W-Ramirez (4-2). L-Moreno (4-2).
Japhet Amador, Ivan Terrazas and Gabriel Gutierrez each had 3 hits as Roberto Ramirez (7.1IP/1R/8K, pictured) had solid start for Diablos.


MEXICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
Northern Zone: Mexico City 22-17, Puebla 20-16, Monterrey 21-17, Reynosa 21-17, Saltillo 19-19, Laguna 14-24, Monclova 14-24
Southern Zone: Veracruz 14-14, Quintana Roo 20-18, Campeche 19-19, Tabasco 19-19, Yucatan 19-19, Oaxaca 17-20, Minatitlan 16-22


BATTING LEADERS
AVG-Japhet Amador, MXC .437; HR-Ruben Rivera, CAM 18; RBI-Mendy Lopez, PUE 43; SB-Eduardo Arredondo, REY and Jovanny Rosario, VER 15.

PITCHING LEADERS

ERA-Marco Quevedo, MXC 2.28; W-Alejandro Armenta, CAM and Andres Meza, PUE 6; SO-Roberto Ramirez, MXC 48; SV-Hector Navarro, VER 12.

CAZANA IMPRESSIVE AFTER FIRST WEEK IN MONCLOVA

If it's indeed true that nothing lasts like a first impression, Monclova Acereros outfielder Amaury Cazana may rival Dale Carnegie in his seemingly newfound ability to make new lifelong friends (while influencing ballgames in a way old Dale never could have).

In six games after being swapped by Minatitlan to Monclova in exchange for fellow flychaser Freddy Guzman, Cazana has hit safely in each contest for the Acereros, going 13-for-25 for a batting average of .520 (making it a .341 average in 32 games for both the Petros and Monclova overall). Still, it’s WHEN the former Cardinal farmhand got his hits that earned attention.

After going 3-for-4 with three RBIs for his April 26 Acereros debut, the Cuban product really got going. One night later against the Pericos, Cazana hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to hand Monclova a 6-5 win over Puebla. On the 28th, another Cazana safety in the bottom of the 11th drove in Antonio Llamas with another game-winning hit in an 8-7 triumph over the Pericos. Then, on April 29, Cazana completed his walkoff trifecta with yet another clutch single in the bottom of the ninth in Monclova’s 6-5 win over Oaxaca.

Just wait’ll he gets more comfortable in his new surroundings and meets some people.

Mexican League results of Sunday, May 1, 2011

Yucatan 10-15-0, QUINTANA ROO 9-11-0
W-Vargas (4-0). L-Llamas (4-1).
19-year-old rookie Julio Perez (pictured) hits 9th inning homer in first Liga at-bat to give Leones lead and reliever Jose Vargas holds on for win.

Monterrey 2-9-0, MEXICO CITY 1-7-1
W-Lizarraga (1-4). L-Robles (2-2).
Sergio Lizarraga scatters 3 hits in 5 shutout innings as Karim Garcia and Adan Amezua both go 2-for-4 with RBI in Sultanes’ 5th straight win.

SALTILLO 6-14-1, Reynosa 3-6-1
W-Melgarejo (3-0). Gonzalez (1-5).
Christian Presichi singles, doubles and drives in 3 runs and Jose Castaneda has 3-for-5 night at plate for Saraperos.

TABASCO 2-6-2, Minatitlan 1-6-1
W-Gonzalez (2-2). L-Alvarez (1-5).
Henry Mateo’s 5th inning double scores David Urias and Tike Redman to give Leo Gonzalez (6IP, 1R) support for Olmecas win.

Veracruz 5-12-1, CAMPECHE 4-8-1
W-Peguero (3-0). L-Silva (1-1).
Jorge Guzman’s RBI double in top of 9th puts Aguilas in front and Hector Navarro turns in 1-2-3 inning for save.

MONCLOVA 8-9-2, Oaxaca 7-9-3
W-Cabrera (5-3). L-Butto (2-3).
Error by Oaxaca first baseman Barbaro Canizares allows Acereros’ tying and winning runs in bottom of 9th.

LAGUNA 9-16-0, Puebla 4-8-0
W-Oyervidez (2-1). L-Espinoza (2-6).
Emmanuel Valdez goes 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and run for Vaqueros as Jose Oyervidez (5IP/3H/1R) cools down hot Puebla bats.

Mexican League results of Saturday, Apr. 30, 2011

Monterrey 17-20-1, MEXICO CITY 6-11-1
W-Menchaca (3-1). L-Osuna (0-1).
Chris Roberson (pictured) goes 4-for-6 with homer and 5 RBIs and Ramon Rios is 4-for-5 with 4 runs and 3 RBIs for Sultanes in blowout.

SALTILLO 11-14-2, Reynosa 1-3-0
W-Nevares (2-1). L-Tovar (4-3).

Efrain Nevares (7 IP, 1 R), Fernando Villalobos and Jose Lopez Cruz combine on 3-hitter for Saraperos.

CAMPECHE 7-12-2, Veracruz 2-3-0
W-Armenta (6-0). L-Cruz (4-2).
Alejandro Armenta (6 IP, 1 R) wins 6th game for Piratas as Javier Robles and Jolbert Cabrera belt homers in support.

TABASCO 9-12-1, Minatitlan (2-7-1)
W-Vazquez (2-1). L-Quintanilla (0-3).
Carlos Rodriguez knocks out 3-run homer and Ramon Orantes raps 4 hits as Olmecas pull away from Petros.

OAXACA 2-9-3, Monclova 1-6-0
W-Valdez (2-3). L-Verdugo (0-4).
Rolando Valdez and 6 relievers carry shutout into 9th for Guerreros as Kevin Barker’s slices RBI single in top of same frame for insurance.

QUINTANA ROO 5-9-1, Yucatan 2-7-1
W-Llamas (4-0). L-Gutierrez (3-2).
Carlos Gastelum’s 2-run homer keys 3-run 7th to break 2-2 tie and Sandy Nin earns save for Tigres.

PUEBLA 15-22-2, Laguna 5-11-5
Cesar Tapia has 4-for-6 night in another Pericos fireworks show as Puebla has had 31 runs and 48 hits in two nights at Laguna.