Venados win 2 of 3 in Jalisco, four-way tie for MexPac lead

Mazatlan Venados outfielder Garin Cecchini

The Mazatlan Venados posted two wins in an important early-season road series at Guadalajara to pull into a four-way tie for the Mexican Pacific League lead with the host Jalisco Charros, Hermosillo and Culiacan.  All have identical 10-7 first-half records.

Mazatlan won Friday’s opener, 9-8, as Carlos Munoz’ two-run homer keyed a four-run seventh in the comeback effort. The Charros came back Saturday night with a 6-1 triumph behind Manny Rodriguez’ third-inning grand slam and Manuel Al Flores’ 4.2 innings of two-hit shutout pitching.  The Venados copped Sunday’s rubber match, 12-8, behind Garin Cecchini’s three-run homer.  Cecchini, who hit .268 last summer for the Royals’ AAA Omaha affiliate, finished a double away from hitting for the cycle.  Jalisco was coming off a sweep of defending champion Mexicali in a midweek home series.

Culiacan likewise won a three-game home set with Navojoa to take their place in the logjam on top.  Lefty Danny Rodriguez registered a brilliant 8.1 innings, allowing one hit in the Tomateros’ 1-0 win.  Culiacan earned a similar 1-0 victory Saturday behind Aldo Montes’ six goose-egg frames.  The Mayos offense finally woke up in Sunday’s 5-0 conquest.  This time it was Navojoa starter Tyler Kane who contributed six shutout innings while Alan Sanchez cracked a two-run homer for the visitors.  The trifecta of games was well-attended, with more than 46,000 fans in the Estadio Tomateros stands.

Hermosillo lost two of three in Los Mochis to fall into a tie for the lead.  The Naranjeros took Friday’s opener, 8-5, with Domonic Brown’s three-run homer highlighting a four-run top of the ninth.  The Caneros won the next two: Leandro Castro’s three-run walkoff homer ended Saturday’s 6-3 game in the thirteenth while Noel Cuevas’ three-run blast in the fourth was Sunday’s difference-maker in a 6-4 Mochis series-clincher.

The four upcoming MexPac midweek series will include matchups of the four co-leaders: Hermosillo will host Culiacan Tuesday through Thursday while Culiacan visits Mazatlan for three games.  Next weekend’s biggest encounter looks to be in Hermosillo, where the Naranjeros will host Mexicali from Friday through Sunday.  The Aguilas sit one game behind the leaders and hope to gain some ground at home against Los Mochis before heading south to Hermosillo.  An interesting note is that Mexicali has a total of two stolen bases as a team through their first 17 games.  In comparison, eleven individual players have three or more steals, led by the six apiece of Mazatlan’s Jeremias Pineda and Billy Burns of Jalisco.  Pineda’s six swipes have come in just nine games after going 25-of-26 on steal attempts over 25 games for Veracruz in the Mexican League last summer.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Standings (as of October 30, 2017)

Culiacan 10-7, Hermosillo 10-7, Mazatlan 10-7, Jalisco 10-7, Mexicali 9-8, Navojoa 7-10, Los Mochis 7-10, Obregon 5-12.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Batting Leaders

Batting-Sebastian Elizalde (CUL) .400, Runs-Jose Aguilar (MAZ) and Manny Rodriguez (JAL) 15, Homers-Bruce Brentz (HMO) 5, RBIs-Manny Rodriguez (JAL) 20, Stolen Bases-Billy Burns (JAL) and Jeremias Pineda (MAZ) 6.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Pitching Leaders

Wins-Thirteen pitchers tied at 2 each, ERA-Danny Rodriguez (CUL) 0.89, Strikeouts-Cesar Vargas (HMO) 25, Saves-Ryan Kussmaul (MXI) 7, WHIP-Danny Rodriguez (CUL) 0.64.

Japhet Amador returns to Jalisco, season debut Friday vs. Mayos

Rakuten Golden Eagles DH Japhet Amador

Slugging first baseman-designated Japhet Amador will return from Japan to Guadalajara this week and is expected to be in Jalisco’s lineup Friday when the Charros open a home series against Navojoa.

The 6’4” and 330-pound “Mulege Giant” had a largely successful second Nippon Professional Baseball season, where he hit .237 with 23 homers and 65 RBI’s for the Pacific League’s Rakuten Golden Eagles.  The 23 roundtrippers eclipsed the old single season record for a Mexican player of 21, set by Orix’ Karim Garcia in 2005.  Garcia became the only player in NPB history to belt three homers in two consecutive games, turning the trick August 10-11, 2005 (somewhat ironically against Rakuten, an expansion team that year).

Amador has played professionally since 2007, breaking into the Mexican League with Minatitlan as a 20-year-old.  After playing sparingly for the Petroleros for two years, Amador got off to a hot start in 2009 prior to a midseason trade to Veracruz (finishing with 21 homers and 74 RBIs that year), but it was when he debuted with Mexico City in 2010 that the hulking right-handed batter would really hit stride, batting .366 with 14 homers and 63 ribbies in 79 games for the Diablos Rojos.  In nine LMB seasons, Amador has batted .330 with 167 homers and 599 RBIs over 693 games.

He’s also done well in the Mexican Pacific League over the years, starting in 2009-10 when he hit .270 with eight homers in 44 contests for Gusave, a franchise that shifted to Guadalajara in 2014.  In eight winterball seasons for the Algodoneros and Charros, Amador has a respectable .271 average with 83 homers in 426 games.  He cracked a combined 55 longballs for the Diablos and Charros in 2015-16 before signing with Rakuten that winter.

Amador’s injury-plagued first year in Japan ended with a disappointing nine homers in 39 games in 2016 before turning in better totals during a healthier 2017.  Amador, who makes Boog Powell look like Mark Belanger, even stole his first base since 2013, leading to questions of the third base coach’s sanity in sending him while scientists scrambled to gather Richter readings.

The first-place Charros were already a power-laden outfit even before Amador’s arrival, with sluggers like Matt Clark, Manny Rodriguez, Adan Munoz and former MLBer Chris Colabello on the roster, but first-year manager Tony Tarasco will no doubt find a place for the Mulege Giant in the lineup; he’s a hard one to ignore.

Academy Rookie League 2017-18 season underway

The Mexican League Academy’s Rookie winter league has begun its 2017-18 season at the complex near Monterrey. The academy was the brainchild of former Mexico City Tigres owner Alejo Peralta and opened in 1996 under the auspices of the LMB.  New Liga president Javier Salinas is the nominal president of the Liga Academia, but the campus and the dozens of teen prospects are overseen by director Raul Martinez Salazar.  Two separate leagues are operated at the facility: A Rookie league during the winter months and a class A circuit during the spring and summer.  All six Academy Rookie teams are operated by LMB clubs, with Tijuana, Monterrey and Quintana Roo each supplying one squad and each of the other three Rookie teams shared by two Liga teams apiece.

The rookieball season began Tuesday, September 26 with three games played simultaneously on three diamonds.  As of games through Sunday, Tijuana had an 11-2-2 record (ties count) after 15 games, good for a four-game lead over 8-7 Veracruz/Leon.  Toros prospect Alejandro Gutierrez is hitting an even .500, going 21-of-42 with ten walks in 53 plate appearances. Another intriguing batsman is Mexico City/Oaxaca’s Roberto Mendez (.327), who has five doubles and three homers among his 18 hits in 55 at-bats, with just six strikeouts.  Among pitchers, Tijuana relievers Fernando Gallegos (0.00) and Fernando Olguin (3.57) are both 3-0, as is Monterrey’s Jorge Ramos (3.68).  Luciano Reynoso (2-2, 1.73) of Veracruz/Leon has 30 strikeouts in 20 innings, walking just six.

The Academy Rookie League season will run through Sunday, December 10.

Mazatlan sweeps Mochis, four-way logjam for first in MexPac

Hermosillo's Alejandro Flores leads LMP in batting

While the dreams of undefeated seasons were shattered for both Jalisco and Culiacan have been shattered, the Mazatlan Venados have won four straight games, including a three-game weekend sweep over Los Mochis.

The Charros took a perfect 5-0 record into Los Mochis last Tuesday, where the Caneros rode a three-run homer from Mitch Walding while Ramon Urias added three RBIs in an 11-2 pounding of Jalisco that marked Mochis’ first win of the Mexican Pacific League season.  Culiacan’s first loss after their own 5-0 start also came last Tuesday, delivered in more dramatic fashion as Ramon Rios’ bases-loaded single in the bottom of the tenth gave Mexicali an 8-7 walkoff win over the Tomateros.  Both Jalisco and Culiacan then lost three of their next five games, although the Tomateros did win two of three over the Charros in a home series over the weekend (including a 4-1 Sunday win that saw Culiacan starter Edgar Gonzalez toss six shutout innings for the win. Looks like we'll have to wait until at least the 2018-19 season for a team to go 68-0.

The Tomateros are joined atop the MexPac standings by Mexicali, Hermosillo and Mazatlan, all with 7-4 records.  The Venados have won four straight, including a three-game weekend sweep of Los Mochis at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal that was completed when Roberto Valenzuela singled in Jeremias Pineda in the bottom of the eleventh Sunday to send Mazaltecans in the stands home happy with a 5-4 win.  Mazatlan pitchers have been strong thus far, turning in a team 2.20 ERA.  Oscar Verdugo has won both his starts to go with an 0.89 ERA but the real story may be the Deer bullpen, where seven relievers have combined to hurl 28.1 scoreless innings in 38 total appearances (with three saves for closer Evan Marshall).

For their part, Hermosillo remains tied for first after briefly leading the LMP during the week before losing all three games in Obregon over the weekend.  The Naranjeros top the loop with 11 homers and 56 runs over eleven games as catcher Alejandro Flores has hit a league-leading .529 over his first nine games.  Third baseman Hunter Dozier has cracked three homers in nine contests but he’s also committed four errors in the field (the bat taketh, the glove giveth away).

At the other end of the standings, Los Mochis and Obregon are tied for last at 3-8 but the Yaquis swept Hermosillo at home after losing their first eight games out the starting gate.  That stumbling start led some Obregon fans to call for the firing of GM Manuel Velez, unusual because it’s typically the managers who fall on a sword, but the locals aren’t blaming Yaquis skipper Luis Sojo for the roster he’s working with this winter...yet.  It’s still only October.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Standings (as of October 23, 2017)

Culiacan 7-4, Mexicali 7-4, Hermosillo 7-4, Mazatlan 7-4, Jalisco 6-5, Navojoa 4-7, Los Mochis 3-8, Obregon 3-8

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Batting Leaders

Batting-Alejandro Flores (HMO) .529, Runs-Randy Arozarena (NAV) and Sebastian Elizalde (CUL) 9, Homers-Jesse Castillo (NAV) 4, RBIs-Jesse Castillo (NAV) 12, Stolen Bases-Billy Burns (JAL) 5

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Pitching Leaders

Wins-Four pitchers tied at 2 each, ERA-Tyler Alexander (JAL) and Edgar Gonzalez (CUL)  0.00, Strikeouts-Akkem Bostick (MOC) 17, Saves-Ryan Kussmaul (MXI) 5, WHIP-Casey Coleman (HMO) 0.71

Mexican Winter League begins third season

The Liga Invernal Mexicana, or Mexican Winter League, has launched its third season of play with ten Mexican League parent clubs sharing six LIM teams in 2017-18.  While Alfredo Harp Helu’s two Liga teams, the Mexico City Diablos Rojos and Oaxaca Guerreros, will supply players and staff for single teams in each city and ballpark, the Celaya Cajeteros will be manned by owner Gerardo  Benavides’ Monclova and Puebla teams, brothers Juan Jose and Erick Arellano will send players from their Yucatan and Laguna teams to the Maravatio Leones Purepechas, the Salamanca Petroleros will feature players from Monterrey and Quintana Roo while the Moroleon Toros Bravos have Tijuana and Leon assignees.  Mexico City has won both previous LIM pennants.

The Invernaliga has three teams in the state of Guanajuato with single clubs in Michoacan, Oaxaca and the Federal District.  With the exception of Oaxaca’s 7,200-seat Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos, LIM ballparks seat between 3,000 and 5,200.  Moroleon’s Estadio Municipal features a manual scoreboard in right field with a man seated on the warning track hanging up numbers, including balls and strikes, while the game is on.  A charming sight for old-school fans to be sure, but what do you bet this guy gets involved in a play before the season is over?

The Mexican Winter League was started by the Mexican League in 2015-16 as a place for prospects and veterans alike to get in some offseason work under LMB auspices.  The LIM was originally considered one of Mexico’s two AA-level winter leagues along with the Veracruz Winter League, but the demise of the LIV after state subsidies followed former governor Javier Duerte into exile led to that league’s collapse, with the present-day Veracruz State Baseball League rising from the ashes.  The budget-conscious LEBV, overseen by former Brewers pitcher Narciso Elvira, plays weekends solely with young players from the baseball-rich state.  While they still send their champion to the Latin American Series every January, it would be a stretch to classify the LEBV as a AA circuit in quality.

Mexico City and Moroleon are tied for first in the current LIM standings with 8-2 records, one game ahead of 5-3 Oaxaca.

New Mexico City ballpark damaged by September quakes

The already-delayed opening of the Mexico City Diablos Rojos’ new 13,000-seat ballpark will be pushed back even further after last month’s devastating earthquakes centered near the nation’s capital damaged the facility.  According to Proceso’s Beatriz Pereyra, the temblors cracked and displaced a concrete platform on which a crane would install the ballpark’s unique trident-shaped roof above the main grandstand.  Instead, the platform has sunk into the ground in the wake of the quakes.  The new ballpark, which was said to be ready for occupancy last summer (the Diablos chose to finish the 2017 campaign at Estadio Fray Nano rather than move during the season), will now not be opened until at least mid-2018.

Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu (it will reportedly be named after the Diablos owner) has run into numerous problems since the team announced in December 2014 that it would be built for 800 million pesos (or US$52.2 million in December 2014 dollars).  The ballpark was supposed to be finished last February.  However, heavy rains in August led to an initial crack in the concrete because there weren’t adequate pilings to support the 3,400-ton crane that would put the roof in place, and the 7.1-degree quake on September 19 expanded the cracks greatly.  

The repairs and delays (Pereyra says the crane costs $30,000-40,000 per day whether it’s used or not) will drive up the ballpark’s construction cost to $1.7 billion pesos, or US$89 million at the current exchange rate.  Major League Baseball had originally planned to host an April regular season series between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers at the new ballpark, but that set appears to be Monterrey-bound while the Diablos return to Estadio Fray Nano for at least the start of a fourth season as the Liga’s smallest venue.  The Red Devils averaged 2,503 fans over 51 home games in 2015, ranking 14th in the 16-team circuit.

MexPac begins 2017-18 season; 116,306 attend eight openers

Celebration after Culiacan's Josh Fuentes' 14th inning HR

It took a walkoff homer in the bottom of the fourteenth inning, but the Culiacan Tomateros were able to remain one of two Mexican Pacific League teams with perfect 5-and-0 records after nipping Los Mochis, 1-0, Sunday night at Estadio Tomateros.  By the time Josh Fuentes lofted Caneros’ reliever Fabian Cota’s first pitch of the bottom of the 14th over the wall in left-center to end it, the marathon had lasted a total of 395 pitches from 13 pitchers on both teams over 4 hours, 48 minutes.  Fuentes, who hit .307 with 15 homers for the Rockies’ AA Hartford affiliate over the summer, had gone hitless and left seven baserunners stranded in five previous trips to the plate.

Jalisco is the LMP’s other unbeaten team after swamping Obregon, 7-1, in Guadalajara Sunday.  Charros second baseman Manny Rodriguez raised his batting average to .571 after going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs while scoring twice to support Jalisco starter Tyler Alexander, who spun six innings of three-hit shutout ball for his first win of the winter.

While Culiacan and Jalisco are riding high, Los Mochis and Obregon are at the other end of the spectrum with 0-and-5 records with Navojoa showing just one win thus far.  Obviously no team will never win nor lose all their games, but the Caneros and Yaquis are already five games out of first after the first weekend of the season.  Even if Jalisco sweeps their upcoming midweek series at Los Mochis and Culiacan does the same on the road against defending champion Mexicali, someone’s perfect record would end Friday when the Charros visit the Tomateros in the Sinaloa state capital next weekend.

Attendance was solid throughout the MexPac for the home-and-away openers, as no team drew fewer than 11,000 fans for their respective inaugurals.  Culiacan’s lidlifter against Navojoa on Wednesday attracted 19,912 onlookers to Estadio Tomateros.  Los Mochis’ Thursday opener against Mexicali pulled in the “smallest” crowd at 11,200 but when you consider that Estadio Emilio Almada Ibarra seats 11,000 spectators, it adds a little perspective.  Here are the attendance figures for all eight season openers (an asterisk denotes a sellout):

Tuesday, October 10

Los Mochis at MEXICALI 17,000

Wednesday, October 11

Navojoa at CULIACAN 19,912

Obregon at HERMOSILLO 16,396

Jalisco at MAZATLAN 11,245

Thursday, October 12

Hermosillo at OBREGON 16,500

Mazatlan at JALISCO 12,553

Culiacan at NAVOJOA 11,500

Mexicali at LOS MOCHIS 11,200

TOTAL           116,306

AVERAGE 14,538

As shown, five of the eight openers were sold out, Culiacan came within 100 of reaching Estadio Tomateros’ listed capacity of 20,000 and Jalisco was less than a half-thousand seats shy of a full house.  Mazatlan, which finished last in attendance in 2016-17, came up nearly 3,500 tickets short of a sellout at 15,000-seat Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, which will be getting a major makeover over the coming year.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Standings

Culiacan 5-0, Jalisco 5-0, Hermosillo 4-1, Mazatlan 3-2, Mexicali 2-3, Navojoa 1-4, Los Mochis 0-5, Obregon 0-5

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Batting Leaders

Batting-Alejandro Flores (HMO) .722, Runs-Manny Rodriguez (JAL) 8, Homers-Eight players tied with 2 each, RBIs-Manny Rodriguez (JAL) 9, Stolen Bases-Billy Burns (JAL) 4

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Pitching Leaders

Wins-Manuel Flores (JAL) and Gerardo Sanchez (CUL) 2, ERA-Six pitchers tied at 0.00 each, Strikeouts-Casey Coleman (HMO) 9, Saves-Four pitchers tied at 2 each, WHIP-Arturo Lopez (OBR) 0.35

QUESTIONABLE TIGRES-DIABLOS PROSPECTS TRANSFER UNDER SCRUTINY

As if the Mexican League hasn’t already endured more than its share of controversy over the past year, the LMB is now dealing with an apparently surreptitious transfer of five Quintana Roo Tigres prospects to the Mexico City Diablos Rojos last winter one week prior to the sale of the Tigres to ex-Cy Young Award winner Fernando Valenzuela and his wife Linda Burgos.  Two of those players were subsequently sold to the Texas Rangers for a total of $2.7 million over the summer, but the question of whether the Diablos or Tigres should receive the money has arisen in light of concerns over whether rights to the prospects were traded to the Diablos for nothing in return or whether the Tigres “loaned” the players to Mexico City, a common practice south of the border.

According to a story in Proceso by Beatriz Pereyra, the common denominator is Francisco Minjarez, who processed the paperwork as an assistant general manager with the Tigres at the time.  Minjarez left the Tigres after the February sale and landed in the Diablos’ front office in late March, weeks before 16-year-old pitcher Damien Mendoza and 15-year-old infielder Fernando Villalobos were sold to the Rangers for $1.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively in July.

The Proceso story says the players appeared on a Tigres reserve list in January before reappearing on the Diablos’ reserve list one month later.  The Valenzuelas were never formally informed of either the prospect transfers or the sales to Texas, and the cash-strapped Cancun team has received none of the Texas sale proceeds.  Minjarez told Pereyra in a subsequent interview that the initial transfer was a “gentleman’s agreement” between then-Tigres president Cuauhtemoc Rodriguez (who departed shortly after Carlos Peralta sold the team) and recently-retired Diablos team president Roberto Mansur.

Whether anything comes of the LMB’s investigation depends on new league president Javier Salinas, who was not an insider when he was chosen to replace Plinio Escalante after the 2017 season.  Salinas’ handling of the matter will be closely watched.

MEXICAN LEAGUE ANNOUNCES INDIVIDUAL AWARDS FOR 2017

The Mexican League has announced the names of players selected to receive individual awards for the 2017 season.  

Third baseman Jesse Castillo of Aguascalientes heads the list as Most Valuable Player after batting .342 with 20 homers and 82 RBIs, ranking in the top ten for each offensive category.

Veracruz starter Nestor Molina was picked as Pitcher of the Year after leading the Rojos del Aguila to a playoff berth with a 12-3 record and Liga-leading 1.89 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.

Monclova closer Chad Gaudin was chosen as Reliever of the Year.  The former A’s starter led the loop with 29 saves to augment his 2.93 ERA and 2-3 record for the Acereros.

Rookie of the Year honors went to 24-year-old Puebla first baseman Ricky Rodriguez, a Los Angeles native who hit .304, socked 11 homers and drove in 72 runs for the Pericos.

Puebla second baseman Jesus Arredondo was tabbed as Comeback Player of the Year with a .332/15/87 statline in 2017 after going .259/5/38 a year ago.

And Aguascalientes helmsman Homar Rojas received acclamation as Manager of the Year for leading the bargain-basement Railroaders roster to a 64-46 record and a playoff berth.

We’ve already gone over what a tough year it was to pick an MVP but if there’s a clear dispute over who earned which award, it may be Gaudin’s selection as Reliever of the Year. While he did standout work with Monclova in 2017, Tijuana’s Jason Urquidez was a perfect 5-0 with 28 saves and a microscopic 0.98 ERA while striking out 56 batters and walking only seven over 46 innings for the pennant-winning Toros.

Note: Baseball Mexico will now be posted on Mondays with three stories per entry.

Mexican Pacific League Directory 2017-18

A Interior, 4 Edificio Las Palmas

Bulevar Solidaridad No. 335

Centro de Negocios

C.P. 83246  Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

Telephone: (662) 310-9714

Fax: (662) 310-9715

Email: lmp@lmp.mx

Website: www.lmp.mx

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lmpbeisbol

PRESIDENT:  Omar Canizales Soto

GENERAL MANAGER: Christian Veliz Valencia

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER: Remigio Valencia Navarro

ACCOUNTING MANAGER: Jorge Luis Rios Valenzuela

MERCHANDISING DIRECTOR: Ramon Ruiz Meyemberg

DIRECTOR OF UMPIRES: Oscar Marin Calderon

CULIACAN TOMATEROS

President: Marco Ley Lopez

GM: Mario Valdez

Manager: Benji Gil

Ballpark (capacity): Estadio Tomateros (20,000), opened 2015

2016-17 attendance (average): 554,737 (16,316)

First season: 1945

Pennants: Fifteen (1948-49, 1949-50, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1955,56, 1966-67, 1969-70, 1977-78, 1982-83, 1984-85, 1995-96, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2014-15)

2016-17 record: 36-32 (Third, lost to Los Mochis in Semifinals)

Team colors: Red, maroon

Website:  www.tomateros.com.mx
Facebook: facebook.com/ClubTomateros

HERMOSILLO NARANJEROS

President: Enrique Mazon R.

GM: Derek Bryant

Manager: Lorenzo Bundy

Ballpark (capacity): Estadio Sonora (16,000), opened 2013

2016-17 attendance (average): 425,514 (12,515)

First season: 1945

Pennants: Nineteen (1946-47, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1964-65, 1970-71, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1991-92, 1993-94, 1994-95, 2000-01, 2006-07, 2009-10, 2013-14)

2016-17 record: 34-34 (Fourth, lost to Mexicali in Semifinals)

Team colors: Orange, black, white

Website: www.naranjeros.com.mx
Facebook:  facebook.com/ClubNaranjeros

JALISCO CHARROS

President: Armando Navarro

GM: Gabriel Low

Manager: Tony Tarasco

Ballpark (capacity): Estadio de Beisbol Charros (13,000), opened 2011

2016-17 attendance (average): 294,165 (8,914)

First season: 2014-15

Pennants: None

2016-17 record: 28-39 (Eight, no playoffs)

Team colors: Blue, gold

Website: www.charrosjalisco.com
Facebook: facebook.com/CharrosBeisbolOficial

LOS MOCHIS CANEROS

President: Joaquin Vega Acuna

GM: Joaquin Vega Inzunza

Manager: Luis Sojo

Ballpark (capacity): Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada (11,000), opened in 1947

2016-17 attendance (average): 228,449 (6,719)

First season: 1947-48

Pennants: Three (1968-69, 1983-84, 2002-03)

2016-17 record: 38-30 (Second, lost to Mexicali in League Championships)

Team colors: Green, yellow, white

Website: www.verdres.com.mx
Facebook: facebook.com/verdesxsiempre

MAZATLAN VENADOS

President: Jose Antonio Toledo

GM: Jesus “Chino” Valdez

Manager: Daniel Fernandez

Ballpark (capacity): Estadio Teodoro Mariscal (14,000), opened in 1962

2016-17 attendance (average): 198,589 (5,851)

First season: 1945

Pennants: Fourteen (1945-46, 1952-53, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1957-58, 1973-74, 1976-77, 1986-87, 1992-93, 1997-98, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2015-16)

2016-17 record: 29-39 (FIfth, lost to Los Mochis in First Round)

Team colors: Red, grey, white

Website: www.venadosdemazatlan.com
Facebook: facebook.com/VenadosdeMazatlan

MEXICALI AGUILAS

President: Dio Alberto Murillo

GM: David “Chile” Cardenas

Manager: Roberto Vizcarra

Ballpark (capacity): Estadio B’Air (17,000), opened 1976

2016-17 attendance (average): 436,232 (12,830)

First season: 1969-70

Pennants: Five (1970-71, 1985-86, 1988-89, 1998-99, 2016-17)

2016-17 record: 37-31 (Sixth, Defeated Los Mochis for League Championship)

Team colors: Red, blue, white

Website: www.aguilasdemexicali.mx
Facebook: facebook.com/aguilasdemexicali

NAVOJOA MAYOS

President: Victor Cuevas Valenzuela

GM: Lauro Villalobos

Manager: Willie Romero

Ballpark (capacity):  Estadio Manuel “Ciclon” Echeverria (11,500), opened 1970

2016-17 attendance (average): 222,478 (6,543)

First season: 1959-60

Pennants: Two (1978-79, 1999-00)

2016-17 record: 39-29 (First, lost to Mexicali in First Round)

Team colors: Yellow, red, white

Website: www.mayosbeisbol.com
Facebook: facebook.com/OficialMayosBeisbol

OBREGON YAQUIS

President: Rene Arturo Rodriguez

GM: Alfonso Lopez

Manager: Miguel Ojeda

Ballpark (capacity): Nuevo Estadio Yaquis (16,000), opened in 2016

2016-17 attendance (average): 265,301 (7,803)

First season: 1948

Pennants: Seven (1965-66, 1972-73, 1980-81, 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)

2016-17 record: 30-37 (Seventh, no playoffs)

Team colors: Navy, green, white

Website: www.yaquis.com.mx
Facebook: facebook.com/YaquisdeObregon