RACES TIGHTEN AS ALL-STAR WEEKEND APPROACHES

Tecos OF Johnny "The Compton Comet" Davis

With three games to play before next weekend's All-Star break, two games separate the top three teams in both Mexican League divisions.  In the LMB North, defending champion Monterrey won their fifth straight Sunday at Monclova, 7-4, in a vital matchup between two pennant contenders.  The 39-18 Sultanes have the best record in the Liga after knocking the 37-20 Acereros down from first place to third. Monclova entered the series with a home record of 22-5 before being swept by the visitors.  Tijuana nipped Union Laguna, 20-11, in a pitcher's duel Sunday to slip past the Steelers into second with a 38-19 mark. The Toros' number nine batter, second baseman Maxwell Leon, belted two homers and four runs while newcomer Carlos Peguero (a former MLBer and NPBer) went 4-for-6 with two doubles and four ribbies.

In the LMB South, Oaxaca completed a three-game sweep of Tabasco Sunday with a 10-0 shutout in Villahermosa.  Andres Meza scattered three hits over seven innings for the Guerreros, striking out five and walking one. An Alejandro Gonzalez triple to right that scored Alonzo Harris from second to give Meza all the support he'd need as Oaxaca improved to a division-leading 35-22.  Mexico City sits two games back in second at 31-22 after drubbing Quintana Roo, 10-2, in the nation's capital. Diablos Rojos starter David Reyes entered the eighth with a shutout and left with two out and a 9-1 lead. One inning earlier, Emmanuel Avila socked a grand slam for the winner.  Puebla kept pace with Mexico City at 31-22 by winning for a fifth straight time, an 8-5 sweep-clincher over Leon at home. Herlis Rodriguez and Danny Ortiz both homered to key the Pericos' four-run first inning, but the Bravos fought back and tied the game at 4-4 before Puebla had another four-run cloudburst in the fourth to essentially salt the game away. Jesus Arredondo's bases-loaded single to right and an errant throw by Felix Pie resulted in three runners crossing the plate and Arrendono standing safely on third.

Despite the defensive miscue, Pie continues to enjoy a comfortable lead in the LMB batting derby with a .459 average, well ahead of Tabasco’s Ronnier Mustelier (.410).  Pie's Bravos teammate Matt Clark is tied with Jose Vargas of Aguascalientes for the RBI lead at 68 each. Vargas remains atop the home run table with 28 longballs in 55 games for the Rieleros.  Monclova’s Chris Carter (25) and Puebla’s Danny Ortiz (24) are also on a pace to top 50 home runs this season, thanks in part to the livelier Franklin ball that replaced a Rawlings ball in the off-season.  Ortiz spent eight years in the Twins system and was MVP in the Puerto Rican League in 2017 while playing for Santurce. Dos Laredos outfielder Johnny Davis stole ten bases over his last eleven games to run his season steals total to 38.  The Compton, California product has twice as many swipes as his nearest Liga competitor (Tigres OF Alonzo Harris has 19).

Yucatan RHP Cesar Valdez is 9-0 with 2.71 ERA

Yucatan righthander Cesar Valdez' 6-1 win over Campeche Sunday in Merida brought his record to 9-0, edging him ahead him of 8-0 Josh Lowey (Monclova) and Edgar Gonzalez (Monterrey) for the Mexican League wins lead among pitchers.  The 34-year-old Valdez, who made his MLB debut with Oakland in 2017 after toiling 12 seasons in the minors, has allowed just six walks in 69.2 innings while striking out 43 batters en route to a 2.71 ERA (and an LMB-best 1.16 WHIP).  The only moundsman in the league with a lower ERA is Leones teammate Yoanner Negrin at 2.63. Yasutomo Kubo of Leon has 80 strikeouts to lead Oaxaca’s Alex Delgado (74) by six Ks after Delgado whiffed nine Tabasco batters in 6.2 innings during the Guerreros' 3-1 road win. Monterrey closer Wirfin Obispo recorded saves in his last ten outings dating beginning May 23 to take the Liga lead with 17 while Tijuana’s Jesus Pirela’s 16 holds is tops for that underrated stat (a Save being little more than a Hold with better timing).

A Mexican baseball legend’s birthday was marked last Thursday when all Liga ballparks hosting games celebrated Hector Espino Day.  Espino is widely regarded as Mexico’s best-ever ballplayer, a dignified hero who rewrote record books and never sold himself short as either a player or a man.  The Superman of Chihuahua represents a blend of Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson with a dash of Roberto Clemente to Mexican fans and his number 21 has been retired by all 26 LMB and LMP teams.

Mexican League teams will play one midweek series before taking a break for All-Star Weekend, scheduled for June 15-16 at Mexico City’s new Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu and including a Double Play Derby and Home Run Derby.  Rosters for both North and South teams were announced last week:

LMB NORTH ALL-STAR TEAM
Pitchers (12): Manny Barreda (Tijuana), Carlos Bustamante (Monclova), Frankie de la Cruz (Union Laguna), Jumbo Diaz (Tijuana), Romario Gil (Monclova), Edgar Gonzalez (Monterrey), Felipe Gonzalez (Monterrey), Wirfin Obispo (Monterrey), Jesus Pirela (Tijuana), James Russell (Tijuana), Jake Sanchez (Tijuana), Ivan Zavala (Dos Laredos).
Catchers (2): Juan Apodaca (Saltillo), Bruce Maxwell (Monclova).
Infielders (8): Rodolfo Amador (Monclova), Erick Aybar (Monclova), Chris Carter (Monclova), Victor Mendoza (Monterrey), Ramiro Pena (Monterrey), Jose Vargas (Aguascalientes), Michael Wing (Aguascalientes), Amadeo Zazueta (Monterrey).
Outfielders (6): Domonic Brown (Dos Laredos), Francisco Ferreiro (Union Laguna), Jon Kemmer (Durango), Junior Lake (Tijuana), Francisco Peguero (Monclova), Juan Perez (Saltillo).
Designated Hitters (2): Yamaico Navarro (Monterrey), Saul Soto (Aguascalientes).
Manager: Roberto Kelly (Monterrey).

LMB SOUTH ALL-STAR TEAM
Pitchers (12): Ruddy Acosta (Oaxaca), Francisco Campos (Campeche), Erick Casillas (Oaxaca), Casey Harman (Campeche), Francisco Haro (Campeche), Yasutomo Kubo (Leon), Arturo Lopez (Mexico City), Yoanner Negrin (Yucatan), Jose Samayoa (Yucatan), Nathanael Santiago (Mexico City), Cesar Valdez (Yucatan), Fabian Williamson (Quintana Roo).
Catchers (2): Erik Rodriguez (Oaxaca), Sebastian Valle (Yucatan).
Infielders (8): Jesus Arredondo (Puebla), Emmanuel Avila (Mexico City), Jorge Cantu (Mexico City), Juan Carlos Gamboa (Mexico City), Hector Hernandez (Yucatan), Marco Jaime (Leon), Ronnier Mustelier (Tabasco), David Vidal (Mexico City).
Outfielders (6): Jay Austin (Campeche), Jesus Fabela (Mexico City), Carlos Lopez (Leon), Felix Pie (Leon), Nick Torres (Puebla), Ruben Sosa (Quintana Roo).
Designated Hitters (2): Japhet Amador (Mexico City), Matt Clark (Leon).
Manager: Sergio Gastelum (Oaxaca).

LMP EXPANSION DRAFT: GUASAVE, SULTANES SPLIT 64 PLAYERS

Arturo Rodriguez bats in a 2012 Liga Norte game

The Mexican Pacific League has held its expansion draft, during which the newly-minted Guasave Algodoneros and Monterrey Sultanes each picked the rights to 32 Mexican national players.  The draft was held over eight rounds with Guasave and Monterrey picking four players each per cycle, one from each existing LMP team.

Guasave had the first pick of the first round and chose Los Mochis catcher Arturo Rodriguez.  The Algodoneros' selection of the 31-year-old Monterrey native is a rather curious one. Rodriguez, who spent parts of four summers in the Marlins organization, has been a decent enough player in the Mexican League (batting .313 with 33 homers in 262 games over six Liga seasons) but his career numbers of .252 with 9 homers and 60 RBIs over five LMP campaigns hardly shout "First overall expansion pick."  Rodriguez, who can also play first base or the outfield, split last winter between Obregon and the Caneros and batted below .190 in both stops over a combined 38 games.

Monterrey snapped up former MLB pitcher Edgar Gonzalez from Culiacan with their first pick.  The 36-year-old righty may be getting a little long in the tooth by most baseball standards, but his 8-0 start this summer with the LMB Sultanes suggests a little more petrol in the tank.  Gonzalez went 0-4 with a 6.29 ERA in nine starts for the Tomateros in 2018-19 but he'll give the Mex Pac version of the Sultanes a veteran hurler who was a starter in Arizona, Oakland and Houston (plus a 2010 stint in Korea) before settling in Monterrey during the 2015 LMB season. Gonzalez was 0-4 in nine starts for Culiacan last winter before pitching for the Acayucan Tobis as one of Mexico's two teams co-hosting the Latin American Series at Veracruz in late January.

Edgar Gonzalez pitching for Acayucan

The old adage "You can't have enough pitching" was adhered to in the May 21 draft.  Of the 64 players chosen, 39 were hurlers: Monterrey took 21 pitchers while Guasave tabbed 18.  The arms buildups led to uneven rosters. The Cottoneers have just three infielders in tow (the rules suggest four) while the Sultanes show two outfielders when three are preferred.  Expect much trading.

Both teams came away with recognizable veterans on their rosters.  Guasave took two Mazatlan pitching products, longtime starter Walter Silva and onetime wunderkind Luis Heredia, as well as first baseman Maxwell Leon, shortstop Emmanuel Avila, outfielder Jon Del Campo and middle reliever Luis de la O.  Besides Gonzalez, Monterrey selected Mexican baseball notables like versatile infielders Niki Vasquez and Issmael Salas, hard-hitting outfielder Roberto Lopez and starting pitcher Jose Oyervides, who could form a solid 1-2 top of the rotation with Gonzalez for Monterrey.

GUASAVE ALGODONEROS

Pitchers (18):  Edgar Acosta, Filiberto Baez, Jesus Barraza, Octavio Becerra, Felipe Castaneda, Hector Galvan, Francisco Garcia, William Gonzalez, Luis Heredia, Jeffrey Ibarra, Isaac Jimenez, Jovani Lopez, Luis de la O, Jonathan Partida, Dalton Rodriguez, Oscar Rojas, Walter Silva, Joakim Soria.

Catchers (3):  Luis Barajas, Jose Maciel, Arturo Rodriguez.

Infielders (3):  Emmanuel Avila, Maxwell Leon, Jose Lizarraga.

Outfielders (6): Bryan Arraiza, Luis Cossio, Jon Del Campo, Jose Orozco, Alejandro Ortiz, Marco Valenzuela.

MONTERREY SULTANES

Pitchers (21):  Hector Ambriz, Oscar Arzaga, Gerardo Bojorquez, Jason Carmona, Erick Casillas, Oliver Cervantes, Jesus Garcia, Adrian Garza, Roberto Garza, Edgar Gonzalez, Demetrio Gutierrez, Jorge Leo, Thomas Melgarejo, Jose Oyervides, Marco Ramirez, Jorge Reyes, Jorge Rivera, Carlos Rodriguez, Rolando Valdez, Jorge Vazquez, Ernesto Zaragoza.

Catchers (3):  Jose Felix, Samuel Favela, Humberto Sosa.

Infielders (6):  Gilberto Carrera, Miguel Gamboa, Jose Luna, Manuel Partida, Issmael Salas, Niko Vasquez.

Outfielders (2):  Roberto Lopez, Duilio Ochoa.

The LMP also announced their schedule for the 2019-20 season.  The Mexicali Aguilas will welcome Monterrey to El Nido on October 11, followed by a full slate of five games on October 12.  Teams will play a traditional 68-game Mex Pac regular season spread over two halves from mid-October through the end of 2019.  Playoffs will begin the first week of January, when an expanded eight-team field eliminates the "lucky loser" system, and the Winterball season will end in early February with the Caribbean Series (scheduled for San Juan, Puerto Rico).

CuartoBat.com WRITER'S TOP SIX MEXICAN BALLPARKS (PART 6)

A writer for Mexican baseball website CuartoBat.com, Yasser Trujillo, posted a column in April naming his picks for the top six ballparks in the Mexican and Mexican Pacific leagues, showing a definite preference for venues in the west.  This is the final part of a series in which we’ve brought you a translated version. It was reported in BBM shortly after our series began that CuartoBat's site had apparently been suspended (as per a Google search), but we're glad to report that it’s back online and that you can download a free copy of their February magazine.  In a short time, CuartoBat has already become a good, entertaining source for news and commentary on Mexican baseball.

1.  ESTADIO TOMATEROS, CULIACAN

Located in the heart of Culiacán, a few streets from its historic center, sits the most spectacular baseball stadium in all of Latin America.  It is a property that not only any fan of the sport dreams of but even boasts better facilities than at least three major league parks: Oakland, Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox. Estadio Tomateros has all the attributes to be the best stadium in Mexican baseball.

External screens and colorful LED lighting are on its facade and roof. The lighting is coordinated to the rhythm of the audio equipment. It has an internal corridor of 360 degrees with which you do not need to take your eyes off the playing field to go to the bathroom or the food area or wherever you want.

Estadio Tomateros has televisions in each column, automated turnstiles to enter through your physical ticket or on your cell phone. It has an interactive team hall of fame, a time capsule and a giant official store with a baseball concept. It has several memorabilia stands throughout the park, luxury boxes, resting areas in free use chairs, photographic spots. It also has entertaining family dynamics in all its interior, allusive details to the sport in banisters, stairs and walls, ramps and elevators and ATMs.

It has a food area consisting of around 40 vendors with varied offer, a la carte bars, restaurants with a diamond view and three of the largest screens in all of Latin America with 4K definition.

Estadio Tomateros also has one of the best animation teams in the country. They squeeze all the juice out of this tool to entertain young and old for more than three hours in a park endorsed and inaugurated in a personal way by the very commissioner of the Major Leagues. I challenge anyone to mention a stadium in Mexico with more amenities.

The directors of Tomateros have understood the concept of sports tourism and have implemented it successfully. They have turned the visit to the stadium into a unique, special and very touristic experience. They have promotions, such as discounts to students, office workers, half-price drinks, free women, family packages, gifts to their assistants on key days or fireworks nights.

It is a ballpark that, even out of season, opens its doors so you can enjoy its restaurants or tours behind closed doors.  "Your stadium is 360, walk wherever you want, Welcome!" and "Go up and take the picture wherever it is, this is your stadium" are two slogans that the park proudly boasts on its screens and advertisements. And it is with a place that promotes the use of cameras and free access. For me, Estadio Tomateros in Culiacan is the best stadium in Mexican baseball.

YASSER TRUJILLO’S TOP 6 MEXICAN BALLPARKS

1.  Estadio Tomateros, Culiacan Tomateros (LMP)

2.  Nuevo Estadio Yaquis, Obregon Yaquis (LMP)

3.  Estadio Sonora, Hermosillo Naranjeros (LMP)

4.  Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, Mexico City Diablos Rojos (LMB)

5.  Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, Mazatlan Venados (LMP)

6.  Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey Sultanes (LMB/LMP)

All-Star benefit games played in Culiacan, Monterrey

The benefit All-Star baseball series jointly organized by the Mexican League and Mexican Pacific League is in the history books, with the two teams splitting games in Culiacan and Monterrey over the weekend while, more importantly, raising money for relief efforts in the wake of September's devastating earthquakes in the southern portion of the country.  According to Puro Beisbol columnist Hector Bencomo (and partly confirmed in a comment below by BBM reader Bob Broughton in Guanajuato), about 7,000 fans turned out for Saturday's game in Culiacan while 12,000 were in the stands in Monterrey on Sunday.

Walter Silva was tabbed by manager Daniel Fernandez to start for the Red team in Saturday's opener in Culiacan while hometown lefty Danny Rodriguez received the nod from Green skipper Pedro Mere.  A third-inning single to Luis Garcia that plated the game's first run to give the Rojos an early lead, but the Verdes fought back with three runs off Red reliever Fabian Cota on an Eduardo Arredondo single, Carlos Gastelum sacrifice fly and a double by ex-MLBer Jorge Cantu.  The Greens scored four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a Gastelum single, a two-run single by Yordanys Linares and another RBI safety from Jose Amador.  Arned with a 7-1 advantage, five Verdes relievers were able to shut out the Rojos the rest of the way to preserve the win.  Rodriguez was given the win for the Greens while Cota took the loss for the Reds.

The Rojos came back from Saturday's loss with a 6-1 triumph over the Greens in Monterrey Sunday.  The Verdes took an early lead in the first inning when Eduardo singled off Rojos starter Edgar Gonzalez to drive in Ramon Rios with the game's first run.  Green starter Pablo Ortega pitched two scoreless innings as the Verdes held their precarious 1-0 lead until the fifth inning, when the Rojos scored four runs to take the lead. An Antonio Lamas RBI single tied the game for the Reds and Garcia's safety drove in the go-ahead (and game-winning) run.  Ricardo Valenzuela's sacrifice fly brought in Lamas to make it a 3-1 game, and Alex Gonzalez scored Garcia with a single to put the Reds up 4-1.  Jesse Castillo belted the only home run of the series in the seventh, giving the Rojos a four-run lead, and Garcia's later RBI single provided the Reds with their final margin of victory.  Reliever Marco Carrillo earned the win for the Rojos while Ozzie Mendez absorbed the loss.

While neither contest was particularly competitive, fans in both Culiacan and Monterrey were treated to games featuring many of the top performers in Mexican baseball while raising funds for the crucial relief efforts (BBM readers wishing to do so can click on the Salvation Army icon atop the right-hand column on this site).  The following are pictures from both nights taken off the LMP and LMB websites:

Puro Beisbol will be hosting a celebrity softball game of their own on Wednesday night in Mazatlan.  That tilt was originally organized as a fundraiser to help pay medical expenses for retired Mexican ballplayers such as ex-pitcher Juan Manuel Palafox, who ended up comatose in a Guadalajara hospital after initially suffering a burst bowel in early 2016.  Palafox is recovering, but he lacks a pension from either the LMB or LMP to help pay his considerable medical expenses, a condition that has repeated itself a number of times with former players south of the border.  While the Puro Beisbol benefit has been revised to be an earthquake relief fundraiser, their efforts on behalf of old ballplayers

Rosters set for LMB/LMP All-Star benefit series

Rosters and coaching staffs for this weekend's two All-Star benefit games in Culiacan and Monterrey have been set.  The two contests, set up as fundraisers in response to last week's deadly earthquakes in Mexico, are being co-sponsored by the Mexican and Mexican Pacific leagues and will feature players who've performed in both circuits.  Rather than being set up as an LMP-vs-LMP series, fans in both cities will see 28 players wearing Equipo Rojo (Red Team) unforoms going up against 28 members of Equipo Verde (Green Team).  Original plans were for players of both teams to essentially swap uniforms between games but it's unknown whether that is still going to happen.

Whatever jerseys these guys wear, fans in both cities will see some of Mexico's top baseball talent on the diamond.  Although many of the country's best players are still playing in MLB or Japan's NPB, there will be several current and past Liga and MexPac all-stars congregating under either Rojo manager Pedro Mere, fresh from leading Tijuana to their first LMB pennant, or Verde skipper Daniel Fernandez, presently Mazatlan's helmsman and one of the greatest players in Mexican history.  The most prominent players include pitchers Danny Rodriguez, Walter Silva, Edgar Gonzalez, Pablo Ortega and Alejandro Soto; infielders Jesse Castillo, Agustin Murillo, Saul Soto, Esteban Quiroz, Jorge Cantu, and Carlos Gastelum; outfielders Carlos Figueroa and Eduardo Arredondo plus designated hitters Jose Amador and Luis Alfonso Garcia.

Here are the two rosters:

EQUIPO ROJO
Pitchers (12) - Marco Carrillo (OBR/MTY), Fabian Cota (MOC/MXC), Hector Galvan (HMO/MVA), Edgar Gomez (MXI/YUC), Edgar Gonzalez (CUL/MTY), Esteban Haro (NAV/SAL), Nicolas Heredia (MXI/MTY), Oswaldo Martinez (OBR/MXC), Tomas Melgarejo (MOC/MTY), Luis de la O (NAV/SAL), Walter Silva (MAZ/LEON), Manuel Valdez (HMO/QROO).
Catchers (2) - Fernando Flores (NAV/CAM), Erick Rodriguez (MAZ/OAX).
Infielders (8) - Jesse Castillo (NAV/AGS), Yosmany Guerra (NAV/CAM), Antonio Lamas (CUL/MVA), Samar Leyva (MAZ/OAX), Agustin Murillo (JAL/MTY), Esteban Quiroz (MAZ/YUC), Saul Soto (MOC/AGS), Ricardo Valenzuela (OBR/MXC).
Outfielders (5) - Carlos Figueroa (JAL/MXC), Missael German (MXI/MTY), Alejandro Gonzalez (NAV/OAX), Jose Orozco (CUL/TAB), Jose Urena (OBR/MXC).
Designated Hitter (1) - Luis Alfonso Garcia (HMO/MXC).
MANAGER - Daniel Fernandez (MAZ/MXC).
COACHES - Francisco Campos (CUL), Matias Carrillo (MAZ/TIJ), Darrell Sherman (CUL).

EQUIPO VERDE
Pitchers (12) - Rafael Cordova (HMO/LAG), Manuel Flores (JAL/VER), Santiago Gutierrez (MOC/SAL), Jose Lopez (MXI/LAG), Claudio Marquez (CUL/QROO), Ozzie Mendez (NAV/DUR), Pablo Ortega (OBR/QROO), Adrian Ramirez (MAZ/QROO), Danny Rodriguez (CUL/SAL), Edwin Salas (JAL/AGS), Alejandro Soto (MAZ/YUC), Salvador Valdez (CUL/TAB).
Catchers (2) - Jose Felix (OBR/MVA), Alex Flores (HMO/LAG).
Infielders (8) - Rudy Amador (MOC/MVA), Jorge Cantu (JAL/TIJ), Alberto Carreon (JAL/PUE), Jon Del Campo (MXI/PUE), Juan Carlos Gamboa (MOC/MXC), Carlos Gastelum (HMO/QROO), Jesus Lopez (JAL/MXC), Ramon Rios (MXI/MTY).
Outfielders (5) - Eduardo Arredondo (OBR/LEON), Jesus Fabela (MAZ/MXC), Sergio Garcia (MOC/LEON), Yordanys Linares (MXI/TAB), Francisco Lugo (CUL/LAG).
Designated Hitter (1) - Jose Amador (HMO/MVA).
MANAGER - Pedro Mere (Tijuana).
COACHES - Rafael Casteneda, Enrique Couoh, Trinidad Robles (all Tijuana).

The series will open Saturday at Culiacan's 20,000-seat Estadio Tomateros and conclude Sunday at 27,000-seat Estadio Monterrey, Mexico's largest ballpark.  Tickets to either game will cost as low as 50 pesos each (or about US2.75).

Liga, MexPac to play two earthquake benefit All-Star Games

The Mexican League and Mexican Pacific League have scheduled a pair of interleague All-Star Games next weekend in Culiacan and Monterrey to raise funds for those affected by the last Tuesday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit the southern portion of the country near Morelos, followed by a series of aftershocks in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.  Latest reports indicate that over 300 people have died as a result while more than 4,600 were injured.  In a cruel irony, the initial temblor struck just two hours after an annual national earthquake drill carried out in commemoration of the 1985 quake that killed over 10,000 people in or near Mexico City.

The first LMB-LMP contest will be held on Saturday, September 30 in Culiacan while the second game will take place Sunday in Monterrey.  Both are the largest ballparks in their respective leagues, with Estadio Tomateros holding up to 20,000 spectators while Estadio Monterrey is Mexico's largest baseball facility, with a capacity of 27,000.  It was recently announced that Monterrey might also host a regular season National League series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres next May.  That set had originally been earmarked for Mexico City's new ballpark, but issues with the stadium even before last week's devastating earthquake near the capital city led Major League Baseball to cast about for other locations in Mexico.

Next weekend will mark the first time that All-Star teams from Mexico's top two baseball leagues have met head-to-head, although this will not be a truly competitive situation.  Although pride might compel players to try a little harder than they might in a typical exhibition game, the two teams will represent one league in Culiacan before switching jerseys for the Monterrey tilt to represent the other league so there is nothing "official" about the games.  Special jersey for the event are being made, with one set in green and the other in red.  Players and coaching staffs had not been announced when this story was written.

Although the two leagues have cooperated on this effort under unique circumstances, the hope here is that there will be continued attempts at harmony after next weekend and that the MexPac's potential scheduling nightmare (and resulting lack of domestic player availability) from the Liga's intended extension of their 2018 season into mid-November can be ironed out to the satisfaction of both.  Credit is due to new LMB president Javier Salinas, outgoing LMB majordomo Plinio Escalante and LMP leader Omar Canizales for creating a fundraiser that will aid victims of the earthquake while giving baseball fans in their respective leagues a chance to see some of the best players in both circuits on the same field for nine innings.

Baseball Mexico readers who wish to help by donating to relief efforts are encouraged to go to the top of the right-hand column of this site and click on the "Pray for Mexico" icon.  Doing so will bring the reader to the Salvation Army's donations page, through which contributions can be made through PayPal or the reader's credit or debit card.  The Salvation Army needs no introduction after more than 150 years of helping people in 127 countries while the organization has earned a reputation of spending the vast majority of donations it receives for disasters in the affected areas.  Even if it's just a few dollars, they're all as needed as they are appreciated.

2017 Caribbean Series in review

Now that the Caribbean Series is over and the dust is settling, it's time to take a look back at the seven-day event in Culiacan, Sinaloa, where attendance was the highest among the past 14 editions of the CS, regarded as the Crown Jewel of Latin Baseball.

Although the Mexicali Aguilas fell short in their 1-0 title game loss to Puerto Rico's Caguas Criollos, the MexPac champions placed five members on the CS All-Star Team (as voted on by media members), including all three outfield positions.  Gardeners Jason Bourgois, Chris Roberson and Ronnier Mustelier were joined by catcher Sebastian Valle and relief pitcher Jake Sanchez on the squad, as was Aguilas manager Roberto Vizcarra.  Caguas third baseman David Vidal was named Most Valuable Player after batting .417 with 3 homers and 5 RBIs in 26 at-bats.  Granma right-hander Lazaro Blanco was named top pitcher after going 1-1 with a 0.68 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 13.1 innings over two starts.  Former MLB starter Joel Pineiro, who was 104-93 for four teams between 2000 and 2011, threw a scoreless inning for Caguas against Granma on February 3.  The 38-year-old Pineiro was a member of Puerto Rico's last CS champion, Santurce, in 2000.

Caguas' Ivan De Jesus, Jr led CS batters with a .500 average, going 11-of-22 at the plate.  Vidal led in homers with 3 and tied with Granma's Carlos Benitez and Jose Castillo of Zuila in RBIs with 5 each.  Castillo's Zulia teammate, Freddy Galvis, led in stolen bases with 3.  Among pitchers, nobody had more than one win.  Mexicali's Hector Daniel Rodriguez was unscored upon in 9 innings over one start and one relief apearance while Vladimir Banos of Cuba allowed no runs in his 8 2/3 innings against Mexicali.  Blanco was tied by Hector Velazquez of Mexicali with 11 strikeouts while LMP Reliever of the Year Sanchez led with two saves.

Tournament organizers in Culiacan have to be happy with the attendance figures, as 131,432 fans clicked the turnstiles at Estadio Tomateros to set a modern record, even after the initial crowd total of more than 24,000 announced for Friday in the 19,177-seat ballpark was subsequently revised down to capacity level (phone call from the fire marshal, posiblimente?).  With some columnists speculating about the future of the Caribbean Series due to economic crises in Puerto Rico and Venezuela (site of next year's CS) and the uncertain status of Cuba, which is not a host nation, the event has been very popular in Mexico, where four of the past five tournaments that topped 100,000 in accrued attendance were in Mexico.  Not everyone was thrilled with the ticket situation, however.  Mexicali closer Sanchez complained during the week that ducats allotted to players for friends and family were to seats located in the left field bleachers.


CS SCORES and HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday, February 1  (Attendance 19,177)
GM 1   Granma (CU) 4-7-2, ZULIA (VZ) 0-7-2
Lazaro Blanco and Livan Moinelo combine for seven-hit shutout
GM 2   MEXICALI (MX) 4-10-0, Caguas (PR) 2-5-2
Hector Daniel Rodriguez carries no-hitter into 5th; Chris Roberson homers

Thursday, February 2  (Attendance 19,177)
GM 3   Zulia (VZ) 4-8-0, CAGUAS (PR) 3-9-2
Jesus Flores' 2-run homer caps 3-run Zulia second; Omar Bencomo goes 5 frames for win
GM 4   MEXICALI (MX) 7-15-2, Licey (DR) 2-6-1
Chris Roberson has 4 hits and scores twice; Jason Bourgeois triples twice for 2 RBIs

Friday, February 3  (Attendance 19,177)
GM 5   GRANMA (CU) 6-12-0, Caguas (PR) 1-8-1
William Saavedra hits two singles and 2-run homer; Vladimir Garcia allows 1 run in 5 innings
GM 6  MEXICALI 5-8-1, Zulia (VZ) 1-7-2
Sebastian Valle belts walkoff grand slam; Barry Enright lets in 1 run on 1 hit in 5 frames

Saturday, February 4  (Attendance 14,973)
GM 7   CAGUAS (PR) 10-11-0, Licey (DR) 2-5-2
Rusney Castillo socks 2-run HR in first; Ivan De Jesus 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 RBIs
GM 8   ZULIA (VZ) 8-15-0, Granma (CU) 3-10-2
Freddy Galvis and Ronny Cedeno combined for 6 hits, 3 runs and 3 RBIs

Sunday, February 5  (Attendance 19,177)
GM 9   ZULIA (VZ) 4-7-2, Licey (DR) 3-8-0
Ronny Cedeno's RBI double, Rene Reyes' 2-run HR in 8th put Caguas ahead for good
GM 10   GRANMA (CU) 4-11-0, Mexicali (MX) 0-6-0
Vladimir Banos pitches 8.2 shutout innings; Alfredo Despaigne cracks 3-run HR

Monday, February 6  (Attendance 19,177)
SF 1   Caguas (PR) 9-11-0, Zulia (VZ) 6-16-1
David Vidal hits 3rd CS homer; Rusney Castillo collects 3 hits, 2 RBIs
SF 2   MEXICALI (MX) 1-5-0, Granma (CU) 0-2-1
Miguel Pena, Hector Daniel Rodriguez and Jake Sanchez combine on 2-hit shutout

Tuesday, February 7  (Attendance 20,454)
FINAL Caguas 1-7-1, MEXICALI 0-4-1 (10)
Yadiel Rivera doubles, scores go-ahead run in 10th; Miguel Mejia 2 IP, 0 R in relief for win


2017 CS ALL-STARS
1B - William Saavedra, Granma (Cuba)
2B - Carlos Benitez, Granma (Cuba)
3B - David Vidal, Caguas (Puerto Rico)
SS - Freddy Galviz, Zulia (Venezuela)
LF - Jason Bourgeois, Mexicali (Mexico)
CF - Chris Roberson, Mexicali (Mexico)
RF - Ronnier Mustelier, Mexicali (Mexico)
C -  Sebastian Valle, Mexicali (Mexico)
DH - Ivan De Jesus, Caguas (Puerto Rico)
SP - Lazaro Blanco, Granma (Cuba)
RP- Jake Sanchez, Mexicali (Mexico)
MGR -  Roberto Vizcarra, Mexicali (Mexico)
MVP - David Vidal, Caguas (Puerto Rico)


CS ATTENDANCE TOTALS (2004-17)
2004    90,000* Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2005  102,000* Mazatlan, Mexico
2006    86,103* Maracay/Valencia, Venezuela
2007    28,583* Carolina, Puerto Rico
2008    90,000* Santiago, Dominican Republic
2009  101,500* Mexicali, Mexico
2010    71,405* Isla Margarita, Veracruz
2011    42,500* Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
2012    30,000* Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2013  112,000* Hermosillo, Mexico
2014  113,517   Isla Margarita, Venezuela
2015  112,000   San Juan, Puerto Rico
2016    24,319   Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2017  131,432   Culiacan, Mexico
2018     TBD      Barquisimeto, Venezuela
*-Six-day event from 2004 through 2013

Mexicali blanked 4-0 by Banos, Cubans; CS semis set for Monday

Vladimir Banos came within one out of a complete game shutout and Granma scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Cuban National Series champions closed out the round robin stage of the Caribbean Series with a 4-0 win over the Mexican Pacific League champion Mexicali Aguilas Sunday night in Culiacan.  A sellout crowd of 19,177 (the fourth full house in five nights at Estadio Tomateros) saw Mexico's nine-game CS winning streak come to an end, although the Aguilas finished tied with both Granma and Venezuelan champs Zulia at the top of the first round stadings at 3-1 apiece.  Caguas of Puerto Rico will be the fourth team in Monday's semifinals with a 1-3 record while Dominican titlist Licey is done at 0-4.

GRANMA (CU) Alazanes 4-11-0, Mexicali Aguilas 0-6-0

As was the case in Mexicali's first three games at the Serie del Caribe, the Aguilas benefitted from a strong pitching start.  This time, it was last winter's MexPac Pitcher of the Year, Javier Solano, who matched Banos zero for zero through the first four innings of the contest.  After Banos held up his end of the scoreless pitcher's duel in the top of the fifth, the bottom of the fifth proved costly for the Mexican righty.

Solano had two outs with Roel Santos standing at second and Yunior Paumier on first when he threw the wrong pitch to Cuba's veteran superstar Alfredo Despaigne, who sent Solano's second pitch into the left field bleachers for a three-run homer.  The next Alazanes batter, William Saavedra, required four Solano deliveries to send another ball sailing over the left field wall for a solo homer to give Granma a 4-0 lead.  For Mexicali, that was pretty much all she wrote as Banos had settled down after a sometimes-rocky start and carried the shutout into the top of the ninth, when (after inducing Jason Bourgeois into a groundout), Betancourt (pictured above) lined a single to right, C.J. Retherford flew out to left and Ronnier Mustelier  singled sharply to right.  At that point, Granma manager Carlos Marti brought in Jose Angel Garcia for Banos, who'd thrown 123 pitches to 32 Aguilas batters.  Garcia got Yordanys Linares to pop out to Alazanes third baseman Paumier in foul territory to end the game, vaulting the Cubans into the three-way tie for first place.

Four players each had two of Granma's 11 hits: Santos, Cespedes, Guillermo Aviles and Carlos Benitez.  Betancourt was the only multiple-hit batsman for Mexcali with two singles.  Banos got the win for his 8.2 innings of work, in which he scattered six hits and walked two while striking out five.  Solano absorbed the loss for Mexicali, whose three relievers (Jose Meraz, Edgar Gomez and Jose Manuel Lopez) allowed no runs on two hits over the final 3.1 innings.  With the potent Aguilas batting order silenced, it was all for naught.


ZULIA (VZ) Aguilas 4-7-2, Licey (DR) Tigres 3-8-0

Ronny Cedeno's RBI double and Rene Reyes' two-run homer in consecutive at-bats in the bottom of the eighth gave Venezuela's Zulia Aguilas a 4-3 comeback win over Dominican champions Licey Sunday afternoon to open Day Five of the Caribbean Series in Culiacan.  Zulia finished the first round with a 3-1 record while Licey ended the CS winless in four tries and out of the running.

Licey starter Ariel Pena and Zulia's Raul Rivero carried a dual shutout into the top of the fourth, when the Dominican Tigres scored a pair of runs on an Alfredo Marte single to center that brought Ronny Rodriguez home, while an errant throw to the plate on the play from Aguilas centerfielder Helris Rodriguez allowed Mel Rojas Jr. to come around from first to score.

Jose Castillo's leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth put Zulia on the board, but the Liceylead went back up to two in the top of the sixth when Ronny Rodriguez manufactured a run for the Tigres by getting on base when Zulia third baseman Cedeno had trouble fielding his leadoff grounder, took second when Zoilo Almonte singled off Rivero (who was then pulled for Yorman Bazardo). stole third as Bazardo was striking out Rojas and scored on Alfredo Marte's groundout to short to make it a 3-1 Zulia advantage.  The score stayed put until the bottom of the eighth, when Cedeno's two-out double scored Herlis Rodriguez and Reyes' bomb to left (both off Juan Grullon) put the Venezuelans ahead for good.  Former Phillies prospect and Mexican League reliever Francisco Butto retired Licey without a hit in the top of the ninth to close out the win and collect the save.

Another former Liga hurler, Brazilian Tiago Da Silva, got the win for the Aguilas by tossing a scoreless eightth before Cedeno and Reyes took over while Grullon took the loss for Licey, whose ten past CS titles are the most among all teams.  This time, the Dominicans head home without a win while Zulia advances to the Final Four and a game Monday afternoon at 1:00pm MST (2000 UTC) against Caguas.  In the Final Four nightcap, Mexicali takes on Granma at 5:00pm MST (0000).


Caribbean Series standings
3-1  Granma (CU) Alazanes
3-1  Mexicali (MX) Aguilas
3-1  Zulia (VZ) Aguilas
1-3  Caguas (PR) Criollos
0-4  Licey (DR) Tigres

Monday's Semifinals schedule
Caguas (PR) at Zulia (VZ), 1:00pm MST (2000 UTC)
Granma (CU) at Mexicali (MX), 5:00pm MST (0000 UTC)

Late Roberson homer lifts Mexicali to 4-2 win in CS opener

Hector Daniel Rodriguez turned in a brilliant start for Mexicali Wednesday night, as the Aguilas lefthander allowed just one Caguas hit over six innings, but it was Chris Roberson's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh that put the Mexican Pacific League champions ahead for good as Mexicali went on to defeat the Puerto Rican champ Criollos, 4-2, in the second game of the 2017 Caribbean Series before 19,177 fans at Estadio Tomateros in Culiacan, Sinaloa.  The Aguilas are attempting to become the fifth team representing Mexico to win the Serie del Caribe since 2011.  Mexicali last won the CS in 1986 at Maracaibo, Venezuela under Salon de la Fama manager Benjamin "Cananea" Reyes.

MEXICALI (MEX) 4-10-0, Caguas (PR) 2-5-2

After retiring the first four Caguas batters he faced, Rodriguez gave up consecutive walks to Ruben Gotay and David Vidal with one out in the top of the second, but got the final two outs without incurring any further damage.  From that point, the 32-year-old portsider carried his no-hitter into the fifth inning, when Ivan de Jesus Jr. lined a single to center to momentarily break the Culiacan native's spell.  It was a good thing for Mexicali that Rodriguez continued the tradition of being at his best in big games because Criollos starter Orlando Roman matched him zero for zero through the fifth inning until Caguas manager Alex Cora brought in William Oliver from the bullpen to pitch a scoreless sixth.  Rodriguez threw 93 pitches to 21 Caguas batters through six innings before making way for reliever Derrick Loop, who got the first two outs in the top of the seventh frame before giving up a homer to Vidal for the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Aguilas rightfielder Ronnier Mustelier greeted new Criollos reliever Fernando Cabrera by hitting a full-count pitch for a grounder through the right side of the infield into right field for a single. Agustin Murillo then tapped a sacrifice bunt toward the mound to advance Mustelier to second.  Xorge Carrillo's single to right moved Mustelier to third, giving Mexicali runners at the corners with one out. At that point, Aguilas manager Roberto Vizcarra called on reinforcement Jesse Castillo to pinch-hit for Ramon Rios and sent Isaac Rodriguez in to pinch-run for Carrillo at first. Cora countered by replacing Cabrera with J.C. Romero, who got Castillo to hit a roller to second to force Rodriguez for the second out, but Mustelier came in from third on the play to tie the game at 1-1.  Then Roberson strode to the plate and lofted Rodney's first pitch into the left field stands for a two-run homer to put Mexicali up by a 3-1 score.  Jason Bourgeois grounded out to first to end the inning.

MLB vet Sergio Romo was brought in to pitch for the Aguilas in the top of the eighth, but De Jesus socked Romo's second pitch over the same left field wall Roberson cleared for a solo homer to cut Mexicali's lead to one run.  After striking out Jesmuel Valentin, Romo let up back-to-back singles by Jorge Padilla and Rey Navarro before inducing Rusney Castillo to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.  In the bottom of the eighth, with Hiram Burgos now pitching for the Puerto Ricans, leadoff batter Yuniesky Betancourt whacked a 1-0 pitch out to right for a solo homer to make it a 4-2 game.  Jake Sanchez, who has given up one earned run all season, entered the game in the top of the ninth and retired the Criollos in order for the save and the win.

Loop was awarded the win but the laurels must go to Rodriguez, who dazzled the Caguas lineup and the folks at home with his six innings of one-hit shutout pitching, striking out four batsmen.  Cabrera took the loss in relief for the Criollos, sparing Roman the indignity after the former Mets minor leaguer's five frames of five-hit shutout hurling kept pace with Rodriguez.  Mexicali outhit the Puerto Ricans by a 10-5 margin, with Roberson, Mustelier and C.J. Retherford collecting two hits apiece.

Mexicali will next play Dominican champions Zulia on Thursday night at 8:00PM MST (0300 UTC) in a battle of Los Dos Aguilas.  MexPac Pitcher of the Year Hector Velazquez will start for the Mexican side.

Granma (CUBA) 4-7-0, Zulia (DR) 0-7-2

Centerfielder Roel Santos doubled, tripled, drove in two runs and scored another to lead Cuban National Series champion Granma to a 4-0 shutout over Dominican titlists Zulia Wednesday in the first game of the 2017 Caribbean Series in Culiacan.  Alazanes pitchers Lazaro Blanco and Livan Moinelo combined on the seven-hit shutout of the Aguilas, accruing eight strikeouts between the two of them.

Santos led off the top of the first inning by tripling off Zulia pitcher Ivan Pineyro as his liner up the middle eluded Aguilas centerfielder Leury Garcia.  Two batters later, Santos motored in with the first run of the game on a passed ball by catcher Webster Rivas.  The score stood at 1-0 in favor of the Cubans until they added three more tallies in the top of the fifth.  After Pineyro loaded the bases with one out, Zulia manager Lipso Nava brought in reliever Edgar Garcia to face Santos.  Oops.  Garcia's first delivery was a wild pitch that scored Carlos Belitez from third base while baserunners Frank Morejon and Yoelkis Cespedes both advanced 90 feet.  Santos then cracked Garcia's next pitch into right field for a double, scoring both Morejon and Cespedes to open the Alazanes lead to 4-0.  Given some breathing room, Blanco and Moinelo carried the shutout to the end, with the latter recording a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Caribbean Series standings
MEXICALI (MEX) 1-0, Granma (Cuba) 1-0, Aragua (VEN) 0-0, Caguas (PR) 0-1, Zulia (DR) 0-1.

2017 Caribbean Series field set, play opens Wednesday in Culiacan

Now that the Mexicali Aguilas and Licey Tigres have won pennants in the Mexican Pacific League and Dominican League, respectively, the five-team field has been firmed for the 2017 Caribbean Series.  Play will open Wednesday afternoon at 3:00PM MST (2200 UTC) when Cuba's Granma Alazanes take on Licey at Culiacan's 20,000-seat Estadio Tomateros while the Aguilas will battle Puerto Rico's Roberto Clemente League champion Caguas Criollos on Wednesday night at 8:00PM MST (0300 URC). The  Venezuelan Professional Baseball League pennant-winners, the Zulia Aguilas, will have an opening day bye.

Here is a schedule of games for the seven-day event, concluding with the February 7 title contest:

FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, February 1
3pm MST/2200 UTC   Granma (CUBA) at Aragua (DR)
6:30pm MST/0130 UTC   Opening Ceremonies
8pm MST/0300UTC    Caguas (PR) at Mexicali (MEX)
Bye: Zulia (VZ)

Thursday, February 2
3pm MST/2200 UTC   Zulia (VZ) at Caguas (PR)
7pm MST/2100 UTC   Mexicali (MEX) at Aragua (DR)
Bye: Granma (CUBA)

Friday, February 3
3pm MST/2200 UTC   Caguas (PR) at Granma (CUBA)
8pm MST/0300 UTC   Zulia (VZ) at Mexicali (MEX)
Bye: Aragua (DR)

Saturday, February 4
1pm MST/2000 UTC   Aragua (DR) at Caguas (PR)
5pm MST/0000 UTC   Granma (CUBA) at Zulia (VZ)
Bye: Mexicali (MEX)

Sunday, February 5
1pm MST/2000 UTC   Aragua (DR) at Zulia (VZ)
5pm MST/0000 UTC   Mexicali (MEX) at Granma (CUBA)
Bye: Caguas (PR)


SEMIFINALS
Monday, February 6
1pm MST/2000 UTC   TBA
5pm MST/0000 UTC   TBA


CHAMPIONSHIP
Tuesday, February 7
1pm MST/2000 UTC   TBA


And now here's an edited profile of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico taken from BBM's "Mexican Baseball Road Trip" posts during the 2009-10 season:

This week, we pay a visit to Culiacan, home of the Tomateros. Culiacan is set a few miles inland from the

Gulf of California, two hours north of Mazatlan.  While Mazatlan is a better-known place among North Americans,

Culiacan is a thriving city and state capital of Sinaloa.  The name “Culiacan” is an old native word which means

“place where they adore the God Coltzin.”

A city of over 600,000 residents, Culiacan was a small village when Spanish conquistador Nuno Beltran

de Guzman founded the villa of San Miguel de Culiacan on September 29, 1531.  From the end of the sixteenth

century and throughout much of the 1700’s, San Miguel de Culiacan served as an important staging area for the

Spanish conquest of the Mexican West.  However, independence from Spain was eventually won for Mexico in the

early 1820’s, and Culiacan was granted the status of “city” in 1823.  At that time, Sinaloa’s state capital was in

Mazatlan, but was eventually shifted to Culiacan in 1873.

As with most MexPac cities, Culiacan is an agricultural center, surrounded by some of the most arable

Land in Mexico of which the major crop is tomatoes.  While Culiacan has a reputation as a tough town, it is also a

modern city with a fine State university in the city center, a lovely 19th Century cathedral sitting three

blocks away from the ubiquitous Mexican mercado, there are beaches on the Gulf a few miles away in Atlata and

El Tambor, and Ernesto Millan Escalante Park features gardens, pools, an open-air Hellenic theater and the

longest water slide in northern Mexico.  The Centro Cultural Genaro Estrada contains two theaters, several

museums and a café, and is a centerpiece for the arts.  There are several good restaurants in town, and one of the

most popular regional dishes is steak cabreria, which features six different toppings and side dishes…definitely

worth a try.

           The Tomateros have given their fans a lot to cheer about over the years, with ten Mex Pac pennants

since 1967.  Five of those came under manager Francisco “Paquin” Estrada, who also brought two Caribbean

Series titles home to Culiacan.  The city first hosted the CS in 2001 at the old Estadio General Angel Flores,

with the Dominican champion Cibaenas Aguilas winning the four-team competition.