The
1940 Preparation Week has come to an end, so let's preview the season!
First, some news.
Fernando del Toro signs with San Luis! The 1938 Tlatoani has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 thousand dollars. He is set to take over second base after current Tlatoani Max Braud left. The French-Mexican citizen is still a free agent.
Roberto Mestre will stay in the Silver City for 7 more years! The two-time Atlatl Award winner has signed a 7-year extension with San Luis, worth $26.7 thousand dollars.
Other last-moment signings:
Aguascalientes: LHP Leo Álvarez, C, Jonathan González, 1B Efraín Cuxum, 3B Gustavo Ruiz, LF Edwin Acosta
Águilas: C Alfredo Hernández, 1B David Arroyo
Guadalajara: RHP Antonio Castañeda, SS Omar Morales
Jaguares: C José López, SS Manuel Portillo
Monterrey: LF Eduardo Vega, RF Ulises Dueñas
Puebla: C Daniel Figueras, 1B Miguel González, 3B Enrique Canul
San Luis: C Guillermo Mendez, 1B Omar de Jesús
Tampico: 1B Efraín Armenta, RF Luis García, RF Antonio Tapia
Briefly, here are the results of the Preparation Week:
Top hitters:
C José Ángeles (GDL) - 7-11, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI
1B Mario Abeyta (TAM) - 6-10, 1 HR, 2 RBI
2B Francisco Escamilla (LEO) - 5-11, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Top pitchers:
RHP Jesús Pérez (MER) - 2 GS, 0.82 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 21.2 K%
RHP Raúl Romero (AGU) - 2 GS, 2.65 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 19.7 K%
LHP Carlos Casillas (GDL) - 2 GS, 3.27 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 15.9 K%
And finally, let's see what the experts think the table will look like come the end of the season. With the league now at 10 teams, the schedule has expanded to 108 games (teams play each other twice at home and twice away).
León are expected to come out at the top after being a close second last year. Their rotation is fearful, headlined by Salvadoran Juan González. González is followed by Luis Cruz, Jonathan Estrada and Ezequiel Anguiano who are all good enough to keep the usage of a shaky bullpen to the minimum.
Following them closely are the Prickly Pears, who want to extend their winning run to 4 years. They didn't reinforce their rotation, but having Roberto Mestre and Francisco Camacho might just be enough. Their infield is stellar, with players like C Victor Albornoz, 2B Fernando del Toro and Salvadoran 3B Carlos Renderos. Will this be enough for them to collect yet another trophy?
Jaguares are one of the most improved teams this year, at least on paper, and they'll hope to show as much on the field. Their new look rotation is now spearheaded by former Obsidians Carlos Casillas and Jacinto Santos, with veteran Ángel Urquidi and young Eulalio Garza right behind them. Their lineup is also looking different with 1B Daniel Rivera and LF Ricardo Palacios joining, RF Salvador Velázquez returning after a short stint with San Luis and 2B Antonio Sánchez deciding to stay with the club. It's a very strong team that should be able to put up a real fight for the title.
Now as outsiders in the title race, Guadalajara are ready to face another season. The talent on their squad has greatly diminished, with 2B César Loaiza and new signing CF Jorge Ramírez the only real stars on the roster. The experts don't think this will be enough to compete but Guadalajara might spring a couple of surprises.
Mérida are another club that had great losses this offseason, though their outlook might be bleaker. C José Trujillo is still regarded as the best catcher in the league, but the talent around him is certainly not of great caliber. The Howlers are set to debut another young CF in 18 year-old José Montes after trading speedster José Contreras to the Águilas.
Aguascalientes are considered to be the best of the two newcomers. Pitchers Leovigildo Esparza and Primitivo Espinosa are definitely good enough for the league and their rotation might be below average but it's not the worst. Either way, this might be a successful debut for the Tuzos.
After a last place finish in 1939, the Eagles are not expected to come out of the bottom half this year. Perhaps the most notable events this season will be the debuts of #3 and #6 prospects: 3B Pedro Ayala and LF Carlos Carrillo.
After being consistently at the bottom of the table, we might see a breakout season from Tampico who made several under-the-radar signings that could give them a real boost. This season will also see the debut of 20 year old Rogelio Hernández, as the league's top prospect is set to be the third pitcher in the Jaibas' rotation.
Monterrey might have the very talented 1B Leocadio Garza and SS Raúl Alvarado, but are a very limited team otherwise. They're expected to particularly struggle with pitching, as lefty Alejandro Carranza is the only member of their rotation to have pitched in the league before. The Cardinals have some serious backing and could go for some of the top free agents still left (2B Max Braud, CF Raúl Pérez, LF Celestino de la Rosa) if they wanted to.
Puebla are an average team, but the experts don't seem to think so. Despite having great players such as 3x Teyatloani Award recipient Antonio Monterrosa, LF Héctor Ramírez and Antonio Aguilar at the top of their rotation, this is a team that is expected to come last. Historically, the Snakes have never finished below 4th so expect them to at least try and compete.
It's an exciting new season on the horizon! New teams, new stars in a longer season to decide who will win the
1940 Ullamaliztli Namiqui trophy!