A Different Ball Game

[jasg224]

1946 Major Transactions
*Stats are for 1945 unless otherwise noted

There was less movement compared to other years. Perhaps because of the new league north of the border? Or is it just coincidence? This offseason did see some players make the move north and become high earners, but no real stars crossed the border.

Tuzos de Aguascalientes - 46-62, 8th
Signed
2B Ehécatl Cocom - .244/.324/.342, 1.9 WAR - $9.8k over 2 years, from Guadalajara

Obsidianas de Guadalajara - 53-55, 6th
Lost
2B Ehécatl Cocom - .244/.324/.342, 1.9 WAR - Signed by Aguascalientes
RF David de la Rosa - .248/.315/.346, 1.8 WAR - Traded to Puebla
RHP Joaquín Cuestas - 1.77 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 0.5 WAR - Signed by Monterrey
LHP Arthur Barclay - 1.88 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 0.1 WAR - Free Agent
1B Miguel Muñoz - .253/.337/.382, 0 WAR - Traded to Águilas
1B Jordán Hernández - .231/.350/.278, 3.8 WAR (Res.) - Traded to Monterrey
RHP Ricardo Sánchez - 0.85 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 1.1 WAR (Res.) - Traded to Monterrey

Signed
2B Enrique Rangel - .267/.322/.339, 1.5 WAR - $37k over 5 years, from Mérida
CF Walter Harrington - .267/.343/.348, 1.3 WAR - Trade from Monterrey
RF David Arroyo - .274/.330/.416, 1.1 WAR - Trade from Puebla
1B Carlos Torres - .259/.346/.324, 0.7 WAR - $38.5k over 5 years, re-signed
RHP Elías Hernández - 2.70 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 0 WAR - Trade from Puebla
2B Sergio Ramírez - .307/.366/.387, 0.9 WAR - $46.1k over 7 years, from Tampico
3B Mateo Castañeda - 55/55 35 year old discovery from Guatemala - $28.8k over 4 years
RHP Juan de León - 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, -0.1 WAR (Res.) - Trade from Puebla

Flechas de León - 62-46, 2nd
Lost
2B Oziel Rojas - .304/.321/.398, 2.2 WAR - Signed by Mérida
RHP Enrique Cruz - 6.75 ERA, 2.48 WHIP, -0.2 WAR - Signed by San Luis

Signed
1B Mario Morales - .255/.406/.345, 0.2 WAR - $18.4k over 2 years, from Tampico

Aulladores de Mérida - 58-50, 5th
Lost
RF Edwin Esparza - .305/.374/.504, 5.3 WAR - Signed by Tampico
RHP Carlos Delgado - 2.61 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2.9 WAR - Signed by Monterrey
2B Enrique Rangel - .267/.322/.339, 1.5 WAR - Signed by Guadalajara
RHP Andrés Villalta - 2.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, -0.1 WAR - Signed by Monterrey

Signed
RF Manuel Vargas - .256/.392/.326, 3.8 WAR - $51k over 5 years, from Jaguares
C José Trujillo - .287/.402/.410, 3.1 WAR - $57k over 5 years, re-signed
RHP Francisco Barajas - 2.54 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 2.8 WAR - $24.3k over 3 years, re-signed
2B Oziel Rojas - .304/.321/.398, 2.2 WAR - $40.8k over 4 years, from León
RHP Felipe Nava - 1.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 1.4 WAR - $27.1k over 3 years, from Jaguares

Águilas de México - 42-66, 9th
Signed
1B Miguel Muñoz - .253/.337/.382, 0 WAR - Trade from Guadalajara

Jaguares de México - 71-37, 1st
Lost
RF Manuel Vargas - .256/.392/.326, 3.8 WAR - Signed by Mérida
RHP Felipe Nava - 1.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 1.4 WAR - Signed by Mérida

Signed
RHP Luis Aguilar - 2.04 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 1 WAR - Trade from Tampico
RF Juan Alcantur - .155/.231/.192, -0.8 WAR (Res.) - Trade from Puebla

Cardenales de Monterrey - 40-68, 10th
Lost
Manager Roberto Rodríguez - 148-176 after 3 years - Retired (374-394 lifetime with Guadalajara and Monterrey)
CF Walter Harrington - .267/.343/.348, 1.3 WAR - Traded to Guadalajara

Signed
Manager Juan Echeverría - Mérida Bench Coach (1940-44) - 5 year contract
RHP Carlos Delgado - 2.61 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2.9 WAR - $51.7k over 5 years, from Mérida
RHP Joaquín Cuestas - 1.77 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 0.5 WAR - $7.2k over 2 years, from Guadalajara
RHP Andrés Villalta - 2.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, -0.1 WAR - $4.3k for 1946, from Mérida
1B Jordán Hernández - .231/.350/.278, 3.8 WAR (Res.) - Trade from Guadalajara
RHP Ricardo Sánchez - 0.85 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 1.1 WAR (Res.) - Trade from Guadalajara

Serpientes de Puebla - 48-60, 7th
Lost
Manager Iván Moctezuma - 181-251 after 4 years - Fired
CF Alberto Campana - .258/.282/.404, 2.7 WAR - Signed by San Luis
RF David Arroyo - .274/.330/.416, 1.1 WAR - Traded to Guadalajara
2B Bruno Aguilar - .240/.269/.304, 0.4 WAR - Traded to San Luis
RHP Elías Hernández - 2.70 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 0 WAR - Traded to Guadalajara
RHP Juan de León - 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, -0.1 WAR (Res.) - Traded to Guadalajara
RF Juan Alcantur - .155/.231/.192, -0.8 WAR (Res.) - Traded to Jaguares

Signed
Manager Celestino de la Rosa - Former LF 1936-42, played for Puebla in 1939. 1937 Tlatoani. - 4 year contract
RHP Félix Alemán - 2.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 2.9 WAR - Trade from San Luis
RF David de la Rosa - .248/.315/.346, 1.8 WAR - Trade from Guadalajara
LF Jordán García - .269/.355/.389, 1.8 WAR - $24.9k over 3 years, from Tampico
SS Heraclio Rincón - .286/.311/.349, 1.7 WAR - $55.5k over 6 years, from Tampico

Tunas de San Luis - 61-47, 3rd
Lost
RHP Félix Alemán - 2.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 2.9 WAR - Traded to Puebla

Signed
CF Alberto Campana - .258/.282/.404, 2.7 WAR - $44k over 4 years, from Puebla
2B Bruno Aguilar - .240/.269/.304, 0.4 WAR - Trade from Puebla
RHP Enrique Cruz - 6.75 ERA, 2.48 WHIP, -0.2 WAR - $4k for 1946, from León

Jaibas de Tampico
Lost
Manager Félix Leyva - 376-356 after 7 years - Fired
LF Jordán García - .269/.355/.389, 1.8 WAR - Signed by Puebla
SS Heraclio Rincón - .286/.311/.349, 1.7 WAR - Signed by Puebla
RHP Luis Aguilar - 2.04 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 1 WAR - Traded to Jaguares
2B Sergio Ramírez - .307/.366/.387, 0.9 WAR - Signed by Guadalajara
1B Mario Morales - .255/.406/.345, 0.2 WAR - Signed by León

Signed
Manager Vicente Rivero - Guadalajara Bench Coach (1940-44), Mérida 1B Coach (1939) - 5 year contract
RF Edwin Esparza - .305/.374/.504, 5.3 WAR - $82.8k over 6 years, from Mérida
RHP Rafael Calderón - 20/50 16 year old discovery from El Salvador

Clubs by payroll (Difference from last year)
1. Jaguares - $140.3k (+24.1k)
2. San Luis - $138.7k (+7.1k)
3. Tampico - $135.2k (+16.3k)
4. León - $132.8k (-15.3k)
5. Mérida - $125.6k (+25.6k)
6. Puebla - $117.9k (+30.6k)
7. Águilas - $116k (NC)
8. Guadalajara - $114.8k (-1.8k)
9. Monterrey - $101.8k (+0.8k)
10. Aguascalientes - $93.1k (+13.5k)

Biggest earners
1. RF Edwin Esparza (TAM) - $13.8k
2. P Rich Faircloth (TAM) - $13.2k
3. C Miguel de León (AGU) - $12.6k
4. 1B Orlando Melara (TAM) - $12k
5. P Andrés Amaya (SNL) - $11.8k

[jasg224]

1946 Season Preview



León are favorites to win their second Ullamaliztli title after coming in second place last year. They're a solid team across all positions and the addition of 5x Teyaotlani 1B Mario Morales adds more punch to their lineup. Israel Álvarez is ready to lead their rotation for the second year in a row. Speaking of the rotation, this year will see the debut of #18 prospect Alejandro "Tepito" Hernández, who threw to a 1.24 ERA across 189 innings with Irapuato last year.

1944 Champions San Luis will be the closest competitors for the title with a very strong lineup. They might have downgraded offensively at 2B but the addition of 1940's best newcomer Alberto Campana brings more speed, power and defense to their lineup. Three-time Atlatl Roberto Mestre, now aged 34, will lead the Tunas rotation as he has since his age 24 season. The Tunas' rotation might be the weakest it's been since the league began 10 years ago, but they're still a very capable team.

Tampico are still chasing their first title, and they'll trust a mostly homegrown team to do so. They've brought outfielders José Contreras and Edwin Esparza from Mérida, with the latter being a 2x Tlatoani. They continue having the best rotation in the league with USA's John Nestle and Rich Faircloth at the helm. Will adding Esparza solve their run-production issue and aid their pitchers to a title?

The Cardinals were the last place team last year, but the experts predict them to have a rebound year for some reason. Their stars in C Guillermo Meraz and 2B César Loaiza will need to carry what looks like a pretty rough lineup. Raúl Romero is looking like a pretty good pitcher as he enters his prime. Romero was ranked as the 5th best starter in the league after a pretty solid 1945 season. We'll also see the debut of the 6th best prospect: LF Manuel Ramírez, despite the questions that arose after he hit .221/.284/.289 in the reserves last year.

Mérida look like underdogs once again after being predicted to come in right in the middle of the table. Losing key players, particularly Tlatoani Edwin Esparza seems to be the reason why they're classed as a mid-table team once again. Their lineup is still stacked with talent: C José Trujillo, 2B Oziel Rojas, 3B Carlos Renderos, LF Manuel Vargas and RF Héctor Ramírez are all top 2 players at their positions. Their rotation remains the same as last year, with Manuel Jiménez and his durability concerns leading the way for a rotation that's not the best but good enough to fight for a title. We'll also get to see a full season in the rotation out of Omar Huerta, who was the #4 prospect and pitched a 2.75 ERA in 16 relief appearances last year. #10 prospect José Barrios is also part of the pitching staff this year, though as a bullpen option as the Howlers are waiting to see how he develops his secondary pitches before giving him a stint in the rotation. #22 prospect Armando Cortés might also make his debut, once he recovers from a fractured hand he suffered in the final games of preparation.

Aguascalientes are also set to improve on last year's 8th place season, though them and Monterrey have done nothing to justify the expansion going into their 7th year in the league. A young core of CF Ricardo Santos (19), 3B Néstor Rentería (20) and former #5 prospect 2B Orlando Rosas (26) are raring to go alongside league legend Antonio Monterrosa, now covering the first base. Lefty Felipe Osorio will prove himself once again after being snubbed for the Atlatl award despite a 1.80 ERA and 1.21 WHIP last year, while a 37 year old Jacinto Santos will prove he still has some left in the tank after signing a 2-year deal with the Gophers. Aguascalientes are looking like an improved team, though still far from competitive.

It's a surprise to see the current champions ranked so far behind. Jaguares are predicted to have a losing season for the first time since 1942. They have the looks of a dynasty however, with Gabriel Barrón (now at 1B), 3B William Middleton, SS José Serrano, LF Antonio Cervantes RF Santiago González, and a rotation that includes Carlos Casillas, Pablo Hinojosa and Omar Sánchez, still considered the best of the best at their positions. If we take a look at their reserve, they also have the best 3 prospects, with P Ricky Repollet and Antonio Juárez ready to step up after 1.37 and 1.50 ERAs with Naucalpan last year. The Jaguars are still one of the best teams in the league, and they're hoping having the highest payroll will bring them another trophy.

The Águilas roster is looking pretty rough once again, will they ever have a winning season? They made no impact signings, but lefty David Guevara will make his debut out of the bullpen this year. The #4 prospect had a 2.09 ERA after 103.1 innings last year.

Rookie manager Celestino de la Rosa has his work cut out for him in Puebla. Their lineup looks solid after the additions of SS Heraclio Rincón, LF Jordán García, CF Manuel Escobedo and RF David de la Rosa. Their rotation looks pretty rough on the other hand, but the addition of Roberto Mestre's henchman Félix Alemán might give them a boost on that front.

Finally, Guadalajara seem to be ready to hit rock bottom, at least according to the experts. They took positive steps, signing CF Walter Harrington and Guatemalan newcomer 3B Mateo Castañeda. They might be better than they look at first glance, though you can't expect them to compete this year.



North of the border it seems like a tight affair, with Ft. Worth and San Diego looking like they're headed towards the first ever Desert Series. With the Desert League being more focused on power, with taller and stronger players than in Mexico, it will be a fantastic show for all those willing to pay a dollar-fifty. Owners are expecting crowds of around 10 thousand, just a tad bit bigger than Mexican crowds.

[jasg224]

April 1946 in The Ballgame!


Tampico are off to a hot start as the best performing team in the league! John Nestle (1.57 ERA), Rich Faircloth (0.90 ERA) and surprisingly Roy McAllister (1.80 ERA) have combined for a near perfect 10-0 record in 14 starts. Meanwhile, new signings Edwin Esparza and José Contreras have made an immediate impact, contributing 39 RBI this month from 2-3 in the lineup. The Crabs are looking like a totally new team and are early favorites for the title.

San Luis are hot on their tails though, leading the league in average and scoring 90 runs this month. Celestino Valadez (.356/.404/.471, 15 RBI), Ángel Ziranda (.339/.364/.629, 14 RBI), Alberto Campana (.261/.278/.500, 14 RBI) and Harold Montgomery (.333/.463/.455, 12 RBI) have been the main contributors. Pitching-wise, Roberto Mestre (1.83 ERA) is running it back and leading the 4th best rotation. Questions remain about the quality of their pitching, but they certainly do have enough to compete.

Aguascalientes is looking like a contender, though they're the opposite of San Luis. The 2nd best rotation includes Felipe Osorio (1.77 ERA), Jacinto Santos (1.34 ERA) and Alfonso Simental (2.39 ERA). Meanwhile, they're 8th in runs scored with only Antonio Monterrosa (.226/.258/.398, 13 RBI) cracking double digits for runs produced. This should improve once their young hitters adapt to the highest level of pitching, but will they do it in time to keep on competing?

The mid-table looks to be tight, with the predict bottom dwellers of Águilas and Guadalajara the only ones not in on the race.

Hitter of the Month


As mentioned above, RF Edwin Esparza has made a huge impact on the Tampico lineup. He's hitting .376/.427/.645, with 7 doubles, 3 triples, and 4 homers for 24 runs driven in. The 32 year old is an early favorite to earn his 3rd consecutive Tlatoani Award.

Pitcher of the Month


The Blue Crabs take home both awards with lefty Rich Faircloth being named the best pitcher in April. Faircloth has a 4-0 record, 0.90 ERA, 0.80 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only 7 walks this month. This includes 2 shutouts so far, while the Californian has yet to allow a home run. Will he earn the Atlatl award ahead of teammate John Nestle?
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(Showing off some fresh new logos by 20_range, the rest were taken from the cephasjames pack.)

El Paso are running things in the East, mostly due to some nice pitching. Bill Pergola (0.00 ERA), Steve Ziegler (1.41 ERA) and Mike Castillo (2.23 ERA) make up the core of the 3rd best rotation so far. Offensively they are lacking consistency, with only a +8 run differential. 2B Mike Rickel (.289/.341/.368, 13 RBI) and C Robert Delgado (.306/.403/.419, 10 RBI) have been the standouts.

Houston are also fighting for a spot in the Desert Series, just 3 games back despite a better performance on paper. They have the best rotation in the league, with Colby Orman (1.06 ERA), Joel Coleman (1.24 ERA) and Trey Pfeiffer (2.70 ERA) leading the way. The Longhorns also lead the league in OPS, and are 4th in runs scored. Jon Durbin (.288/.354/.479, 12 RBI), Ryan Daubenspeck (.353/.439/.485, 11 RBI) and Chris McReynolds (.274/.295/.393, 10 RBI) have been the biggest contributors.

The West is ruled by the Condors, who own the 2nd best offense in the league. Aaron Gannon (.265/.341/.338, 13 RBI), Bobby Taylor (.262/.387/.410, 13 RBI) and Jason White (.302/.318/.397, 10 RBI) have been positive surprises in their lineup. Their rotation is just about average, but having Salvatore Rossi (2.17 ERA) would make any team better.

The Roadrunners are in the opposite situation. They're the 2nd best rotation thanks to performances by Mark Ummel (1.04 ERA) and Josh Borek (1.59 ERA), making up for an average lineup. Rich Maxwell (.264/.321/.333, 12 RBI) is the only player with double digit RBIs.

Hitter of the Month


Dallas LF Bill Soffa was the best hitter in April, slashing .343/.412/.571 with 11 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer and 11 RBI. The young outfielder has shown great defense as well, and is now leading the way for the PotS award.

Pitcher of the month


El Paso's Ziegler is 3-0 after 4 starts, including a shutout. The Californian has compiled a 1.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP with 13 strikeouts to 10 walks. Competition for the Pitcher of the Season award is tough, but Ziegler's name is definitely in the hat.
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Tight races, old stars and rising stars showing they have what it takes, it's been an exciting month and a nice debut for the Desert League! We'll have two champions in August, but let's enjoy the ride as well. Thanks for reading!