The Gulf League - Fun in the Sun, South of the Border

[luckymann]

Thanks to Lans and Garlon's fab mod, this is the first version of Bill Pettus I have ever encountered that even vaguely represents what a terror he was at the plate IRL.

As if his GL avatar is aware of the prior injustices, it is sure overcompensating in this timeline. At the end of May, after his Olmecas have played 50 games, Bill is on pace for 91 home runs in the 2003 season, nearly double his 46 last year, along with 191 RBI. Even given some anticipated regression from this point, this looks set to be a season for the ages.

BTW Tabasco, despite Bill's heroics, are currently 21-29 and dead last in the SUR Maya. Not so spicy after all...

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

[jasg224]

No LMB names I recognize, sadly. Aside from Freddy Galvis who played for Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos last year.

After a quick google, it seems like Ray Dandridge was a star for Veracruz and México in the 40s, hopefully he can replicate those performances with my Charros in this universe!

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by jasg224

No LMB names I recognize, sadly. Aside from Freddy Galvis who played for Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos last year.

After a quick google, it seems like Ray Dandridge was a star for Veracruz and México in the 40s, hopefully he can replicate those performances with my Charros in this universe!

I was hoping Danny would make it all the way for us to grab him in the supp round but no dice thanks to your mob. It's a big step down to Rafa Bournigal from Danny...

[luckymann]

Ken Griffey jr goes yard twice and knocks in 8 as his Olmecas come up just short in a ripper at Quintana Roo, with Senior on the winning side.

[luckymann]

Charlie Smith's first GL home run is a dramatic walkoff jobbie to get us this win against Chihuahua.

[luckymann]

It has been fairly brutal these past few weeks, 6-14 in August so far, a real test for the confidence; which, I'll readily admit, is decidedly shaky just for the moment.

So this big win at the Diablos Rojos was very much the welcome tonic. No spoonful of sugar needed for this medicine - the sight of Postalita and Juanjo in full flight is plenty sweet enough.

[luckymann]

[jasg224]

Thought you might be interested: The Conspiradores de Querétaro just threw the LMB's first-ever no-hitter while allowing a run (I guess it makes more sense in Spanish when we usually say "juego sin hit ni carrera" but the time it was "juego sin hit con carrera"). They lost the game 1-0 as the Tigres' pitcher Carl Edwards Jr threw 8.2 innings of no-hit baseball himself. Probably one of the most interesting baseball games, LMB or otherwise.

News link (Spanish) and Box score

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by jasg224

Thought you might be interested: The Conspiradores de Querétaro just threw the LMB's first-ever no-hitter while allowing a run (I guess it makes more sense in Spanish when we usually say "juego sin hit ni carrera" but the time it was "juego sin hit con carrera"). They lost the game 1-0 as the Tigres' pitcher Carl Edwards Jr threw 8.2 innings of no-hit baseball himself. Probably one of the most interesting baseball games, LMB or otherwise.

News link (Spanish) and Box score

Fantastic stuff - any word in there as to why Alexander got the hook after only 76 pitches?

Thanks for the share bud.

G

[luckymann]

[jasg224]

Originally Posted by luckymann

Fantastic stuff - any word in there as to why Alexander got the hook after only 76 pitches?

It was his first start since being cut from Veracruz on June 16 (his last start was June 14) so I guess they were being a bit cautious with that.

Also, what an epic finish for the Charros, praying for a title!

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

They might call us hopeless or incompetent or pathetic even but at least they can't possibly call us dull...

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

I forever remain fascinated by the vagaries of dev only manual imports and have stumbled across two more I felt worth sharing.

Chris Gittins' MLB career to this point consists of just a 4-for-36 cuppa with the Yanks in 2021, since which time he has spent some time in Japan and even as a mature-age rookie for the Astros in their Florida Complex. Hard to say unequivocally, but his lack of 2025 stats suggests he is no longer in the game at the pro level.

In the GL timeline, he is much more living up to his "Hard Hittin'" nickname. Entering the league as a FA after the 2002 season and subsequently signed by Puebla, Chris has impressed to this point with 30 home runs in his rookie campaign and 19 so far in 2004. His .331 AVG for the season in progress puts the lie to those TTO ratings you see in the screenshot below and I'll be extra keen to see if he can maintain that or gets bitten by the regression bug at some point.

Either way, Puebla have done very well from adding him.

The second player I want to highlight is another I had never even heard of before now (clearly I don't follow the modern game too closely), Elehuris Montero. He plied his trade for the Rockies between 2022 and 2024 IRL in the comfy hitting confines of Coors Field, with the sort of sub-replacement performance that gets you shipped elsewhere. In his case, the Hiroshima Carp in the league that shall not be mentioned.

In the GL, on the other hand, he continues to excel despite a recent change of scenery. Originally taken 192nd overall by Tijuana in the Inaugural Draft, Elehuris belted 70 homers in his three seasons at Estadio Chevron, while driving in 279 runs including 110 in 2002.

For whatever reason, the Toros let him walk at the end of 2004 and he signed a 3-year deal with Aguascalientes that is already paying dividends. At the time of posting, Ele is slashing .301/.373/.551 for the Rieleros with 17 homers and 61 driven in, good for almost 3 WAR.

Sadly his fine contribution hasn't helped his club much, with them rooted to the foot of the NOR Desierto with a Queretaro-esque 32-46 record.

All the same, nice to see these sort of footnote players getting some time in the spotlight.

[luckymann]