It is the last week of the year, and with it comes the road to the Caribbean Series as the Caribbean Winter Leagues begin their playoffs. In Venezuela, as well as in the Caribbean, the new year will be bringing with it a new champion. Defending Venezuela League and Caribbean Series Champions Tiburones de la Guaira were eliminated from playoff contention this past week as the Venezuela League began its playoffs last night. The Round Robin playoff format started on Friday with victories for Cardenales de Lara over Tigres de Aragua and Bravos de Margarita over Magallanes. This was Bravos’ first postseason game in six years.
Bravos depended on their pitching to defeat Magallanes by the minimum score of 1-0 in a combined pitching effort led by MLB veteran Felix Dubront, who pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, striking out as many, and only allowing four baserunners, two on hits and two walks. Magallanes, who offensively was one of the regular season’s most prolific teams, could not muster any offense against the returning Bravos. Magallanes scored more runs (331) and hit more Home Runs (66) than any team in the regular season. However, their offense was subdued in their first postseason game.
In the other Round Robin game, Cardenales de Lara, who compiled the best regular season record in the league, defeated Tigres de Aragua 11-7. Although their starter, Max Castillo, was ineffective against Tigres, Cardenales had an offensive explosion of 19 hits and 11 runs. The offensive hero for Cardenales was not one of the seven former or current MLB players they feature in their lineup, but rather, a 22-year-old rookie shortstop, Eduardo Garcia. Garcia led the offense last night, scoring 4-4 with two runs and 1 RBI. Garcia is part of the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system and last year had an OPS of .837 for the Biloxi Shuckers, the Brewers’ AA affiliate. The round-robin will continue in Venezuela through January 16.
In Mexico, two teams with a storied history have set themselves apart as the two top teams in the waning regular season. With only five games in the regular season, Tomateros de Culiacan and league champion Naranjeros de Hermosillo have ensured they finish the season occupying the first two places in the standings. Charros de Jalisco and Los Mochis occupy the 3rd and 4th spots, respectively. Naranjeros depended on a second half of the season surge and performances by Jasson Atondo on offense and Robert Stock on pitching to climb back to the top of the standings in the second half. The postseason in Mexico will begin next week. Unlike Venezuela, Mexico will do their postseason in quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finals formats. The league also announced this week that the league final will now be called “La Serie de Mexico,” and the League Champion will be awarded the Fernando Valenzuela trophy, named after the late great Mexican pitcher.
In Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayaguez and Senadores de San Juan have separated themselves as the teams to beat during the regular season, as they both have alternated the first-place spot in the standings for the last two weeks. Mayaguez opened a 2-game lead over Senadores and clinched a tie for the 4th spot in the standings, assuring them of a playoff spot. MLB veteran Nelson Velazquez has provided enough offense to bring the league champions Criollos de Caguas, who until two weeks ago looked all but eliminated, back into playoff contention. Criollos is currently tied with Leones de Ponce for the 4th and final playoff spot. The season’s final six games promise to be a sprint to the end as five teams fight for four playoff spots. The playoffs in Puerto Rico will begin next week in a semi-final and finals format.
In the Dominican Republic, Estrellas Orientales, Aguilas Cibaeñas, and defending champions Tigres del Licey look to finish clinching their respective places in the playoffs. They are all but assured a spot in the playoffs. However, their ranking still needs to be determined, as the league has reassigned the rained-out games for the remainder of the season. The last playoff spot remains contested between Leones del Escogido and Gigantes del Cibao. As of Friday, Leones was clinging to the 4th spot with one game difference between Gigantes.
The final stretch of the Caribbean Winter Leagues is upon us, with one league already in the postseason and three leagues defining their last postseason spots. It promises to be a sprint to the end, and the volatility of the league playoffs promises an end full of emotion to the Caribbean Leagues en route to crowning a new champion of the Caribbean in February at Mexicali.
