The last month of regular season competition is among us in the Caribbean Winter Leagues in Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. All the leagues are past the halfway point of the season, and in some leagues, the playoff picture begins to be decided.
After closing the first half of the season in fourth place in Mexico, defending champions Naranjeros de Hermosillo began the second half of the season on fire and have not looked back. Naranjeros’ record in the second half of the season is 11-2. They are currently in the middle of a nine-game winning streak that not only has given them the lead in the second-half standings but has put them in a virtual tie with the first-half of the season leaders, Tomateros de Culiacan, in the general standings. Both teams, Tomateros and Naranjeros, now play for an overall combined record of 30-18. Naranjeros have depended on superb pitching from veterans Robert Stock and Jose Samayoa to lead them into this second-half resurgence. Stock currently leads the league in strikeouts (60) and ERA (1.73), and his 1.03 WHIP is good for fourth in the league. Samayoa, a native of Hermosillo, has also been instrumental in helping his hometown team climb back into the overall league lead with outstanding performances that have seen him be among the league leaders in an ERA (2.37, 4th in the league), WHIP (1.04, 5th in the league), and strikeouts (47, 3rd in the league). Their rival and co-leader in the standings, Tomateros, have taken a different approach, as they are depending on hitting from Joey Meneses and Christian Santana, who occupy first and second place in the league HR leader with 10 and 8, respectively.
It was another lead change in the Venezuela league, as the competitive league sees a new leader in the standings for the fourth consecutive week. With an 8-2 stretch in their last ten games, Cardenales de Lara (25-18) has taken sole possession of the first place in the league, displacing last week’s leaders Aguilas de Zulia, who currently sits in second place with a 24-20 record. This league has proven to be the most volatile and contested in the standings. Only 2.5 games separate the first four teams in the standings, and one game behind the playoff teams sits Tiburones de la Guaira, the defending Caribbean Series champions. It has been a season of feast or famine for Ozzie Guillen’s club, as they currently sit outside the playoff picture in their league with a 23-23 record. Still, in a league that has proven anything can happen as long as you stay close, Tiburones’ hope of repeating league and Caribbean titles is alive as they sit only one game behind a playoff spot.
In Puerto Rico, the league has recently reached the halfway point as they prepare to have their All-Star game on Saturday in a native player vs imported players format. The league currently is being led by the returning Senadores de San Juan (13-7), who are pacing the standings above the legendary Indios de Mayaguez, who, after last night’s thrilling come-from-behind victory, sit in second place in the standings. Senadores have been propelled to the standings by a masterful offensive performance by Houston Astros’ MLB veteran and top prospect Zachary Dezenzo. Dezenzo is currently hitting for a massive batting average of .361. His teammates, former AL MVP Jose Abreu and fellow Houston Astros’ prospect Brice Matthews, have provided the power, featuring among the league leaders in Home Runs with four each. On the other hand, Mayaguez has found their success being paced offensively by veteran Danny Ortiz, who also has 4 HR, 14 RBI, and is currently third in OPS with a .940 mark. Leones de Ponce and Gigantes de Carolina round up the playoff picture in the league. Leones are led offensively by former league MVP Edwin Diaz, who has connected for a league-leading 6 HR and is leading the league with a 1.044 OPS.
In the Dominican Republic, the playoff picture in LIDOM seems to be getting more precise, as Estrellas Orientales have claimed the lead in the standings with a 22-16 record. Estrella’s have depended on superb pitching as their pitchers collectively hold a 3.04 ERA overall. Offensively, they have been led by Eguy Rosario, who currently leads the league with a .343 batting average.
In other events in LIDOM, their most storied teams will continue their Serie de Titanes, initially planned for Yankee Stadium, by playing two games in Puerto Rico this weekend. The series has been a point of contention between the leagues and between LIDOM and the event organizers. After much back-and-forth negotiations, the league announced the games in San Juan between Aguilas Cibaeñas and Tigres del Licey will be played. Hopefully, in the spirit of healthy competition and the propagation of the sport, communication will be better between all parties involved. There is more cooperation than competition between the leagues. Event organizers and all fans in Puerto Rico can enjoy both league games without deciding whether to support one league or the other. This will be the only way to ensure that not only the league and event organizers are successful but also the fans in Puerto Rico, or wherever the next Series happens, can enjoy both spectacles without choosing which one to support.
