Pericos de Puebla To Face The Toros de Tijuana in 2017 Serie Del Rey

PUEBLA TOPS YUCATAN WHILE TIJUANA DEFEATS MONTERREY

The 2016 Liga Mexican de Beisbol Champion Pericos de Puebla (56-54 on the year) took care of business against the Leones de Yucatan on Thursday night, defeating them 4-3 to win the Serie de Campeonato of the Zona Sur 4 games to 1.

Likewise, the Toros de Tijuana (76-34 overall) dispatched the Sultanes de Monterrey4 games to 1 to claim the Campeonato of the Zona Norte crown.

These two teams will meet for a best of 7 battle in the Serie Del Rey beginning with 2 games in Tijuana the 5th and 6th of September. The 7th of September is a travel day (The LMB web page lists it as  "Descanso", a day of rest. But the teams will be travelling to continue the series in Puebla for 3 games beginning on the 8th of September. Game 5 scheduled for the 10th of September is listed as an "if necessary" game.

Games 6 and 7, if necessary will be played in the stadium of the Toros de Tijuana.

Given that the Pericos finished the season with a 56-54 record and the Toros de Tijuan had a league leading best 76-34 record, one could assume that the Toros should wrap up this series in 4 games.

AH...but that is why we play the games! Season records can be tossed out the window. Any team can win a 7 game series if all the necessary pieces fall in place. Think of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates who defeated the mighty NY Yankees despite being out scored 55-27. No one, and I mean no one gave the Pirates a chance against the Yankees.

Yogi Berra once said "Pitching always beats hitting - and vice versa". He was not too far off the mark. Just look at the post season record of Clayton Kershaw. The absolute best pitcher in the National League for the past few seasons, Kershaw has struggled mightily in the post season.

The Toros pitchers posted a league leading 3.52 ERA with 9 shutouts. They gave up the 4th fewest home runs (66) and posted the lowest WHIP at 1.28.

Conversely, the Pericos were 2nd in the league in hitting with a .305 average, 2nd in hits and 5th in the league in runs scored with 640.

The Puebla pitchers struggled all year (hence the 56-54 record) with a 5.02 ERA,good for 11th in the league, 5 shutouts and a WHIP of 1.58, 12th of 16 teams in the LMB.

The Toros hitting on the other hand had a batting average of .281, 9th in hits with 1043 and 4th in runs scored with 630.

So who wins? The statistics would give the edge to the Toros, although I am sure the Pericos would argue vehemently with you.

AH...but that is why we play the games! The 1960  Pittsburgh Pirates should never have beaten the Yankees.

My gut feeling is hat the Toros win in 6 games. But, I envision Puebla taking one of two games in Tijuana, sweeping the 3 games in Puebla and taking game 7 on the west coast of Mexico to repeat as Champions of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol for 2017.

Remember you heard it first here. But; if I'm wrong, remember the fan chant from the old Brooklyn Dodger days..."Wait 'til next year".