Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Championship Series

SLATE OF GAMES FEATURE 8 LMB TEAMS

The 1st round of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) playoffs began last night, September 10th, with the Sultanes de Monterrey taking on the Toros de Tijuana and the Acereros del Norte de Monclova facing the Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos in the Zona Norte. The Diablos Rojos del Mexico square off against the Pericos de Puebla and the Leones de Yucatan meet the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Zona Sur. Each is a best of 7 series.

Here is an encapsulated review of last night's games.

MEXICO 8     PUEBLA 4

Michael Choice

The Diablos tied the game at 4 all in the 4th and went on to beat the Pericos 8-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Michael Choice, the Diablos DH, was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBIs for Mexico.Puebla managed 12 hits but a double by Antonio Lamas was their only extra base hit. Octavio Acosta (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Luis Mendoza, while Josh Outman (0-1) was charged with the loss.

OAXACA 4     YUCATAN 1

The Guerreros scored 4 times in the op of the 8th inning and cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Leones. Oaxaca leads this 1st round series 1 game to none. Yuniesky Betancourt went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Guerreros while Leo Heras was 2 for 4 for Yucatan in a losing effort. Alex Delgado (1-0) got the win and Carlos Felix was credited with a save. Arcenio Leon (0-1) took the loss for the Leones.

MONTERREY 7     TIJUANA 4 

Ramiro Pena was 2 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBIs for the Sultanes as they took a 1-0 lead in the Zona Norte playoff battle. Chris Roberson, Augustin Murillo and Jose Amador also went deep for Monterrey. Frederich Cepeda went 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs for the Toros. Rafael Ordaz (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Anthony Vasquez and Wirfin Obispo garnered a save. Carlos Hernandez (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Rafael  Ordaz

MONCLOVA 11     DOS LAREDOS 10 (10 innings)

The visiting Tecolotes scored 8 runs in the top of the 7th inning but couldn't hold on and fell to the Acereros 11-10 in 10 innings.Francisco Peguero hit the 1st pitch he saw with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Monclova the walk off win. Peguero was 3 for 5 with the home run and 4 RBIs. Josh Rodriguez, the Tecolotes shortstop, homered in the 9th inning to force extra innings. Rodriguez went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs in a losing cause. Mario Morales (1-0) earned the win while Tyson Perez (0-1) was charged with a blown save and took the loss. Monclova takes a 1-0 lead in the Zona Norte playoff series.

Aguilas de Mexicali to Compete in 2018 Mexican Baseball Fiesta

1st OF A 4 PART SERIES ON THE TEAMS COMPETING

Four teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP) will be competing at this year's Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Tucson, along with the Arizona Wildcats baseball team and the young stars of the Kansas City Royals. This series of articles will focus on the teams from the LMP

First up are the Aguilas de Mexicali. With a population of 689,000, Mexicali, the capital city of Baja California, is located about 60 miles west of Yuma, Az and just a few miles south of Calexico, CA. The city has been a hotbed of baseball tradition since it's founding in 1976. The team has won the LMP Championship four times and competed in the Serie del Caribe each time, winning it all in 1986.

Interestingly, the team is owned by the State Government of Baja California. Although most Mexican teams are supported by the local governments, The Aguilas are owned lock, stock and barrel by the state government. The Aguilas play is Estadio B'Air, a 17,000 seat venue in downtown Mexicali. For the 2017-18 winter season, the Aguilas drew an average of 13,242 fans per night. Compare that to the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League who had 8,809 fans show up each night.

There have been quite a few future major leaguers play winter ball in Mexico. Some of those who played for the Aguilas were, Mike Piazza, John Kruk, Fernando Valenzuela, Sergio Romo and Jeff Samardzija.

Luis Sojo, who played in the MLB for several seasons, will pilot the Aguilas for the 2018-19 season.

This year's team will have some "extranjeros", or foreigners, playing for them.

Retherford at the plate

CJ Retherford, born in Homestead, FL, attended Arizona State and has played for the Aguilas for 3 seasons, hitting 31 home runs, driving in 112 runs while batting .282.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit .261, accumulated 80 home runs and drove in 477 while playing for 4 teams in the MLB.

39 year old Chris Roberson appeared in 157 games for the Philadelphia Phillies and has played for 13 seasons in the Mexican leagues. Roberson has hit 146 home runs and driven in 668 runs while compiling a .280 average.

Roberson safe at home on a close play

The Aguilas are an explosive offensive team and should be fun to watch at this year's Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

You can buy tickets at www.mexicanbaseballfiesta.com

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Vamos aTucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta

Mexican Baseball returns to Tucson in October with the 8th Annual Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

There are 3 other sites in Arizona and Mexico that will be hosting games, Mesa and Douglas Arizona and Nogales, Mexico.

Four teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifica (LMP) will be participating in this year's event along with the Arizona Wildcats baseball team and the Young Stars of the Kansas City Royals. The Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Yaquis de Obregon, Caneros de Los Mochis and the Aguilas de Mexicali will represent the LMP.

The games kick off in Nogales the 22nd, 23rd and 28th of September, move to Mesa, AZ for games from the 28th through the 30th, switch ton Douglas, AZ on the 3rd and 4th of October and wind up in Tucson, at Kino Stadium, for games from the 4th through the 7th of October.

Rated as a Triple A baseball league by Major League Baseball, the teams from the LMP play exciting baseball. Having covered the league in Guadalajara, Mexico, I can attest to the fact that Mexicanos love their baseball. The 8 teams of the LMP averaged 7,722 fans per game. Pick any Triple A league in the US and see how their top 8 teams compare to that figure. Mascots on the field during play, hexes placed on opposing players by the fans, cheerleaders, crazy between innings games and no arguing with the umpires! If you love baseball, you have to love this pure baseball entertainment.

On Thursday, October 4th, the double header begins at 5 PM with the Aguilas taking on the YSKC. There is a $1 dollar beer promotion during this game. The 2nd game features the Arizona Wildcats taking on the Naranjeros.

Friday's double header, starting at 5:30 features the Aguilas against the Caneros in the 1st game and the Naranjeros facing off against the Yaquis in the nightcap. This is eegee's Kids Night with free tickets at eegees locations.

The Aguilas face the Caneros again in game 1 on Saturday the 6th at 5:30 with a repeat of the Narajeros versus the Yaquis in the 2nd game.

Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta winds up on Sunday the 7th of October with a double header on Family Day. There are $10 dollar Family Vouchers available at Vantage West locations throughout Tucson. The Yaquis face the Caneros in the opener while the Naranjeros take on the Aguilas in the nightcap.

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I would recommend this series of games to all of those who love baseball. You will not be disappointed.

There will be updates on the individual teams playing in the series  as the 4th of October arrives.

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When is a Catch not a Legal Catch

Todd Frazier

As I watched the video of the Met’s Todd Frazier catching/dropping the foul

ball against the Dodgers
on Monday night, two things came to mind. 1) How was Frazier so quick to
switch balls and, 2) How did the umpire not realize the ball Frazier showed
himwas fake?
Watch the video here:

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/icymi-mets-frazier-fooled-umpire-on-diving-
catch-monday-night/293426932

I also thought back on all the amazing catches made where the fielder winds
up in the stands, or the bullpen and the umpire had no way of knowing
whether or not the fielder actually held onto the ball.

The thought of a missed call, that is possibly a rules infraction, led me to
check out the rule.

I read the 2018 MLB Official Rules and this.came to my attention.

Under section 5.09: Making an Out, subparagraph (a) Retiring a Batter,
the rule book states... “A batter is out when:

1. His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder.

The rule book adds a comment as follows:

   Rule 5.09(a)(1) Comment: A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a
dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed.
A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other
out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over
the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the
ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area. Ball is in play,
unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, steps or falls into a dugout or
other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead. Status of runners shall be as described in Rule 5.06(b)(3)(C) Comment.

Now, it seems to me that every player who makes one of these exciting,
amazing catches should have caused the ball to be ruled a “dead ball”

I have included a link to the rule book so that you, the reader, can read and
interpret for yourself.

http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_
Rules.pdf

Here are the catches in the past that seem to have been called incorrectly:  

Derek Jeter's catch in 2001:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGmWv57klQ

Derek Jeter

Austin Jackson's amazing home run robbery in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGmWv57klQ

Collection of great catches. Of the 29 on the video, 6 of them seem to have been called incorrectly. If you care to count, #s 2, 6, 10, 11, 26 and 27 should have been called a "dead ball"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qb6TCXOXO8

NFL Week 1 Picks with Odds

Here we are again entering another NFL season. There are some interesting matchups with some interesting betting odds.

For example: Last years Superbowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles are only a 2 point favorite playing the Falcons at home. It used to be that the home team enjoyed a 3 point advantage. Nick Foles, who engineered the SB win will start because Carson Wentz hasn't been cleared to play.

The odds makers are putting a lot of faith in Andrew Luck's return with the Colts a prohibitive favorite over the visiting Bengals.

The Saints are a 10 1/2 point favorite playing at home against the Jamies Winston less Buccaneers. Good pick here but 10 1/2 points in the 1st game of the season is tricky.

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings with the Vikes a 7 point favorite.

And last, but not least, Jon Gruden and the Raiders are a 4 point dog to the visiting LA Rams. How much will the loss of Kalil Mack hurt Gruden's spread offense?

Here are my picks for Week 1. Remember...if you bet, legally this year, based on my picks...you're crazy! My picks are in CAPITOL letters.

Thursday

(WIN)Falcons @ EAGLES -2     The run in 2018 continues...Fly Eagles Fly.

Sunday

(LOSS) STEELERS (-4) @ Browns     The Browns will win, just not this week.
(WIN) BENGALS @ Colts (-3)     Colts need more than "Luck" to win this one.
(LOSS) TITANS (-1.5) @ Dolphins     This really is a "pick'em"
(WIN) 49ers @ VIKINGS (-6)     Honeymoon over for Garoppolo.
(WIN) Texans @ PATRIOTS (-6.5)     Going against a 40 year old Brady is crazy!
(LOSS) Buccaneers @ SAINTS (-9.5)     Brees breezes...Get it?
(WIN) JAGUARS @ Giants (-3)     Jags win despite Bortles.
(WIN) Bills @ RAVENS (-7)     We might even see RGIII in this rout.
(WIN) CHIEFS @ Chargers (-3)     Chiefs win...it's the regular season.
(PUSH) Seahawks @ BRONCOS (-3)     Legion of Boom becomes Legion on Gloom.
(WIN) REDSKINS @ Cardinals (even)     Steady Alex Smiths guides the 'Skins.
(WIN) Cowboys @ PANTHERS (-3)     Take the Panthers at home.
(LOSS) Bears @ PACKERS(-7.5)     The 'Pack is back!

Monday

(LOSS) Jets @ LIONS (-7)     J-E-T-S...Forget it Jet Fans...Rookie QB
(WIN) RAMS (-6) @ Raiders     As much as I am rooting for Gruden...I don't see it!

So there you have it...Week 1 is a lock...I see a 16-0 week...What do you think?

The experts and I disagree on 8 of the 16 games this week. The so-called experts prefer
the Falcons, Texans, Browns, Chargers, Cardinals, Seahawks, bears and Jets. We'll just see!

Japhet Amador Suspended 6 Months by the Nippon Professional Baseball League

DRUG TEST IN JUNE FOUND 2 BANNED SUBSTANCES

Japhet Amador, the power hitting 1st baseman of the Charros de Jalisco and
current player for the Rakuten Eagles, has been suspended by the Nippon
Professional Baseball League.

Amador underwent a drug test on the 13th of June following a game against
the Chunichi Dragons. He tested positive for the drugs chlorthalidone and
furosemide. These two substances are included under diuretics and masking
agents on a list of prohibited drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s website.

Japhet was informed of the test results on the 23rd of June and given a chance
to defend himself. He denied knowingly or intentionally taking any banned
substance. The league retested his sample, at Amador’s request, on the 1st of
August. The results were the same.

“I have never committed an act of doping in my baseball life up to this point,”
Amador said in a statement released by the Eagles. “I have never intentionally
taken any banned drugs.

“I haven’t used stimulants or anything to increase muscle, or thought about
using diuretics or masking agents. I’ve been given many doping tests in the
past and they’ve all been negative.”

On a tweet at noon Guadalajara time on Thursday the 9th of
August, Amador announced the results of the test saying that
he “assumes responsibility” and that he would “announce his
retirement”.

Amador with the Rakuten Eagles

In an 11 year career, Japhet has hit 312 homeruns and driven
in 1057 runs while hitting for a .296 average. In 3 years with the
Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon League, Amador hit .250 with 52
homers.

In 4 years with the Charros, Amador drive in 145 runs while
hitting 40 home runs.

The one-time product of the Houston Astros organization,
“El Gigante” from Mulege Mexico, played in Oklahoma City of
the Pacific Coast League and Peoria of the Arizona fall League.

NFL Anthem Protest: Right, Wrong or Wrongly Perpetuated?

WOULD THIS PROTEST CONTINUE IF NO ONE KNEW IT WAS GOING ON?

With the start of a new NFL season, thoughts of Super Bowl games dance in the heads of all football fans. This could be the year the Browns win their division and go all the way. Can the Eagles repeat? Will a 40 year old Brady get that last ring and ride off into the sunset as the GOAT?

Despite all the hopes of a new season, the elephant in the room is the anthem protest. First, the NFL decrees that the players must either stand for the National Anthem or remain in the locker room. Then the NFLPA cries foul and the NFL walks back the rule and says "let's talk". So, no change and no solution. Is there really a solution?

To be fair to both sides we must remember that the NFL had no "anthem stand" requirement until 2009 when they signed a lucrative contract with the Pentagon to "promote patriotic displays".

Sally Jenkins, sports reporter for the Washington Post, in a column on the 22nd of July, wrote that the "anthem debate is a case of misplaced emphasis". She goes on to say the "enforced patriotism, is not patriotism at all".

But sports in America is indeed rooted in patriotism, as it is in all the countries of the world. Soccer matches in Mexico begin with the their Himno Nacional. The people in the bleachers stand, remove their hats and proudly sing along. The players are all standing, with their hands on their hearts, singing along.

Jenkins asks the question, "How can a mild protest by at most 12 % of the league cause such a stir"?

To answer this, we must agree on two things.
     1. The average NFL fan, whether at the game, or at home is very patriotic.
     2. A player seen kneeling is perceived as being unpatriotic.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos, medalists at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, were loudly and roundly booed for their raised fists on the medalists podium. This action was widely seen as anti-American and unpatriotic. Colin Kaepernick's "pig socks" were similarly seen as divisive and unamerican by the average NFL fan.

When NFL players, in the UK and Mexico stood for the host nation's anthem yet knelt for the Anthem of the United States of America, this too was viewed as unamerican, unpatriotic and a slap in the face to all Americans.

The average American sports fan agree with Tim Suttle, a Pastor and writer from Olathe, Kansas who penned: "The liturgies of sport teach us that America is a singular beacon in a world of hackneyed imposters...The game embodies the belief that this nation stands above all other nations as more powerful, virtuous, righteous and more justified in our actions...".

We, as fans are proud of our nation! All other nations are too. As a group, we desire our athletes to be like us. We don't say, so and so the black football player, or so and so the ballplayer from the Dominican republic. No...we say my teams pro bowl Safety or our All Star shortstop. Sports fans everywhere want an escape. We turn to sports.

So..what is my solution to this morass the NFL has created? Let the protests continue. Do nothing. What can it hurt if just 12%, a figure attributed to Jenkins, of the league protest a perceived injustice.

But, the league needs cooperation from the media. Are the protests worthy of attention? Without the television constantly covering the sidelines during the anthem, there would be no attention brought to the subject. Censorship you say...during the 2017 season the networks, and even local coverage, deliberately avoided showing the empty stands. The league "suggested" coverage of this was detrimental to the ratings. Constant badgering of the players by the print media on how they "felt" about the kneeling served no purpose but to inflame an already agitated fan base.

The owners should press Goodell to minimize the effect on ratings and league attendance. The Green Bay Packers reported in their annual report to stockholders that revenue was up year-to-year and that 99% of the season ticket holders had renewed with a waiting list of 137,000.

The league is in fine shape!

So...can the Eagles repeat or what?

 

Josh Hader 1st All Star Game Marred by Twitter Police

HADER GIVES UP GAME TYING 3 RUN HOME RUN IN ALL STAR GAME

Josh Hader, of the Milwaukee Brewers, spent the week basking in the glow of selection to his 1st All Star game! During the first half of the 2108 season, Hader struck out 89 batters in 48 innings of work while recording 7 saves. The Brewers reliever has struck out 157 batters in 95 and 2/3 innings on the mound in his MLB career. Quite the accomplishment you say...we need him on our team you think. Well think again!

On in relief in the 8th inning, Hader gave up a 3 run home run home run to the Mariner's shortstop, Jean Segura. Bad enough you thought but the twitter crazies wanted to find out more about Hader. They checked his Twitter account and found tweets from 2011 where Hader, at age 17, posted things that are deemed Racist, homophobic, derogatory to women and supported (in the minds of the mob) the white power movement.

While neither condoning nor condemning Josh, I would like to add my comments to the seemingly demonic Tweets.

Mr. Hader was 17 at the time of his tweets. Excuse...no, but a reasonable explanation. He was a very young man whose views at the time were very malleable. Merriam-Webster defines "malleable" in the following way. "Capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences".

Lets take a look at a few of the songs that topped the Billboard top 100 list in 2011.

     "F-you, forget you" by Cee Lo Green
     "Tonight (I'm F-ing you" by Enrique Iglesias (with Ludacris and DJ Frank E)
     "F-ing Perfect" by Pink

Influence, peer pressure, pop culture?

Why do people feel the need to check through 7 years of a person's Tweets? Because he gave up a home run? Didn't anyone in the MLB look through his Tweets?

Hader was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in June of 2012. Why didn't they check his social media pages? Traded to the Astros in 2013 and again no look into his past. Finally in July of 2015 Josh was traded to the Brewers. By 2015 there were numerous stories of sports figures in trouble for Tweets by them or about them. And yet, one can only assume that the Brewers organization doesn't bother to check every player's social media account.

I can hear the keyboards of every MLB, NBA and NFL in every office clattering away under the finger tips of the newly hired social media account researcher. What a racket...both figuratively and literally.

Josh has apologised to his team mate, Lorenzo Cain, to MLB and to his fans. There is nothing more he can do.

He can go back and delete the Tweets and tell all his team mates to check their accounts for anything that the thought police may find objectionable. Other than that?

If the fans in Milwaukee, or any other MLB city boo him when he takes the field or protests him with harassment, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Puebla Staves Off Elimination In Game 4

STRONG STARTING AND RELIEF PITCHING IN 6-3 WIN

Watch the final out of the game here.

The Pericos de Puebla got a strong outing by starter Andres Mesa, despite a rough 1st inning, a hold by reliever Mario Morales and a two inning save from Deunte Heath to, temporarily at least, halt the Toros de Tijuana's quest for the Copa Zaachila.

Sergio Mitre lasted just 3 1/3 innings in the loss for the Toros. He allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits in his time on the mound.

Tijuana jumped on top early with 3 runs in the top of the 1st. Jose Guadalupe Chavez and Roberto Lopez singled and Corey Browm walked to load the bases with no outs. Cyle Hankerd was hit by a pitch to force in Chavez. Jorge Cantu followed with a double to right to drive in Lopez and Brown but Hankerd was cut down at home on a great relay throw by the Perico's second baseman. The Toros were up 3-0 before the Pericos had a turn at bat.

Puebla struck back in the home half of the 2nd. Ricky Rodriguez doubled and Cesar Tapia walked. A attempted sacrifice bunt by Hector Garanzuay resulted in Rodriguez being thrown out at third but Sergio Perez singled to drive in Tapia and cut the lead to 3-1.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 4th, Tapia singled to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Garanzuay doubled to left to score Tapia. Sergio Perez singled softly to short keeping Garanzuay on second. Alberto Carreon hit a ground-rule double to right to score Garanzuay to knot the score at 3. After a ground out, Endy Chavez doubled to score Perez and Carreon and Puebla led 5-3.

Ricky Rodriguez singled with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning and, one out later stole second. Hector Garanzuay singled to plate Rodriguez with the 6th and final run for Puebla and the 6-3 win.

Game 5 will be played in the Estadio Hermanos Serdan on Sunday tie 10th of September.

Toros on Verge of Copa Zaachila with 4-0 Shutout of Pericos

PUEBLA OFFENSE NONEXISTENT IN LOSS

The Toros de Tijuana are in charge of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol's championship after a 4-0 shutout of the Pericos de Puebla gave them a 3 games to none advantage.  Watch to final out here  After the 4th inning the crowd of 11,906 fans in Estadio Hermanos Serdan sensed impending doom and had little to cheer about.

Horacio Ramirez

Starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez pitched 7 2/3 innings of the shutout allowing just 5 hits. Although he didn't strike out a batter, in fact no Pericos fell victim to the strikeout all game, he walked only 2 and was around the plate all game, working the ball low and away to all batters. Juan Sandoval pitched the final 1 1/3 innings in the Toros win.

The Perico's starter, Josh Outman, went 5 1/3 innings, giving up all 4 Toros runs, striking 5 but walking 4 in taking the loss. His control problems kept him in trouble for all but the 1st inning. Three Puebla relievers held Tijuana to just 1 hit over 3 2/3 innings of work.

Cyle Hankerd led off the top of the 4th fir Tijuana getting hit by a pitch. Dustin Martin drew a walk one out later. Juan Apodaca reached safely on an error by the Pericos first baseman. The ruling was challenged by Puebla but the play was not overturned to load the bases. Alex Liddi followed with a 4-6 ground out that scored Hankerd for the 1-0 lead.

Tijuana scored twice more in the 5th inning on a solo home run by Roberto Lopez, a single and stolen base by Corey Brown and a single by Dustin Martin. 3-0 Toros.

Roberto Lopez Home Run 

Alex Liddi drew a lead off walk in the top of the 6th, advanced to second on a ground out, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Jose Guadalupe Chavez, Final score Toros 4, Puebla 0.

Game 4 is being played today with the Toros in the proverbial drivers seat, needing just 1 win to become the champions of the league, If Puebla wins, game 5 will be played on Sunday.

Puebla Falls Behind 2 Games to None in Serie del Rey

BULLPEN AGAIN FAILS TO HOLD LEAD IN 5-3 LOSS

If the Pericos de Puebla expect to halt the juggernaut that is the Toros de Tijuana they must get more support from the bullpen. In both losses the relievers failed to hold a tie game or a lead turned over to them by the starters. Although the starters have not been perfect they have the free swinging Toros to a manageable offensive output.

Tijuana took an early lead when Cyle Hankerd homered, on a line drive to left, bringing home Corey Brown for the 2-0 lead after 3 innings.

VIEW Garanzuay's home run here.   Puebla struck back in the top of the 4th. With one out, Jesus Arredondo doubled and came home on a double by Ricky Rodriguez. One out later, Hector Garanzuay hit a drive to deep right that cleared the wall with room to spare driving in Rodriguez and giving the Pericos a 3-2 lead.

Juan Apodaca tied the contest in the bottom of the 6th inning with a home run to left off Perico's starter Jaime Lugo.  WATCH APODACA'S Home run here!

Roberto Lopez led off the bottom of the 7th for the Toros with a double to left. After a Corey Brown ground out, moving Lopez to third, The Pericos brought in reliever Adrian Ramirez. Ramirez walked Cyle Hankerd. Jorge Cantu lifted a sac fly to center that scored Lopez. Following a walk to Dustin Martin, Juan Apodaca singled to center to plate Hankerd and seal the 5-3 victory.

Mark Serrano got the win in relief with help from a hold by Juan Sandoval and a save from Jason Urquidez. Henry Garcia was saddled with the loss for Puebla.

Roberto Lopez was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles for Tijuana with Juan Apodaca going 3 for 3 with a home run and 2 RBIs and Cyle Hankerd 1 for 2 with the home run and 2 RBIs for the Toros/

Hector Garanzuay went 3 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs, Julio Borbon 2 for 4 and Ricky Rodriguez 2 foe 3 with a double and an RBI for Puebla.

The series now moves to Puebla for 3 games beginning on Friday the 8th of September.

For the Pericos to have a shot at the championship, they must win 2 of the 3 games in Puebla. The Toros on the other hand can take home the Copa Zaachila with 2 wins on the road at Estadio Hermanos Serdan.

Barr None Predictions for NFL Week 1

NOT BAD 11-4 FOR THE WEEK. ONLY THE PATS, JETS AND TEXANS REALLY LET ME DOWN. CHECK BACK ON THURSDAY FOR MY WEEK 2 PICKS.

Another year and another chance for me to show you how much of a genius I am at predicting how 2 teams of professional athletes will respond to the regular season.

Here goes:

THURSDAY

KC Chiefs @ New Englnd Patriots - How can I go against the Pats...Patriots 27-13

SUNDAY

NY Jets @ Buffalo Bills - New faces...same places...Jets 30-10
Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears - No 2nd half fall this time...Falcons 35-17
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinatti Bengals - I'm raving about the Bengals...21-19
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns - I see 0-16 for the Browns...Steelers 37-10
Arizona Cardinals @ Detroit Lions - The newly rich Stafford leads the Lions to a 13-10 win.
Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans - Carson is back...Raiders 24-14
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins - NFL East Champs (soon)...21-17
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans - Harvey comes through with hometown win...20-13
Indianapolis Colts @ L Rams...1 QBless, 1 rudderless...Rams...13-10
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers - Go with the Pack early...21-17
Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers - Yawn...Panthers 17-14
NY Giants @ Dallas Cowboys - Cops arrest the whole Dallas team after win...Cowboys 28-24

MONDAY

New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings - Vikings top Saints 21-20
LA Chargers @ Denver Broncos - Rivers' notes and film fly out the window...Broncos 13-9

So ther you have it...don't like it...tell me about it but I will be crowing next Tuesday morning...or is that eating crow?

Tijuana Tops Puebla in Game 1 of Serie del Rey

6 RUN 6TH CRUSHES PERICO'S HOPES

Toros Celebrate Game 1 Win

In the first game of the Serie del Rey, played in Tijuana, the Toros broke a 2 all game wide open with a 6 run 6th inning to take game 1 by an 8-2 score.

The Toros opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd when Roberto Lopez hit a sac fly to center, on a full count, that scored Juan Apodaca. Tijuana took the early 1-0 lead.

A wild pitch by losing pitcher Josh Roenicke in the 4th scored Cyle Hankerd from third to give the Toros a 2-0 lead.

Tijuana Scores on Pericos Wild Pitch

Puebla narrowed the score to 2-1 in the top of the 5th. Sergio Perez hit a one out single to left and raced home on a double to the right field corner by Alberto Carreon.

The Pericos tied the score, at 2 all, in the top of the 6th inning. Issmael Salas reached safely, and advanced to second, on an fielding/throwing error by the Toros second baseman. Salas went to third on a single by Jesus Arredondo and scored on a single by Ricky Rodriguez. But Cesar Tapia flew out to center and Hector Garanzuay  hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the Pericos threat and get Tijuana out of a jam.

The house of cards the Pericos had built came tumbling down in the home half of the 6th. Dustin Martin drew a one out walk and promptly stole second. Juan Apodaca singled to score Martin for the 3-2 lead but the Toros were not done. After a pitching change, Isaac Rodriguez drew a walk to put runners on first and second with 2 outs. Following yet another Puebla pitching change, Jose Guadalupe Chavez singled to center to drive in Apodaca while taking second on the throw home.

Yet again the Pericos opted for a pitching change but the result would be the same. Roberto Lopez doubled to left to score Rodriguez and Chavez. Corey Brown followed with a single to plate Lopez. Brown stole second and scored on a Cyle Hankerd single to center to complete the scoring and give the Toros the 8-2 win.

Puebla was unable to mount a threat over the remaining 3 innings and find themselves at an 0-1 disadvantage leading into game 2 of the series.

Jo-Jo Reyes picked up the win, pitching 2/3 of an inning for Tijuana. Josh Roenicke took the loss. Roenicke looked solid for 5 innings giving up 5 hits while striking out 7 and walking 4 but he set the table for the Toro's hitters in the 6th inning and the Puebla relievers were unable to keep the runners from scoring.

Cyle Hankerd went 3 for 5, Juan Apodaca 3 for 4 and Roberto Lopez 1 for 4 with 3 RBIs for Tijuana.

Jesus Arredondo was 2 for 3 for Puebla. Ricky Rodriguez and Alberto Carreon were both 1 foe 3 with an RBI for the Pericos.

Game 2 will be played on Wednesday night in Tijuana before the series moves to Puebla for game 3 on Friday the 8th of September. 

Serie del Rey Comenzará en Tijuana el martes

Can Puebla Defeat Tijuana in the Serie del Rey

Los Pericos de Puebla entran en la Serie del Rey de 2017 como ligeros aficionados a los Toros de Tijuana. Los Oddsmakers dan a los Pericos un 47% de posibilidades de repetir como campeones de la Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.

Estadio Gasmart

El camino para llevar a casa la Copa Zaachila (el Trofeo del Campeonato LMB) comienza en Tijuana. Los Toros, con un mejor récord de la temporada regular de la liga de 76-34, obtienen los dos primeros partidos en casa. Los amistosos confines del Estadio Gasmart, el hogar de los Toros, vieron a los Toros ganar 40 partidos y caer 16. Los juegos 3, 4 y 5 se jugarán en el estadio de Pericos, Estadio de Beisbol Hermanos Serdan. Puebla no se ha ido tan bien en casa, pasando sólo 24-27 en Puebla. Si es necesario, los juegos 6 y 7 se jugarán bajo las luces de Tijuana.

Estadio de Beisbol Hermanos Serdan

Ganar en casa para los Toros fue fácil este año, pero los Pericos eran sólo 24-27 en casa. Se podría decir que Estadio de Beisbol Hermanos Serdan ha sido todo menos amistoso con Puebla. A pesar de los fanáticos fanáticos rabiosos y temerosos de los locales, los Pericos no lanzaron bien en casa. Da ventaja aquí a Tijuana.

Los lanzadores de Tijuana lideraron la liga en la ERA con una marca de 3.52. Los Pericos por el contrario terminaron 11º en la liga permitiendo 5.02 carreras por partido. Esta es la clave para Puebla. Si permiten que muchos corran un juego, las victorias serán difíciles de conseguir.

Golpear sabio aunque los Pericos tienen el borde. Su promedio de bateo de .305 fue el segundo de los .307 de Monterrey. Aunque el Toros logró golpear .281 que sólo fue bueno para un lugar 11 º lugar.

Tijuana tiene el borde en lanzar mientras que Puebla consigue el cabeceo para golpear.

Edny Chavez

Edny Chávez lideró a los Pericos en bateo, compilando un promedio de .343 (6º en la liga) con su compañero de equipo Jesús Arredondo bateando .332 y Alberto Carreon siguiendo con un promedio de .317.

Cyle Hankerd bateó .321 en el año con 17 jonrones y 69 remolcadas por Tijuana. José Guadalupe Chávez fue el único otro Toro con un promedio de bateo por encima de .300.

El equipo de pitcheo de Toros dio p sólo 971 hits en 975 ⅔ entradas, eliminando a 753 bateadores y caminar 278. Este 3 a 1 strikeout a caminar ratio puede ser la caída a un equipo que fracturó 675 veces en 110 juegos.

Cyle Hankerd

Los lanzadores de Puebla por otro lado permitieron 1144 hits en 965 ⅔ entradas, dando 85 cuadrangulares y tuvieron un strikeout a pared de razón de poco menos de 2 a 1.

Les he dado los hechos. Ahora usted puede hacer su propia mente. Pero antes de elegir recuerda esto. La experiencia cuenta. Los Pericos fueron los Campeones del LMB en 2016. Los Toros han estado en la final una sola vez (2016 contra estos mismos Pericos) desde que ganaron el título de LMB como los Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos en1989.

Dar el borde de los Pericos.

Si eso todavía no te dice quién ganará, lo diré de nuevo. Los Pericos ganarán en 6 partidos.

Me estoy pegando el cuello, pero recuerda a los Piratas de Pittsburgh 1979, por 3 juegos a 1 que volvieron a vencer a los Orioles de Baltimore 4 partidos a 3 y ganar la Serie Mundial.

Los Medias Rojas de Boston de 2004 en el Campeonato ALCS 2004 cayeron detrás de los Yankees 3 partidos a ninguno, barrió los cuatro partidos restantes y pasó a barrer el St. Louis Cardinals 4 juegos a ninguno para ganar la Serie Mundial.

Cosas extrañas suceden que usted realmente tiene que jugar los juegos!

Serie del Rey Set to Begin in Tijuana on Tuesday

Can Puebla Defeat Tijuana in the Serie del Rey

The Pericos de Puebla enter the 2017 Serie del Rey as slight underdogs to the Toros de Tijuana. Oddsmakers give the Pericos a 47% chance of repeating as champions of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.

Estadio Gasmart

The road to taking home the Copa Zaachila (the LMB Championship Trophy) begins in Tijuana. The Toros, with a league best regular season record of 76-34, get the first two games at home. The friendly confines of Estadio Gasmart, the home of the Toros, saw the Toros win 40 games and drop 16.  Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played on the Pericos home turf, Estadio de Beisbol Hermanos Serdan. Puebla hasn’t fared as well at home, going just 24-27 in Puebla. If necessary, games 6 and 7 will be played under the lights back in Tijuana.

Hermans Serdan

Winning at home for the Toros came easy this year but the Pericos were just 24-27 at home. One could say that Estadio de Beisbol Hermanos Serdan has been anything but friendly to Puebla. Despite rabid, raucous hometown fans the Pericos didn’t pitch well at home. Give edge here to Tijuana.

Tijuana pitchers led the league in ERA with a 3.52 mark. The Pericos on the other hand finished 11th in the league allowing 5.02 runs per game. This is the key for Puebla. If they allow that many runs a game, wins will be hard to come by.

Hitting wise though the Pericos have the edge. Their .305 batting average was second to Monterrey’s .307. Although the Toros managed to hit .281 that was only good for an 11th place finish.

Tijuana has the edge in pitching while Puebla gets the nod for hitting.

Edny Chavez

Edny Chavez led the Pericos in hitting, compiling a .343 average (6th in the league) with teammate Jesus Arredondo hitting .332 and Alberto Carreon following with a .317 average.

Cyle Hankerd hit .321 on the year with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs for Tijuana. Jose Guadalupe Chavez was the only other Toro with a batting average above .300.

The Toros pitching staff gave p just 971 hits in 975 ⅔ innings, striking out 753 batters and walking 278. This 3 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio may be the downfall to a team that struckout 675 times in 110 games.

Cyle Hankerd

Puebla pitchers on the other hand allowed 1144 hits in 965 ⅔ innings, giving up 85 home runs and had a strikeout to wall ratio of just under 2 to 1.

I’ve given you the facts. Now you can make up your own mind. But before you choose remember this. Experience counts. The Pericos were the 2016 Champions of the LMB. The Toros have been to the finals just once (2016 versus these same Pericos) since winning the LMB title as  the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in1989.

Give the edge to the Pericos.

If that still doesn’t tell you who will win, I will say it again. The Pericos will win in 6 games.

I’m sticking my neck out but remember the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, down 3 games to 1 they came back to beat the Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 3 and win the World Series.

The 2004 Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS Championship fell behind the Yankees 3 games to none, swept the remaining four games and went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to none to win the World Series.

Strange things happen we you actually have to play the games!