Carlos Alberto Gastelum of the Tigres de Quintana Roo became the seventh manager to be fired in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol in the 2024 season. (Photo by Jam Media/Getty Images)
There might not be a line of work with more turnover than being a manager in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
On Sunday, Carlos Gastelum of the Tigres de Quintana Roo became the seventh manager to receive a pink slip this season, joining Luis Matos, who led the Piratas de Campeche to a record of 6-17 before being shown the door, Luis Carlos Rivera of the Toros de Tijuana, who went 18-15 before being kicked to the curb, José Valentín of the Guerreros de Oaxaca, who was 16-18 when management wanted to have a talk, Luis Borges of the Caliente de Durango, who started 14-23 before being told his services were no longer required, Juan José Pacho of El Aguila de Veracruz, whose club sputtered to a 16-21 mark before his wings were clipped, and Alfredo Amézaga of the Saraperos de Saltillo, whose club was 21-21 when he was told to disappear.
The Tigres, at 13-35, are dead last in the Zona Sur and the worst team in the LMB and sit 25.5 games back of the first-place Diablos Rojos del Mexico. Pitching coach Mario Ivan Santana will take over as the interim manager.
The seven managerial changes so far this season means that 35% of the league’s managers have been replaced before the midpoint of the 120-game regular season.
Gastelum has a long history with the Tigres, joining the club as a player in 2002 when the team played in Mexico City, moving with the team to Puebla and then again to Cancun, where the team has played since 2007. He retired as a player following the 2019 season, but made one plate appearance for Quintana Roo this season, drawing a walk.
Otosaka Suspended for Two Games – Tomo Otosaka of the Leones de Yucatan has been suspended for two games for unsportsmanlike conduct in Sunday’s game at Chihuahua.
In the top of the eighth with two outs and Yucatan trailing 9-5, Otosaka hit a ground ball to short and was called out at first in a bang-bang play.
Leones manager Roberto Vizcarra came out to argue the call with first base umpire Mario Villavicencio, getting ejected after about thirty seconds. Otosaka came over to join the argument, along with the other three umpires, and tensions flared, with Otosaka poking Villavincencio in the chest before he was restrained by a member of the Leones coaching staff.
Otosaka will miss the first two games of the Leones’ upcoming home series against the Bravos de Leon.
La presidencia de la LMB suspendió a Tomo Otosaka por este incidente en el juego de los Leones de Yucatán el domingo por la tarde ☝️ Toda la información: https://t.co/TMZs2lKmZi pic.twitter.com/lPkoT2c6m4
— Séptima Entrada (@septimaentrada_) June 11, 2024
Altherr Heads Home – Former Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets outfielder Aaron Altherr has left the Algodoneros de Union Laguna.
Altherr appeared in 38 games for the Algodoneros this season, clubbing seven homers and driving in 16 runs while slashing .264/.417/.512. He left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their son, and his LMB rights continue to be held by Union Laguna, according to a post on X by the team.
Aaron Altherr ha sido dado de baja del equipo, debido a decisión personal del jugador por el nacimiento de su bebé. Los derechos del outfield alemán siguen perteneciendo a nuestra organización.
Felicitamos a Aaron por el próximo nacimiento de su hijo y le deseamos éxito. pic.twitter.com/wubas6v07H
— Algodoneros Unión Laguna (@AlgodonerosUL) June 10, 2024
Esta Semana En la LMB – The best series early in the week pits the Sultanes de Monterrey (33-15, 1st in Zona Norte) against the second-place Acereros de Monclova (27-21, 2nd in Zona Norte).
Over the weekend, the Leones de Yucatan (28-20, 2nd in Zona Sur) face the Conspiradores de Queretaro (26-22, 3rd in Zona Sur).
You can watch Liga Mexicana de Beisbol on Jonron.tv, YoutubeTV, and LMBenvivo.
