The calendar may have just been flipped to November, but already the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico’s season is 1/4 finished, with 17 games of the 68-game regular season completed.
In Guadalajara, the defending LAMP champions, the Charros de Jalisco, have won their last four games and are a game ahead of the Caneros de Los Mochis, also winners of their last four, and the Yaquis de Obregon.
At bat, Benji Gil’s team may be better than their record indicates. Just look at their offensive statistics: The Charros lead the league in runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, and have struck out fewer times than any other team in the LAMP.
Their weakness, though, is pitching. Despite a 12-5 record, the Charros have the second-worst ERA in the LAMP, with a 5.09 mark though the first quarter of the season, and have allowed 94 runs, the second-most in the league and just three runs fewer than the Venados de Mazatlan. Luis Payan has been spectacular in his two starts, with a 0.93 ERA in 9 2/3 innings thus far, but no other starter for the Charros has an ERA under 3.50 thus far this season, with Ronald Medrano ranking second among the Jalisco starters with a 3.94 mark.
And while Gil’s starters have been less than sharp in throwing 82 1/3 of the team’s 155 2/3 innings this season, an average of just under five innings per game, the bullpen hasn’t exactly been lights out either, with a rotating cast of relievers throwing the late innings. Blake Whitney has been the best of the Charros’ relievers thus far, throwing 10 innings with a 2.70 ERA in nine appearances, while Isaac Jimenez (8 2/3 IP, 3.12 ERA, 6 K) and Gerardo Carrillo (6 2/3 IP, 1.35 ERA0 have been solid. Closer Trevor Clifton, less than a year removed from being the Caribbean Series All-Tournament Team reliever and a solid reliever in the summer for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, struggled after coming to the Charros late in the LMB season, and allowed two runs on one hit and a walk in his season debut Sunday.
It’s an interesting situation for Gil and the Charros: their hot offense, the best in the league, is carrying them, while their pitching staff is severely underperforming. While they’re not the only team in the league with such a bifurcated set of statistics on each side of the ledger — the Caneros de Los Mochis are struggling at the plate, scoring a league low 125 runs and batting .218/.315/.334, but have an 11-6 record due to their league-leading pitching — the question is there: How far will the Charros offense carry them if the pitching doesn’t improve?
Pitcher of the Week – Manny Barreda of the Tomateros de Culiacan took the LAMP pitcher of the week award, making two starts, throwing 14 innings and allowing only one run, striking out eight with a weekly ERA of 0.64. Also nominated were Odrisamer Despaigne of the Yaquis de Obregón, who threw six innings struck out five in one start against Culiacan, and Nolan Kingham of the Venados de Mazatán, who threw 10 innings over two starts and allowed two runs, striking out seven.
Player of the Week – Jared Serna of the Charros de Jalisco was named LAMP player of the week, batting .333 with a homer, nine RBIs, and four triples last week. Also nominated were Sebastián Elizalde of the Yaquis de Obregón, who had a homer and nine RBIs and batted .350 last week, and Keven Lamas of the Venados de Mazatán, who batted .421 with seven RBIs.
Reliever of the Week – Efrain Contreras of the Yaquis de Obregon won reliever of the week, earning three saves, pitching 3 2/3 innings, not allowing a run, striking out three with a 0.55 WHIP and 0.00 ERA. Also nominated were Danis Correa of the Cañeros de Los Mochis, who earned three saves in 3 2/3 innings without allowing a run, and Gerardo Carrillo of the Charros de Jalisco, who earned two holds in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Tuesday’s LAMP Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
9 p.m. – Aguilas de Mexicali at Venados de Mazatlan
9:10 p.m. – Charros de Jalisco at Yaquis de Obregon
9:30 p.m. – Tomateros de Culiacan at Caneros de Los Mochis
9:30 p.m. – Algodoneros de Guasave at Naranjeros de Hermosillo
9:30 p.m. – Tucson Baseball Team at Jaguares de Nayarit
Photo: Jared Serna had four triples for the Charros de Jalisco last week on his way to earning the LAMP’s player of the week award. (Photo courtesy of the LAMP)
