The Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico topped this week’s World Baseball Network winter ball poll, receiving three of four first-place votes and 39 points in the balloting.
Hermosillo is 39-23 during the regular season, and can clinch the second-half title with a combination of three wins and three losses by the Charros de Jalisco (34-28), who are 10th in this week’s poll but second in the LAMP’s second half with a 17-10 mark.
Just behind Hermosillo in the poll are the Tomateros de Culiacan, who received one first place vote and 36 points in the balloting. Culiacan is 39-23, tied with Hermosillo for the regular season lead, but are 14-13 in the second half. The Tomateros have won seven straight to get back above .500 in the second half. Hermosillo, Jalisco, and Culiacan are all but assured a playoff spot with six games remaining on the regular season schedule.
Third in this week’s poll are the Cardenales de Lara, who lead the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional with a 33-23 record. Henry Blanco’s club got 32 points, two more than the LIDOM leaders, Estrellas Orientales, who were No. 1 in last week’s poll but fell to fourth this week after going 1-3.
The Aguilas Cibaenas are fifth this week, reentering the poll after sweeping the Estrellas early in the week and improving to 28-20, good for second place in LIDOM.
Puerto Rico’s Senadores de San Juan lead the Liga Beisbol Profesional de Roberto Clemente, but the voters ranked them sixth with 15 points, the only team in the LBPRC to make this week’s poll.
Ranked seventh in the balloting were the Caneros de Los Mochis, who are 35-27 in the LAMP and 6-4 in their last 10.
The Bravos de Margarita of the LVBP are ninth, with a 31-25 record this season, earning 10 points in the poll, five more than the 10th-ranked Charros de Jalisco.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to all, and to all, good baseball.
| Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | League | Points | Record | Last 10 Games | Last Week |
| 1 | Naranjeros de Hermosillo (3) | LAMP | 39 | 39-23 | 6-4 | 2 |
| 2 | Tomateros de Culiacan (1) | LAMP | 36 | 39-23 | 8-2 | 4 |
| 3 | Cardenales de Lara | LVBP | 32 | 33-23 | 6-4 | 3 |
| 4 | Estrellas Orientales | LIDOM | 30 | 28-20 | 6-4 | 1 |
| 5 | Aguilas Cibaenas | LIDOM | 22 | 28-21 | 7-3 | NR |
| 6 | Senadores de San Juan | LBPRC | 15 | 19-13 | 5-5 | 5 |
| 7 | Caneros de Los Mochis | LAMP | 14 | 35-27 | 6-4 | 7 |
| 8 | Tigres del Licey | LIDOM | 12 | 25-20 | 5-5 | 10 |
| 9 | Bravos de Margarita | LVBP | 10 | 31-25 | 7-3 | NR |
| 10 | Charros de Jalisco | LAMP | 5 | 34-28 | 6-4 | 8 |
Also Receiving Votes: Aguilas del Zulia (LVBP, 3), Indios de Mayaguez (LBPRC, 3).
Dropped Out: Indios de Mayaguez, Aguilas del Zulia.
