Baseball Mexico

by Bruce Baskin
Published on July 11, 2011 under Mexican League (ML)

SANCHEZ SACKED AS SKIPPER FOR SAGGING SALTILLO

But what have you done for me lately? If he ever had any illusions about job security, Orlando Sanchez has learned the hard way that coming off two Mexican League pennants in a row doesn't count for much if the team you're managing now is in last place. Sanchez was fired as pilot of the Saltillo Saraperos on July 1 after the team slid into the LMB North cellar with a 35-50 record. He was replaced at the helm by longtime Liga catcher Noe Munoz.

Sanchez was introduced as manager of the Saraperos on December 2, 2008. In his first season, Saltillo won its first outright Liga pennant by defeating Quintana Roo, 4 games to 2, in the Finals. He followed that up last season with another flag, this time by bouncing Puebla in five games in the title set. Although the Saraperos did not have a dominant regular season either year, there were hopes for a three-peat going into the current season.

Instead, the Saraperos' pitching staff, which was a question mark going into the campaign, has been battered for a 6.24 team ERA, far too deep a hole even for an offense averaging .303 to overcome. The result was Sanchez' ouster, along with pitching coach Julio Cesar Miranda.

Munoz has caught for 21 years in the Liga, the past 13 in Saltillo. He'll be asked to lead the Saraperos to their 13th consecutive playoff appearance, while new pitching coach Martin Enriquez will be asked to turn the pitching around. It's hard to know which of the two has the harder job ahead of him.

SALON DE LA FAMA INDUCTS FOUR NEW MEMBERS

The Salon de la Fama in Monterrey was the scene of an induction ceremony July 2 as four new members were brought into the fold: Pitchers Mercedes Esquer and Teodoro "Teddy" Higuera, outfielder Jimmie Collins and executive Dr. Arturo Leon Lerma were honored at the Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma brewery grounds, home of the Salon.

Esquer is one of the best left-handed pitchers in Mexican baseball history. He spent 24 seasons in the Liga, mainly with Monterrey and Yucatan, winning over 200 games. Esquer also topped 100 career wins in the Mexican Pacific League.

Higuera had a 94-64 record in nine major league seasons with a 3.66 ERA, becoming the first Mexican-born 20-game winner in American League history with a 20-11 mark for Milwaukee in 1986 (appearing in the All-Star Game that year). Higuera also spent six seasons in the Mexican League, mostly with the Juarez Indios.

A Southern University product, Collins spent seven seasons in the Atlanta Braves system before playing in Mexico between 1978 and 1987, batting .354 for his LMB career (third on the all-time list) and topping .400 twice.

Leon Lerma has spent more than 40 years in the front offices of Mexican baseball teams and leagues. President of the Mexican Pacific League for 15 years, he is currently the Executive Chairman of the LMP's Hermosillo Naranjeros.

MIGUEL RUIZ TAKEN FIRST IN LMP SUMMER DRAFT

Pitcher Miguel Ruiz was the first overall selection in the Mexican Pacific League's annual free agent draft, held recently in Obregon. Ruiz was chosen by the Hermosillo Naranjeros, who were dealt the top pick by Mexicali as part of the trade that sent Chris Roberson to the Aguilas. Ruiz is currently pitching for Campeche in the Mexican League. Guasave took pitcher Luis de la O (Veracruz) second, followed by Navojoa's choice of Laguna outfielder Jesus Romo. Los Mochis picked Hugo Perez, Culiacan chose Reynosa pitcher Oscar Hurtado, Mazatlan picked Veracruz pitcher Carlos Santamaria, Alexis Martinez went to Obregon and Hermosillo took Reynosa pitcher Arturo Mejia. The draft continued for several rounds, with rights to a total of 73 players disbursed. One intriguing pick was Mazatlan's late-round selection of pitcher Vinny Castilla, nephew of the former All-Star third baseman who retired from Hermosillo as an active player last winter.

The Mex Pac draft involves teams selecting eligible domestic players not currently on any LMP team's 60-man reserve list. Teams are also required to drop one player from their reserve list per pick to keep their number at 60.

There was also a draft of foreign-born players who are currently playing in the Mexican League. Taiwanese pitcher Chen Wen Hung was the first extranero picked by Mazatlan.

Mexican League Stories from July 11, 2011

• Baseball Mexico - OSC Original by Bruce Baskin

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