BUENOS AIRES--By this time next week, teams will have crossed the 100-game threshold. In the Americas Baseball League's Latin American Division, a three-horse race has developed. Those three horses are the Santo Domingo Palmchats, the Buenos Aires Dolphins, and the Sao Paulo Toucans. This article will take a look at each of those three teams in order to identify how they have gotten themselves into playoff contention, and what it will take to get over the hump and into the postseason.
Santo Domingo
The Palmchats are in first place in the Latin American division by two games. It is their offense that deserves the credit for their success. Their 491 runs lead the entire Americas League by a commanding 15 runs. Santo Domingo relies on a balanced attack on offense. 7 of their 8 regular position players are hitting at least .289. All this output at the plate is in spite of injuries to key players Mehdi Khalfan, Felipe Escalon, and Will Jones. Escalon and Jones are slated to return in two weeks, at which point the rest of the league will have to deal with an even more potent lineup.
However, if there is anything in which the Palmchats' competitors can take solace, it is the less than stellar run prevention Santo Domingo fans have seen thus far. The 468 runs that Palmchat pitchers have surrendered is good for 6th of the 10 teams in the Americas League. Their pitchers have been especially vulnerable to the home run ball, giving up 103 so far this season, good for 2nd most in the ABL. If their pitching is going to turn it around, they will need a stronger contribution from veteran starting pitcher Tyler Newman, who has posted a 4.11 ERA after an especially disappointing 5.04 showing in 2103.
Competitors will be hoping that they can slow Santo Domingo's bats enough to benefit from their less-than-stingy pitching. Whether that will happen remains to be seen.
Starting Pitcher Tyler Newman
Buenos Aires Dolphins
Buenos Aires has been the polar opposite of Santo Domingo in 2104. The Dolphins' pitching has been nothing less than remarkable. The Americas League's top 3 starting pitchers by ERA all reside in Buenos Aires. The 364 runs the team has surrendered stands as the best mark in the ABL. The starting rotation is due for improvement yet, as Vincente Rodriguez is due to return from the disabled list at any moment. The pitching staff is bolstered by a defense that has racked up a +24.8 zone rating, a mark that is also good for first in the ABL.
However, the formidable Dolphin defense cannot always depend on much of a cushion from the bats. The 421 runs they have scored ranks them 8th in the ABL and last in the Latin American Division. They have been especially strikeout prone, registering 856 so far this year, which is the 3rd worst in the Americas. However, they have been able to belt 103 home runs, which stands at 4th in the ABL. Perhaps the offense will be bolstered by 24 year old centerfield prospect Antonio Hernandez, who has posted an eye popping .309/.376/.526 in 43 AAA games.
Whether or not the Dolphins are able to see the postseason will depend on whether their offense can supply enough runs for their extraordinary pitching and defense.
Centerfield Prospect Antonio Hernandez
Sao Paulo
No one in the league wants to see a team run by Allen Iverson (AI) to win a division, but Sao Paulo may do just that. They currently sit 2.5 games behind the division leading Palmchats. Unlike the extremely offensive or defensive approaches of Santo Domingo and Buenos Aires, respectively, the Toucans have used a very balanced approach to rack up their 52-47 record.
They have been led by a 20 year old shortstop named Carlos "Spud" Vargas. Vargas has belted 21 home runs while also getting on base at a .330 clip. He will surely be a force to be reckoned with for years to come in the ABL.
Vargas has been aided by the contributions of Sao Paulo's formidable 1-2 pitching punch of Michael Shields and Roberto Morales. The pair have gone a combined 21-10 while compiling ERAs of 2.91 and 2.85, respectively. Altogether, the group has amassed a pythagorean record of 55-44, good for second in Latin America behind Buenos Aires. If "Spud" Vargas can power this team to a division championship, he will have made the beginnings of his sure-to-be phenomenal legacy.
Carlos "Spud" Vargas
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It is anyone's guess what will happen in the final two months of the season, but one can count on a thrilling finish as these three Latin American division teams duke it out atop the division.
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