Winter Leagues Status – January 3, 2018

January 3 – “regular season” play in the Winter Leagues has wrapped up and the winter “post-season” is getting underway (Puerto Rico is an exception – see below).  Here’s the status of the various leagues, and which clubs are still playing in January:

DOMINICANA – the final standings for the rol regular , the regular season which completed play on December 21, were:

The top four clubs advance to an 18-game round-robin “semifinals” which will complete on Jan. 18.  The top two teams from the round-robin phase will then play for the league championship.

In the early going of the todos-contra-todos (round robin), Licey is in the lead at 4-0.

Escogido outfielder Franchy Cordero has been named both the regular season league MVP and the Rookie of the Year.  The 23-year-old debuted with the San Diego Padres this year after posting a .972 OPS with El Paso of the AAA PCL.

CUBA – the second half of Serie Nacional 57 was completed on Dec. 25 with the standings as follows:

Los Cocodrilos de Matanzas won 9 of their last 1o to overtake Las Tunas for 1st place.  The semi-final best-of-seven series open January 4 with Matanzas hosting defending champion Granma, and Las Tunas hosting Industriales (Havana).

Alfredo Despaigne was named Cuban player-of-the-year for 2017 based upon his outstanding season in Japan with the Softbank Falcons and his SN56 post-season play with the defending champion Granma Alazanes.

MEXICO – the LMP regular season wrapped up on December 29.  Counting points earned for both the first- and second-half seasons, here are the final consolidated standings:

The top six teams now advance to the “quarter-finals”.  Tomateros de Culiacan will open the best-of-seven series at home against Charros de Jalisco.  Likewise, Aguilas de Mexicali will host Venados de Mazatlán and Mayos de Navojoa will host Naranjeros de Hermosillo.  You might ask how this can be the “quarter-finals” when there are only three match-ups?  Not only will the three winners advance, but the losing team with the best playoff record will also advance.

VENEZUELA – likewise, the LVBP finished their rol regular on December 29.  The top six clubs will advance to the post-season in a playoff format similar to Mexico’s.  Final standings are:

PUERTO RICO – due to the extensive damage from Hurricane Maria, the winter league in Puerto Rico will play an abbreviated schedule beginning on Three Kings Day – January 5.  Four teams – Santurce, Carolina, Caguas, and Mayaguez/Aguadilla – will play an 18-game schedule due to complete January 23.

After this shortened rol regular, the 2nd and 3rd place finishers will play a single wild-card game, with the winner advancing to a best-of-five final series vs. the 1st place finisher.  The winner then advances to defend Puerto Rico’s 2017 Serie del Caribe championship.