Only twice before our excursion into Japan have we peered into an entire foreign country -- Canada, of course, and Colin Jaffray's British Isles (England/Scotland/Wales) trifecta.
Since we've at least dabbled in the home countries (or large cities of those countries) of the three most prolific foreign producers of big league players (Dominican Republic, 410; Puerto Rico, 215; and Canada, 205 through the end of the 2005 season), let's take a look at the next three on the list this next week or so -- Venezuela at 181; Cuba at 150; and our #6 foreign exporter, today's feature with 98 ballplayers having reached the majors, our friendly neighbors to the south ...
... that's right, Mexico. It's time to meet ...
The Merry Mexicans
Yes, that's a HORRIBLE name. Got a better one? Let's hear it!
** indicates Hall of Famer (there are none)
* indicates All-Star
There has never been a Mexican-born MLB manager.
Lineup
C Alex Trevino (.249 in 13 seasons)
1B Ruben Amaro Sr. (.234 in 11 years; primarily a SS)
2B Jorge Orta* (.278 in 16 years)
SS Juan Castro (.230 in 11 years through 2005)
3B Vinny Castilla* (three straight 40+-HR seasons)
LF Karim Garcia (.241, 66 homers in 10 years)
CF Bobby Avila* (1954 AL batting champ)
RF Mel Almada (.284 in seven seasons; three times in AL Top 10 SB)
DH Erubiel Durazo (.281, 94 HR through 2005)
Bench
C Geronimo Gil (.233 with BAL through 2005)
IF Oscar Robles (.272 in 110 games with 2005 LAD)
IF Hector Torres (.216 in nine seasons)
IF Mario Mendoza (.215 in nine seasons)
COR IF Aurelio Rodriguez (2000+ games in 17 years; 1976 Gold Glove)
OF Carlos Lopez (.283/8/34 for '77 expansion SEA; .260/12/54 career)
Rotation
LHSP Fernando Valenzuela* (173-153)
RHSP Esteban Loaiza* (112-99 through 2005)
LHSP Teddy Higuera* (94-64)
RHSP Ismael Valdez (104-105)
RHSP Rodrigo Lopez (51-43 through 2005)
Bullpen
CL-RH Aurelio Lopez* (62-36, 93 saves)
RH-SET Enrique Romo (44-33, 35 saves)
LH-SET Sid Monge* (49-40, 56 saves)
RH-LONG Jesse Flores (44-59, 1942-50)
LH-LONG Oliver Perez (27-30 through 2005)
NOTES ... Avila's batting title in '54 is somewhat tainted, as a
certain Splendid Splinter (that'd be Ted Williams) actually out-hit
him.345-.341, but in "just" 386 at-bats; his 116 walks kept him from
the then-minimum 400 AB for batting title qualifiers, and led to the
rule change that now requires 502 "plate appearances" ... Orta hit .237
as a DH/OF for the 1983 Blue Jays ... Hector Torres had arguably his
finest full season in his final big league campaign, hitting .241 as
the putative starting shortstop for the inaugural 1977 Jays ...
Chico Escarrega was just 1-2/3.67 for the '82 ChiSox, but it was tempting to add him to the roster just to make the obligatory Garret Morris/Chico Escuela joke ... Almost two-thirds of the Mexicans to make the big leagues have been primarily pitchers, 58 of 98, so perhaps its no surprise that such a fine pitching staff emerges ... With five All-Stars, including three lefties, spread out among the rotation's front three and the bullpen's back end, if we can find someone to manage this team, he'll likely be quite comfortable handing the ball to whoever emerges from the clubhouse ...
Juan Acevedo's 28 saves for the 2002 Tigers is the most in a single
season by a Mexico-born player, but the righty doesn't crack this
team's roster ... That's a pretty weak-hitting bench, which could gain
some flexibility if the original A-Rod started at 3B, Castilla moved to
DH, Durazo to 1B and Amaro Sr. took his everything-but-P&C resume
to the bench ... Did you notice that the immortal Mario Mendoza
finished his career with a final batting average a full 15 points higher than the standard that has been derisively dubbed "The Mendoza Line"?
So who'd we miss? And how can this team be better?
