In a winter season that, at least for the Dominican Republic, has atypical nuances, since its greatest representatives marked a milestone, which provides the opportunity to counteract it with the enormous stature of the greatest giants of Caribbean baseball.
The past national and Caribbean champions, Águilas Cibaeñas, and their antagonistic Tigres del Licey, walked together in simultaneous round robin elimination for the first time under the current format (18 games) and only the second time in history, a fact that denotes the greatness of the one and the other.
And the event forces to search on both teams of the Lidom.
To get an idea of the yardstick they represent, both Águilas and Licey widely lead the five best winter baseball teams in all of America, and only one –Caracas- can boast of its league standard (national championships).
The two staunch quisqueyanos and the Leones del Caracas (Venezuela), make up the elite of the teams that already have two dozen league titles in their showcases.
RD and PR dominate
It is not surprising, despite the resounding fall that it shows, that the Puerto Rican circuit accompanies the Dominican as the hegemons of the best five teams.
But it is also remarkably striking that with everything and the much-vaunted “rivalry to the death” between people from Caracas and their neighbors -Navegantes del Magallanes-, the aurimethylene troop is not even close to the top in the ranking, but neither is it the Bolivarian Lions themselves. , and for others, below the Mexicans when the spectrum is broadened.
In the onerous domain held by Dominican felines and birds slip the Lions of the Chosen, well supported by their successful participation in the Caribbean Series. The natives of Santiago de los Caballeros have in their showcases the unique title “Las Américas” (series played against Cardenales de Lara, Magallanes and Licey in 2015).
The Águilas Cibaeñas lead the Caribbean Series in victories, with a record of 73-45, followed by Tigres del Licey behind (73-42). The Indios de Mayagüez are third (49-49), with the national giants being the only ones with fifty victories. The
The rest of the “top 5” are Criollos de Caguas (49-50) and Cangrejeros de Santurce 41-31, but the latter two include participation in the first stage of the regional classic.
This article is written under the condition of statistical variation of the “Top 5” -the current order will not change-, because one of the Puerto Rican teams (Caguas/Mayagüez) will be in the upcoming Caribbean Series.
Top 5 for global titles
National SC Global
Licey Tigers (RD) 22 10 32
Cibaeña Eagles (RD) 22 7 29
Caguas Creoles (PR) 19 4 23
Caracas Lions (VEN) 20 2 22
Mayagüez Indians (PR) 18 2 20
Completing the Top 10:
Lions of the Chosen (RD) 16 4 20
Crabbers of Santurce (PR) 16 2 18
Orange trees from Hermosillo (MEX) 16 2 18
Tomato growers from Culiacan (MEX) 13 2 15
Magellan Navigators (VEN) 12 2 14
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