Our college basketball pools are free to enter — we’re using ESPN, here’s the men’s and women’s brackets, and you can win free stuff from our shop, like the new SENGA GHOST FORK shirt that dropped last night. There’s also a short-sleeve version, and a tank. If you win, you’ll get to pick your prize for your fandom and style, or have us make a custom design just for you! And if you just can’t wait, remember discount code WCPIO for 10% off in the shop.
Mexico’s clobbering of Team USA at the World Baseball Classic last night surfaces an interesting question: Vinny Castilla is the all-time leader among Mexican-born players with 320 homers, followed by Jorge Orta (130 from 1972-87) and Aurelio Rodriguez (124 from 1967-83). Erubiel Durazo is fourth on the list at 94.
How quickly could the list of Mexican players with 100 career major league homers double from three to six? Here’s where active players stand on the list.
Luis Urías: 45 (7th)
Ramón Urías: 24 (t-11th)
Alejandro Kirk: 23 (t-13th)
Isaac Paredes: 22 (15th)
Joey Meneses: 13 (20th)
There’s a decent chance that Kirk or Paredes, and not Luis Urías, a lighter hitter, reaches the century mark first. Either way, Fernando Valenzuela, with 10 career dingers, has dropped from 11th to 25th on the list since his retirement in 1997. Thanks in part to Fernandomania (and old Mets friend Armando Reynoso, among others), Mexico has long been a country with a better reputation for pitching than hitting. After last night, it’s time to show some respect to the Mexican bats.
We Can Pod It Out 66: Nowhere Man