2009 Mexican League All Stars

I'll be honest with you: I have no idea why I decided to take a look at the Mexican League. Perhaps it was a fit of boredom or maybe, just maybe, the lure of Timo Perez drew me in.

But no matter what the reason, I'm thrilled with the results. Some of the names on Mexican League rosters are classic. Absolutely classic. I hope you enjoy these names as much as I did.

With that, Jorge Says No! presents:

Oh my God! He's Still Around!

2009 Mexican League All Stars

Bill Pulsipher, SP, Pericos de Puebla: I am one of the few Met fans, who actually has fond memories of Pulsipher. When Pulsipher was attempting to make it back to the majors a few years back, he first attempted his comeback with the Long Island Ducks. Luckily for me, the one time I actually went to a Ducks game, I saw Pulsipher pitch...and get shelled.

Pulsipher did not make it out of the first inning, but by the third (or fourth) inning, he decided that he was hungry. So he turned to the first row behind the dugout, looked at my brother and I, and asked, "can I have some peanuts?"

With that, we tossed Bill Pulsipher whatever peanuts we had left. He never gave them back.

So there you have it, Bill Pulsipher ate my peanuts.

Ahh, Generation K.

Chris Snelling, Sultanes de Monterrey: Chris Snelling was a tease. He had talent that made baseball people salivate, but for some reason, Snelling always got hurt and therefore, was not able to make an impact on the major league level. What a shame.

Victor Zambrano, SP, Sultanes de Monterrey: I wonder if Rick Peterson still believes that he can turn Zambrano into an ace?

Best known for being traded for Scott Kazmir and for breaking the hearts of Mets fans all over the nation.

Sad.

Erubiel Durazo, SP, Sultanes de Monterrey: In 2003-2004, Erubial Durazo established himself as an on base machine, who could hit for some power. But after 2005, Durazo never played in the majors ever again because of injuries. Durazo's career in the majors, which seemed to have so much promise, was over in the blink of an eye.

Humberto Cota, C, Sultanes de Monterrey: Former Pirates catcher, who received ample playing time in 2005. Best known for failing a drug test in 2008.

Juan Acevedo, RP, Dorados de Chihuahua: Wow, Juan Acevedo. I vividly remember watching Acevedo pitch for the Mets as a third grader (I think). I seriously cannot believe that he is still pitching. The strangest tidbit about Acevedo is that in 2003, he was the Yankees closer as Mariano Rivera recovered from injuries. Need less to say, Acevedo was terrible as the closer and did not pitch in the majors after 2003.

Benji Gil, SS, Dorados de Chihuahua: Utility man and member of the 2002 Angels.

Ricardo Rincon, RP, Diablos Rojos: At the end of last season, Rincon was one of the Mets' best and most trusted relief pitchers. Yes, I'm being serious. I'm stunned that no one gave Rincon a chance to show what he could do. I still believe that this guy has something left.

Geronimo Gil, C, Diablos Rojos: Former Oriole catcher. Has one of my favorite baseball names of all time....

"HAY RON i MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL"

And no, its not Ger-on-imo Gil.

Ruben Rivera, OF, Piratas de Campeche: Quick, hide Derek Jeter's mitt!

Can you believe that Rivera was once compared to Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds, and Ken Griffey Jr.? Rivera's skills were so good that Baseball America dubbed him as the Yankees best prospect in both 1996 and 1997. But of course, Rivera never panned out and will go down as one of the biggest busts of the 90s.

Jose Macias, IF, Piratas de Campeche: One of my favorite utility players of all time simply because he could play all over the field. I'm pretty bummed that Macias never got to play all 9 positions even though he played on two terrible Tigers teams ('01+'02). I say that the Nationals should bring Macias back in September and have him play every position as a publicity stunt. Who's with me?

Timo Perez, OF, Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz: Ah, Timo Perez. Keep running! Don't stop! Yes, I still have nightmares about Timo inexplicably not running on Todd Zeile's double during the 2000 World Series, which cost the Mets a run, game 1, and for me personally, lots of sleep.

For a couple months during 2000, Timo was all the rage in New York. He was the spark plug, who always seemed to get on base and get the Mets offense going. But as quickly as Timo burst onto the scene, he was gone, relegated to the life as a fourth outfielder and AAAA player. Timo never could get on base enough.

D'Angelo Jimenez, IF, Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz: Like Ruben Rivera before him, Jimenez was a highly touted prospect in the Yankees system. But in 2000, Jimenez was involved in a serious car accident that prevented him from achieving his full potential. Jimenez had a couple decent seasons in the majors ('03+'04), but he was a fringe player in the majors. What a shame.

Felix Heredia, RP, Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz: Heredia was the classic lefty specialist. He never put up great numbers on the surface, because Heredia could get lefties out, teams gave him opportunity after opportunity to show what he could (and couldn't) do. I will always remember two things about Heredia:

1. He tested positive for steroids in 2005
2. One of the few players in the last decade to be involved in a trade between the Mets and Yankees

Raul Casanova, C, Tigres de Quintana Roo: Casanova got some playing time with the Mets last season and actually did alright in his limited time with the ball club. However, you knew the Mets had soured on Casanova when Robinson Cancel passed him on the depth chart.

OTHER NOTABLES: Jose Santiago, Julio Mateo, Orber Moreno, Oscar Robles, Luis Matos