What's In The Water In New Mexico?

Have you noticed those two New Mexico teams winning games at an alarming rate so far this season? Both New Mexico (25-5) and New Mexico State (25-3) are off and running so far in 2009 with offenses that are setting the bar for others to follow.

Coming into this week's action New Mexico led the nation in: Batting average (.407), hits (436) and triples (34). The Lobos are also second nationally in: Runs (325) and runs a game (11.6), and they're third in the nation in: Doubles (79) and slugging percentage (.612).

New Mexico State's not doing too badly either. The Aggies top the national ranking in: Home Runs (63), runs (363), runs a game (13.0), doubles (85), slugging percentage (.661), and walks (229).

I wrote on the blog yesterday about the individual national OPS leaders (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage). How about these TEAM OPS numbers: New Mexico- 1.072 and New Mexico State-1.161.

It's not like either of these teams has historically been a hidden gem of the southwest. New Mexico has averaged 28 wins over the last three years, while NM State has averaged just 23 wins over that same period.

Ray Birmingham is in his second season as the Lobo's head coach after nearly two decades coaching at the junior college level. He brought a handful of players with him from New Mexico Junior College, and they've helped to spearhead his offensive attack. Brian Cavazos-Galvez is batting .455 with a 1.268 OPS, while Kevin Atkinson sports a .463 average and 1.206 OPS. However, neither can touch Ryan Honeycutt's team-leading .511 average to go with a 1.245 OPS.

The Lobos set an NCAA record earlier this year with 6 triples in one inning, and they have 24 heading into this weekend's action. They do play in a good size yard at 340 down both lines, and while much is made about Denver's "mile high" altitude of 5,208 feet, Albuquerque's altitude is 5,312.

New Mexico's signature wins came on March 17th and 18th over a Texas A & M team that was ranked in the top ten in pretty much every national poll.

Meanwhile, at 3,908 elevation in Las Cruces, Rocky Ward and his Aggies start WAC play this weekend against Sacramento State. A sweep of the four-game series would surpass the Aggies' 28 wins last year.

Like New Mexico, several New Mexico State players have gaudy offensive numbers. Brian Marquez is batting .371 with a team-high 13 home runs and a 1.378 OPS. Mike Sodders leads his team with a .424 average and 13 doubles to go with seven homers, and a 1.337 OPS. Jeffry Farnham is hitting .418, Wade Reynoso .400, Nate Shaver's at .394, and Richard Stout's batting at a .387 clip with a team-high 47 runs scored.

The Aggies don't have the signature wins that the Lobos have, but they have split two games with their intra-state rival. They also have a four-game WAC series at defending national champion Fresno State next weekend.

Bottom line-both New Mexico teams appear to have an entertaining brand of baseball that I'm doing searches on my DVR to see if I can find a game to watch, and both teams look to be on a collision course with an NCAA regional.