March Madness: Version Copa de la Diversión, part 1

It’s bracket time but as I was filling out my bracket for March Madness I kept getting distracted by the absolutely amazing alternate logos for the 2019 Minor League Baseball celebration of Latinx culture that is Copa de la Diversión. The program began in 2017 with four teams participating. Last year 33 teams participated, this year 72 minor league baseball teams unveiled alternate jerseys and brands in Spanish.

Hmmmm. 64 team bracket in March Madness. 72 alternate jerseys and logos in the Copa de la Diversión.

I think you see where I’m going with this.

Welcome to Bleed Cubbie Blue’s first annual March Madness to celebrate the best Latinx rebrands in Copa de la Diversión. My personal attempt to mix some baseball fun into March Madness. With any luck it will also me (and all of us) narrow down the favorites. My bank account will appreciate the assist.

The bracket

By far the hardest part of this exercise was narrowing the field to 64 teams. Frankly, all of the logos are fantastic, but a bracket is a bracket and in order for a bracket to work you need numbers like 32, or 64.

Decisions had to be made. Basically I cut the teams that only translated their name and didn’t do a ton of creative work on the logo. It was painful to do so in some cases, but I had to narrow the field to 64 somehow.

I’ll be revealing each bracket divisions in posts over the rest of the week and the weekend, but before we do that I had to do some shout-outs to the teams that just missed the cut.

The bubble teams

So, on the bubble, just missing the cut for the tournament:

Montañas de Chattanooga (Chattanooga Lookouts)

MiLB Montañas de Chattanooga

While I like the story and appreciate the logo, I just couldn’t get fired up about a direct translation, particularly since the logo is basically their normal logo in a different color.

Energía de Greenville (Greenville Drive)

MiLB Energía de Greenville

I appreciate that this is sort like if their logo was a soccer kit, and “Energía” is related to “Drive,” but this is a tough field and frankly there wasn’t enough color or creativity here for Greenville to make it to the dance.

Kane County Cougars

MiLB Kane County Cougars

The Cougars added red and green to their logo and didn’t even bother to translate “cougar.” That is not going to cut it in a tough field.

Música de Memphis (Memphis Redbirds)

MiLB Música de Memphis

In fairness to the Música if there were play-in games in this bracket they would be in one. I like the logo. I like the references. I’d even overlook that it’s a Cardinals affiliate, but the field was too tough this year. This is the last team out.

Trueno de Trenton (Trenton Thunder)

MiLB Trueno de Trenton

This is a direct translation of the original team name and the logo doesn’t have an updated color palette. Not good enough to make the bracket.

Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach (Myrtle Beach Pelicans)

MiLB Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach

It pains me to include a Cubs affiliate on the list and the Pelicans were the second team out. I like how they updated the logo but I just can’t give them a lot of credit for the direct translation of the team name. This was close, but just not quite in the field.

Peleadores de Reading (Reading Fightin’ Phils)

MiLB Peleadores de Reading

Another direct translation. The logo is a new color. Just not quite going to work in this field.

Cadejos de Lake Elsinore (Lake Elsinore Storm)

MiLB Cadejos de Lake Elsinore

The name is creative, it’s a reference to a South American legend. I also think the two color font here is clever since it’s supposed to represent the evil and good cadejo. I just really wish they’d done more visually with this, perhaps an improvement for next year.

Stay tuned for my Eastern bracket reveal as the tournament gets started tomorrow!