in the 2001–02 season bayamón was the team nobody picked to win the puerto rican league crown. nevertheless, the franchise that carlos baerga saved from bankruptcy two seasons prior headed to their first caribbean series since 1980. since baerga bought the ailing club it had failed to even make the playoffs. then this time the underdog vaqueros managed by carmelo martínez beat the highly favored cangrejeros de santurce of mako oliveras in the championship series, being guided by baerga, who posted a .500 batting average with three rbi and seven runs scored, leading him subsequently to be named series mvp en route to the 2002 caribbean series.