The day we've been waiting for since early last November: The first pitchers and catchers reported to spring training today.
More than a third (11) of the teams welcomed their batterymen to camps in Florida and (increasingly) Arizona.
Those same pitchers and catchers for the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Angels, Padres and Mariners in Arizona and the Orioles, Tigers, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals and Blue Jays in the Sunshine State will hold the first official workouts of the spring Monday.
More than half of the pitchers and catchers will be in camp Monday and working out Tuesday, because six teams will be greetigg their poorest hitters Monday.
The only new training site is at Talking Stick in North Scottsdale, Ariz., where the D-backs and Rockies are moving from Tucson. The Orioles are changing locales, moving from Fort Lauderdale to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, which the Reds abandoned a year ago to move to Goodyear, Ariz. There now are more teams training in the desert than among the beaches, swamps and strawberry fields of Florida.
USA Today reported that Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols rejected the team's offer for a contract extension. His agent, Danny Lozano, had said that his client wouldn't negotiate on the extension after he reports to spring training, which (according to USA Today) will be Tuesday, a day early. Pujols' contract will expire after this season, for which he's receiving $16 million.
There have been some minor free agent signings during this week, which I spent mostly in San Antonio and mostly with a migraine while I was there.
Yankees: 3B/1B Eric Chavez and RHP Luis Ayala
Mariners: RHP Manny Delcarmen
Red Sox: RHP Alfredo Aceves, LHP Dennys Reyes
Rockies: RHP Claudio Vargas
Ayala and an aging minor league invitee, 1B Jorge Vazquez, will be at New York's training site in Tampa after performing well in winter ball.
Speaking of winter ball, even though it's summer ball there, the Australian Baseball League playoffs concluded today. The Perth Heat, who played the entire best-of-three series at home, lost the first game but came back to win the final two games.
In Game 3, the Heat defeated the Adelaide Bite 7-1. RHP Benjamin Moore painted the corners and shut out Adelaide until 3B Stefan Welch (Mets organization) hit a ninth-inning solo homer. Moore's pitching line was 94110 10. For Perth, LF Robert Widlansky hit a two-run homer in a four-run eighth inning. A "crowd" of 1,876 saw that game, played without a full complement of network TV commercials in 2:22.
Speaking of TV, you can sign up to see as many as 150 exhibition games and 2,400 regular-season games on mlb.tv.
You can sign up here. I don't give you that link because I get a kickback, but because I enjoy the product.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Mexico watches Caribbean Series title come its way
Mexico rallied with three sixth-inning runs this afternoon to defeat Venezuela 3-2. That made Mexico the leader in the clubhouse with just one Caribbean Series game to be played.
Host Puerto Rico needed only to defeat the Dominican Republic to match Mexico's 4-2 record and win the four-team, double-round-robin Series on the strength of its two head-to-head victories over the Mexicans.
However, that didn't happen.
LHP Raul Valdes from the Cardinals organization and RHP Julio Manon combined for a four-hit shutout as the Dominicans took down Puerto Rico. LF Alejandro De Aza (White Sox) had the game's biggest hit, a fourth-inning triple against losing pitcher Willie Collazo that drove in two unearned runs.
Valdes had a pitching line of 7 2/3 40016. Manon saved all three of the Dominicans' Series wins.
For Mexico, 3B Augustin Murillo sent a run home with a groundout and DH Jorge Vazquez, a Yankees farmhand, followed with a two-run homer against losing pitcher Seth Etherton.
CF Eliezer Alfonzo had plated Venezuela's runs with a two-run, fourth-inning homer.
RHP Luis Ayala pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his second save of the Series.
* * *
Two stories have dominated the news in the Metroplex since the big-game circus left town. One is whether the goings-on surrounding the game here were a "disappointment," a "disaster" or a "debacle."
The local ESPN radio station's position seemed softest, that "of course" the NFL would bring the big game back as soon as five years hence, as Super Bowl L. The local talk-radio station known as The Fan seemed to think the big game wouldn't return until at least Super Bowl M or whenever Hell joined North Texas in freezing over, whichever comes first.
The least critical talk-show host on The Fan was Josh Lewin. The Rangers' TV play-by-play man through last season called the Super mess "disappointing." That was the same word Rangers 3B Michael Young used to describe his own situation. And that situation was the other big story here.
Young told mlb.com's T.R. Sullivan, "The suggestion that I've had a change of heart and asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth. I want to be traded because I have been manipulated and misled in this process and I'm not going to take it anymore."
With the addition of 3B Adrian Beltre and 1B/C Mike Napoli, like Young right-handed batters, to Texas' offense, the Rangers' long-term all-star's projected at-bats have been shriveling faster than the late Ken Caminiti's nuts.
Beltre has taken away Young's third base job before his Range Factor could shrink to 0, and Napoli would spend some time as a right-handed DH and platoon player with lefty-swinging 1B Mitch Moreland, limiting the 34-year-old's time at another possible sanctuary.
The catch is that Young's contract has both $48 million remaining over the next three years and a limited no-trade clause that exempts eight teams. Though his limited range could make Young better suited to the American League with its DH role, reportedly just three of the eight teams exempted are in the AL: the Yankees, Twins and Angels. He would seem to fit in very well with the Twins, sometimes giving them needed pop at third base and at others serving as a DH complement to the left-handed Jason Kubel.
None of those AL teams would seem to have a wealth of what the Rangers would want in return: a useful proven player or a prospect or two. Minnesota's farm system is drying up in the post-Terry Ryan era. Trading with the Yankees would mean Texas wouldn't have to send along as much cash (possibly $20 million for some teams) as they would to other places with smaller budgets. But Michael Young in a Yankees uniform? Just doesn't seem right.
Host Puerto Rico needed only to defeat the Dominican Republic to match Mexico's 4-2 record and win the four-team, double-round-robin Series on the strength of its two head-to-head victories over the Mexicans.
However, that didn't happen.
LHP Raul Valdes from the Cardinals organization and RHP Julio Manon combined for a four-hit shutout as the Dominicans took down Puerto Rico. LF Alejandro De Aza (White Sox) had the game's biggest hit, a fourth-inning triple against losing pitcher Willie Collazo that drove in two unearned runs.
Valdes had a pitching line of 7 2/3 40016. Manon saved all three of the Dominicans' Series wins.
For Mexico, 3B Augustin Murillo sent a run home with a groundout and DH Jorge Vazquez, a Yankees farmhand, followed with a two-run homer against losing pitcher Seth Etherton.
CF Eliezer Alfonzo had plated Venezuela's runs with a two-run, fourth-inning homer.
RHP Luis Ayala pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his second save of the Series.
* * *
Two stories have dominated the news in the Metroplex since the big-game circus left town. One is whether the goings-on surrounding the game here were a "disappointment," a "disaster" or a "debacle."
The local ESPN radio station's position seemed softest, that "of course" the NFL would bring the big game back as soon as five years hence, as Super Bowl L. The local talk-radio station known as The Fan seemed to think the big game wouldn't return until at least Super Bowl M or whenever Hell joined North Texas in freezing over, whichever comes first.
The least critical talk-show host on The Fan was Josh Lewin. The Rangers' TV play-by-play man through last season called the Super mess "disappointing." That was the same word Rangers 3B Michael Young used to describe his own situation. And that situation was the other big story here.
Young told mlb.com's T.R. Sullivan, "The suggestion that I've had a change of heart and asked for a trade is a manipulation of the truth. I want to be traded because I have been manipulated and misled in this process and I'm not going to take it anymore."
With the addition of 3B Adrian Beltre and 1B/C Mike Napoli, like Young right-handed batters, to Texas' offense, the Rangers' long-term all-star's projected at-bats have been shriveling faster than the late Ken Caminiti's nuts.
Beltre has taken away Young's third base job before his Range Factor could shrink to 0, and Napoli would spend some time as a right-handed DH and platoon player with lefty-swinging 1B Mitch Moreland, limiting the 34-year-old's time at another possible sanctuary.
The catch is that Young's contract has both $48 million remaining over the next three years and a limited no-trade clause that exempts eight teams. Though his limited range could make Young better suited to the American League with its DH role, reportedly just three of the eight teams exempted are in the AL: the Yankees, Twins and Angels. He would seem to fit in very well with the Twins, sometimes giving them needed pop at third base and at others serving as a DH complement to the left-handed Jason Kubel.
None of those AL teams would seem to have a wealth of what the Rangers would want in return: a useful proven player or a prospect or two. Minnesota's farm system is drying up in the post-Terry Ryan era. Trading with the Yankees would mean Texas wouldn't have to send along as much cash (possibly $20 million for some teams) as they would to other places with smaller budgets. But Michael Young in a Yankees uniform? Just doesn't seem right.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Puerto Rico moves close to Caribbean title
Got within a few keystrokes of making this post a few minutes ago when my foot hit the AC adaptor cord and wiped out what I'd done -- another reason why I don't like Macs.
Anyway, tonight Puerto Rico allowed Mexico to score a ninth-inning run on Gabriel Gutierrez's single, but held off the Mexicans for a 7-6 victory in the Caribbean Series.
That left both teams with 3-2 records. There are some arcane rules in the Caribbean Series, but I think if Puerto Rico wins the Series' final game Monday night over the Domincian Republic, PR would take the championship regardless of whether Mexico defeats Venezuela this afternoon, because the host team has defeated Mexico twice.
Going into the final day of the four-team, double-round-robin tournament, Mexico and Puerto Rico are 3-2 and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are 2-3. I don't know how the tie would be broken if the Dominicans and Venezuelans won Monday so that all four teams would finish 3-3.
1B Aaron Bates and SS Luis Figueroa each drove in two runs for Puerto Rico tonight. Juan Padilla won his second game in the Series by pitching 5 1/3 relief innings. He allowed a solo homer to Mexico OF Karim Garcia. LHP Joe Torres recorded the final out to record a save.
Anyway, tonight Puerto Rico allowed Mexico to score a ninth-inning run on Gabriel Gutierrez's single, but held off the Mexicans for a 7-6 victory in the Caribbean Series.
That left both teams with 3-2 records. There are some arcane rules in the Caribbean Series, but I think if Puerto Rico wins the Series' final game Monday night over the Domincian Republic, PR would take the championship regardless of whether Mexico defeats Venezuela this afternoon, because the host team has defeated Mexico twice.
Going into the final day of the four-team, double-round-robin tournament, Mexico and Puerto Rico are 3-2 and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are 2-3. I don't know how the tie would be broken if the Dominicans and Venezuelans won Monday so that all four teams would finish 3-3.
1B Aaron Bates and SS Luis Figueroa each drove in two runs for Puerto Rico tonight. Juan Padilla won his second game in the Series by pitching 5 1/3 relief innings. He allowed a solo homer to Mexico OF Karim Garcia. LHP Joe Torres recorded the final out to record a save.
Adelaide advances; Mexico near Series title
The Adelaide Bite rallied today from being no-hit in the first game of the best-of-three Round 2 of the Australian Baseball League playoffs to defeat the Sydney Blue Sox in 15 innings and advance to the finals.
In a game that had been tied since the seventh inning, Adelaide scored three times in the top of the 15th for a 7-4 victory that moved the Bite in next weekend's best-of-three finals at Perth. Mathew Smith's infield single sent home the tie-breaking run, and he scored the second run in the inning. RHP Mark Brackman, the losing pitcher in LHP David Welch's no-hitter Friday, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to record a win. The losing pitcher was Dae-Sung Koo, who had held Adelaide scoreless after entering the game in the eighth inning.
In the Caribbean Series, Mexico had a chance to clinch the title tonight by defeating Puerto Rico, but trailed 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning tonight.
Puerto Rico had improved to 2-2 Saturday night by defeating Venezuela 4-2 in 10 innings. The host team's two runs in the top of the 10th scored on bases-loaded walks to Edgardo Baez and Javier Valentin by Venezuela's Jean Toledo. RHP Kiko Calero recorded a save with a binary line of 100001.
This afternoon, Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic 3-0 with four pitchers combining on an eight-hit shutout. RHP Francisco pitched the ninth inning (line: 110000) for his second save in the series. LF Alexis Espinosa hit a fifth-inning solo homer.
Both the Dominican and Venezuela teams are 2-3 and with a Puerto Rico win tonight could finish in a four-way tie for the Series championship by winning Monday, the final day. Venezuela is scheduled to play Mexico at 3 p.m. EST, with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico meeting at 7:30 p.m. EST.
If the hosts complete their victory over Mexico, they would improve to 3-2, matching the Mexicans' record. If those teams finish tied at 4-2, Puerto Rico would have a tiebreaker because it would have defeated Mexico twice. To win, Mexico would have to defeat Venezuela with Puerto Rico losing to the Dominicans.
However, if Mexico rallies to win tonight, it would take the title because at 4-1 it would have a two-game lead over each of the other teams with one game to play.
In a game that had been tied since the seventh inning, Adelaide scored three times in the top of the 15th for a 7-4 victory that moved the Bite in next weekend's best-of-three finals at Perth. Mathew Smith's infield single sent home the tie-breaking run, and he scored the second run in the inning. RHP Mark Brackman, the losing pitcher in LHP David Welch's no-hitter Friday, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to record a win. The losing pitcher was Dae-Sung Koo, who had held Adelaide scoreless after entering the game in the eighth inning.
In the Caribbean Series, Mexico had a chance to clinch the title tonight by defeating Puerto Rico, but trailed 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning tonight.
Puerto Rico had improved to 2-2 Saturday night by defeating Venezuela 4-2 in 10 innings. The host team's two runs in the top of the 10th scored on bases-loaded walks to Edgardo Baez and Javier Valentin by Venezuela's Jean Toledo. RHP Kiko Calero recorded a save with a binary line of 100001.
This afternoon, Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic 3-0 with four pitchers combining on an eight-hit shutout. RHP Francisco pitched the ninth inning (line: 110000) for his second save in the series. LF Alexis Espinosa hit a fifth-inning solo homer.
Both the Dominican and Venezuela teams are 2-3 and with a Puerto Rico win tonight could finish in a four-way tie for the Series championship by winning Monday, the final day. Venezuela is scheduled to play Mexico at 3 p.m. EST, with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico meeting at 7:30 p.m. EST.
If the hosts complete their victory over Mexico, they would improve to 3-2, matching the Mexicans' record. If those teams finish tied at 4-2, Puerto Rico would have a tiebreaker because it would have defeated Mexico twice. To win, Mexico would have to defeat Venezuela with Puerto Rico losing to the Dominicans.
However, if Mexico rallies to win tonight, it would take the title because at 4-1 it would have a two-game lead over each of the other teams with one game to play.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
It's about the money
Two points about the NFL during this Super Bowl weekend:
1. Sure the weather has been horrendous in North Texas this week. It's back somewhat to normal, because Friday's snow melted the next day. But it's ridiculous to say that the area shouldn't have another Super Bowl because a once-in-20-years-or-more storm happened to hit this year. The NFL deserves some credit for sticking up for its sponsor/partners who will lose expected revenue because the influx of visitors to the area is (a) smaller than it otherwise would be and (b) increasingly holed up in hotel rooms keeping warm instead of out on the towns involved. After all, the NFL is getting almost as much ticket/parking/merchandise revenue as it expected.
The same NFL and its apologists who seem so concerned about inclement weather continue to schedule the big game for February, possibly the worst weather month of all, and in areas even farther north, such as Indianapolis and New Jersey.
2. And this money grab really has me hot, the negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement have only one issue. That issue is green on the back and includes dollar signs.
The owners, who give lip service to player safety, want to add two games to the regular season, despite knowing full well that the longer schedule statistically means we could expect 12.5 per cent more injuries. Also, you can bet that while acknowledging almost in so many words that preseason exhibitions suck, the league would not lower prices for the remaining exhibitions below the price for regular-season games.
Reportedly, the players would not receive a pro rata 12.5 per cent salary increase, nor would there be a higher roster limit and therefore more jobs. It would make sense at least to make the current practice squad players part of the regular roster or to make all 53 players on the current active roster eligible to play in each game. For their part, the players aren't really willing to play even for just a 12.5 per cent increase. Their position is very logical. A player's career isn't measured so much in games as in years. A few veteran players currently could be paid for 128 games in eight seasons (16 X 8 = 128). Theoretically, players entering the league when it goes to an 18 game season could be paid in seven seasons for 126 gams (18 X 7 = 126). But with a 12.5 per cent higher chance of getting hurt, he might not even make it through that seventh season, let alone into an eighth. Keep in mind that this is a league in which the average player lasts about three years.
3. A bonus gripe: The idea of a lockout to take effect within weeks after the Super Bowl is ludicrous. That's the same as if your boss gave your whole company two weeks off at the same time, then said it was locking you out for those two weeks. There's not really anything for NFL players to be locked out of until the season begins, unless you want to count the ridiculous OTAs.
We probably should expect more players, established veterans at least, simply to adopt the Brett Favre stance and not show up until mid-August.
1. Sure the weather has been horrendous in North Texas this week. It's back somewhat to normal, because Friday's snow melted the next day. But it's ridiculous to say that the area shouldn't have another Super Bowl because a once-in-20-years-or-more storm happened to hit this year. The NFL deserves some credit for sticking up for its sponsor/partners who will lose expected revenue because the influx of visitors to the area is (a) smaller than it otherwise would be and (b) increasingly holed up in hotel rooms keeping warm instead of out on the towns involved. After all, the NFL is getting almost as much ticket/parking/merchandise revenue as it expected.
The same NFL and its apologists who seem so concerned about inclement weather continue to schedule the big game for February, possibly the worst weather month of all, and in areas even farther north, such as Indianapolis and New Jersey.
2. And this money grab really has me hot, the negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement have only one issue. That issue is green on the back and includes dollar signs.
The owners, who give lip service to player safety, want to add two games to the regular season, despite knowing full well that the longer schedule statistically means we could expect 12.5 per cent more injuries. Also, you can bet that while acknowledging almost in so many words that preseason exhibitions suck, the league would not lower prices for the remaining exhibitions below the price for regular-season games.
Reportedly, the players would not receive a pro rata 12.5 per cent salary increase, nor would there be a higher roster limit and therefore more jobs. It would make sense at least to make the current practice squad players part of the regular roster or to make all 53 players on the current active roster eligible to play in each game. For their part, the players aren't really willing to play even for just a 12.5 per cent increase. Their position is very logical. A player's career isn't measured so much in games as in years. A few veteran players currently could be paid for 128 games in eight seasons (16 X 8 = 128). Theoretically, players entering the league when it goes to an 18 game season could be paid in seven seasons for 126 gams (18 X 7 = 126). But with a 12.5 per cent higher chance of getting hurt, he might not even make it through that seventh season, let alone into an eighth. Keep in mind that this is a league in which the average player lasts about three years.
3. A bonus gripe: The idea of a lockout to take effect within weeks after the Super Bowl is ludicrous. That's the same as if your boss gave your whole company two weeks off at the same time, then said it was locking you out for those two weeks. There's not really anything for NFL players to be locked out of until the season begins, unless you want to count the ridiculous OTAs.
We probably should expect more players, established veterans at least, simply to adopt the Brett Favre stance and not show up until mid-August.
Mexico makes its move
The afternoon's game in the Caribbean Series in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, matched the two teams that entered the day with 2-1 records to lead the series.
Mexico took sole possession of the series lead at 3-1 when 1B Jorge Vazquez broke a 3-3 tie with the Dominican Republic by hitting a three-run homer in the ninth inning. The Mexican squad won 6-3. Vazquez is in the Yankees' organization, but he isn't a prospect. He's allegedly 28 years old, but he was playing in the Mexican League in 2000.
The Dominican team had edged Puerto Rico 4-3 Friday night by rallying for three runs in the top of the ninth. Esteban German tied the game with a two-run triple against RHP Saul Rivera, then scored as DH Kevin Barker grounded into a reverse-force double play. German scored before a runner was tagged at second base for the third out. RHP Julio Manon picked up his second save of the series. Puerto Rican SS Alex Cora led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield hit, but Luis Figueroa popped out on a sacrifice attempt and Hiram Bocachica grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Barker has signed a contract with the Nationals, who have compensated for overpaying OF Jayson Werth by surrounding him with bargain-basement free agents. Another was RHP J.D. Martin, who re-signed with Washington.
A player from the Mexican ntry in the Caribbean Series, OF Justin Christian, signed with the Giants. The day's best known signings were OF Jim Edmonds, back with the Cardinals, and OF Gabe Gross with the Mariners.
In addition ...
The Twins signed LHP Francisco Liriano for one year at $4.3 million.
News out of Colorado said the Rockies seem close to trading for Rangers 3B Michael Young, but Texas could be balking at paying $18 million or so of the $48 million remaining on Young's contract.
The Indians reportedly are interested in free-agent RHPs Jeremy Bonderman and Kevin Millwood for a spot in their rotation.
Finally, from the Australian Baseball League playoffs' Round 2, Adelaide evened the best-of-three series at 1-1 by defeating Sydney 4-0 tonight. RHP Brandon Maurer, a 19-year-old from the Mariners organization, had a pitching line of 740045. DH Quincy Latimore, a Florida State League all-star last season when he slugged 19 homers and drove in 100 runs for the Pirates' Bradenton farm team, drove in three runs.
The Sunday afternoon rubber game, taking place as I write this on Saturday night in the U.S., was tied 4-4 in the eighth inning.
Mexico took sole possession of the series lead at 3-1 when 1B Jorge Vazquez broke a 3-3 tie with the Dominican Republic by hitting a three-run homer in the ninth inning. The Mexican squad won 6-3. Vazquez is in the Yankees' organization, but he isn't a prospect. He's allegedly 28 years old, but he was playing in the Mexican League in 2000.
The Dominican team had edged Puerto Rico 4-3 Friday night by rallying for three runs in the top of the ninth. Esteban German tied the game with a two-run triple against RHP Saul Rivera, then scored as DH Kevin Barker grounded into a reverse-force double play. German scored before a runner was tagged at second base for the third out. RHP Julio Manon picked up his second save of the series. Puerto Rican SS Alex Cora led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield hit, but Luis Figueroa popped out on a sacrifice attempt and Hiram Bocachica grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Barker has signed a contract with the Nationals, who have compensated for overpaying OF Jayson Werth by surrounding him with bargain-basement free agents. Another was RHP J.D. Martin, who re-signed with Washington.
A player from the Mexican ntry in the Caribbean Series, OF Justin Christian, signed with the Giants. The day's best known signings were OF Jim Edmonds, back with the Cardinals, and OF Gabe Gross with the Mariners.
In addition ...
The Twins signed LHP Francisco Liriano for one year at $4.3 million.
News out of Colorado said the Rockies seem close to trading for Rangers 3B Michael Young, but Texas could be balking at paying $18 million or so of the $48 million remaining on Young's contract.
The Indians reportedly are interested in free-agent RHPs Jeremy Bonderman and Kevin Millwood for a spot in their rotation.
Finally, from the Australian Baseball League playoffs' Round 2, Adelaide evened the best-of-three series at 1-1 by defeating Sydney 4-0 tonight. RHP Brandon Maurer, a 19-year-old from the Mariners organization, had a pitching line of 740045. DH Quincy Latimore, a Florida State League all-star last season when he slugged 19 homers and drove in 100 runs for the Pirates' Bradenton farm team, drove in three runs.
The Sunday afternoon rubber game, taking place as I write this on Saturday night in the U.S., was tied 4-4 in the eighth inning.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tight squeeze in Caribbean Series
The Caribbean Series couldn't get any closer than it was after the first two of its six days.
Each team had a 1-1 record, acquired in a rock-scissors-paper manner. On Wednesday, Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic, which on Thursday beat Venezuela, which on Wednesday had defeated Puerto Rico, which scored its victory Thursday over Mexico.
The Mexico-Dominican Republic game was so close than it went 15 innings to a 4-3 decision. DR then won by a run, 6-5 over Venezuela. In that game, the Dominicans overcame two homers and three RBI by Venezuela's Luis Ramirez. The winners' Kevin Barker, a left-handed batter, also drove in three runs, including a homer against Marlins LHP Renyel Pinto. RHP Julio Manon saved the win by retiring 3B Luis Nunez, who represented the tying run after Jackson Melian had hit a two-out, two-run homer for Venezuela.
In Thursday's other game, host Puerto Rico defeated Mexico 7-3 after scoring five runs in the first inning against Roberto Valdez. For Puerto Rico, Juan Padilla pitched four scoreless innings in relief. Luis Figueroa paced the offense with three hits and two RBI.
One 7-3 victory deserves another, and Mexico turned the tables to get that one this afternoon over Venezuela. Marco Quevedo, who had pitched the Mexican representative into the Caribbean Series, was the winning pitcher with a line of 5 1/3 42202. The Dominican and Puerto Rican teams are meeting tonight.
In another Friday night game, LHP David Welch pitched a no-hitter to lead his hometown Sydney Blue Sox to an 8-0 victory over the Adelaide Bite in the first game of Australian Baseball League Round 2. His line was 90003 10. Welch pitched a seven-inning no-hitter and combined on another no-no while pitching in the Brewers' organization. Welch led the ABL during the regular season with a 1.44 ERA and two complete games.
2B Trent D'Antonio led off and led Sydney's offense with a homer and four RBI. The second game of the best-of-three series will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. AET, or 2:30 a.m. EST. You might be able to watch the game at australianbaseballleague.com. The winner will meet Perth in next weekend's best-of-three championship round. Sydney took the regular-season championship by half a game over Perth.
With spring training barely a week away, you won't find many top prospects or good sleepers in these winter-league championships. The Dominican Republic has the most players (15) under contract to major league organizations of any of the Caribbean Series teams, but the most advanced is Dodgers RHP Ramon Troncoso. Puerto Rico's nine players in North American organized ball feature Nationals SS Alex Cora and Cubs OF Lou Montanez. Venezuela's players in organized ball include four from the Yankees organization, of whom C Gustavo Molina is the most advanced. Mexico has just four, including Padres SS Everth Cabrera.
Cora is one of a group of recent cut-rate free agents to sign with major league teams. Washington also has signed OF Laynce Nix and RHP Cla Meredith.
The Orioles had been the most active bottom feeder, signing LHPs Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada, OF Randy Winn, SS Nick Green and back-from-the-dead RHP Ryan Drese. Now Baltimore reportedly has agreed to terms on a one-year, $8-million deal with DH Vladimir Guerrero, pending a physical exam next week. If he has a season like 2010's, the O's might have been better off signing him for half a year and $4 million.
Other signings: Mark Kotsay, listed at first base, Brewers; 3B Pedro Feliz, Royals; RHP Juan Cruz and 2B Felipe Lopez, Rays; LF Lastings Milledge, White Sox, and LHP Yohan Flande, Braves. You probably haven't heard of Flande unless you live in Reading, Pa. The 25-year-old was 10-8 with a 4.38 ERA last year for the Double-A Reading Phillies, for whom he struck out barely four strikeouts per nine innings.
In a trade, the Yankees obtained OF Justin Maxwell from the Nationals for a Double-A pitcher named Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell can play center field, and could be a useful extra outfielder with little fantasy value.
Yes, spring training is barely a week away. Florida and Arizona seemed to have missed the brutal winter weather that has struck most of the U.S. during the past week. Even the Rangers players who were scheduled for a caravan appearance in Fort Worth, one of dozens of events that were canceled in North Texas this week, will be looking forward to getting to warm weather.
For me, the worst weather in my six winters in North Texas, meant no wireless or cable for three days. Thus, I missed some blog days. I expect to make those up by making multiple posts some days.
Each team had a 1-1 record, acquired in a rock-scissors-paper manner. On Wednesday, Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic, which on Thursday beat Venezuela, which on Wednesday had defeated Puerto Rico, which scored its victory Thursday over Mexico.
The Mexico-Dominican Republic game was so close than it went 15 innings to a 4-3 decision. DR then won by a run, 6-5 over Venezuela. In that game, the Dominicans overcame two homers and three RBI by Venezuela's Luis Ramirez. The winners' Kevin Barker, a left-handed batter, also drove in three runs, including a homer against Marlins LHP Renyel Pinto. RHP Julio Manon saved the win by retiring 3B Luis Nunez, who represented the tying run after Jackson Melian had hit a two-out, two-run homer for Venezuela.
In Thursday's other game, host Puerto Rico defeated Mexico 7-3 after scoring five runs in the first inning against Roberto Valdez. For Puerto Rico, Juan Padilla pitched four scoreless innings in relief. Luis Figueroa paced the offense with three hits and two RBI.
One 7-3 victory deserves another, and Mexico turned the tables to get that one this afternoon over Venezuela. Marco Quevedo, who had pitched the Mexican representative into the Caribbean Series, was the winning pitcher with a line of 5 1/3 42202. The Dominican and Puerto Rican teams are meeting tonight.
In another Friday night game, LHP David Welch pitched a no-hitter to lead his hometown Sydney Blue Sox to an 8-0 victory over the Adelaide Bite in the first game of Australian Baseball League Round 2. His line was 90003 10. Welch pitched a seven-inning no-hitter and combined on another no-no while pitching in the Brewers' organization. Welch led the ABL during the regular season with a 1.44 ERA and two complete games.
2B Trent D'Antonio led off and led Sydney's offense with a homer and four RBI. The second game of the best-of-three series will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. AET, or 2:30 a.m. EST. You might be able to watch the game at australianbaseballleague.com. The winner will meet Perth in next weekend's best-of-three championship round. Sydney took the regular-season championship by half a game over Perth.
With spring training barely a week away, you won't find many top prospects or good sleepers in these winter-league championships. The Dominican Republic has the most players (15) under contract to major league organizations of any of the Caribbean Series teams, but the most advanced is Dodgers RHP Ramon Troncoso. Puerto Rico's nine players in North American organized ball feature Nationals SS Alex Cora and Cubs OF Lou Montanez. Venezuela's players in organized ball include four from the Yankees organization, of whom C Gustavo Molina is the most advanced. Mexico has just four, including Padres SS Everth Cabrera.
Cora is one of a group of recent cut-rate free agents to sign with major league teams. Washington also has signed OF Laynce Nix and RHP Cla Meredith.
The Orioles had been the most active bottom feeder, signing LHPs Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada, OF Randy Winn, SS Nick Green and back-from-the-dead RHP Ryan Drese. Now Baltimore reportedly has agreed to terms on a one-year, $8-million deal with DH Vladimir Guerrero, pending a physical exam next week. If he has a season like 2010's, the O's might have been better off signing him for half a year and $4 million.
Other signings: Mark Kotsay, listed at first base, Brewers; 3B Pedro Feliz, Royals; RHP Juan Cruz and 2B Felipe Lopez, Rays; LF Lastings Milledge, White Sox, and LHP Yohan Flande, Braves. You probably haven't heard of Flande unless you live in Reading, Pa. The 25-year-old was 10-8 with a 4.38 ERA last year for the Double-A Reading Phillies, for whom he struck out barely four strikeouts per nine innings.
In a trade, the Yankees obtained OF Justin Maxwell from the Nationals for a Double-A pitcher named Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell can play center field, and could be a useful extra outfielder with little fantasy value.
Yes, spring training is barely a week away. Florida and Arizona seemed to have missed the brutal winter weather that has struck most of the U.S. during the past week. Even the Rangers players who were scheduled for a caravan appearance in Fort Worth, one of dozens of events that were canceled in North Texas this week, will be looking forward to getting to warm weather.
For me, the worst weather in my six winters in North Texas, meant no wireless or cable for three days. Thus, I missed some blog days. I expect to make those up by making multiple posts some days.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
It's baseball somewhere
I realize that most of us are turning up the thermostat or sitting near the fireplace or piling another comforter on the bed.
But there is baseball being played.
Well, maybe not tonight, but tomorrow at least.
The Caribbean Series begins Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. that's when the Dominican Republic's representative, Toros del Este is scheduled to take on the Mexican Pacific League champions, Yaquis de Obregon.
Venezuela's representative, Caribes de Anzoatequi, is scheduled to take on the home country's (or commonwealth's) hope, Criollos de Caguas.
Puerto Rico's 14 Caribbean Series championships trail only the Dominican's 18. But Caguas has been a perennial contender on its home island, winning 15 league championships. The other three teams in this year's Caribbean Series are relative newcomers, with just five league titles among them -- two each for Los Toros and Los Yaquis, and only one for Caribes.
The competition remains a double round robin, with two games each day for six days and the team with the best record claiming the crown.
The Caribbean Series title could be decided before the teams even get to the last day, meaning that it could be a huge anticlimax compared to the winter league playoffs in each country.
The Mexican, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican series all went to their seven-game maximum. The shortest series was in the Dominican Republic, where the best-of-nine championship was a five-game sweep for Toros del Este.
Some playoff highlights:
-- In Mexico, the Yaquis' Marco Quevedo pitched seven innings, giving up only one run on a home run by Marshall McDougall, in a 5-2 Game 7 victory over Guasave. In a four-run fourth inning, Iker Franco hit a leadoff home run and Mario Valdez drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single.
-- In Venezuela, Mariners farmhand Luis Jimenez homered and drove in four runs as Caribes edged Aragua 8-7 in the deciding game. Josh Kroeger, a prospect turned hanger-on, showed his new Florida employers that he still can hit. He hit a three-run homer in Game 7 after leading the league with a .369 regular-season average. Keep an eye on him in the Marlins' camp. The Rockies' Jonathan Herrera went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for Caribes, and Endy Chavez, most recently in the Texas organization, had four hits including two doubles.
-- In Puerto Rico, Royals farmhand Rey Parano went 3-for-5, including a two-run single in the eighth inning, Caguas took Game 7 from Ponce 7-5. The Cubs' Lou Montanez had a homer and four RBI for the champs, who received clutch relief pitching from Eddy Ramos (4 1/3 hitless innings).
-- In the Dominican Republic, Los Toros completed their sweep with a 4-2 victory over Estrellas despite having just three hits. Two unearned runs made the difference.
Twelve days before pitchers and catchers report, there wasn't much major league news. The only transaction reported on mlb.com was that the Padres designated OF/1B Oscar Salazar for assignment.
The White Sox extended Alexei Ramirez's contract for four years and $32.5 million, with a $10-million option for a fifth year. Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt received a far more modest extension, receiving an extra year for $4 million in 2012, with a mutual option for '13.
The Orioles have signed RHP Justin Duchscherer, limited to five games before undergoing surgery on his left hip last season, to a one-year contract for $700,000. That number would go up to $1.1 million if he makes the major league roster.
Despite winning 12 games (12-6, 4.64 ERA) for the White Sox last season, RHP Freddy Garcia could get no more than a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for the Yankees. He's expected to compete for one of the last two spots in New York's underwhelming rotation with Ivan Nova, Sergio Mitre and another veteran, RHP Bartolo Colon.
More tomorrow, when we'll say, "Play ball!" even if it is beisbol.
But there is baseball being played.
Well, maybe not tonight, but tomorrow at least.
The Caribbean Series begins Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. that's when the Dominican Republic's representative, Toros del Este is scheduled to take on the Mexican Pacific League champions, Yaquis de Obregon.
Venezuela's representative, Caribes de Anzoatequi, is scheduled to take on the home country's (or commonwealth's) hope, Criollos de Caguas.
Puerto Rico's 14 Caribbean Series championships trail only the Dominican's 18. But Caguas has been a perennial contender on its home island, winning 15 league championships. The other three teams in this year's Caribbean Series are relative newcomers, with just five league titles among them -- two each for Los Toros and Los Yaquis, and only one for Caribes.
The competition remains a double round robin, with two games each day for six days and the team with the best record claiming the crown.
The Caribbean Series title could be decided before the teams even get to the last day, meaning that it could be a huge anticlimax compared to the winter league playoffs in each country.
The Mexican, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican series all went to their seven-game maximum. The shortest series was in the Dominican Republic, where the best-of-nine championship was a five-game sweep for Toros del Este.
Some playoff highlights:
-- In Mexico, the Yaquis' Marco Quevedo pitched seven innings, giving up only one run on a home run by Marshall McDougall, in a 5-2 Game 7 victory over Guasave. In a four-run fourth inning, Iker Franco hit a leadoff home run and Mario Valdez drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single.
-- In Venezuela, Mariners farmhand Luis Jimenez homered and drove in four runs as Caribes edged Aragua 8-7 in the deciding game. Josh Kroeger, a prospect turned hanger-on, showed his new Florida employers that he still can hit. He hit a three-run homer in Game 7 after leading the league with a .369 regular-season average. Keep an eye on him in the Marlins' camp. The Rockies' Jonathan Herrera went 3-for-4 and scored two runs for Caribes, and Endy Chavez, most recently in the Texas organization, had four hits including two doubles.
-- In Puerto Rico, Royals farmhand Rey Parano went 3-for-5, including a two-run single in the eighth inning, Caguas took Game 7 from Ponce 7-5. The Cubs' Lou Montanez had a homer and four RBI for the champs, who received clutch relief pitching from Eddy Ramos (4 1/3 hitless innings).
-- In the Dominican Republic, Los Toros completed their sweep with a 4-2 victory over Estrellas despite having just three hits. Two unearned runs made the difference.
Twelve days before pitchers and catchers report, there wasn't much major league news. The only transaction reported on mlb.com was that the Padres designated OF/1B Oscar Salazar for assignment.
The White Sox extended Alexei Ramirez's contract for four years and $32.5 million, with a $10-million option for a fifth year. Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt received a far more modest extension, receiving an extra year for $4 million in 2012, with a mutual option for '13.
The Orioles have signed RHP Justin Duchscherer, limited to five games before undergoing surgery on his left hip last season, to a one-year contract for $700,000. That number would go up to $1.1 million if he makes the major league roster.
Despite winning 12 games (12-6, 4.64 ERA) for the White Sox last season, RHP Freddy Garcia could get no more than a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for the Yankees. He's expected to compete for one of the last two spots in New York's underwhelming rotation with Ivan Nova, Sergio Mitre and another veteran, RHP Bartolo Colon.
More tomorrow, when we'll say, "Play ball!" even if it is beisbol.
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