Jamey Newberg of the Newberg Report pointed out a report from Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal saying that SS/3B Khalil Greene will not report with the Rangers' other position players and "could miss significant time" this season. The reason appears to be related to the anxiety issues that cost Greene playing time last season. don't
We don't mean to make light of Greene's problems, which are serious. We will say that this Greene's presence or absence shouldn't make much difference to fantasy owners. His performance on the field makes him no longer a viable fantasy choice, which probably hasn't helped him overcome his anxiety either.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Giants sign 2 veteran pitchers
There's still time for major league teams to sign potentially helpful free agents. The Giants have done just that, signing RHPs Todd Wellemeyer and Guillermo Mota. Wellemeyer had a good season as a starter for the Cardinals in 2008, but pretty much hurt them last season. Mota's career as a reliever has gone south during his time with the Dodgers.
So Wellemeyer seems like the better bet to help San Francisco in a starting or bullpen role. Mota has more talent, but is older and more damaged goods.
Injuries: The Athletics can't be very happy about the first day of workouts for their pitchers. First, they found out that oft-injured RHP Justin Duchscherer couldn't take part because of an irritated sacroiliac joint in his back. Then, 10 minutes into the workout they had to move inside because of rain.
In Arizona? Yes, it has rained the last two days in the desert. The Mariners also had to call off a planned series of pitchers' fielding practice drills. So if Seattle loses a game or two this year because a pitcher doesn't get over to cover first base in time, remember that the game was lost on February 21.
But hey! There was some good news for Oakland. RHP Ben Sheets actually threw today, and as far as we know without being injured again.
OOO The Blue Jays placed RHP Dirk Hayhurst on the 60-day disabled list. He underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair a frayed labrum in his shoulder, and is expected to miss 4-6 months.
OOO Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols said he won't need Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He underwent an operation in October to remove bone chips from the joint. Expect opposing runners to take chances for an extra base against Pujols unless he shows he can throw somebody out.
OOO Another first baseman, free agent Carlos Delgado underwent surgery by Dr. Marc Phillippon, who worked on Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez a year ago. Dr. Phillippon performed microfracture surgery on Delgado's right hip and reconstructive surgery on the labrum. It saddens me to write that one of baseball's good guys may be finished.
An Opening Day starter already:
Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said RHP Dan Haren will be Arizona's Opening Day starting pitcher. The current plan is to have RHP Edwin Jackson start the second game and RHP Brandon Webb making his first appearance since the 2009 opener in game three. We expect that will change if Webb is physically able to pitch, with him moving ahead of Jackson -- way ahead of a pitcher we expect to be a major disappointment.
Lining up:
With CF Carlos Beltran expected to miss most or all of April following knee surgery, Mets manager Jerry Manuel is giving serious thought to opening the season with SS Jose Reyes batting third and OF Angel Pagan leading off. Pagan will battle Gary Matthews for the starting job in center field, and would be likely to play left field if Matthews wins that competition.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said his starting lineup will begin with SS Jason Bartlett, LF Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist at second base or in right field, 3B Evan Longoria and 1B Carlos Pena.
So Wellemeyer seems like the better bet to help San Francisco in a starting or bullpen role. Mota has more talent, but is older and more damaged goods.
Injuries: The Athletics can't be very happy about the first day of workouts for their pitchers. First, they found out that oft-injured RHP Justin Duchscherer couldn't take part because of an irritated sacroiliac joint in his back. Then, 10 minutes into the workout they had to move inside because of rain.
In Arizona? Yes, it has rained the last two days in the desert. The Mariners also had to call off a planned series of pitchers' fielding practice drills. So if Seattle loses a game or two this year because a pitcher doesn't get over to cover first base in time, remember that the game was lost on February 21.
But hey! There was some good news for Oakland. RHP Ben Sheets actually threw today, and as far as we know without being injured again.
OOO The Blue Jays placed RHP Dirk Hayhurst on the 60-day disabled list. He underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair a frayed labrum in his shoulder, and is expected to miss 4-6 months.
OOO Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols said he won't need Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He underwent an operation in October to remove bone chips from the joint. Expect opposing runners to take chances for an extra base against Pujols unless he shows he can throw somebody out.
OOO Another first baseman, free agent Carlos Delgado underwent surgery by Dr. Marc Phillippon, who worked on Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez a year ago. Dr. Phillippon performed microfracture surgery on Delgado's right hip and reconstructive surgery on the labrum. It saddens me to write that one of baseball's good guys may be finished.
An Opening Day starter already:
Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said RHP Dan Haren will be Arizona's Opening Day starting pitcher. The current plan is to have RHP Edwin Jackson start the second game and RHP Brandon Webb making his first appearance since the 2009 opener in game three. We expect that will change if Webb is physically able to pitch, with him moving ahead of Jackson -- way ahead of a pitcher we expect to be a major disappointment.
Lining up:
With CF Carlos Beltran expected to miss most or all of April following knee surgery, Mets manager Jerry Manuel is giving serious thought to opening the season with SS Jose Reyes batting third and OF Angel Pagan leading off. Pagan will battle Gary Matthews for the starting job in center field, and would be likely to play left field if Matthews wins that competition.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said his starting lineup will begin with SS Jason Bartlett, LF Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist at second base or in right field, 3B Evan Longoria and 1B Carlos Pena.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Here's what's going on where it's warm
Moves and lack of same:
Free-agent LF Johnny Damon apparently held out long enough to get $8 million on a one-year contract from the Tigers. ESPN reported today that the deal was done. He and agent Scott Boras had sought a two-year deal, but Detroit reportedly added a million to its offer, and that was enough. Damon is hardly a beggar, but it seemed hard to believe that he would be such a chooser.
The Indians have agreed to terms with 1B Russell Branyan, a lefthanded batter who is expected to be in at least a platoon role with 1B/OF Matt LaPorta. After 1B Ryan Garko went to the Giants last year, Cleveland's most frequent firstbaseman was fraudulent 1B/3B Andy Marte. LaPorta is recovering from surgery on both his left hip and left bit toe, so Branyan could see lots of action with his past and present team.
The last viable free-agent catchers apparently have signed. Jose Molina is going to Toronto, where he'd replace C Rod Barajas, another free agent. Barajas reportedly has signed with the Mets, whose offer of a major league contract was enough to tip the balance in their favor instead of toward the Rangers.
RHP Chien-Ming Wang and the Nationals made his deal with them official. To make room, Washington put oft-injured RHP Jordan Zimmermann on the 60-day disabled list. The Blue Jays made a similar move with RHP Jesse Litsch.
Speaking of injuries:
The MRI exam on Cubs LHP Ted Lilly's right knee showed no structural damage, but it's still not clear that he'll be ready in April while he's recovering from shoulder surgery. Given the Cubs' track record on under-reporting or underestimating injuries (see Exhibits A and B, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood), I'd be skeptical of anything the team says that sounds positive.
Rangers LHP Derek Holland injured his right knee during agility drills in this morning's workout, and will undergo an MRI exam Monday. According to Jamey Newberg's "Newberg Report," the injury is not considered serious.
Speaking of the Cubs:
Their shortstop, Ryan Theriot, is the last player going through salary arbitration this year. A victory for management could clinch a victory in this year's series with the players.
In the first seven hearings, the owners won four times -- against Nationals LHP Sean Burnett, who still got $775,000, and RHP Brian Bruney, who also shouldn't complain about $15. million; Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez, whose $5-million award was almost twice what he made in 2009, and Rays CF B.J. Upton, $3 million (for what?).
The three winning players were Angels C Jeff Mathis ($1.3 million); Brewers RF Corey Hart ($4.8 million -- Really? Bud Selig will have to jack up the price on those clunkers he sells), and Marlins OF Cody Ross ($4.45 million, because chicks dig the long ball and Florida must have low-balled him).
Working it out:
The teams that worked out today for the first time were the Red Sox, Braves, Marlins, Astros and Mets in Florida, and the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Reporting today, and holding their first workouts Sunday, will be the Nationals in Florida and the White Sox, Athletics and Dodgers in Arizona.
Weight watchers:
Adding ammunition for those who insist that players today don't go to spring training to lose weight are two pitchers. Rangers LHP Matt Harrison, a pudgeball last season, has dropped 30 pounds, to 205, and Rockies RHP Aaron Cook is 20 pounds lighter than in 2009, weighing in at 200.
Free-agent LF Johnny Damon apparently held out long enough to get $8 million on a one-year contract from the Tigers. ESPN reported today that the deal was done. He and agent Scott Boras had sought a two-year deal, but Detroit reportedly added a million to its offer, and that was enough. Damon is hardly a beggar, but it seemed hard to believe that he would be such a chooser.
The Indians have agreed to terms with 1B Russell Branyan, a lefthanded batter who is expected to be in at least a platoon role with 1B/OF Matt LaPorta. After 1B Ryan Garko went to the Giants last year, Cleveland's most frequent firstbaseman was fraudulent 1B/3B Andy Marte. LaPorta is recovering from surgery on both his left hip and left bit toe, so Branyan could see lots of action with his past and present team.
The last viable free-agent catchers apparently have signed. Jose Molina is going to Toronto, where he'd replace C Rod Barajas, another free agent. Barajas reportedly has signed with the Mets, whose offer of a major league contract was enough to tip the balance in their favor instead of toward the Rangers.
RHP Chien-Ming Wang and the Nationals made his deal with them official. To make room, Washington put oft-injured RHP Jordan Zimmermann on the 60-day disabled list. The Blue Jays made a similar move with RHP Jesse Litsch.
Speaking of injuries:
The MRI exam on Cubs LHP Ted Lilly's right knee showed no structural damage, but it's still not clear that he'll be ready in April while he's recovering from shoulder surgery. Given the Cubs' track record on under-reporting or underestimating injuries (see Exhibits A and B, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood), I'd be skeptical of anything the team says that sounds positive.
Rangers LHP Derek Holland injured his right knee during agility drills in this morning's workout, and will undergo an MRI exam Monday. According to Jamey Newberg's "Newberg Report," the injury is not considered serious.
Speaking of the Cubs:
Their shortstop, Ryan Theriot, is the last player going through salary arbitration this year. A victory for management could clinch a victory in this year's series with the players.
In the first seven hearings, the owners won four times -- against Nationals LHP Sean Burnett, who still got $775,000, and RHP Brian Bruney, who also shouldn't complain about $15. million; Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez, whose $5-million award was almost twice what he made in 2009, and Rays CF B.J. Upton, $3 million (for what?).
The three winning players were Angels C Jeff Mathis ($1.3 million); Brewers RF Corey Hart ($4.8 million -- Really? Bud Selig will have to jack up the price on those clunkers he sells), and Marlins OF Cody Ross ($4.45 million, because chicks dig the long ball and Florida must have low-balled him).
Working it out:
The teams that worked out today for the first time were the Red Sox, Braves, Marlins, Astros and Mets in Florida, and the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Reporting today, and holding their first workouts Sunday, will be the Nationals in Florida and the White Sox, Athletics and Dodgers in Arizona.
Weight watchers:
Adding ammunition for those who insist that players today don't go to spring training to lose weight are two pitchers. Rangers LHP Matt Harrison, a pudgeball last season, has dropped 30 pounds, to 205, and Rockies RHP Aaron Cook is 20 pounds lighter than in 2009, weighing in at 200.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
First reports of actual spring training activity
The biggest news today as pitchers and catchers made their first official appearances on the playing fields for 12 major league teams came out of Goodyear, Ariz.
That's where Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban defector, said he wasn't throwing at top speed during his 35-pitch workout from a mound. Nevertheless, team officials said they were impressed. What would you expect them to say? They're not going to do anything to suggest that they wasted money on Chapman. Before we get too excited, let's see him against real major league batters.
Speaking of getting overly excited, what's with all the people talking about how wonderful the Mariners are? They'd still have to beat the Angels and the emerging Rangers. And now that Seattle's primary acquisition, LHP Cliff Lee, won't throw until next Wednesday, will there be more overreaction saying the Mariners now don't have a chance?
Meanwhile, don't put too much stock in a pitcher who usually is one of our favorites, Cubs LHP Ted Lilly. He's recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, and now may need an MRI exam on his right knee.
Lilly is likely to do better than Nationals LHP Ross Detwiler, who will be out three months following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.
Pitchers and catchers from the teams that reported today -- with the exception of the Mets, who won't start workouts until Saturday -- will be on the field Friday for the first time.
Another six teams will have their pitchers and catchers reporting Friday.
And on March 2, we'll hear the first exhibition shouts of "Play ball!"
That's where Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban defector, said he wasn't throwing at top speed during his 35-pitch workout from a mound. Nevertheless, team officials said they were impressed. What would you expect them to say? They're not going to do anything to suggest that they wasted money on Chapman. Before we get too excited, let's see him against real major league batters.
Speaking of getting overly excited, what's with all the people talking about how wonderful the Mariners are? They'd still have to beat the Angels and the emerging Rangers. And now that Seattle's primary acquisition, LHP Cliff Lee, won't throw until next Wednesday, will there be more overreaction saying the Mariners now don't have a chance?
Meanwhile, don't put too much stock in a pitcher who usually is one of our favorites, Cubs LHP Ted Lilly. He's recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, and now may need an MRI exam on his right knee.
Lilly is likely to do better than Nationals LHP Ross Detwiler, who will be out three months following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.
Pitchers and catchers from the teams that reported today -- with the exception of the Mets, who won't start workouts until Saturday -- will be on the field Friday for the first time.
Another six teams will have their pitchers and catchers reporting Friday.
And on March 2, we'll hear the first exhibition shouts of "Play ball!"
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Pitchers and catchers reporting
Today arrived what some baseball fans consider the real first day of spring.
The first pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.
Twelve teams required their batteries to be in camp: the Cubs, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Giants and Mariners in Arizona; the Orioles, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals in Florida.
No official workouts were held. Almost every team has its players report the day before the first workout -- to undergo physicals, get equipment in order, check in to team hotels or dorms, kind of first-day-of-school stuff. For some reason, the Mets report two days before their first workout.
Pitchers and catchers will continue to report to other teams every day until Monday, Feb. 22. That's when the Indians will be the last to require players to report before pitching and catching in cages.
Monday also will be the first day for 12 teams' other position players to report to spring training. For the most part, those are the same teams that had pitchers and catchers show up today.
Most teams (18) have the two groups report five days apart, but the time difference is as few as three days or as many as eight. The biggest difference is with the Rockies, who always seem to need pitching help but always have plenty of hitters.
Some pitchers may report on time, but not be ready to pitch. For example, Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka's throwing will be delayed because he has a sore upper back. Royals RHP Zack Greinke will miss some time after having two teeth pulled. Orioles RHP Brad Bergesen expects to be out 10 days because of a shoulder injury suffered in December. However, Bergesen's teammate, RHP Koji Uehara, recovering from a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, arrived early. He threw off a mound Tuesday and said he felt no pain.
The Braves don't expect RHP Jair Jurrjens to pitch for a while. He underwent an MRI exam on his shoulder, and was encouraged by the results.
In the equivalent of last-minute Christmas shopping, teams have been adding free agents and waiver claims to their roster.
The Nnationals, who had some success with cattle-call spring trainings while they were in Montreal (RHP Dennis Martinez was their best reclamation project, have been one of the most active teams in picking up inexpensive free agents. They're likely to reach a final agreement soon with ex-Yankees RHP Chien Ming-Wang to go with such players as LHP Ron Villone, 2B Adam Kennedy and CF Willy Taveras.
Other signings to watch for are Cs Rod Barajas (Yankees?) and Jose Molina (Rangers?), 1B/3B Russell Branyan (Indians?) and OF Johnny Damon (White Sox or Tigers?).
The first pitchers and catchers reported to spring training.
Twelve teams required their batteries to be in camp: the Cubs, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Giants and Mariners in Arizona; the Orioles, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates and Cardinals in Florida.
No official workouts were held. Almost every team has its players report the day before the first workout -- to undergo physicals, get equipment in order, check in to team hotels or dorms, kind of first-day-of-school stuff. For some reason, the Mets report two days before their first workout.
Pitchers and catchers will continue to report to other teams every day until Monday, Feb. 22. That's when the Indians will be the last to require players to report before pitching and catching in cages.
Monday also will be the first day for 12 teams' other position players to report to spring training. For the most part, those are the same teams that had pitchers and catchers show up today.
Most teams (18) have the two groups report five days apart, but the time difference is as few as three days or as many as eight. The biggest difference is with the Rockies, who always seem to need pitching help but always have plenty of hitters.
Some pitchers may report on time, but not be ready to pitch. For example, Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka's throwing will be delayed because he has a sore upper back. Royals RHP Zack Greinke will miss some time after having two teeth pulled. Orioles RHP Brad Bergesen expects to be out 10 days because of a shoulder injury suffered in December. However, Bergesen's teammate, RHP Koji Uehara, recovering from a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, arrived early. He threw off a mound Tuesday and said he felt no pain.
The Braves don't expect RHP Jair Jurrjens to pitch for a while. He underwent an MRI exam on his shoulder, and was encouraged by the results.
In the equivalent of last-minute Christmas shopping, teams have been adding free agents and waiver claims to their roster.
The Nnationals, who had some success with cattle-call spring trainings while they were in Montreal (RHP Dennis Martinez was their best reclamation project, have been one of the most active teams in picking up inexpensive free agents. They're likely to reach a final agreement soon with ex-Yankees RHP Chien Ming-Wang to go with such players as LHP Ron Villone, 2B Adam Kennedy and CF Willy Taveras.
Other signings to watch for are Cs Rod Barajas (Yankees?) and Jose Molina (Rangers?), 1B/3B Russell Branyan (Indians?) and OF Johnny Damon (White Sox or Tigers?).
Sunday, February 14, 2010
A baseball valentine
Do you love baseball?
Nothing wrong with that, as long as you keep it in perspective.
You can't love the game, or any of its players or teams, as much as you love your family. That just wouldn't be right. You could, however, take your family to a ballgame.
Here's a little test on love for the game that I'm giving myself.
Do you (insert name here) take baseball from this day forward; to have and to hold; in financial sickness and in wealth; through hours of rain delays just to get in a complete game and on Dollar Hot Dog nights; played by millionaires or minimum-salary minor leaguers; in steroids or greenies or in natural health; in day/night doubleheaders and in slick 643 double plays; through interminable pitching changes and in tidy Mark Buehrle complete games; by yourself or with your family or friends; forsaking the Yankees, the Red Sox and fair-weather fans for your own team, win or lose; so help you baseball gods?
I do. But get back to me on that steroids thing.
Nothing wrong with that, as long as you keep it in perspective.
You can't love the game, or any of its players or teams, as much as you love your family. That just wouldn't be right. You could, however, take your family to a ballgame.
Here's a little test on love for the game that I'm giving myself.
Do you (insert name here) take baseball from this day forward; to have and to hold; in financial sickness and in wealth; through hours of rain delays just to get in a complete game and on Dollar Hot Dog nights; played by millionaires or minimum-salary minor leaguers; in steroids or greenies or in natural health; in day/night doubleheaders and in slick 643 double plays; through interminable pitching changes and in tidy Mark Buehrle complete games; by yourself or with your family or friends; forsaking the Yankees, the Red Sox and fair-weather fans for your own team, win or lose; so help you baseball gods?
I do. But get back to me on that steroids thing.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Looking at the Caribbean Series
Here's information from an Email I sent today to the Fantasy Baseball Scout mailing list. If you'd like to be included on the mailing list, you should be able to sign up on the web site, or you could Email me at lary@fantasybaseballscout.com.
It appears that fantasybaseballscout.com will not operate as a pay site this year because we're changing servers and rebuilding the site. But we do expect to have our usual complement of information and insights once the rebuilt site goes online sometime during spring training.
To begin the month when pitchers and catchers report, here is some baseball information for you – and especially warm news for those of you who have been shoveling snow during the past week.
The Caribbean Series begins Tuesday on Margarita Island in Venezuela, with two games on each of the six days through Sunday, Feb. 7.
Tuesday’s schedule: Indios de Mayaguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Leones by Escogido (Dominican Republic) in the afternoon, Leones de Caracas (Venezuela) vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Mexico) in the night game.
The format remains a double round-robin, with the best won-lost record winning the title. Venezuela’s representative won in 2009.
Three of the four league playoffs went the distance, and even Mayaguez’s four games to one victory over Caguas in Puerto Rico needed 11 innings in the fifth and final game. Mayaguez won its first Puerto Rican championship since 2005, defeating Caguas 8-6. Angel Sanchez of the Red Sox organization went 4-for-6 in that game.
Escogido won the best-of-nine Dominican title five games to four over Cibao. Twins LHP Francisco Liriano struck out 10 in five innings in the deciding 5-3 victory.
Caracas’ four-games-to-three victory over Magallanes in the Venezuelan finals was much easier in the deciding game, a 7-2 win.
The Mexican Pacific League’s final game of a tense four-games-to-three series win by Hermosillo over Mazatlan was even tenser. The Naranjeros’ (Orange Growers’) Chris Roberson led off the game with a triple and scored on Vinny Castilla’s sacrifice fly. Hermosillo’s pitching held off defending-champion Mazatlan for a 1-0 victory. The championship was a record 15th for the Naranjeros.
Many of the players who excel in winter ball are veterans, such as Castilla, who will have little or no impact on the major leagues this season. However, there are some intriguing players you might want to watch out for this spring.
Starting pitcher – RHP Luis Mendoza dominated in his native Mexico with a 7-4 record, 2.89 ERA and 82:27 strikeout/walk ratio in 90 1/3 innings. There doesn’t appear to be room for him in the Rangers’ rotation, so he might be available as a fourth or fifth starter for a below-average team.
Closer – The Pirates’ closing situation could be unsettled this year, so watch out for RHP Jean Machi. He is a non-roster invitee to Pittsburgh’s spring training, coming off a league-leading 16 saves in Puerto Rico with a 2-0 record, 1.25 ERA and 27:6 K/W ratio. He did that in 36 innings, so he might not have enough power to be an above-average closer.
Hitters – You may already have heard a lot about Alcides Escobar, expected to be the Brewers’ shortstop this season. He led the Venezuelan League with a .393 average and was third with 16 stolen bases. Also in Venezuela, C Josh Thole’s .381 average earned him a trip to spring training with the Mets this year. Veteran C Robinzon Diaz batted .333 in the Dominican Republic. He’s a free agent of the type almost any team might sign as a backup. Given a chance, Diaz could be more than a $1 catcher.
Need for speed – They don’t come much faster than Padres OF prospect Luis Durango. He stole 12 bases in the Dominican Republic. He can be a leadoff batter and left or possibly center fielder; this winter he batted .293 with a .395 on-base percentage.
It appears that fantasybaseballscout.com will not operate as a pay site this year because we're changing servers and rebuilding the site. But we do expect to have our usual complement of information and insights once the rebuilt site goes online sometime during spring training.
To begin the month when pitchers and catchers report, here is some baseball information for you – and especially warm news for those of you who have been shoveling snow during the past week.
The Caribbean Series begins Tuesday on Margarita Island in Venezuela, with two games on each of the six days through Sunday, Feb. 7.
Tuesday’s schedule: Indios de Mayaguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Leones by Escogido (Dominican Republic) in the afternoon, Leones de Caracas (Venezuela) vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Mexico) in the night game.
The format remains a double round-robin, with the best won-lost record winning the title. Venezuela’s representative won in 2009.
Three of the four league playoffs went the distance, and even Mayaguez’s four games to one victory over Caguas in Puerto Rico needed 11 innings in the fifth and final game. Mayaguez won its first Puerto Rican championship since 2005, defeating Caguas 8-6. Angel Sanchez of the Red Sox organization went 4-for-6 in that game.
Escogido won the best-of-nine Dominican title five games to four over Cibao. Twins LHP Francisco Liriano struck out 10 in five innings in the deciding 5-3 victory.
Caracas’ four-games-to-three victory over Magallanes in the Venezuelan finals was much easier in the deciding game, a 7-2 win.
The Mexican Pacific League’s final game of a tense four-games-to-three series win by Hermosillo over Mazatlan was even tenser. The Naranjeros’ (Orange Growers’) Chris Roberson led off the game with a triple and scored on Vinny Castilla’s sacrifice fly. Hermosillo’s pitching held off defending-champion Mazatlan for a 1-0 victory. The championship was a record 15th for the Naranjeros.
Many of the players who excel in winter ball are veterans, such as Castilla, who will have little or no impact on the major leagues this season. However, there are some intriguing players you might want to watch out for this spring.
Starting pitcher – RHP Luis Mendoza dominated in his native Mexico with a 7-4 record, 2.89 ERA and 82:27 strikeout/walk ratio in 90 1/3 innings. There doesn’t appear to be room for him in the Rangers’ rotation, so he might be available as a fourth or fifth starter for a below-average team.
Closer – The Pirates’ closing situation could be unsettled this year, so watch out for RHP Jean Machi. He is a non-roster invitee to Pittsburgh’s spring training, coming off a league-leading 16 saves in Puerto Rico with a 2-0 record, 1.25 ERA and 27:6 K/W ratio. He did that in 36 innings, so he might not have enough power to be an above-average closer.
Hitters – You may already have heard a lot about Alcides Escobar, expected to be the Brewers’ shortstop this season. He led the Venezuelan League with a .393 average and was third with 16 stolen bases. Also in Venezuela, C Josh Thole’s .381 average earned him a trip to spring training with the Mets this year. Veteran C Robinzon Diaz batted .333 in the Dominican Republic. He’s a free agent of the type almost any team might sign as a backup. Given a chance, Diaz could be more than a $1 catcher.
Need for speed – They don’t come much faster than Padres OF prospect Luis Durango. He stole 12 bases in the Dominican Republic. He can be a leadoff batter and left or possibly center fielder; this winter he batted .293 with a .395 on-base percentage.
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