Mexico advances to Caribbean Series championship

Sebastian Valle singled home Yunesky Sanchez with the winning run in the ninth inning as Mexico rallied to defeat the Dominican Republic 3-2 Thursday night.
The Mexican team advanced to Saturday night's Caribbean Series final at Margarita Island, Venzuela, against the winner of Friday's semifinal between Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
For information purposes, I'll designate the contract status and other pertinent information for the players mentioned in this post because most of them are 1) who's he or 2) I didn't know he was still playing.
Valle is a 23-year-old catcher in the Phillies' organization. He backslid last season, but he has hit 25 homers the last two seasons for Double-A Reading. 3B Sanchez, 29, played last summer in the Mexican League but has been as high as Triple-A in the U.S.
LHP Oliver Perez (32, free agent) was the winning pitcher even though he walked one batter and hit another in his one inning, the ninth. Mexico had tied the game with a run in the bottom of the eighth.
On Wednesday, the Dominican Republic had defeated Mexico City 7-6 in the final game of the round-robin qualifier. OF Eugenio Velez (31, Brewers) hit a two-run home run in a four-run third inning. It was the second homer of the series for Velez, better known as a base stealer.
The losing pitcher was RHP Guillermo Mota (40, Royals), who entered the game with a 2-1 lead, the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning. He didn't retire any of three batters in the ninth. In addition to blowing a save, he had two of the Dominicans' three losses and a 10.80 ERA in the series.
Puerto Rico qualified for the semifinals by handing Venezuela its only loss of the round robin, 5-4. RHP Tyler Herron (27, Nationals) retired 2B Alberto Callaspo (30, Athletics) with the tying run at first base for Herron's second save of the series. He could be someone to watch. Herron, a converted starter, had six saves in high-A and Double-A ball last summer, then was a Puerto Rican All-Star with 12 saves during the winter season.
Puerto Rico finished the round robin tied with Mexico and the Dominican Republic at 2-2. If the Puerto Rican team had lost, it would have been eliminated at 1-3 because it lost to Cuba, which did finish 1-3 in the five-team event.
The starting pitchers for Friday's semifinal were teammates last season at Triple-A Las Vegas (Mets organization. Giancarlo Alvarado, 36, is scheduled to start for Puerto Rico against Venezuela's Daryl Thompson, 28.
Other statistical leaders during round-robin play:
Batting average -- C Ronny Paulino (32, Tigers) .545 (6 for 11), Dominican Republic; and 2B Emilio Bonifacio (28, free agent) .462 (6 for 13), D.R.
Home runs -- 3B Zelous Wheeler (27, Yankees) 3, Mexico. He spent the last three years in Double-A and Triple-A in the Orioles organization.
RBI -- Wheeler; OF Chris Roberson (34, has played three of the last four seasons in Mexico, a former Phillie), Mexico; and C Ramon Hernandez (37, Royals), Venezuela, all with 5
ERA -- Alfredo Aceves (31, Orioles), Mexico; Juan Delgadillo (31, Mexican League veteran), Mexico, and Jon Leicester, D.R., who hasn't played in organized baseball since 2011, all 1-0, 0.00 in seven innings. Aceves started Thursday's semifinal game as well.
RHP Joel Pineiro (35, free agent) was 0-1 but with an 0.00 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.
Saves -- Jean Machi (32, Giants), Venezuela, 3
Carlos Marmol, 31, pitched a perfect inning in each of two games during the round robin for the Dominican Republic with a save, an 0.00 ERA and an 0.00 WHIP. On Thursday, Marmol's representatives said he had agreed to a 2014 contract with the Marlins. He could offer an alternative if RHP Steve Cishek struggles as Miami's closer.

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.