Hermosillo, Sonora (PH)

Naranjeros reinforced with reliefers and outfielders

9/14/11

Hermosillo Naranjeros decided on three outfielders and three relievers to fill the foreign reinforcements group headed for the 2011-2012 season, announced today at a press conference by club president, Arturo Leon Lerma.

The only outsiders with a past Naranjero experience is Buck Coats (outfielder), also announced as a reinforcement was Val Majewski (ouitfielder), and Zech Zinicola (reliever), who will join Jermain Mithchell (outfielder), Jason Rice (closer), and Blake Parker (reliever).

Leon Lerma said the first loss announced was Chris Carter, who had an injury that required surgery, so we sought an outfielder to replace him.

Looks like Jason Rice will be the Hermosillo closer this year.

Rice's first save came on the 20th in a 4-3 win over the Yaquis. Rice went two innings on the 22nd for save number 2 against the Tomateros. The Naranjeros won that game 7-5. Hermosillo defeated the Tomateros 2-0 on the 23rd. Rice picked up his third save in that game. Rice has been in five games with 5.1 innings pitched with 3 saves, 2 hits given up, surrendered no walks, and fanned 4. His batting average against is (.111).

Luis Valbuena was bumped up to the Cardenales leadoff spot this evening. He's responded nicely. With his pair of hits tonight, Luis has his average up to (.282). The game is still in the 8th inning. Among his hits was a two run homer. Valbuena was lifted in the 5th inning for a defensive replacement. 3 at bats, 2 runs scored, 1 homer, 2 rbi's, to go along with 1 strikeout. Good to see Luis off to a good start.

Agents Predict Darvish's Posting Fee, Contract

By Tim Dierkes [October 25 at 9:54am CST]

As of a few days ago, Nippon-Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish was undecided about asking his team to post him as a means of moving to MLB for the 2012 season. The 25-year-old righty posted a 1.44 ERA, 10.7 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, and 0.19 HR/9 in 232 innings this year, and there will be a bidding frenzy if the Fighters post him.

In the posting system, MLB teams have until a certain date to submit bids for the exclusive rights to negotiate with the player. MLB GMs have the difficult task of choosing a bid that will be the highest but won't be significantly higher than the second-best bid. After the posting fee, the team must then sign the player to a contract. The player's only leverage is to return to Japan, in which case the posting fee is returned to the MLB team and the process is over for the year.

Five years ago, the Red Sox won the right to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka for $51,111,111. They then negotiated a six-year, $52MM contract with Scott Boras, bringing the total commitment to $103,111,111. As we've seen with Boras' draft pick negotiations, he uses what little leverage he has to maximum advantage. There was a point in the Dice-K talks where an agreement with the Red Sox did not seem likely. Last year, the Athletics won the right to negotiate with Hisashi Iwakuma for $19.1MM, but the Rakuten Golden Eagles had to return the posting fee when the A's were unable to reach an agreement with agent Don Nomura. Darvish is represented by Nomura and Arn Tellem of Wasserman Media Group.

The Fighters have a lot to gain financially by posting Darvish now. Sure, they could wait until after the '12 or '13 seasons, but Darvish is healthy and at the top of his game right now. Agents I spoke to were divided on whether Matsuzaka's posting fee is relevant information in trying to predict what Darvish would require. Misinformation abounds from the Dice-K posting period, but most reports suggested $20-30MM bids until the Red Sox came in over $51MM. Only the Seibu Lions know for sure what the second-highest bid was, but in hindsight Boston might have been able to win the rights at $35MM.

Last week, I polled five agents and one team executive about Darvish's potential posting fee and contract. Guesses on the posting fee ranged from $30-55MM, with the team executive making the highest prediction. The average of the six guesses was $45MM. As for the contract, most people predicted a five or six-year deal in the $72-75MM range. One agent wondered if the winning team will "try to force some options down his throat," especially if it's the Blue Jays.

The bottom line: everyone I talked to expects a minimum of a $100MM commitment to acquire Darvish if he's posted this year. It's possible we'll see as many as six $100MM commitments this offseason, not including extensions.

Paredes plates four in Gigantes' win

Astros prospect off to hot start in Dominican Winter League

MLB.com | 10/26/11 2:06 AM ET

Dominican Winter League

Gigantes 7, Estrellas 4

Astros prospect Jimmy Paredes was 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs as Cibao snapped its four-game losing streak. Paredes, a Texas League All-Star for Double-A Corpus Christi this season, scored a run and raised his average to .324 while Jimmy Parrino (Padres) drove in two runs for the Gigantes. Brandon Allen (A's) slugged a three-run homer for Oriente.

Toros 5, Leones 4

Angels farmhand Alberto Rosario drove in a pair of runs to pace Este. Danny Richar delivered a walk-off single and veteran outfielder Alejandro De Aza (White Sox) scored twice and stole a base for the Toros. Starling Marte, the Pirates No. 5 prospect slugged a two-run homer for Escogido, which had won five straight.

Tigres 5, Aguillas 1

Royals farmhand Willy Lebron struck out six and allowed one run on one hit over five innings to earn his first win for Licey. Mets prospect Jordany Valdespin was 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and Jerad Head (Indians) scored twice for the Tigres. Hector Luna (Red Sox) had two hits to extend his hitting streak to four games for Cibaenas.

Venezuelan Winter League

Cardenales 7, Tiburones 2

Mariners prospect Erasmo Ramirez improved to 2-0 after allowed two hits and striking out two over six shutout innings for Lara. Indians farmhand Luis Valbuena was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored while Oswaldo Navarro (Astros) had two hits and scored twice. White Sox prospect Eduardo Escobar raised his average to .300 with a 2-for-4 game for La Guaira.

Leones 7, Tigres 2

Daniel Mayora (Rays) homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs for Caracas. Former Major Leaguer Gregorio Petit had a double and two RBIs, while Cubs prospect Marwin Gonzalez was 3-for-5 with a run scored for the Leones. Alex Romero (Marlins) was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the loss for Aragua.

Caribes 4, Bravos 3

Yankees farmhand Luis Nunez slugged a three-run homer and scored twice to pace Anzoategui. Angels prospect Jeremy Moore collected his third straight multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Brayan Villareal (Tigers) earned his first win by retiring the only two batters he faced. Alberto Gonzalez (Padres) went yard and drove in two runs for Margarita.

Navegantes 5, Aguilas 3

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve slugged a solo homer to help first-place Magallanes win its fifth straight game. California League All-Star Kole Calhoun (Angels) reached base twice, scored twice and stole two bases while Mariners prospect Francisco Martinez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jose Pirela (Yankees) extended his hitting streak to six games with an RBI single for Zulia.

Mexican Pacific League

Yaquis 9, Venados 4

Veteran infielder Alfredo Amezaga (Rockies) hit a pinch-hit RBI double as Obregon rallied to score eight runs in the top of the ninth inning. Former Major Leaguer Doug Clark was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Yaquis. Former Cubs draftee Brandon Sing doubled twice and drove in three runs for Mazatlan.

Caneros 13, Algodoneros 2

Mets prospect Juan Carlos Gamboa slugged a grand slam and drew a bases-loaded walk to finish with five RBIs for Mochis. Jermaine Curtis (Cardinals) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and veteran infielder Alex Cintron drove in a run for the Caneros. Former Southern League All-Star Marshall McDougall finished with two hits and a run scored for Guasave.

Tomateros 6, Aguilas 3

International League All-Star Jorge Vazquez (Yankees) slugged a grand slam to help Culiacan pull into a first-place tie. Cole Gillespie (D-backs) drew a pair of walks and scored a run for the Tomateros. Former Major Leaguer Chris Roberson hit a two-run homer, his first of the season for Mexicali.

Mayos 8, Naranjeros 2

Former Angels farmhand Rolando Acosta slugged three solo homers for Navojoa. Former Orioles draftee Kraig Binick was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Mayos. Veteran Major Leaguer Erubial Durazo slugged his third homer in 11 games for Hermosillo.

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Dominican Winter League

•Jerad Head (RF, Tigres del Licey): 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB. Head reached base in 3 of his 4 plate appearances. He now has 4 walks and 31 at bats, which is a much better ratio than in Columbus when he had 25 walks and 422 at bats.

•Juan Diaz (SS, Estrelles de Oriente): 0-for-2, BB, K. After getting his first two hits on Saturday, Diaz went back to his 0-fer outputs on Monday. He was pinch hit for late in the game, and considering he is hitting just .087 may (should) be in danger of losing his starting job.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 2-for-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, K. Valbuena with his first homer this offseason and he is still maintaining a .400+ on-base percentage. He was taken out in the bottom of the 5th inning when his team came out to play defense so he may have gotten hurt.

From the dugout;

Luis Valbuena left the meeting with a sore left hamstring . The manager reported that Peter Grifola may play today. In addition, the pilot said Valbuena liked his job as a leadoff hitter ....

Luis Valbuena homered and drove in two hairline for Lara

Tuesday October 25, 2011 11:29 PM

Caracas .-

Cardenales brilliant defensively and manufactured a total of five dobleplays, three of them were performed in the first third of the encounter, starring Cesar Izturis to grandeliga and Luis Valbuena

Lara Cardinals got their first win of the season in the park of the UCV, defeating La Guaira Sharks 7 runs to 2, remaining in sixth position in the standings with a record of five wins and 2 losses. The grandeliga Luis Valbuena hit his first homer of the season in the top of the third episode batting in a pair of runs for the cause of red birds.

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Carlos Zambrano kept his word and reported


CARACAS .-

As the days passed it is closer to the return of Carlos Zambrano to the fields of the circuit. Yesterday the "Bull" showed that he is no holdout. He returned and appeared at Alfonso "Chico" Carrasquel, as originally planned with the management of Anzoategui Caribbean .

TORU MURATA was assigned as the opening day, starting pitcher for the Ronners de Chiriqui in the Panama winter league.

The Roneros manager Einar Diaz, gave the responsibility to open to the Japanese Toru Murata, who belongs to the Cleveland Indians. Murata and saw action in Probeis versus the Red Devils, throwing four innings of shutout ball. 'Murata had his first outing and gave us four good episodes, and now we look forward to another good task ", said Lino Diaz, operations manager of Chiriqui.


[Einar Diaz was also assigned by The Panamanian Federation of Baseball (Fedebeis) as manager for the World Cup games concluded earlier this month.]

Danny Salazar who belongs to the Cleveland Indians, spaced two hits in five innings and was backed by nine hits offensive to drive the Roneros of Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui and Veraguas to a win of 3 runs to 1 against the Red Devils of Panama Metro in a match at Rod Carew stadium in the second round of the League of Professional Baseball Panama.

For Roneros led by Einar Diaz exgrandes leaguer was the second win against the Red Devils after the opening day event, a whitewash 1-0 in this same arena.

The Roneros, defending champion of the professional league of Panama, started the season with their engines running to win the series against the Red Devils of Panama.

The troops directed by former major league Einar Diaz is installed at its headquarters at Omar Torrijos Stadium in the city of Santiago, where he hopes to give fans many triumphs Veraguense.

The right hander Steven Wright, a specialist pitcher knuckle ball belongs to the organization of the Cleveland Indians will face the artillery of the Azuero Devils at home, Rico Cedeño Stadium in Chitre.

For Wright, who finished the season in Double A, will premiere for the Ronners.

The Roneros, with a team consisting mostly of young prospects from different major league organizations will receive the Devils on Wednesday in its nest, the Coliseum Omar Torrijos, in an interesting two-game series.

Toru Murata The shooter in the land of the Rising Sun will be in charge of opening the series with the next set of games.

"The team is very good and I especially was surprised by the speed that is in the infield and we will get the most out of this. The pitching has responded and hopefully have a better offensive games coming, "said Einar Diaz's manager.

Murata, one of the stellar starters for the Roneros was signed by the Cleveland Indians from the Japanese league and ended up playing Class A Fort. Collect an arsenal on his pitches that runs with great control.

PANAMA WINTER LEAGUE

Looks like Jerad Head might not be going down without a fight. The Licey game is in the 7th inning. Head is 2-3, 1 of only 3 Licey hits on the night, and has his average up and over the .300 mark sitting at (.324).

Juan Diaz had been playing some great defense, but his bat has him riding the pines tonight. Diaz has been struggling at the plate to say the least.

Rob Bryson 0-1, (9.000) came on in relief for Margarita in the bottom of the 6th inning and got roughed up a tad. Bryson surrendered a leadoff home to Alexis Espinoza, a one out single to Gaby Martinez before striking ou8t Dmitri Young. Jose Gil doubled and Martinez advanced to third on the hit before Bryson got ex-Indian Niuman Romero to fly out to end the inning. 1inn, 1R, 1ER, 3H, 1DBL, 1HR, 0W, 1K.