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Licey Tigers

Jose Jimenez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana, who, besides being pitchers for the Tigers, have in common that they have each thrown a no hitter in the majors, were recognized yesterday and all have the desire to pitch this winter.

Licey looks like they might have a pretty decent pitching staff to close out the season. Heading into round robin playoff format, having pitchers with those credentials would be huge. Looks like the Tigers plan on getting back into the playoffs this year after being thwarted the past two seasons.

Colombian-born MLB pitcher Julio Alberto Teheran was in the slum areas of Cartagena to launch “Beisbol por la Paz”, a program that aims to prevent juvenile delinquency in Cartagena and Medellin.

Baseball will be instrumental to combat violence in Colombia

Cartagena de las Indias-Colombia

the city of Cartagena in Colombia hosted the launch of "Beisbol por la paz". The 3-year program (in English Baseball for Peace) aims to bring structure and supervision into the lives of marginalized young people from 8 to 16 years old drawn to violence and street gangs in two of the most unsafe cities in Colombia.

The program is led by the Colombian (Federaciòn Colombiana de Beisbol) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), in collaboration with Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport (in English: "The organization for peace through sport") with the support of Major League Baseball (MLB), Ecopetrol, Kenko, Grupo Internacional de la Paz and Fundauniban.

Psycho-social professionals and sports educators will work hand in hand to teach vulnerable young girls and boys respect for the Rules of the Game, both in baseball and in society. As part of the program, the specific dynamics between baseball players and the intrinsic values of the sport will be used as educational vehicles to spread messages of tolerance, dignity, self-esteem and non-violent confrontation necessary to lead a better life and foster a culture of peace.

Ultimately, the program’s methodology aims to reduce violence and juvenile delinquency, increase youngsters’ resilience and facilitate reconciliation between communities that are victims of armed gangs.

Julio Alberto Teheran launched the program as a Champion for Peace, the name given to a group of over 60 international athletes committed to serve peace in the world through sport, an initiative created by Peace and Sport.

Teheran was born in 1991 and grew up in Cartagena’s slums, he signed his first professional contract in 2008 for the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent. He pitched 6 games in his first season at the Rookie Level and 7 the year after. In 2010 he worked his way up to Double A, where he was voted a League All Star, participated in the Futures All Star Game and tagged as a top prospect. Considered the number 1 prospect of the Atlanta organization, he started 24 games for the Gwinnet Braves of the AAA International League in 2011 and made his debut in the Big Leagues on May 7th.

Talking about “Beisbol por la Paz”, Julio Teheran said: “I am extremely proud and happy to inaugurate this project today. Baseball has brought me so much in life, enabling me to live from my passion, to be recognized by many and to be the person I am today having fully integrated baseball’s values in my daily life. It is a great pleasure to now be able to give back to society and especially to my country through the game.”

Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, declared: "The presence of such a champion as Julio at the launch of ‘Beisbol por la Paz’ is crucial to the program’s success. He knows how to communicate his passion for baseball to children and show them all that this sport has brought him on a personal level. This is the best source of inspiration you could ever dream of for these kids who need role models and new benchmarks in life."

Riccardo Fraccari, IBAF President said: "Beyond the sporting values related to the game, IBAF and the game of baseball can also play a role in civic education, socialization and citizenship. We are extremely pleased to contribute to this program that will change the lives of hundreds of young people in vulnerable situations in Colombia."

Beisbol por la Paz is also supported by baseball legend and Champion for Peace Edgar Renteria.
The program will be implemented in 5 youth centres/clubs in Medellin and Cartagena. Designed as a pilot project, it will be duplicated and transformed into a national program called ‘Beisboleritos’ by the Colombian Baseball Federation with the support of the organization “Grupo Internacional de la Paz” at a later stage.

Peace and Sport and IBAF signed a partnership in 2010 to pioneer activities promoting reconciliation, dialogue and social stability in the most volatile countries through baseball. The “Beisbol por la Paz” program is the first fruit of this partnership

Edgar Renteria is one of the new Champions for Peace

The Major League star is a testimonial of 'Béisbol por la paz', a project of the Colombia Federation and a joint effort with IBAF and Peace and Sport

Colombia is currently facing important challenges for its internal security. Considering that over 40% of the population is below 18 years of age, there's urgency to offer these young people activities which are both healthy and carry positive values and prospects for the future.

Béisbol por la paz is a project that seeks to come to the assistance of vulnerable youngsters in those three types of environments. Its objective is, by November 2014, to have helped more than 200 vulnerable young people, literally recruited from the street, to play baseball at least twice a week in a structured environment where they can learn values that the street can’t teach them: respect for the rules and for others, tolerance, discipline, courage, effort.

Moreover, beyond learning the values of baseball, this project also aims to enable unemployed youth to have access to basic education on crucial topics for Colombia, such as HIV- AIDS prevention, environmental protection, hygiene, democracy and citizenship.

Finally, over time, this project aims to enable these children to either (re)integrate into the scholar system or in the professional world according to their age and desire.

Béisbol por la paz is a joint effort of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), the National Federation of Colombia (Féderaciòn Colombiana de Beisbol) and Peace and Sport.

Edgar Renteria, the 35 year old Major League star born in Colombia is actually among the nine new Champions for Peace who joined the program to serve world peace through sport at the 2011 Peace and Sport International Forum held in Monaco under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Renteria has played 2,152 games at the Major League level in a career started in 1996 with the Florida Marlins and that led him to represent also the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox, the Atlanta braves, the Detroit Tigers, the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds.

Renteria won the World Series in 1997 with the Marlins and in 2010 with the Giants. In the 2010 Series he was voted the MVP. As a shortstop, in his career he has won the National League Silver Slugger Award in 2000, 2002 and 2003 and the Gold Glove in 2002 and 2003. He has appeared in the All Star Game in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

The other 8 Champions are cyclist Philippe Gilbert (Belgium), swimming legend Donna De Varona (USA), gymnastic Latin American champion Hugo Giraldo Lopez (Colombia), former European Champion in figure skating Surya Bonaly (France), former ju-jitsu World Champion Gregory Vallarino Colombia), Olympic medallist alpine skier Florence Masnada (France), multiple world champion in sambo Fedor Emelianenko (Russia), World Champion in sprint paracanoe Patrick Viriamu (French Polynesia).

During the forum took place The Peace and Sport Awards ceremony. Since 2008, these prices reward initiatives and people who have outstandingly contributed to peace and social stability in the world through sport. The winners have implemented projects that are symbolic of what sport can accomplish to create links between divided or opposed communities.

This is the list of awards:

BEST PROJECT FOR PEACE FROM AN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION

To the educational program for 6-12 year old children of IAAF.
The International Softball Federation (ISF) was amongst the nominees for their project designed to use softball to rebuild hope for young boys and girls (age 15-and-under) in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

SPORTS EVENT FOR PEACE OF THE YEAR

To the East Africa Cup, that involved Zimbabwe, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Sudan with a football tournament, a volley tournament and a wheelchair volleyball tournament, plus a series of seminars

NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION FOR PEACE OF THE YEAR

To Peace Players International

BEST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) INITIATIVE

Club Med Foundation

PEACE AND SPORT IMAGE OF THE YEAR

For a photo taken in Kabul (Afghanistan) during the international Go Skateboarding Day

SPECIAL JURY PRICE

to "Teaming up to achieve the Millenium Development Goals", a 32 page educational comic book featuring 10 football UN Goodwill Ambassadors.

President Fraccari addresses Cooperation with Professional Leagues

Improved Relationship between IBAF and Pro Baseball increases Chances to be re-admited onto Olympic Programme

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan-

The President of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), Riccardo Fraccari, underlined the need to continue to strenghthen the relationship between the IBAF--baseball's international governing body--and the professional leagues around the world in order to increase baseball's chances to be re-admitted onto the Olympic Programme.

Fraccari spoke before the crowd during the final game of Major League Baseball's Taiwan Series, where a selection of MLB All-Stars took on the Chinese Taipei National Team.

"This collaboration with professional baseball and the presence of the best athletes on an international stage will serve to help the worldwide development of our sport and reinforce [baseball's] Olympic reinstatement campaign," he underlined.

"The IBAF recognizes and thanks the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association and Major League Baseball for organizing this baseball exhibition," Fraccari continued.

Back in 2005, the IOC voted to remove both baseball and softball from its Olympic Programme starting with the 2012 Games.

The IBAF stated baseball's case for reinstatement to the IOC in 2009, but votes cast put Rugby and Golf on the 2016 Olympic program.

After being elected president in December 2009, Fraccari has made it one the IBAF's top priorities to put baseball in the best possible position to regain Olympic status when the next IOC vote takes place in 2013.

Talks between the International Softball Federation (ISF) and the IBAF to submit a single candidature to the IOC have been ongoing.

Fraccari and IBAF favor a joint-bid with ISF and strongly suggest that the combined effort would produce a convincing case before the IOC.

Karate, roller sports, sports climbing, squash and wakeboarding are the other sports vying to be part of the 2020 Olympic Programme.

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Indios' Martin shuts down Criollos

Dodgers prospect scatters six hits over five shutout innings

Puerto Rican Winter League

Mayaguez 1, Caguas 0

Dodgers prospect Ethan Martin, the 15th overall pick in the 2008 Draft, scattered six hits over five innings for his first win as the Indios blanked the first-place Criollos. Four relievers combined on four one-hit frames and former White Sox farmhand Miguel Negron singled home the lone run for Mayaguez.

Carolina 4, Ponce 2

Ozzie Martinez had two hits and two RBIs to lead the last-place Gigantes to their second straight victory. Fellow Marlins prospect Jeff Dominguez chipped in three hits and Pedro Valdez also drove in two runs for Carolina, while Reds prospect Neftali Soto was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Ponce.
Ethan Martin was 9-7 with two saves and a 5.95 ERA across two Minor League levels this season. (Rancho Cucamonga Quakes)

Dominican Winter League

Aguilas 5, Toros 1

Former Major Leaguer Shane Youman allowed a run on seven hits over six innings as the Aguilas ended the Toros' three-game winning streak and dropped them into a first-place tie. Hector Luna, who spent the regular season with the Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate, went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs for Cibaenas. Danny Richar had two hits and drove in the lone run for Este.

Gigantes 5, Licey 3

Twins infielder Alexi Casilla doubled, singled and drove in three runs for the last-place Gigantes. Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero homered and walked twice, while Giants farmhand Yeral Sanchez had three hits and scored a pair of runs for Cibao. Mets prospect Jordany Valdespin drew a bases-loaded walk for the Tigres.

Estrellas 6, Escogido 0

Six pitchers combined on a four-hitter and Brewers infielder Mat Gamel homered and drove in three runs as the Estrellas blanked the Leones. Felix Pie also went deep and Cubs prospect Junior Lake had two hits and scored twice for Oriente.

Venezuelan Winter League

Zulia 3, Caracas 2

A day after he was invited to Spring Training by the Braves, Ernesto Mejia hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Aguilas. Tony Alvarez also went deep and fellow Minor League veteran Dwayne Pollok pitched seven strong innings for Zulia. Raul Padron, who played in the Indians organization during the regular season, slugged a solo shot for Caracas.

Lara 6, Aragua 2

Astros newcomer Joe Thurston had two hits and drove in two runs as the Cardenales handed the Tigres their third straight loss. Brewers infielder went 2-for-5 and scored a run for Lara, while Wilson Ramos -- playing his second game since he was freed from kidnappers -- collected three hits and an RBI for Aragua.

Caribes 5, Margarita 3

Angels prospect Jeremy Moore had two hits, including a two-run homer, and scored twice as the Caribes won their third straight. Former Minor Leaguer Jon Hunton struck out two in a hitless ninth inning for his league-leading 10th save, while Royals farmhand Manny Piña slugged a two-run blast for the Bravos, who have lost five in a row.

La Guaira 8, Magallanes 7

Tigers infielder Danny Worth had two hits and two RBIs as the Tiburones rallied for their seventh straight win. Former Rays farmhand Cesar Suarez capped a four-run seventh inning with a two-run double and Major League veteran Gregor Blanco went 2-for-3 and scored twice for La Guaira. Royals Minor Leaguer Mario Lisson ripped a two-run homer and Nationals catcher Jesus Flores went deep for the third time in six games for Magallanes.

Mexican Pacific League

Guasave 5, Los Mochis 4

The Algodoñeros snapped a 17-game losing streak as Mario Valenzuela hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Jose Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with a solo shot and two runs scored. Former Minor Leaguer Gabriel Gutierrez also went deep for Guasave, while Giants outfielder Justin Christian homered for the second straight game for Los Mochis.

Obregon 5, Mazatlan 1

Cubs prospect Marco Carrillo allowed two hits over six shutout innings as the Yaquis improved to 2-0 in the second half. Former Braves farmhand Barbaro Canizares ripped his league-leading 14th homer and Victor Diaz drove in two runs for Obregon, while fellow Major League veteran Miguel Ojeda scored the lone run for the Venados.

Navojoa 3, Hermosillo 1

Former independent leaguer Nick Singleton allowed a run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings to help the Mayos avoid a third straight loss. Rolando Acosta drove in two runs and former Orioles farmhand Kraig Binick went 2-for-3 with a walk for Navojoa, while Cardinals prospect Mark Hamilton walked twice and scored the lone run for the Naranjeros.

Culiacan 5, Mexicali 2

Yankees farmhand Jorge Vazquez hit his 13th homer, a two-run shot, and Giants prospect Tyler Graham added a solo blast as the Tomateros snapped the Aguilas' 10-game winning streak. Padres right-hander Matt Buschmann struck out seven over six strong innings in his debut for Culiacan, while Angels prospect Ricky Alvarez delivered an RBI single in a losing cause.

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Dominican Winter League

•Jerad Head (RF, Tigres del Licey): 1-for-4, K. Head is likely not to resign with the Indians, but we will keep tabs on him until he officially signs elsewhere. He is not playing too well this fall as in 24 games he is hitting .239/.292/.375. Such a performance will make it hard for him to get signed by a big league team, and he may end up signing and playing with a team overseas this coming season.

Puerto Rico Winter League

•Giovanni Soto (RP, Gigantes de Carolina): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Soto has pitched well in a relief role this fall as he has allowed a run in just 1 of his 7 appearances this fall. In 7.0 innings he has allowed 6 hits, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, and has 7 K.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Ezequiel Carrera (CF, Navegantes del Magallanes): 0-for-5, 3 K. Carrera’s struggles continue with an 0-fer and 3 strikeouts. He has now struck out 6 times in his last 4 games (17 ABs) and in his last 10 games is hitting .179/.238/.231.

•Paolo Espino (SP, Tiburones de la Guaira): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R/ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 2 K. Espino was rocked for the second time in 3 outings this fall. In 12.0 innings pitched he has now allowed 15 hits, 10 runs, 3 home runs, 4 walks, and has 8 strikeouts.

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Panama Winter League
Salazar with another quality start. Eight hits in five innings doesn't look great but the zero runs are what counts.

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Panama Winter League

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Thu, Nov 24, 2011 - Page 20　

Uni-President Lions ready as hosts of Asia Series

By Paul Huang / Contributing Reporter

Managers from the champions of the Taiwanese, Australian, Japanese and South Korean professional leagues gathered at a press conference in Greater Taichung last night to promote this year’s Asia Series, which will commence at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

With Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) champs Uni-President Lions playing hosts to their counterparts from the Australian Baseball League’s Perth Heat, Nippon Professional Baseball’s (NPB) Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the Samsung Lions of Korea Professional Baseball for the first time in history, baseball fans around the nation will be treated to world-class diamond action when the four teams compete in the five-day event for bragging rights as Asia’s best baseball club.

“We are thrilled about having the chance to host an international event as visible and meaningful as this one and we hope to keep the title in Taiwan if we can,” Lions skipper Lu Wen-sheng said earlier last week.

His team had to wait until this past weekend for the NPB champions to be determined, as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March forced the league to postpone the start of its season by nearly a month.

It will be a brand new experience for most of the clubs and their players this year, because the tournament was suspended after the withdrawal of former title sponsor Konami Corp following the 2008 series. The CPBL announced the resumption of the event late last year with Taiwan hosting after Japan previously had the honor of hosting it at the Tokyo Dome since the tournament’s inaugural year in 2005.

This will be Australia’s first time in the event, taking China’s place, as they decided not to participate after an All-Star team from the China Baseball League (CBL) from 2005 to 2007 and the 2008 CBL champions Tianjin Lions finished last in the Asia Series each year.

The four teams will play in a round robin from tomorrow to Sunday before the teams with the two best win-loss percentages face off in the title game scheduled for Tuesday.

Standing in the way of the Lions keeping the trophy in Taiwan will be the favorites from Japan, whose NPB teams have taken all four Asia Series championships. The Hawks will also have the advantage of having just played a seven-game Japan Series, meaning they are still in game shape, compared with the three other teams, even though one could just as well argue that fatigue from lack of rest could hurt the Hawks.

How many current Cleveland Indians are now playing in those bazoomba...err "banana" leagues?

Seems like a bunch.

In all the leagues, at present, 24.

There will be others in December. These other additions are currently under the "extreme fatigue" rule placed on the players by their organizations when they appear in so many games, have so many at bats, pitch so many innings, etc during the regular season. Not mandatory but team decisions.

Giovanny Urshela, Ubaldo Jimenez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana, Raphael Perez, and a few others could be playing as soon as Dec. 15.

Mysteriously missing from players attempting to improve upon their weaknesses this winter is Matt LaPorta. I guess his last experience was not a very good one and has decided to skip winter ball the past three years now that he's a confirmed major leaguer needing no areas to improve in.

Mysteriously missing from players attempting to improve upon their weaknesses this winter is Matt LaPorta. I guess his last experience was not a very good one and has decided to skip winter ball the past three years now that he's a confirmed major leaguer needing no areas to improve in.


Surprise, surprise, Joe Z beating on his personal whipping boy. No one in their right mind who was not born in one of those countries would want to play baseball there. Most of the players there are not working on anything. This is local rec ball for them.

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LICEY BALLERINAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQlmZIHM ... re=related

ESCOGIDO BALLERINAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryL-Ru8A ... re=related

CIBAENAS BALLERINAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWUt6HaD ... re=related

CIBAO BALLERINAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNv4wmg8 ... re=related

ESTRELLAS BALLERINAS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dWa_FVn ... re=related