The Tigers punished without mercy the Giants

The music rocked last night at Quisqueya Stadium. Its battery was heavy and the download was relentless. The Tigers made ​​sure to dawn in the second place in the standings by winning this playoff game 14-4 against the Lions, who have now lost three in a row. The Licey, author of 17 hits, now have four consecutive victories, its best in a long time. The squad was led by Norman Nelson cut the lead to two game behind the Lions for first place.

In the other match of the day, held at the Julian Javier Stadium, San Francisco de Macoris, the Giants produced seven runs in the sixth against the Cibao Eagles to win 10-6. The victory allowed the Giants to stay in third place, a half-game behind Licey, while the Eagles fell to the basement. The Lions starter, Nelson Figueroa (1-1), lasted just two innings.

Sports. - Omar Vizquel

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The free agent Omar Vizquel, one of the best shortstops in the major leagues said in his Twitter account: "If there is no contract there is no other choice but to start a new career. The Coach".

Sanchez: "It was a unique experience"

Hector Sanchez, who today was named Rookie of the Year

CARACAS .-

Hector Sanchez yesterday was the player most approached by the media. The reason is simple: today he won almost unanimously (45 of 46 first place votes) for the Rookie of the Year Award. For Sanchez, last year was a blessing in his short career and wished to continue his success. "It was a unique experience to play in Venezuela, "said the catcher who also had the good fortune to debut in the majors in 2011. "It was a wonderful year for the achievements and development I've had. Since early last year I'm surprised by all that I have achieved as much in the U.S. as here in Venezuela, "Sanchez said as he recalled all the achievements.

Sanchez said something personal: the fellowship he found. "The most shocking thing for me was the camaraderie that I found both with the San Francisco Giants and as a La Guaira Shark," admitted Sanchez to whom he owes his success . "It motivates you to play hard every day. There have been many difficult times and I hope to always come quickly to solve those problems with much support from my teammates." Darwin Perez, Wilfredo Boscan, Freddy Galvis, did a great job and hats off to them and so deserved for the efforts they have given to their team here in Venezuela," said the Creole.

Winning the Rookie of the Year demonstrates the dedication of his work. "With this award you open many eyes in the United States and Venezuela. You see the work you do day after day, the desire to help your team and find that when you come to work you give everything on every pitch, "admitted Sanchez, who knows what has to be done has to be done little by little. "Since last year my eyes have been opened. In the United States I'm focused on my job because things have gone well. Bruce Bochy wants to wait for spring training to make any decisions. I know what I want is to close this season with a flourish, the entire team is in waiting, we have to take the first step and reach the final and then try to get the championship and then win the Caribbean Series" .

TONIGHT HIGH TENSION IN VALENCIA

Tonight starts the second half of the Round Robin with two games of high importance that will be contested in the Estadio Jose Bernardo Perez de Valencia and Luis Aparicio "The Great" de Maracaibo.

The confrontation capturing the most attention will undoubtedly be the game between La Guaira Sharks visiting the Magallanes Navigators because both teams are tied for second place with records of 4-3. Also, apart from the battle between the two teams will be the battle between the two adversaries starter of the Navigators Eric Junge and the power hitting Alex Cabrera. It will be a game of high tension due to the importance of the game itself and the situation that arose last Friday when both players had an exchange of words after the pitcher made a pitch near the head of Cabrera, who did not like the action.

The situation developed when Cabrera slugged a homer admired his homer and Junge took exception and distributed words of disgust for the slugger, who seemed not to have listened. However, in a statement days after that game, "The Samurai" said that there is a little "friction" between them (he and Jung), and where he also dared to challenge the foreign pitcher by urging him to stop babbling and only concentrate on pitching.

Junge (0-1, 1.29) seeks to extend the winning streak of the club will again face the American pitcher Brian Sweeney (1-0, 0.00). The reinforcement from the Lara Cardinals in his earlier confrontation against Sweeny handcuffed the offense for seven solid innings. In defeat, the excellent work of Junge did not go unnoticed.

Mariners ink Kawasaki to Minor League deal

Japanese infielder will compete for a job in Spring Training

SEATTLE --

Munenori Kawasaki, an eight-time All-Star infielder in Japan's Pacific League, officially signed with the Mariners on Wednesday as a Minor League free agent with an invitation to the club's Major League camp in Spring Training.

The signing has been expected since before Christmas, but the club didn't finalize its deal with the 30-year-old until now.

"Being able to add a player with the resume that Kawasaki possesses is very good news for the Mariners," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "We are looking forward to having him compete for a Major League position in Spring Training. He is a high-energy player with a record of success in Japan."

Munenori Kawasaki makes a flip during the 2011 Asia Series championship game on Nov. 29. (AP)Kawasaki hit .294 with 631 runs scored and 262 stolen bases in 1,145 games over 11 seasons in Japan. He was an All-Star from 2004-11 with Fukuoka and won two gold gloves at shortstop.

Kawasaki played with Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki on Japan's gold-medal winning World Baseball Classic squad in 2009 and told reporters in Japan that he wanted to play with Ichiro in the Major Leagues, even if it meant taking a Minor League contract offer.

The Mariners are seeking a backup shortstop and utility infielder, and Kawasaki will compete for that role along with Luis Rodriguez, who played for Seattle last year and has also accepted a Minor League deal with a camp invitation.

Kawasaki hit .267 in 144 games last season for the Softbank Hawks as they advanced to their first Japan Series title in eight years.

Kawasaki is regarded as more of a defender than an offensive force, but those who follow Japanese baseball say he's a smart, gritty player, and he's recorded 20 or more stolen bases in eight of his past nine seasons, including a league-leading 42 in '04.

In addition to being a member of Japan's World Baseball Classic squad in 2006 and '09, he was the starting shortstop for Japan in the '08 Beijing Olympic Games.

Aces get to Brisbane's ace

Melbourne took the first game of the five-game set at RNA Showgrounds

The Melbourne Aces found a way to get to Brisbane's Alex Maestri and took down the Bandits by a score of 6-5 in a back-and-forth affair at the RNA Showgrounds in Round 10 of Australian Baseball League action on Wednesday night.

The Italian Stallion only notched uno eliminazione al piatto in the first game of the five-game set, one strikeout in his native tongue. The way Maestri has been pitching as of late though, Bandits fans might want to learn some Italian. He was the Player of the Week for Round 8 of the ABL for his two-hit complete game and earned runner-up honours for his performance last weekend at Perth in Round 9.

Though Maestri's outing on Wednesday was uncharacteristically short for the right-hander, he remains second in the league with 54 2/3 innings pitched on the season and with 47 total strikeouts. He was the beneficiary of a loss in the game that saw eight different Brisbane batters notch hits and 22 total hits between the two teams.

Melbourne (17-19) opened up the scoring in the top of the third inning, courtesy of a Paul Weichard home run. Weichard got to Maestri for his eighth home run of the year, a two-run shot.

The Aces added to their total in the fourth, on a bases-loaded two-run double for Elliot Biddle. The double was Biddle's 12th of the season and brought his team-leading total up to 28 runs driven in on the year, and gave Melbourne a four-run advantage.

Maestri (4-3) was taken out of the game after just four frames, in the atypical outing for Brisbane's ace. He allowed four earned runs on six hits with three walks and one strikeout.

The Bandits got back a run in the bottom of the fourth, a single from Josh Roberts for his team-leading 25th RBI of the season. Melbourne came right back with one to start the fifth, a Josh Huber home run off of reliever Andrew Marck, bringing the score to 5-1.

Marck is back on the Brisbane roster after a brief hiatus and is coming out of the bullpen for the hometown team. In two innings of relief, the New Zealander threw two innings, giving up one run on two hits, and he fanned two batters.

Brisbane (14-22) added to their total again in the fifth and the sixth. An RBI-single from Andrew Campbell cut Melbourne's lead to three runs, before the Bandits added two more in the sixth inning. That would be the end of the day for Aces starter Bubbie Buzachero (2-0). Melbourne's right-hander went five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits, with a walk and three strikeouts.

The Aces got another run in the seventh inning off of Bandits reliever Aaron Thompson. After walking two and striking out two to start the inning, he allowed a single to score one. That was all the Aces could manage however as he got out of the inning with the next batter. The visitors increased their lead to 6-4.

The Bandits got that run back in the seventh, after Steven Greer opened the frame with his second hit of the night in his home debut. The centre fielder moved to second on his first stolen base of the year and came around on a throwing error by Aces pitcher Andrew Russell.

Melbourne's second member of the relief corps to come into the game, Travis Blackley, notched a rare four-strikeout inning in the eighth. After getting Brad Dutton and David Sutherland to go down swinging, Wade Dutton reached base on a strikeout-wild pitch. Blackley finished the inning by fanning next batter Rory Rhodes. The southpaw finished out the game for the Aces. His complete line reads 2 1/3 innings pitched, allowing one hit with six strikeouts. Blackley recorded the save for Melbourne, his first of the year.

With the loss, the Bandits remain in last place, needing to do some damage in the remaining two series in order to move beyond the regular season. Elsewhere in the playoff race, Adelaide (17-19) took down the Blue Sox (16-20) in other ABL action today, moving the Bite into a tie with Melbourne for third place. Sydney dropped into the fifth spot in the standings.

- In Mexicali and Culiacan January 10, 2012 (LMP / Alpha Communication) -

They passed the first stage now the reach for the threshold of glory. Starting Wednesday League semifinals Mexicana Pacific, en route to see who will be the team that will win the championship of baseball season winter 2011-2012.

After the conclusion of the series playoff, in which six teams participated only four are left, the Yaquis of Ciudad Obregon confronting the Mexicali Eagles while in the other front, cotton farmers of Guasave must face the Tomateros of Culiacan.

On the eve, it is anticipated that as to what happened in recent years, the series winners will be far from predictable.

Lion Crush The Eagles;The Tigers Crush The Giants.

The Lions rallied and managed to overcome 7-1 the Cibao Eagles in a match held at the Quisqueya Stadium. The Lions, were behind in the game 1-0 in the eighth inning, connecting multiple hits and aided by a porous defense, produced seven runs in the eighth inning and got the victory.

Starting pitcher Jorge Sosa of the Lions, he threw 6 innings with 3 hits allowed and left with a no-decisions, but his team snapped a three-game losing streak and still are in first place in the Round Robin.

For the Eagles pitcher Raul Valdes, did not get a decision, working 7 innings, 5 hits, 9 strikeouts and two walks, and no runs.

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In another match the Licey Tigers continued their winning streak, 8-0 by crushing the San Francisco Giants in a clash held at the Estadio Julian Javier.

The Blues got 11 hits and were supported by an excellent jobof pitching by Francisley Bueno, who pitched 5 innings of 5 hits with 4 strikeouts. The other Tiger pitchers allowed no hits.

Losing pitcher was John Halama who only lasted 2 innings and two thirds giving up 6 hits and five runs, two homers, with strikeout.

In the playoff standings, Escogido is in first with 9 wins and 4 losses, Licey 7-6 in second, the Cibao Giants with a record of 5-7 in third 3 ½ games behind and the Cicaenas Eagles in the final spot with 4-8 and 4 games out of first.

This Thursday there will be only one match where Giants and Eagles will meet in Santiago. This is a makeup game.

Triunfel homers twice in Tigres' romp

Mariners infield prospect helps Licey coast past Gigantes

Dominican Winter League

Licey 8, Gigantes 0

Mariners prospect Carlos Triunfel blasted a pair of solo homers, powering the Tigres past the Gigantes in the round-robin playoffs. Major League veterans Anderson Hernandez and Wil Nieves also went deep for Licey, which got five solid innings from Royals newcomer Francisley Bueno. Twins infielder Alexi Casilla had two of the Gigantes' five hits.

Escogido 7, Aguilas 1

Jorge Sosa allowed an unearned run on three hits over six innings as the Leones improved to a league-best 9-4 in the round-robin playoffs. Fellow Major League veteran Julio Lugo capped a four-hit night with an RBI single in Escogido's seven-run eighth. The Aguilas wasted a stellar outing by Raul Valdes, who struck out nine over seven shutout innings.
Carlos Triunfel batted .281 with six homers and 45 RBIs across two Minor League levels last season. (Jamie Harms/MiLB.com)

Venezuelan Winter League

La Guaira 11, Magallanes 3

Giants prospect Hector Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and three runs scored to lead a 21-hit attack as the Tiburones rolled past the Navegantes. Alex Cabrera and Major League veteran Oscar Salazar each added three hits and a pair of RBIs for La Guaira, which improved to 4-3 in the round-robin playoffs. Nationals catcher Jesus Flores and pinch-hitter Salomon Manriquez homered for Magallanes.

Aragua 3, Zulia 2

Hector Gimenez smacked a three-run homer and the Tigres held off the winless Aguilas. Cardinals prospect Eduardo Sanchez got the victory out of the bullpen, tossing two scoreless innings. D-backs prospect Ender Inciarte had two hits and provided Zulia's offense with a two-run double in the fifth.

Mexican Pacific League

Guasave 4, Culiacan 3

Japhet Amador had three hits, including a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning, as the Algodoñeros took Game 1 of their best-of-7 semifinal series. Former Major Leaguer Daryle Ward drove in two runs for Guasave, while big league veteran Jeff Frazier delivered a two-run single for the Tomateros.

Obregon 3, Mexicali 2, 10 innings

Juan Canizales hit a two-run walk-off homer as the Aguilas pulled out the victory in Game 1 of their semifinal series. Former Major Leaguer Humberto Cota also went deep for Mexicali, which was one out away from victory before big league veteran Alfredo Amezaga doubled home the tying run in the top of the ninth. Iker Franco had put the Yaquis in front with a solo homer in the 10th.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Ponce 9, Mayaguez 6

Reds farmhand Jose Castro doubled twice, drove in three runs and scored twice, helping the Leones force a decisive fifth game in their semifinal series. Dodgers infielder Ivan De Jesus also had two hits and chipped in a pair of RBIs for Ponce, while Marlins farmhand Jeff Dominguez was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored for Mayaguez.

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Australian Baseball League

•Andrew Campbell (LF, Brisbane Bandits): 1-for-4, RBI. That is now 11-straight games that Campbell has hit in. He has done a really nice job since moving into the leadoff spot for his Brisbane team on a nightly basis
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•Ryan Battaglia (C, Brisbane Bandits): 1-for-4, 3 K. Battaglia has managed to record a hit in three of his last four games, but is still just 3-for-13 over that stretch and has amassed 6 strikeouts.

Ponce Lions beat the Indios de Mayagüez

A productive five-run third inning led the Ponce Lions 9-6 over the Mayagüez Indians and tied the semifinal series of the Puerto Rican League of Professional Baseball at the stadium Isidoro "Cholo" Garcia de Mayaguez.

Ponce extends the series to a decisive fifth game tonight in the stadium Francisco "Paquito" Montaner.

With the score against them, 4-2, designated hitter John Rodriguez opened the third inning by reaching base and advancing to second after the Indians shortstop Irving Falu, committed an error.

Robinson Cancel singled and Luis Matos struckout. A wild pitch from reliever Hector Hernandez brought home a run to make it a 4-3 ballgame.

The Lions continued to attack when Jose Castro hit a double that brought two more runs home and gave the Lions the lead, 5-4.

A turn later, Hiram Bocachica hit another double to increase the lead Southern, 6-4. Then, advanced to third on another wild pitch and scored on a basehit by Robert Manuel Ivan to place the board at 7-4.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez homered in the sixth inning and one more in the ninth to seal the victory for the LIons, 9-4.

Eddie Camacho took the victory with the help of Joe Testa, Juan Padilla and RJ Rodriguez, who despite allowing two runs to the Indians in the ninth, closed the win.

Caguas is preparing for the final series

Aaron Bates rejoined the Caguas Creoles.

The Caguas Creoles have not been standing still during his week off and continue their preparation for the final series which starts next Saturday in Yldefonso Sola Morales Stadium in Caguas.

The champions won the ticketto the finals last Tuesday and are awaiting the winner of the semifinal series between the Indians of Mayagüez and Ponce Lions.

"We're fine, and go with everything," said general manager, Frankie Higginbotham, who announced the return of slugger Aaron Bates, who was one of the most productive hitters of the Creoles in the early season.

Bates, who missed two-thirds of the regular season to get married in December, began the season with .356 average, two homers and seven RBIs in 14 games.

In addition to Bates, the Creoles were strengthened for the final series with right-hander from the Carolina Giants who were eliminated, Matt DeSalvo, left-hander from the Estrellas, Claudio Galva (1.76 ERA in 22 games), and the righty Mike Loree, who in 2011 pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

They had previously announced the hiring of Jose Rosario and pitcher Felix Romero

The tribe is ready for the finals after beating Ponce

Friday, January 13, 2012

Ponce

The Mayagüez Indians return to the Finals!

An excellent job pitching from starter Jon Huber was combined with the powerful offensive of experienced Randy Ruiz to send the Indians to their twenty-second final in their history after a victory, 4-1, over the Ponce Lions in the stadium Francisco "Paquito "Mountains of the Pearl of the South.

Now, Mayagüez will face the Caguas Creoles in the finals starting tomorrow, Saturday. Both teams met in the championship series for the 2009-2010 season, which was won by the tribe.

It will be the clash of the two winningest franchises in the history of professional baseball in Puerto Rico. Mayaguez holds the most championships with 16, while Caguas follows with 15.

Last night was a matter of life or death, and Huber, for the second game in the series, completely tamed the Lions. Huber's first seven pitches were outside the strike zone, but straightened out his arm before leaving the game with a no-hitter after four and a third innings.

Meanwhile, Ruiz went 2-3 with a homer and four runs batted in for the Indians. However, Ruiz hurt his shin on the right leg in a defensive play in the eighth inning. Ruiz said after the game he does not expect further complications, but today will be subjected to medical examination as a precaution.

The Indians got to Cuban starter Yadel Marti in the first inning.

With one out, Ruben Gotay reached on error by shortstop Jose Castro, Jeffrey Dominguez singled and Randy Ruiz brought them to the dish when he connected for a huge home run to center field that put the tribe on the board 3-0.

The Lions had to wait until the fifth inning to break up Huber's no-hitter when the experienced outfielder Luis Matos singled to break the curse, but without consequences.

Ponce returned to the fray in the sixth inning when Jose Castro Thomas reached on an error by third baseman Ruben Gotay of the Indians. So Felix Perez hit a liner to right field to put men on the corners and Hiram Bocachica was responsible for bringing the first Lions run home with a sacrifice fly off reliever Ryan Kassmaul.

But the Indians regained ground in the seventh inning against the shipments of Peter Andrelczyk when Ruiz drove in his fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field to increase the lead of the Indians, 4-1.

Ramon Troncoso Kassmaul took over to preserve the victory tieing the hands of the Lions offense in the last three innings.

The final series will be at a maximum of nine games, first to win five games will win the league championship series.

Manny is saying he will be a role model if some team will hire him.


Manny Ramirez promises to change if he returns to baseball

Reaffirms fitness as it was in 2008.

Por: Jorge Morejón/CNN

Manny Ramirez is still Manny. Unpredictable, moody, capable of surprising us at every step, but not necessarily on the positive side.

For years, as his undeniable talent was declining, the Dominican Republic strove to reassert his role as the bad guy in baseball.

Now Manny is saying he will be a role model if some team will hire him.

Sacked twice for the use of banned substances to improve performance, Ramirez must serve 50 games of punishment in 2009, when he played for the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Just started the 2011 season with Tampa Bay, relapsed into the trap, but chose to retire rather than face a suspension for 100 games.

But a few weeks ago publicly apologized and sought the permission of Major League Baseball to return, as the imposed sentence was shortened to 50 games.

To those who defend fair play, fair competition, where all enter the field on equal terms and only one can succeed under his best advantage using their talents and abilities, reinstatement seems controversial and a joke in itself.

Well, the joke in itself is the current sanctions; policies which the majors has on doping, which for many keep looking the other way as they did in the 90's.

So they needed a McGwire and a Sosa to save baseball after the devastating 1994 strike and so they conveniently to looked the other way.

Sometimes I think that neither the commissioner Bud Selig and other executives of the majors, were eager to implement a drug policy and did so only when circumstances forced them.

But there remains much ambiguity and hypocrisy. The famous list of 103 players who tested positive in a doping control has been filtered to a trickle and the few names that are known so far seem to have been intentionally brought to light.

Why not publish the list once and clean the slate?

It may not be appropriate to appear and reveal a name that might be one of the more emblematic players of today.

That would be a blow to the credibility of the organizations.

This suspicion is hanging over an entire generation of players.

To complete this ambiguity, now Manny might return. And you can bet that if he returns, he will return in the midst of thunderous applause, like a triumphant warrior.

Forget about Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro.

At this point, no one can dispute Manny the dubious honor of being the main emblem of the steroid era.

If they allow his return, skipping half of the ridiculous penalty applied, the majors are showing they still love that stage where doping was rampant and that Manny's will to change things is so ludicrous as to believe that Manny Ramirez can ever become a role model.

ERIC BERGER CONTINUES TO IMPRESS