The Japanese Spring Training schedule is moving along well. They are in their fourth week of training and are a week into their Spring Training games.

Some game notes:

Nippon Ham Fighters vs Yakult Swallows (@ Nago)

Swallows 3 - Fighters 0

•Yuki Saito started the game for the Fighters and allowed a run on three hits and four walks over four innings of work. He also struck out two. Saito threw a total seventy-five pitches, thirty-five of which went for balls.

•5th round draft pick Toshiharu Moriuchi tossed a shutout inning in relief.

•Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi started the game for the Swallows and did not allow any runs over four innings of work. He did load the bases with two out in the 2nd inning, but managed to get out of the jam without allowing any runs to score. Masubuchi allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out one. He also topped out at 144km/h.

•7th round draft pick Takumi Oshima entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 7th inning and worked out a walk and stole second. Later in the inning, Oshima was doubled off second on a liner to second.

•Tetsuto Yamamda started at short and batted ninth. He went 3-for-4: double to left-center in the 3rd inning; infield single in the 5th; and a two-out solo homer to left in the 9th. Kazuhiro Hatakeyama started at first and batted fourth. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Tigers 9 - Bay Stars 5

•Alex Ramirez was the starting DH and batted fourth. He went 2-for-2: double to left in the 2nd inning and a solo homer to left in the 4th inning.

•Taketoshi Goto hit a two-out double to center in the 6th inning and Masaaki Koike hit a one-out double to left-center in the 8th inning.

Lions 5 - Carp 2

•Kyohei Nakamura started the game for Hiroshima and allowed one run on two hits over two innings of work. The one run he allowed scored when Takeya Nakamura hit a double to left with a runner on first and two out in the 1st inning.

•Yuki Iwami entered the game in the 6th and did not allow a run over an inning of work. He also gave up two hits and struck out two.

•1st round draft pick Ken Togame started the game for Seibu and tossed three perfect innings. He threw a total thirty-two pitches, faced nine batters, struck out three, and topped out at 143km/h.

•Takeya Nakamura (SEI) hit two doubles, one to left and one to center.

•Hideto Asamura (SEI) collected two doubles and walk twice in five trips to the plate.

•Tetsuya Kokubo (HIR) recorded a triple.

Giants 14 - Eagles 0

•D.J. Houlton started the game and tossed three shutout innings while allowing three hits. With runners on second and third with one out in the 2nd inning, Houlton recorded two ground ball outs to get out of the inning unscathed. He also threw forty-two pitches and topped out at 135km/h.

•Toshiya Sugiuchi entered the game in the 4th inning and tossed three shutout innings while allowing one hit. He also struck out six and topped out at 142km/h.

•With a runner on first and one out in the 3rd inning, John Bowker started in left and batted second. He swung at a 143km/h fastball and deposited it over the fence in right. Bowker also recorded a two-run double to right in the 7th inning. He finished 2-for-5 with four RBI.

•Shinnosuke Abe was the starting catcher and batted fourth. With a runner on second and no out in the 7th, he hit a two-run homer to right.

•Michihiro Ogasawara collected a single to center in his third trip to the plate.

•Shuichi Murata started at third and batted fifth. He hit a single to center in his third at bat and was hit by a pitch in his fourth at bat.

Hanshin Tigers Intra-squad Game

•Jason Standridge entered the game in the 3rd and tossed a shutout inning while allowing one hit over two innings.

•Randy Messenger allowed one run on one hit and a walk over two innings of work.

•Kenji Jojima started at first and batted fifth for the Whites. He grounded out to second in his first at bat, grounded out to short in his second at bat, and with a runner on second and one out in the 7th inning, hit a homer to left in his third at bat.

•Craig Brazell started in left and batted fifth for the Reds and remained in left until the 5th inning. He three chances and made no mistakes: single to left and two fly outs to left. He also hit a single to to right off Minoru Iwata in the 2nd inning. Takahiro Arai batted fourth for the Whites and hit a run-scoring single to left in the 1st inning and a run-scoring double to center in the 7th inning.

•1st round draft pick Hayata Ito started in center and batted first for the Whites. He recorded a triple to right off Atsushi Nomi in his first at bat and came around to score two outs later on a Takahiro Arai single to left. He ultimately finished 1-for-3 -- he struck out looking in the 3rd inning and grounded out to second in the 6th inning.

The second half of the Cuban Baseball League got underway Monday following their all-star break. Alfredo Despaigne, first half leader in homers with 21 is trying to regain his home run record and is off to a great second half start, he's collected 2 homers in three games. José Dariel Abreu and Yoennis Céspedes both broke Despaigne's home run record this past season , both hitting 33 homers. Abreu missed 23 games with bursitis in his shoulder.

The league is filled with some young and talented ballplayers. Some players to keep an eye out on are YOSVANI ALARCON, YUNIESKI GOURRIEL, FREDERICH CEPEDA, YORDAN MANDULEY, YOELVIS LEYVA, GUILLERMO HEREDIA, ALEXANDER MALLETA, AND RUSNEY CASTILLO to name a few.

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The Dominican Prospect League produced its first annual Louisville Slugger Tournament Series this year. DPL players across the island competed in a round robin tournament in search of a championship title. During the LS Tournament players were voted upon by MLB scouts for a chance to play in the DPL All-Star Game on February 1st. Weeks prior and up to the end of the events there were more than 6 players who agreed to terms with MLB clubs, Branly Crisotomo-KC, Yairo Munoz-OAK, Ignacio Valdez-DET, Michael Santos-SFG, Luis Castillo-AZ, Ronniel Demorizi-TOR. The players had a blast and were able to have fun while being evaluated by more than 100 scouts per day at both events.

Luis Barrera was named the LS Tournament MVP, Michael Santos was named pitcher of the LS Tournament and Yairo Munoz was named Championship player of the game. At the All-Star Game Wendel Rijo took MVP honors, Gustavo Cabrera fastest man and Branly Crisotomo Pitcher of the game.

Thanks to Louisville Slugger, Xenith Helmets, Redbull, the New York Yankees and Las Aguilas Cibaeñas for collaborating with us to produce these special events.

The Caracas Leones offered Vizquel the post of manager

The infielder did not accept as he still wants to remain active in the majors but "That will happen sometime," he said

CARACAS. -

Omar Vizquel came close to managing the Caracas Leones. This was stated by the player himself reported Shi Davidi from Sportsnet . The infielder did not accept the proposition of the team he played for and is still a member of. He is still active and intends to earn a spot with the Toronto Blue Jays . "I talked to the guys (Lions), and said that if I'm playing baseball in America , I will not have time to manage in Caracas as the league begins a little before the end of the major league baseball season , "said on infielder. "It will happen at some point, but I do not think the time has come yet," he said.

Travel Team Announcement

The Dominican Prospect League (DPL) is pleased to announce the roster and game schedule for the 2012 DPL Elite Travel Team, which will play at various MLB Spring Training sites in Florida and Arizona from March 11-21.

Considered by international scouts to be the best amateur baseball team to ever travel from the Dominican Republic, the 2012 DPL Elite Travel Team will feature most of the top international prospects in the Dominican Republic. Last year, eighty-percent of the 2011 DPL Elite Travel Team players were signed by MLB teams, most notably Ronald Guzman ($3.5M, OF, Texas Rangers), Dawel Lugo ($1.3M, SS, Toronto Blue Jays), Franmil Reyes ($700K, OF, San Diego Padres), and Dioscar Romero ($600K, RHP, Boston Red Sox).

Hundreds of Scouts, International Scouting Directors and personnel from all 30 Major League clubs are expected to attend the DPL showcases and games over the course of their multi-state, 12-day schedule. This year, the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres will each host a DPL game at their respective Major League Spring Training stadiums. This will mark the first time any of these amateur players step foot on a Major League field.

For the second consecutive year, the Dominican Prospect League and Perfect Game have collaborated to produce the following schedule of games in Florida and Arizona.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up to date information.

FLORIDA SCHEDULE (MARCH 12-15)
MARCH 12: Scout Day @ TOR Minor Lg. 1pm 60yds.
MARCH 13: DPL RED VS. DPL BLUE @ BOS MLB, 1pm BP
MARCH 14: DPL BLUE VS. DPL RED @ NYY Minor Lg. 1pm BP
MARCH 15: DPL RED vs. DPL BLUE @ PHI Minor Lg, 10:15am BP

ARIZONA SCHEDULE (MARCH 18-21)
MARCH 18: Scout Day @ LAA Minor Lg. 11am 60yds
MARCH 19: DPL vs. CANADA @ MIL MLB, 8:30am BP
MARCH 20: DPL BLUE vs. DPL RED @ SD MLB, 9am BP
MARCH 20: DPL BLUE vs. DPL RED @ SD MLB, 9am BP


DPL RED TEAM
# Name Pos B/T DOB HT. WT. Elig. Status Birthplace
1 Urena, Richard MIF L/L 23-Oct-95 6'1" 170 2012 SF Macoris, DR
2 Barias, Raivy MIF R/R 25-Sep-95 6'1" 175 2012 Bani, DR
3 Baez, Yancarlos MIF S/L 21-Sep-95 6'2" 165 2012 San Cristobal, DR
4 Minier, Amaurys MIF S/R 30-Jan-96 6'2" 190 2012 San Cristobal, DR
5 Gonzalez, Joel C R/R 1-Aug-96 6'1" 175 2012 San Cristobal, DR
6 Delacruz, Joaquin 3B R/R 13-Oct-95 6'3" 170 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
7 Javier, Nathanael 3B R/R 10-Oct-95 6'3" 185 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
8 Vargas, Leury 1B L/R 30-Aug-96 6'3" 210 2012 Haina, DR
9 Cabrera, Gustavo OF R/R 23-Jan-96 6'1" 190 2012 La Romana, DR
10 Delgado, Natanael OF L/L 23-Oct-95 6'1" 160 2012 Los Cacaos, DR
11 Munoz, Miguel OF R/R 27-Dec-95 6'2" 175 2012 Samana, DR
12 Barrera, Luis OF L/L 15-Nov-95 6'0" 175 2012 Tamboril, DR
13 Echevarria, Yamil P-LHP - 16-Sep-90 6'4" 215 Eligible Miami, Fl
14 Mieses, Crucito P-RHP - 18-Apr-96 6'3" 175 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
15 Munoz, Bryan P-RHP - 26-Jul-95 6'0" 187 Eligible Pimentel, DR
16 Novas, Winder P-RHP - 6-Mar-96 6'1" 165 2012 Vicente Noble, DR

DPL BLUE TEAM
# Name Pos B/T DOB HT. WT. Elig. Status Birthplace
1 Octavis, Lugo MIF R/R 19-Nov-95 6'1" 165 2012 Neyba, DR
2 Rijo, Wendell MIF R/R 4-Sep-95 5'11" 170 2012 La Romana, DR
3 Suarez, Felix MIF R/R 9-Jan-95 6'1" 170 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
4 Delarosa, Frandy MIF S/R 24-Jan-96 6'0" 170 2012 Comendador, DR
5 Grullon, Deivy C R/R 17-Feb-96 5'11" 175 2012 Bonao, DR
6 Delacruz, Julio 3B R/R 5-Oct-95 6'1" 190 2012 Yamasa, DR
7 Sanchez, Alberto 3B R/R 14-Feb-96 6'0" 180 2012 Oviedo, DR
8 Rodriguez, Johnny OF L/L 20-Jul-96 6'2" 170 2012 Mao, DR
9 Carvajal, Ronny OF R/R 9-Oct-95 6'3" 180 2012 Bani, DR
10 Pujols, Jose OF R/R 29-Sep-95 6'4" 185 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
11 Tapia, Emmanuel OF/1B L/L 26-Feb-96 6'2" 220 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
12 Jose, Kelyn P-LHP - 19-May-95 6'4" 185 Eligible Nagua, DR
13 Castillo, Alvaro P-RHP - 26-Sep-95 6'6" 195 2012 Santo Domingo, DR
14 Mejia, Jean Carlos P-RHP - 26-Aug-96 6'2" 170 2012 Gaspar Herandez, DR
15 Uceta, Alberto P-RHP - 21-Sep-95 6'2" 170 2012 Montecristi, DR

Alfredo Despaigne

Despaigne collected his 28th homer and 7th since the all-star break two weeks ago.

Alfredo Despaigne, first half leader in homers with 21 is trying to regain his home run record. José Dariel Abreu and Yoennis Céspedes both broke Despaigne's home run record this past season , both hitting 33 homers. Abreu missed 23 games with bursitis in his shoulder. Abreu most likely would have been the all-time leader if the bursitis didn't slow him down.

With slightly more than half the season being over, Despaigne only needs 5 more homers to tie and 6 to break the record.

The Cubans play a 90 game schedule. Lotta homers for 90 games. One homer in every three games if Despaigne breaks the record. He's already collected 28 which is a little more than 1 homer in every 4 games.

Both Alfredo Despaigne and Yoennis Céspedes play for Granma or at least did before Céspedes defected. That was a pretty good 3-4 punch in the middle of that Granma lineup.

Alfredo Despaigne is only 26 years old and still not in his prime with two home run titles to his credit and barring a catasrophy will claim his third out of the past four years.

Dominican Prospect League

Toronto signs a lot of upside in Andres DeAza
The Toronto Blue Jays strike again, picking up another quality prospect with upside. Andres DeAza is a 17yr old Outfielder from St. Luis, Dominican Republic. He stands 6’4” 190lb with room to fill out athletic frame. He developed his talent in Santo Domingo with notable trainer Josue Herrera. Andres was a 2011 July 2 eligible player who was passed up in last year’s signing period. DeAza posses solid average arm strength, he is a solid fielder who can play any outfield position and his raw power doesn’t go unnoticed. DeAza participated in various showcases in recent months; In October 2011 he traveled to Florida to participate in the Team One Futures East showcase in Jupiter, Fl.
10/1/2011 - Team One Futures East 2011 “DeAza already looks like a big leaguer, with an athletic build on a wide shouldered and well proportioned frame. He showed average to solid average arm strength on the ML 20-80 scouting scale, generated excellent carry from an over top release. At the plate, he showed good rhythm to hit and generated above average raw power thanks to strength and leverage in his right handed stroke. He drove the ball especially well to the opposite field thanks to a short and direct route to contact and an ability to drive through the ball from deep in the zone.”

In February he was selected to the DPL All-Star game and recently selected to the DPL Elite Travel Team. Due to Toronto’s interest in DeAza he decided to become a professional and not travel with the DPL squad to spring training as he agreed to terms with the Blue Jays for $150,000. He will most likely start his professional career in the rookie level Dominican Summer League.

Congratulations to Andres DeAza, Josue Herrera and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cuba Celebrates a New Base Hits Champion

by Peter C. Bjarkman

March 07, 2012

When Enrique's record-breaking safety finally arrived this afternoon in Pinar’s Capitan San Luis Stadium it almost seemed anticlimactic when judged against what preceded it. The long-awaited base hit that nudged Enrique Diaz above Antonio Pacheco didn’t carry quite the same dramatic flair as the record-tying single of the previous afternoon – the earlier smash had been doubly historic since it had also broken up a late-inning no-hit pitching masterpiece by Pinar right-hander Reinier Verano. Today’s safety – number 2357 – also doesn’t seem to carry quite the same luster since it will only stand as a record number until the next base knock off the bat of the new record holder; hit number 2356 seemed a bit more potent since it had matched a gilded number that had been etched in the Cuban record books for a full decade.

Record hit number 2357 came with Enrique’s second trip to the plate in the top of the third inning and was stroked off a delivery from Pinar southpaw starter Julio Martínez – a ringing single to left field that plated Yoel Mestre with the game’s first run. But if today’s smash didn’t have quite the same dramatic overtones, the record-breaking line drive was certainly historic enough in its own right. It left Enrique Diaz with a coveted place atop a record book page where his number one status is almost guaranteed to stand unchallenged for some considerable time to come.

The most notable fact about the newly reshaped Top Ten list lodged in the Cuban record book is the oddity that a full half of the island’s most productive batsmen (Enriquito included) never claimed a single National Series batting crown (nor one in the late-year Selective Series either). Wilfredo Sánchez (1977), Omar Linares (1992) and Luis Ulacia (1987) are the only trio to also wear Selective Series batting crowns. Enriquito and Victor Bejerano are the only pair on the prestigious list with lifetime batting marks below .300, though Enrique for his part is still flirting with the cherished .300 career standard.



Enriquito’s record hit will now take its indelible place in Cuban lore. The number of hits and the size of the lead over Pacheco and the rest of the field will now continue to expand for at least another month and perhaps even another season. The record will remain safe for a number of years as no one in the top ten is currently active. The new challenger on the horizon will most likely be Yulieski Gourriel (1248 hits over 10 seasons entering the current campaign), but Gourriel still has considerable ground to cover. He trails the new mark by nearly 1100 and will therefore have to maintain his current 120 hits/year pace for another full decade in order to overhaul Enrique. Diaz’s new record therefore holds every likelihood of remaining unchallenged for equally as long as the previous mark by Pacheco (set back in 2002). Enriquito spent a quarter-century getting to the top of the mountain and it now appears he will have a number of additional years to celebrate his newfound status as Cuba’s number one hit producer.

The Cuban Leagues play a 90-game schedule.

Dominican Prospect League displays promise

Scouts take in talented young players at Spring Training facilities

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com | 03/14/12 10:00 AM ET

FORT MYERS, Fla. --

The big league club wasn't home, replaced by teenagers who one day hope to call a place like JetBlue Park their Spring Training digs.

That's one of the big reasons why the Dominican Prospect League has arranged a second annual tour of Florida and Arizona this spring, giving some of the best amateur prospects from the Dominican Republic an opportunity to play in big-time facilities and be seen by big-time scouts as they approach their eligibility to sign professional contracts.

"This league is run by a foundation we created in the Dominican Republic," DPL vice president Ulises Cabrera said. "One of the goals of the foundation, on top of helping teams have access to evaluating the top talent on a consistent basis, is to help these players be better prepared for life in the United States as professionals.

Minaya on international signings: "[Most] of these kids haven't even been on a plane before. These kids, once they get signed, when they have the opportunity to sign, they'll have already been through this process. The better prepared these kids are for life here in the U.S., the better they'll perform on the field. That's one of the goals that we have."

While a few on the tour, which will make two more stops in Florida before heading to Arizona for four games, are eligible to sign now, most won't be until the start of the 2012 signing period in July. In addition to the tour, the DPL also holds events in the Dominican. It's a win-win situation, not only for the players but for the Major League teams.

"At the end of the day, we're trying to help the organizations get a good look and evaluation so they can make the right decision," DPL president Brian Mejia said, pointing out that of the 13 players on last year's tour, 11 have signed pro contracts.

"With the new rules internationally, we decided it was a good opportunity to not only bring the top guys, but to bring the guys who were going to be eligible to sign so they can get exposure. The reality is we have more prospects this year to get evaluated. We brought two teams to play against each other on the tour."

There are two full teams, but only eight pitchers in total, so the Red Sox helped out by allowing some of their Minor Leaguers to throw some innings. It was a terrific test for the youngsters, facing some pitchers as much as five years their elder, and some held their own. It was a challenge many will never forget.

"I never thought I'd be here in the States at a stadium like this," said outfielder Luis Barrera, who's only other time on a plane was to go to Venezuela for a showcase. "I feel really good, really satisfied. I like the thought of me being here."

Barrera is one of many who could see their lives change dramatically come July, though perhaps not as dramatically as in the past. Mejia alluded to the new international rules and it does alter the landscape. According to new rules dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, every team will be on a level playing field in 2012, with a $2.9 million pool to use in signing international talent.

That makes these events and tours all the more important. With resources limited, the ability to see all of these players together, repeatedly, makes it easier for teams to make decisions with the money they do have.

"Some teams used to get in on a whole bunch of players," Twins vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff said. "That's just not going to happen with the limited resources. You can't be in on every guy. The more people we have to see guys, that helps the decision-making process. We're going to have about six different guys see these players while they're over here in the States over the next 10 days.

"The obvious benefit of efficiency, finances -- they're all here in one place. It makes it easy to take care of business without traveling down to the Dominican. A lot of times, we have a hard time getting all of these guys in one spot down there. It's a beautiful thing."

The brain trust of the DPL likes what it sees as well. Cabrera and Mejia felt the day in the Red Sox's new Spring Training home was a huge success, just another part of fulfilling the league's mission and another sign of the DPL's bright future.

"We want to help improve the success rate of signed players from Latin America, specifically from the Dominican," Cabrera said. "Scouts can only evaluate talent if they see it. There has never been a group that is this talented, that is this deep, that has so much variety in terms of skill sets that has ever been seen from the international marketplace. We're trying to provide a service to the industry, an industry that in the past struggled to see guys play in baseball games. It's important. Some of these players will be significant signs for organizations."

"We're headed where we want to be as far as the showcasing part, the evaluation part, and getting the right players into the league," Mejia added. "Where it's headed is where we're at right now, gathering the best players and showing them how to play the game."

Giants paid more than allowable signing, incentive money to some players

TOKYO, March 15 (22:11) Kyodo

The Yomiuri Giants paid some of its players, including core
active members, more than the agreed-upon limit of 150 million yen
for signing bonuses and incentive money, a source close to the matter
said Thursday.

Players who benefited from the contracts joined the professional
baseball club between 1993 and 2004, when the draft system allowed
college-graduate and nonprofessional players to select the clubs of
their choice.

''The maximum allowable money has been considered as a rough
guide. We have not breached the rules of Japanese baseball,'' Yomiuri
said in a statement issued in response to an earlier report about
such payments by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

The players in question are believed to include outfielder
Yoshinobu Takahashi and catcher Shinnosuke Abe, who joined the club
in 1998 and 2001, respectively, as well as current Texas Rangers
reliever Koji Uehara, who had joined the Giants in 1999.

''The maximum allowable money was a rough guide. The club must
have paid more (than the limit) if the draftee was competent,'' the
source said.

The 150 million yen comprises a 100 million yen signing bonus
and performance-related incentives of 50 million yen.

The Giants have not exceeded the limit for signings since 2005,
when Japan's 12 professional baseball clubs agreed not to provide
cash gifts to those involved in amateur baseball in their scouting
activities.

The Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday that the Giants had paid
money totaling 3.6 billion yen to Abe, Takahashi and Uehara, as well
as pitchers Tetsuya Utsumi and Takahiko Nomaguchi and infielder
Tomohiro Nioka, who now plays for the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Yomiuri sent a letter of protest to the Asahi Shimbun the same
day, demanding a printed apology and suggested it will resort to
legal action if it does not receive a sincere reply from the
newspaper within five days.

''Your news report that only emphasizes that the standardized
high amount is 150 million yen, while ignoring the fact this is not a
limit, is extremely unfair,'' it reads. ''You invite public
criticism, as if we deserve it, in a way that brings tremendous
disgrace upon the honor of our players, team and organization.''

In the past, the Seibu Lions paid a total of 1.19 billion yen to
15 players in excess contract money in March 2007. In April the same
year, the Yokohama BayStars, currently Yokohama DeNA BayStars, paid
530 million yen in signing pitcher Takumi Nasuno. Both clubs received
warnings from baseball officials.

Although Yomiuri has made no clear violation, the actions will
likely further tarnish the club's image following a fiasco last year
in which former club representative Hidetoshi Kiyotake was fired for
publically criticizing club chairman Tsuneo Watanabe.

''The taxes were all correctly reported, and there was no
illegality of any kind,'' Yomiuri states in its press release.

Even so, only time will tell how the latest revelation will
affect the fan base of a team that has bolstered its roster in an
attempt to win its first Japan Series championship since 2009.

Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara, who addressed the media Thursday
ahead of a preseason game against the Chunichi Dragons in Hamamatsu,
Shizuoka Prefecture, was clearly flummoxed.

''As the manager, I have nothing that I can comment about. The
only thing I can say is that we're gearing up for the start of the
regular season. That's the only thing on my mind right now,'' Hara
said.

After Thursday's game, Takahashi, Abe and Nomaguchi were
tightlipped and stone-faced as they walked away briskly, accompanied
by a team spokesperson, to board the team bus.

''I have no comment,'' said Abe, who did not play in the game.
''Please ask team officials,'' said Nomaguchi, who made an appearance
in relief. Takahashi, who played first base, said nothing.

Japanese baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato said he is not
prepared to take any measures against the club.

''At this time, I have not thought of taking any measures of any
kind,'' Kato said.

Cuban League Witnesses Historical “Schiller Rule” Tandem No-Hit Game

by Peter C. Bjarkman

March 14, 2012
This winter’s Cuban pennant chase has already provided plenty of seat-gripping drama, a full dose of historic events, and an even-larger-than-usual taste of the truly bizarre. First to unfold was the emotion-packed pursuit of a new all-time base hits record on the part of unsung Metros hero Enriquito Díaz – a chase that had us all enthralled throughout the first two-thirds of the season. Enriquito’s record came against the backdrop of Alfredo Despaigne’s still ongoing pursuit of a new league single-season home run mark. Victor Mesa’s “Cinderella” Matanzas ball club remains in the hunt for a first-ever playoff appearance and perhaps also a most unlikely league championship. The current week has already witnessed an unorthodox game lost by Sancti Spíritus via the strangest of forfeit rules. And now we have not only the first league no-hit, no-run pitching gem for the current year, but also a game that might well qualify for the top slot on almost any listing of the sport’s most historic and unprecedented pitching masterpieces.

Yesterday afternoon in Camagüey’s Candido González Stadium visiting Holguín and home club Camagüey matched up in what might have been anticipated to be the most routine of mid-week contests staged between the Oriental League’s two cellar-dwelling squads. Both teams have been struggling to climb above a breakeven record on the season, and although both starting hurlers (Raimar Navarro at 7-6 and Frank Madan Montejo at 6-3) were about the best their respective club’s had to offer, neither stood among the league’s more notable young arms. Entering the current campaign Holguín’s 19-year-old Navarro boasted a two-season lackluster 5-17 career ledger and an elevated 5.48 ledger; 20-year-old Camagüeyano Montejo was a mere 3-2 with a stratospheric 11.02 over the same career span. No one among approximately 1500 local partisans entering the Candido González ballpark yesterday had any cause to expect witnessing a pitching matchup truly meant for the ages.

But baseball is hardly ever predictable, and what unfolded to everyone’s surprise was just such an unparalleled gem of a game. At the end of a regulation nine frames both young hurlers yet remained on the hill and both had provided sustained mastery if not absolute perfection. The game was still knotted at zero. Navarro had spread eight walks across nine frames and even hit a batter in the first (he had retired the side in order only twice) but still had not yielded a base hit; Montejo had walked only three (he also hit an enemy batsman) and had surrendered but a pair of harmless scratch singles. A no-hit game for Navarro entering extra innings was rare enough excitement in itself, since among 51 previous Cuban League no-hit gems none had ever extended beyond nine frames. But then the quirks of the Cuban League rule book took over to provide an added twist and to up the excitement level still a further notch. For Cuban baseball is now played with the highly controversial “Schiller Rule” – a novel staple of international baseball.
For those not familiar with the IBAF tie-breaker rule a word of explanation would seem to be in order. Incidentally, it was this author himself who coined the phrase “Schiller Rule” (after then-IBAF president Harvey Schiller) at the time of the rule’s introduction at the 2008 Beijing Olympics baseball tournament. The handy term was then picked up by Cuban media and it has been a staple of the Cuban baseball press in subsequent seasons. It works as follows: in the tenth inning (and beyond) teams play by a new set of rules adopted from recreational softball, with each club gifted runners on first and second base at the start of each new inning. In the first extra frame each manager elects where he wishes to start in his batting order and the first two men due up become the base runners. In subsequent innings the batting order elected in the tenth must continue unaltered. The idea behind the regulation was to end extra-inning games promptly and thus avoid scenarios where an endless contest of multiple extra frames might disrupt a day of tournament competition where three or more consecutive games filled a tight schedule. It is baseball’s version of the soccer or hockey tie-breaking shootout, and although there is little rational for its use in Cuban League play it was also adopt of the National Series last season. The Cubans now use it since the whole rationale behind the National Series camapign is to prepare top players for upcoming international tournament competitions.

No ballgame in Cuba or elsewhere had ever entered the Schiller Rule scenario before Tuesday with a no-hit game still on the line. In the top of the tenth Holguín finally broke through with the leading one-run cushion needed by Navarro and his teammates. With gift runners lodged on first and second to start the frame, the single tally was plated via an expected sacrifice bunt (moving both runners into scoring position) plus a weak roller into center field that drove home the single run. Still on the hill and having surrendered only his third softly hit safety, ill-fated Frank Montejo escaped further damage when retired the final two batters on an infield roller and an infield popup.

Now the tension surged as Holguín’s rookie manager Felicio García Sánchez opted to lift his no-hit pitcher Navarro (despite his rare date with destiny) for the bottom of the tenth and replace him with bullpen ace Pablo Fernández, one of the league’s most effective relievers sporting 15 saves and a 1.41 ERA for the campaign. (Fernández was the winning hurler and MVP during the league’s annual All-Star Game in mid-February.) Perhaps most managers operating under normal playing rules might have let any starter cruising with a no-hit masterpiece enter extra frames, but the rule-induced pair of base runners and a slim one-run cushion seemed to dictate an unorthodox strategy. And it was a strategy that paid huge dividends. Fernández slammed the door in short order: the first batter rolled to first, the second struck out swinging, and the third flied harmlessly to right. The no-hit victory was history – and it was indeed “historical” by every standard imaginable.

The list of rarities and “firsts” attached to this truly unique game is considerable. It was the first no-hitter authored during such an extra-inning contest played under the new-fangled tie-break scenario, but it was also much more. This was the first extra-inning no-hitter of any ilk in Cuban League annals, and only the third no-hitter featuring multiple pitchers (with the first two both occurred decades ago in the 1970s). It was only the second masterpiece ever authored by a Holguín hurler, the first being thrown by Osvaldo Fernández during a mercy-rule seven-inning contest (in 1992 versus Metropolitanos). This was also the sixth no-hit game to occur in Candido González Stadium, moving that ballpark into a tie for second place with August César Sandino (Santa Clara) for second on the ballpark no-hitter list (Havana’s Latin American Stadium owns the most with thirteen.) And for a game filled with so many oddities, it should not pass without mention that this was only the second masterpiece in league history to occur when the calendar sat on the unlucky thirteenth day of the month. In brief, this game was truly one for the ages.