League Finals: Industriales from the West and Ciego de Avila from the East
<
Players of the Games - Thursday Night : From left to right pitchers Antonio Romero from the Industriales winners of the Western Division and Yander Guevara from Ciego de Avila winners of the Eastern Division

Eastern Division 2012: Ciego de Avila repeats as East Division Champions

Eastern Division Championship Game 2012: Game 6- Grm 1, Cav 11
Player of the game : The righty Yander Guevara returned a complete game excellently for his second win of the Eastern Division Series

It seemed that the rain would prolong the series, but finally subsided: Ciego de Avila Tigers, more with the heart than with his claws, took, for the second consecutive year, the crown of the Eastern Division Championship of Cuban baseball and thus won the right to discuss the gold of the 51 National Baseball Series against Industriales.
On the left side, Mario Veg second baseman, homered in the deciding game of the Eastern Division of the Championship Series. On the right fans of Ciego de Avila, rejoice in victory of its team over Granma.

The game started at 5:00 pm on Thursday, however, to begin the third inning with the hosts leading the game 2-0, the rain got heavier and almost put a suspension to the game due to flooding of the field in the stadium José Ramón Cepero. But there was work to be done by the groundskeeper and even had volunteers from the stands who tried to give their contribution to the drying of the field, and they succeeded. Play resumed after 9:00 pm and ended up with Ciego de Avila's win over Granma by a score of 11-1 when they had passed 10 minutes after midnight, at which time the sky shone with fireworks and shook the homes in the municipalities, and communities living outside Ciego de Avila province.

Yander Guevara of the hosts, and lefty Leandro Martinez, the Stallions, presaged a good pitchers duel, but for Granma it was not a happy night and thus began a parade of pitchers: Alain Tamayo, Alexey Alarcon Asiel Ramiro Diez and Ferral.

The runners-up last year had 16 hits and the individual highlight of the game was Mario Vega, who had three hits including one homer that was his first of the series.

Borroto Yorbis also shone with four RBIs.

Ciego de Avila repeats their title of 2011 This time they seek to improve their standing after losing the championship game to Pinar del Rio in 2011.

The dispute over the title of Cuba will begin next Sunday at 2:00 pm at the Latin American Stadium, where the righty Odrisamer Despaigne with start for the Industriales and Vladimir Garcia for Ciego de Avila. The series will be a best of seven encounter.

Western Division Championship Series2012: Industriales is the new champion of the Western Division

Western Division 2012: Game 7- Ind 7, Mtz 1
Player of the game : The young pitcher Antonio Romero was the big man in the Blue victory in Game # 7 of the Western Division Championship Series. Romero pitched 8 2/3 and struck out nine to inspire the Industriales team against Matanzas

The Industriales Romero played one of his best games without their star righty Odrisamer Despaigne on the mound, and won 7-1 against Matanzas in the 7th game of the Western Division Seriesthe lost in 2011 to Pinar del Rio.

The mentor Lazaro Vargas gave the ball in this crucial game the righty Darwin Beltran, their second best pitcher of the season, and Beltran again disappointed - one of the problems to be solved by the Industriales in the League Championship Series. Exploding in the first inning Beltran gave way to reliever Antonio Romero, who ultimately ended up changing the fate of this postseason for the Industriales.

Romero was a revelation to the team in this 7th game and already must enter into the plans to address the role of starter against Ciego de Avila. But this time it is that the Industriales went searching for a victory that could not wait another game and did it their way, with a claw that has distinguished the team in its history, scoring early and often which has been a weapon for them.

Thus, it was a combination of pitching and timely hitting which gave the victory to the team in this 2012 year.

It was not an easy task as the Industriales faced the best team of the entire tournament, despite not having the history of the capital team but he showed a different face this year than from the past 20 years.

Matanzas players were young, full of desire to comply with its team goals and pleasing their manager Victor Mesa, but more importantly, their fans.

Ultimately the defeat this Thursday night overshadowed all of what has been done by them in all the 51 National Series. Without a doubt, Matanzas has been the most combative team of the season 2011-2012, including also the current Postseason.

But the Industriales is another story, the team is more and less Cuba's team and a little beyond , a contradiction that only those who know and follow the history of Cuban baseball can understand.

With all the controversy they generate, with a new manager, without the great pitching that characterized the teams of the past decades, but with the same weight of the shirt in its history.
Rudy Reyes's homer in the very first inning with Torriente on base may have been enough for the Industriales victory in the 7th game of the Western Division Championship Series

With the game at 2-1 in the 4th inning is where the Industrial hit his opponent with the knock out punch. In that inning were significant contributions by the men most responsible for the teams offense. First a solo homer by Carlos Tabares gave the Industriales team a 3-1 lead. Double by Lisbán - Jorge Martinez took to the mound - a Raiko Olivares triple that brought home two and Irait Chirino's sacrifice fly to left followed by a Rudy Reyes homer extended the Industriales lead to 6-1.

The last of Industriales runs arrived in the seventh inning, by a Sergei Perez homer.

The result was a 7-1 finale.

Matanzas from the very first inning when they scored first was not able to capitalize in this decisive game and the challenge of facing a pitcher like the inspired righty Romero, who end up working 8 2/3 with 9 strikeouts, 4 hits, 4 walks, was too much for a team full of young stars that still need a lot to learn and that already are cast as a great team of the future.

Romero was the winning pitcher. It was his second of the Postseason 2012.

After the game some players gave statements to the press.

Domingo, May 20

Final Game 1

Ciego de Avila (1) 3 Industriales (0) 2

por Ray Otero

Mayo 20, 2012

Final de Cuba 2012: Juego 1- Cav 3, Ind 2
Player of the game : The righty Vladimir Garcia made ​​the sign behind him and sent a clear message to the Industriales with a 3-2 triumph in Game # 1 of the Finals of Cuba 2012.

Surprise and pain for many, euphoria and joy to others, but the fact is that the Grand Finale in Cuba opened Sunday with a 3-2 victory by Ciego de Avila over the Industriales, in Game 1 of the best of seven series which will define the champion of Cuba for 2012 and today showed that in baseball there are no easy teams, was a great show, interrupted by the fickle rain, but defined in the last third of the game and where the two rivals gave everything for the win.

Many - especially the press - ensured that the finals are always very difficult but smiled on the team from the capital of Cuba, the Industriales, and the truth is that today Ciego de Avila and their main pitcher, the righty Vladimir Garcia, showed that history may have to be rewritten.

Both managers spoke after the game and during the press conference. While Machado was more elated by the deserved victory, noting that he has always told his boys that the ground is where the last word is spoken no matter how big the game, no matter how big the team like today with 55.415 fans in attendance.

Meanwhile Vargas was more discreet in his opinions and only said that both teams are great and had played a great game. And indeed, many things had to prove to the celebration of this Finals game.

For the second year in a row, Ciego de Avila reached a stage like this - two in a row - and the commitment now to improve from a year earlier, or simply the championship.

At least one of the main axes of the team, their star pitcher Vladimir Garcia, needed to behave at high altitude and in this first game Vladimir fulfilled the trust placed in him. But there is still a long way to go.

Ciego de Avila, with its star on the mound, acted like champions today, tomorrow anyone who climbs the hill in the Latin American Stadium could write the second page of a story that did not start now, but started when Pinar del Rio took control of the 2011 Postseason to end it.

The game began with both sides being retired 1-2 and 3 the first inning.

Meanwhile, in the second, Odrisamer again experienced no problems, but Vladimir got into one of his worst moments of the game, the first pitch to Sergei Perez, to his shortstop Yorbis Borroto committed an error, Yasmani Thomas grounder and a "wild pitch "that placed runners on third and second, but the righty was able to dominate and end the inning with no runs being scored.

Despaigne the third inning was very similar to that experienced by Vladimir. Issac Martinez started the inning with a single, was moved to second on a grounder by Lisdey Diaz first, then moved to third on error but the capital's Raul Gonzalez grounded to third that forced Martinez at "home plate" avoiding the double play and ended up striking out Mayito Vega.

The fourth inning for both ran in the same way, 1-2 and 3.

In the fifth, again in a curious way, ran very similar. Ciego opened that inning with a single by Yorbis Borroto, but Despaigne dominated Lisdey Issac Martinez and Ricardo Diaz on strikeouts and a groundball by Bordon ended the inning.

The Industriales meanwhile started the fifth with a single by Thomas Yasmani the right, but Vladimir dominated and the inning ended with no runs being scored.

To Despaigne in the sixth there was only the threat of double Rusney Castillo to the left.

Vladimir retired the side in order in the sixth of 1-2 and 3, the fourth inning he retired in this way, and so far only a hit by Thomas in the fourth had been the only hit allowed by Vladimir.
From the left third baseman Raul Gonzalez doubled producing the game's winning run in the 7th inning. On the right Odrisamer Despaigne the defeated pitcher who made an honorable effort in Game 1 of the Finals of Cuba.

The rain arrived on the capital of Cuba, the delay took over an hour.

Finally, the activities were resumed with the start of the seventh inning inning. Despaigne Yoelvis opened and Yorbis Borroto sacrificed. The Blue's High Command responded by intentionally walking Issac Martinez. Lisdey singled to center and now the bases were loaded, pitcher Despaigne made ​​"wild pitch" Fiss scoring. A "passball" by Correa the receptor made the score 2-0 that seemed endless with Vladimir Garcia pitching such a great game, but Raul Gonzalez singled bringing home Lisdey with a third run making it a 3-0 ballgame.

The Industriales did not stay with their arms crossed and and answered when Malleta led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right. Serguei Perez grounded out and Malleta advanced to second. Malleta would advance to third on a "wild pitch" by the righty from Ciego de Avila. Yasmani Thomas grounded out but Malleta scored. The scoreboard read 3-1.

Ciego threatened in the eighth when Rusney Castillo opened with a single but everything calmed when Despaigne struckout Charles - his sixth of the game -, dominated Fiss on a fly to right, and Borroto grounded out to third.

In the eighth Vladimir Garcia allowed two walks - Olivares and Chirino - but John C. Torriente failed and hit into a "double play" and that would weigh heavily in the defeat of the boys of Lazaro Vargas.

In the ninth the Industriales would score one more time to make the final score 3-2.

Vladimir worked a full 9 innings, 3 singles, 2 runs, 1 strikeout and 3 walks achieved his 19th victory of the season, matching the righty of Sancti Spiritus Ismel Jimenez who finished this year with 19-5 mark and equally retired Braudilio Vinent win mark, who in 1973 was 19-4 mark. Now Vladimir is just one win of equaling the mark of 20 wins in a season, a fact made ​​only by the righty from Havana Jose Ibar in the season 1998, when he finished 20-2.

The finals of Cuba will continue on Monday when both teams play from 8:30 pm on the same stage of the Latin American Stadium Game # 2. For this occasion Roger Machado and Lazaro Vargas announced the righty Osmar Carrero for Ciego de Avila and left-hander Ian Rendon for Industriales will be the starting pitchers.

Welcome to the Dominican Prospect League

The DPL and Perfect Game join to add additional exposure

DPL/ May 15, 2012

Baseball's international signing period, which begins July 2, is one of the most important dates on the calendar in Latin America. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has restricted all teams to a $2.9 million dollar budget internationally in 2012; teams who have been aggressively signing players in the past, stretching their budgets and signing unlimited prospects throughout the International space now have to evaluate their appointed budget. This year’s signing class is as solid as ever but by circumstance it has made the signing period more strategic than ever.

With less than 10 weeks left until the signing period begins MLB teams have a feel for names on their target list throughout Latin America. Gustavo Cabrera rated #1 over all by MLB.com and Perfect Game for his athleticism, plus speed, raw plus power and plus defensive skills leads the July 2nd charge along with Amurys Minier, Wandell Rijo, Richard Urena, Frandy Delarosa, Luis Barrera, Natanael Javier, Jose Pujols, Natanael Delgado, Julio Delacruz, Deivi Grullon and Ronny Carvajal.

We will post info of our last event of the year; the upcoming DPL*Perfect Game International Tournament scheduled at the New York Yankees complex May 28-June 1st.

Osmani Tamayo died, baseball player 30 years old

HAVANA -

Osmani Tamayo, right-hander Santiago de Cuba, died Sunday at age 30 of a heart attack.

Tamayo participated in the 2012 Cuban Baseball Championships this year until his team was eliminated from the competition.

Santiago Tamayo defended the mound in seven national series, including 2007, when Santiago won the title Cuba.

"An example of simplicity, Osmani was one of those athletes whose memory will remain engraved in the minds of many. Osmani was a jovial character and a great teammate," said local weekly Sierra Maestra.

Lifetime, Tamayo accumulated 25 wins and 20 losses with 69 strikeouts this season and finished with a record of 7-5 in 35 games thrown.

Last night's game was rained out. New schedule:

<
Leo Nunez and Fausto Carmona Video and Article

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/77652 ... ources-say

<

Vlad Garcia and Ciego de Avila Stand on Verge of Cuban League History

by Peter C. Bjarkman

May 22, 2012

Cuban baseball is now only a handful of games away from witnessing another rewriting of the ever-changing league record book. Having jumped to a one game advantage in Sunday’s finals-round opener, Roger Machado’s Ciego de Avila Tigers are now only three wins short of accomplishing a first-ever championship for a ball club still sporting a lengthy thirty-six season history of ongoing futility. And after rolling up five straight post-season victories without a single blemish, workhorse Tigers right-hander Vladimir García now seems poised to become only the third hurler in more than a half-century century of National Series action to compile 20 victories during a single campaign (regular season and post-season combined). García – who turns 24 this Thursday and was once touted as a possible replacement for Pedro Lazo as Team Cuba closer– has bounced back with one of the most productive seasons in league annals, only a handful on months after being a controversial omission from last fall’s IBAF World Cup and Pan American Games Cuban rosters.
This year’s grand finale in Cuban post-season action features a clear-cut clash between the old (Industriales) and the new (Ciego de Avila) guards. Coming off a rare post-season on the sidelines during National Series #50, Havana’s Industriales still tops the list of most frequent champions with a collection of 12 total National Series titles; the Lions are the only league outfit to win a pennant in each of the previous five decades of National Series competition. Since the league began post-season play back in 1986, the popular Blue Lions have only missed the playoffs on a handful of occasions (1988, 1991, 1995, and 2011). Ciego reached the post-season for the initial time in 2004 (season number 28 in ball club history) and climbed into the finals for the first time ever only one a single season back.

While Industriales has long ranked as Cuba’s most successful post-season squad, and while Ciego has never yet claimed a single league title, both clubs have worn the mantle of “dark horse” during the current season-long title hunt. Matanzas and Villa Clara appeared the teams to beat all season long – the former edging Industriales by three full games while racing to its first-ever post-season appearance, the latter coasting to a first-place slot in the Oriente and matching Matanzas with a league-best 58 wins. Machado’s Ciego Tigers only edged into the playoffs on the season’s final day (thanks again to Vlad García’s pitching heroics) and thus finished in a tie for third slot with Granma. And a premature end to the championship dreams of upstart Matanzas also meant that for the second year in a row we have narrowly missed an unprecedented finals matchup between two clubs that have never claimed a league championship banner. Only last spring eventual kingpin Pinar del Río torpedoed a wished for Cienfuegos-Ciego final round that would have paired clubs with no previous championship history. This year it was Industriales that scuttled hopes for a potential dream match between Victor Mesa’s Cinderella Matanzas Crocodiles and Roger Machado’s resurgent Tigers. Now the intriguing possibility of an “all-also-rans” finale must again wait for some future season.

So far it has been the heavy Havana rains that have provided the main feature of this year’s climactic title series. Monday night’s second match was washed away in the capital city when the grounds at Latin American Stadium were deemed clearly unfit for action. This delay has now caused a revamping of the original schedule which now pushes the three games in Ciego back to the coming weekend. And a thrilling Sunday opener was itself staged against a backdrop of inclement weather that significantly delayed the showcase game (played before an overflow crowd of more than 50,000) and also played a possible major role in the scoreboard outcome.

Sunday’s opener stretched through six innings of a tense scoreless pitching duel between García and Lions ace starter Odrisamer Despaigne before the skies opened and action was suspended for more than an hour due to the deluge. When the game continued in the top of the seventh Ciego struck quickly for three runs, two of which scampered home on a wild pitch and a passed ball. The third and ultimately deciding tally came via a Raúl Gonzalez double that produced the Tigers’ only RBI of the afternoon. García bent but never cracked during the final three frames, yielding a pair of RBI singles to Yasmani Tomás. Across the lengthy afternoon’s labor the Ciego mainstay struck out only one enemy batter but also yielded only three walks and three singles (Alexander Mayeta had the third) while picking up the series-opening crucial win.

On the individual front, Vlad García now has a legitimate shot at achieving a rare and only twice-accomplished 20-victory season. His 14-5 regular-season mark was one of the best in the league this winter (the second highest victory total) yet received little attention largely due to Ismel Jiménez, who racked up a stellar 17-5 campaign for Sancti Spíritus. In late April it looked very much as though Jiménez was indeed the hurler destined to overhaul Braudilio Vinent (19 victories in 1973) and match José Ibar and Carlos Yanes atop the all-time single-season victory column. Ibar had claimed 20 wins in 1998 (extended to 24 in the playoffs) and Yanes managed to climb above 20 during the following 1999 playoff round.

But it has been the Ciego ace and not the Sancti Spíritus stalwart who has proven himself the “big money” post-season hurler down the stretch – after Jiménez stalled at 19 wins in the final game of his own quarterfinal series in Matanzas. With Monday’s rainout the big Ciego righty is now guaranteed at least one more start and thus at least one more crack at the rare 20-win record, even if the finals last only the minimum four matches (a rather unlikely scenario). With a long series (as most expect) Vlad will assuredly take the hill twice more, with a shot at not only clinching his club’s first-ever pennant but also entering the charmed circle occupied solely by Ibar and Yanes. The Vladimir García pitching heroics therefore continue to carry almost as large a front-page storyline as the very championship series itself.

<