That's no joke! Baseball is really a world sport now. I should be changing the discussion to:

Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian/WORLD ball

Friday, September 28, 2012

IBAF Men’s Baseball World Rankings Update after WBC Qualifiers

Canada collects most Points in 2012 as World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Jupiter and Regensburg concluded

IBAF Men's Baseball World Ranking

The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) releases a new update of the IBAF Men’s Baseball World Rankings following the conclusion of the first two World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Jupiter, Florida and Regensburg, Germany. Spain and Canada came out victorious beating Israel and Germany in the finals to clinch spots at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, which is scheduled to commence on March 2 next spring.

Cuba continues to be on top of the Men’s Baseball World Rankings, followed by the United States, Japan, Korea and Canada. Canada earned 50 points for winning the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, but lost 50 points from the 2008 Final Olympic Qualifier that rotated out of the rankings because it occurred more than four years ago. Canada is now only three points behind Korea in fourth, as Korea lost 40 points when the FOQT dropped off.

Canada has 130 points in 2012 - 80 for its 2nd place finish in the U18 World Championship and 50 for winning the World Baseball Classic Qualifier. The 130 points is the most by any federation in 2012. USA is second with 100 (for winning the U18) and Chinese Taipei is third with 90 points (3rd place at U15 and 3rd place at U18).

The second World Baseball Classic Qualifier winner Spain moves up into 16th place, passing Germany (17th) to be third-best European country in the rankings behind the Netherlands (drops to 6th) and Italy (moves into 11th with second straight European Championship title). The other World Baseball Classic Qualifier teams Great Britain (19th), Czech Republic (21st), South Africa (23rd), Israel (25th) and France (30th) also make up ground in the Men’s Baseball World Rankings.

Two more World Baseball Classic Qualifiers will be played in November. In Taipei City (November 15 to 18), Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand will play for one of two open spots in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In Panama City (November 15 to 19), Panama takes on Colombia, Brazil and Nicaragua.

IBAF Men’s Baseball World Ranking Top 30:

joez wrote:That's no joke! Baseball is really a world sport now. I should be changing the discussion to:

Winter/Fall/Latin/Asian/WORLD ball

Done!

Wow! You're good JR!

CPBL: Lamigo Monkeys clinch 2nd-half title with 8-6 win

By Jason Pan, in Chinese Taipei

The Lamigo Monkeys downed the Brother Elephants 8-6 in an intense encounter over the weekend, to clinch the 2nd-half title in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

With this victory, the Lamigo team holds an unassailable 5-game lead over the 2nd place Elephants, and earned the finalist berth to the championship Taiwan Series, up against the 1st-half titlist Uni-President Lions.

Through an early outburst, the Monkey hitters stacked up 7 runs by the top of 3rd inning, but the Elephant responded with 5 runs in the bottom of 3rd to make it a close game.

Both teams got one more run to make it 8-6 at the end of 5th inning, and thereafter relief pitchers snuff out several scoring threats in this tense affair, and kept a blank sheet the rest of the way.

Foreign help played a big role, as Lamigo's American righty Mike Loree started the game to get the win, while his U.S. compatriot Paul Phillips as closer shut the door in the final two frames, and was on the mound to record the final groundout.

Lamigo's outfielder Tsan Chih-Yao and DH Lin Hong-Yu each had 2 RBIs on 3 hits to pace their team to victory.

"We had to fight all the way to capture this half-season title. Our pitcher came through for us down the stretch with their consist performance. Overall, it was a whole team effort and I'm proud of the players' efforts," said Lamigo team manager Hong Yi-Chung as he savors the win in the post-game press interview

Chinese Taipei announce 28-man roster for WBC Qualifier

By Jason Pan, in Chinese Taipei

Getting ready for the Asia-Pacific round of the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, team manager for Chinese Taipei, Hsieh Chang-Heng announced the 28-man roster this past week.

To commence on Nov. 15, the WBC Qualifier for Asia-Pacific region is hosted by Chinese Taipei, at the Xinzhuang Stadium of New Taipei City. New Zealand, Philippines, and Thailand will vie against Chinese Taipei for the top spot in order to advance for the next round.

The 28-man roster for Chinese Taipei consists of 20 players from the CPBL (Chinese Professional Baseball League), five who are currently active in pro and farm teams in Japan, one in MLB minor league club, and one each from the amateur ranks and from the national reserve squad.

In terms of positions, the roster has 14 pitchers, 3 catchers, 6 infielders, and 5 outfielders.

The core of the hitting lineup is expected to be carried by the quartet of CPBL's leading power sluggers: Lin Yi-Chuan, Lin Hong-Yu, Peng Cheng-Min, and Lin Chih-Sheng.

Chinese Taipei team manager Hsieh said, "We have selected those who are in good form this season. Our aim is to win the qualifier round, and we expect them to perform to their best standards."

The squad will convene for training on Oct. 21, after the end of CPBL postseason series, and will schedule at least six warm-up games in preparation for the WBC Qualifier competition, according to Hsieh.

Chinese Taipei 28-man roster for WBC Qualifer:

Pitchers (14) - Wang Chin-Ming, Fu Yu-Kang (Uni-President Lions); Lin Chia-Wei (Lamigo Monkeys). Kuan Ta-Yuan, Lin Yu-Ching, Tseng Song-Wei (Brother Elephants); Lin Yen-Feng (Sinon Bulls) ; Wang Yao-Ling (Chicago Cubs farm system), Wang Yi-Chen (NPB Yokohama Baystars), Lin Yi-Hao (NPB Yomiuri Giants), Yang Yao-Hsun (NPB Softbank Hawks), Cheng Kai-Wen (NPB Hanshin Tigers), Kuo Chun-Ling (Fubon amateur club), Chen Hong-Wen (national reserve squad)

Catchers (3) - Cheng Ta-Hong (Sinon Bulls); Lin Hong-Yu (Lamigo Monkeys); Kao Chih-Kang (Uni-President Lions)

Infielders (6) - Lin Yi-Chuan (Sinon Bulls); Lin Chih-Sheng, Kuo Yen-Wen (Lamigo Monkeys); Peng Cheng-Min, Chen Chiang-Ho (Brother Elephants); Chen Yung-Chih (Uni-President Lions)

Outfielders (5) - Yang Tai-Kang (NPB Nippon Ham Fighters); Chang Chien-Ming (Sinon Bulls); Pan Wu-Hsiung (Uni-President Lions); Chou Hsi-Chih, Chang Chen-Wei (Brother Elephants)

Lions clinch playoff berth

Kyodo

SENDAI —

A day after their pennant aspirations were crushed, the Seibu Lions clinched a spot in the Pacific League playoffs on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Fire at will: Seibu's Ken Togame pitches during the Lions' 4-2 win over the Golden Eagles on Wednesday night. KYODO

Rookie right-hander Ken Togame (6-0) made his starting debut after 39 relief appearances and allowed two runs on seven hits in six-plus innings in a game that saw the Lions turn five double plays.

Takeya Nakamura homered for the Lions in the second off 18-year-old rookie Yoshinao Kamata (7-4). Togame, the Lions' first draft pick last autumn, got out of a two-one, one-out jam in the home half of the second, when he started an inning-ending double play on a comebacker.

Jose Ortiz opened up the tight pitchers' duel in the sixth with a two-run double, and Ginjiro Sumitani singled in another run in the inning.

"The fielders turning all those double plays was big," said Togame, who struck out one without walking a batter. "I'm very grateful for their defensive support.

"I figured if I could shut them down for the first two innings, I could settle down. I'm really happy I could keep them off the board for six innings."

CENTRAL LEAGUE

BayStars 7, Swallows 4 (7)

At Yokohama Stadium, journeyman Shotaro Ide hit his first homer in two years, a two-run shot, to bring the BayStars from a run down in the fourth inning in a game that was called after the top of the seventh due to rain.

Yokohama's Alex Ramirez, needing eight hits to reach 2,000 in Japan, was 0-for-1 with two walks on his 38th birthday. The BayStars have five games left to play in the regular season.

Baseball: Iwakuma sets Mariners rookie record for starters ERA

SEATTLE -

Hisashi Iwakuma marked his final outing of the season
on a record-breaking note Tuesday, pitching six shutout innings in
the Seattle Mariners 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Iwakuma (9-5) lowered his ERA to 2.65 in 16 starts to set a
Mariners record for lowest ERA by a starting pitcher in his first big
league season. Felix Hernandez set the previous record with a 2.67
ERA in 2005.

Delvi Cid demandaoportunidad with AC


Santiago


One of the fastest players in all the minor leagues, and at a point in his career where he is among the top prospects in the organization of the Cleveland Indians, feels he has time to get his chance in the Dominican winter baseball with Aguilas Cibaenas.

The young outfielder's name is Delvi Cid, who just exhausting a successful baseball season in the United States, recovering from a disappointing previous season in which he struggled with injuries in the back and legs.

"I think it's time to get my chance with the Aguilas, I have been patient all these years and I trained hard for the moment," said the native of Puerto Plata player.

Not exactly one of our top prospects, but Cid did have his best offensive season in 2012 for Kinston and kept his career alive. Should reach Akron next year. Big league chances are pretty long.

Rock solid: Orix Buffaloes starter Chihiro Kaneko tossed seven scoreless innings against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks on Friday at Kyocera Dome. KYODO

Loss gives Hawks the final seed for PL Climax Series Kyodo

OSAKA —

Chihiro Kaneko's comeback came too soon for Fukuoka Softbank.

The right-hander, pitching his first game for Orix since June 16, threw seven shutout innings on Friday in the Buffaloes' 3-1 win over the Hawks at Kyocera Dome.

The Hawks' defeat left them as the last seed in the Pacific League Climax Series. The Hawks' defense of their Japan Series championship will now begin at Seibu Dome on Oct. 13. The winner of that best-of-three series will travel to Sapporo Dome to take on the PL champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

Kaneko (4-3), who had lower back and shoulder issues in the preseason and was limited to one start in April, was sidelined again in June with stiffness in his right shoulder.

"I had prepared myself for the possibility that I would pitch before the end of the season," said the 28-year-old Kaneko, who was pitching for the ninth time this season. "Before the game, I was quite nervous, but once we took the field, it was just like usual."

The Buffaloes took a 2-0 lead on solo homers by Lee Dae Ho in the fourth and Yuki Miyazaki in the sixth, both coming off Softbank southpaw Kenji Otonari (12-8).

Keeping with the comeback theme, Tomotaka Sakaguchi came off the bench to single in Orix's third run in his first at-bat since May 17, when he hurt himself while attempting a catch at Tokyo Dome.

The Hawks, too, welcomed back a player. Slugging third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda returned to Softbank's starting lineup for the first time since he broke a finger in his right hand on Aug. 1.

CENTRAL LEAGUE

Giants 8, BayStars 1

Tokyo Dome

Yomiuri snapped a five-game winless streak with a thrashing of last-place Yokohama. Captain Shinnosuke Abe, the Central League's player of the month for September, snapped a 1-1 tie in the third inning with a two-run double. Former BayStar Shuichi Murata added an RBI single, his first hit since Sept. 18, and homered in the seventh.

Tetsuya Utsumi (15-6) allowed a run in six innings to earn the win. The BayStars' Alex Ramirez went 1-for-4 against his former team, leaving him seven hits shy of 2,000 in Japan with four games left to play in the season.

Catcher Johjima plays final game

Kyodo

NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. —

Kenji Johjima, Japan's first Major League Baseball catcher, played his final game on Saturday, starting behind the plate in the Western League game between Hanshin against Orix. The 36-year-old had announced his retirement the day before.

Kenji Johjima

Suffering for two years with knee and shoulder injuries, it was his first game at catcher since the Tigers' Central League game June 5, 2011. In the bottom of the first, Johjima singled in a run with a hit up the middle at the Tigers minor league park, Naruohama Stadium.

After being removed from the game, Johjima's son presented him with a bouquet of flowers, before his teammates honored the 18-year pro by tossing him in the air in a traditional "doage (victory toss) ceremony.

"As a baseball player, I was able to train and play without any regrets," Johjima said. "I'll proudly take off this uniform."

Baseball: Giants' Abe ties record with season's 3rd monthly MVP

TOKYO -

Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe's dominant performance in
September was recognized Friday, when he was named the Central
League's player of the month. His third monthly award of the year
ties him with outfielder Alex Ramirez and pitcher Masahiro Yamamoto
with the most by a CL player in one season.

Yakult Swallows right-hander Shohei Tateyama was named pitcher
of the month for the second time this year. Both of the Pacific
League's awards went to Nippon Ham Fighters players: outfielder
Yoshio Itoi and closer Hisashi Takeda.

The Dominican Prospect League season gets started

Posted October 4th, 2012 by DPL & filed under DPL News, Featured Post.

The 4th DPL season has officially started. Our first day of workouts were cut short due to rain in San Cristobal today but we will follow it up tomorrow in San Pedro de Macoris at Tetelo Vargas stadium, home of Las Estrellas Orientales winter league team. This years July 2nd class is loaded with size power and athleticism; As we get the season underway we will start posting new profile videos and scouting reports on SCOUTS CORNER of next years exciting Prospects.
Here are some players you will surly here rumblings about in the coming months.

Bryan Lizardo 3B Luis Asuncion OF Felix Osorio OF Edward Pena OF Lewin Diaz OF

Season 4 Dominican Prospect LeagueWe are happy to announce the tentative Season 4 Schedules for the Dominican Prospect League. The DPL is also excited to announce that we will be expanding regional games to both San Pedro de Macoris (Two Thursdays per month) and Puerto Plata (1 Saturday per month). DPL Games in the Capital will continue to be played on a weekly basis on Wednesdays.

Season 4 Special Events:

November 12-16, 2012: DPL- Power Showcase Winter Tournament

January 21-25, 2013: Louisville Slugger Tournament Series

March 2013: USA Spring Training Travel Teams

May 27-31, 2013: DPL – Perfect Game International Series
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DPL alumni Jose Rafael DePaula ready for the United States

Posted September 6th, 2012 by DPL & filed under Down on the Farm, DPL News, Featured Post
Rafael DePaula feels ready to excel in the US. He says, “I feel I’m ready to compete in the US; I’ve learned how to pitch rather than just throw hard, my pitching coach Jose Duran and I worked hard throughout the season, I made adjustments and I feel prepared for what’s to come” he added with a laugh “I just need to polish my English because I’ll need it in the Big Leagues”.

DePaula was having trouble getting to United States because of a suspension stemming from age and identity fraud several years ago. During his suspension DePaula pitched in the inaugural Dominican Prospect League season in 2010, he dominated hitters with 89-93(95) mph fastball, with a feel for Curveball and Change. DePaula became an immediate scouting draw, he had many teams following his outings during his time at the DPL. Yankees’ scout Victor Mata had identified him 2 years prior; Mata and the Yankees continued to stay close to the on going MLB investigation until DePaula was cleared. The New York Yankees agreed to sign him for $500,000 back in November 2010, though the deal was contingent on him securing a US visa. After multiple investigations the US Consulate found no evidence that would prohibit DePaula from securing a US Visa, the Consulate therefore approved him earlier this year. DePaula now needed to show the Yankees he was ready to make the transition to the US via performance in the Dominican Summer League, and that he did.


Rafael DePaula during a 2010 DPL game at NY Yankees complex
At 6’3” 215lb DePaula is physically impressive with muscular tone, wide shoulders and an intimidating mound presence. Although DePaula was 21 years old making him 1-3 years older than most players in the rookie level Dominican Summer League, his strides in development can’t be taken for granted; In 14 games started he posted a 1.46 ERA, 61.2 Inn with 18-BB and 85-SO. DePaula said “I’ve been through a lot of controversy to get where I am; I’ve owned up to my responsibility through investigations and a suspension but now my only focus is getting to the Big Leagues. The Yankees organization has had my back since day one, they believe in me and I’m very grateful for everything they have done, I’m committed to them. I want to keep the past behind me, I’m training everyday with the Big Leagues in mind, I want to create a better life for me and my family, and this is our only shot”.

Yankees DSL pitching coach Jose Duran says “He’s a work horse. He’s one of our best. The combination of talent and work ethic this young man brings to the field everyday makes my job easy. He pounds the zone, he aggressively throws inside and can spot his Plus Fastball on the corners at 91-97 (98)mph. His Curveball has had some inconsistency but he’s shown good feel and hard bite 77-82mph; it should develop into a Plus Major League pitch. His circle Change-Up is impressive, it’s deceptive with movement down in the zone, it was his out pitch, he missed a lot of bats with it this season, I say it’s solid average now, he just needs to be more consistent with his arm slot for it to be Plus. He goes on to add when asked where DePaula fits in the future. I’ve seen a lot of good arms come through this organization, my personal opinion is DePaula has the stuff to become a quality starter at the Major League level, all he needs now is the experience in the states to further develop into the dominant pitcher we know he will become at the higher levels, he should move very fast”.

Rafael DePaula is scheduled to participate at the NY Yankees fall Instructional League which starts mid September in Tampa, Fl. There’s no word on where DePaula will start the 2013 season, but he will more than likely get a glimpse of where he stands on the depth chart during his time in Tampa.