No sense in complaining, Civ. It's all voluntary (with permission of course). If these kids don't feel like they need any extra work in problem areas, that's their choice.

I've posted article after article about managers, coaches, and general managers encouraging their young players to get that experience in competitive situations where the emphasis is on winning.

There are a lot of all-star players out there that credit winterball for their success and Asdrubal Cabrera is one of them. Miguel Cabrera is another. Marco Scutaro, "Panda", and "Guti" have also given some glowing reports about the experience. The list is long.

For a team that's been anything but average over the past 10-12 years, I would like to think that there are some players willing to sacrifce a little for the success of the team. At last count, there are 27 top 10 prospects playing winterball this year. Needless to say, none of them are Indians.

Six pack: Ruf racks up the RBIs for Tiburones

Phillies' No. 20 prospect homers twice, brings in six in first two at-bats

10/28/12 1:17 AM ET

Venezuelan Winter League

La Guaira 8, Anzoategui 2

Phillies' No. 20 prospect Darin Ruf homered twice and drove in six runs -- all in the first three innings -- to be the difference in the Tiburones' third straight win. The slugger is batting .217 with six longballs and 13 RBIs in his first 13 games in the Winter League. Cesar Suarez and Oscar Salazar also went deep in the victory. Niuman Romero (Tigers) drove in both runs for the Caribes.

Lara 4, Caracas 2

Guillermo Quiroz (Mariners) hit a solo homer, and Robert Perez added two RBIs to help the Cardenales double up the Leones. Starter Chris Jakubauskas (Blue Jays) took a no-decision after striking out six and allowing one run on three hits over 3 2/3 innings, and Danny Farquhar took his second save, thanks to four strikeouts in his 2 1/3 frames on the mound.

Magallanes 6, Aragua 5

Nationals farmhand Carlos Maldonado hit a pinch-hit walk-off homer in the 10th inning to give the Navegantes a dramatic win at home. Eliezer Alfonzo added a solo blast along with a double and two runs scored. Tigres catcher Guillermo Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Margarita 2, Zulia 1

Bravos starter Luis Chirinos gave up six hits and struck out three over six scoreless innings to earn his first win of the fall. Through four appearances, the right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. Sean Burroughs and Rene Reyes brought home both runs for the visiting squad. Braves farmhand Ernesto Mejia went 3-for-4 with a run scored as the lone bright spot for the Aguilas.

Dominican Winter League

Cibaenas 2, Este 1

Royals second baseman Tony Abreu went a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI in his second game with the victorious Aguilas. MLB.com's No. 12 overall prospect Oscar Taveras tripled and scored one of the team's runs as part of a 2-for-4 night. Starting pitcher Lorenzo Barcelo gave up one run on five hits in his six innings on the mound. Eugenio Velez, who spent the 2012 season in the Cardinals system, hit a solo homer for the Toros.

Cibao 6, Licey 1

Rangers' No. 20 prospect Leury Garcia homered, tripled, drove in two and scored twice from the top spot in the Gigantes order. Right behind him, Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Chase Wright took the win after giving up a run on five hits over five innings. Leonys Martin doubled and drove in the Tigres' only run.

Oriente 8, Escogido 7

Luis Jimenez (Angels) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, including the game-winning tally in the bottom of the ninth when he came home on a balk by Leones reliever Lisalverto Bonilla. Estrellas right fielder Nelson Perez (Cubs) led the team with two RBIs to go with a double and a pair of free passes. Angels' No. 5 prospect Kole Calhoun and Giants farmhand both went deep for Escogido.

Mexican Pacific League

Culiacan 5, Mexicali 0

Tomateros cleanup hitter Cory Aldridge homered twice and brought home three runs. The designated hitter has gone deep eight times and has totaled 17 RBIs during his 13-game start to the Mexican season. Yankees shortstop Ramiro Pena closed out the scoring with a two-run shot in the fourth. Amauri Sanit struck out six and scattered three hits in his six shutout innings to take the win.

Los Mochis 6, Guasave 4

The Caneros took the win on the road, thanks to a pair of RBIs from Yancarlo Angulo and Sebastian Valle in the top of the 10th inning. Sandy Madera went 4-for-5 with an RBI, and Saul Soto, who scored on Valle's single, homered and drove in two. Jose Rodriguez hit a two-run shot, and Japhet Amador hit a solo homer for the Algodoneros.

Obregon 7, Mazatlan 1

Catcher Iker Franco homered, tripled and drove in a game-high three runs to help the Yaquis rout the Venados at home. Alfredo Amezaga and Barbaro Canizares also went deep for the victors. Marco Carillo improved to 1-2 after striking out six and giving up six hits over seven innings of shutout ball.

Hermosillo 4, Navojoa 3

Former Major Leaguer Karim Gacia homered as the first batter of the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 deadlock and give the Naranjeros the eventual victory. Jose Amador went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in the win. Mayos starter Hector Velazquez struck out five over six shutout innings but did not factor in the decision.

<

Dominican Winter League

•Juan Diaz: SS, Estrellas de Oriente: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 K: Diaz hadn’t played in a week for Estrellas, before getting one hit in two at-bats in his return on Saturday night. Diaz will start sweating a bit this season in Columbus, as a freight train of shortstops will be knocking on his door.

•Tim Fedroff: CF, Aguilas Cibaenas: 1-for-4, 1 K: Fedroff hasn’t exactly been shredding the baseball, but he has a hit in all seven ballgames he’s played in. Of course, the flip side of that is that he’s only had one multiple-hit game, doesn’t have an extra base hit, and only has two RBI. This has been his knock over the years.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Gregorio Petit: SS, Leones del Caracas: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K: For those looking for their daily Petit fix, he’s playing horrendously in the VWL thus far. He’s hitting .160, while going 4-for-25, with three runs and a double. Of course, he does have one more extra base hit than Fedroff…so there’s that.

•Toru Murata: SP, Navegantes del Magallanes: 3 ½ IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 K: The Murata magic has apparently worn off a bit, as the Tribe’s 27-year-old Japanese starter has given up six earned runs in his last seven innings pitched. He’ll have to be exceptional to ever get a shot with the Tribe, and this just isn’t it so far.

By Jim Pete

He'll have to be exceptional to ever get a shot with the Tribe, and this just isn’t it so far.

I guess the progress of these snowbirds can mean something to someone ?!?!?!

Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012
Getting the job done: The Yomiuri Giants congratulate each other after an 8-1 victory over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Game 1 of the Japan Series on Saturday at Tokyo Dome. KYODO

Giants trounce Fighters in Game 1

By JASON COSKREY

Coming off a tough season, John Bowker was ready for his moment.


Banner night: The Giants' John Bowker drove in five runs in Yomiuri's 8-1 victory in Game 1 of the Japan Series on Saturday at Tokyo Dome. KYODO

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters sure weren't ready for him.

Bowker hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning and added a two-run double in the seventh, while starter Tetsuya Utsumi silenced the Fighters' bats with seven shutout innings in the Yomiuri Giants' 8-1 win in Game 1 of the Japan Series on Saturday at Tokyo Dome.

"This was a great way to open the Japan Series," Giants manager Tatsunori Hara said. "Our team played great tonight."

Most of the 44,981 in attendance were already worked up in the fourth after Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe put the home team ahead 1-0 with an RBI single. Kenji Yano drew a two-out walk later in the inning, and Bowker sent the crowd into a frenzy with a home run off starter Mitsuo Yoshikawa that landed in the Kyojin's cheering section in right field.

"I was trying to get a mistake," Bowker said. "Trying not to swing out of the zone. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit, and he left it there to hit. Luckily I didn't miss that pitch."

Bowker came up with the bases loaded in the seventh, and drove in two runs with a double to right. Bowker finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs, one shy of tying the Japan Series record.

"I'm glad I decided to put Bowker in the starting lineup," Hara said. "He hit well in the Climax Series, so I decided to stick with him, and he came through for us."

The Giants are off to a rocking start against the Fighters after falling behind 3-1 in the Central League Climax Series final stage against the Chunichi Dragons before rallying back with three straight victories.

"It feels good," Bowker said. "But we were down 3-1 and we came back. So you can't be complacent. You always want to try to win each game. Each inning is important."


Tetsuya Utsumi KYODO

Rust could've been an issue for Nippon Ham, which swept the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League Climax Series and had been idle since Oct. 20. The Giants didn't punch their Japan Series ticket until Oct. 22 and looked liked the fresher team.

Abe was 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, and Yoshinobu Takahashi finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Hayato Sakamoto chipped in with a pair of doubles for Yomiuri, which outhit Nippon Ham 14-3. All eight of the Giants' starting position players had at least one hit.

"I have to express my appreciation to my teammates for giving me the run support," Utsumi said. That made my job so much easier."

Bowker's big night was just the latest highlight in what has been a resurgent playoff run for the Sacramento native.

Bowker didn't have a great first season with the Giants, batting .196 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 69 games during the regular season. He spent most of August and September on the farm team, returning toward the end of the regular season and playing on Sept 28, 29 and Oct. 1.

He made his postseason debut in Game 3 of the Central League Climax Series final stage and went 2-for-4 in that game, 1-for-2 the next night, and recorded at least one hit in each of the four games he played.

"It feels great," Bowker said. "The regular season is behind us. What's important is the postseason. I'm just trying to do what I can do to help the team. Tonight was a good win, and we have another day tomorrow."

Bowker is hitting .500 during this postseason.

Utsumi began the series on fire, striking out eight and allowing two hits to pick up the win.

"I felt my pitching tonight was just about perfect," Utsumi said.

Utsumi finished without giving up a walk, but hit two batters.

"He pitched like the ace he is tonight," Hara said.

Yoshikawa won 14 games for the Fighters and carried the pitching staff in the team's first season since Yu Darvish left for the major leagues, but couldn't get the Fighters over the hump in the opener.


Not his best stuff: Fighters southpaw Mitsuo Yoshikawa allowed seven hits and four runs in four innings on Saturday. KYODO

"He's got really good stuff," Bowker said. "He's got a really good fastball. We got him tonight. I know he's done well and had a lot of success, but tonight was our night."

Yoshikawa lasted four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He struck out six and walked none.

"I feel sorry (for the team) that I had to leave the mound early," Yoshikawa said. "I want to improve so I can get some payback next time."

Utsumi was pleased to have come out in top in the battle of aces.

"He's a great pitcher, but we have great relievers just as Nippon Ham does," Utsumi said. "So I just tried to go all-out."

The Fighters avoided being shut out when Daikan Yoh homered off Dicky Gonzalez in the ninth.

The CL and PL champions will meet in Game 2 on Sunday at Tokyo Dome.

"We'll come out again tomorrow and try to play well and get another win."

SK beat Samsung, reduce champ series deficit to one
The SK Wyverns defeated the Samsung Lions 12-8 Sunday for their first win of the South Korean baseball championship series.

In Game 3 of the Korean Series at Munhak Stadium in Incheon, just west of Seoul, Kim Kang-min belted a three-run home run as part of the home team Wyverns‘ six-run sixth inning that completed their comeback from an earlier 6-1 deficit. The Wyverns pounded seven Samsung pitchers to the tune of 17 hits, including three home runs, and now trail in the best-of-seven championship round two games to one.

The Lions, who won the first two games of the series, lost their big lead Sunday with uncharacteristically sloppy defense. The Lions had the second fewest errors in the league during the regular season with 67 in 133 games but committed three on Sunday.

The fourth game will be back at Munhak Stadium at 6 p.m. Monday. These two teams also met in the past two Korean Series, with the Wyverns prevailing in 2010 and the Lions taking the title in 2011.

Only one team has come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the Korean Series. The 2007 SK Wyverns lost the first two against the Doosan Bears and then went on to win the next four to win their first championship.

The Wyverns entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 7-5, but put up six runs to quickly move ahead 11-7.

Jeong Keun-woo hit a run-scoring single to bring the Wyverns to within one. Two batters later, Choi Jeong hit a hard grounder to shortstop Kim Sang-soo with runners on the corners. Kim made a diving grab but failed to get the force out at second base and his wild throw to first bounced into the SK dugout. That allowed both runners to score and make it 8-7 for the Wyverns.

After recording the second out of the inning, the Lions’

reliever Ahn Ji-man intentionally walked Park Jung-kwon to face Kim Kang-min. The light-hitting center fielder made the Lions pay with his first career postseason home run.

The Wyverns went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first on Choi Jeong‘s single, but the lead only lasted two innings as the Lions scored six runs in the top third, capped off by Choi Hyung-woo’s three-run blast.

Just when the game appeared out of reach, the Wyverns began to eat into the Lions‘ lead.

They scored twice in the bottom third, and Park Jin-man’s solo shot in the bottom fourth made it a two-run ball game at 6-4. Later in the fourth, Jeong Keun-woo hit a one-out single and came around to score on a wild pitch that made it 6-5.

The Lions went back up by two in the fifth thanks to an RBI double by Cho Dong-chan, but then came undone in the disastrous sixth.

Kim Kang-min went 3-for-5 with four RBIs for the victorious side. He was one of four different SK hitters with at least three hits in the game.

For Samsung, Choi hit his second home run of the Korean Series in the losing cause.

Song Eun-beom earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief. Ahn Ji-man took the loss after giving up four runs in one relief inning.

Neither of the starters was impressive on Sunday. Bae Young-soo for Samsung was knocked around for seven hits and three runs over three innings, while SK‘s Dave Bush only lasted two innings and was charged with two earned runs.

In Game 4, right-hander Mitch Talbot, an ex-Major League Baseball pitcher, will take the mound for the Lions, and the Wyverns will counter with left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun to start the game.

Talbot appeared in one game against the Wyverns during the regular season and had a no decision, giving up two runs in six innings.

Kim went 1-2 in three games against the Lions during the season and got knocked around for 16 hits and nine earned runs in 15 innings. (Yonhap News)

Colon hospitalized after being hit by line drive

By Andrew Simon / Special to MLB.com | 10/28/12 8:39 PM ET

Veteran Major League pitcher Bartolo Colon reportedly was taken to the hospital after he was struck in the mouth by a line drive in a Dominican Winter League game on Sunday, according to Carlos Almanzar of ESPN Radio in Santo Domingo.

Colon, a Dominican native, was pitching for Aguilas Cibaenas against Gigantes del Cibao when the incident occurred. He did not suffer a fracture or lose any teeth as a result of the line drive, according to Dionisio Soldevila of ESPNDeportes.com.

The 39-year-old right-hander has pitched in the big leagues for 15 seasons, and went 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts for the A's last year. His season ended when he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in August.

A pending free agent, Colon had made one previous start for Aguilas, giving up three runs in five innings while striking out eight on Oct. 19.

Marte has big day in Dominican League debut

Bucs outfielder collects four hits, drives in three runs, scores three times

10/29/12 12:06 AM ET
Dominican Winter League

Escogido 10, Licey 8

Pirates outfielder Starling Marte went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored in his season debut for the Leones, who beat the Tigres to avoid a third straight loss. Red Sox first baseman Mauro Gomez tripled, doubled and collected four RBIs for Escogido, while Engel Beltre (Rangers) was 4-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored for Licey.

Estrellas 5, Toros 0

A's farmhand Bruce Billings allowed one hit over four innings and combined with four relievers on a three-hitter as the first-place Estrellas blanked the Toros. Cubs prospect Nelson Perez was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and former Major Leaguer Todd Linden also had two hits and scored twice for Oriente. Diory Hernandez (Cubs) drew three walks in four plate appearances in a losing effort.

Gigantes 4, Aguilas 1

Bartolo Colon was hospitalized after he was struck in the mouth by a line drive in the Gigantes' win over the Aguilas. The former Cy Young Award winner was hit in the fifth inning by a shot off the bat of the Gigantes' Marcell Ozuna, the Marlins' No. 5 prospect. Jimmy Paredes (Astros) rallied Cibao with a grand slam in the ninth, while Hector Luna (Pirates) homered for the Aguilas.

Venezuelan Winter League

Lara 6, Magallanes 3

Major League veteran Joe Thurston smacked a two-run homer and Robert Perez also had two RBIs, helping the Cardenales climb back to the .500 mark. Jhonny Montoya struck out three over 2 1/3 hitless innings to get the win, while Carlos Maldonado went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored for Magallanes.

Caracas 7, Aragua 5

Tigers prospect Hernan Perez went 2-for-4 with four RBIs out of the ninth spot in the lineup as the Leones handed the Tigres their third straight loss. Henry Wrigley (Rays) chipped in three hits, an RBI and a run scored for Caracas, while Aragua's Alex Romero drilled a three-run homer.

Caribes 4, La Guaira 3

Padres infielder Alexi Amarista slugged a pinch homer leading off the bottom of the ninth inning as the Caribes snapped the Tiburones' three-game winning streak. Niuman Romero doubled twice and drove in the other three runs for Anzoategui, while Eastern League MVP Darin Ruf (Phillies) followed up a six-RBI night by homering twice for La Guaira.

Zulia 4, Margarita 0

Marlins farmhand Josh Schmidt struck out seven over six innings as the Aguilas blanked the Bravos to move into first place. Ernesto Mejia (Braves) delivered an RBI single to snap a scoreless tie in the seventh for Zulia, which got two hits and two runs scored from Yankees prospect Jose Pirela. Alberto Gonzalez and J.C. Linares -- the Red Sox's No. 17 prospect -- had two hits apiece for Margarita.

Mexican Pacific League

Navojoa 6, Hermosillo 5

Kraig Binick collected three hits, including a two-run double in a five-run sixth inning, as the last-place Mayos snapped a three-game losing streak. Rolando Acosta and Alejandro Gonzalez each chipped in two hits and an RBI for Navojoa in a game that lasted five hours and 15 minutes. Edgar Quintero ripped a pair of solo homers for Hermosillo, which had a three-game winning streak stopped. Gameday

Culiacan 3, Mexicali 1

Alejandro Armenta allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings, helping the first-place Tomateros win for the 12th time in 14 games. Cory Aldridge (Angels) had two hits, including his league-leading ninth homer, for Culiacan. Former Major Leaguer Chris Roberson singled, walked and scored Mexicali's only run.

Obregon 14, Mazatlan 7

Barbaro Canizares went 4-for-4 with a pair of homers, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, powering the Yaquis to their second straight win. Doug Clark contributed three hits and four RBIs for Obregon, which also got a homer and three RBIs from Carlos Valencia. Royals prospect Anthony Seratelli homered, doubled and drove in four runs for the Venados.

Guasave 4, Los Mochis 2

Tigers prospect James Avery struck out five and gave up a run on six hits over 5 2/3 innings as the Algodoñeros grabbed sole possession of second place. Orioles farmhand Zelous Wheeler doubled, singled and drove in two runs for Guasave, while former big leaguer Jason Botts homered for Los Mochis.

<

Dominican Winter League

•Juan Diaz: SS, Estrellas de Oriente: 0-for-0: Diaz came in as a defensive substitution in the bottom of the eighth inning, and never stepped up to the plate in Estrellas’s 5-0 victory.

•Tim Fedroff: LF, Aguilas Cibaenas: 0-for-4, 2 K: This was Fedroff’s first game without a hit. The New Jersey native also saw his winter league average drop to .242 on the season.

•Bartolo Colon: SP, Aguilas Cibaenas: 4 1/3, 5 H, 2 K: Colon is coming back from his 50-game suspension for using performance enhancers (still has five games left), and has been pitching well in the winter leagues. He was doing the same today when he got drilled in the mouth by a line drive, and was taken to the hospital. Let’s hope Bart’s okay. As of right now, there is no news on his condition.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Eric Berger: SP, Bravos de Margarita: L (0-2), 6 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 4 K: Berger took the loss, but he had his most productive start of the winter leagues. Overall, he’s gone 0-2, with 13 2/3 IP, having given up nine total runs, with only five earned. He’s also struck out 11, while walking only one. Pretty solid numbers for a guy that’s toiled in the minors for the past five years.

•Hector Rondon: RP, Leones del Caracas: H (1), 1 IP: Rondon has been beat up a bit in his time in the winter leagues, but his numbers are a bit skewed by his first outing in which he gave up four runs in 1/3 of an inning. Since then, he’s gone 4 1/3 innings, giving up only four hits, three runs (two earned) and a walk, while striking out only one batter. Those aren’t bad numbers for a guy coming off a missed season. Perhaps the pen is a legit option for the former top prospect.

By Jim Pete

Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012
One to remember: Giants leadoff hitter Hisayoshi Chono belts a first-inning home run in Game 2 of the Japan Series on Sunday at Tokyo Dome. Yomiuri defeated the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 1-0. KYODO

Sawamura, Chono lead Giants to win

By JASON COSKREY

Hirokazu Sawamura made his Japan Series debut by hitting a pair of batters in the first inning.

Hirokazu Sawamura

A friendly tap on the head from catcher Shinnosuke Abe, and a leadoff home run by Hisayoshi Chono got the second-year right-hander back on track and the Yomiuri Giants one step closer to another celebration.

Sawamura threw eight shutout innings, and Chono's home run was the difference as the Giants outlasted a valiant effort by Hokkaido Nippon Ham starter Masaru Takeda to beat the Fighters 1-0 in Game 2 of the Japan Series on Sunday at Tokyo Dome.

The Giants will now head to Sapporo Dome with a 2-0 lead in the series, which resumes on Tuesday at the Fighters' home park.

"We made a great start," Giants manager Tatsunori Hara said. "Now that we are up two games to none, the pressure will be on the Fighters."

Sawamura was pitching in his first Japan Series, and early on it looked as if nerves would get the best of him. He plunked leadoff hitter Daikan Yoh to start the game and hit Sho Nakata later in the inning.

"I was a little nervous, as it was my first time to pitch in the Japan Series," Sawamura said. "After the first inning, I could settle into a rhythm and felt really good."

Sawamura got out of the first without allowing a run and yielded just three singles over the rest of his outing. He struck out the side in the eighth to leave on a high note.

"I felt really strong in the eighth inning and was throwing better than I had earlier," Sawamura said.

The second-year hurler struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. He also showed great poise in the first, not letting his early control issues rattle him.

Not much offense: Fighters slugger Sho Nakata and his teammates could only manage five hits in Game 2. KYODO

"Abe-san told me to relax and be careful not to cross him up," Sawamura said. "He said not to lose focus."

Yoh played the remainder of the game after being hit, but Nakata was lifted after the fourth and taken to the hospital for X-rays on his hand. The Nippon Ham slugger reportedly has a bruised, but not broken, hand.

Sawamura's effort came one night after Tetsuya Utsumi held the Fighters in check over seven scoreless innings.

"Our pitchers in both games were superb," Hara said.

Chono's home run was the 12th leadoff homer in Japan Series history and first since Koji Akiyama did it for the Daiei Hawks in 1999.

"I put a good swing on it and was happy when I saw it clear the wall in right-center," Chono said. "It was nice to give our offense a good start tonight."

That was basically all the offense the Giants were able to muster. Yoshinobu Takahashi and Shuichi Murata finished with singles, while Sawamura and Shigeyuki Furuki chipped in with doubles.

"Sawamura was pitching so well, I wish we could've scored more and given him more of a cushion," Chono said.

A reason to be fired up: Giants starter Hirokazu Sawamura held the Fighters to three hits, all singles, in eight innings. KYODO

Tetsuya Yamaguchi recorded the first two outs of the ninth before allowing a pair of singles. Scott Mathieson relieved him and wasted no time retiring former Giants star Tomohiro Nioka. Mathieson became the first player to record a one-pitch save in Japan Series history and also notched the sixth one-batter save in Japan Series history.

Both pitching staffs were on top of their game, with neither allowing a walk, the second such occurrence in the Japanese version of the Fall Classic.

Takeda gave everything he had to keep Nippon Ham in the game. The left-hander allowed four hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters. He threw six innings of one-run ball.

His lone mistake came against the very first batter he faced, when Chono knocked a hanging shuuto with almost no break into the stands.

"My shuuto didn't really bite, and I allowed a home run," Takeda said. "That woke me up and I was able to pitch my game from then on. So I don't have any regrets."

Takeda's career record fell to 1-4 in the Japan Series.

Masaru Takeda

The Fighters' offensive woes continued for the second straight night as the Pacific League champions managed no runs and five hits. In Game 1, Nippon Ham was limited to three hits and didn't get on the scoreboard until Daikan Yoh's leadoff home run in the ninth.

Nippon Ham managed to get the potential tying run to third and a potential go-ahead run to first in the ninth, before finally bowing out.

"Well even if you give yourself a chance, if you don't win, it doesn't mean anything," Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama said.

The series will resume on Tuesday at Sapporo Dome. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

"We're going to go to Sapporo tomorrow and expect to keep winning," Chono said.

The year of the Giants !?!?!


The Giants are undefeated at home and abroad. At home the San Francisco Giants swept their series 4-0 over Detroit. Abroad, the Yomiuri Giants are 2-0 against the Nippon Ham Fighters. Both teams share the same name, the same colors, and the same records....... to date.

Settsu named top pitcher

Jiji-Daily Yomiuri

Tadashi Settsu


Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks right-hander Tadashi Settsu's second season as a starter got even better Monday, when he was named winner of the prestigious Sawamura Award as Japan pro baseball's top pitcher.

Settsu, who led both leagues with 17 wins and a .773 winning percentage, became the first Hawks hurler to win the award since Kazumi Saito in 2006.

"I didn't think I would be selected," said the 30-year-old Settsu. "I'm really happy."

Settsu credited his success with the experience he gained as one of Japan's top middle relievers,.

"I entered many games in jams and it gave me experience in how to get out of them," said Settsu, who appeared in over 70 games in both 2009 and 2010.

The Sawamura Award is named after legendary Yomiuri Giants pitcher Eiji Sawamura. It is decided by a committee of five former players.

(Oct. 30, 2012)

SK Wyverns beat Samsung Lions to even Korean Series
SK Wyverns players rejoice after beating the Samsung Lions 4-1 in the ongoing South Korean baseball championship series on Monday. (Yonhap)

(Yonhap News) --

The SK Wyverns got past the Samsung Lions 4-1 Monday to even the ongoing South Korean baseball championship series.

In Game 4 of the Korean Series at Munhak Stadium here, west of Seoul, Park Jae-sang and Choi Jeong blasted back-to-back home runs in the fourth and the bullpen held the opponents to two hits over the final four innings for the home team Wyverns. They have now won two straight after losing the first two in this best-of-seven affair.

This is the third straight Korean Series clash between these two clubs. The Wyverns swept the Lions in 2010 but the Lions got their revenge last year. The fifth game will be played at Jamsil Stadium, a neutral venue in Seoul, at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The 2007 Wyverns remain the only team in the league's 30-year history to come back from a 2-0 Korean Series deficit to win the championship. They lost the first two against the Doosan Bears and then went on to win the next four to clinch their first KBO title.

The Lions' starter Mitch Talbot retired the first 10 batters he faced, striking out five and allowing just one ball to leave the infield. Then with one out in the bottom fourth, Park Jae-sang broke the scoreless deadlock with a solo shot over the right field wall. Two pitches later, Choi Jeong followed up with a home run over the left field.

With two outs, Kim Kang-min drove in the third run of the inning with a single to left.

The Lions got one back in the top sixth on Choi Hyung-woo's sacrifice fly, but with runners on first and second with two outs, Cho Dong-chan struck out swinging to kill the rally.

Samsung put a runner on base every inning except for the second and eighth, but mustered only one run on this night against four SK pitchers.

The Wyverns made it 4-1 in the seventh, as pinch hitter Cho In-sung hit a sacrifice fly to left.
SK's starter Kim Kwang-hyun earned the victory with five solid innings, giving up a run on six hits while striking out four. Jung Woo-ram recorded the final three outs for the save.

Talbot took the loss after allowing three runs in six innings. He struck out nine but was undone by the two SK long balls.

Under a KBO rule designed to draw more fans, if a team with the home field advantage in the Korean Series plays at a park with a capacity smaller than 25,000, Games 5 through 7, if necessary, will be played at Jamsil, which sits 27,000 in South Korea's biggest market.

The Lions hold the home field thanks to their first-place finish in the regular season. If this year's Korean Series goes the distance, they will be the home team and bat last in Games 5 and 7 at Jamsil.

Daegu Baseball Stadium, the Lions' home, seats only 10,000, according to the KBO.

Top 10 Chica Photo Gallery for October

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Eury Perez; “I have more experience”

Posted October 29th, 2012 by DPL & filed under Down on the Farm, DPL News, Featured Post.

Eury Perez, the class A youngster dazzled everyone in the Dominican winter league during the 2010 season, he’s a complete player aware of his abilities and limitations to succeed in this sport. Perez was on the roster for Los Leones on Sunday, when the team faced Licey at Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo.

“I have more experience, I recognize pitches better but I’m still learning about the game,” said the Outfielder who debuted last September at the major league level with the Washington Nationals. “I learned a lot in the Big Leagues. I saw how the veterans do their work and how they prepare for each game”.

Perez hit .314 with 51 stolen bases in 127 games between Double A and Triple A this summer. In the Major Leagues he had five at bats and got one hit.

“It was a good year in the United States,” explained Perez. Playing Winter League ball in Dominican has helped me develop, It’s been a good learning experience for me”.

The winter season is another challenge for Eury. “I’m here to play my game; I’m still focusing and working on my running and defense which will help me overall and the team.”