Leones

Now for the Leones news, Mauro Gomez and Erick Gonzalez, are the only ones to have played in all of the Lions games so far this winter ...

Toros

Eugenio Velez and Jose Ramirez are the best men of the Bulls in recent days, although Velez went 4-0 yesterday, Ramirez hit two doubles and walked.

Sierra, Peguero shine in Dominican League action

Blue Jays and Mariners outfielders Moises Sierra and Carlos Peguero combined for four RBIs as the Gigantes outmatched Estrellas, 8-3, on Monday

By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 11/4/2013 10:45 P.M. ET

Dominican Winter League

Gigantes 8, Estrellas 3

Moises Sierra went 2-for-5 with an RBI and Carlos Peguero had the biggest hit of the night, belting a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Rudy Owens picked up his first win of the season, allowing just one run on three hits in six innings of work.

Licey 2, Aguilas 1 (10 innings)

Splendid pitching on both sides made this a tight game until Licey scored a go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning. Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar led off the inning with a single before an intentional walk and two groundouts scored him from third.

Escogido 4, Toros 3

Getting 10 hits in the game, Escogido was led by Freddy Guzman, who went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Deibinson Romero also went 2-for-2 with a double. Reliever Oneli Perez got the win, while reliever Adalberto Mendez took his second loss of the season. [Jose Ramirez had a pair of doubles and a walk for the Toros]

Puerto Rican League

Caguas 5, Mayaguez 1

Jorge Padilla led the way for Caguas with a two-run double in the second inning. He also scored two runs. Edgardo Baez also had two hits. John Brownell picked up his first win of the season, allowing just three hits in five innings of work. Meanwhile, Jonathan Albaladejo took his first loss, allowing four runs in three innings.

Santurce-Ponce: Postponed (rain)

Yesterday's notable lines:

CLE AFL Joe Wendle, 2B 5 0 1 0 .289 2B (3)
CLE AFL Tyler Naquin, CF 5 0 2 0 .376
CLE DWL Jose Ramirez, SS 6 1 1 0 .286
CLE VWL Jesus Aguilar, 1B 2 0 1 0 .360
H

Around The Farm: November 5, 2013
Shawn Armstrong

By Arthur Kinney

November 6, 2013

Share This

Around the Farm (ATF) takes a quick look at some of the daily performances by Indians prospects. This is a special fall and winter ball version of ATF that recaps all the offseason action by Indians players in the Arizona Fall League and the Caribbean Leagues. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in the game.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Tyler Naquin (Surprise Saguaros, CF) - 2-5. Naquin continues to perform well in the AFL as Tuesday's performance raised his fall slash line to .376/.433/.447 with 17 RBI in 21 games. He now has 10 multi-hit games and has at least one hit in 20 of his 21 games.

Joe Wendle (Surprise Saguaros, 2B) - 1-5, 1 2B, 1 K, Picked off 1 time. Wendle drops below .300 (now .289 - 13-for-45 in 12 games) with Tuesday's rough outing. All in all, Wendle's numbers on the fall are still good as he has 9 RBI in those 12 games and picked up his fifth extra-base hit (3 2B, 2 3B) on the day.

Tony Wolters (Surprise Saguaros, DH) - 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 Sac Fly. Wolters' continues his rough fall form and drops to .194 (7-for-36) in 11 AFL games this autumn. The one silver linging in this effort is that he picked up his third RBI of the fall season on a sacrifice fly.

Shawn Armstrong (Surprise Saguaros, RP) - W (1-0), 1.1 IP, perfect, 1 K. Armstrong came on in the fourth inning and got the last out, stranding both runners he inherited on base. While the relief win was mostly a "right place, right time" thing, that doesn't diminish how great this effort was.

Tyler Sturdevant (Surprise Saguaros, RP) - H (2), 1 IP, 2 H, 1 K. Sturdevant has made two appearance this fall in the AFL and both have been scoreless innings that held a lead that would eventually hold up for a win. While Sturdevant did give up his first two hits of the fall on the day, he also got his first strikeout. I know it's a small sample size, but I like what I'm seeing from Sturdevant in the AFL this fall.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE

Jesus Aguilar (Leones del Caracas, 1B) - 1-2, 1 BB. Aguilar continued to perform well at the plate before being pulled in the bottom of the sixth inning for defensive replacement Raul Padron. I am unsure as to the reason, but he did ground out in the top of the inning, so hopefully he didn't injure himself running out that grounder.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Jose Ramirez (Toros del Este, SS) - 1-6, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB. Ramirez had a rough night on Tuesday night, but still is putting up solid, if unspectacular, numbers in LIDOM (.267/.290/.367 in 14 games). One item to note: J-Ram did not get the stolen base and run off his first innning hit. He reached on a fielding error in the third inning and scored on a throwing error by Tigres del Licey catcher Christian Bethancourt, who was trying to catch him stealing third.

Sardinas shines in victory for La Guaira

Rangers prospect Luis Sardinas continued his hot start, going 2-for-3 in La Guaira's 7-3 victory over Zulia on Tuesday in Venezuelan Winter League action.

By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | 11/6/2013 2:28 A.M. ET

Venezuelan Winter League

La Guaira 7, Zulia 3

Rangers No. 2 prospect Luis Sardinas continued his hot start to the season, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs in La Guaira's 7-3 victory over Zulia. Sardinas, who drove in runs with two out hits in both the third and fifth innings, is now hitting .355 for La Guaira this season. Freddy Galvis' three-hit night paced Zulia, and Reds third baseman Henry Rodriguez also had two knocks, including a sixth-inning home run.

Lara 6, Margarita 3

Mariners youngster Jesus Montero went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in a run, as Lara knocked off Margarita, 6-3. Anderson De La Rosa hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth inning, starting a three-run frame that would put the game out of reach early. Chris Jakubauskas, a right-hander currently in the Indians' system, gave up a pair of homers, but was otherwise sharp in seven solid innings. He earned the win. Kansas City's Max Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a homer in defeat.

Caribes 9, Caracas 5

First-place Caribes showed why it has been so dominant this season, jumping out to an eight-run lead by the time the fifth inning ended Tuesday night. Left fielder Oscar Salazar went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Niuman Romero, Jose Castillo and Eduardo Escobar each had two hits. Caribes jumped out in front early with Jose Gil's two-run homer in the second inning and then got 5 2/3 innings of three-hit ball from Indians farmhand T.J. McFarland, who allowed just one run.

Puerto Rican Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

Caguas 8, Santurce 4

Giants farmhand Johnny Monell had three hits Tuesday night, as Caguas cruised to an 8-4 victory over Santurce. Monell's two-run fourth-inning homer gave Criollos de Caguas a six-run lead, and the outcome was never in doubt. Highly touted Reds speedster Billy Hamilton went 2-for-3 on the night for Santurce with two walks. Of course, if you put Billy Hamilton on base, you're asking for trouble, and Hamilton made Caguas pay with three stolen bases.

Carolina at Mayaguez: PPD, rain

Dominican Winter League

Gigantes 4, Aguilas 3

Rangers outfielder Leury Garcia hit a two-run homer to pace Gigantes past Aguilas on Tuesday night. His third-inning blast got Gigantes on the board, and Hanser Alberto hit a two-run single in the fifth to break the tie in Gigantes' 4-3 victory. Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario went 2-for-4 with a homer for Aguilas, and Dan Black also had two hits and an RBI.

Licey 7, Toros 3 F/12

Tigres del Licey burst out for four runs in the top of the 12th inning to knock off Toros, 7-3, on Tuesday night. The Dodgers' Dee Gordon -- playing center field in the Dominican League -- went 3-for-5 and started the 12th-inning rally with a walk. Milwaukee's Juan Francisco went 2-for-2 with three walks for Licey, which improved to 12-4 with the win. Licey starter Jose Contreras struck out six over five innings, and allowed two runs -- one earned.

Mexican Pacific League

Mazatlan 2, Navojoa 0

Mario Santana and Henry Mateo hit back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning, breaking a scoreless tie, and Bryan Petersen followed with an RBI single. The two-out rally gave Mazatlan the 2-0 lead it would eventually win by against Navojoa on Tuesday night. Mazatlan starter Ryan Hinson, a left-hander in the Braves organization, tossed seven shutout innings and allowed just two hits to pick up his second win of the season.

Guasave 10, Obregon 2

Eduardo Arredondo and Zelous Wheeler -- an infielder in the Orioles organization -- had three hits apieace, as Guasave crushed Obregon, 10-2. Wheeler's fifth-inning shot was one of four Guasave home runs on the night, as Jose Rodriguez, Jesus Cota and Baltazar Lopez also went yard. Starting pitcher Orlando Lara surrendered a pair of solo homers, himself -- to Obregon's Dan Robertson and Donald Lutz, but he allowed just one other hit in six innings.

Culiacan 5, Los Mochis 4

Alex Liddi's seventh inning homer proved to be the difference as Culiacan held off Los Mochis on Tuesday night. Maxwell Leon and Ricardo Serrano also went deep for Los Mochis, and Ali Solis -- a catcher in the Pirates' organization -- continued his hot start to the season with a 2-for-3 night, raising his average to .340. Alejandro Armenta allowed just an unearned run in 5 1/3 frames to pick up his first win. Yancarlo Angulo hit a three-run homer for Los Mochis, but it wasn't enough.

Culiacan 5, Los Mochis 4

Jerry Owens and Yunesky Sanchez each had two hits for Culiacan in a 5-4 victory over Los Mochis on Tuesday night. The Angels' Barry Enright allowed four hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Ramon Rios had two of Mexicali's four total hits on the night.

Cuba Launches New National Series Season with Notable New Looks

One central theme was continually repeated by both INDER VP Tony Castro and Matanzas manager Victor Mesa during my September tour of the island, a three-day visit while filming the recently aired ESPN “Outside the Lines” television program. That theme was reiterated by Tony during the ESPN interview itself when he emphasized that Cuban baseball simply must begin to change in order to keep pace with a modern-era baseball universe. And all signs now indicate that change (however slow and perhaps helter-skelter) is very much the defining feature of current National Series play. The first week of November marks the opening of a new league season (the fifty-third of Revolution-era island baseball) and all signs point to a landmark pennant campaign featuring a surprising (if perhaps unsettling) “new look” structure and also a large dose of tradition-busting aberrations.

Recent headlines both on and off the island have been devoted to groundbreaking (and frequently misreported or misinterpreted) changes in player salaries and in related regulations that might free up some of the top league stars for overseas summer assignments (especially with Mexican League teams). Last winter’s National Series #52 introduced a radical new format that found half the sixteen teams eliminated during a 45-game opening round and then relegated to second-division consolation play after a month-long mid-season hiatus. The new format also broke long-standing tradition with its system of reassigning some league stars to new provincial teams via a mid-year dispersal draft. And the sanctified notion of ballplayers remaining the career-long property of the home province ball club was further dismantled late this summer with the controversial shifting of three stellar Gourriel brothers onto the Capital City Industriales roster, along with a far less publicized transfer of promising Guantánamo shortstop Dainer Moreira to fill a perceived gap on Team Cuba skipper Victor Mesa’s already hefty Matanzas roster.

Last winter’s two-part pennant chase format certainly featured both plusses and minuses. On the one hand it eased the increasing complaints about weak overall league competition by concentrating the top pitching on only eight clubs for the pennant stretch run. But detractors could also point to the potentially negative societal impact of stripping half of the provinces of participation in a meaningful league schedule for the final two months of play. This year the system has been tweaked in a manner that will only further extend the negative impact, since the eight eliminated ball clubs will close operations altogether after the early January holiday and almost half the National Series ballplayers will essentially sit idle for more than half the league campaign. The new approach to crowning a league champion, while at the same time preparing elite players for summertime national team duties, is definitely very much a work in progress.
Another perhaps less controversial facet of this year’s Cuban League facelift will feature 16 league clubs donning newly designed and domestically manufactured home and away uniforms (most won’t look all that much different from recent years) and will also find more than half the teams sporting attractive if somewhat tradition-busting club logos. The nine logo changes (illustrated here) include Artemisa, Camagüey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Guantánamo, Isla de la Juventud, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spíritus, and Santiago de Cuba. Three teams have even adopted new club nicknames. The former “Pine Cutters” of Isla now become the more ferocious-sounding “Pirates” (Piratas), the “Potters” of Camagüey also undergo a fitting militaristic image upgrade as “Toros” (Bulls), and the forces of Holguín have traded in the rather distasteful “Dogs” (Perros) label for that of Cachorros (translated as either “Puppies” or the more baseball-familiar “Cubs”).

Under the shadow of all these league-wide shits, upheavals and fine-tunings lies a 45-game “Primera Etapa” preliminary round that may well offer one of the most exciting pennant scrambles of recent decades. Will the transfer of the Gourriel brothers shift the balance of power in the western sector and put Industriales back on top of the pile? Can recent powerhouse clubs like Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos and Guantánamo rebound from substantial star player attrition? Will Matanzas continue the recent surge under controversial skipper Victor Mesa and take the final step toward a long-sought spot in the championship limelight? Have Isla, Santiago and Holguín actually improved as much as some prognosticators have widely suggested, and have Pinar and Ciego slipped substantially due perhaps to inevitable aging? Here is what my own crystal ball has to say about some of the mysteries surrounding the new Cuban League campaign.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First-Half Prediction:

[First]

Matanzas Cocodrilos (Crocodiles)

Overview: Only two seasons back colorful manager Victor Mesa brought the Crocodiles their first post-season appearance under the Matanzas ball club moniker and then last season he upped the ante with a run to the National Series post-season finals. There is little reason to believe that a Matanzas resurgence will end any time soon and Victor’s current outfit has to be this year’s preseason pick to walk off with the tradition-rich province’s first league pennant since Henequeneros turned the trick way back in 1991 (under manager Gerardo Junco). Mesa’s present club is loaded with plenty of offensive fire-power and if an artillery headed by Guillermo Heredia, Yadiel Hernández and José Miguel Fernández (all Team Cuba veterans) were not enough, crack shortstop Dainer Moreira has now been imported from Guantánamo to shore up the infield defenses and allow Fernández to move back to his more natural infield slot at second base. And Mesa also boasts a supply of more-than-adequate hurling with last season’s 14-game winner Joel Suárez, bullpen fixture Félix Fuentes, and converted starter Yoanni Year (who made 34 relief appearances a year ago). Mesa’s only substantial loss from last year’s potent ball club is recent defector Jorge Alberto Martínez, a former durable right-handed starter. Only Industriales and Villa Clara appear to have the wherewithal to prevent Mesa from writing the final championship chapter to an already amazing three-year success run for long-time cellar-dweller Matanzas.

Manager: Victor Mesa

Top Stars: José Miguel Fernández (2B), Guillermo Heredia (OF), Joel Suárez (RHP), Yadiel Hernández (OF), Ariel Sánchez (OF)

<

[Second]

Villa Clara Naranjas (Orangemen)

Overview: Despite the losses in recent years of such notable heroes as outfielder Leonys Martin, infielder Dayan Viciedo, and shortstop Aldemis Díaz, Villa Clara under veteran manager Ramon Moré has managed to remain highly competitive and then some. There was no greater surprise during National Series #52 than the late spring post-season Villa Clara surge toward a National Series title that marked the club’s first pennant in nearly two decades. A minor blow was admittedly suffered last summer with the departure of steady and experienced southpaw starter Misael Siverio (a “defector” during the July USA-Cuba collegiate series in Iowa), and team inspirational leader Ariel Pestano (now in Mexico) is also among the recently missing. But there are still plenty of strong horses here, including the island’s best pitcher, Freddy Asiel Alvarez, plenty of added mound support in Roberto Carrillo, Diosdani Castillo and Alain Sánchez, and a veteran lineup of tested sluggers headed by Ariel Borrero, Andy Zamora and Ramón Lunar. The recent makeover of Industriales and constant improvement by Matanzas may combine to thwart a title repeat, but the Orangemen should nonetheless remain squarely in the championship hunt and might even be capable of yet another eleventh-hour late spring post-season miracle finish.

Manager: Ramon Moré

Top Stars: Freddie Asiel Alvarez (RHP), Yuniet Flores (OF), Ariel Borrero (1B), Andy Zamora (OF/DH), Yulexis LaRosa (C )

<

[Third

Industriales Leones Azules (Blue Lions)

Overview: No team has had a bigger face lift this year than the one managed by Lázaro Vargas. The importing of the three stellar Gourriel brother from Sancti Spíritus is a solid guarantee to both rekindle Capital City fan interest while at the same time solidifying a potent batting order now featuring national team veterans in six of the eight starting positions (Frank Morejón behind the plate, Yulieski Gourriel, Rudy Reyes and Alexander Mayeta in the infield, and Stayler Hernández and Yasmani Tomás in the outfield). But before Lions fans prematurely hoist up a record thirteenth pennant banner outside Latin American Stadium, one has to consider the rather unpleasant picture presented by the current Industriales pitching staff. A starting rotation of southpaws Ian Rendon, Pedro Durán and Pavel Pino and righties Franl Montieth and David Mena does not strike much fear into the hearts of enemy batters; Rendon and Mena missed all of last season, Durán worked out of the bullpen with no victories and a sky-high 4.81 ERA, and Montieth and Pino logged exactly eight total victories between them. The bullpen corps is hardly more promising given that José Castro is the saves leader among returnees with a mere three and Irandy Castro sat out the entire previous campaign. Little-used Michel Martínez posted an embarrassing 8.64 ERA, Adrian Sosa appeared in only four games, and Eddy García won only twice when called upon out of the pen. Yulieski Gourriel, Yasmani Tomás, Stayler Hernández and company will have to produce a ton of offense for Vargas’s team to ultimately overhaul more balanced outfits like Matanzas and Villa Clara (or even Isla and Sancti Spíritus).

Manager: Lázaro Vargas

Top Stars: Yulieski Gourriel (3B), Yasmani Tomás (OF), Alexander Mayeta (1B), Rudy Reyes (2B), Frank Camilo Morejón (C )

<

[Fourth]

Isla de la Juventud Piratas (Pirates)

Overview: A pleasant surprise last winter, the newly named Pirates of Isla hung around for the season’s second half and posted a respectable breakeven ledger and a seventh-place overall league finish. Much of the success was due to the surprise performance of veteran lefty Wilber Pérez (12-7, 2.81 ERA), the resurgent hitting of veteran third sacker Michel Enríquez (still proud owner of one of the three best lifetime batting averages in league history), the emergence of promising young second sacker Andy Ibáñez (.300 BA) as one of the country’s top infield prospects, the consistent offensive production of 18-season veteran Luis Felipe Rivera (.315 BA), and the major bullpen contributions of 21-year-old flamethrower Raciel Iglesias (30 appearances with 12 saves, 74 Ks and an impressive 3.05 ERA). Iglesias has now been lost to an attempted defection and Michel (33) and Luis Felipe (35) are both another year older and another step slower, but catcher Luis Castro (26) has shown marked improvement and veteran right-hander Danny Aguilera appears poised to return from last year’s season-ending injuries. Twenty-year-old mound prospect Jorge Despaigne boasts plenty of potential with a 95 mph fastball and may provide adequate replacement for Igelsias if only he can conquer the control problems that plagued his rookie season. If some of these pieces fall neatly into place for veteran manager Armando Johnson this year’s Pirates club might well emerge as even a greater surprise than the previous edition.

Manager: Armando Johnson

Top Stars: Wilber Pérez (LHP), Michel Enríquez (IF), Andy Ibáñez (IF), Luis Felipe Rivera (1B)

<

[Fifth]

Sancti Spíritus Gallos (Roosters)

Overview: A large piece of the Gallos heart was ripped asunder this summer when the trio of Gourriel brothers was transplanted onto the rival Industriales club, and Sancti Spíritus boosters now have to be less-than-optimistic heading into the current campaign. Yulieski was easily the biggest loss since his bat stands in the upper echelons of National Series history. But don’t be too quick to pull the plug on the current Gallos ball club under the direction of second-year manager Yovani Aragón. Any lineup that still features Freddie Cepeda (apparently restored to full health after a post-season hand injury), Eriel Sánchez, Yunier Mendoza and Liván Monteagudo in the heart of the order can still be counted on to generate plenty of runs. The pitching fronted by Team Cuba ace Ismel Jiménez and supported by backup starters Angel Peña, Noelvis Hernández and Yoen Socorrás is as deep and experienced as any in the league. And Omar Guardarrama (16 saves and a 2.28 ERA last year as a 22-year-old rookie) is quickly emerging as one of the circuit’s best bullpen stoppers. The Gallos may not crow very loudly at the outset, but they should still be around for the January-March dash toward a potential post-season repeat performance.

Manager: Yovani Aragón

Top Stars: Freddie Cepeda (DH/OF), Eriel Sánchez (C ), Ismel Jiménez (RHP), Yunier Mendoza (1B)

<

[Sixth]

Ciego de Avila Tigres (Tigers)

Overview: Two off-season developments combined to considerably brighten the picture for the 2012 National Series champions from Ciego de Avila. First and most importantly, rock-solid skipper Roger Machado reversed an earlier decision to walk away from his managerial post. And when belatedly rewarded for their NS #51 triumph with a trip to the August World Baseball Challenge event in British Columbia, Machado’s club walked off with a tournament title that could do nothing but boost the club’s image and further stimulate team morale. This is perhaps the league’s most veteran-filled and experienced ball club, with plenty of tested pitching (national team regulars Vlad García and Yander Guevara, plus promising youngsters Yadir Rabi and Osmar Carrero) and a ton of veteran sluggers (Yoelvis Fiss, Yorelvis Charles, Raúl González and ageless Isaac Martínez). The only negatives here seem to be the loss of once-promising Rusney Castillo in the outfield (due to attempted defection) and the retirement of long-time second baseman Mario Vega. The Tigres might still be a be a serious contender if the aging lineup of Martínez, Fiss and Charles still has at least one more collective productive winter left in the now well-worn hamper.

Manager: Roger Machado

Top Stars: Vladimir García (RHP), Yoelvis Fiss (OF), Issac Martínez (OF), Yorelvis Charles (1B), Raúl González (IF)

<

[Seventh]

Holguín Cachorros (Cubs)

Overview: Since their surprising league pennant back in 2002 the Holguín club has rarely received much respect, but this could very well be the year all that ends with an exclamation point. My pick for “surprise team of the year” is an Holguín squad saddled with an untried manager and a new and more respectable nickname (“Cubs” rather than “Dogs”), but one also boasting the league’s best all-around infield and seemingly more than enough offense to compensate for barely adequate pitching. New staff ace Pablo Millán Fernández (despite somewhat disappointing numbers a year ago with a 3.53 ERA and an elevated opponents’ BA of .320) has one of the best arms in the league, and if youngsters Carlos Olexis González (RHP, 6-7, 2.76 ERA) and Luis Angel Gómez (LHP, 4-3, 4.41) step it up a notch then superior hitting will be capable of elevating this team into first division contention. Shortstop Yordan Mandulay (a replacement-player key to last winter’s Villa Clara championship drive) might just be the most underrated performer in the entire Cuban arsenal, and the surrounding infield trio of Aguilera (.306, 8 HRs, 41 RBI), Pacheco (.296, 5, 36), and Paumier (11 HRs and 47 RBI in combined duty with Holguín and Sancti Spíritus) has no peer anywhere else in the league – especially when it comes to production at the offensive end of the game. These newly dubbed Cubs should prove much peskier than the perennial also-ran MLB variety.

Manager: Irochis Bartutis

Top Stars: Yordan Manduley (SS), Pablo M. Fernández (RHP), Yunior Paumier (3B), Yeison Pacheco (2B), Leris Aguilera (1B)

<

[Eighth]

Santiago de Cuba Avispas (Wasps)

Overview: One of the island’s most glamorous outfits over the past four decades of revolutionary baseball, the proud “Wasps” suffered through a season of rare disappointment last winter, failing to reach the post-season for the first time in a couple of decades and not even making the cut for second-half championship play. Under new manager Luis Larduet things promise to be a bit different this time out. Alexei Bell looks fully recovered from the spring WBC wrist injury that ruined the second half of his 2013 season (Bell was supposed to perform with the Isla Pirates after the mid-season dispersal draft, but that plan had to be scrubbed); franchise star Héctor Olivera is back in action after a rare blood disorder robbed him of two full seasons; Edilse Silva continues to provide extra offensive punch; and right-handed ace Dany Betancourt seems to have fully recovered the magic that made him one of the island’s most effective hurlers at the midpoint of the past decade. Yet another year of solid production out of seemingly ageless veteran center fielder Reutilio Hurtado could provide just enough extra ammunition to lift a regenerated Wasps ball club back into the season’s eight-team second round and keep the Santiago forces squarely in the midst of the April playoff hunt.

Manager: Luis Larduet

Top Stars: Héctor Olivera (2B), Alexei Bell (OF), Danny Betancourt (RHP), Edilse Silva (OF/DH)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Ninth]

First Round Eliminations

Pinar del Río Vegueros (Tobacco Harvesters)

Overview: Once proud Pinar del Río (the island’s third most regular winner after Industriales and Santiago) has not fared all that well after its surprise championship of three years back, slipping to tenth slot in the immediate aftermath of that title and then barely surviving the qualification round last winter. Last season the Vegueros edged into the play-down round as a result of a frenetic rush to wire in late January, thanks mainly to an incredible hitting tear by veteran slugger Yosvani Pereza that produced game-winning RBIs in the bulk of the team’s final dozen games. The rapid improvement of Isla and the recovery in Santiago will likely make the task all that more difficult this time around. Peraza is still the heart and soul of the offense and there are a few capable arms in a mound staff headed by Vladimir Baños, Yosvani Torres and Erlis Casanova. Lorenzo Quintana remains one of the island’s best backstops (both offensively and defensively), and one huge plus is the return to action of manager Alfonso Urquiola. But this is a ball club that won only 12 games during 48 road outings last season and that produced only one .300 hitter outside of Peraza and Quintana (slap-hitting outfielder Osniel Madera at .302). Marked improvement in these last two categories is a must if the Verdes are to survive the first-half pennant chase for a second straight year. To me, Pinar del Río unfortunately looks like the best bet for this year’s “near-miss” ball club.

Manager: Alfonso Urquiola

Top Stars: Yosvani Peraza (DH), Vladimir Baños (RHP), Donald Duarte (3B), William Saavedra (1B), Lorenzo Quintana (C )

<

[Tenth]

Camagüey Toros (Bulls)

Overview: The newly named Toros (now Bulls, formally “Potters”) have lived in the bottom-third tier of the league for all of the last decade-plus and showed little potency along the way before making some early-season noise last winter. There is enough young talent on this club to potentially shake up the standings – if not this year then certainly in the not-too-distant future. The loss to defection of promising 25-year-old backstop Lednier Ricardo certainly did not help any. Nonetheless Dayron Varona (24) and William Luis Campillo (30) provide some pop in the outfield, as does lefty-swinging Dary Bartolome (27) at first base. The brightest hopes for manager Luis Guevara are found in the youth-sprinkled mound corps and especially in the right arm of talented 19-year-old 2013 Rookie of the Year Norge Luis Ruíz. Ruíz first turned heads on the island during last year’s second half with a stellar 6-1 performance as a “reinforcement” draft pick with Sancti Spíritus; he then opened eyes among MLB scouts with a brilliant nine-inning Omaha outing during the USA-Cuba July “Friendly Series.” Additional strong arms are available in the persons of veterans Vicyohandri Odelín and Yormani Socarrás, as well as youngsters Dariel Góngora and José Ramón Rodríguez. Unfortunately the Bulls may still be at least a year away from charging.

Manager: Luis Guevara

Top Stars: Norge Luis Ruíz (RHP), Dayron Varona (OF), Vichyohandri Odelín (RHP), William Luis Campillo (OF)

<

[Eleventh

Cienfuegos Elefantes (Elephants)

Overview: The Elephants sat atop the heap for much of last season (and also the preceding season) but recently lost a pair of potent weapons in José Dariel Abreu (the island’s second-ranking slugger before the heralded defection that took him to the American League Chicago White Sox for a record salary deal) and crack shortstop Erisbel Arruebarruena (permanently suspended as a result of his own attempted “defection”). There are some substantial contributors still in camp, however, including one of the country’s top young infield prospects in switch-hitting teenager Johan Moncada, two of last year’s top league winners in Noelvis Entenza (14-5) and Jorge Hernández (13-6), and one of Cuba’s best-ever National Series closers in Duniel Ibarra (24 last winter and third on the all-time list). But long-time staff ace Norberto González (retired) has now also been lost and the top outfielder Yoelvis Leyva produces little in the way of power production (.284 BA, 32 RBI and a single homer last winter). This definitely looks like a rebuilding year for manager Iday Abreu in Cienfuegos and one that will likely not last beyond the season’s first-half elimination round.

Manager: Iday Abreu

Top Stars: Johan Manuel Moncada (3B), Noelvis Entenza (RHP), Duniel Ibarra (RHP), Jorge Hernánderz (RHP)

<

[Twelfth]

Granma Alazanes (Stallions)

Overview: If there is a team on the island that usually looks at least moderately impressive on paper but rarely produces much on the playing field it has to be the Granma Stallions of the past half-decade. Any club with Alfredo Despaigne in its lineup can always strike fear into opponents in close games, but in the end it is usually infield and outfield defense that spells dooms for this perennially second-division club. Yordanis Samón provides a second hefty bat and Alberto Soto la O backs up Ciro Silvino Licea and Leandro Martínez in the starting rotation (all three have had shots at earning slots in the national team bullpen), but both Licea (37) and Martínez (34) are now aging and seemingly have all their best performances behind them. The story will be the same again this year in Bayamo: Despaigne will post awesome offensive numbers (and nonetheless spend the second half of the season wearing another uniform after the dispersal draft) but Martires de Barbados Stadium will sit abandoned for league action after the final week of December.

Manager: Indalecio Alejandrez

Top Stars: Alfredo Despaigne (OF), Yordanis Samón (1B), Leandro Martínez (LHP), Ciro Silvino Licea (RHP)

<

[Thirteenth]

Mayabeque Huracanes (Hurricanes)

Overview: Mayabeque seems to have gotten the best of the player dispersal when the former Habana Province club was split down the middle (despite losing all six top pitchers to Artemisa), but in the end that is certainly not saying all that much. The talent has remained thin here over the first couple of years but Ariel Miranda (20 starts with eight victories and 88 Ks) has been slowly emerging as a credible southpaw staff ace and José Betancourt (18 starts and a 3.08 ERA last winter) seems poised to provide a reliable number two starter for manager Rigoberto Madera. Danger Guerrero remains a capable handler of young pitchers and Dennis Laza (.287 BA with 17 extra-base knocks) can provide some punch in the lineup as well as some solid outfield defense. Jorge Barcelán never got much of a chance to shine with Metros or Industriales in the Capital City but may well make his mark in the Hurricanes batting order. Mayabeque could provide some long afternoons for opposing clubs during November and December, but don’t expect them to still be around for either January or February competitions.

Manager: Rigoberto Madera

Top Stars: Angel Miranda (LHP), Danger Guerrero (C ), Dennis Laza (OF)

<

[Fourteenth

Guantánamo Indios (Indians)

Overview: The Indians have been consistently disappointing during the last two seasons and there is nothing found here to signal what might look like a substantial rebound. Consistent outfield star Giorvis Duvergel produced yet another solid campaign at the plate last winter (.366 BA) despite his advancing years (34) but iron-man first baseman Yoennis Southerán was disappointingly unproductive (.266 BA, 2 HR, 19 RBI). The heart of the infield has now been lost with the transfer of promising shortstop Dainer Moreira to Matanzas and the suspension (another unsuccessful “defection”) of second baseman Yoilán Cerce. Another crippling blow was suffered when staff ace Dailer Hinojosa became one of the latest celebrity hurlers to abandon the homeland. The only top talent left in the mound corps seems to be Alex Rodríguez (a promising Team Cuba closer) but Rodríguez has been slowed of late by nagging injuries and his future now remains an open question mark. The Indians boast an attractive new logo but are still sorely lacking a much-needed overall team facelift.

Manager: Jorge Prevot

Top Stars: Giorvis Duvergel (OF), Yoennis Southerán (1B), Vismay Santos (IF), Alexander Rodríguez (RHP)

<

[Fifteenth]

Artemisa Cazadores (Hunters)

Overview: Maybe the saddest story of the past quarter century in Cuban domestic baseball has been the fate of the new-born Artemisa Cazadores ball club. The island’s quaintest stadium and most attractive uniforms have done little to lift this team from laughing stock status. The huge downside of splitting up of a once-powerful Habana Province outfit (proud owners of six national team pitchers) came when that entire splendid mound corps (plus its mentor Esteban Lombillo) ended up in Artemisa with almost nothing in the way of offensive or defensive support to sustain them. Overnight Yulieski González, Jonder Martínez, Miguel Lahera and company were transformed from consistent winners into lamentable losers and the old “saw” that good pitching always wins was chucked out the window. Things have only gotten worse with the 2012 “defection” of current Philadelphia Phillies property Miguel Angel González (once the national team right-handed ace) and the tragic death of young mound stud Yadier Pedroso. Just how dire the plight of the Artemisa pitchers now is was once more underscored during last year’s second half when Jonder Martínez (2008 league ERA champ) was transferred to eventual pennant-winner Villa Clara with the dispersal draft and overnight reverted to earlier form while rescuing a league championship out of the Naranjas bullpen.

Manager: Dany Valdespino

Top Stars: Jonder Martinez (RHP), Yulieski González (LHP), Miguel Lahera (RHP), José Angel García (RHP), Dayan García (2B)

<

[Sixteenth]

Las Tunas Leñadores (Woodcutters)

Overview: The full heart has been ripped out of this Leñadores squad over the past two seasons and no local fans have better reason for deep depression than those residing in the eastern province of Las Tunas. It has indeed been a precipitous fall and one with little rhyme or reason to it. Slugging shortstop Alexander Guerrero abandoned both the team and the island a little more than two years back and is now proud owner of a multi-million-dollar deal with the National League Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season witnessed the controversial league suspension of star catcher Yosvani Aragón, whose surprise reinstatement last month has been every bit as shrouded in mystery as was his arguably unwarranted dismissal. Then the biggest blow of all was a forced (and also unexplained) retirement of local hero Joan Carlos Pedroso, the island’s biggest home run producer of the dozen-year wooden bat era. Some decent pitching remains intact with Yoelkis Cruz, Ubisney Bermúdez and Darien Núñez (once the most promising teenage southpaw on the island, but a recent victim of erratic performance), and long-time offensive star Danel Castro is still in camp. But this definitely looks like an outfit in free fall and thus also like an ideal candidate for the dubious distinction of this season’s most disappointing team.

Manager: Angel Sosa

Top Stars: Yoelkis Cruz (RHP), Danel Castro (IF), Darien Núñez (LHP)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The current season will likely result in few new entries that might substantially alter the face of the Cuban League record book. Perhaps most significantly, Frederich Cepeda (with 1,293) is now poised to move into third slot on the all-time list for walks received, inching ahead of Omar Linares, (1,327) and trailing only Antonio Muñoz (1,551) and Enriquito Diaz (1,441). On the career list for lifetime batting average, Michel Enríquez currently stands in third slot (behind Linares and Osmani Urrutia) at .360, while Alfredo Despaigne (.348) currently hovers in the fourth spot. Granma’s Ciro Silvino Licea, now entering season number 21, remains in fourth place for all-time games pitched (486). Artemisa’s José Angel García (first all-time with 472) and Cienfuegos’s Duniel Ibarra (third at 443) are positioned to up their pace-setting numbers for relief appearances, while García can also improve on his lifetime record mark of 145 saves, while Ibarra is virtually assured of moving into sole position of the career number-two slot (where he currently stands tied at 122 with retired Yolexis Ulacia). Another stellar won-lost mark for Ismel Jiménez (currently 107-42, .718) could also move the steady Sancti Spíritus ace a shade closer to Orlando Hernández (126-47, .728) in the all-time career winning percentage category.

Much ink has been spent in recent months lamenting the apparent collapses in the Cuban baseball system and projecting doomsday scenarios in light on such high-profile player loses as those of Abreu, Arruebarruena, Hinojosa and Iglesias. A new split-season format and experiments with player shifts between provincial clubs have also played mightily into widespread fan dissatisfactions. But there should be enough excitement packed into the coming two-part National Series campaign to signal that Cuban League baseball – for all its current well-publicized struggles – is still very much alive and kicking.

Rogers continues strong offseason in Saguaros' win

Division II product goes 3-for-4, helps Surprise extend big division lead

By Teddy Cahill / MLB.com | 12/5/2013 8:00 P.M. ET

Jason Rogers has had a long journey to reach the Arizona Fall League. The Brewers selected him out of Division II Columbus State in the 32nd round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and, unlike many of his teammates in the AFL, he has never been a highly touted prospect.

But after making the slow climb to Double-A Huntsville, where he hit 22 home runs this season, Rogers had done enough to convince the Brewers to send him to the AFL. He has more than held his own there, hitting .348 with a 1.008 OPS.

For Rogers, the key to overcoming his Draft status to succeed in baseball's premier offseason league is simple.

"Just by taking it day by day," Rogers said. "I know what I can do. I've got to work harder because I was a 32nd-round pick. But I know I can play with all these guys."

Rogers had another multihit game Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a double in Surprise's 4-2 victory against Glendale at Surprise Stadium. The Saguaros' second win in as many days against the Desert Dogs lowered their magic number to clinch the West Division to four with eight games to play.

Rogers' successful fall is just a continuation of what he started in Hunstville. He hit .270 with a .468 slugging percentage and more than doubled his career home run total.

"The biggest thing was getting in better shape this year, just staying healthy," Rogers said. "I've had problems with that in the past."

After the Desert Dogs took an early 2-0 lead Tuesday, Rogers drove in the Saguaros' first run with a two-out single in the third inning. Ryan Rua tied the game an inning later with a home run.

Rogers helped create Surprise's go-ahead run in the fifth. After Travis Shaw reached first on a passed ball to lead off the inning, Rogers doubled, advancing Shaw to third base. Tony Wolters, the Indians' No. 11 prospect, followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Saguaros the lead. Shaw hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to tack on an insurance run.

Shaw finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk. His five home runs are the second most in the AFL. Tyler Naquin, the Indians' No. 5 prospect, added two more hits, pushing his league-leading total to 32 hits in 20 games.

After scoring two early runs against left-hander Will Lamb, the Desert Dogs were shut out by the Saguaros' bullpen. Five relievers combined to limit them to two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Brent Keys scored both of the Desert Dogs' runs. He hit a home run, his first of the fall, in the first inning and added to the Desert Dogs' lead in the third inning. The Marlins' No. 17 prospect finished the game 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.

Though there are only eight games left in the AFL season, Rogers won't be beginning his offseason anytime soon. After the AFL, the Brewers are sending him to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball and get practice as a third baseman. Rogers said the Brewers want to make him as versatile a player as possible. He has played mostly left field in the AFL after spending this season as a first baseman. He last played third base when he was in college.

In the meantime, though, Rogers wants to make sure he plays well down the stretch of what has already been a strong fall.

"Just to keep doing what we're doing," Rogers said. "Don't give away at-bats and hopefully make it to the championship and go from there."

LEONES. -

Moises Alou said on the sports show Big brother that much of the success of the lions in these first 15 games lies in the work of four talented newcomers to the club, Gregory and Jorge Polanco, Erik Gonzalez and Deibinson Romero, who have taken the offensive load on the red shoulders.

TOROS:

Jose Ramirez may only be five feet nine inches the books, but that has not kept him from burning the autumn-winter Dominican Republic circuit, not including last night's meeting with the Tigres del Licey in the Estadio Francisco Micheli, Ramirez had gone 18-8 in the previous four for a .444 average

Baseball Danny Salazar Cabrera to Cleveland

11/06/2013 12:00 AM -

By Julio E. Castro

Recounting the steps Salazar had to take to get to professional baseball, despite the refusal of his father when he was little

Cabrera is a community that is located in the province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez. In that area, the registration of players who have reached the majors has been low, but the pride of this region is the professional baseball player Danny Salazar. Salazar comes from there.

The pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball and the Licey Tigers in the Dominican winter ball, visiting el Caribe, tells about his passion for baseball, that from an early age took hold of him, despite the negative attitude of his father to practice the sport. "He wanted me to stay in school," says Salazar, who took seven years to debut in the majors. "My father wanted me to play baseball but knew it was some how dangerous in certain respects.

To win the support of my father, I kept studying. Thank God today I am very proud of the parents I have. They taught me that there was baseball in my future," he added. "Danny Alvarado, an uncle, was the person who discovered my qualities as a pitcher after observing me at age 14 I threw to 84 miles per hour. He thought he could get something out of me and I was living with my uncle in San Francisco de Macoris. From there the story of Danny Salazar began, "he said.

On his success in the majors Salazar showed how dominant his basic pitch could be, his fastball, which many scouts say has movement to it a sinker. The average speed of his fastball was 96 miles per hour. The added power for the righty developed after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2010.

Before this intervention Salazar was a pitcher with a fastball that ranged between 89 and 92 miles per hour, with clean and fluid mechanics Salazar gives credit to the man who signed him to a professional contract, Junior Betances, in July 2nd 2006.

Salazar gained speed on his fastball that allowed him to use that pitch as his primary weapon to achieve the 65 strikeouts he accumulated during the regular season. Miguel Cabrera is one of the players who can attest to the talent of Salazar and the poison that he possesses because he struck him out in the first three times when he faced Cabrera before surrendering a home run in his second start in the Major leagues. "Those (the strikeouts against Cabrera) have been one of the best times I've had here.

But for me the best was when I met Justin Verlander, because I've always admired. With him I talked and I faced him once. He gave me some advice before the game I threw against him. He told me to always keep working hard and he sees a big future for me, "said Salazar, who explained why he idolizes the pitcher with the Detroit Tigers. "He is calm on the mound is what I like best about him, because he can give up runs, he can give up walks and always remains calm, no matter what is going on. Always maintains the same body language and never changes."

During his minor league development, Salazar was a pitcher who did not like it when batters made ​​contact with his pitches, the only thing you have in mind every time you let go of the ball to the dish was to fan batters and striking them out. "Initially I always kept wanting to be too perfect with my pitches as to not give up hits or walks, but as the seasons wore on I learned that you can not think as a starter only to strike out everyone but to get deeper in games."

At one point I had a limit of pitches in games. That was due more to the fact that I attacked with my fastball, as it is my best pitch, he explained. The Dominican's repertoire also includes a slider, 86 miles per hour and the velocity of his change is 85. With secondary pitches, he still needs work to develop and improve as a pitcher.

Salazar, however, deso not think about that possibility right now. For him the important thing is to take this opportunity and continue to accumulate experience. "Right now I'm not going to say I look like the number one, thank God, because the team has a great staff, but I see myself as part of the Indians' rotation. That is important to me, of course," said Salazar.

Around the Farm: November 6, 2013
Jake Lowery

By Michael Goodman

November 7, 2013

Share This

Around the Farm (ATF) takes a quick look at some of the daily performances by Indians prospects. This is a special fall and winter ball version of ATF that recaps all the offseason action by Indians players in the Arizona Fall League and the Caribbean Leagues. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in the game.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Jake Lowery (Peoria Javelinas C): 1-2, 2 BB, 1 RBI. Taking on his teammate Tyler Naquin, Lowery was the one who looked the part of a top prospect reaching base in three of his four plate appearances. In 17 at-bats this fall Lowery is hitting .294 with 4 RBI’s and more walks than strikeouts (3:2). He also threw out one of three attempted base stealers.

Tyler Naquin (Surprise Saguaros CF): 0-5. Not much positive to report here. After three straight multi-hit games Naquin fell back to earth with a 0-5 performance. His numbers during the fall are still strong (.356 BA) and just as important he’s only tallied 11 strikeouts in 90 at-bats after struggling with K’s during his first season in the minor leagues.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE

Jesus Aguilar (Leones del Caracas 3B): 1-4, 1 RBI. The big news here is that Aguilar played third base for the first time in this game. I don’t know exactly how well he fared, but he didn’t make an error. At the plate Aguilar added another hit and RBI to his impressive offseason total.

Ezequiel Carrera (Navegantes del Magallanes CF): 2-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB, 2 RBI. It was another big night for Carrera, who had his third strong game in a row. His two stolen bases in the game give him 10 on the fall. His slash line stands at .280/.385/.402.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Erik Gonzalez (Leones del Escogido SS): 1-3, 2 errors. Gonzalez managed a 1-3 night at the plate, but struggled in the field committing two more errors (giving him six on the season). He’s hitting .339 on the fall but his 16:1 strikeout to walk ratio and error total aren’t pretty.

Juan Diaz (Estrellas de Oriente SS): 0-1. Not much to report here either. Diaz hasn’t done much in his time with Estrellas this fall. He came into this game as a defensive substitution in the eighth inning and grounded out to Gonzalez in his only at-bat.

[The Dominican League has the best winter league pitchers. This is a tough league to hit in.]

Hague heads attack for Toros in victory

Pirates farmhand Matt Hague continued his solid start in the Dominican Winter League, driving in three runs on Wednesday as Toros topped Aguilas, 8-2

Winter League roundup: Hague heads Toros' attack

By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | 11/7/2013 2:15 A.M. ET

Dominican Winter League

Toros 8, Aguilas 2

Matt Hague, a first baseman in the Pirates organization, continued his solid start to the Dominican Winter League season with a 2-for-5 night as Toros defeated Aguilas, 8-2. Hague drove in three runs, including two on a first-inning single, which put Toros ahead for good. Shortstop Hector Gomez pounded out three hits, while Colorado infielder Jordan Pacheco and Texas outfielder Jim Adduci each had two hits and two runs. Elih Villanueva picked up his first win of the season with six scoreless innings of three-hit ball.

Estrellas 5, Escogido 3

Pirates center fielder Felix Pie reached base every time he came to the plate Wednesday night, propelling Estrellas to a 5-3 victory over Escogido. Pie went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI, and five Estrellas relievers combined to toss six shutout innings. Rays farmhand Freddy Guzman went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI triple for Escogido.

Venezuelan Winter League

Caribes 4, Caracas 1

Chris Smith tossed six innings of one-run ball for Caribes, which broke out for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to knock off Caracas, 4-1. Jose Castillo hit a game-tying solo home run in the seventh before driving in two more with a single in the eighth, as Caribes managed to maintain its slim lead atop the Venezuelan Winter League. Danny Dorn went 2-for-4 with a double for Caracas.

Zulia 10, Aragua 6

Ender Inciarte's four-hit night paced Zulia to an impressive come-from-behind win in a slugfest against Aragua. After falling behind, 5-1, in the first, Zulia rallied for six runs in the fourth inning and three more in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Inciarte, a 23-year-old outfield prospect in the D-backs system, scored twice, as Philadelphia's Freddy Galvis went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and four RBIs.

Magallanes 4, Margarita 0

Six Magallanes pitchers combined to shut out Margarita on Tuesday night in a 4-0 victory. Yoel Hernandez picked up the win -- his second of the season. Offensively, Magallanes pounded out 10 hits, including two apiece from the Indians outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, Yankees farmhand Adonis Garcia and right fielder Frank Diaz. With the win, Magallanes stayed a half-game back of first-place Caribes.

Lara at La Guaira: PPD, rain

Puerto Rican Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

Santurce 3, Caguas 2

Austin Wates' 10th-inning single plated Luis Matos, giving Santurce a 3-2 lead -- the score it would eventually win by on Wednesday night. Kris Negron's two-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth plated the tying run for Caguas, setting the stage for Wates' heroics. Arik Sikula pitched a scoreless bottom of the 10th to earn the save. Wates, an outfield prospect in the Astros organization, had two hits and a stolen base. Reds phenom Billy Hamilton also swiped a bag -- his fourth steal in two nights.

Carolina at Ponce: PPD, rain

Mexican Pacific League

Guasave 12, Obregon 9

Kalian Sams had three hits -- one a homer -- as Guasave came from behind to beat Obregon on Wednesday night, 12-9. Orioles infield prospect Zelous Wheeler also added his sixth home run of the season -- a two-out, two-run shot in the fourth. But the Guasave offense did most of its damage in the seventh, scoring seven times and amassing eight hits -- all before the first out was recorded. Agustin Murillo and Carlos Valencia each had three hits for Obregon.

Navojoa 2, Mazatlan 1

Eddie Gamboa tossed 6 1/3 scoreless frames, picking up the win as Navojoa knocked off Mazatlan, 2-1. Navojoa shortstop Jose Chavez went 2-for-3, and DH Abel Martinez doubled and scored a run. Marlins farmhand Bryan Petersen provided the offense for Mazatlan, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and the club's lone RBI. Horacio Ramirez's five scoreless innings weren't enough as the Mazatlan bullpen couldn't keep the Navojoa offense at bay.

Los Mochis 6, Culiacan 3

Los Mochis outfielder Sergio Perez boosted his team-leading batting average to .395 as Los Mochis defeated Culiacan, 6-3, on Wednesday. Perez went 2-for-4 with a double, and second baseman Juan Carlos Gamboa also had a pair of hits for Los Mochis, which plated three in the eighth. Roberto Lopez hit a two-out RBI single to put Los Mochis in front for the first time, and Gamboa followed with a two-run double, providing some insurance.

Hermosillo 8, Mexicali 2

First-place Hermosillo made it look easy yet again, routing Mexicali, 8-2, on Wednesday. Efren Navarro, who played in four games this season with the Angels, went 3-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Shortstop Heber Gomez added three hits as well. Luis Garcia had two doubles and two RBIs for Hermosillo, which improved to 16-5. Ryan Verdugo struck out seven in six frames to earn the win. The Royals farmhand allowed two runs on four hits.

Baseball / Japanese Baseball

Rakuten ace Tanaka wins third straight Golden Glove

Kyoda

Nov 7, 2013

Highly touted Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles right-hander Masahiro Tanaka captured his third consecutive Golden Glove award along with teammates Motohiro Shima and Kazuya Fujita on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Tanaka, who went 24-0 with one save and helped guide the Eagles to their first Pacific League pennant in the team’s ninth year, was chosen for his defensive prowess along with batterymate Shima and second baseman Fujita.

Rakuten won the Japan Series, beating the Yomiuri Giants four games to three, in its first trip to the championship round.

“I am very happy that I have been able to win such an honorable award,” said Tanaka, who is widely expected to try making a move to the majors during the offseason.

“I feel that it is very meaningful that I was able to win this award three years in a row. I am thankful for everyone who kept the stadiums in great conditions throughout the year.”

The Seibu Lions’ Fumiya Nishiguchi and catcher Tsutomu Ito were the last batterymates to win Golden Glove awards in the PL in 1998.

“As a position player and as a catcher, this is a valuable award to receive. It is a great honor,” said Shima.

In the Central League, the Yomiuri Giants took the lion’s share of Golden Glove awards with four for the most by one team; catcher Shinnosuke Abe, first baseman Jose Lopez, third baseman Shuichi Murata and outfielder Hisayoshi Chono each won the accolade.

“I feel as if the position of catcher is one that only through opportunities for reflection one can gain in experience. I want to devote myself with the pitchers so I can be chosen next year and the year after that,” said Giants captain Abe.

From the Hiroshima Carp, who reached their first-ever Climax Series, right-hander Kenta Maeda, second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi, and outfielder Yoshihiro Maru claimed the honors.

Seibu first baseman Hideto Asamura, Lions outfielder Shogo Akiyama, and Softbank Hawks shortstop Kenta Imamiya were among eight first-time recipients of the award.

A Golden Glove is usually awarded each year to the best player in each position, respectively, in the Central and Pacific Leagues, as voted by baseball writers.

LEONES:

Rookie Erik Gonzalez has 20 hits and no doubt has been one of the pleasant surprises of the club. Last season he played only Class A level and his average was .254 (508-129). He belongs to the Cleveland Indians.