Does Curacao play in any of these leagues?

Some talent has come out of this small island.

Curacao Winter League

SEAGULL

The Curacao Winter League (CWL) was initiated in 2015 to promote IBP’s Project 421 and established the island of Curacao as a viable baseball destination. The initial goal was to create a winter league for players outside the academy structure of Project 421 to better assist the government of Curacao in its attempt to stimulate sport economics for the island. The league was to consist of 4 teams that would compete during October to December with the league champion advancing to play in the Latin America Association Series.

Curaçao boasts current Major League stars, including Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, Tigers second baseman Jonathan Schoop, Padres infielder Jurickson Profar and Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius (who moved to the island when he was 5 years old)

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VENEZUELAN FINALS



Magallanes came from behind twice and tied the series

January 22, 2022

After the only free day that the Finals of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) had, this Saturday the fighting between Caribes de Anzoátegui and Navegantes del Magallanes resumes.

With the Caribes ahead 2 games to 1 in the decisive event, in the top half of the first inning and after 1 out, Víctor Reyes walked and Niuman Romero homered to right. 2-0

The Caribes scored again in the third, this time with Willians Astudillo's two run homer with Romero on base. Without wasting time, the next slugger, Asdrúbal Cabrera, also homered off blue starter, Erick Leal. 5-0

During the bottom of the third, the Navigantes mounted a rally. Carlos Pérez singled, Rayder Ascanio walked, while Alberto González's rbi base hit to right plated Ascanio. 5-1

The damage continued as Ángel Reyes slammed a three run homer. 5-4

The tie was achieved in the bottom half of the next inning (4th) when Leonardo Reginatto opened the inning with a base hit and managed to score on an error by Reyes on Jesse Castillo's shot. All the damage was dealt against Anzoátegui's starter, Mayckol Guaipe. 5-5

To make matters worse, the relief of the Caribes was ineffective, a situation taken advantage of by Alejandro De Aza who walked, Ascanio also walked and Cade Gotta singled on a ball deflected by third baseman Romero, this allowed both runners to score. 5-7

At the beginning of the fifth the power of the Caribes continued to be displayed, there Astudillo rammed his second home run on the night, this time a solo. 6-7

In the sixth, they regained control when Oswaldo Arcia lead off with a double, Tomás Telis walked, Luis Sardiñas reached base on a fielder's choice. Reyes vindicated himself with a 2-run hit, followed by Romero's RBI single. 9-7

When it seemed that their opportunities were running out, the Navegators wasted no time and tied the game 8th inning; After 1 out, Castillo and Pérez had back to back base hits, advanced on a wild pitch from Silvino Bracho, De Aza walked and Ascanio followed the a two run hit. 9-9

The Navigators flipped the scoreboard in the bottom half of the 8th inning on Gotta's sacrifice fly. 9-10

Thus, the Closer of the Year, Bruce Rondón came in to place the lock on the game and did it on the fast track, striking out the last 2 batters. It was his second save in the Finals. He maintains his effectiveness perfectly. For his part the winner of the duel was Anthony Vizcaya (1-1, 4.50) after throwing 1 inning of 1 hit and 1 walk baseball.

Bracho loses, remaining with a balance of 0-1 and an ERA of 3.00.

Now the series is equal to 2 wins per side and the teams return to the city of Puerto La Cruz on Monday.

MEXICAN FINALS



Charros de Jalisco is the champion of the Mexican Pacific League

With a score of 8-1, the team from Guadalajara was crowned champion of the Mexican Pacific League

By: Martin Navarro

January 22, 2022

Jalisco broke out. In a game of survival, the Charros de Jalisco beat the Tomateros de Culiacán 8-1 and became the new champions of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP).

It was a perfect night for the Guadalajara team. Brennan Bernardino pitched an excellent game, team batting was solid, and the stands exploded in jubilation at the Pan American Stadium.

For the Charros, half of the game was enough to ensure victory. They had a three-run rally in the second inning and four runs in the fourth inning, thus taking a definitive advantage to pocket the decisive victory in the Final Series 4-3 and claimed their second LMP title in the 2021-22 Season.

Brenan Bernardino vindicated himself with the Charros. In his last start he had left without being able to retire a single batter, but tonight he erased the Tomateros from the batting box. The left-hander from the Charros earned his third Playoff win after working eight innings where he hung seven shut out innings, prescribed four strikeouts and allowed only four hits and one run.

The Guadalajara team came out early in the game on offense. The second inning was played and the Charros already had two outs on the board. It seemed that they were empty-handed. Suddenly Amadeo Zazueta , Fernando Flores and José Juan Aguilar connected for doubles and thus manufactured the three run rally to take the lead.

The game was just starting. With the stands on fire, with the lead on the scoreboard and Bernardino eliminating the rivals, the Charros exploded on offense and produced another four-run rally in the fourth to increase the lead to 7-0 on the scoreboard.

The Tomateros simply could not face Bernardino's pitches. Joey Meneses homered trying to keep the Tomateros in the fight, but JJ Aguilar drove in another run to claim the victory of the Charros.

Roberto Osuna closed the curtain in the ninth inning and the Charros sealed the final with an 8-1 victory to crown themself as the new monarchs of the Pacific and repeat the feat of champion three years after their first crown.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FINALS



The Giants are crowned champions of the winter baseball tournament

January 23, 2022

SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, RD.- The Cibao Giants were proclaimed this Saturday as the new national champions by beating the Estrellas Stars 8-3 with the offensive deployment of Marcell Ozuna, in the fifth game of the final series staged at the Tetelo Vargas Stadium in this city.

It was the fourth victory in a row for the Giants in the finals, who dominated the series 4-1 in the best of 7 series.

The Giants, led by Colombian Luis Urueta, won the second championship in their history in the Dominican Baseball League (Lidom), to emulate the one obtained in the 2014-15 season at the expense of the Stars, prevailing in the final round in eight games, 5-3.

The Giants also appeared in 2003-04, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2020-21.

The franchise from San Francisco de Macorís, in the Duarte province, will be the representative of the Dominican Republic in the 2022 Caribbean Series held in Santo Domingo next Friday, January 28 to Thursday, February 3.

The bat of Marcell Ozuna imposed its strength hitting a three-run homer in the game to spark a six-run rally in the third inning.

Ozuna was elected "The Most Valuable Player" of the finals with a large majority of votes. He hit three home runs, drove in eight runs, leaders in both departments, in addition to a batting .333, in which he was in fourth place .

Ozuna's homer was off the Stars starting pitcher, left-hander Andy Otero. The offering sailed over the fence in left-center field with two teammates on board, Henry Urrutia (single to CF) and Kelvin Gutiérrez (BB), setting the scoreboard at 3-0.

The other three runs of that decisive inning came home after Wilín Rosario singled against Otero. With Sierra and Paulino also on base, Rosario scored on a wild pitch by Santos who had relieved Otero.

A two run single by Richard Ureña against Estrellas pitcher Ramon Santos, scored Moisés Sierra (hit to CF) and Carlos Paulino (BB).

In the fourth inning they scored one more driven by Sierra's double to LF with Ozuna on base.

Another run scored in the seventh. It was driven by Hanser Alberto with a base hit to center. Richard Ureña was on board with a base hit to RF. He advanced to second on a single by José Sirí to RF.

The Giants had a total of 15 hits in the game, while the Stars had 10.

For the Stars, Robinson Canó and Domingo Leyba shone with the bat with two singles each, and one RBI. Ramón Flores added two hits.

The winning pitcher for the Giants was starter and veteran left-hander Raúl Valdés (1-0), who pitched 5.0 shutout innings, five hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

The loser for Estrellas was Andy Otero (0-1), after lasting just 2.1 innings in the box, with six hits, four earned runs, two walks and one strikeout.

Do the teams in the SERIE DEL CARIBE get to add "replacement" players?

Seagull,

The simple answer is Yes.

Kind of complicated early on.

First of all, teams do not have to draft players from the teams the were eliminated. If the drafting teams feel their rosters are better off without drafting a player, they can pass.

So, after the final regular season games conclude, the playoff teams hold a reinforcement draft of players from the teams that did not quality and were eliminated.

In Mexico, for example, ten teams make up the league. Eight teams would be playoff bound. Two teams would be eliminated.

There are two draft rounds.

In the first round:
The first cede draws first.
The second cede draws second.
The third cede draws third, so on and so forth

In the second round:
The first cede draws first.
The second cede draws second.
The third cede draws third, so on and so forth

In all, 16 Los Mochis and Mazatlan players were selected over two rounds, nine of them pitchers.

A similar draft will be held prior to the semifinals.

A similar draft will be held prior to the finals.

The eventual champions will be able to load up on more reinforcements before heading the the Caribbean Series in Santo Domingo with a roster that bears little resemblance to their regular season lineup.

A similar process is carried out in other winter leagues, making the Serie del Caribe more a tournament of all-star teams than league champions.

JOSE RAMIREZ WAS SUCH A HOT COMMODITY HE WAS DRAFTED THREE TIMES IN ONE PLAYOFF SEASON

VENEZUELAN FINALS



Caribes beat Magallanes 15-10 and is just one step away from the championship at 3 games to 2

January 23, 2022

[ Exciting finish to this one - nothing ever comes easy ]

With an offense of 20 hits, including home runs by Luis Sardiñas and Balbino Fuenmayor, The Caribes de Anzoátegui beat Navegantes del Magallanes in Valencia this Sunday 15-10 to put the final series at 3 games to 2.

Anzoantegui will go home, to Puerto La Cruz, to seek a victory in two games to seal the first championship in theirs history.

The Caribes got to starter Junior Guerra early and produced 6 runs, 2 in the top of the first and 4 in the top of the second. In the first inning Niuman Romero doubled home Victor Reyes and Rafael Ortega. 2-0

In the top of the second, Niuman Romero singled to center. Gotta and Victor Reyes scored, Rafael Ortega to third. Asdrubal Cabrera doubled to right. Rafael Ortega and Niuman Romero ascored. Willians Astudillo to third. 6-0

Trying to replicate the comeback from the previous game, Magallanes had three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jesse Castillo doubled to right. Leonardo Reginatto scored. Carlos Perez homered to left center. Jesse Castillo anota. 6-3

But the Caribes answered every Magallanes attempt to comback and knocked them out again in the third inning scoring another four runs. Luis Sardinas homered to left. Niuman Romero doubled (2) right. Victor Reyes and Rafael Ortega scored. Willians Astudillo to right.. Niuman Romero scored. 10-3

Arcenio León and José Martínez combined for a good three-innings of relief in which they kept Anzoantegui at bay. Magallanes then took the opportunity to get closer scoring five lines in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Pablo Sandoval homered to left center. Cade Gotta doubled to right with the bases loaded. Leonardo Reginatto, Jesse Castillo, and Alejandro De Aza scored. Rayder Ascanio right. Cade Gotta scored. 10-8

The Caribes could not respond.

With the game barely two runs (10-8) the last third of the game arrived and a reaction from Magallanes no longer seemed possible. However, the illusion did not last long in Valencia.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Caribes scored two runs and another three runs in the top of the eighth.

In the top of the seventh, Balbino Fuenmayor homered to left center. Asdrubal Cabrera scored. 12-8

In the top of the eighth, Willians Astudillo singled to left. Heiker Meneses and Rafael Ortega scored. Niuman Romero t second. Asdrubal Cabrera to right. Niuman Romero scored. Willians Astudillo to second. 15-8

The Navigators never lowered their arms. In the home half of the ninth they scored twice. With the bases loaded, they were waiting for a hit that could put them back in the game, but Silvino Bracho brought out his experience and hung up the last out by striking out Gabriel Noriega.

Rayder Ascanio walked. Angel Reyes struck out. Pablo Sandoval singled to center. Rayder Ascanio scored. Leonardo Reginatto flied out to center. Jesse Castillo walked. Pablo Sandoval to second. Carlos Perez singled to right. Pablo Sandoval scored. Jesse Castillo to third. Alejandro De Aza walked. Carlos Perez to second. With Jesse Castillo at third, Carlos Perez at second, and
Alejandro De Axa at first, bases loaded and two out. The Navigators needed the big hit to get back into the game but Gabriel Noriega struck out to put an end to a thrilling home half of the ninth.

The victory went to Yohan Pino (1-0), who made the last start of his 18-year career in the LVBP and completed 5.0 innings of five runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Junior Guerra (0-1), for his part, charged with the loss.

Niuman 3-5 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs was the most outstanding for the Caribes. Astudillo and Cabrera together drove in another six runs.

The series returns this Monday to Alfonso "Chico" Carrasquel for game six.

Caribes de Anzoategui
1 Reyes, V (RF) 6AB 3R 4H 02B 03B 0HR 0CI 0W 0K
2 Ortega (CF) 4AB 4R 3H 02B 03B 0HR 0CI 2W 1K
3 Romero, N (3B 5AB 3R 3H 22B 03B 0HR 5CI 1W 2K
4 Astudillo (1B) 5AB 0R 3H 12B 03B 0HR 3CI 1W 0K
5 Cabrera, A (2B)6AB 1R 3H 12B 03B 0HR 3CI 0W 1K
6 Fuenmayor (DH)5AB 1R 2H 02B 03B 1HR 2CI 1W 0K

Navegantes del Magallanes
1 Gotta (CF) 5AB 1R 3H 22B 03B 0HR 3CI 0W 0K
4 Sandoval (DH) 5AB 2R 2H 02B 03B 1HR 2CI 0W 0K
6 Castillo, J (1B) 2AB 2R 2H 12B 03B 0HR 1CI 3W 0K
7 Pérez, C (C) 5AB 1R 2H 02B 03B 1HR 3CI 0W 0K

Caribes de Anzoategui
Pino, Y (W, 1-0) 5.0IN7H 5R 5ER 2HR 1W 4K
Oliveros, L (H, 1) 1.1IN0H 0R 0ER 0HR 1W 1K

Navegantes del Magallanes
Guerra, J (L, 0-1) 1.1IN5H 6R 6ER 0HR 3W 1K

VENEZUELAN FINALS



Yohander Méndez threw a jewel and Magallanes forced a seventh game

January 24, 2022

The give and take was in the past, the sixth game of the Grand Final was marked by the absolute dominance of one man: Yohander Méndez. And Navegantes del Magallanes defeated Caribes de Anzoátegui 6-0 to force the seventh and decisive game.

After winning their first two games in Valencia and leveling the series 2-2, Magallanes arrived in Puerto La Cruz on Monday again at a disadvantage. They were forced to rediscover the good pitching that took them to the finals and they bet on Méndez, who responded with a superb performance.

The Valencian threw 123 pitches to complete 7.0 innings, in which he gave up two hits, allowed four walks and struck out nine. His ERA was 1.86 and in the end he scored the most important victory of the campaign, the one that keeps Magallanes alive in the battle for the title.

The Turkish offense, which has gone from less to more throughout the entire series, supported Yohander Méndez with a productive middle innings of the game.

They scored their first two runs in the fourth on Pablo Sandoval's single and Angel Reyes' fly ball and added one in the fifth on Cade Gotta's double. All off of starter Henry Centeno.

The following inning, they scored another two runs product of a hit by Rayder Ascanio and a bases loaded walk to Gotta that ended Jean Toledo's time on the mound.

Anthony Vizcaya blankked the Caribbeans' in the eighth and Magallanes took advantage of the ineffectiveness of the Caribes bullpen to add one more run in the ninth.

Bruce Rondón came out to pitch and, although he had problems with a couple of wild pitches, managed to hold the lead and he scored his third save and sealed the victory.

The seventh and decisive game will be this Tuesday in Puerto La Cruz.

This is only the third final that has reached seven games in the last 10 years. In the first one 2012-2013 Magallanes beat the Cardenales. In the second 2019-2020 the Cardenales defeated the Caribes.

Does Curacao play in any of these leagues? Some talent has come out of this small island.

Aruba is my favorite Caribbean island baseball home, since I'll never forget their product Sicnarf Loopstok.

Other Arubans:

Xander Bogaerts isn't quite as good a name but a better ballplayer; story on XB references prior Arubans in the majors most of whom I don't know, but they do have some more very good names:
Eugene Kingsale, Calvin Maduro, Sidney Ponson and Radhames Dijkhoff, and Chadwick Tromp

VENEZUELAN FINALS



Magallanes takes the last two games on the road down 3 games to 2 and is the new monarch of the LVBP

January 25, 2022

Twice they were behind in the series and both times they were able to react to finally prevail in the seventh and decisive game. Navegantes del Magallanes is the new monarch of Venezuelan baseball.

Those led by Wilfredo Romero relied on pitching and beat the Caribes de Anzoátegui 3-2 in Puerto La Cruz on Tuesday to add title number 13 in their history.

The Caribes tooke the lead n the second inning with a single by Tomás Telis against starter César Jiménez, who was making the last start of his 17-year career in Venezuelan baseball.

Magallanes tied it in the top of the fifth on a solo home run by Cade Gotta. However, the Caribes responded in the bottom half on the inning to take a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly by captain Niuman Romero.

Insistent and refusing to die, Magallenes returned to equalize the game in the top of the sixth with a shot by Carlos Pérez. Magallanes couldn't go ahead despite having the bases loaded with one out.

The tension could be felt in the atmosphere. The give and take that took place in Valencia was far from being repeated in Puerto La Cruz. Here everything was going to be said on one hit and that didn't come until the eighth inning.

Ángel Reyes (3-4) took the ball to left field off of the experienced Yohan Pino to take the 3-2 lead.

Anthony Vizcaya came througn and rang up the zero in the eighth to complete an almost perfect relief appearancewith 2.0 scoreless innings and in the end he scored the victory, the most important of his career.

Bruce Rondón came out in the ninth and after two outs he surrendered a double by Rafael Ortega that triggered a controversial but key decision. Manager Wilfredo Romero intentionally walked Romero to face Willians Astudillo and unbelievably got the last out with an infield flyout.

Rondón scored the win and Magallanes lifted the trophy for the first time since the 2013-2014 campaign.

SERIE DEL CARIBE QUALIFIERS:

PANAMA>>>>>>>>>>>(Los Santos Astronauts)
PUERTO RICO>>>>>>>>(Caguas Criollos)
COLUMBIA>>>>>>>>>>(Barranquilla Caimanes)
MEXICO>>>>>>>>>>>>(Jalisco Charros)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC>>(Cibao Giants)
VENEZUELA>>>>>>>>>>(Magallanes Navegantes)


THE CARIBBEAN SERIES FIELD IS SET