Cleveland Sports Forum

Venezuela Upsets Cuba to Win the 15U Baseball World Championship

Posted on29 August 2012. Tags: U15 Championship

CHIHUAHUA, Mexico –




Venezuela upset highly favored Cuba in the finals of the 15U Baseball World Championships. The South American team blew out the previously undefeated Cuba 10-2. Cuba had beaten Venezuela 11-5 earlier in the tournament.

Venezuela jumped on top early scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning getting help from 2 Cuban errors. They extended their lead with runs in the 2nd and 4th innings, but then they blew it open with 4 runs in the 6th inning.

Jose Herrera led the way offensively for Venezuela going 3-for-6 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Angel Manzanarez and Luis Perdomo also collected 3 hits each in the 13 hit attack.

Ricardo Sanchez, tournament MVP, picked up the win on the mound going 7 innings allowing 2 runs (1 ER) on 6 hits and 6 walks while striking out 6.

Chinese Taipei won the bronze medal with a 6-1 win over Mexico earlier in the day. Brazil finished in 5th place with a 9-7 win over Nicaragua.

Final Standings:

1) Venezuela
2) Cuba
3) Chinese Taipei
4) Mexico
5) Brazil
6) Nicaragua
7) Honduras
8 ) Argentina
9) Aruba
10) Italy
11) Germany
12) Hong Kong
13) Ukraine
14) Lithuania
15) Indonesia

Individual Awards:

Leading Hitter: Conrado Díaz (MEX)
Pitcher Best ERA: Dannel Díaz (CUB)
Pitcher Best Win-Loss Record: Kevin Reyes (HON)
Most Runs Batted In: Sergio Cestarelli (ITA)
Most Home Runs: Greifer Andrade (VEN)
Most Stolen Bases: Lucas Sakay (BRA)
Most Runs Scored: Lucas Sakay (BRA)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Yu Tang Ming (TPE)
Most Valuable Player: Ricardo Sanchez (VEN)

All Star Team

Starting Pitcher: Dannel Diaz (CUB)
Relief Pitcher: Jose Garcia (HON)
Catcher: Jose Herrera (VEN)
First Baseman: Yordan Alvarez (CUB)
Second Baseman: Hector Chapa (MEX)
Third Baseman: Hector Guerrero (MEX)
Shortstop: Rangel Ramos (CUB)
Outfielder: Nestor Tejada (VEN)
Outfielder: Conrado Diaz (MEX)
Outfielder: Camil Quintero (CUB)

HAPPY LABOR DAY !!!!!

Friday, September 07, 2012

Japan will play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic

The Players Association satisfied with the agreement reached by NPB with the WBC Inc on revenue sharing


The Nippon Professional Baseball Players Association (NPBPA) announced that players under contract with clubs participating in the japanese Big Leagues will be part of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. NPBA's spokesman Takahiro Arai broke the news during a press conference at Koshien stadium.

During a meeting in mid July, players had voted to sit out of the tournament, if no changes in revenue sharing were made

NPB Officials met with MLB and the World Baseball Classic Inc in August in New York and reached a new agreement on sponsorship rights. From now on, NPB will have a special task force to handle those rights.

Japan has won the first two editions of the World Baseball Classic, defeating Cuba (2006) and Korea (2009) in the gold medal game.

The World Baseball Classic will see 16 teams participate in the main tournament. The top 12 of the 2009 Classic are already qualified, Four more teams will come out of the Qualifiers. The first two tournaments will be played later in September in Regensburg (Germany) and Jupiter (Florida, USA).

What???

You mean these players don't play for the love of the game and want more money?

Say it ain't so!!

Manny and Miguel set dates for practices with Aguilas Cibaenas.

The winter baseball tournament is scheduled to start on 14 October.

"Manny will report in October to team practices," "He is training in Florida under the supervision of my brother Gustavo Llenas," Chilote Llenas added. With Manny is also practicing Miguel Tejada and reiterated that he will be joining the team in early October and that he will be fully prepared to help the Eagles win the championship.

Carlos Carrasco was showcased at Double A

Carlos Carrasco ranged between 94 and 97 miles per hour

LUISCARLOS GONZÁLEZ

Friday September 7, 2012 12:00 AM

Carlos Carrasco on Wednesday made ​​a big comeback on the mound with the Akron Aeros, Double A branch of the Cleveland Indians, and the results were very encouraging. The pitcher, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his elbow, looked healthy in one inning of work. According to several reports, the fastball ranged between 94 and 97 mph, his slider between 85 and 86 and the changeup moved the radar to 88. We recalled that the last time we saw Carrasco in action was August 3, 2011. His elbow surgery took place on September 21. Carrasco has permission from Cleveland to launch with the Leones del Caracas until 1 December.

Hector Rondon , meanwhile, also marches toward recovery with two good starts in Double A. In seven innings, allowed one run and struck out nine. Carrasco, expects to be in full condition for the start of spring training for the Indians in 2013.

Rondon continues training for the start of the 2012-2013 season in the Venezuelan Winter League. Rondon has already announced that it will pitch as a reliever.

NPB to ask managers to suggest WBC players

TOKYO, Sept. 10 (20:05) Kyodo

Nippon Professional Baseball confirmed Monday that it will ask
the 12 team managers in Japan's pro leagues in a questionnaire to
nominate players for the country's 2013 World Baseball Classic 40-man
roster.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of representatives from
NPB's 12 teams. Because the policy is for the manager selected by NPB
commissioner Ryozo Kato to have the final say on players, the results
of the survey are expected to provide a body of reference for those
decisions.

As far as the process of selecting that manager, no details of
the selection process were said to have been discussed.

Sunday, Sep. 9, 2012

Giants clinch Climax Series spot

Kyodo

NIIGATA —

D.J. Houlton threw two-run ball over six innings and helped his own cause with a run-scoring single, and the Yomiuri Giants banged out 15 hits to beat Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5-2 on Saturday and clinch the first Climax Series playoff spot in Japanese baseball.

Frustration: Lions slugger Takeya Nakamura, seen heading back to the dugout in the eighth inning, and Seibu had plenty to be disappointed about after a 6-5 loss to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Saturday at Kleenex Stadium. KYODO

With the victory, the Central League-leading Giants guaranteed to finish the season within the top three to secure a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive year since the system was introduced in 2007. Yomiuri also saw its magic number to claim the CL pennant title reduced to 13.

Houlton (11-6) allowed five hits, struck out six and walked two and Kentaro Nishimura picked up his 24th save. Kenji Yano went 4-for-5 and Shinnosuke Abe keyed a three-run first against Kyohei Muranaka (8-6) with his two-run double.

Yano had an RBI single to cap the first. Wladimir Balentien and Lastings Milledge hit an RBI double and sacrifice fly in back-to-back at-bats in the bottom of the first for all of the Swallows' runs.

Tuesday, Sep. 11, 2012
For team, or for country?: Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish will be highly sought after when Japan begins its preparations for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. AP

SPORTS SCOPE

Darvish, others have decisions to make ahead of next WBC

By JASON COSKREY

The big news last week was that the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association decided to compete in next year's World Baseball Classic.

The next challenge two-time defending champion Japan faces may come when it's time to actually fill out the roster.

The timing of the WBC, in early March, during MLB spring training, could prove problematic for a few of Japan's top players.

The main target for Samurai Japan's team-builders will be Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. The elephant in the room, however, could be Daisuke Matsuzaka's hip circa 2009.

Matsuzaka was the MVP of the 2009 WBC — an honor teammate Hisashi Iwakuma deserved more, but that's a different story — then suffered through an injury-riddled season for the Boston Red Sox, making just 12 starts and finishing 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 59⅓ innings.

Matsuzaka later revealed he'd initially injured himself during training for the WBC and pitched with the injury during the tournament, all without the knowledge of the Red Sox medical staff.

The Red Sox were still in the midst of an investment of over $100 million in Matsuzaka and popular sentiment in Boston was that the team got damaged goods in 2009 because of Matsuzaka's exertions in the WBC.

Which brings us to Darvish.

Darvish is enduring the rigors of an MLB schedule for the first time, and the Rangers may not be particularly anxious to see him pitching for Japan in the spring.

Remember, Matsuzaka in 2009 already had two major league seasons (and seven postseason starts) under his belt, and even then there seemed to be a tacit level of uncertainty in New England about his participation.

And that was before the era of Stephen Strasburg and the increased attention paid to how many innings young pitchers, with hefty price tags, throw. Darvish has tossed 169⅔ innings so far this year and probably has one or two more regular-season starts before the postseason begins.

Unless he's injured, Texas can't bar Darvish from competing, but after spending over $110 to acquire him, the team would probably prefer the innings logged on his arm come in a Rangers uniform.

Darvish was mum on the subject last week when it was announced Japan would compete.

Similarly, prospective free agents such as Hiroyuki Nakajima will have a choice to make.

Nakajima, currently the Seibu Lions' shortstop, is expected to pursue a job with a MLB club over the winter, but would he, or a player in a similar situation, be willing to cut his first-ever spring training in the States short to help Japan retain its title?

Matsuzaka and Mariners pitcher Iwakuma might also be on the hunt for new contracts and may deem it in their best interests to save their arms for MLB competition.

Major League teams in the past have expressed hesitance about having their star players risk injury prior to the season, and though Derek Jeter and many other All-Stars competed in both the 2006 and 2009 editions of the WBC, many have also passed.

There's also the question of what to do with Ichiro Suzuki. The 38-year-old Yankees outfielder is inarguably on the decline, though still a skilled player, and Japan's next manager will have to decide if he still warrants a starting job, or if the team is stronger with a younger player patrolling the outfield, with Ichiro's legendary status only making the choice that much harder.

Japan cleared perhaps the biggest hurdle toward a third straight title by getting the JPBPA on board, but for a team that doesn't even have a manager yet the fun has just begun.

Carumba joez! Now THAT's Latin baseball!

Caracas Leones and the Chicago Cubs meet in the Parallel League

Both clubs concluded an agreement to create a team participating in the D-League

CARACAS. -

Los Leones del Caracas reached an agreement with the organization of the Chicago Cubs to develop a parallel team in the league. As the subsidiary of Leones club, this new team will play at the sports complex located in the city of Guacara, Carabobo state Luis Avila informed the press department of the club.

"Realising the possibility of having the entire complex at Guacara, started talking with major league organizations who might be interested in having a presence in the League, the most interested was the Chicago Cubs'" said Luis Avila, president of Caracas.

According to Avila, this parallel league is now the ideal place to work and develop emerging talent of CBBC. "We had a lot of guys at the single "A" level, but not enough for two teams," explained Avila. "This agreement allows us to share the complex with members of both teams, ours and theirs.

Having this new platform in the parallel league will ensure that all the young talent in the organization have the necessary space to move forward in its evolution. "The idea is that new players have a greater chance of playing in the winter and this must aid them in their development," said Avila.

Fruitful Relationship, The agreement also confirms a significant development in the relationship between Caracas and Chicago Cubs BBC , to the delight of both organizations. "There is a closer relationship with the Cubs. The relationship begins to bear fruit, "he said Avila. "We hope it is a relationship that can be sustained over time."

The Cleveland Indians also have a close working relationship with the Leones del Caracas. I wonder if they share an interest as did the Chicago Cubs, in joining the parallel league. Both of these teams are normally well represented in the Venezuelan Winter League playing for the Leones.

Leones del Caracas talk with "Guti" and Abreu

CARACAS. -

Touching the door is not in but nothing is lost by trying, the high command of the Caracas Leones knows.

Leones Management spoke with Bob Abreu and Franklin Gutierrez to know how likely it is to play this winter season, as both players have expressed interest in doing so, but there is nothing concrete yet.

"We spoke to both. The decision is in their hands. If they decide to play they are always welcome, "said club president Luis Avila via email.

Abreu accumulated 242 at-bats this season, his fewest since 1997 (210). A number of injuries have limited "Guti " as he participated in only 24 games with the Seattle Mariners.

Avila also said that although no date was set for incorporating Josh Kroeger and Luis Rodriguez, hopes "are both will be in the opening day lineup." For Marwin Gonzalez (injured heel), "we must wait to see whether or not he rejoins the team at the end of the season (MLB).