Saturday, September 08, 2012

USA wins XXV IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship

United States defeat Canada in Gold Medal Game on Saturday at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul, Korea

Seoul (Korea).

The United States have won the XXV IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship for the first time since 1999, when they beat host Chinese Taipei in the finals. At Mokdong Stadium on Saturday evening in Seoul, Korea they downed Canada 6-2 in the Gold Medal Game. Led by a combined four RBI of Jeremy Martinez and Reese McGuire Team USA decided the showdown against their neighbors from the north.

A three-run bottom of the third inning turned out to be crucial for the outcome of the game. Garrett Williams and Ryan Boldt led off the frame with a walk and a bunt single. A sac bunt by Dominic Nunez moved them up. Jeremy Martinez stepped to the plate and singled to right field. Both Boldt and Williams scored, while Martinez got to third, when the throw from the outfield went past the catcher to the backstop. After Reese McGuire grounded out to second, Christopher Okey came through with a RBI single to cap the rally, giving Team USA a 4-1 lead.

Canada chipped one run off the gap when Christopher Shaw drove in Josh Nayor from third in the fifth. But the US squad added two insurance runs in the seventh to seal the deal. With one out, and runners on second and third, Reese McGuire smacked a ball straight back to Canada’s reliever Ryan Kellogg. The ball deflected from his glove and past a diving shortstop. Alert base running by Martinez and Boldt brought two runs on the board. A hustling McGuire ended up on second with an infield double.

In the second inning both teams had exchanged runs. Canada struck first with a RBI groundout by Gareth Morgan. The US team tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, when McGuire got awarded home plate after an obstruction call at third base.

Ian Clarkin, Ryan Olson and Keegan Thompson never lost control of the game on the mound. Clarkin pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. Olson and Thompson, who had pitched a complete game shutout against Cuba at the IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship last summer in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico, closed it out, pitching around a pair of walks.

Cal Quantrill ended up with the loss. He issued four hits, four runs (2 ER) and a walk in 2 1/3 innings, striking out two. While Kellogg gave up two runs, the other relievers Travis Seabrooke, Brock Dykxhoorn and Dayton Dawe kept Canada in the game. But in the end it didn’t matter, as the US defense played flawlessly.

Earlier on the day Korea defeated Japan 3-0 behind strong pitching of Geon Wook Lee and a homerun of Dae Young Yoon to finish in fifth place. Chinese Taipei won the Bronze Medal Game against Colombia by a score of 4-1 thanks to Jen Ho Tseng and his 12 strikeouts in a complete game.

Final Standings

1) USA
2) Canada
3) Chinese Taipei
4) Colombia
5) Korea
6) Japan
7) Panama
8) Venezuela
9) Australia
10) Italy
11) Netherlands
12) Czech Republic

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Christian Arroyo (USA)
Leading Hitter: Young Jin Young (KOR)
Pitcher Best ERA: Garrett Williams (USA)
Pitcher Best Win/Loss Average: Su Min Lee (KOR)
Most Runs Batted In: Christian Arroyo (USA)
Most Home Runs: Mitchell Triolo (CAN)
Most Stolen Bases: Ryan Boldt (USA)
Most Runs Scored: Ryan Boldt (USA)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Tzu Wei Lin (TPE)

All Star Team

Best Starting Pitcher: Shintaro Fujinami (JPN)
Best Relief Pitcher: Jen Ho Tseng (TPE)
Catcher: Tomoya Mori (JPN)
First Baseman: Chih Chieh Su (TPE)
Second Baseman: Kyle Hann (CAN)
Third Baseman: Jesse Hodges (CAN)
Shortstop: Christian Arroyo (USA)
Outfielder: Jun Suk Song (KOR)
Outfielder: Elliot Hargreaves (CAN)
Outfielder: Cristian Cano (COL)
Designated Hitter: Jeremy Martinez (USA)

Jorge Soler is inspired by Yoenis Cespedes, but reminds some of Sammy Sosa.

Soler drawing comparisons to Sosa

September, 11, 2012

By Sahadev Sharma | ESPNChicago.com

A blazing fastball, Herculean power or rabbit-like speed. These are the types of superlatives that are often bandied about when discussing baseball's top prospects.

But every once in a while, there's a prospect who doesn't even need to display his talents on the field, anyone within eye-shot just knows he's special. That seems to be the case with the Cubs' big-money signee from Cuba, Jorge Soler.

"The first thing that jumps out is his body," Cubs' vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod said of the 6-3, 205-pound Soler. "He's a very large, strong, young man. Your eyes go right to him when you see him step out on the field. He's a physical specimen."

While his size is already impressive, Soler, who signed with the Cubs in June to a reported nine year, $30 million deal, still has room to add to his 20-year-old frame. And when he's actually playing in a game, Soler has shown that the excitement generated from his appearance is justified.

"Power and strength are going to be a big part of his game," McLeod said. "When he does fulfill his potential, we think he has a chance at being a power, run-producing bat in the middle of a major league lineup."


It may seem obvious that McLeod would sing Soler's praises, but watching Soler only confirms what he says. It's easy to see why Soler's large frame often garners comparisons to former Cubs' star Sammy Sosa.

"The strength and swing really jump out at you," said one rival NL scout. "He's quick to the ball but he's long in the zone, the ball jumps off the bat real well and he shows a pretty good feel for the strike zone as well. He's going to be an impact offensive threat."

After 14 games in the Arizona Rookie League, Cubs' brass decided Soler was ready for full-season baseball and sent him to its low-A affiliate Peoria Chiefs. Soler didn't disappoint, as he posted a .338/.398/.513 line, with three home runs and five doubles in 20 games.

“
There aren't an abundant amount of Cubans in the big leagues, so any time I see any big leaguers that are Cuban, it's motivation because I'd like to be one of the select few.

”
-- Jorge Soler

Despite only walking six times, Soler displayed the ‘feel for the strike zone' that the scout mentioned by striking out only six times in 80 at-bats. While his play in right field still needs improvement -- specifically his routes to the ball -- he's gotten rave reviews for his strong arm and has the instincts and athleticism needed to eventually be a strong defensive player.

Soler often gets compared to fellow Cuban refugee Yoenis Cespedes. But outside of their Cuban heritage and impressive displays of power, the two aren't very similar. Cespedes, who signed with the Oakland Athletics prior to spring training, is four inches shorter, over six years Soler's senior and came to the UP.SS. major league ready.

Cespedes has not disappointed in his first big league season (.289/.344/.475 with 16 home runs), adding a much needed offensive boost to a surprising Athletics team that is currently atop the AL Wild Card standings.

"I definitely look to (Cespedes) for motivation," Soler said through translator and Peoria teammate Kenny Socorro. "There aren't an abundant amount of Cubans in the big leagues, so any time I see any big leaguers that are Cuban, it's motivation because I'd like to be one of the select few."

Soler's life in the United States, both on and off the field, hasn't been as difficult a transition as one would imagine. With more access to everything he needs, Soler says life is more comfortable in the US.

"It's not too different, but the big difference is that every player is a little more polished," Soler said when asked to compare playing in Cuba and the United States. "Pitchers throw a little harder, they locate their pitches a little better (in the US). It's a different level, but the game itself is the same."

Though he's impressed thus far in his short stint in the minors, the Cubs opted not to send Soler to the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is a league that runs from early October to mid-November and consists of six teams comprised of multiple prospects from every MLB team's minor league system.

McLeod said the decision was based more on experience rather than talent. When he signed in June, Soler hadn't played since November. If he had gotten a full season of minor league ball under his belt, McLeod felt that Soler likely would have been someone they placed on the AFL roster. However, with his inexperience, the Cubs decided having him work in the instructional league was better for his development.

"It's more intensive instruction and more one on one," McLeod said of the instructional league. "You can really break down mechanics and zero in on areas for improvement. They play about three games a week, so you're still getting live action. So he'll get four weeks of instructional league then an offseason strength and conditioning program."

While he's been pleased with how he's performed so far, Soler says his offseason goals include getting in better overall shape to be prepared physically for the next level, working on his defense and fine tuning his swing.

Though he's admired Cespedes' success in the big league from afar and undoubtedly is eager to patrol the same right field that Sosa once did, Soler knows he has his work cut out for him before he's ready to perform at the highest level.

"Yes, of course (I'm looking forward to seeing Wrigley)," Soler said with a smile. "(But) I still need to make a lot of adjustments to get to the big leagues."

The Cubs can only hope that when Soler finally does arrive in Chicago, not only will his appearance elicit memories of Sosa, but his stat line will as well.

Yasiel Puig (left), chatting with a Spanish language interviewer. (Staff photo: Jim Alexander)


COLUMN: Dodgers/Quakes’ Yasiel Puig — a bargain at $42 million?

BY JIM ALEXANDER

RANCHO CUCAMONGA —

Forget, if you can, the $42 million price tag the Dodgers slapped on Yasiel Puig, the young Cuban expatriate currently wearing a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes uniform. Given other recent expenditures by a big market franchise that’s finally acting like one, $6 million a year for seven years feels like chump change, especially if Puig is as good as the early scouting reports suggest he can be.

In fact, it’s probably just as well that Puig’s command of English is limited, albeit growing incrementally. The less he understands, the less fevered speculation he’s exposed to. Once, that speculation took the tone of “What were the Dodgers thinking?” Now, it goes along the lines of, “Could he be called up in September?”

Don’t expect it. A year’s absence from the game, courtesy of Cuban authorities reportedly fearful that Puig would defect — which he ultimately did anyway in June — has had the 6-foot-3, 215-pound outfielder playing catch-up from the time Los Angeles signed him at the end of that month, narrowly beating a deadline before limits were placed on international signings.

He had a .400 batting average and 1.500 OPS in nine games with the Dodgers’ club in the Arizona Rookie League after close to a month of extended spring training, with three triples, four home runs and 11 RBI in 30 at-bats.

He hadn’t yet lit up California League scoreboards in his first nine games in high Class A, though his numbers (.281 with a .395 on-base percentage) were respectable before he jammed his heel Wednesday night. But after missing three games, Puig was 4 for 4 in Sunday night’s 10-7 victory over San Jose with a walk, two RBI and two doubles, his first extra base hits as a Quake.

The key words here are potential and adjustment.

“He’s got a lot of tools,” Quakes manager Juan Bustabad said. “He’s got a plus arm. He’s a plus runner. He has plus power. It’s a matter of him now just playing games, getting experience as he plays more. Any time you take a year off and try to get back, it takes time.”

Bustabad told of a line drive that almost took out a pitcher’s kneecap, and another in which Puig’s bat speed was measured at 104 mph.

Those are some of the individual moments that make up the larger mosaic. Then there are the vignettes that reveal just how different this culture is from the one Puig left behind.

“We had a fireworks event at the ballpark,” said his interpreter, Roman Barinas. “He’d never seen fireworks before, so the little kid in him definitely came out.

“There are going to be things we take for granted that he’s never seen before, that catch his eye and that he’ll want to pay attention to.”

It is to Puig’s advantage that his manager understands his background more than most. Bustabad was a Cuban emigre, as well, though he and his parents came to Miami in 1965, when he was 3 and it was still early in Fidel Castro’s rule.

“The type of life you live here, compared to the type of life he was living in Cuba, those are big adjustments,” Bustabad said. “It takes time.”

Puig has picked up a little English but will do interviews for the foreseeable future in Spanish, through an interpreter. He sounds sure of himself, forceful even, in his native language. But no matter the question, the answers through Barinas usually come out blandly similar.

Although, in response to a question about how long it has taken Puig to regain his rhythm after his time off, the interpreter answered: “He’s hoping he can get ready soon and be a part of this championship run because he knows the Dodgers are going to win, and he’s looking forward to bringing a championship this year and wants to be part of it.”

Does that mean Puig thinks he could be called up in September?

“That’s too direct” a question, Barinas parried.

Ah, whatever. His time will come soon enough, and if he’s as good as the Dodgers think he’ll be a $42 million bargain.

[Yasiel Puig is scheduled to play in this year’s Arizona Fall League.

Puig could no doubt use the extra work, having not played for over a year after defecting from Cuban and signing with the Dodgers in June.

He has appeared in 12 games for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga this season, batting .386 (17 for 44) with one home run, four RBIs and six stolen bases.

Puig will be one of seven Dodgers playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the six-team league that plays for just over five weeks beginning Oct. 9.]

With a system devoid of any talented outfield prospects, it just baffles me as to why this organization not only passed on Yoenis Cespedes, but made not valient attempts to sign Jorge Soler or Yasiel Puig. By major league standards, all three of these players were affordable commodities. All three with the "5-tool" abilities. What are these guys thinking?

Magallanes Agrees To Terms With Cleveland Indian Toru Murata

16/09/2012 7:06:43 PM

CARACAS. -

Magallanes Navigantes , through its manager Luis Blasini, announced the eighth player to be imported for the season 2012 - 2013 of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League . This is the Japanese right-hander Toru Murata.

Murata, 27 years old, belongs to the organization of the Cleveland Indians. This season was strong in Class A, triple A and closed the year at Double A with the Akron Aeros. During his time in the minors during the 2012 left record of 3 wins and 2 losses, with a 2.89 ERA in 27 games (10 them as a starter). He worked for about 74.2 innings, 68 hits, 27 runs (24 earned), only two home runs, 66 strikeouts and surrendered 22 walks.

Thus the Magallanes Navigators have confirmed for this season with Eric Junge (LD), Brandon Lee Sisk (LZ), Blake Johnson (LD), Sergio Perez (LD), Leslie Anderson (OF), Brandon Boggs (OF), Matt Shoemaker (LD) and now Toru Murata (LD).

TIBURONES PRACTICING FOR THE START OF THE VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE SEASON
THE CARDENALES
THE NAVEGANTES

Winter baseball

The Aguilas Cibaenas hire three imported players

Cibao Eagles announced the signing of three new players as imported reinforcements. Tim Fedroff, Outfielder (Cleveland), and pitchers Josh Judy (Cincinnati) and Tim Corcoran (Dodgers).

Winston Llenas, president and CEO of the eagles hopes that this group will help strengthen the team in the two fundamental aspects of the game that the club seeks to improve on, the outfield and the pitching staff.

Tim Fedroff comes after a great season with the bat in Columbus Clippers, AAA affiliate of the Indians, and in Akron, double level A.

In AAA reported average was .325, with 9 home runs 32 RBIs, 52 runs scored, 14 doubles, 5 triples and stole 9 bases. In AA hit .305 in 54 games, scored 27.9 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs and 22 RBIs defrauded five bases.

In the sum of his statistics double and triple-A, reached double figures in all extra-base hits (doubles, triples and home runs). Concluding his year's total to .316 in both circuits (468-148), 23 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 79 runs scored, 54 RBIs, 14 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He OBP of .394, slugging .485, and .879 OPS finished.

Fedroff, 25, was selected by the Indians in July 2008 ™ round pick from the University of North Carolina.

WoW! I haven't followed minor league baseball as much as I have in the past but Fedroff's numbers look great. He will be tested in the Dominican Winter league though. Pitching is a big plus for team in this league. If he does well for the Aguilas maybe he'll get a shot at left field this coming spring.

By the way, Fedroff plays both left and center fields.

Fedroff Trying to Earn His Call to the Big Leagues Soon

By Evan Matsumoto

The Indians not-so-dramatic slide into mediocrity this season was far from unexpected. Cleveland now sits solidly in third place in the A.L. Central, barely nudging out the Kansas City Royals for bronze.

Eleven games out of first place, and with two-thirds of this west-coast road trip to go, the team’s roster needs a bat that will spark some sort of offense.

Enter Tim Fedroff.

In a Cleveland lineup that lacks a consistent bat, Fedroff would be a welcome change. He is hitting .323 this season for the Triple-A Clippers, which gives him the highest batting average among players with at least 100 at-bats currently in Columbus.

He also ranks first in on-base percentage (.381), slugging (.526) and OPS (.907), also among players with at least 100 plate appearances.

Most importantly for the Indians, however, Fedroff is hitting .316 against left-handed pitchers. He boasts a higher slugging percentage (.632) and a better OPS (.997) versus lefties than against their righty counterparts—.500 and .885, respectively.

“I’ve been feeling strong and been fortunate enough to stay healthy up to this point,” Fedroff said. “I feel like I’ve had a good mindset. I think that has a lot to do with the way I’ve been performing this year.”

Fedroff has played well as of late but has been consistent since before he was moved to Columbus. In Akron, Fedroff batted .305 with a .396 OBP and .443 SLG; he was assigned to the Clippers on June 6.

Following assignment in June, his batting average was .323, but once July rolled around Fedroff became the spark that the Clippers needed—he hit .413, had a .484 OBP and .700 SLG.

“Last season I had some good stretches that I was real happy with. It was just a matter of being more consistent, kind of minimizing the slumps that you go through throughout the year,” Fedroff said.

That consistency translates into defense as well. Fedroff, who has zero errors on the season, could fill a spot in left field that has been plagued by poor play on both sides of the ball all year.

The Indians have been calling up young talent for a while to fill holes on the team—see Zach McAllister, Cody Allen, Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall, to name a few. It would be no surprise to see one of the Clippers moved soon.

“(Playing in the majors) would be a dream come true for me. It’s been a goal of mine since I was a kid. I try to show up everyday and play as hard as I can and if the opportunity comes my way I feel like I’m going to be ready for it,” Fedroff said.

Fedroff, like every Clipper is waiting for the call. While not on the 40-man roster, if he doesn’t receive it soon, he’ll likely receive it in September when rosters expand.

Double figures: Chunichi's Soma Yamauchi pitches en route to his 10th win of the season during the Dragons' 2-0 win over the Carp on Sunday. KYODO

Monday, Sep. 17, 2012

Dragons clinch playoff spot with win over Carp

Kyodo

HIROSHIMA —

The Chunichi Dragons locked up one of the Central League's three playoff berths on Saturday with a 2-0 win over the Hiroshima Carp, clinching at least third place in the final Central League standings.

Soma Yamauchi (10-6) allowed four hits and issued four walks, while striking out one in eight innings to earn the victory. Jorge Sosa allowed the tying runs to reach base in the bottom of the ninth but escaped a two-out jam to complete the shutout and earn his fourth save.

Yamauchi reached double digits in wins for the first time in his six-year career.

"This was my target from opening day," said the 27-year-old right-hander.

A two-base error by Carp first baseman Brad Eldred allowed Dragons leadoff man Yohei Oshima to get aboard in the fourth inning. A sacrifice and a groundout to second brought him home to open the scoring against Hiroshima right-hander Bryan Bullington (6-14).

Takehiro Donoue's leadoff single and a double by his younger brother Naomichi set the stage for Yamauchi to drive in a run with a groundout to third.

The Dragons have now reached the Climax Series every year since it began in 2007 and will be in the postseason for the seventh straight season, having won the CL pennant in 2006.

Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige moved into the second spot in career strikeouts in the fifth inning. In the ninth, he struck out for the 1,714th time. Slugger Kazuhiro Kiyohara heads the list with 1,955. Tanishige is third in career games played with 2,755, behind only Hall of Famers Katsuya Nomura and Sadaharu Oh.

"I've been hearing a lot about my strikeouts recently," said the 41-year-old said. "But it's not like I've been striking out twice a game recently."

TOKYO, Sept. 17 (22:01) Kyodo

Baseball: Swallows deactivate Milledge with shoulder sprain

HIROSHIMA -

The Central League's Yakult Swallows said Monday
they have deactivated outfielder Lastings Milledge.

Milledge, who hurt his left shoulder when he fell in Sunday's
game against the DeNA BayStars at Jingu Stadium, had it examined in
Hiroshima and was diagnosed with a sprain in the joint between the
shoulder and collar bone. He is expected to be out for two to three
weeks.

So Lastings Milledge is in Japan now. Quite a comedown for such a promising kid. I remember the glowing reports when he was a HS student. He had a decent year with the Nats not too long ago. Of course, he is still young (27) so he might well find his way back to the "show" someday.

Well as we know Fedroff did not get the call to Cleveland for September although he is an OF who hits. At least he hit this year, which was quite a through for his power. But Indians had more need to take a second look at Vinnie Rottino.

As for whether Fedroff can play CF, that's debatable. He's been considered a LF prospect and nothing else from day one.

Anybody know the rule on 40 man roster for September callups? If a player is not on the 40 man roster and he is called up in September, does that count as a used option?

Could be the reason Fedroff has not been called up. No sense using an option year for a few weeks in September.