Leroux sharp in first Caribbean start of 2011

Pirates farmhand allows just two baserunners in Este's victory

Dominican Winter League

Este 5, Oriente 4

Right-hander Chris Leroux (Pirates) allowed one unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out six batters over four innings in his first start of the winter to lead the Toros (2-1) past the winless Estrellas (0-3). Right fielder Ricardo Nanita (Blue Jays) went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, and Jose Constanza (Braves) reached base twice and stole three bags in the victory.

Jose Rosario (Marlins) tossed five shutout frames for Oriente, scattering three hits while fanning three, in the losing effort. Former Major League catcher J.D. Closser singled home two runs with his first hit in Dominican Winter League action.

Juan Diaz (SS, Toros del Este): was 0-for-4. Diaz started and made his winter league debut in the Dominican Republic and took an 0-fer in his first game. Diaz was slick at shortstop but flied out, grounded out 4-3, reached on an error e3, and bounced out 4-3. Nothing solidly hit.

TOKYO, Oct. 18 (23:57) Kyodo

Baseball: Darvish ready for major league challenge

TOKYO -

The Yu Darvish sweepstakes are set to begin.

Nippon Ham Fighters ace Darvish, long said to be Japanese
baseball's next biggest export to the majors, is ready to make a move
stateside through the posting system this offseason, Kyodo News
learned through several sources on Tuesday.

YOKOHAMA -

The Chunichi Dragons were making clinching their
second consecutive Central League title appear a little like brain
surgery -- painful to watch.

But with one flick of his bat, Tony Blanco tied the game with a
three-run homer in the sixth inning Tuesday, lifting Chunichi to
back-to-back titles for the first time in club history and its ninth
pennant in a 10-inning, 3-3 tie against the Yokohama BayStars.

CLEVELAND --

The Indians have begun their offseason with a pair of moves that vacated two spots on the team's roster. On Tuesday, Cleveland outrighted pitcher Mitch Talbot and outfielder Jerad Head from the team's 40-man roster. Talbot is a Minor League free agent, while Head has the option to decline the outright assignment in favor of electing free agency as well.

I guess Civ hit that nail right on the head.

Padres' Rizzo stays hot in Dominican League

First base prospect collects three more hits, drives in another run

Dominican Winter League

Toros 9, Licey 4

Padres first baseman Anthony Rizzo collected three hits, scored twice and drove in a run to raise his average to .455 for the Toros. Ricardo Nanita (Blue Jays) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Wilkin Ramirez (Braves) added two hits and a pair of runs for Este, which won for the third time in four games. Reds infielder Juan Francisco and Dodgers outfielder Jerry Sands homered in a losing cause.

Aguilas 3, Estrellas 1

Padres right-hander Samuel Deduno struck out nine and allowed a run on two hits over 3 2/3 innings as the Aguilas extended their season-opening winning streak to four games. Audy Ciriaco (Tigers) was 2-for-4 with an RBI in his Dominican Winter League debut and Efren Navarro (Angels) hit his second homer for Cibaenas. Angels third base prospect Luis Jimenez reached twice and drove in the lone run for the winless Estrellas.

Escogido 5, Gigantes 3

Cubs catching prospect Steve Clevenger reached base three times and former sixth-round pick Cole Figueroa doubled home a pair of runs as the Leones kept the Gigantes winless. Chris Rusin (Cubs) yielded a run on three hits while fanning three over four innings in the victory. Texas League All-Star Jimmy Paredes tripled and plated two runs for Cibao, while Erick Almonte (Brewers) had two hits and scored twice.

Venezuelan Winter League

Lara 5, Zulia 0

A trio of Mariners prospects helped the last-place Cardenales win their second straight. Michael Saunders slugged a three-run homer, Alex Liddi doubled, walked and scored a run and Jarrett Grube struck out six over five scoreless innings for Lara. Justin Henry (Tigers) had the only multi-hit game for the Aguilas, going 2-for-4 out of the No. 2 spot.

Aragua 2, Margarita 1

Sergio Perez (Astros) allowed a run on two hits and struck out three over five innings to earn his first win for the Tigres. Jose Rada (Cardinals) fanned five over 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief and Major League veteran Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 for his fourth multi-hit effort in five games. Former big leaguer Yusmeiro Petit allowed two unearned runs on six hits and a walk over 5 1/3 frames for the Bravos.

La Guaira 6, Magallanes 5 (11 innings)

Jeff Baisley went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, two RBIs and three runs scored as the Tiburones outlasted the Navegantes. The A's farmhand has nine hits over his last four games. Mexican Leaguer Cesar Suarez also had three hits and drove in two runs for La Guaira, while Gregory Infante (White Sox) pitched a scoreless 11th inning to earn his first win. Cubs first baseman/outfielder Bryan LaHair, the Pacific Coast League MVP, slugged his fifth long ball in defeat. He's gone yard in three straight games.

Mexican Pacific League

Mexicali 4, Mazatlan 2

Former Major Leaguer Mike Jacobs went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Jorge Campillo pitched six solid innings to keep the Aguilas in first place. Former Cubs farmhand Issmael Salas scored twice for Mexicali, while Patrick McCoy (Nationals) tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Venados.

Culiacan 11, Guasave 3

Yankees farmhand Jorge Vazquez continued his hot start with two hits and two RBIs for the Tomateros. He's driven in nine runs in six games and has at least one RBI in each of the last four. Refugio Cervantes hit his second homer, a three-run shot and D-backs prospect Cole Gillespie plated two runs and scored twice for Culiacan. Mario Valenzuela provided most of the Algodoñeros' offense with a pair of solo homers.

Navojoa 10, Los Mochis 3

Padres farmhand Carlos Sosa reached four times, stole a base and drove in a run to lead the Mayos to their first win. Rolando Acosta slugged a grand slam and Christian Zazueta went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Navojoa. Cardinals Minor Leaguer Jermaine Curtis had two hits and scored a run for Los Mochis, which has lost five of six.

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•Jerad Head (CF, Tigres del Licey):

0-for-4, 2 K. Tough game and tough day all around for Head who learned he was outrighted off the 40-man roster.

•Juan Diaz (SS, Estrellas de Oriente):

0-for-3, K. Diaz’s second game in the DWL and still searching for that first hit in 7 plate appearances.

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara):

1-for-3, R, 3B, BB, K. A strong winter ball showing may not be enough to save Valbuena’s spot on the 40-man roster this offseason.

Juan Diaz is a pretty slick fielding shortstop

He has had that reputation confirmed by Baseball America. He hit a little for Akron, in the 250's with a modest amount of power. We have a ton of SS coming up behind him who have more offensive poential: Ronnie Rodriguez, Tony Wolters (who's moving to 2nd apparently), Jesus Martinez, Lindor.

Diaz is Rule 5 draftable I believe but I would not expect us to protect him although slick fielding IFs are one of the categories often drafted, after hard throwing but wild or young or rehabbing pitchers.

debuting this week

Stars come to play in the League

Rondon, Izturis, Cowgill, Rodriguez and Jimenez join their teams this week

Wednesday October 19, 2011 12:00 AM

Luis Carlos Gonzalez

Pitcher Hector Rondon, shortstop Cesar Izturis, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Collin Cowgill, and Luis Rodriguez grandeligas Cesar Jimenez (Seattle Mariners) are some of the figures graced with talent this second Venezuelan professional baseball week of being added to the rosters of 34 by their respective teams.

Rondon, who interrupted his rehabilitation from right elbow surgery for the birth of his son a few weeks ago, is already available to the manager of the Leones Caracas, Tim Teufel. The righty, 23, could only start two games and threw only three innings this year in Class A-Cleveland because of his discomfort, however, and seems to be attentive to the call of the capital in Caracas, wearing it with care.

Lara Cardinals in the midst of a turbulent first week, also received good news. The grandeliga of the Baltimore Orioles Cesar Izturis, and the Mariners, Cesar Jimenez, join the team in order to get them out of their bad times. Izturis is fully recovered from his groin injury and left-hander will give you more weakened bullpen depth.

Bravos de Margarita, in turn, will feature major leaguer Cowgill in the gardens. The ranger, 25, has played 36 games with the Diamondbacks teammate and Henry Blanco hit .354 Triple A with 70 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Quite a headache for opponents. Manager of La Guaira Tiburones, Marco Davalillo, will have a "pleasant" problem with the arrival of Luis Rodriguez, who played 44 games with Seattle in 2011. The mask Rossmel Perez also joins the ranks of the Tiburones.

Ender Inciarte, meanwhile, was entered by the Aguilas del Zulia. But not all good news this week. Mario Lisson was removed from the roster the Magallanes Navigators with pain in his back. William Bergolla be his substitute.

Rain delay in Santa Domingo. Estrellas looking for their first win of the winter ball season has a 3-0 lead over Licey in the 8th. Juan Diazstill looking for his first hit is 0-4 with a run scored.

Through 5 innings of play, Lara leads Zulia 6-1. For Lara, Luis Valbuena (.273) is 1-2 with a walk and a run scored. For Zulia, Juan Apocaca (.333) has a basehit in two trips to the plate.

Altuve nearly perfect at plate for Navegantes

Astros second baseman collects three hits, knocks in four runs

Venezuelan Winter League

Magallanes 13, La Guaira 4

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with a walk and four RBIs to lead the Navegantes. Pacific Coast League MVP and Cubs outfielder/first baseman Bryan LaHair homered and knocked in two runs, while Mariners prospect Francisco Martinez had four hits and scored three times for Magallanes, which got three hits from Angels shortstop Darwin Perez.

Margarita 6, Aragua 3

Major League veteran Alberto Gonzalez homered, drove in two runs and scored twice, while four relievers combined on six shutout innings in the Bravos' victory. Former Dodgers farmhand Marcel Prado led the way out of the bullpen, logging three innings. Former big leaguer Edgardo Alfonzo had two hits and drove in a run for the Tigres.

Caracas 12, Caribes 3

Rays farmhand Daniel Mayora went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs and Cubs prospect Marwin Gonzalez plated three runs for the Leones. Brewers prospect Caleb Gindl racked up three hits and former Reds Minor Leaguer Chad Reineke struck out eight over five innings to improve to 2-0.

Lara 7, Zuila 3

Big league veteran Guillermo Quiroz homered and drove in four runs to power the Cardenales to their third straight win. Alex Liddi also went deep and collected three RBIs for Lara, while fellow Mariners prospect Erasmo Ramirez struck out five and yielded one run over five innings for his first victory.

Dominican Winter League

Gigantes 6, Toros 5

Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero homered, doubled and drove in three runs to lead the Gigantes to their first win of the season. Royals farmhand Kevin Pucetas did not allow an earned run over five innings, while Phillies Minor Leaguer Juan Perez recorded a rare four-strikeout inning out of the Cibao bullpen.

Escogido 13, Aguilas 3

Astros first baseman Brett Wallace slugged a three-run homer in the first inning to send the Leones on their way to the win. Pirates farmhand Starling Marte also had a big day for Escogido, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Tigers Minor Leaguer Audy Ciriaco smacked a three-run shot for the Aguilas. Brewers farmhand Sam Narron tossed five shutout innings for his first win.

Estrellas 6, Licey 2

Angels prospect Luis Jimenez smacked a three-run homer and Denis Phipps collected three hits for the Estrellas. Fellow Reds Minor Leaguer Tom Cochran pitched five scoreless innings en route to his first win. Dodgers outfielder Jerry Sands had a pair of hits in a losing cause to raise his average to .353 in five games.

Mexican Pacific League

Culiacan 3, Guasave 2

Yankees farmhand Jorge Vazquez hit his fifth homer in seven games and Giants prospect Tyler Graham racked up three hits as the Tomateros edged the Algodoñeros. Travis Garcia also had three hits and knocked in the decisive run, while fellow Mexican Leaguer Andres Meza allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings for Culiacan.

Navojoa 4, Los Mochis 3

Padres farmhand Carlos Sosa reached base four times and raised his batting average to .435 for the Mayos. Former Orioles Minor Leaguer Kraig Binick had two hits and Robert Saucedo slugged a solo homer in the win. Ramon Orantes went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Cañeros.

Obregon 1, Hermosillo 0

Randy Keisler yielded two hits over seven innings for his second win. The Major League veteran struck out five and walked four while maintaining a flawless ERA. Rangers Minor Leaguer Cody Eppley pitching a perfect ninth to record his second save.

Mazatlan 9, Mexicali 6

Former Minor Leaguer Jon Weber led Mazatlan with three hits, including a double, and five RBIs. Cubs prospect Hung-Wen Chen notched his second save by fanning one in a perfect ninth. Issmael Salas had a pair of doubles, two RBIs and a run scored for the Aguilas.

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Dominican Winter League

•Juan Diaz (SS, Estrellas de Oriente): 0-for-4, R, K. Diaz is off to a very slow start as he is hitless in his first 11 at bats in the DR.

•Jerad Head (RF, Tigres del Licey):

1-for-4, R. Head is no longer on the Indians 40-man roster and now can control his fate on whether to decide to accept his outright assignment or declare free agency and use this fall/winter to find a better team.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 2-for-3, R, BB. Valbuena is the regular everyday second baseman for his VWL team at least in the early going and in 7 games has a .227/.320/.455 batting line.

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara):

2-for-3, R, BB. Valbuena is the regular everyday second baseman for his VWL team at least in the early going and in 7 games has a .227/.320/.455 batting line.

[With his pair of hits last night, Valbuena is now at .304 but, in 6 games, he's been charged with two errors.]

TOKYO -

A number of teams in Japanese baseball's Pacific League
have voiced concern over mobile-phone gaming company DeNA Co. buying
the Central League's Yokohama BayStars from Tokyo Broadcasting System
Holdings Inc. (TBSHD), a senior baseball official said Thursday.

The official said three or four clubs are unhappy about the
proposed sale of the club to DeNA, expressing fears over the future
stability of a company which operates an online dating service and
questioning its suitability to pro baseball.

Darvish's recent struggles to win byproduct of Fighters' real issues

By JASON COSKREY

Yu Darvish's struggle to get into the wins column recently, could be indicative of problems that could doom the Hokkaido Nippon Fighters' latest bid to reach the Japan Series.

The team is said to be weighing a plan to deploy the powerful right-hander on short rest during the Pacific League Climax Series, hoping to emulate the Chiba Lotte Marines' usage of pitcher Yoshihisa Naruse last season, and get three starts out of Darvish during the climax series if needed.

For that to work, the Fighters star will need some help.

Darvish (17-6), the team's ace and arguably the best pitcher in Japan, has registered just two wins over his last nine starts after racking up 15 in his first 20. Nippon Ham managed to win five times over that span.

That's not, however, to suggest Darvish is at fault here. The blame in this instance lies at the feet of the Nippon Ham offense.

Pitching and defense are often said to win championships, but it takes more than that alone. The Fighters have to score runs to give their pitchers a chance to carry them to the promised land.

Can't buy a win: Fighters ace Yu Darvish is 2-3 over his last nine starts. KYODO

Darvish's recent outings cast a harsh light on the team's offensive woes, which have allowed the PL pennant to slip away and probably cost Darvish a shot at a 20-win season.

In the nine starts since winning his 15th game of the year on Aug. 25, Darvish posted a 1.34 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. In 74 innings over that span, he allowed 11 runs, walked 12 batters and struck out 88.

Darvish allowed two runs or fewer in eight of those games and just one run or less in six.

He recorded eight quality starts and in his worst outing, allowed three runs on 10 hits over eight innings while striking out 10 in a 3-1 loss.

Darvish was 2-3 over that stretch, with the Nippon Ham offense scoring an average of 1.8 runs for him.

Nine games is a small sample size, but the team's production behind its star pitcher highlights its larger problems.

Slugger Sho Nakata, the main offensive weapon, had his worst month of the season in September, and Eiichi Koyano and Atsunori Inaba also saw their production taper off.

Overall, from Aug. 25, to Saturday's 1-0 win over the Seibu Lions, Nippon Ham scored an average of 2.5 runs per game for its pitchers. Not surprisingly, the team was 11-24-2 over that span.

So if the Fighters can't win when Darvish is toeing the rubber, what hope do they have of reaching the Japan Series?

Nippon Ham would presumably start Darvish to open the first stage of the climax series.

Assuming the Fighters manage reach the second stage, they'll face an automatic one-game disadvantage in a road series where the pennant-winning Fukuoka Softbank Hawks will kick things off with some combination of Tsuyoshi Wada (15-5, 1.57 ERA), Toshiya Sugiuchi (8-7, 2.03) and D.J. Houlton (17-6, 2.26) in the first three games.

Even if Darvish wins Game 1 of that series, the offense would have to give the rest of the rotation something to work with against the Hawks' other two frontline starters.

That would enable the Fighters to either win the series or put the ball in Darvish's hands for a deciding sixth game.

Everything seems to boil down to Darvish these days. His condition often dictates how good the team will be in the present and the club's immediate future hinges on whether or not he has a desire to pitch in the major leagues.

In this case, however, it's the Fighters' offense that's in the spotlight. Because if they can't step up, it won't matter who is on the mound come playoff time.