Cleveland Sports Forum

Juan Diaz SS (Estrellas Orientales is missing in action. He hasn't been hitting a lick and he's not played in the last three ball games. It appears he's lost his starting job.

The Bravos - Caribes game is in the 8th. Bryson with a nice 2/3 innings of work

Pinto pitches Caribes to seventh straight win

Former big league southpaw strikes out five over 6 1/3 innings

Venezuelan Winter League

Caribes 1, Margarita 0

Renyel Pinto allowed five hits and struck out five over 6 1/3 innings as the Caribes blanked the Bravos for their seventh straight victory. The former Major Leaguer has yielded one run over 19 1/3 frames during a personal three-game winning streak. Former big leaguer Dmitri Young doubled and scored the lone run for Anzoategui.

Zulia 5, Aragua 3

Minor League veteran Dwayne Pollok took a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning as the Aguilas snapped the Tigres' three-game winning streak. Blue Jays prospect Darin Mastroianni doubled, singled and scored twice for Zulia, while former big leaguer Edgardo Alfonzo had two of the eight hits for Aragua.
Renyel Pinto shares the Venezuelan Winter League lead with three wins and is sixth with a 1.85 ERA. (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)

Lara 5, Magallanes 3

Indians infielder Luis Valbuena had two hits, including a two-run double, to help the Cardenales end a four-game slide. Former Major Leaguer Jolbert Cabrera chipped in two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Lara, while Indians outfielder Ezequiel Carrera homered in a losing cause.

Caracas 14, La Guaira 4

Phillies prospect Carlos Rivero went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four RBIs and a run scored to lead the Leones past the Tiburones. Rays farmhand Daniel Mayora homered, drove in three runs and scored three times for Caracas, while Giants catcher Hector Sanchez was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to raise his average to .440 for La Guaira.

Dominican Winter League

Aguilas 2, Estrellas 1

Former Major Leaguer Lorenzo Barcelo allowed a run on three hits over six innings for his league-leading third win as the Aguilas edged the Estrellas. Angels prospect Efren Navarro homered, doubled and scored twice for the Aguilas, while Braves prospect Donell Linares drove in the lone run for the Estrellas, who have lost four in a row.

Toros 5, Licey 3

Former White Sox farmhand Victor Mercedes hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning as the first-place Toros won their fourth straight. Major League veteran Raul Valdes struck out six and gave up three runs on five hits over eight innings for the victory, while former big league infielder Pablo Ozuna hit a two-run triple for the Tigres.

Escogido 3, Gigantes 2

Giants first baseman/outfielder Brandon Belt had two hits and scored twice to help the Leones edge the Gigantes. Rays prospect Alex Colome tossed 1 1/3 hitless innings as five Escogido relievers combined on 4 1/3 shutout frames. Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero remained hot with an RBI single for last-place Cibao.

Mexican Pacific League

Los Mochis 5, Mexicali 3

Cardinals prospect Jermaine Curtis doubled, walked twice and scored twice as the Cañeros surprised the first-place Aguilas. Jesus Arredondo contributed two hits and two RBIs off the bench for Los Mochis, while former Major Leaguer Geronimo Gil went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Mexicali.

Culiacan 10, Mazatlan 4

Giants prospect Tyler Graham went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored to lead the Tomateros past the Venados. Former Tigers farmhand Max Leon drove in two runs and also scored twice to help Culiacan climb within a game of first place. Minor League veteran Jon Weber slugged his second homer in a losing cause.

Hermosillo 7, Obregon 6 (10 innings)

Former Reds farmhand Jesse Gutierrez went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and fell a triple shy of the cycle as the last-place Naranjeros avoided a third straight loss. Val Majewski, who ended the season in the Rangers organization, chipped in two hits and scored twice for Hermosillo, which got a walk-off single from Erick Rodriguez. Former Braves Minor Leaguers Iker Franco and Barbaro Canizares homered in a losing cause.

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Dominican Winter League

•Jerad Head (RF, Tigres del Licey): 0-for-4, 2 K. Head is having an okay showing with the batting average (.275) and production (2 HR, 7 RBI), but the biggest area of improvement needed is his plate discipline and 13 strikeouts in 51 at bats shows that so far not much has changed.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Rob Bryson (RP, Bravos de Margarita): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Bryson faced just two batters and get them both out. In 5 appearances this fall he has a nice 1.80 ERA, but has allowed 9 baserunners and 2 home runs in 5.0 innings.

•Ezequiel Carrera (CF, Navegantes del Magallanes): 2-for-5, 2 R, HR, RBI. Carrera has only been playing for a week but is off to a hot start hitting .368 in 5 games and he hit his first homer last night.

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K. Valbuena had his first good game in a week and got out of a 5-for-28 slump his last 8 games

Leones del Caracas
Naranjeros de Hermosillo
Estrellas de Oriente

Ramirez, Giants set to part ways

TOKYO, Nov. 1 (20:46) Kyodo

Two-time Central League MVP slugger Alex Ramirez will likely
part with the Yomiuri Giants in search of more playing time, a team
official told Kyodo News on Tuesday.

''I think that's the way things are headed,'' the official said.
''He's pretty set about wanting to play more often.''

The 37-year-old Ramirez signed with the Giants in 2008 from the
Yakult Swallows, helping the team to the Japan Series title in 2009.
He was named the league's most valuable player in both 2008 and 2009,
and won the home run and RBI titles last season.

Ramirez, however, slowed down this season, batting .279 with 23
homers -- his lowest home run total in nine years -- as the Giants
were eliminated by his old team in the first stage of the Climax
Series.

His streak of appearances stopped at 985 in July, and the
defensively challenged outfielder was often benched mid-game by
manager Tatsunori Hara for tactical purposes.

In his 11 years in Japan, the crowd-pleasing Ramirez has had a
.303 batting average with 1,850 hits and 359 home runs. He had eight
consecutive 100-RBI seasons from 2003 to 2010, which is a Japanese
baseball record.

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If and when outfielder Alex Ramirez gets his milestone 2,000th hit in Japan, he likely won't be getting it with the Yomiuri Giants.

Not long after the Giants were eliminated from the postseason in a 3-1 defeat to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Monday, the two-time Central League MVP told reporters he sought a change of scenery.

Ramirez, who had 86 hits as a major leaguer before joining the Swallows in 2001, has 1,850 hits since coming to Japan. Although he is 37, Ramirez has managed more than 150 hits in nine of his 11 seasons here.

This year, when the league batting average tumbled from .268 to .242, Ramirez batted a career-worst .279 with a career low 133 hits in 137 games. His 23 home runs were the most on the Giants and tied him for second in the league.

He joined the Giants in 2008, when he earned CL MVP honors and the club made it as far as Game 7 of the Japan Series. He repeated as MVP in 2009, when the Giants won their third straight CL pennant and their first Japan Series title since 2002.

Ramirez, in the final year of his contract with Yomiuri, was 0-for-3 with a walk in Monday's game.

Yoshimi handcuffs Swallows as Dragons take Game 1

NAGOYA, Nov. 2 (21:37) Kyodo

Kazuki Yoshimi threw one-run ball over 7-1/3 strong innings and
Masahiko Morino drove in both of his team's runs as the Chunichi
Dragons edged the Yakult Swallows 2-1 in Game 1 of the Central League
Climax Series final stage on Wednesday.

The CL champion Dragons, who received an automatic one-win lead
and home field advantage as the pennant winner, took a 2-0 lead in
the series against the second-place Swallows. The first team to reach
four wins advances to the best-of-seven Japan Series.

Yoshimi, an 18-game winner who was 4-0 with a 1.22 ERA against
Yakult during the regular season, scattered five hits and struck out
two in a 112-pitch outing at Nagoya Dome.

Kazuhiro Ibata had a one-out double down the left-field line in
the bottom of the first and scored the opening run on Morino's double
to right-center. Morino added a run-scoring single in the third.

Yakult catcher Ryoji Aikawa, who homered in Game 3 of the first
stage against the third-place Yomiuri Giants, had a leadoff double in
the third and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Yakult starter
Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi.

Norichika Aoki drew a walk to put runners at the corners, but
Yoshimi struck out Hiroyasu Tanaka swinging and got Kazuki Fukuchi to
ground out to end the threat.

The Swallows placed runs at first and second with one out in the
sixth, and Yoshimi delivered once again on flyouts by Kazuhiro
Hatakeyama and Shinya Miyamoto.

Yakult cut the deficit in half against reliever Takuya Asao, who
inherited a runner and yielded a base hit in the eighth, when a
runner scored from third on Fukuchi's groundball to shortstop on a
failed attempt at a double play.

Asao struggled to contain his wildness, walking a pair of
batters in the ninth before all-time saves leader Hitoki Iwase got
Josh Whitesell to ground out to third to record the final out.

Masubuchi, who went 7-11 with a 4.22 ERA in 27 mound appearances
in 2011, was done after allowing two runs and four hits in just 2-1/3
innings.

Game 2 of the series, which could potentially go six games, is
Thursday night in Nagoya.

The Swallows, who beat Yomiuri two games to one in the first
stage of the playoffs, are aiming to play in the Japan Series for the
first time in 10 years.

It was Danny's turn last night. Toru Murata gave up his first run in 4 startS a couple of nights ago. Last night is was Danny Salazar's turn. Danny gave up 3 first inning runs. That was enough for the
Caballos. The Caballos went on to win this contest over the Roneros by a score of 3-2.

Paulo Espino came on in relief for the Diablos against the Rojos and got roughed up in his one inning of work.

Nats teammates glad to take in Taiwan

Detwiler, Balester, Morse face Wang in his native country

By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 11/02/11 9:14 AM ET

TAIPEI, Taiwan --

Michael Morse arrived as a Major League star in 2011, hitting 31 home runs when his previous career-high total was 15.

So when he and his Washington Nationals teammate, pitcher Ross Detwiler, arrived at the MLB Clubhouse store in Taipei City for an autograph-signing appearance on Wednesday morning, only a few minutes had passed before a fan informed Morse that he had a new total in mind for the slugger in 2012.

Fifty.
Michael Morse and Ross Detwiler felt the love at the MLB store in Taipei City during an autograph session.

Players experience Taiwan"I like the way he's thinking," Morse said. "That's why I like Taiwan."

Detwiler, Nationals pitcher Collin Balester and even the team's mascot, Screech, have been in agreement since arriving Sunday for the five-game, three-city tour of the native country of their teammate, starter Chien-Ming Wang.

The MLB All-Stars won Game 1 of the exhibition series against the Chinese Taipei national team, which includes Wang, in Taipei, and will play their next game in the city of Taichung on Thursday. Games 2 and 3, played at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung, will air on Thursday and Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MLB.TV and MLB Network. Games 4 and 5, played at Chengcing Lake Stadium in Kaohsiung, will air on MLB.TV and MLB Network at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday and at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The line of fans out the door and down the block, the hundreds of autographs signed and the cheerleaders who performed during their introduction showed Morse and Detwiler that baseball players are considered big-time celebrities in Taiwan.

"I feel like Brad Pitt or something," Morse said.

A made-for-Hollywood story could be developing in Washington, with ownership that isn't afraid to spend money to succeed and the highest-profile prospects having already arrived (Stephen Strasburg) and soon to come (Bryce Harper).

The Nationals' large contingent in Taiwan expressed eagerness to get back after it in Spring Training following a strong conclusion to the 2011 campaign under manager Davey Johnson, who has signed on for another year.

Morse was a huge part of the improvement. The 29-year-old, who had been traded by the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners, has matured and prospered with Washington, and there's really no secret as to why.

"I've gotten an opportunity," Morse said. "Earlier in my career, I was always blocked by veteran players. Washington gave me a chance to show what I can do, and it's been great."

Morse had a stunning offensive year, hitting .303 with those 31 homers and 95 RBIs. He had the highest OPS of his career with a .910 clip, slugging .550. And now he's touring with a team of big-league stars, soaking in the culture and seeing what baseball is like on the other side of the world.

Morse said the fact that Wang is a national hero has made it a special visit.

"Collin's here, Ross is here, and I'm thankful for the Nationals to bring all of us here," Morse said. "It's a great thing that we're doing. A lot of guys here, we've played against or we've played with in the Minor Leagues, and there are a lot of guys we haven't seen in a long time. But stuff like this brings bonds back together. It shows you that MLB, we're kind of like a family."

Detwiler, a 25-year-old lefty starter, could be a breakout candidate a la Morse in 2012. He came back from hip surgery in July of last season and put up a 3.00 ERA while making 10 starts.

"Spring Training was good, it went a little slow in Triple-A to begin with, and I really found out some things about myself," Detwiler said. "I learned what I needed to do to succeed and kind of proved some things to myself and other people toward the end of the year. I'll try to just go from there and stay on the same plane as before."

Detwiler was the Nationals' first-round selection (sixth overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, so the team has big plans for the southpaw. As for now, he'll be penciled into MLB All-Stars manager Bruce Bochy's rotation in Taiwan, and he's got buddies from his own clubhouse to share the experience with.

One of those friends is Balester, a starter-turned-reliever who seems to have found a role in the bullpen and could be a major factor for Johnson next season.

"I was in a different role than I'm used to, but I just went out there and gave them all I could every single inning I could, and I feel like I succeeded, so this year I'm going to continue working on the things I was working on," Balester said. "I'm going to use my changeup more and my two-seam, and next year just do whatever is needed."

As Balester spoke those words, he was preparing for a game in a baseball-crazy country he's visiting for the first time. Morse and Detwiler were with him, savoring every moment.

"We're well-represented with three guys," Balester said. "It's great to be here, it was great to be asked, and it's been a fun time."

Valbuena drove in two runs in the fifth with a double | Edixon Gamez

BARQUISIMETO .-

Luis Valbuena was the offensive star for the locals , who won for the first time against league leading Magallanes. The infielder drove in two runs in the fifth with a double to centerfield.

Thu, Nov 03, 2011 - Page 20　

MLB players amazed at Taiwanese fans’ passion

Two Washington Nationals players, in Taiwan for a five-game exhibition series pitting Major League Baseball (MLB) players against Taiwan’s national team, said yesterday that they were very excited to see the passion and enthusiasm of Taiwan’s baseball fans.

At a fan event in Taipei, Michael Morse and Ross Detwiler said they were impressed by the crowd at the first exhibition game on Tuesday night, which the MLB stars led 7-0 when it was called in the sixth inning because of rain.

“The fans are great. They’re in the game, so passionate for the game,” Morse said. “You never know how much the fans love the game until you come here. I feel like we are all fortunate to be here and experience it.”

Scores of fans had lined up outside the MLB Clubhouse Store for yesterday’s fan event long before the two arrived at 9am.

Sun Yi-ching, 22, arrived at about midnight for a place at the head of the line, saying “the long wait is totally worth it.”

“It’s very rare to have so many MLB players come to Taiwan,” said Sun, a college student who started to follow baseball in elementary school.

Besides wearing Washington Nationals jerseys, several fans also made placards to show their -support for the stars.

Holding one that read, “38 Michael Morse, Taiwan’s good friend,” Wu Fu-wen, 36, said he had just finished his night shift and came to see the first baseman.

Meanwhile, Detwiler, who is scheduled to start the second game of the series tonight in Taichung, said his bullpen sessions had gone “pretty well” and that he was ready for his appearance.

The remaining four games of the series are scheduled to be played in Taichung tonight and tomorrow night and in Kaohsiung on Saturday and Sunday nights.

November 1, 2011 11:41 a.m.

Doubtful For Saturday's opener of the Lions Chapman has inflammation in his left shoulder

Aroldis Chapman played with the Lions.

(AP) By Antolin Maldonado Rios

The pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who was scheduled to start the opening game for the Ponce Lions this Saturday, missed his scheduled departure yesterday in the Arizona Fall League because of discomfort in his left shoulder.

Frankie Thon, general manager of the Lions in the Puerto Rican winter ball, learned the news when approached by the New Day and said he will contact the organization to know how this might affect plans to pitch in Puerto Rico.

"I'm going to have to call over there because he's supposed to arrive tomorrow and was going to start on Saturday. I'm surprised I have not been called, because we have been coordinating everything, "said Thon this morning.

Chapman, a lefty belonging to the Cincinnati Reds in the Major League Baseball, and possessing a fastball of 100 miles per hour, has made two appearances in relief with the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona league .

According to Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, the Cuban has a small swelling on his shoulder and said, probably because he tried to do too much too soon, as he had not worked so far.

Chapman came to throw 2 2 / 3 innings in relief, which allowed just one hit and one run in the beginning of a transition to become a starter next season for Cincinnati. Expected to start several games and test his arm in winter ball in Puerto Rico, now it is unknown whether the condition of his arm will alter the plans.

At least Jocketty has not made any decision yet, as he told MLB.com that they will "try and determine a plan to follow." "We will have a better idea in a day or two, after we see how it is responding to medical treatment."

The Puerto Rican Winter League has its set of opening games this up coming weekend. To date, Giovanny Soto will be playing for the Gigantes de Carolina and Shelly Duncan with the Indios de Mayaguez.

The Columbian Winter League gets underway this month on the 18th. Giovanny Urshela will be playing with the Tigres de Cartegena.