Winter League roundup: Odor powers Magallanes

Rangers prospect homers in eight-run inning; Profar goes 4-for-4 for Licey

By Adam Berry and Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 10/21/2013 1:47 A.M. ET

Venezuelan Winter League

Magallanes 12, Aragua 10

Magallanes second baseman Rougned Odor, the Rangers' No. 3 prospect, picked up both of his hits in the club's eight-run third inning, leading off with a single before punctuating the rally with a three-run homer to right field. Aragua scored four runs in the first and two in the third before Magallanes responded with the big inning. Aragua made it interesting, however, scoring three runs in the ninth inning to pull within two. Yankees Minor Leaguer Adonis Garcia also enjoyed a solid day at the plate for Magallanes, going 1-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.

Lara 3, La Guaira 1

Braves Minor Leaguer Jose Yepez hit a two-run homer to left-center field in the eighth inning to give Lara a 3-0 lead. Yepez's blast drove in Joe Thurston, a former Major Leaguer who went 3-for-4 with a double. Designated hitter Alex Cabrera led the way for La Guaira, going 3-for-4 with two doubles. Seattle's Jesus Montero drove in Lara's first run on a fly-ball single to right.

Caribes 8, Zulia 7

Caribes withstood a late rally thanks to a six-run third inning, highlighted by designated hitter Balbino Fuenmayor's grand slam. Fuenmayor, a 23-year-old corner infielder/outfielder in the Blue Jays' organization, finished 2-for-4 as Caribes' No. 9 hitter. First baseman Leslie Anderson, who spent the past four years with Tampa Bay's Triple-A Durham affiliate, went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI for Caribes. Zulia scored two runs in the ninth to pull within a run, but Ali Castillo popped out to end the threat.

Caracas 6, Margarita 0

Caracas used a 10-hit offensive attack and held Margarita to only three hits, rolling to an easy victory. Starter Yoanner Negrin pitched five innings, then relievers Ronald Uviedo, Ugueth Urbina, Wilsen Palacios and Jose Ascanio combined to shut the door over four perfect innings with five strikeouts. First baseman Jesus Aguilar, the Indians' No. 17 prospect, delivered the biggest hit in the third inning, a three-run homer to left.

Dominican Winter League

Licey 5, Escogido 3

Yamaico Navarro, an infielder who spent most of last year with Baltimore's Triple-A Norfolk affiliate, broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a three-run homer to left field, leading Licey to the victory. Rangers rookie Jurickson Profar, serving as Licey's designated hitter, finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Licey also got a strong start out of Seattle's Hector Noesi, who allowed one run on three hits in five innings. Escogido's Gregory Polanco, the Pirates' No. 2 prospect, hit an RBI double to center in the third inning.

Aguilas 7, Gigantes 4

Aguilas broke a 4-4 tie in the 11th inning, scoring three runs with a little help from Gigantes. Keury De La Cruz singled, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, coming around to score on a ground-ball single to shortstop that bounced off second baseman Leury Garcia. Later in the inning, Andy Marte reached on a throwing error by third baseman Ronny Gil, a gaffe that allowed two more Aguilas runs to score. Third baseman Maikel Franco, the Phillies' No. 2 prospect, chipped in offensively for Gigantes, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored. But the game's best performance came from left fielder Oscar Tejeda, who went 3-for-5 with a triple, a homer and three RBIs.

Mexican Pacific League

Guasave 5, Culiacan 0

Eduardo Arredondo led the way for Guasave with three hits, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Starter Manuel Flores and the bullpen held Culiacan to just six hits. Culiacan starter Omar Espinoza lost his first decision of the season, allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Los Mochis 6, Navojoa 4

Two big innings proved to be the difference in the game. Los Mochis scored four runs in the first inning thanks to a two-run homer by Brian Burgamy and back-to-back jacks from Ramon Orantes and Sebastian Valle. They scored again on a two-run home run in the eighth by Jake Fox.

Mexicali 8, Mazatlan 2

Mexicali's bats showed plenty of pop, with the team belting out 11 hits in the game. Former Major League third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff had three hits, while Mike Jacobs and Ricky Alvarez each had two. Walter Silva took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in six innings.

Obregon 10, Hermosillo 3

Obregon roughed up starter Ryan Verdugo and the Hermosillo bullpen, combining for 13 hits. Barbaro Canizares, Karim Garcia and Doug Clark all had three hits. Arturo Lopez won his first decision of the season, allowing three runs on four hits in seven innings.

The Eagles have landed: The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles throw manager Senichi Hoshino into the air after beating the Chiba Lotte Marines 8-5 on Monday to book their place in the Japan Series. | KYODO

Baseball / Japanese Baseball

Eagles reach first Japan Series

SENDAI –

Sendai celebrated on Monday as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles advanced to their first Japan Series by clinching the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage with an 8-5 win in Game 4 over the Chiba Lotte Marines.

The Eagles won the series 4-1 after starting with a one-game advantage as the league champs.

Japan’s youngest franchise, in only its ninth year in existence, will now face the nation’s oldest, the Yomiuri Giants, in the Japan Series, which starts here on Saturday.

Casey McGehee broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh with his first home run of the postseason to make a winner of his former Milwaukee Brewers teammate Takashi Saito before 24,264 at Kleenex Stadium in a game that had been postponed after a rainout on Sunday.

The right-handed-hitting McGehee provided the decisive blow in the series’ first slugfest with a homer off Carlos Rosa after the Marines had tied it in the top of the inning. The Eagles tacked on two runs in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back RBI singles by Kazuya Fujita and Ginji Akaminai.

Ace Masahiro Tanaka, who threw a shutout in Game 1, closed it out in the ninth. Tanaka, who went 24-0 in the regular season and earned his only save in the Eagles’ pennant-clinching game on Sept. 26, allowed two hits for the save and was named the series MVP.

Marines starter Yuki Karakawa gave up three runs in 1⅔ innings, with two runs coming in the second after a defensive lapse cost Lotte a chance to end the inning with a double play.

With one out and runners on the corners in a 1-0 game, second baseman Shunichi Nemoto couldn’t make up his mind which base to throw to, allowing Rakuten’s second run to score. Akaminai followed with a single off rookie Takahiro Matsunaga to make it 3-0.

Andruw Jones opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first, when Rakuten could manage just one run despite loading the bases with no outs against Karakawa, who allowed three hits, two walks and hit a batter.

The Marines turned the game around in the fourth on a three-run homer by G.G. Sato. Back-to-back hits to open the inning by Ikuhiro Kiyota and Tadahito Iguchi set up Lotte’s first run, when Toshiaki Imae hit an RBI grounder off lefty Wataru Karashima.

With two outs and two on, the seldom-used, right-handed-hitting Sato pulled a 1-1 fastball into the stands off the lefty to make it 4-3 Marines. Sato had belted a grand slam off the lefty on Aug. 24.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Jones connected with one of his big swings for a two-run homer, his second long ball of the series in the bottom half.

Matsunaga got two quick outs in the home half of the inning before walking Akaminai on four pitches. Marines skipper Tsutomu Ito brought in right-hander Yuji Nishino to face Jones and Lotte’s lead evaporated as Jones blasted a first-pitch fastball well back among the fans in left.

Karashima left after allowing four runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. The lefty struck out three.

Rakuten right-hander Kenny Ray kept Lotte off the board in the fifth and sixth. On the other side, Nishino retired all seven batters he faced after Jones took him deep.

The Marines tied it in the seventh against southpaw Kohei Hasebe on Nemoto’s RBI single.

Rakuten rookie Takahiro Norimoto, who started and allowed a run in nine innings in Game 2′s extra-inning defeat, worked a scoreless eighth.

Dodgers reach deal with Cuban infielder Guerrero

Four-year contract with 26-year-old can reach $32 million after incentives

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 10/21/2013 12:20 P.M. ET

The Dodgers have agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal with Cuban middle-infield prospect Alexander Guerrero, according to industry sources.

Performance bonuses of $1 million per year increase the potential value of the contract to $32 million. The 26-year-old Guerrero will be eligible for free agency after his age-30 season upon the completion of the deal.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Guerrero is a veteran of Serie Nacional, the island's top league, and he was an All-Star in 2010 and '11 with Las Tunas. He defected from Cuba earlier this year, established residency in Haiti and has been training in the Dominican Republic. He was granted free agency by Major League Baseball in July, but not until Sept. 6 did he secure an unblocking license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which would allow him to sign with a Major League team.

Guerrero participated in a series of showcases in July in front of scouts at the Dodgers' complex in the Dominican Republic, where Los Angeles eventually emerged as the favorite. Known for his powerful bat and speed on the bases, Guerrero felt slighted when he was left off the Cuban roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and he eventually left the island.

The infielder was formerly represented by Rudy Santin and Manny Paula at MVP Sports Management and Consulting Agency, and was reportedly nearing a five-year, $32 million with the Dodgers last month before he signed with agent Scott Boras. The reported deal did not make him a free agent after the completion of the contract.

Looks like Jose is off to a good start. Nice thing about those stats in the early going, 2 doubles out of those 4 hits. Hopefully, Ramirez can add some bulk and hit for some power this winter. That's what I'm looking for and I'm sure that will be what the organization would be looking for.

I thought we might have held Ramirez back for the first half of the winter ball season and kept him in Cleveland or Arizona and placed him on a strength program and then let him play the second half of the winter ball season to see how things pan out.

I have to think that Ramirez has a program he should be adhering to this winter and working on those power numbers should be a part of that program.

Jesus Aguilar no pressure

The slugger Leones del Caracas has improved his approach at the plate

Monday October 21, 2013 12:00 AM

Jesus Aguilar with great maturity assumes the responsibility to be the man to bring in the runs for Leones del Caracas. The pressure seems to not phase the person who was the MVP in the first week of championship "just trying to get good at bats at every turn and I have the mentality of being the hero of the game. My goal is to take good at-bats," said the powerful right-handed hitter.

Aguilar brought that approach with his results in the minors and in this early crazy start to this season. After driving in 105 runs in 130 games in Double-A with the Cleveland Indians, the first baseman has settled into the lineup of Lions manager, Dave Hudgens, during this early season.

"I'm using my hands faster with people in scoring position. That was the key to success in America and that's what I'm doing here," said Aguilar.

Excluding yesterday The Maracay had the best average in the league at .457 (35-16) with two homers and seven RBIs and 11 runs scored. "Now I'm comfortable at the plate. Trying not to look for bad pitches. Having a good selection of pitches will be key in my career," who wants to avoid being the typical cleanup hitter with many strikeouts.

During the first 35 turns only struck out four times. "I have taken many tips from Bob Abreu, Luis Rodriguez and Gregorio Petit.

I'm young and I can still keep learning," acknowledged Aguilar, who counts the hours before the first Caracas-Magallanes games of the season, which will be held tomorrow at the Joé Bernardo Perez at Valencia.

"All of us here we prepare for challenging games where you must do things right," said Aguilar, who gives credit to the outstanding offensive production from the rest of his teammates. "Being in a lineup like this one gives you more confidence."

[who counts the hours before the first Caracas-Magallanes games of the season This is the biggest rivalry in winter base ball similar to the Yankees and Red Sox. The games are always sold out and always played with playoff enthusiasm]

BASEBALL | 4:09 pm

Check the calendar for all Caracas-Magallanes games for the season

In total rivals play nine games during the regular season

IRE. -

On Tuesday, October 22, will play the first game between the rivals of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League: Leones del Caracas and Navegantes del Magallanes. This year rivals will meet in nine occasions during the regular round.

The first match between Caracas and Magallanes will be played on Tuesday, October 22, in Valencia, while the final will be played on December 28 in Caracas.

The overall record for the two teams in this heated rivalry is Caracas 366 wins and Magallanes 365 wins.

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Monday, October 21, 2013

Doosan Bears, Samsung Lions to play in Korean Series

Championship Series in Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) scheduled to commence on Thursday, October 24

Defending champion Samsung Lions will take on the Doosan Bears in the Korean Series. The best-of-seven championship series of the Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) is slated to commence on Thursday, October 24 in Daegu – home of the Lions.

The Samsung Lions qualified for the Korean Series thanks to a first-place finish in the regular season, edging out the LG Twins, Nexen Heroes and Doosan Bears with a 75-51 record (two ties). The fourth-place Bears then eliminated the Heroes and Twins en route to the finals.

The winner of the Korean Series will participate in the Asia Series 2013 “International Tournament of Champions”, facing the winners of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the Australian Baseball League (ABL) and the European Champions Cup at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung from November 15 to 20.

Schedule Korean Series:

Thursday, October 24, 2013:
18:00 Samsung Lions vs Doosan Bears

Friday, October 25, 2013:
18:00 Samsung Lions vs Doosan Bears

Sunday, October 27, 2013:
18:00 Doosan Bears – Samsung Lions

Monday, October 28, 2013:
18:00 Doosan Bears – Samsung Lions

Tuesday, October 29, 2013:
18:00 Doosan Bears – Samsung Lions*

Thursday, October 31, 2013:
18:00 Samsung Lions vs Doosan Bears*

Friday, November 1, 2013:
18:00 Samsung Lions vs Doosan Bears*

*if necessary

Around the Farm: October 21, 2013
Erik Gonzalez

By Michael Hattery

October 22, 2013

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Around the Farm (ATF) takes a quick look at some of the daily performances by Indians prospects. This is a special fall and winter ball version of ATF that recaps all the offseason action by Indians players in the Arizona Fall League and the Caribbean Leagues. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in the game.

Note, there were no games in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Arizona Fall League

Tyler Naquin (Surprise Saguaros CF): 1-3, RBI, BB, K. An entirely sound performance for Naquin on Monday evening, another step in the right direction in an important opportunity for the former first round pick. So far, through 42 plate appearances in the AFL, Naquin has a strikeout rate at 16.2%. While his BABIP has inflated in a small sample, the most important piece to monitor in his development will be his K/BB ratio; with progression to his plate discipline being essential in growing his MLB ceiling.

Joe Wendle (Surprise Saguaros 2B): 0-4, 2 K. The AFL has been a humbling experience for Wendle so far. Indeed, Wendle has looked overmatched for the most part with a strikeout rate over 28%. However, 21 at bats at the end of a long season is not anything we should interpret rather, just like in Naquin’s numbers, it is merely worth tracking.

Jeff Johnson (Surprise Saguaros RP): IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, K, HR. It is hard to imagine being more ineffective than Johnson was on Monday night. Not an impressive start so far for the young reliever.

Dominican Winter League

Juan Diaz (Estrellas de Oriente SS): 0-3, 2 K. The sort of performance that made Juan Diaz an afterthought in the organization. Unless he is retained merely to soak up at bats on the Columbus roster, one would expect his time with the Tribe to expire shortly.

Erik Gonzalez (Leones del Escogido SS): 2-5, 3B, 2 K. While the strikeouts are not particularly pretty; it was still a solid around night. Gonzalez showed some nice power this season posting 53 extra base hits in just over 500 at bats. However, for Gonzalez to have any sort of big league impact he has to start taking walks. His 109-29 K/BB ratio is unfathomably poor and simply must improve.

Winter League roundup: Brentz aids Escogido

By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 10/22/2013 2:00 A.M. ET

Dominican Winter League

Escogido 12, Estrellas 4

All but one Escogido starter had a hit, with Bryce Brentz and Fernando Martinez leading the way with three RBIs apiece. Brentz, who spent most of the season in the Red Sox organization with Triple-A Pawtucket, had the only home run for Escogido, a three-run shot in the sixth inning. After Omar Javier exited -- allowing two runs in five innings -- Estrellas' bullpen imploded, allowing 10 runs on eight hits.

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ESPN (Outside the Lines), is going to Havana

by Ray Otero

October 22, 2013 For lovers of Cuban baseball, this Sunday at 8:00 am, the NORTH AMERICAN sports television network, ESPN in English, ESPN2 will broadcast on its channel, a story about how Cuban baseball is played in the island, as part of the Outside the Lines.

Material is about 15 minutes long and is given because of the growing interest aroused in American baseball circles concerning the island with the advent and recent development of players on different major league teams migrating from Cuba.

The program includes an interview with the manager of the current Cuban national team, the charismatic Victor Mesa of Team Villa Clara.

Paula Lavigne is a reporter and analyst for ESPN, and is the person behind the material and the idea of televising this series on Cuban baseball.

Lavigne has an enviable resume that includes being a finalist in the 2012 award for Reporter Researcher and Editor, winner in 2011 of the Gannett Foundation Award for Investigative Journalism, Watchdog Journalism, in addition to a nomination for an Emmy in 2009.

Outside the lines airs every weekday from 4:30 pm (Eastern Time U.S. and Havana), except Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Sunday edition is the only one with hours from 8:00 am.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Yomiuri Giants reach Nippon Series 2013

Golden Eagles reach championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for first time

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Yomiuri Giants will play in the Nippon Series 2013 – the championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). For the nine-year-old Golden Eagles it is their first appearance in the best-of-seven finals, while record title holders Giants have claimed 22 NPB pennants.

Both teams had dominated through the regular season. Yomiuri finished in first place in the Central League with an 84-53 record (seven ties), while Rakuten ranked first in the Pacific League with an 82-59 (three ties) record. After having a bye in the first round of the Climax Series, the Giants eliminated Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the final stage. The Golden Eagles reached the Nippon Series through defeating the Chiba Lotte Marines.

The Nippon Series 2013 starts on Saturday, October 26, 2013.

Schedule Nippon Series 2013:

Saturday, October 26, 2013:
18:30 Rakuten – Yomiuri

Sunday, October 27, 2013:
18:30 Rakuten – Yomiuri

Tuesday, October 29, 2013:
18:15 Yomiuri – Rakuten

Wednesday, October 30, 2013:
18:15 Yomiuri – Rakuten

Thursday, October 31, 2013:
18:15 Yomiuri – Rakuten*

Saturday, November 2, 2013:
18:30 Rakuten – Yomiuri*

Sunday, November 3, 2013:
18:30 Rakuten – Yomiuri*

*if necessary

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KONAMI CORPORATION is proud to announce that it will be the sponsor of the Nippon Series (hosted by Nippon Professional Baseball [below, NPB]), the championship to determine the top professional baseball team in Japan. Under the official title of the KONAMI Nippon Series 2013, this marks our third consecutive year of sponsorship. The first game of the series will be held on Saturday, October 26 at the home stadium of whichever team wins the Pacific League.

[Who Would'a Thunk It??? - Baseball Is Truly A "National" Sport - Bud Must Be Proud ]

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Pakistan invites 38 Players for Training Camp in preparation for 26th Asian Games

Press Release Pakistan Federation Baseball

Selection Committee of Pakistan Federation Baseball has selected 38 players for Training Camp of National Baseball Team. Talking with Reporters Syed Khawar Shah Executive Director West Asia Baseball Federation of Asia / Secretary General Pakistan Federation Baseball told that during the 20th National Baseball Championship 2013 Selection Committee of Pakistan Federation Baseball has selected 38 best players for Training Camp of 26th Asian Games which will going to be held next year in Korea. Following selection committee will pick up the players:

1. Syed Khawar Shah Chairman
2. Jameel Kamran Member
3. Mussadiq Hanif Member
4. Basit Murtaza Member
5. Syed Fakhar Ali Shah Member
6. Sarfraz Ahmed Member

Syed Khawar Shah also informed that the following players were selected for the Training Camp: Basit Murtaza Butt, Zubair Nawaz, Hafiz Usman, Sumair Zawar, Adnan Butt (Junior), Zaheer Bashir, Umair Imdad Bhatti, Arif Niazi, Jawad, Khalid, Durr-e-Hussain, Tariq, Khalil-ur-Rehman, Nasir, Umer, Nasir Butt, Ahsan Baig, Farzand, Jawad Ali, Abdul Kaleem, Nadeem Faisal, Adil Sardar, Usama Yaseen, Burhan Johar, Muzammil Hussain, Waseem Abbas, Zahid Ammar, Muhammad Ishaq, Bilal Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Asad Abbas, Amir Iqbal, Waheed Ashraf, Muhammad Khalil, Muhammad Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Shahid Mehmood, Muhammad Irmood

Baseball America

Can Cubs’ Jorge Soler Be The Next Impact Cuban Hitter? (VIDEO)

October 21, 2013

by Bill Mitchell

PHOENIX—

The influence of Cuban ballplayers in Major League Baseball has never been more evident than this year’s postseason, with Yasiel Puig (Dodgers), Jose Iglesias (Tigers) and Yoenis Cespedes (Athletics) all playing key roles in their teams’ success. The immediate impact of these and other recent émigrés has driven up prices for defecting Cuban players, evidenced by the White Sox signing this week of first baseman/DH Jose Abreu to a six-year, $68 million deal.

Meanwhile Jorge Soler, whom the Chicago Cubs signed in 2012 to a nine-year, $30 million contract, waits patiently for his chance in the big leagues.

The 21-year-old outfielder is currently playing for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League, making up for time lost this season after a stress fracture in June to his left tibia sidelined Soler for the remainder of the regular season. He was off to a good start at high Class A Daytona, batting .281/.343/.467, albeit with several self-induced absences from the lineup earlier in the year

Soler was first suspended for five games for a bat-wielding incident and later benched for a few games by Daytona manager Dave Keller for not hustling down the line on ground balls. Soler believes he learned a valuable lesson about how to respect the game from these incidents.

“I talked to them (Cubs management) and I apologized,” Soler said through translator Albert Almora, a fellow Cubs teammate on the Solar Sox roster. “I know what I did and I just learned from that.”

Adjusting to the American game has been a challenge for Soler, just like it is for other Cuban players coming to the United States.

“Baseball here is completely different,” Soler said. “It’s calmer here but it’s more organized, and you respect the game a lot more here than you do over there.”

Soler has earned kudos from Solar Sox skipper Bill Richardson and hitting coach Brian Harper for his hard work and attitude this fall. The extra effort he puts in belies the misconception that he isn’t always hustling on the field.

“Right now he’s not in baseball shape,” said Harper, the Cubs’ Triple-A Iowa hitting coach during the regular season “He missed three months where he couldn’t run. He had a boot on for three months and he’s not moving like he normally does . . . He’s a really good kid and he works hard.”

Richardson added that his first impression of Soler was that the young outfielder was not yet able to go full speed, and invited him to come out for early work. Soler agreed to the extra sessions, and Richardson, who managed the Angels’ Rookie-level Orem team during the regular season, is already seeing a difference.

“He’s definitely getting his baseball legs underneath him,” Richardson said. “With that comes a lot of things— jumps off the bat in the outfield and also pitch selection. It’s evolving . . . it’s getting closer and closer each time he goes out there. That’s why this is so valuable for him.”

One change scouts have noticed about Soler is that he appears physically stronger this fall, not surprising since he was limited to what conditioning work he could do when his foot was in a boot during his injury rehab time.

“When I was hurt, all I did was upper body every day,” Soler said. “That got me in really good shape.”

One scout covering the AFL voiced a concern over Soler’s approach at the plate, pointing out that he’s trying to kill every pitch and showing vulnerability to good spin. But Harper believes that’s also a result of the long layoff.

“One of the things before Jorge was hurt that was so unusual for a young hitter . . . Jorge was very disciplined at the plate and didn’t chase pitches,” Harper said. “What I see now is that he’s missed a few months of baseball and he’s a little out of control. That’s not like him normally. I think it’s more of this is like a spring training for him where he’s trying to get the feel of his swing. He’s usually not out of control . . . he’s very controlled, and it’s unusual for him.”

Richardson didn’t work with Soler before this AFL season, but he’s already seeing progress in just the first two weeks.

“You can see it, he’s not taking those wild hacks at bad pitches as much now,” Richardson said. “When it gets contagious he’s going to get some confidence back, and watch out.”

Just as important as adapting to the American style of baseball has been Soler’s adjustment to living in the United States compared to life in Cuba. In addition to the hurdle of learning the English language, Soler has had to adapt to a completely different culture.

“It’s completely different from the lifestyle in Cuba,” Soler said. “It’s completely different from what I grew up doing. When you’re in Cuba you can play in the streets; here you’re limited in stuff like that.”

Almora, whose family emigrated from Cuba to Florida before he was born, has been an invaluable companion to Soler in that adjustment. The two have been like brothers since they reported to the Cubs minor league facility within weeks of each other in July 2012. It’s really been a valuable experience for both young men.

“To be honest, we do everything together,” Almora, the Cubs’ 2012 first-round pick, said. “Whenever he gives me advice, I listen. Whenever I give him advice, he listens. My advice to him isn’t baseball-related, it’s just life-related, like this is how it is here. He’s a very good listener, he’s very smart. It’s definitely a mutual relationship . . . We talk between each other and we have a great relationship.”

Almora’s parents and Soler’s father are visiting Arizona while their respective sons are playing ball. It’s important for Soler to have that family tie since his mother and sister are still in Cuba. His dad, who has been preparing their native Cuban food while in Arizona, will be leaving soon, after which the Almora family will make sure Soler is taken good care of in his father’s absence.

“When his dad leaves we will have him at our house,” Almora said, “and he will be eating Cuban food. That will do him good.”

In that big match up between Caracas and Magallanes, heading into the bottom of the 6th, the Navigators lead the Lions 4-2. With the Navigators leading 2-0 after 2 innings of play, Jesus Aguilar belted a 2-run homer to tie the game at 2 runs apiece. The Navigators answered in their half of the 3rd with a pair of runs. Aguilar's homer was his 4th out of 11 games played. That's nice to see.

Licey was hammering the Toros 17-5 in the 7th. Jose Ramirez was 1-4 (.333) but was pulled for a pinch runner in the 6th. I don't think there was anything to be alarmed about. Many of the starters were substituted for in that game once it got away from the Toros.