Cleveland Sports Forum

Top prospect Ramirez stands out in Venezuela

Excellent control has righty moving up ranks for Mariners

By Greg Johns / MLB.com | 11/03/11 8:27 PM ET

SEATTLE --

While much of the talk of future Mariners pitching revolves around top Draft picks Danny Hultzen, Tai Walker and James Paxton, another name to keep an eye on is Erasmo Ramirez.

Ramirez, a 21-year-old from Nicaragua, has moved quickly up the Mariners' Minor League system the past two years and now is off to an excellent start in the Venezuela Winter League.

The 5-foot-11 right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA in four starts for Cardenales de Lara, giving up just 17 hits and one walk with 12 strikeouts. His 0.87 WHIP is the second best in the Venezuelan League and he's fourth in ERA.

His excellent control ranks him first in the league among starters in walks per nine innings (0.44).

That command is one of the reasons he's regarded as a top prospect by the Mariners. Ramirez went 10-8 with a 4.83 ERA in splitting time between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma this past season after being named Pitcher of the Year for Class A Clinton in his first season of pro ball in 2010.

In 26 starts with Jackson and Tacoma, he walked just 32 batters in 152 2/3 innings -- or 1.9 walks per nine innings -- while striking out 116

Perez tosses 6 2/3 scoreless frames

Astros right-hander scatters three hits, leads Tigres' shutout

Venezuelan Winter League

Aragua 1, Caracas 0

Houston Astros right-hander Sergio Perez (2-0) scattered three hits and a walk while striking out three batters over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in his fifth start of the year, and Guillermo Rodriguez plated the game's only run as the Tigres edged the Leones. Yohan Pino (Blue Jays) retired all four batters he faced, lowering his ERA to 3.07 in the victory. Ramon Cabrera (Pirates), Jose Lobaton (Rays) and Wladimir Sutil (Astros) accounted for all three of the Leones' hits. Right-handed starter Dylan Owen (Mets) allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks over six innings in the losing cause. He fanned three batters.

Lara 4, La Guaira 3

Major Leaguer Jose Lopez went 2-for-5 with an RBI in his Winter League debut and Mexican League infielder Jolbert Cabrera slugged his homer of the season as the Cardenales improved to 7-12. Mariners southpaw Cesar Jimenez (1-0) recorded two outs to finish the seventh inning and earn his first victory, and fellow Seattle farmhands Stephen Pryor and Scott Patterson each struck out one batter over a scoreless inning of relief to seal the victory. Tiburones starting pitcher Alberto Bastardo yielded three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks over 4 2/3 frames. He struck out four batters and did not factor in the decision.
Sergio Perez went 5-9 with a 4.25 ERA in 22 games, including 21 starts, this season with Oklahoma City. (Wendy Eagan)

Margarita 7, Magallanes 5

Major Leaguer Sean Burroughs was 4-for-5 with an RBI, catcher Max Ramirez (Giants) slugged a two-run homer and Major League veteran Alberto Gonzalez added his third long ball of the winter as the Bravos edged the Navegantes. Jose Altuve (Astros) was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs for Magallanes, and Bryan LaHair (Cubs) doubled home a run and scored once. Making his fifth appearance of the year, Deolis Guerra (Twins) did not allow a base runner in 1 2/3 innings in the loss.

Mexican Pacific League

Hermosillo 9, Obregon 1

Former Major Leaguer Humberto Cota went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two doubles and a run scored and Mexican Leaguer Dionys Cesar homered in his Winter League debut and plated three runs to help the last-place Naranjeros (8-12) past the Yaquis (10-10). Juan Delgadillo tossed seven shutout innings in the victory, surrendering six hits and three walks while striking out two. Luis Durango (Astros) was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk for Obregon.

Mochis 4, Mexicali 0

Jermaine Curtis (Cardinals) snapped a scoreless tie in the third inning with a two-run double and the pitchers took care of the rest as the Caneros (10-10) knocked the Aguilas (12-8) out of a tie for first place. Mexican Leaguer Dan Serafini yielded five hits and a walk across five innings for Mochis and the bullpen, which includes Dodgers right-hander Juan Noriega, allowed three base runners over the final four frames. Oscar Robles, originally drafted by the Astros, collected two of Mexicali's five hits in the defeat.

Culiacan 4, Mazatlan 0

Shortstop Luis Cruz (Rangers) had three hits, including his fifth homer of the year, and Ali Solis (Padres) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs as the Tomateros blanked the Venados. Yankees prospects Jorge Vazquez and Ramiro Pena each reached base twice in the win. Carlos Hernandez (A's) threw six innings of three-hit ball to record his first victory of the year. He struck out four batters and walked two, lowering his ERA to 3.71 through four Mexican League starts. Mauricio Tabachnik (1-1) gave up a run on five hits and three walks in five frames in the losing cause.

Navojoa 4, Guasave 3

Designated hitter Robert Saucedo went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBIs and a walk, and Braves outfielder Matt Young collected two hits and an RBI out of the leadoff spot as the Mayos held on to defeat the Algodoneros. Mexican Leaguer Azael Alvarez surrendered a lone run on two hits and a pair of walks over six innings in the triumph, helping Navojoa improve to 10-10. Guasave starter R.J. Swindle, who made 39 appearances for the Triple-A Durham Bulls this season, allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three batters over 3 1/3 innings in his longest Winter League start of the year. The loss dropped the Algodoneros to 8-12.

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Venezuelan Winter League

•Rob Bryson (RP, Bravos de Margarita): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Bryson came in and faced one batter and struck him out before being removed from the game. He has now made 6 appearances and thrown 5.1 innings and allowed 1 earned run.

•Luis Valbuena (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 1-for-5, 2 R. Valbuena continues to fade after a strong start in Venezuela as he is now hitting .194 in his last 10 games

TOKYO, Nov. 4 (11:24) Kyodo

Major sports events scheduled in Japan for Saturday, Nov. 5:

BASEBALL

Central League Climax Series final stage. Game 4. Chunichi vs
Yakult. Nagoya Dome. 6 p.m.

Pacific League Climax Series final stage. Game 3. Softbank vs
Seibu. Yahoo Dome. 1 p.m

MLB All-Stars continue to shine against Taiwan

NO QUIT:

Down four runs in the ninth, Taiwan kept plugging away and got two men on base against reliever Mark Melancon, but they failed to capitalize

By Paul Huang / Contributing Reporter
The Washington Nationals mascot Screech, left, greets the New York Yankees’ Curtis Granderson before the start of Game 3 of the Taiwan All-Stars Series against Taiwan’s national team in Greater Taichung yesterday.

Scoring early and often, the MLB All-Stars teed off against Taiwan‘s national team in Game 3 of the Taiwan All-Star Series last night in a 6-2 final at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to up their lead over Taiwan to a commanding 3-0 in the five-game set.

Other than a scoreless fourth, the All-Stars put up at least one run over the first five frames, starting off with a two-run first that saw the visitors string together two singles and a double off Taiwan starter Cheng Kai-wen to take a 2-0 lead.

Emilio Bonifacio’s (Florida Marlins) two-out single following a double by Drew Butera (Minnesota Twins) scored the All-Stars’ third run of the game in the top of the second, before the hosts finally got a run back off Major League starter Felipe Paulino of the Kansas City Royals on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Kuo Fu-lin to make it 3-1 after singles by Yang Kuan-wei and Lan Yin-lun and a walk drawn by Lin Wang-wei earlier in the inning.

The 3-1 lead lasted less than an inning as the visitors added to their advantage with a solo blast from Michael Morse of the Washington Nationals off Cheng in the top of the third, before teammates Ryan Roberts and Logan Morrison connected on a run-scoring single and double respectively in the fifth to blow it open to 6-1.

Neither team scored in the next two innings against the stellar relief pitching of Collin Balester (Nationals) and Jose Veras (Pittsburgh Pirates) for the All-Stars and Kuo Chun-lin of Taiwan.

Trailing by five, Taiwan managed to plate their second run of the contest in the eighth when Chen Chun-hsiu belted a two-out single off Phil Coke of the Detroit Tigers and scored all the way from first on a double by Wang Chun-chieh on the ensuing play to make it 6-2.

That was as close as Taiwan got even though singles by Chen Wei-chih and Lin Chih-hsien off All-Stars reliever Mark Melancon of the Houston Astros suddenly brought the tying run on deck with one out in the ninth. Melacom worked out of the jam by retiring the final two batters he faced to strand two to end the game.

Balester was credited with the win for his 1-2/3 innings of one-hit relief, while Cheng took the loss for the hosts. He allowed four runs on seven hits and fanned seven in the four innings he pitched.

The two teams will move to Greater Kaohsiung for Game 4 at the Cheng Ching Lake Baseball Stadium this afternoon with the opening pitch scheduled for 2pm. Ni Fu-te will get the call from skipper Chen Wei-chen for Taiwan to take on Game 1 winner Jeremy Guthrie of the Baltimore Orioles.

It's impossible to find any box scores for this series but it appears that Chun Chen is having a very productive one.

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Willy Aybar is suspended Tigers after two arrests

04/11/2011 - Neftali Ruiz
Willy Aybar. (Caribbean)

Los Tigres del Licey suspended indefinitely Friday infielder Willy Aybar until justice is done in order to resolve his past problems, said Fernando Ravelo, general manager of the Blue.

The player's arrest was confirmed by the National District Attorney's Office.

The problems for Aybar do not end here. Several electronic media have reported two arrests of former player of the Rays of Tampa for different reasons in the last hours.

Ravelo said Aybar would have violated certain agreements with the team on their rehabilitation process.

Former Top Prospect was arrested this afternoon for an alleged assault on an unidentified woman. On the Thursday night suffered his first arrest for refusing to pay the bill after consuming alcoholic beverages in a place of fun and was released after a few hours.

The arrest took place today after the National District Attorney's Office conducted a search of his apartment in Mirador Sur, where they found traces of blood from a woman who allegedly was beaten by the infielder.

Aybar does not work in baseball in the United States because behavioral problems are apparent.

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Panama Winter League

Steven Wright starts and goes 4 innings.

Hamilton off and running in Puerto Rico

Reds prospect gets two hits, steals two bases in season opener

Puerto Rican Winter League

Ponce 4, Mayaguez 1

Billy Hamilton collected two hits, a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored to lead the Leones past the Indios in the season opener for both teams. The Reds prospect is coming off a season in which he became the first Minor Leaguer to record 100 steals since 2001. Twins farmhand Deinys Suarez struck out three over four shutout innings for Ponce, while Astros prospect Koby Clemens drove in the lone run for Mayaguez.

Carolina 7, Caguas 6 (10 innings)

Marlins prospect Jeff Dominguez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored as the Gigantes won their season opener. Dodgers prospect Wilberto Ortiz capped a two-RBI night by singling home the go-ahead run in the 10th, while former Nationals Minor Leaguer Edgardo Baez was 3-for-3 with a solo homer in a losing cause.
Billy Hamilton stole 103 bases and scored 99 runs while hitting .278 for Class A Dayton this season. (Bodhi Hill/MLB.com)

Venezuelan Winter League

Margarita 2, Aragua 0

Dodgers farmhand Mike Parisi allowed five hits and struck out five over seven innings as the Bravos blanked the Tigres for their third straight win. Diamondbacks outfielder Collin Cowgill singled in a run and Phillies infield prospect Cesar Hernandez went 2-for-2 and had the other RBI for Margarita.

Lara 4, Caribes 3

Indians infielder Luis Valbuena hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Cardenales their second win in a row. Marlins infielder Jose Lopez had two hits and scored a run for Lara, while suspended Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo slugged a two-run homer for the Caribes.

Magallanes 6, Caracas 1

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores went 3-for-4 with an RBI single as the first-place Navegantes handed the Leones their third straight loss. Adonis Garcia drove in two runs for Magallanes, while Rays catching prospect Jose Lobaton singled in the lone run for Caracas.

Zulia 5, La Guaira 3

Yankees prospect Jose Pirela had two hits and two RBIs to help the Aguilas extend their winning streak to four games. Former Dodgers Minor Leaguer Eduardo Perez doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh for Zulia, while Major League veteran Oscar Salazar had two hits, an RBI and a run scored for La Guaira.

Dominican Winter League

Gigantes 3, Escogido 1

Blue Jays prospect Moises Sierra went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored as the last-place Gigantes shut down the Leones. Astros farmhand Erick Abreu struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, while Royals left-hander Everett Teaford fanned nine and gave up three runs on four hits in 4 2/3 frames for Escogido.

Licey 9, Toros 6

Dodgers outfielder Jerry Sands singled twice and drove in three runs as the Tigres snapped the first-place Toros' four-game winning streak. Yankees right-hander Hector Noesi gave up an unearned run on three hits over five innings to record his second win, while Pirates prospect Matt Hague went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Toros.

Aguilas at Estrellas, postponed

Mexican Pacific League

Culiacan 3, Los Mochis 2

Yankees infielder Ramiro Peña had two hits, including his first homer, and drove in three runs to power the first-place Tomateros to their fifth straight win. Francisco Campos struck out seven over six solid innings for Culiacan, while Luis Suarez and Sandy Madera homered for Los Mochis.

Obregon 3, Guasave 1

Major League veteran Randy Keisler allowed an unearned run on six hits over six innings for his third win as the Yaquis climbed one game over the .500 mark. Carlos Valencia had two hits and an RBI for Obregon, while former Padres prospect Jesus Lopez drove in the lone run for the Algodoñeros.

Mazatlan 7, Navojoa 2

Former Major Leaguer Miguel Ojeda drove in two runs and Minor League veteran Jon Weber went 3-for-5 with a run scored to help the Venados end a three-game slide. Pablo Ortega improved to 1-4 after yielding an unearned run on eight hits over seven innings. Former Orioles farmhand Kraig Binick had two hits and drove in both runs for the Mayos.

Hermosillo at Mexicali, postponed

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Venezuelan Winter League

Juan Apodaca (C):1-for-3. Apodaca has gone 3-for-18 to start the off-season.

Luis Valbuena (2B) 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI. Attempting to revive his career, Valbuena is fairing decently thus far.

Rob Bryson (RP) 0.1 IP, H. Although he was in for a brief stint, he did pick up the hold.

Raul Padron (1B) 0-for- 4, 1K

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011

Hawks pull within a win of punching ticket to Japan Series

By KAZ NAGATSUKA

Fukuoka —

All he needed was one strong swing. After the inning, he ended up coming out of the dugout to wave his hat to the excited fans.


Celebration time:

Pinch hitter Nobuhiko Matsunaka smacked the first pitch from Seibu reliever Kazuhisa Makita into the right-field stands for a game-insuring grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to guide the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to a 7-2 victory over the Seibu Lions in Game 2 of the Pacific
League Climax Series final stage on Friday night.

League champ Softbank entered the series with one-win advantage and is now one win away from advancing to the Japan Series for the first time since 2003.

"I'm the one who's most excited," said Matsunaka, a former Triple Crown winner, after the game at Yahoo Dome." I was determined to come
up with a hit no matter who would be on the mound anyway."

With Seibu up 2-1, the Hawks successfully tied the game on an Alex Cabrera sacrifice fly and took the lead on Nobuhiro Matsuda's solo homer in the sixth.

The Hawks loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth. While Seibu sent closer Makita to the hill, Softbank skipper Koji Akiyama didn't hesitate
to dispatch 37-year-old veteran Matsunaka to the batter's box.

"We got nobody but Matsunaka in that situation," Akiyama said. "He did a hell of a job."

Matsunaka had no hesitation on his part, either. The left-handed hitter swung sharply at Makita's fastball, sending it over the fence for the
knockout punch.

"I've been mostly used as a pinch hitter from the beginning of this year," said Matsunaka, who has been plagued by a series of injuries in recent
years, including a broken bone in his right knee this year. "So I know how difficult it is to go out there and come up with something as a pinch
hitter. But I was going to go aggressively from the first pitch."

Seiichi Uchikawa, one of the Game 1 heroes, drove in the game's first run for the Hawks in the opening frame.

Seibu quickly responded and went ahead 2-1 in the following inning.

Lions starter Takayuki Kishi, who was 0-4 with a 5.65 ERA against the Hawks in the regular season, gradually got better, utilizing his
signature curveball and taming Softbank offense after the first.

But the Hawks finally caught the skinny right-hander and retook the lead on Matsuda's dinger in the sixth.

"I got blank in my head," said Matsuda, who was second in the PL with 25 homers this season, of his go-ahead shot. "I can't remember what kind
of pitch that was or anything, because I got too excited. It was a great feeling anyway."

Settsu (1-0) pitched for seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs. He fanned six batters and tossed 110 pitches in the win. Kishi (0-1) gave
up three runs and five hits, striking out six, in six innings for the loss.

"I was nervous at the beginning, but after I gave up the runs, I could work defiantly," said Settsu, who was converted into a
starter this season. "And as I kept pitching with patient, our offense gave me run support. I was so pleased about it."

Takahiro Mahara worked again in the ninth inning to close out the game.

Munenori Kawsaki went 2-for-3, scored a run and had a walk for Softbank.

Game 3 will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Hawks' Toshiya Sugiuchi and the Lions' Hideaki Wakui are slated to start.

Swallows top Dragons

Nagoya —

Norichika Aoki hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the fifth inning, Tony Barnette threw 2⅓ scoreless innings for the win in relief and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows edged the Chunichi Dragons 2-1 in Game 3 of final stage of the Central League Climax Series on Friday.

With their second straight victory, the second-place Swallows evened the series at two games apiece against the CL champion Dragons, which received an automatic one-win advantage as the pennant winner.

Ryosuke Morioka opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning but Chunichi tied it at 1-1 on Yohei Oshima's run-scoring single in the fourth at Nagoya Dome.

Aoki hit a one-out single to right for the go-ahead run after rookie Tetsuto Yamada drew a leadoff walk in the fifth.

The Dragons had a chance when they loaded the bases in the sixth, but Takehiko Oshimoto escaped the jam and dug himself out of a first-and third situation with one out in the seventh.

Lefty starter Kyohei Muranaka allowed one run over 3⅓ innings. Lim Chang Yong closed out for the save. Daisuke Yamai took the loss after yielding two runs in 4⅓ innings.

The first team to reach four wins will book a spot in the best-of-seven Japan Series.

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The dancers are part of the attractions that the public enjoys when he goes to the stadium (Jhonny Rostetan)
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More than baseball

05/11/2011 - Neftali Ruiz

Ball fans are encouraged with innovative attractions that complement the sporting

Buy a ticket to a game of winter baseball is an investment that exceeds the mere purchase of nine innings of competition. There is so much fun about this game. Show promotions say the stadium can go "in chorus or seriously" because the teams have sought ways to please the "best reinforcement" the fans.

The striking dancers are one of the elements that attract the male audience to play. "They are a good reason to come to the stadium. No matter which team loses, you come specifically to see ballerinas', proclaimed Amado Genao, an Aguilas fan.

The changes are felt at all stages to a greater or lesser extent. The presence of fans on the field of play takes place in the form of competitions between innings.

In the case of Santo Domingo, the innovations include a bar and restaurant spaces and corporate spaces that are made available to the public.

The figure of the mascots have been an immediate show in themselves. They come leaping over the club house at the end of any entrance and announce a contest that developed while the pitcher warms up. These contests represent original ideas in most cases. They interact with the fans and with the visiting team's opposing mascots.

"The teams have changed everything for the better. I come daily to watch the game but there are many other things I can also do to enjoy the game, "said Rafael Amaro.

Licey has a contest they sponsored known as "throw a strike," where the men's version is done by throwing the ball toward home plate to try to win gifts such as plasma tv's. The women will compete for washers and other gifts.

"The game is the best entertainment center right now. Nowhere else are so many attractions and it is a safe place, "said Emmanuel.

In La Romana the show is complete. From the famous "Pot Band" to the already iconic band of the Toros. The Estrellas have gotten into the wheel of promotions for fans. "We're a fun team," East is the new slogan.

In Santiago, the Aguilas have for several years conducted competitions on the field with their fans.

Another battle between the teams involve children capturing fans with promotions like "evenings of children", in the case of Leones, and "tiguerito club", promoted by Licey. Social networking is another front of competition or other trivia contests in which the follower should only report their presence on the web to win tickets and other prizes.

Gotta love the "ballerinas!"

They look a lot better live

Chun Chen, with his hit today went 1-4 in a losing cause. The MLB all-stars Defeated Taipei 3-2. From the articles and from watching the game today, I believe that Chen has hit safely in all four games. Sunday's game will wrap up this more than successful road trip for the Americans as they played before sellout crowds for all four games.

Nationals’ Wang happy, satisfied with new deal
Photo: Pichi Chuang, Reuters

Washington Nationals pitcher Wang Chien-ming of Taiwan, center, poses with his teammates Collin Balester, left, and Ross Detwiler at a news conference where Wang talked about his new contract with the Nationals before the start of Game 4 of the Taiwan All-Star Series in Greater Kaohsiung yesterday.

MAJOR LEAGUES

Taiwanese pitcher Wang Chien-ming said yesterday he was very happy and satisfied with his new one-year contract with MLB club the Washington Nationals.

“I feel very happy and very grateful that the Nats helped me with rehab for two years,” Wang said at a press conference in Greater Kaohsiung.

Wang is in Taiwan to play for the national team in a five-game exhibition series against the MLB All-Stars.

“I am very satisfied [with the contract]. It is not easy to go back to the baseball field ... I would like to make some contributions to the team,” the 31-year-old said.

The deal, pending a physical, is worth US$4 million plus performance bonuses, according to media reports. However, Wang declined to divulge more details of the contract.