Cleveland Sports Forum

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Panama

The results from the Panamanian all-star game was finally posted. The game only ran for 7 innings as it did precede the major league softball game, a charity event held before a sold out crowd of 10,000 fans.
A big surprise to me was the fact that Danny Salazar, Toru Murata, and Steven Wright did not get to see any action. Salazar, Murata, and Wright were three of the top ten pitchers in the league. The only reason I can think of for not pitching in this game is the fact that the championship series start tomorrow the 6th against the Diablos. If nothing else, all three pitchers will be well rested and hopefully not well tested from any rust that may have accumulated over the past 5 days.

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Venezuela

Just what the doctor ordered for the Leones, a 13-2 blowout over the Caribes. Armando Gallaraga with a nice outing in his debut for the Caracas team. Only 2 runs in 5 innings. A nice game for Jesus Aguilar also. He needed this one. This was an off day for all the leagues. This game was the only one in town. It was a makeup game. The originally scheduled game was washed out.
HR: Aguilar (2, 5th inning off Rodriguez, P, 0 on, 0 out).
RBI: Aguilar (6),

Caracas .-

The Lions of Caracas struck heavy punishment to the Caribes of Anzoategui 13-3 on Monday night at University Stadium. A cluster of seven runs in the eighth, finished off the victory for the capital, the 19th on the season and the conquest went to Armando Galarraga, who debuted this season. Galarraga (1-0) pitched five innings, allowed two runs, then had the bullpen take charge of Caribe bats, who could only punish Darwin Cubillan with a run in the ninth. For his part, Alex Herrera, was defeated (2-5) and relievers Manny Ayala and Wes Etherdge lived firsthand the strength of the Caracas offensive, where Justin Ruggiano batted home Marwin Gonzalez and (in his return to the team), tripled that swept the bases and also walked in the conquest.

Nice setup for Asdrubal Cabrera's debut tomorrow unless he's denied permission to play at the last minute. With the recent additions, looks like the Leones could have some momentum building. If they want to make the playoffs they have to build on this win.

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Gonzalez, Leones extend Caribes' skid

Cubs prospect plates three, extends hitting streak to six games

Venezuelan Winter League

Caracas 13, Anzoategui 3

Cubs infield prospect Marwin Gonzalez drove in three runs as the Leones cruised to victory.

Gonzalez snapped a 2-2 tie with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. The hit extended the 22-year-old shortstop's hitting streak to six games and he has driven in a run in three straight contests.
Marwin Gonzalez batted .288 with 53 runs scored in 124 Minor League games in 2011. (Tony Farlow/MiLB.com)

Gonzalez had the finest season of his six-year Minor League career in 2011, batting .288 with 30 doubles and 53 runs scored in 124 games. He was named to the Southern League All-Star team for Double-A Tennessee, the first time he received such honors. He earned a midseason promotion to Triple-A Iowa, where he posted a .701 OPS in 60 games.

Cardinals farmhand Adron Chambers hit a two-run double and scored twice while Jesus Aguilar (Indians) slugged his second homer of the fall. Justin Ruggiano (Rays) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

Veteran hurler Armando Galarraga, currently a free agent, earned the win in his season debut for the Leones. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three over five innings. Josh Wilkie (Nationals) fanned two over two perfect frames of relief.

Former Southern League MVP Dave Sappelt (Reds) slugged a two-run homer in the losing effort for the Caribes, who have lost four straight.

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Colombia Winter League

•Giovanny Urshela (3B, Cartagena Tigres): 0-for-3, K, BB. Urshela continues to get some much needed extra playing time this offseason in his home country of Colombia. What he needs more than anything is more experience and more opportunities to swing the bat so he can work through his limitations and give himself something to build upon for this coming spring.

Venezuelan Winter League

•Jesus Aguilar (1B, Leones del Caracas): 1-for-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 BB, 1 K. People will immediately look at Aguilar’s homer (his second in Venezuela) and view it as a positive. While that is true, the bigger positive is the 2 walks. Improving his plate discipline is what is going to separate him as a prospect and help ensure he has success at the upper levels and that looks to be sinking in this offseason as he now has 19 walks in 25 games. He had 46 walks in 126 games during the regular season.

•Hector Rondon (RP, Leones del Caracas): Rondon did not pitch last night. In fact, he has not pitched since November 5th. According to a source he had a setback somewhere around that last outing, either during it or just before it, and he has been pulled from winter league play. He will no longer pitch this offseason and continues to be evaluated. News on his condition could come in the next few days, possibly later today, and there is also a good chance he ends up as the player the Indians end up clearing from the 40-man roster to make room for the Grady Sizemore resigning.

Asdrubal Cabrera entered the roster of Caracas

The Grandeliga shortstop in his second season with the lions, convinced the Cleveland Indians to allow him to play winter ball.

Monday December 5, 2011 24:57

Caracas .-

The Lions of Caracas stated that Asdrubal Cabrera is officially enrolled on the roster of 34 for the ninth week. The addition of Cabrera is crucial to the hopes of the team. The president of Caracas, Luis Avila, said the Venezuelan grandeliga will debut Wednesday against the Aragua Tigers in the University Stadium. Cabrera will go to his second season with the cast of the capital, after the talk with the Cleveland Indians, an organization that refused to give permission in the first round of exchanges.

With his credentials, Cabrera should provide the offense that the lineup during the regular round has failed to produce consistently. The shortstop Oriental comes with an average of .273 with 25 homers and 92 RBIs, in his fifth season in the majors with the Indians.

Among other developments on the roster of Caracas, Marwin Gonzalez returns after missing for commitment to the Chicago Cubs in the United States. The infielder took batting practice for the weekend , in order to keep pace made ​​him the most striking point in the alignment of the Lions. Gonzalez is batting .333, product of 35 hits, including three doubles, in 105 visits to the plate. It also has 14 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

EZEKIEL CARRERA

Venezuela

Ezekiel Carrerra made the Venezuelan all-star team which will travel to the Dominican Republic to play the Dominican all-stars on December 13th. I don't know if he'll be able to play though. I think the Indians want him to return home this next week to attend the Winter Development Program.

Everything is ready. Gregor Blanco (center fielder), José Altuve (second base), Ernesto Mejia (first base), Luis Jimenez (DH), Jose Pirela (third base), Alex Romero (right fielder), Ezequiel Carrera (left fielder), Jesus Flowers (receiver) and Gregorio Petit and Alexi Amara (shortstop) make up the lineup of Venezuela, the face Dec. 13 at University Stadium in the Dominican Republic.

Among the pitchers are Renyel Pinto, Andrew Baldwin, Yusmeiro Petit, Austin Bibbens, Dwayne Polllok, Yohan Pino, Scott Patterson, Jean Machi, Francis Butt, Ramon Ramirez, Franklin Morales, Wilfredo Ledezma, Jon Hunton, among others.

The LVBP and Pepsi, in turn, joined, and Home Run Derby on Monday 12, where competing stars like Pablo Sandoval, Carlos Gonzalez, Bobby Abreu, Miguel Montero, Andruw Jones, among others, form part of the Star.

The Caribes won the league championship series last year so that means that Julio Franco will manage the all star team.

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Dominican

AGUILAS .-

Fausto Carmona would debut next week on day 17 in the Cibao stadium against Estrellas.

Wilin Rosario could be the first rookie to score 40 runs in a season.

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Panama

The championship series call the Torneo “Copa +Móvil”, starts this evening on Tuesday December 6 at the stadium Omar Torrijos in the city of Santiago de Veraguas.

The series Tournament final will be played to the best of 7 games.

The Roneros Chiriqui and Veraguas, and Azuero Diablos will be measured against each other in Omar Torrijos Stadium in Santiago, Veraguas province on 6 and 7 December.

On December 8th is a day of rest.

Then, 9, 10 and 11 December, the series shifts to Rico Cedeño Stadium in Chitre, Herrera province.

Subsequently, the day of rest on 12 December.

If needed will return to Omar Torrijos Stadium on 13 and December 14 to celebrate the 6th. and 7th. games respectively.

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Asdrubal, Ubaldo set to play winter ball

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 12/05/11 10:41 PM EST

DALLAS --

The Indians want to help pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez feel confident in his offseason preparation when Spring Training opens and the club wants shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to feel strong by the time September rolls around.

That is why both are going to play winter ball.

Jimenez, who is coming off a subpar season spent with the Rockies and Indians, expressed to the Tribe a desire to pitch in winter ball. The right-hander did not participate last winter and he felt that contributed to what was an up-and-down year on the mound. The Indians were willing to let him work a limited amount.

"We're still learning about Ubaldo and his preparations for the season," Antonetti said. "We know that he felt it was important to pitch winter ball this year. He didn't pitch last year and he felt that affected his preparation for the season. We've had dialogue with him to talk through the parameters of what made sense."

Antonetti said the details of Jimenez's work load are still being determined. As of right now, the 28-year-old starter -- acquired from Colorado at the July 31 Trade Deadline -- is slated to make his winter debut on Dec. 15. Indians manager Manny Acta is planning on attending Jimenez's first outing.

Last season, Jimenez went 10-13 with a 4.68 ERA over 32 starts overall. Down the stretch with the Indians, he went 4-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 11 outings. That showing came after a stellar 2010 campaign, during which Jimenez went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA to finish third in the National League Cy Young Award voting.

This winter, Jimenez and fellow Tribe starter Fausto Carmona have been working with Nelson Perez, the Indians' assistant strength and conditioning coach in the Dominican Republic. Antonetti noted that Jimenez is beginning his sixth week with Perez as part of the pitcher's offseason regimen.

The Indians are also working closely with Cabrera on his winter workout schedule, which currently includes a limited number of at-bats in winter ball. Once that is complete, Antonetti said the shortstop will likely transition back to the United States (either in Cleveland or at the team's site in Goodyear, Ariz.) to work closer with the Tribe's staff in the weeks leading up to Spring Training.

Antonetti said one of the Indians' goals is to find a way to keep Cabrera strong through the entire season. Last year, the All-Star shortstop hit .293 with a .836 OPS in the first half before hitting .244 with a .729 OPS in the second half. Overall, Cabrera posted a .273 average with 25 homers, 32 doubles and 92 RBIs in 604 at-bats.

"We've talked to Asdrubal about, 'OK, how do we help you prepare for the duration of the season, and hopefully playing another month beyond September?'" Antonetti said. "That's an important part as we look to his preparation for the season and what he does this offseason to keep him strong in the second half."

The Indians have asked catcher Carlos Santana not to take part in winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Over 552 at-bats last year, the 25-year-old Santana hit .239 with 27 homers, 35 doubles, 79 RBIs and a .351 on-base percentage. He led the Indians with 155 games played.

"There are different circumstances with each of those guys," Antonetti said.

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Venezuela

Looks like the much anticipated debut of Asdrubal Cabrera in Caracas will have to wait another day......tonight's game was washed out.

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Jose Reyes and South Beach look like a match
Anyone still wondering if the Miami Marlins are serious about making a splash this offseason? The Marlins kicked off the Winter Meetings by agreeing to a six-year, $106MM deal with star shortstop Jose Reyes, pending a physical. The deal does not include a no-trade clause. Reyes will receive $102MM over the first six years of his contract, and has a $4MM buyout on a seventh year option. Reyes is represented by Peter E. Greenberg & Associates.
As a free agent shortstop in his prime, Reyes was a rarity. The 28-year-old had one of the finest seasons of his nine-year Mets career in 2011, winning his first batting title and posting the fourth season in which he was worth about six wins above replacement. Mets owner Fred Wilpon famously told a reporter in April that Reyes wouldn't get Carl Crawford money, and while Reyes fell one year and $36MM short of that benchmark, he did join Crawford as just baseball's second $100MM player without a 20 home run season on his resume. Reyes' contract was depressed by his injury history, as he hasn't played 135 games in a season since '08. I still like the deal for the Marlins, as Reyes doesn't have to be amazing or play 162 games a year to be worth $17.67MM annually.

The signing means that the Marlins will have to ask Hanley Ramirez to move to a different position, most likely third base. Last month it was reported that Ramirez was not at all pleased about the prospect of changing positions to accommodate Reyes. When asked about the Reyes signing this evening, Ramirez's agent gave a no comment to Yahoo's Tim Brown while a Jayson Stark source close to Ramirez says that he's already agreed to play third.

The Mets were willing to offer Reyes a five-year deal for $75-85MM with a sixth year option, but felt that they could not push their offer any further, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). GM Sandy Alderson made the decision not to trade Reyes this summer partly because he hoped to re-sign the team's longtime shortstop. The new collective bargaining agreement did not affect Reyes' status as a Type A free agent, and the Mets will receive the Marlins' third-round pick as well as a supplemental pick in the 2012 draft for their loss (unless the Marlins sign C.J. Wilson or Albert Pujols, among others). It appears that although the Marlins did not give their second-round pick to the Padres for Heath Bell, Bell's higher Elias ranking still pushes the Mets' pick to the third round. In addition to the Mets, the Brewers were expected to be in on the 28-year-old and had planned to meet with his agents this week.
Armed with deeper pockets and the appeal of a brand new ballpark, the Marlins have been aggressive in their courtship of top free agents this winter. They signed closer Heath Bell a few days ago, have an offer out to C.J. Wilson, and remain in the mix for Mark Buehrle and even Albert Pujols.

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Another Father and Son Team

Ivan Rodriguez and Derek make history
(Photo Ralph Pagan Archeval)

Ivan Rodriguez and Derek became the first father-son combination to play for one team in the League of Professional Baseball of Puerto Rico.

Belonging to the Caguas Creoles and Yldefonso Sola Morales Stadium stage, the historic moment occurred in November against the Ponce Lions.

Ivan started the game at catcher and in the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hit Dereck for Jorge Padilla, performed the historical fact.

However, it is not the first time a father and son combination played in a season in Puerto Rico.

In the 1953-54 tournament, Ceferino "Cefo" Conde and his son Ramón Luis "Wito" saw action, but on different teams: Cefo by Caguas and Ponce Wito with.

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Puerto Rico

Giovanni Soto pitched an inning against Ponce and got the hold while striking out all three batters that he faced.

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Panama

Roneros and Devils in the final battle of the Panamamian League Championship Series
The Roneros have been the most consistent overall during the regular season.

by Humberto O. Cornejo

A great battle will begin today at the Stadium of Santiago Omar Torrijos, when Chiriqui, Veraguas Roneros and Azuero Devils on the diamond will be measured in the final of the Professional Baseball League of Panama.

Roneros jump out as the favorite as leading the overall standings during the regular season.

"We face a new series and we are ready for battle in all aspects of the game," said the manager of the Roneros, Einar Diaz. "We have the conditions, but it will not be easy because the Devils have a good team. In such conditions all have opportunity. "

The starting pitcher is the Japanese Roneros Toru Murata (2-1).

Both teams fought 12 times in the regular phase of a try. In these comparisons, the most favored Roneros won seven of those games.

The first game of the final series starts at 7:00 pm

Inspired

Despite knowing this, Azuero Devils are inspired and committed to take the title.

"We got a strong will to win with the death of the father of manager Ricardo Medina. He talked to us and told us that one of his father's wishes was to see him win a championship, "said team assistant, Michael Ibarra, who will be commanding the troops until Medina rejoins the team. "The guys that have been committed and will leave everything on the field."

Ibarra, with vast experience in the field, announced what are the strengths of his rival.

"The Roneros have their strength in pitching and they have shown that throughout the tournament. But we are prepared, and we train in all aspects of the game, "added the coach of Panama in the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

For this game, the starting pitcher will be Edgar Ramirez (4-0).

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Caracas .-
Asdrubal Cabrera at DH opens tomorrow

There was no game in the University Stadium due to rain, but information from the Leones del Caracas indicates that Asdrubal Cabrera will debut tomorrow against the Aragua Tigers in the role of designated and hitting third in the lineup indicated the club manager Rick Sweet. Cabrera has a plan ordered by the Cleveland Indians that will allow for limited playing time of five games per week . "In four of them he may be at shortstop and the other will be as the designated hitter," explained Sweet. Last season, his first with the Lions after being traded from Lara Cardinals, left .252 average, with percentage of .348 OBP, 4 doubles, a homer and 16 RBIs in 27 contests. In the round robin improved significantly connecting to .333, with a bi-angular, a triple and a homer in 11 games.

The switch-hitter coming off a dream season with Cleveland, where he received his first Silver Slugger and his first call to All-Star. He shot .273 with 92 RBIs in average and no less than 25 home runs, to establish a new record among major league shortstops.

Cabrera started practicing two weeks ago, so his debutwill be in top condition. He will play for a month with Caracas.

Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Rivero are also candidates for the shortstop position. "Gonzalez was out a week, so that his arm may not be in the best condition," said Sweet, before clarifying that Gregorio Petit's injury is not as serious as it looked. "He will be out a few days but the injury is not the knee, but in the back of the leg."