Cleveland Sports Forum

Just read where Ozzie Guillen is headed for Florida.

I also noticed that he's wearing a Tiburones ball cap. La Guaira is where quite a few white sox head for winter ball play. A few years ago, the sox had eight players on the team. The manager of the team was sacked and I think Ozzie Guillen took over and managed a few games at the end of their regular season of play.

Guillen was the first foreign manager ever to win MLB World Series was Ozzie Guillen, who spent his whole career in the Venezuelan Professional League as a short stop for La Guaira. He even brought the WS trophy to a Tiburones game so that all the fans could see it.

Tony Lastoria update on the Fall League:

On the subject of fall league action, the players the Indians will send to the Arizona Fall League are still unconfirmed. Left-handed Matt Packer and right-hander Austin Adams were both originally scheduled to take part, but the Indians decided that due to their workload this season that they would be shutdown and not go to the AFL.

The Indians plan to send three position players to the AFL. Outfielder Tim Fedroff and catcher Roberto Perez are two of them, but the third is still undecided. Outfielder Thomas Neal was expected to be the third, but his injury prevents him from being an option for now

Which means that no one of any significance from the Tribe. But since we have no significant prospects above Lake County there's no way we would be staffing AFL with anyone of importance. Adams and Packer are the best starters from AA.

I was hoping Chen would get an invite.

Come on joe we don't even have to roster Chen in the off season. He'll make the team out of ST, save the 40 man roster spot...

Frank--

I'm referring to Chen the Catcher not the Pitcher.

TOKYO -

Nippon Professional Baseball decided Wednesday to make a
written request that organizers of the 2013 World Baseball Classic
continue negotiations to discuss the Japanese side receiving a bigger
share of revenue to take part in the tournament.

NPB and nine representatives from Japanese baseball teams are
hoping the Major League Baseball organizers will postpone Friday's
deadline and continue talks in October to declare whether the
two-time WBC champions will participate.

Dominican Republic

Phillies strike first signing Torres

During last week’s DPL opening practice day, the Philadelphia Phillies decide to pull the trigger on signing catcher Wilber Torres. He’s 17 years old, 6’0 180lb with muscular tone and not much room for physical projection. Wilber sets up a nice target for hurlers and he leaves his heart and soul on the field. He projects as an offensive catcher due to plus power and hitting ability, he also posses plus arm strength and good accuracy. The Phillies had been following him for several weeks via his trainer Josue Herrera in Santo Domingo, they eventually agreed to terms for $25,000.00 after reconfirming his tools at the DPL. Torres becomes the first player signed during the 2011-2012 DPL season; he will probably start his professional career in the rookie level Dominican Summer League in 2012. Congratulations to Wilber Torres, Josue Herrera and the Philadelphia Phillies.

"Chen the Pitcher" is actually Lee the pitcher. Chen the Catcher is Chen.

And "Chauncey Gardiner" is really Chance, the gardener.

Oswaldo Guillen stated that he does not sympathize with Hugo Chavez

The newly introduced manager of the Florida Marlins gave his position at a press conference with respect to his relationship with the president of Venezuela.
The pilot shares time with Creole Livan Hernandez (AP)

Wednesday September 28, 2011 10:16 PM

Miami .-

Ninety minutes after his first press conference as manager of the Florida Marlins, Oswaldo Guillen became political. Specifically, the new manager had to talk about his country's president, Hugo Chávez. Guillén denied on Wednesday that he is a supporter of Chavez, as quoted by a news agency in Venezuela. "Do not tell that to my wife, because she hates that man . I hate him to death, "Guillen said. "I supported Chavez? If I did, do you think I would be the Marlins manager? I never supported Chavez." Chávez is unpopular among many Venezuelans and Cubans living in Miami. Guillen said he has never spoken with Chavez, but in fact, appeared twice on the radio show of the president, in October 2005 when the manager led the Chicago White Sox to World Series title. At that time, Guillen said, that many people did not like the idea, but considered it an honor to speak on his station. Guillén acquired U.S. citizenship in 2006 and has become more critical of Chavez in recent years., "Not my fault that Chavez is the president," Guillen said Wednesday. "I did not put him there ... We got what we deserved."

Starlin Castro has announced his intentions of playing for the Escogido Leones in the Dominican this winter.

Baseball: Ichiro's Mariners to open 2012 season in Tokyo

SEATTLE -

Ichiro Suzuki's Seattle Mariners will open the 2012
season against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo with a two-game set
scheduled for March 28 and 29, Major League Baseball said Wednesday.

In the season opener, the Athletics, for whom Hideki Matsui has
played this season, will as the home team take on the Mariners at the
Tokyo Dome, it said.

Willy Aybar seeks to revive his career this year with Licey

TRANSLATED BY GOOGLE

For a player who two years ago signed a three million dollars, which in 2008 participated in the World Series, when he was one of the best utility, it is strange to be on the first day in training of Dominican baseball.

Maybe not, if this player is named Willy Aybar, the problems they were involved outside of the field have become so adverse factor in his career that if factor for Tampa to attend the World Series 2008, now has no job in the big tent.

A player still young, 28, Aybar is training with the Licey Tigers like a rookie that even the word to get a chance to play out of his mouth as if hunger to break into baseball.

"I want to recover lost ground, I know things have not gone at all well with me in recent years, but I want an opportunity, I think I have time to reposition my career in a good place," said Aybar, who even appeared with about 15 pounds less.

Hungry, wanting to go back on track, Aybar has entered the field each day with greater determination, even every day raising the amount of swings you make to the plate.

"I'm here like a rookie this year in the Dominican baseball will be vital for my future and I give everything for the cause blue," explained the utility, whose biggest pass time with Licey in 2006-07 when 138 turns exhausted the only time that has exceeded one hundred.

"I hope I can help in the past I have given several tips and I have no problem to do it again, even I have to sit with him and folder tell you some things," said Rafael Landestoy, leader of the Licey, who is also the townspeople of Aybar ( banilejos).

A row added: "We all make mistakes and Aybar is time to erase what has happened in the past and if you have the hunger to play will have its chance to show the talent that has" external the quarterback on the player, who attended to the World Series in 2008 and two years later returned to the playoffs with Tampa Bay.

Oswaldo Guillén asegura no simpatizar con Hugo Chávez

The headlines hit all the leading newspapers in Venezuela. One can't say Ozzie is not controversial.

TOKYO -

Jim Small, head of Major League Baseball's Tokyo office,
said Friday that MLB still welcomes Japan in the 2013 World Baseball
Classic even though the country has not made clear whether to
participate or not by the Sept. 30 deadline.

MLB, however, will try to find a team to replace Japan and a
venue other than Tokyo for the Asian round in case the two-time
champion decides to skip the tournament, Small said.