myworldofbaseball

For the second year in a row Cuba is not participating. Last year when the event was held in Puerto Rico it was difficulty in obtaining visas. This year it could be concerns with the corona virus and travel concerns. Panama did not have a winter league season because of the corona virus, but they did assemble an All Star team. Two years ago they shocked the Caribbean by winning the event. Below are the rosters:

Mexico

Pitchers - Manny Barreda, Edgar Gonzalez, Hector Velasquez, Anthony Vasquez, Edgar Arrendondo, Jesus Castillo, Gonzalo Sanudo, Aldo Montes, Javier Arturo Lopez, Derrick Loop, Carlos Torres, Fernando Salas, Sasagi Sanchez, Alberto Baldonado

Catchers - Alexis Wilson, Julian Leon

Infielders - Joey Meneses, Isaac Paredes, Jessie Castillo, Efren Navvaro, Michael Wing, Ramiro Pena, Juan Carlos Gamboa, Victor Mendoza

Outfielders - Sebastian Elizalde, Jose Cardona, Jesus Fabela,

Dominican Republic

Pitchers - Carlos Martinez, Cesar Valdez, Joe Van Meter, Andy Otero, Yunesky Maya, Marcos Diplan, Lisaverto Bonilla, Dario Alvarez, Fernando Abad, Jhan Martinez, Luis Castillo, Wirfin Obispo, Michael Tonkin, Yoanner Negrin

Catchers - Francisco Pena, Carlos Paulino

Infielders - Robel Garcia, Robinson Cano, Jonathan Villar, Ramon Torres, Johan Camargo, Rangel Ravelo, Ronald Guzman

Outfielders - Junior Lake, Juan Lagares, Melky Cabrera, Yefry Perez, Juan Carlos Perez

Veneuela

Pitchers - Williams Perez, Andres Machado, Loiger Padron, Andres Perez, Jose Ascanio, David Martinez, Guillermo Moscoso, Silivino Bracho, Mayckol Guaipe, Logan Darnell, Lester Oliveros, Raul Rivero, Pedro Rodriguez, Liarvis Breto, Yapson Gomez, Ivan Medina

Catchers - Tomas Telis, Jesus Sucre

Infielders - Nieman Romero, Cesar Valera, Ali Castillo, Balbino Fuenmayor, Luis Sardinas

Outfielders - Rafael Ortega, Danry Vasquez, Herlis Rodriguez, Oswaldo Arcia, Williams Astudillo

Panama

Pitchers - Harold Arauz, Edison Gonzalez, Ernesto Silva, Manuel Campos, Wilfredo Pereira, Davis Romero, Edgardo Sandoval, Luis Machuca, Alberto Guerrero, Jamie Barria, Eury de la Rosa, Jeof Broussart, Austin Warner, Severiono Gonzalez, Yoel Espinal

Catchers - Rodrigo Vigil, Carlos Sanchez, David Rodriguez

Infielders - Jorge Bishop, Carlos Quiroz, Belarmino Campos, Jonathan Arauz, Jesus Lopez, Hector Gomez

Outfielders - Allen Cordoba, Johnny Santos, Rodrigo Orozco, Willy Garcia

Colombia

Pitchers - Randy Consuegra, Luis Felipe de Avila, Carlos Mario Diaz, Edinson Frias, Juan Carlos Herrera, David Holmberg, Eduar Rolanny Lopez, Jale Oliver Miller, Cody Mincey, Ronald Ramirez, Jhon Jairo Romero, Jean Carlos Ruiz, Reiver Sanmartin, Julio Cesar Vivas Colmenares, Ezequil Antonio Zabeleta

Catchers - Christian Correa, Carlos Mario Martinez, Andres Felipe Noriega

Infielders - Francisco Acuna, Jordan Diaz, Dilson Jose Herrera, Evan Maneul Mendoza, Bralian Andres Perez

Outfielders - Robinson Javier Cabrera, Tito Luis Polo, Harold Andres Ramirez, Andy Vasquez, Adam Brett Walker II

Puerto Rico

Pitchers - Luis Medina, Hector Hernandez, Hector Santiago, Tommy Romero, Giovanni Soto, Zack Muckenhim, Christian Torres, Fernado Cruz, Chris Muller, Anthony Maldonado, Rayan Gonzalez, Jason Garcia, Joshua Torres, Ivan Maldanado

Catchers - Jonathan Morales, Yadier Molina, Juan Centeno

Infielders - Vimael Machin, Jose Miranda, Jancarlos Cintron, Edwin Diaz, Jeremy Rivera, Emmanuel Rivera

Outfielders - Rick Lopez, Johneshwy Fargas, Jarren Duran, Henry Ramos, Reymond Fuentes

Daryl George slugged two grand slams and broke the Australian baseball record for RBIs in a game with 10 to lead the Melbourne Aces to a 22-2 rout over the Brisbane Bandits. George hit his grand slams in the fifth and eighth innings and contributed a two run double in the seventh to drive in close to half the runs for Melbourne. Luke Hughes and Denny Almonte had shared the RBI record with 8. Hughes is also the only other player to hit two grand slams in a game.

The 22 runs scored by Melbourne was also a franchise record. Blake Gallen hit his league leading sixth homerun in the rout. Bandit pitchers walked 11 Aces batters, including lead off hitter Collin Willis four times. Delmon Young also went deep for the Aces and got an opportunity to pitch his second game in relief, working a scoreless ninth.

The Australian playoffs will start in one week, with five of the six teams making the playoffs.

This time it was Cesar Garcia with the shutout, leading Granma to a 4-0 win over Industriales. Despite only throwing 78 pitches in his three hitter and retiring the last ten hitters he faced Granma still went with their bullpen for the last two innings. Miguel Paradelo and Carlos Santana each threw an inning of shutout ball, keeping the three hit shutout intact.

The Stallions gave Garcia all the runs he needed in the opening frame on a sacrifice fly by Osvaldo Abreu in the first inning. A bases loaded walk to Carlos Benitez in the sixth forced in a second run to give him a little more cushion. They broke the game open in the eighth with two runs on an Ivan Prieto two run homer.

Granma now needs just one win in this five game series to advance to the playoffs.

The other game between Las Tunas and Santiago was suspended.

Despite being down three games to one Culiacan raged back to win the Mexican Winter League playoffs and will represent Mexico in the Series del Caribe today. It took ten innings but they managed to overcome Hermosillo again 7-6. Jessie Castillo went deep in the top of the tenth for the game winner. Alberto Baldonado worked his second inning of relief in the tenth to pick up the win.

The Tomateros scored early with their big bats, chasing Cesar Vargas in the second after he faced five hitters and could not retire any of them. Yoelkis Guibert drove in two runs on a 4 for 5 day. The big bat though was Jessie Castillo, who drove in three runs, one with a sacrifice fly, and two with solo homeruns, one in the third and the other in the tenth. He also scored three times. Castillo batted .400 for the Series.

Isaac Paredes got Hermosillo back into the game in the seventh. His three run homer tied the game at 6-6. Fernando Salas worked the last two innings for Hermosillo. He gave up five hits, but the big one to Castillo was the hit that cost him.

The Series del Caribe begins tomorrow. But Culiacan and Hermosillo still have to play a final game today to see who will represent Mexico in the series. Myworld hopes there is no rain in the forecast. The Series del Caribe is being played in Mexico, so the winners will not have far to go.

Culiacan used a four run sixth to win game six 6-2 to force a deciding seventh game. They scored five runs off Mexico pitcher of the year Juan Pablo Oramas. Efren Navarro had the big two run triple that fueled the sixth inning, scoring on a double by Michael Wing. The Wing double ended the day for Oramas.

Anthony Vasquez pitched six strong innings for the Tomateros, scattering seven hits while allowing just one run.

Pinar del Rio is one win away from advancing to the semifinals in Cuban baseball. Sancti Spiritus were mercied by Pinar del Rio 15-4 after just seven innings. A nine run third inning put this game out of reach. In Cuba if a team leads by 10 or more runs after seven innings, or 15 or more after five innings, the game is called a knockout or TKO. This game only went seven.

Lazaro Blanco was a perfect 4 for 4 with three doubles to drive in three runs. Yasier Gonzalez was an almost perfect 4 for 5. Jorge Rojas was just 2 for 4 but drove in four, including three in the sixth with a homerun that made the score 15-4. Juan Arencibia was 3 for 4 from the leadoff spot with two doubles and a triple, scoring twice and driving in two runs.

Vladimir Banos got the start and worked an easy five innings. After being staked to an early 11-0 lead after three he gave up four runs in the fourth.

Cienfuegos was supposed to play Matanzas in their opener yesterday, but that game was suspended.

Lazaro Blanco threw 7.1 innings of four hit shutout baseball to lead Granma to a 3-0 win over Industriales to even their five game series at one game apiece. Darian Garcia provided all the offense Lazaro needed with a two run homer in the fourth. Kelvis Rodriguez retired the last four hitters to pick up his 11th save of the season.

The win ended a slump of post season losses by Granma over Industriales at nine. According to baseballdecuba.com, it is the first time that Granma has defeated Industrialies in a playoff game.

Culiacan lived to see another day with their 4-3 win over Hermosillo. They still trail the seven game series three games to two. Michael Wing delivered the clutch two out walk off single for the victory. It was his fourth hit of the game. He also stole two bases.

Sasagi Sanchez worked two innings in relief for Culiacan to get the win.

It took ten innings but Pinar del Rio overcame Sancti Spiritus 9-7 in their opening five game playoff series. Lazaro Blanco delivered the go ahead hit in the tenth inning. An extra run was added on a ground out. Raidel Martinez shut down the Roosters in the tenth, his second inning of work, to pick up the win.

The Pinar del Rio offense was led by William Saavedra, who drove in four runs, including a three run shot in the fourth inning to give the victors an early 5-2 lead. Frederich Cepeda drove in three runs in the bottom of the fourth with a homerun putting Sancti Spiritus back on top 7-5.

Juan Arencibia strung together three hits, driving in two and scoring two for Pinar del Rio. Starter Ellis Casanova failed to survive five innings, but was supported by a strong bullpen that only allowed two hits in 4.2 innings. Livan Moinello, who also pitches for the Hawks in Japan was a tad wild, walking five batters, one intentionally in his 1.2 innings of work.

With major league teams turning to a more austere approach in their free agent philosophy, the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league appears to be more competitive in their salary offers. Masahiro Tanaka is the second quality free agent pitcher to turn their backs on the major leagues and decide to pitch in Japan. Tanaka will return to Japan to pitch for the Rakuten Eagles, the team he pitched for when he last was in the NPB.

The contract is estimated to be two years at $8.6 million per year. That falls a little short of the four year $10 million reportedly given Tomoyuki Sugano. It is unclear if there is an opt out in his contract as there is for Sugano. The recent acquisition by the Yankees of Jameson Taillon placed a barrier on Tanaka’s hope to return to the Yankees. Other teams had expressed interest, but not to the level of the Eagles.

This could be a stepping stone for other major leaguers to look at Japan when they hit free agency, instead of fixating on the offers given by the 30 major league teams. Carter Stewart was drafted in the first round by the Braves, but instead signed with the Softbank Hawks to a multi year deal.