Hermosillo, Mayaguez, and Caracas win titles; Join Escogido in Venezuela

Hermosillo, Mayaguez, and Caracas win titles; Join Escogido in Venezuela

Major League Baseball | 01 Feb 2010

Left-hander Gustavo Chacin (Astros) went seven scoreless innings allowing five hits as Caracas evened the Venezuelan Winter League’s championship series at 3-3 to force a deciding game seven versus Magallanes. Caracas scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Carlos Maldonado hit a two-run homerun, outfielder Josh Kroeger added a solo homerun (2 Read the Rest…

Liriano leads Escogido to the Caribbean Series

Liriano leads Escogido to the Caribbean Series

Major League Baseball | 29 Jan 2010

In the Dominican, the championship series was heating up as Escogido, who was facing elimination, tied the best-of-nine championship series with Gigantes up at 4-4. This game had a dramatic ending as infielder Argenis Reyes doubled and scored the winning run in the 11th inning to give Escogido a 4-3 walk-off win. Gigantes had taken Read the Rest…

A week to go for the Caribbean Series

A week to go for the Caribbean Series

Major League Baseball | 27 Jan 2010

Mazatlan took a 2-1 series lead over Hermosillo in their Game 3 8-7 victory. Veteran Ruben Rivera continued to hit and hit for power as he homered and drove in three runs. Rivera’s homerun was the game winner, as he hit a two-run blast off of Mexican League veteran pitcher Jose Vargas in the top Read the Rest…

More Winter League Championship Series part 2

More Winter League Championship Series part 2

Major League Baseball | 25 Jan 2010

The Venezuelan Winter League’s championship series got underway as Magallanes blasted Caracas 9-0 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. Robinson Chirinos continued his playoff hot-hitting, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Michael Ryan contributed a two-run double and scored twice. NY Yankees prospect Reegie Corona also went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Read the Rest…

Winter Leagues set for Championship Series

Winter Leagues set for Championship Series

Major League Baseball | 19 Jan 2010

The Mexican Pacific League’s semifinals did not last long as Hermosillo swept Culiacan 4-0 and Mazatlan beat Obregon 4 games to 1. In the Game 4 win, former Major League veteran Vinny Castilla homered. Juan Oramus allowed one run on just three hits over seven innings for the win. Over 7,000 fans showed up to Read the Rest…

More Winter League Playoff Action

Major League Baseball | 16 Jan 2010

Despite a loss to Toros, Gigantes clinched a spot in the Dominican Winter League finals. For Toros, Raul Valdes, who is 3-0 in the playoffs, retired the first 20 batters he faced and was perfect until Reds infielder/outfielder Juan Francisco singled with two out in the seventh inning. Valdes ended up striking out nine in Read the Rest…

Winter League Playoffs

Winter League Playoffs

Major League Baseball | 14 Jan 2010

Major league free agent pitcher Jorge Sosa pitched six shutout innings in a 10-1 win for Licey over Toros in the Dominican Winter League round-robin playoffs. Sosa allowed just two hits while striking out six. Sosa, who is 42-50 with a 4.72 ERA in eight big league seasons, is hoping a dominant appearance in his Read the Rest…

Winter League Playoffs surge on

Winter League Playoffs surge on

Major League Baseball | 11 Jan 2010

When I previously wrote about the winter league playoffs in Venezuela, Caracas was leading the way. However a few bumps in the road have left them at 6-4 and in second place, with La Guaira just one game back. Caracas was 4-1 but is 2-3 in their last five games. Taking over first place is Read the Rest…

Winter Ball Update

Winter Ball Update

Major League Baseball | 30 Nov 2009

Unlike the Arizona Fall League where only top prospects are invited, baseball’s winter leagues are open to young and old alike. Some play winter ball to make up for lost time (like the Cleveland Indians Jake Westbrook). Others play to work on things to make them better or to continue the progress they made during Read the Rest…