Monthly Archives: December, 2009

Wednesday's winter league action involving Pirates' players and friends:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Aguilas de Zulia 7, Tigres de Aragua 2

Zulia posted 5 runs in the 2nd inning, and 1B Ernesto Mejia homered twice (two solo shots), while Aragua put runners on base but could not get them in to score. Los Tigres fell victim to three double plays, left 5 men on base, and had only one hit (in 6 chances) with a runner in scoring position. Their two runs came in the 3rd inning, on a single, an RBI double by C Raul Chavez, and an RBI single that scored Chavez. SS Ronny Cedeno was hitless in 4 trips to the plate, and 1B Hector Gimenez went 0-for-2. Alex Delgado took over behind the plate for Chavez in the 6th inning, and he also was hitless in his one trip to the plate.

Caribes de Anzoategui 9, Tiburones de La Guaira 3

Los Caribes took advantage of 12 hits, including two 2-run homers by RF Aaron Cunningham (A's) in their win over Los Tiburones. Gorkys Hernandez entered the game to play center field in the top of the 9th. Two balls came his way, but both fell in as hits.

Bravos de Margarita 8, Navegantes del Magallanes 7

Even a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th was not enough for Magallanes as they tried to overcome Margarita's early 6-run lead (5 runs in the 2nd and another in the 3rd). Argenis Diaz pinch-ran for Magallanes in the bottom of the 8th and remained in the game as the DH, though he did not get a plate appearance. LF Mike Ryan went 0-for-4 for Magallanes.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Aguilas de Mexicali 4, Tomateros de Culiacan 1

Culiacan was held to just one run, which came in the 5th inning on a triple and an RBI single. 2B Luis Cruz singled in the 2nd inning and made it as far as second base, but was left standing there when the inning ended.

Mayos de Navojoa 7, Algodoneros de Guasave 6

Guasave rallied for 2 runs in the 8th, and 4 runs in the 9th, but fell just short of catching up to Navojoa. 1B Yurendell de Caster continued his week-long tear, going 2-for-4, "dropping" his average to .519 (14-for-27, OPS=1.147). He singled in the 1st inning, and his sacrifice fly in the 8th brought in Guasave's first run. He singled again in the 9th inning rally.

Yaquis de Obregon 15, Caneros de Los Mochis 8

Los Caneros were leading 4-3 after 4 innings, but Obregon caught fire in the second half of the game, scoring in 4 of the last 5 innings. They sent 12 batters to the plate in the 6th inning and collected 8 runs on a homer, two doubles, four singles, and a hit batter. 1B Chris Snelling walked immediately after a 3-run homer in the 1st inning. His single brought in Los Yaquis' 2 runs in the 5th inning.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Tigres del Licey 4, Gigantes del Cibao

Licey broke a 3-3 tie with one run in the bottom of the 8th inning. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt, LF Timo Perez (former Toledo Mud Hen) bounced a ball back to the mound, where former Pirate Juan Perez fielded it cleanly, but made a wild throw, allowing the run to score. Perez was charged with the loss. Los Gigantes' Denny Bautista pitched to the first three batters in the top of the 8th -- a pop out, a strikeout, and a walk. Indy area native 1B Jake Fox (Cubs) was 1-for-4 for Licey.

Aguilas Cibaenas 3, Estrellas de Oriente 2

Los Estrellas were held to just 6 hits, and two of those belonged to 1B Brian Myrow. Los Aguilas got onto the scoreboard first, with a run in the bottom of the 1st inning on a triple and an RBI ground out. Los Estrellas tied the score in the 3rd, when RF Maiko Loyola struck out but reached first on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch advanced Loyola to second base, and he moved to third on a single. C Robinzon Diazbrought Loyola in with an RBI ground out. Los Aguilas took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 4th and picked up an insurance run in the 7th inning. Los Estrellas missed a scoring opportunity in the 6th, when Myrow doubled, and two batters walked to load the bases -- but a strikeout ended the inning with all 3 runners still in place. Myrow singled to open the 8th inning, but was out at second on a force play. Los Estrellas scored one run in that inning after another single, a stolen base, and an RBI ground out by SS Pedro Lopez. C Erik Kratz caught the final inning for Los Estrellas but did not have a plate appearance.

Checking in on Pirates' farmhands and friends in Tuesday's winter league action.... The Venezuelan League had another scheduled day off. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Aguilas de Mexicali 4, Tomateros de Culiacan 1 Culiacan's first two batters singled and doubled to score one run in the top of the 1st, and the team was shut down after that. 2B Luis Cruz went 0-for-4 for Culiacan. Mexicali scored in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings to take the win. Mayos de Navojoa 5, Algodoneros de Guasave 2 1B Yurendell de Caster singled in each of his first three at-bats, but could not come around to score any of those times. Guasave scored their two runs in the 7th inning, but Navojoa scored two runs in the 2nd, and one run in each of the 1st, 5th, and 7th innings to easily overcome Guasave. Caneros de Los Mochis 6, Yaquis de Obregon 4 1B Chris Snelling also reached base three times, with two singles and a walk, but he did not make it around to score either. Obregon could not catch up to Los Caneros' 4 runs in the 3rd inning and 2 more runs in the 4th. DOMINICAN LEAGUE Aguilas Cibaenas 5, Estrellas de Oriente 3 Los Aguilas were trailing 3-2 until the top of the 8th inning, when they used a little bit of everything to score 3 runs: a triple, a walk, a hit batter, a double, and a single. �Ramon Aguero came on to pitch the 9th inning for Los Aguilas, and he earned his first save with a scoreless 9th that included a walk and two strikeouts. Los Estrellas scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning. SS Pedro Lopez led off with a single, and advanced to third base on a double. A sacrifice fly brought in Lopez, and 1B Brian Myrow brought in another run with an RBI single. A triple and a sacrifice fly added another run for Los Estrellas in the 3rd inning. Lopez singled again in the 4th inning, and Myrow singled again in the 5th. Maiko Loyola came into the game to play left field in the top of the 9th, and he struck out in his only plate appearance in the bottom of the inning. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Criollos de Caguas 4, Gigantes de Carolina 3 (11 innings) Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa tied the game up for Caguas with a 2-RBI double in the bottom of the 9th inning. Then in the bottom of the 11th, Figueroa dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move 2B Jose Castro (Reds), who had doubled, over to third base. Castro scored on a throwing error by the Carolina pitcher, likely as he was trying to pick Castro off third.

Not much winter league action on Monday night. The Venezuelan and Mexican Pacific Leagues both had a scheduled day off, and the Puerto Rican and Dominican Leagues had limited action.

Leones de Ponce 5, Criollos de Caguas 3

Reliever RJ Rodriguez earned his second save for Ponce with a scoreless 9th inning. He had to work around a single and another batter who reached on a throwing error, but then retired two former Indy Indians, 2B Luis Figueroa and CF Luis Matos to end the game. Caguas scored first, with 3 runs in the 2nd inning. Those runs came in on a wild pitch, an RBI double, and a sacrifice bunt by Figueroa. Ponce came back to tie the game in the 3rd inning on a bases-loaded ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly. Another sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run in the 4th, and a fielding error gave Los Leones an insurance run in the 6th. Matos had a single in the 5th inning but was out in a double play.

Toros de Este 8, Estrellas de Oriente 6

A 3-run rally in the bottom of the 9th wasn't enough for Los Estrellas to catch up to Los Toros. 1B Brian Myrow started the rally with a one-out single, moved to third on a double, and scored on a sacrifice fly. A throwing error and a single brought in a secon run. Pinch hitter Maiko Loyola also singled, moving the lead runner to third, and that runner was then able to score on a wild pitch. But the rally ended there, with Los Toros taking the win.

Several moves by the Pirates today, and changes relating to moves they made 10 days ago.

C Robinzon Diaz was designated for assignment, but because he had accumulated enough "service time", he could not be outrighted to the Pirates' minor league system when he cleared waivers. That makes him a minor league free agent, who is apparently not interested in coming back to the Pirates. Best of luck in his future endeavors!

Pitchers Jeff Karstens and Justin Thomas were also DFA'ed 10 days ago. They have both also cleared waivers, and will be outrighted to AAA Indianapolis. They will both be invited to the major league camp for spring training as non-roster invitees.

Today the Pirates signed LHP Wil Ledezma to a minor league contract and invited him to join the major leaguers at spring training too. Ledezma is a Venezuelan native who will be 29 for the 2010 season. He was originally signed by the Red Sox in 1998 and played in their system through the 2002 season, reaching the A level. The Tigers took Ledezma from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2002 and remained with the major league team for all of the 2003 season, making 34 appearances (8 starts) for 84 innings, with a 3-7 record and a 5.79 ERA. After that obligatory season in the majors, Ledezma made 16 starts for AA Erie in 2004, where he earned a 2.42 ERA and a 10-3 record, and struck out 98 in 111.2 innings. He also made 15 appearances for the Tigers, and was a bit better than the previous season: 4-3 record, 4.39 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. Ledezma split the next two seasons between AAA Toledo and Detroit, mostly as a starting pitcher, with a combined 14-13 record and a 4.38 ERA. Ledezma began 2007 with Detroit again, going 3-1 and 4.80 in 23 relief appearances. He was traded to the Braves in June 2007, where he struggled in 12 relief appearances. He was traded to Padres at the trading deadline the next month, but struggled there too. The Padres resigned him to a one year contract for the 2008, and he split that season between AAA Portland and San Diego. He made a combined 36 appearances (6 starts in the majors) with a 4.46 ERA. Ledezma began 2009 with the Nationals, but again struggled and was sent to AAA Syracuse by the end of April. He had 18 appearances for the Chiefs, where he allowed 29 hits in 19.1 innings, and a 4.19 ERA. Batters hit him to the tune of a .358 batting average against him. At the end of July, he went to Toronto but did not go to AAA -- he made 3 relief appearances in A+ Dunedin and 8 in AA New Hampshire. He pitched 16.1 innings in New Hampshire, allowing 19 hits, with 21 strikeouts, and batters hit .297 against him. Ledezma could get his act together and get a spot in the Pirates' bullpen, or he could land in either AAA or AA, depending on how his spring goes.

OF Jonathan Van Every also signed a minor league contract with the Pirates. He just turned 30 years old last week. Van Every was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 29th round of the 2000 draft. He moved up through the Cleveland organization and split both the 2006 and 2007 seasons between AA Akron and AAA Buffalo. He hit .344 with Akron in 2007 in 44 games, with 14 doubles, 5 triples, 4 homers, and 34 RBI. Strikeouts have been a problem for Van Every: 129 K's with A+ Kinston in 2004, 155 for Akron in 2005, 130 in two levels in 2006, and "only" 105 in two levels in 2007. Van Every became a free agent at the end of the 2007 season, and signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox for 2008. He spent most of 2008 with AAA Pawtucket, where he hit .263 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, a team-leading 26 homers, and 70 RBI, but with 157 strikeouts. He also made his major league debut that season, on May 14th, but played in only 11 games in three short stints for Boston and went 4-for-17 at the plate. Van Every was back with Pawtucket to begin the 2009 season, but was hitting only .215 with 4 doubles, 4 homers, and 10 RBI by mid-June. He was on the Disabled List with a left knee sprain from May 30th to June 9th, but after two games, went back onto the DL. On July 8th, Van Every was designated for assignment, and he didn't play for the rest of the season. Van Every will also get a chance to show his stuff at major league camp for spring training, but he's likely to end up back at AAA for 2010.