Yearly Archives: 2010
2010 defensive projections
Machi Is Venezuela’s Pitcher Of The Year
Charlie Morton’s ground ball rate
What would it take to lock up Andrew McCutchen?
Rodriguez Pitches Well In Playoffs
Tough Night For Machi
DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Gigantes del Cibao 5, Toros del Este 2
Two hits by 1B Yurendell de Caster were not enough to help Los Toros overcome Los Gigantes. Los Toros scored a run in the top of the 1st, but Los Gigantes came back with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning then 2 more in the 6th and another on a solo homer in the 7th. Los Toros scored a single run again in the 8th.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Tiburones de La Guaira 12, Leones del Caracas 6
For the second night in a row, Los Tiburones chomped on their opponents. This time 16 hits produced 12 runs. They scored 4 in the 1st inning, on a sacrifice fly by 1B Hector Gimenez and a 3-run homer. Two doubles, two singles, and a fielding error added 3 more runs in the 2nd inning. Two 2-run homers plus an RBI single gave La Guaira 5 more runs in the 5th inning. Gimenez had a double and scored in that inning.
Navegantes del Magallanes 5, Bravos de Margarita 4
Magallanes scored their first two runs on two solo homers -- one by 3B Pablo Sandoval to lead off the 4th inning and one by LF Mike Ryan in the 6th. An RBI double produced another 2 runs in the 7th inning, and C Robinson Chirinos' solo homer in the 8th gave Magallanes a 5-1 lead going into the 9th inning. Reliever Jean Machi took the mound ofr Magallanes to begin the 9th inning. Caracas coaxed two walks off Machi, then CF Frank Diaz blasted a 3-run homer to bring Caracas within one run of Magallanes. But Machi got a fly out to end the game and preserve the win.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Venados de Mazatlan 10, Tomateros de Culiacan 2
Mazatlan took a 3-1 lead in this best-of-7 series with this commanding win over Culiacan. Three singles, two doubles, and a walk gave Los Venados 5 runs in the 3rd inning. A bases-loaded grounder brought in another run in the 7th, and they scored 4 more in the 8th on two singles, three walks, and two errors. Rogelios Noris pinch-ran in the 8th, and he came around to score on the second error. 2B Luis Cruz went 0-for-4 for Culiacan, who posted 9 hits but also left 8 runners on base.
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Winter Leagues’ Playoffs Continue
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Criollos de Caguas 5, Indios de Mayaguez 4
The two teams kept pace with each other until the bottom of the 7th inning. Mayaguez got things started with a run in the top of the 1st. Caguas' SS Luis Figueroa singled in the bottom of the inning, and scored on a double and a sacrifice fly. Mayaguez added 2 runs in the 3rd, and Caguas replied with 2 in the bottom of the 4th. Los Criollos took the lead with a run in the 5th, when CF Luis Matos reached first base on a wild pitch on strike three. A hit batter, a single, and another hit batter forced in Matos with the run. Mayaguez tied the score again in the top of the 7th, and Caguas scored again in the bottom of the frame with a double and an RBI single. This time, though, Mayaguez could not respond, and Caguas had the win.
DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Gigantes del Cibao 9, Toros del Este 2
Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 4th and 5 more in the 5th, while holding Los Toros to just 4 hits. The only extra-base hit for Los Toros came off the bat of 1B/3B Yurendell de Caster, who had just joined Los Toros after a stint with Guasave in the Mexican Pacific League. The double led off the 3rd inning, and de Caster advanced to third base on a bunt, but was left there when the inning ended.
Tigres del Licey 7, Leones del Escogido 6
Licey scored 2 runs in the 5th, 2 in the 6th, and one more in the 7th inning, and Escogido tied the score with a 4-run bottom of the 7th inning. LF Brian Myrow began Escogido's rally with a lead-off walk, and he scored on a single and a fielding error. Another walk, an RBI ground out and a 2-RBI double brought the score to 5-5. Licey broke the tie in the next inning with two runs on a walk, two consecutive fielding errors, and an RBI ground out. A walk and a double gave Escogido one run in the bottom of the 9th, but two ground outs ended the inning and the game before Escogido could get any further.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Bravos de Margarita 5, Leones del Caracas 3
Margarita got off to a good start with 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning, on a walk, two singles, an RBI ground out, and a wild pitch. They added another run in the 3rd and a solo homer in the 8th. Caracas scored a single run in each of the 1st, 8th, and 9th innings, but it wasn't enough to catch up. Carlos Maldonado made a pinch-hit appearance for Caracas in the 8th inning, and was hit by the pitch. He was replaced by a pinch-runner, but that was more likely due to the fact that Maldonado is a very slow runner than because he was significantly injured when he was hit.
Tiburones de La Guaira 16, Aguilas de Zulia 1
Los Tiburones took a huge bite of Los Aguilas, with 16 runs on 21 hits. The 6-run 4th inning began with three consecutive walks, then two singles, a double, and a final RBI single by 1B/3B Hector Gimenez. Gimenez also doubled and scored in the 9th, and reached base on a grounder force out and then scored in the 6th.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Tomateros de Culiacan 8, Venados de Mazatlan 6
Two late-inning rallies were not enough for Mazatlan to overcome an early Culiacan lead. 2B Luis Cruz led off the 2nd inning for Culiacan with the first of three singles in the inning. A double followed the singles, and 2 runs were in. Mazatlan scored one run in the top of the 3rd, on two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a balk. Culiacan picked up 2 more runs on three singles in the 4th inning. Cruz started the 4-run rally in the 5th with another single, which was followed by four more singles and a hit batter. Mazatlan had a 3-run homer in the 8th, and a 2-run homer in the 9th, but still fell short.
Cedeno: No Hits, But A Critical RBI
DOMINICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Toros del Este 8, Tigres del Licey 6
Los Toros exploded for 8 runs in the 7th inning, which featured three walks, three doubles, and a homer. All the scored occurred after two outs had been recorded. Denny Bautista pitched to two batters in the middle of the mess, and walked the first and gave up an RBI single to the second. CF Jose Bautista contributed an RBI single for Licey in the 3rd inning, but was out at the plate when he tried to score himself. He also had an RBI double in the 8th inning. DH Ronny Paulino went 0-for-4 and was hit by a pitch.
Leones del Escogido 4, Gigantes del Cibao 3
Los Gigantes had an early 2-0 lead, but Escogido caught up with 2 runs in the 6th, and took the lead with a walk, a wild pitch, and a single in the 7th. Reliever Juan Perez pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 9th for Los Gigantes, and his teammates came through with a run on a walk and two singles to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. That sent the game into extras.... Escogido put two runners on base in the top of the 12th, but couldn't push anyone across the plate. Former Indy Indian (2000-01) 1B Kevin Barker (more recently with the Reds and Louisville Bats) gave Escogido the win with a solo homer in the top of the 13th.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Criollos de Caguas 4, Leones de Ponce 3
Ponce took a 3-0 lead with a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning and another run in the top of the 4th. Caguas came back to score in three consecutive innings. They scored one run in the bottom of the 4th, then tied it with two runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double in the 5th. A walk, a throwing error, and a single complicated by a second throwing error in the 6th inning gave Caguas the go-ahead run. CF Luis Matos and SS Luis Figueroa each had a hit for Caguas, but neither came around to score.
VENZUELAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Leones del Caracas 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 4
LF/2B Ronny Cedeno did not have a hit (he had 7 hits over the last two games), but he contributed a run-scoring bunt and later came around to score in Magallanes' 4-run 3rd inning. DH Mike Ryan had an RBI double in that rally. The 4 runs gave Magallanes a 4-2 lead, which held until the 8th inning. In the top of the 8th, Caracas' CF/RF Josh Kroeger (White Sox and Team USA) reached base on a fielding error. Kroeger scored on a triple, and LF Jose Castillo brought the tying run in with an RBI single. Magallanes' reliever Corey Hamman took the mound at that point (one out), but Hamman gave up a single to pinch-hitter Carlos Maldonado, and he was also relieved. A walk loaded the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Castillo to score the winning run.
Tiburones de La Guaira 3, Aguilas de Zulia 2
Romulo Sanchez suffered the loss for Zulia when he gave up an RBI single and then threw a wild pitch that allowed La Guaira to score another run in the 8th inning. That gave La Guaira a 2-1 lead, and even though each team scored a run in the 9th inning, Sanchez was charged with the blown save and the loss. 1B Hector Gimenez went 0-for-4 for La Guaira.
Three Minor League Pitchers Signed
Tyler Yates is not a big surprise. The 32-year-old had "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow last July, and had already agreed to come back to play for the Pirates. This was just the formality of signing the paper. Yates made 72 relief appearances for the Pirates in 2008, earning a 6-3 record with on save and a 4.66 ERA. In 73.1 innings, he gave up 72 hits, 38 earned runs, 41 BB, and struck out 63 batters. Prior to going on the Disabled List in 2009, Yates had thrown just 12 innings in 15 appearances, allowing 10 earned runs on 14 hits, with 7 BB and 9 K. That gave him a 0-2 record and a 7.50 ERA. Yates was originally drafted by the A's in 1998 and reached the AAA level in their organization in 2002. He was traded to the Mets after that season, and continued in their minor league system, making his major league debut in April 2004. He also pitched for the Braves at the AAA and the major league levels in 2006 and 2007. Yates will be joining the Pirates for spring training as a non-roster invitee, but isn't expected to be game-ready yet.
Neal Cotts was also drafted by the A's, in the 2nd round of the 2001 draft. The lefty was traded to the White Sox after the 2002 season. Cotts was assigned to the AA level in the White Sox system, where he had a 2.16 ERA in 21 starts, with 133 strikeouts in 108.1 innings. That earned him a call-up to the majors for his major league debut in August 2003. After three full seasons with the White Sox, during which he made the move to the bullpen, Cotts was traded across town to the Cubs. He split the last three season between the AAA Iowa Cubs and the big league team. With Iowa, he had a combined 3.70 ERA (and 2.30 for 2008 plus 2009) with 92 strikeouts in 90 innings. With the Cubs, his combined ERA was 4.99, with 66 strikeouts in 63.1 innings. His 2009 season was halted by elbow problems and he too had "Tommy John" surgery, back in July. Like Yates, Cotts has an invitation to major league spring training, but won't be ready for live game competition when the 2010 season begins.
The third pitcher signed is lefty Brian Burres. Burres was drafted by the Giants in 2000, and pitched for four seasons in their organization as both a starter and a reliever. He was claimed off waivers by the Orioles and spent the 2006 - 2008 seasons in their organization, splitting the all three seasons between the AAA and major league levels. In 2008, he was mostly in Baltimore, making 31 appearances and 22 starts, with a 7-10 record and a 6.04 ERA. In 129.2 innings, he allowed 165 hits and 87 earned runs, with 50 BB and 63 K. Burres, who will turn 29 just after the start of the 2010 season, spent most of 2009 with the Blue Jays' AAA Las Vegas team. He made 17 starts and 2 relief appearances, earning a 6-7 record and a 4.76 ERA. He pitched 107.2 innings and gave up 121 hits, 57 earned runs, only 30 BB, and 84 K. He also made 2 starts for the Blue Jays at the end of April, but lasted only into the 5th inning in one and only 2 innings in the second, and gave up a total of 10 runs on 12 hits and 5 walks. Burres was also invited to major league spring training, and he should be ready to go at the beginning of the season. If he does not make the major league roster out of spring training, the contract has an out clause that lets him leave, and maybe go to an Asian team.
List of the current non-roster invitees:
Pitchers: Jimmy Barthmaier, Brian Burres, Vinnie Chulk, Neal Cotts, Craig Hansen, Jeff Karstens, Wil Ledezma, Jean Machi, Jeremy Powell, Jack (Jayson) Taschner, Justin Thomas, Virgil Vasquez, and Tyler Yates.
Catchers: Erik Kratz and Tony Sanchez
Outfielder: Jonathan Van Every