One quick signing note:  pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who was released by the Pirates after the 2010 season, has signed a minor league contract with the Orioles.

The Caribbean series got underway today (Wednesday) with an afternoon game.   It took 15 innings, but Mexico (Los Yaquis de Obregon) beat Indy Indians' manager Dean Treanor's Dominican Republic team (Los Toros del Este) 4-3.  The Dominicans took the lead with a run in the 3rd on two singles and a throwing error.  They made it 3-0 in the 6th with the help of another error that led to two unearned runs.  The Mexican team came back with 2 runs on three singles in the 7th.  The Dominicans were one out away from a win in the bottom of the 9th, when the Mexicans tied the score at 3-3 with a pair of two-out singles and a stolen base.  Five and a half scoreless innings followed, as the relief pitchers took over.  Neither team did much during the 10th, 11th, and 12th innings.  Both teams put two runners on base but couldn't score in the 13th.  The Dominicans threatened in both the top of the 14th and the top of the 15th, but could not push a runner across the plate.  Finally in the bottom of the 15th, the Mexican team again came through after two outs had been recorded.  Three straight singles gave them the winning run.



This evening's game, between Venezuela (Los Caribes de Anzoategui) and Puerto Rico (Los Criollos de Caguas) is in the middle of the 5th, with Venezuela ahead 4-2.  
UPDATE:  VENEZUELA  5,  PUERTO RICO  3  --  The game began with Venezuela scoring 4 runs in the top of the 1st.  The first batter of the game reached base on a throwing error.  A single and a sacrifice fly plated the first run of the game.  After a walk, LF Jose Castillo singled in a run, then a fielding error allowed 2 more runs to score.  A double and an RBI single gave the Puerto Ricans one run in the 3rd inning.  An RBI double in the 5th brought a runner all the way from first base to score Puerto Rico's second run.  The Venezuelans added one more run in the 7th, on another double/single combination.  Puerto Rico also added another run in the 8th.  A single, a walk, and a single by SS Luis Figueroa loaded the bases with no outs.  The next batter bounced into a 3-6-3 double play, but the runner from third was able to score.  

Waiting for the Caribbean Series to begin (Wednesday) and the Australian League to resume their playoffs (Friday)....

Two former Pirate pitchers have signed minor league contracts with other clubs:  Ty Taubenheim has signed with the Rangers, and Virgil Vasquez has signed with the Angels.

Joe Beimel was signed to a minor league contract with the Pirates over the weekend.  The Pennsylvania native will turn 34 in April.  He has been in the Pirates' organization before, beginning when he was drafted in the 18th round of the 1998 draft by the Pirates.  Beimel spent 6 seasons in the Pirates' organization, moving quickly up through the minors until he reached the major leagues in 2001.  He pitched for the Pirates in 2001 - 03, mostly in relief, earning a 10-19 record with a 5.00 ERA.  The Pirates released him before the season started in 2004, and he pitched in several organizations over the next 7 seasons:  Twins, Rays, Dodgers (3 seasons), Nationals, and Rockies.  The southpaw was traded to the Rockies at the trading deadline in 2009.  He made 26 relief appearances for the Rockies over the rest of that season, allowing 7 runs on 19 hits over 15.2 innings.  Beimel pitched in 2 games for AAA Colorado Springs in 2010, but spent the rest of the season with the Rockies.  In 71 appearances (45 innings), he allowed 17 earned runs (3.40 ERA) on 46 hits with 15 walks and 21 strikeouts.  With the minor league contract, Beimel has been invited to the major league camp for spring training, but the Pirates consider him to be a strong candidate to provide a veteran lefty presence in their bullpen.  

The final playoff game of the Caribbean winter leagues was played on Sunday, finishing up the Venezuelan League championship.  The Caribbean Series begins on Wednesday and lasts six days (Feb 2nd - 7th), and from there, spring training will be right around the corner.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Tigres de Aragua  7  --  Los Caribes held on for the win in Game 7 of the Venezuelan championship series, despite a 9th inning rally by Los Tigres.  Los Caribes had an early 6-0 lead, thanks to back-to-back homers (2-run and solo) in the 1st inning, and a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning.  Los Tigres got onto the scoreboard in the top of the 3rd, using only one hit.  A single, a hit batter, and a walk loaded the bases.  Two runs were forced in, on when LF Lastings Milledge was hit by a pitch, and one when 1B Hector Gimenez walked.  A wild pitch and a missed catch error by Los Caribes' pitcher allowed 2 more runs to score, and the score was 6-4.  Los Caribes gained more ground in the 4th with two singles, a walk, and a 2-RBI single.  A solo homer by Los Tigres in the top of the 5th put the score at 8-5.  Los Caribes threatened in the bottom of the 6th, with a single and a double, but an on-target throw from Milledge in left field to C Raul Chavez let Chavez tag the lead runner out at the plate.  Wil Ledezma came on in relief at that point.  He walked the first batter he faced, then got a fly out.  Ledezma was relieved, and after another walk to load the bases, a pop out ended the inning without a run scoring.  Los Caribes also loaded the bases in the 7th inning, but a strikeout ended that inning and left all three on base.  Los Tigres rallied in the top of the 9th, with two singles, including one by Chavez.  Chavez was replaced by a pinch-runner.  Two singles drove in two runs, bringing Los Tigres within one run of Los Caribes.  That was as far as Aragua could get, though, and the game ended with runners on the corners.  Los Caribes will advance to the Caribbean series.