Santiago de Cuba cruised to an easy four game sweep to complete their back to back titles. Homerun champ Alexei Bell and company proved to be too much for the Pinar del Rio squad.
The Pinareños were outscored 29-9 in the four games. The final game was the only close one where Bell came through in the clutch singlig in the winning run off Pedro Luis Lazo who was pitching in relief.
Now that the Serie Nacional 47 has concluded, the National team will reconvene in Havana within the next two weeks to prepare for Beijing.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Serie Nacional 47 finalists decided
Last year's champions Santiago de Cuba is looking to repeat while Pinar del Rio will try to capture their first title in ten years. Santiago de Cuba has been very dominant throughout the playoffs and were pretty much a shoe-in for the final. Pinar del Rio on the other hand accomplished the improbable coming back from 3-1 to tie the series and beat Sancti Spiritus on the road with a final score of 7-6 in extra innings.
The game had a little bit of everything with good pitching in tough situations and great opportune batting. Yulieski Gourriel hit his first homerun of the playoffs to bring the Gallos within two, 6-4. They tied the game, but were not able to capitalize on a few chances. There were a few ejections and clearing of the benches. Pinar del Rio even went as far walking off the field in protest. Things settled down and they went on to win and secure their spot in the finals.
The game had a little bit of everything with good pitching in tough situations and great opportune batting. Yulieski Gourriel hit his first homerun of the playoffs to bring the Gallos within two, 6-4. They tied the game, but were not able to capitalize on a few chances. There were a few ejections and clearing of the benches. Pinar del Rio even went as far walking off the field in protest. Things settled down and they went on to win and secure their spot in the finals.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Rumblings around MLB
The "new and improved" Tigers finally won their first game of the season scoring 7 runs to beat the Red Sox. They had scored a total of 15 runs in their 7 games. They have a good team and it is still early for them to recover from the 0-7 start. After the Rockies string of wins last season, anything is possible.
Albert Pujols continues to pay through pain and you cannot tell. He just hit two homeruns last night, the man is a monster!
Fausto Carmona and the Indians agreed to a 7-year extension, does that signal the end of the line for Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia? Sabathia and the Indians are far apart on a figure to keep him.
K-Rod's minor injury might prove to be a setback in contract negotiations with the Angels.
The Mets have hit the only snag that could keep such a powerful team down, injury. They have a lot of key cogs out that are keeping them in the middle of the pack.
Doug Davis beat the Dodgers with his arm and his bat before he underwent surgery to remove his cancerous thyroid.
Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal and Vladimir Guerrero are making early bids for either contract extensions or a nice contract in the offseason.
The Diamonbacks are doing it on both sides of the field and have only lost two games to hold a slight edge in the NL West.
Dodgers' ownership is doing everything in their power to lose fans with new autograph policies and yearly ticket price increases. Funny how once they took pride in having some of the least expensive tickets to watch a major league game.
The Orioles and Marlins are in first place in their divisions and the Athletics are in second. Too early to call, but these are the teams that are supposed to be in the gutter.
Albert Pujols continues to pay through pain and you cannot tell. He just hit two homeruns last night, the man is a monster!
Fausto Carmona and the Indians agreed to a 7-year extension, does that signal the end of the line for Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia? Sabathia and the Indians are far apart on a figure to keep him.
K-Rod's minor injury might prove to be a setback in contract negotiations with the Angels.
The Mets have hit the only snag that could keep such a powerful team down, injury. They have a lot of key cogs out that are keeping them in the middle of the pack.
Doug Davis beat the Dodgers with his arm and his bat before he underwent surgery to remove his cancerous thyroid.
Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal and Vladimir Guerrero are making early bids for either contract extensions or a nice contract in the offseason.
The Diamonbacks are doing it on both sides of the field and have only lost two games to hold a slight edge in the NL West.
Dodgers' ownership is doing everything in their power to lose fans with new autograph policies and yearly ticket price increases. Funny how once they took pride in having some of the least expensive tickets to watch a major league game.
The Orioles and Marlins are in first place in their divisions and the Athletics are in second. Too early to call, but these are the teams that are supposed to be in the gutter.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Cuban semifinals begin this Friday
The Cuban league semis will begin without the capital's Industriales who were eliminated early on.
Last year's champion Santiago de Cuba will face Villa Clara who boasts Cuba team captain Eduardo Paret along with WBC teammates Ariel Borrero and Ariel Pestano.
Sancti Spiritus who also has three WBC players: Frederich Cepeda, Yuliesky Gourriel and Eriel Sanchez will face Pinar del Rio led by Pedro Luis Lazo along with WBC teammate Yunieski Maya.
Last year's champion Santiago de Cuba will face Villa Clara who boasts Cuba team captain Eduardo Paret along with WBC teammates Ariel Borrero and Ariel Pestano.
Sancti Spiritus who also has three WBC players: Frederich Cepeda, Yuliesky Gourriel and Eriel Sanchez will face Pinar del Rio led by Pedro Luis Lazo along with WBC teammate Yunieski Maya.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Odalis Perez-an enigma
Odalis Perez has been villified in the media since his days in a Dodger uniform. There have been many times where what he has said was miscontrued or blown out of proportion. I have been fortunate to know him since 2004 and I have been exposed to a side many don't know and the media refuses to see.
He has been criticized for things such as refusing to pitch with a split fingernail (we know the outcome of having to pitch anyway) and blasting his teammates for the lack of run support yet he tied the major league record with 18 no decisions in one year. Maybe it is the way that he has expressed himself that has not come across as acceptable, but the media chooses to focus on the negative.
He is mostly known for the fact that his O's 45 kids club that was discontinued for reasons that are unknown to the public which differ from what the media reported. He has always participated in hospital visits, clinics, and teammates' charitable events. Perez has been donating equipment back in the Dominican Republic for years now and that has never been mentioned. He has held softball games in his hometown of Las Matas de Farfan and has provided entertainment free to the public for a few years running. He has also donated equipment to Little Leagues and Adult Leagues in Los Angeles even after his departure.
Last night he seemed to turn a new leaf in his professional career as it was evident that he lost weight in the offseason. He seems more comfortable on the mound and in control of his pitches. As an ODP fan, I am glad to see him reunited with Paul LoDuca who was his catcher in all of his memorable games. Hope his hard work in the offseason pays off and we see the old ODP that pitched well enough to warrant the $24 million dollar contract given to him in 2005.
He has been criticized for things such as refusing to pitch with a split fingernail (we know the outcome of having to pitch anyway) and blasting his teammates for the lack of run support yet he tied the major league record with 18 no decisions in one year. Maybe it is the way that he has expressed himself that has not come across as acceptable, but the media chooses to focus on the negative.
He is mostly known for the fact that his O's 45 kids club that was discontinued for reasons that are unknown to the public which differ from what the media reported. He has always participated in hospital visits, clinics, and teammates' charitable events. Perez has been donating equipment back in the Dominican Republic for years now and that has never been mentioned. He has held softball games in his hometown of Las Matas de Farfan and has provided entertainment free to the public for a few years running. He has also donated equipment to Little Leagues and Adult Leagues in Los Angeles even after his departure.
Last night he seemed to turn a new leaf in his professional career as it was evident that he lost weight in the offseason. He seems more comfortable on the mound and in control of his pitches. As an ODP fan, I am glad to see him reunited with Paul LoDuca who was his catcher in all of his memorable games. Hope his hard work in the offseason pays off and we see the old ODP that pitched well enough to warrant the $24 million dollar contract given to him in 2005.
Cuban Baseball Update
Pedro Luis Lazo became the all time leader in wins in Series Nacionales with 237. He just helped his team, Pinar del Rio, accomplish what many struggle to do and that is eliminate Habana's Industriales in the playoffs. They are the first team to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Yulieski Gonzalez accomplished 15 victories in the season and remained undefeated. His team is facing Sancti Spiritus in the playoffs.
Alexei Bell became the all-time leader in homeruns with 31 and RBI with 111. Impressive considering they play a 90 game season. Bell also became the first player to have a 25-25 season. You can keep up with him in playoff action where his team Santiago de Cuba is facing Las Tunas.
The remaining series feature Sancti Spiritus vs Habana and Ciego de Avila vs Villa Clara.
Keep up with the Cuban playoffs at www.radiococo.cu or www.baseballdecuba.com
Yulieski Gonzalez accomplished 15 victories in the season and remained undefeated. His team is facing Sancti Spiritus in the playoffs.
Alexei Bell became the all-time leader in homeruns with 31 and RBI with 111. Impressive considering they play a 90 game season. Bell also became the first player to have a 25-25 season. You can keep up with him in playoff action where his team Santiago de Cuba is facing Las Tunas.
The remaining series feature Sancti Spiritus vs Habana and Ciego de Avila vs Villa Clara.
Keep up with the Cuban playoffs at www.radiococo.cu or www.baseballdecuba.com
Monday, March 17, 2008
Alexei Bell breaks single season homerun record and Yuliesky Gonzalez reaches 14 wins in Cuban baseball
Alexei Bell from the Santiago de Cuba team hit his 29th homerun to break Joan Carlos Pedroso's of 28 set in 2003. Pedroso played in the 2006 WBC. Bell has also set a record of 100 RBI breaking his previous mark of 97.
WBC hurler Yuliesky Gonzalez has earned his 14th victory of the season therefore tying the record for the most victories a single season. He has no losses and is looking for a league record 15th win in Wednesday's game. You can follow the action at www.radiococo.cu
WBC hurler Yuliesky Gonzalez has earned his 14th victory of the season therefore tying the record for the most victories a single season. He has no losses and is looking for a league record 15th win in Wednesday's game. You can follow the action at www.radiococo.cu
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