Skip to main content

Serie Del Caribe es Presente

By
The culmination of the baseball winter leagues is upon us. Beginning this afternoon, the annual Caribbean (World) Series will pit the league champions from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Mexico & Puerto Rico will face off, while Venezuela faces the DR on the first of six days for the series. Venezuela's Margarita Island will play host to the event.

After months of highlights, classic games and hot stove coverage...LIVE baseball will return to television today. All games of the Caribbean Series will be broadcast on MLB Network. Those stuck at work or away from their television will be able to follow each game via MLB.com's game day feature.

Not sure who to root for? How about the Leones from the DR? Recent Phillies pitching acquisition Jason Standridge is on the Dominican pitching staff. In 4 games this winter, Standridge has been excellent, going 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 21 strike outs in 24 2/3 innings pitched. Switch hitting outfielder Freddy Guzman is also on the Dominican squad. Guzman is batting .259 with 4 RBI and 7 steals in 14 games this winter. Standridge and Guzman were both signed this offseason to increase depth in the minors. Former Phillies infielder Juan Bell is also the hitting coach for the Dominican champs. Also on the Dominican Republic team are former Phillie, and current Metropolitan, Nelson Figueroa as well as Marlins utility man Emilio Bonifacio.

In a bit of a twist, the series allows the champions who enter the Caribbean Series an opportunity to reenforce their rosters with additions who weren't actually on their roster during their nation's season. One addition that the Dominican team has made is Pablo Ozuna, who was a 2009 Phillies minor leaguer and illegal drug offender/suspendee. Ozuna is the expected starter at second base for the DR team.

Also in the series, former Phillies Chris Roberson and Karim Garcia are on the roster of the Mexico champions. And the championship team from Venezuela also features some names familiar to Phils phans...Eric Junge and Yoel Hernandez, who were each Phillies pitchers in 2002 and 2007 respectively. Lastly, former Phillies minor leaguer & Trenton Thunder slugger and current Blue Jay Randy Ruiz is on the Puerto Rican team's roster.

The Dominican team is typically favored, as they have walked away with 17 total Caribbean Series titles, 11 since 1990. Tune in daily, today through Sunday, February 7th for all the winter baseball action. Mitch Williams will be on the commentary for MLB Network throughout the series.

----------------------------------

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE ! It'll make you feel good.


BallHype: hype it up!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Phillies look-alikes, Part 1

By
The Phillies are World Series Champions and, thus, are world wide celebrities. This recognition isn't enough, I tell you. Some of the champs could very well be confused with other major celebrities around the globe...or at least around my house. Let's dig in... Two look-alikes in particular have been widely discussed. Geoff Jenkins even made a sign on the table covering at his autograph station at last year's Phillies Phestival that he is not Brett Favre or phormer Phillie Randy Wolf. ------------------------------------------------------- Jayson Werth may be on his way to Wrestlemania. Jay-Dub is aware that he resembles Heavyweight wrestling champion Adam "Edge" Copeland. Are you? -------------------------------------------- Carlos Ruiz's fame was boosted by TBS during the playoffs, but he might be ready for his own Comedy Central sketch show, as he looks very much like Carlos Mencia. Dee dee dee! -------------------------------------------------- And whi...
4 comments
Read more

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

By
Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...
Post a Comment
Read more

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Prospect Brody Colvin

By
Recently, right-handed pitcher Brody Colvin was promoted from Class A Advanced Clearwater to Double-A Reading. Prior to the 2012 season, Colvin, who turns 22-years-old on Tuesday, was ranked as PhilliesNation's 6th best prospect . This season, following some ups and downs, it's unclear where Colvin will rank next preseason. Earlier this year, Colvin, a Louisiana native, was removed from Clearwater's starting rotation and moved to the bullpen to relax and improve his mental approach. He did so and returned to starting after a brief time. Through his first two outings with the R-Phils, the 7th round draft choice from 2009 posted a 1-0 record while allowing five earned runs in 11 innings (4.09 ERA). In his last start on Saturday, however, Colvin allowed eight earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched in a loss to New Britain. In a recent interview with Brody, he spoke about the transition moving to the Eastern League, his brief bullpen stint, physical concerns from last season...
2 comments
Read more