2015-2016 Winter League Updates

[JohnBriggs12]

Hernan Perez led off the bottom of the 10th with a double off of former Brewer Jose Veras, and scored the winning run two outs later leading Venezuela to a come from behind 8-7 win over Dominican Republic. In his previous AB, he hit a sacrifice fly that brought his team to within 7-6. For the game he was 1 for 4 with 2 RBI, playing 2B. Venezuela now 2-0.

[Mass Haas]

Hernan Perez led off the bottom of the 10th with a double off of former Brewer Jose Veras, and scored the winning run two outs later leading Venezuela to a come from behind 8-7 win over Dominican Republic. In his previous AB, he hit a sacrifice fly that brought his team to within 7-6. For the game he was 1 for 4 with 2 RBI, playing 2B. Venezuela now 2-0.

 

Thanks, JB12 -- much appreciated. Here is the Gameday box from that contest.

 

On Wednesday afternoon, Venezuela looks to move to 3-0 when they "visit" Mexico.

 

Puerto Rico plays the Cuban team this evening, while host club Dominican Republic is idle and licking their wounds after an 0-2 start.

 

There are three Brewers on team Puerto Rico. You have SS Yadiel Rivera, then RHP Hiram Burgos who was allowed to join the team from the league runner-up squad, and also catcher Rene Garcia, who started the winter in Puerto Rico, saw his club fail to make the postseason, so he then played postseason ball in the Dominican, and now finds himself back on his native island's team in the Caribbean Series -- whew...

 

Unlike his Venezuelan teammate Hernan Perez, C/DH Josmil Pinto did not travel to the Dominican for this tournament.

[Mass Haas]

On Wednesday afternoon, Venezuela looks to move to 3-0 when they "visit" Mexico.

 

Puerto Rico plays the Cuban team this evening, while host club Dominican Republic is idle and licking their wounds after an 0-2 start.

 

Caribbean Series Box Wednesday afternoon 2/3

 

Hernan Perez, batting 7th and playing second base, was 2-for-5 (RBI, run scored), but Venezuela dropped their first game of the tournament, dropping to 2-1, after a 6-4 loss. Yes, that's Yuni B. with two RBI for Mexico.

 

Details on Puerto Rico's game late tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Puerto Rico Caribbean Series Box Wed. 2/3

 

Puerto Rico crushed Cuba, 12-1 to even their record at 1-1. Catcher Rene Garcia was 1-for-3 with a walk and drove in four runs (sac fly, two-run single, RBI groundout). Yadiel Rivera did not play in this one.

 

On Thursday, it's Venezuela-Cuba in the afternoon, and Dominican Republic-Puerto Rico in the evening.

[Mass Haas]

Puerto Rico Caribbean Series Box Wed. 2/3

 

Puerto Rico crushed Cuba, 12-1 to even their record at 1-1. Catcher Rene Garcia was 1-for-3 with a walk and drove in four runs (sac fly, two-run single, RBI groundout).

 

Here's Garcia's two-run knock, blooper that found no-man's land in center --

 

[Mass Haas]

Hernan Perez' Venezuelan team had already qualified for the "final four" single elimination phase of the Caribbean Series, but they took care of Cuba Thursday afternoon regardless, by a 3-1 score (box).

 

Perez, again batting 7th and playing second base, was 1-for-4 (one error).

 

***

 

Big walk-off 14-inning win for Puerto Rico, 2-1 over the Dominican Republic (box score).

 

Catcher Rene Garcia was 1-for-5 (one K), and caught the entire game (1-for-2 vs. opposing basestealers).

 

Shortstop Yadiel Rivera did not start, but was a mid-game entry, 0-for-2 (two K's). He made this nice play, however.

 

Here's the HR that ended it. Puerto Rico was the "home" team, but the Dominican stadium crowd was subdued.

 

 

Yadiel (#13) was happy!

 

 

***

 

Standings here

 

On Friday, it's Mexico - Puerto Rico, and in the only game of importance, two winless teams, Cuba and the D.R., play for a spot in the semi-finals Saturday. The Championship Game is Sunday.

 

Will Puerto Rico save Hiram Burgos for Saturday's much more-meaningful game? We'll see...

 

EDIT: Looks like Burgos pitches Friday in a seeding-only game (tweet).

 

"Ramón Vásquez manager of Puerto Rico will have to Hiram Burgos as opener, he guesses that will launch 7 entries. Roberto Peña will be Catcher."

[Mass Haas]

On Friday, it's Mexico - Puerto Rico, and in the only game of importance, two winless teams, Cuba and the D.R., play for a spot in the semi-finals Saturday. The Championship Game is Sunday.

 

Will Puerto Rico save Hiram Burgos for Saturday's much more-meaningful game? We'll see...

 

EDIT: Looks like Burgos pitches Friday in a seeding-only game (tweet).

 

"Ramón Vásquez manager of Puerto Rico will have to Hiram Burgos as opener, he guesses that will launch 7 entries. Roberto Peña will be Catcher."

 

In a truly disappointing 4-2 11-inning loss to Cuba, host country Dominican Republic is now done with an 0-4 record. Plenty of tickets probably just became available.

 

While Puerto Rico dropped an 8-4 game to Mexico, it certainly wasn't RHP Hiram Burgos' fault, check out his line -- 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 94 pitches (61 strikes), GB:FB 3:7. Burgos was aided by having three of his baserunners stranded in the 6th.

 

In Saturday's win-or-go-home semi-finals, it'll be Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela in a game with Brewers on both sides, and in the evening, Cuba takes on Mexico.

 

Mexico Top of the 1st

 

Jeremias Pineda flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos.

Justin Greene singles on a ground ball to center fielder Henry Ramos.

With Alex Liddi batting, Hiram Burgos picks off Justin Greene at 1st on throw to Neftali Soto.

Alex Liddi called out on strikes.

 

Mexico Top of the 2nd

 

Jorge Vazquez flies out to right fielder Danny Ortiz.

Sebastian Valle called out on strikes.

Olmo Rosario strikes out swinging.

 

Mexico Top of the 3rd

 

Luis Juarez flies out to right fielder Danny Ortiz.

Paul Leon reaches on a throwing error by third baseman T. J. Rivera. Paul Leon to 2nd.

Ramon Urias grounds out, second baseman Jose Lozada to first baseman Neftali Soto. Paul Leon to 3rd.

Jeremias Pineda singles on a line drive to center fielder Henry Ramos. Paul Leon scores.

With Justin Greene batting, Hiram Burgos picks off Jeremias Pineda at 1st on throw to Neftali Soto.

 

Mexico Top of the 4th

 

Justin Greene called out on strikes.

Alex Liddi singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ruben Sosa.

Jorge Vazquez doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Henry Ramos. Alex Liddi to 3rd.

Sebastian Valle strikes out swinging.

Olmo Rosario flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos.

 

Mexico Top of the 5th

 

Luis Juarez singles on a ground ball to pitcher Hiram Burgos.

Paul Leon ground bunts into a force out, pitcher Hiram Burgos to shortstop Ozzie Martinez. Luis Juarez out at 2nd. Paul Leon to 1st.

Ramon Urias pops out to second baseman Jose Lozada.

Jeremias Pineda flies out to left fielder Ruben Sosa.

 

Mexico Top of the 6th

 

Justin Greene flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos.

Alex Liddi singles on a fly ball to center fielder Henry Ramos.

Jorge Vazquez singles on a line drive to center fielder Henry Ramos. Alex Liddi to 2nd.

Sebastian Valle flies out to left fielder Ruben Sosa.

Olmo Rosario walks. Alex Liddi to 3rd. Jorge Vazquez to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Miguel Mejia replaces Hiram Burgos.

Luis Juarez strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Watch Burgos highlights here.

[Mass Haas]

Watch Hernan Perez' triple here as Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com provides the write-up today. Good luck to Hernan in Sunday's final game vs. Mexico. Perez has been playing non-stop with his club since October, much appreciated by his country's fan base.

 

Perez finished 3-for-5 in the 13-3 win over Puerto Rico (R, RBI, one K, one error at second base).

 

Box Score

 

For Puerto Rico, big league camp invitee catcher Rene Garcia was 1-for-4, and threw out one of two baserunners (one passed ball). SS Yadiel Rivera again did not play, and his truly non-stop offseason finally comes to an end.

 

Sunday's Championship Game is at 3:00 PM on ESPN Deportes.

[JohnBriggs12]

Regarding the Perez' triple video, was that RF for PR playing shallow or what?

[Mass Haas]

The Super Bowl pregame was just a distraction from those following an epic Caribbean Series final game, taken by Mexico in walkoff HR fashion --

 

Guess it would be easiest on my part to just direct you to

 

these

 

three

 

tweets

 

from my timeline Sunday afternoon.

 

Thanks to all for following, hard to believe this thread generated over 16,600 views this winter.

[JohnBriggs12]

Thanks for providing the daily updates MH. Loved following the winter league action especially following Perez who had a terrific winter season. I'm an unabashed fan of his admittedly as I believe he's got plenty of as yet untapped power (as shown many times in this thread) and hope he's not overlooked in Brewer camp this spring in favor of all the new faces. Maybe he'll be in lineup on opening day but where, 3B, SS or 2B?

[1992casey]

If you listen to the videos on the previous page, you'll notice that the broadcaster's are pronouncing Orlando's last name as ARE-cia. That follows the applicable Spanish pronunciation rules as long as no accent is written over the letter i.

 

Because the inclusion of written accents (when they exist) is totally optional when writing in English, we're often clear as mud when it comes to proper pronunciation.

 

That said, I expect Americans to say are-CEE-a.

Bob Uecker and Len Kasper are saying ARE-cia. Also, if you dig around YouTube, you'll find that the Twins broadcasters pronounce Orlando's name that way. My guess is that everyone except Coshun will get the memo.