Cleveland Sports Forum

Miguel and Santander are big enough guys to at least look like baseball players, I assume.

Shoudl see these 4 in Lake County in 2014.

Or even sign a FA in the winter?

Free agents do not come to Cleveland unless every other team turns them down.

I guess it's about time to dust this old folder off.






Raul Adalberto Mondesi signs with KC Royals

In March Raul Adalberto emerged onto the July 2nd stage playing in the DPL. He was a late bloomer compared to other guys in Latin America but bloomed colorfully as his speed, defense and hitting ability started showing signs of a special talent at the DPL All-Star game in May; he’s an athletic solid defender with range and a good feel for the position. The switch hitter makes frequent contact (line-drive gap guy), shows good bat speed and ability to handle the bat against notable pitching. He’s an above average runner (6.6 - 6.8 60yrd) and his arm strength is solid average with ability to improve with development due to easy loose action. His tools will allow him to stick at the position and he projects to be a solid everyday ML player.

Raul Adalberto will start to create his own legacy as he starts his quest to the Major Leagues. The Mondesi family agreed to terms with the Kansas City Royals for $2M, making him the highest paid Dominican Shortstop in 2011.

Raul Adalberto was born in Los Angeles Ca, on July 27 1995; his father Raul Mondesi played 13 Big League seasons, most notable for 1994 R.O.Y. award, selected to the MLB All-Star game in 1995 and known for his cannon arm, leading league 3 seasons in outfield assist

The Dominican Prospect League is excited to announce that we will compete every Wednesday through the month of July and August in the July 2nd Parallel League featuring the top International prospects who have agree to professional contracts. The league commissioner Paul Kruger (Texas Rangers International ops) has organized the schedule that will consist of 5 MLB organizations including Boston Redsox, St Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and the DPL Elite Travel Team. All games will be played with an instructional league structure at MLB facilities in the Dominican Republic.

Indians on a roll and sign another quality arm in DR

The Tribe signed RHP Luis Daniel Marte of the Dominican Prospect League. Marte is 6'3 180lb with a wiry body, his FB velocity 88-92 (93) and shows flashes of 2 quality breaking pitches. Marte pitched in the All-Star game last January and recently agreed to a $200,000.00 contract with the Indians. Congrats to all.


Not only is this the Indians' best start since they went 26-11 in 2001, it's Manny Acta's best start as a big-league manager. He's in his second year with the Indians after managing Washington for 2 1/2 seasons.

"It's always a little easier to handle when you're winning," said Acta. "I spend less time walking around and pumping guys up and trying to convince guys to be patient because things will turn around. It's easier in that aspect."

Managing is always about points and counterpoints.

"You to try and keep people even keel and cautious," said Acta. "It's early. We can't get comfortable and we've still got to work hard and still get out there and try to win every single day. We're not even close to where we want to be."

Acta said the success of the first 37 games of the season started during the 93 losses of 2010. He complimented Eric Wedge, now managing Seattle, for stressing that the team be built around players with character during his seven years as the Tribe's manager.

"I had a great time here last year because of the character of these guys," said Acta.

Still, there's nothing like being on a hot streak.

"It's easier to go home at night when you're winning," Acta said with a smile. "Not that it makes any difference because my wife's not here. I don't have anyone to fight with. But I'm pretty good at not taking my game home anyway."

Darvish wins 15th game in convincing style

Kyodo


Yu Darvish struck out 14 en route to his fifth shutout of the season as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 4-0 on Friday.

Darvish (15-3) became the first 15-game winner in Japan this season after scattering five hits, all singles, and walking two in a 126-pitch outing at Sapporo Dome.

The 24-year-old right-hander has reached 15 wins for the fourth time in five seasons.

The second-place Fighters took the opener of the three-game series and pulled within 2½ games of the Hawks in the Pacific League standings.

Nippon Ham got on the board in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by cleanup hitter Sho Nakata.

Yang Dai-kang made it 3-0 in the sixth when he delivered a two-run single, his third hit of the night. Softbank second baseman Yuichi Honda's eighth-inning error allowed the game's final run to score.

Hawks left-hander Hiroki Yamada (7-6) was charged with one run and seven hits in 4⅔ innings.

Welcome back Joez

Arizona Fall League schedule released

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com

Details for the 2011 Arizona Fall League season were released Wednesday as the league continued to prepare to enter its 20th season.

The league -- which has been home to nine Major League MVP Award winners and three Cy Young Award winners in its two decades of history -- features seven weeks of baseball, pitting teams comprised of many of the top prospects in baseball at six Maricopa County Spring Training stadiums.

The season kicks off with Opening Day on Oct. 4 and wraps up with the annual championship game Nov. 19 at Scottsdale Stadium. The popular Rising Stars Game is scheduled for Nov. 5 at Surprise Stadium.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the new Spring Training home of the D-backs and Rockies, will enter into the mix this fall as the new home to the Salt River Rafters. The Rafters will play 19 home games -- including 10 night contests -- at the new facility.

Other returning league venues include Mesa Hohokam Park (Mesa Solar Sox), Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria Javelinas), Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Phoenix Desert Dogs), Scottsdale Stadium (the defending champion Scottsdale Scorpions) and Surprise Stadium (Surprise Saguaros).

The DPL is proud to announce the start of the 2011-2012 season set to start September 7th through the end of June 2012. The 2012 July 2 IFA class is looking as good as the 2011 class. We will be posting new Player profiles, scouting reports and videos soon.

Dioscar Romero agrees with the REDSOX

Dioscar Romero RHP

The Boston Redsox evaluated Romero extensively during the year and liked him enough to sign him for $600,000. Romero’s contract becomes the largest agreed to by the Redsox for a non-Cuban amateur free agent Pitcher.

In March Dioscar Romero was selected to the DPL Elite Team that traveled to Florida and Arizona during Spring Training. During the trip he was one of the youngest players on the team at 15 years old. His velocity was 87-90 and touched 91-92 several times during his 5 Inns of work on the trip. When he returned to Dominican Republic there were many teams following him and evaluating his outings through the end of the DPL season. Romero is an effortless power pitcher with a good feel for a Curveball and Change-up, his ability to combine 3 solid pitches make him a strong candidate to be a Big League starter. In May he was selected to the DPL All-Star team where he continued to show consistency in velocity and hard breaking pitches.
Congratulations to the Boston Redsox and Dioscar Romero.

Ronald Guzman is the newest Texas Ranger


The Texas Rangers welcomed their newest acquisition to the club, Dominican Out Fielder Ronald Guzman. Ronald is a 16 year old Left Hand Power Hitter with size and projection. He took a few rounds of BP at Arlington Stadium during his 2 day visit as the club and executives were on hand to officially welcome him to the Texas Rangers organization.

Ronald had a chance to meet manager Ron Washington before the Rangers took the field.

Executive Vice President and Rangers Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg presented Ronald his Jersey.

Guzman said “I’m happy to be with the Texas Rangers organization, I feel my family and I made the best decision for my development. I know the Rangers made a significant investment in me and I’m going to show them it was a good investment long term. I’m going to help the club win a world series one day, hopefully sooner than later. I’m proud to be in the lone star state.”

Daniels said “The Rangers are delighted to add a player like Ronald Guzman to the organization and appreciate he’s interest in being a part of the organization. The hard work our scouting department put into this signing by Senior Director of Player Personnel AJ Preller, International Director Mike Daly and our scouting staff in Dominican Republic is a testament of how much the organization is focused in signing the best players in the world. Mike Daly said “Ronald is a special talent but the combination of talent, make-up and character that attracted us most. We think he’s an incredible hitter with a chance to be a special bat in the Big Leagues.”

Guzman had one of the most memorable days of his life on July 2nd, the 16 year old graduated from High School and signed the largest contract in Latin American history for a position player at $3.5 million with the Texas Rangers until they aggressively signed Guzman’s friend and teammate on the RBI national team Nomar Mazara to a $4.950 million contract. Guzman and Mazara helped the Dominican squad bring home the RBI World Series title in 2010. Guzman is a left hand hitter with a polished approach, he's a line drive-gap guy who sprays the ball to all fields. His make-up, hitting ability and power potential attracted many teams in early evaluations.

Dawel Lugo SS (Catalina Bani, DR)

The Toronto BlueJays GM Alex Anthopoulos and International Director Marco Paddy got a good look at Lugo as the DPL Elite Travel team toured FL and AZ during Spring Training this year. The team did extensive evaluations on Lugo and on July 2nd decided he was the talent they were searching for up the middle. Lugo’s hitting ability is beyond his years and shows signs of future above average defensive skills. He agrees to terms at $1.3 million.

Rays land a quality arm in Burgos

The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an agreement with LHP Havid Burgos.


Burgos trained with Adolfo Burgos from Santiago, Dominican Republic; He's 6'1, 180lb with a quick loose arm and projection to be a starter. Burgos is an aggressive pitcher who works in the high 80's and has touched 90-91 on occasion, he can spin a curveball for strikes and shows signs of a quality Change-up. He represented the Dominican Republic in an International tournament played in Venezuela a few months ago and hurled impressively in the Dominican Prospect League (Cibao circuit) this past season. Burgos has proven he can pitch against notable competition showing command and pitch ability.

Bucs encouraging players to play winter ball

By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com | 08/28/11 6:11 PM ET

ST. LOUIS --

While Arizona Fall League rosters are scheduled to be released this week, the Pirates remain busy trying to encourage others to participate in various winter ball leagues outside the United States.

The AFL typically features more advanced players in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues, though there is a chance that Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, could also be among the prospects the Pirates send west.

Other winter ball opportunities, however, are open to current Major Leaguers, and the Pirates are going to push a number of players who are on the big league roster -- or have been at some point this season -- to take advantage of those playing chances.

"I believe in [playing winter ball] with all my heart," said manager Clint Hurdle, who participated in it four times as a player. "They need to do what's right and not what's comfortable and convenient sometimes. It's a challenge to go down there and play. Some people don't have the courage to take the step."

Third baseman Pedro Alvarez is expected to be among the players encouraged to play this winter. Others who have missed time due to injury this year will also be asked to participate in order to make up for time missed. Jose Tabata, Evan Meek and Ross Ohlendorf could fall in that group.

General manager Neal Huntington has expressed disappointment in the past with the lack of interest Major League players have shown toward playing during the offseason. Tabata and Charlie Morton were among the players that benefited from winter ball experiences in 2010.

Matt Packer, Tyler Sturdevant, T.J. McFarland, and Austin Adams will be the only Indian representatives in the AFL this year.

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp ... 10&cid=454