Calendar of Games of the stage Semifinals

January 4, 2018

Granma 0
Matanzas 0

Industrial 0
Las Tunas 0

January 5, 2018

Granma 0
Matanzas 0

Industrial 0
Las Tunas 0

January 8, 2018

Matanzas 0
Granma 0

Las Tunas 0
Industrial 0

January 9, 2018

Matanzas 0
Granma 0

Las Tunas 0
Industrial 0
57 SNB: Announce the calendar of the Cuban ball post-season.

The Cuban Baseball Federation reported on December 29 the calendar for the postseason of the National Championship , which will be contested by rival Matanzas vs Granma and Las Tunas vs Industriales in the best of seven series.

The two semifinals of the contest will begin on January 4 next and in both opening games will be heard the voice of play-ball at 19:15 local time.

Matanzas, leader of the regular season with a record of 61 wins and 29 defeats, and Las Tunas, second in the standings (59-31), will be playing at the opening of the playoffs at their home fields of Victoria de Girón and Julio Antonio Nick, respectively.

The semifinal series, in case of reaching the limit of seven games, will be played on the 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th and 14th of January, and later the fight for the crown will be played, also at the best of seven. .

The team that will be the national champion will defend the colors of the Cuban League in the upcoming Caribbean Series in Guadalajara, Mexico, from February 2 to 8.

Yesterday, the semifinal teams chose three reinforcements for the decisive phase of the championship.

Matanzas selected the pitchers Miguel Lahera and Yosvani Torres and the outfielder Frederich Cepeda.

Las Tunas asked the pitchers Vladimir Baños, José Ángel García and Yousimar Cousin.

Industriales chose pitchers Vladimir García, Erly Casanova and Misael Villa.

Granma, current national champions, chose the services of the infielders Yordan Manduley and Raúl González and the pitcher Raidel Martínez.

1ST HALF STANDINGS
2ND HALF STANDINGS
FINAL STANDINGS
TOTALS = POINTS
December 29, 2017 (LMP.mx) - The regular role of the 2017-2018 season of the Mexican Pacific League was concluded, defining the six teams that added the most points and with that, starring in the always exciting playoffs that will be starting on January 1, 2018.

MEXICALI, CULIACAN, HERMOSILLO, NAVAJOA, MAZATLAN, JALISCO

Lisalverto Bonilla's strong relief appearance headlined a handful of Indians in action Friday night.

Dominican League: (LIDOM)

Erik Gonzalez (SS, Leones del Escogido) 0-3. Gonzalez cooled down with a hitless performance Friday after recording six hits in his previous two games. It has been an up and down winter season for Erik as he hit .262 with a .291 OBP in 27 regular season games. He has built a reputation as a guy who will not post a high OBP so that puts more pressure on him to hit for average. However, this has not been a problem for him yet as he has a .273 career minor league average and has posted a .262 average in limited big league action.

Henry Martinez (RP, Leones del Escogido) 1.2 IP, 2 H, ER. Martinez was saddled with the loss to drop his playoff record to 0-1. He had struggled recently having posted a 7.27 ERA in his previous ten outings. However, the majority of his 21 appearances have been successful and his 4.24 ERA is slightly skewed because of a few bad outings.

Lisalverto Bonilla (RP, Tigres del Licey) 1.0 IP, H, 0 ER. Bonilla pitched a strong inning of relief in a game where Tigres del Licey used ten different relievers. He struggled at the big league level last season registering an 8.10 ERA in 36.2 innings, but pitched better at triple A where he posted a 3.59 ERA in 62.2 innings. The Indians signed Bonilla to minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on December 18th.

Louis Head (RP, Gigantes del Cibao) 0.1 IP, 2 H, ER, BB. Despite allowing a run, Head was able to secure his first hold of the postseason. Louis entered the postseason on a roll having not allowed a run in his last six appearances. He spent his first full season in Columbus last season and went 3-2 with a 3.23 ERA and 7 saves in 61.1 innings.

Venezuelan League: (LVBP)

Yonathan Mendoza (3B, Cardenales de Lara) 0-4, RBI. Mendoza drove in just his second run in 19 games. He has had a tough time getting anything going at the plate all winter as this hitless performance dropped his average down to a miserable .091. He played for Lynchburg and Akron last season, but he currently is a minor league free agent.

2018 Caribbean Series moved to Mexico; will Jalisco host

After weeks of rumors swirling about whether the 2018 Caribbean Series would be moved out of Venezuela due to ongoing political turmoil, the Confederacion de Profesional Beisbol del Caribe (or CPBC) announced Wednesday that next February's event would be shifted from Barquisimeto to Mexico.


The continued death spiral of Venezuela's oil-based economy and measures taken by the government under President Nicolas Maduro have been accompanied by worsening unrest throughout the nation of 32 million bordering the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. One result has been security concerns for both Barquisimeto, a city of 2 million residents, and 20,450-seat Estadio Antonio Hernandez Herrera, leading to CPBC's decision to move the Serie del Caribe.

Historically, the CS has rotated annually between Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It was held in Culiacan last February and was scheduled for Barquisimeto next year. Instead, the crown jewel of latin baseball will return to a Mexican Pacific League city for the second consecutive year.

Venezuela is not the only CS nation in which baseball is struggling. Puerto Rico has been on shaky ground financially for years, including pro baseball. The Roberto Clemente League was scheduled to host the CS in 2019, but the Al Bat website says the CPBC instead hopes to return to Venezuela if the political and economic situations there improve. But what happens with the Dominican Republic, whose next turn was in 2019? The idea of hosting the CS in Mexico (where the largest crowds attend) every even-numbered year while the other nations would rotate as host every odd-numbered year has been floated by at least one cronista south of the border.

Another problem Caribbean Series organizers and baseball fans alike is that Major League Baseball organizations are sending fewer prospects to play winterball in Latin America, choosing to direct them to training complexes in Arizona or even (in some cases) the Australian Winter League, which has nowhere near the quality or fan interest of the Caribbean leagues. In addition, MLB Latin stars used to routinely play in the CS, but they're routinely discouraged from participating by their big league club and money does talk. The result has been a drop in overall quality of winter teams, who rely more heavily on career minor leaguers and the occasional former big leaguer to fill the gap. You don't see a Willie Mays or Roberto Clemente patrolling the outfield at Caribbean ballparks between October and February anymore.

The Caribbean Series added Cuba on a trial basis as the event's fifth participating nation in 2014, with Villa Clara representing the island nation for the first time since dictator Fidel Castro pulled Cuba out of the CS in 1960. Pinar del Rio won the CS title in 2015 but the Serie del Caribe itself has yet to return to Havana. A sixth nation will be added in 2019 when Panama (like Cuba, an original CS participant in 1949 along with Puerto Rico and Venezuela) will join the field. Panama took part in the first twelve Caribbean Series, with Carta Vieja winning in 1950 and Panama City hosting three times. Following the 1960 tournament, the CS was dormant through the rest of the 1960's. Mexico and the Dominican Republic replaced Cuba and Panama to fill out the field in 1970, when the tournament returned.

Gonzalez has multi-hit game

Just one game took place on Saturday evening

DOMINICAN LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Erik Gonzalez (Leones del Escogido, SS) - 2-3, 2 H, 2 R, 1 SO - The heralded Indians' utility player put up a strong day at the plate as he recorded two hits in the game. That bumps his average up .300 in the early goings of the Dominican League playoffs.

SANTIAGO .- The Cibaeñas Eagles were left alone in the second position of the All Against All, by defeating the Lions of the Chosen 5-3 last night at the Cibao stadium, to win the mini series of two games played between Friday and Saturday.

With the win, the Águilas claim to wait for the new year in the second position of Round Robin, with a 2-1 mark, leaving the Lions in third with 1-1, while the Tigers have 3-0 and the Giants in the fourth. with 0-3.

The victory went to Richelson Peña (1-0), with defeat for Adalberto Flores (0-1) and the save for Josh Judy (1).

The aguilucha offensive was led by Ronny Rodríguez, with double and single, Christian Bethancourt, with two hits, Junior Lake, a home run, Héctor Gómez, a double and Jonathan Villar, a base hit.

The best red hitters were, Erik González, two singles, Robert Peña, a double and a singleRafael Inoa, Ryan Court and Manuel Margo.

The Lions responed in the fifth when with two away, there were consecutive singles Rafael Inoa and Erik Gonzalez, who were batted in by Roberto Peña's double.

Leones scored in the eighth with singles by Erik González and Ryan Court plus a passball

Joe, I haven't dropped in here since Thanksgiving; is there any significant news about any Tribe prospects this winter?
Yandy Diaz yanked half a dozen homers, maybe?
Some young infielder pulling off the equivalent leap forward that Jose Ramirez made several years back?
Sean Brady making up for lost time with a solid winter?
Bienvenido Feliz makes his long-awaited comeback?

Before the leg injury, Willi Castro was on his way to having a very productive season. Willi would have been the closest player we had to a Jose Ramirez in the winter leagues when considering their ages at the same time. Ramirez played against better top quality players than Castro. Both were among the youngest players in the league. Willi saw limited action due to a leg injury. He had to return to Cleveland for treatment. Before he left, Willi was making the most of his time. It took years following winter ball waiting for a Ramirez to come along. I think I'll probably be waiting a long time before the next Ramirez comes along.
Yandi Diaz was playing well until his groin injury. He returned to Cleveland never to return. But, Diaz did manage to reach base for the 51st straight game tying a league record dating back to last season. He's been on base in every game he's played in Venezuela. Diaz holds the record with Jose Castillo.

We were very poorly represented this season. Not much to write home about. Quite a few fringe players getting some playing time. Castro was the only one of our top prospects that participated this year.

Dominican League: (LIDOM)

Erik Gonzalez (SS, Leones del Escogido) 1-1, BB. Gonzalez reached base in both of his trips to the plate and now has three hits in his last two games. While this was one of his better offensive games, he did commit his first error of the winter on a bad throw. Erik has been playing shortstop, his natural position, this offseason despite the fact he might have to switch spots come spring training. With Francisco Lindor firmly entrenched at short in Cleveland, Gonzalez must hit well and show his defensive versatility to get into the lineup.

Venezuelan League: (LVBP) Former Indians

Jesus Aguilar (1B, Leones del Caracas) 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SO. The big first baseman came out swinging in Caracas first playoff game driving in a pair of runs. He found a knack for getting runners in this winter after recording 15 RBIs in 24 games including eight in his last ten games.

OF INTEREST

Bryan Evans left after five innings, since he finished with 33 of his 82 pitches in the fifth inning in which he lost a battle of 10 pitches against Erik González, who was conceded a walk.....

The shortstop Gonzalez committed error on an easy shot by Navarro to start the fourth inning, but it was the throw to first baseman Matt Hague that he had to handle with his height, but exhibited little skill. González continues with his tendency to fail on easy plays ...

Thanks Joe. Heard anything further about Willi's injury? I'm pleased to see Yandy had a decent number of extra base hits including a homer while he was there

I haven't heard any additional information on Willi. However, I don't think the injury was a serious one. He was listed as day to day at the time but the organization didn't want to take any chances and wanted to treat him in the states.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Louis Head (Gigantes del Cibao, RP) - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, O R/ER - It was a good day for the Indians' relief prospect. He put up a perfect outing through one inning of work and now boosts a 3.86 ERA in the postseason.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE (LVBP)

Jesus Aguilar (Leones del Caracas, 1B) - 3-4, 3 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R - It could not have been a more perfect day at the plate for the slugger. He put his power on full display today as he recorded two extra-base hits. His big day was highlighted by a 3-run homer in the third inning.

Las Posiciones
Round Robin 2017-'18

January 5, 2018 - Opening Day in Puerto Rico

Roberto Clemente League: (Puerto Rico)

Joe Colon (RP, Cangrejeros de Santurce) 1.0 IP, 0 ER. After many months of pain and suffering from Hurricane Maria, there was a sign of hope Friday night in Puerto Rico as it was Opening Day in the Roberto Clemente league. As for on the field, Joe Colon pitched a one-two-three, ninth inning to nail down their five run win. Colon is looking to rebound after the most tumultuous season of his career when he tested positive for a performance enhancing substance on July 1st and was suspended for the rest of the season as a result. He is currently a free agent for the first time after being in the Indians organization since 2009.

Dominican League: (LIDOM)

Rob Refsnyder (LF, Gigantes del Cibao) 2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB, CS. Refsnyder rebounded from a hitless games on Thursday to have a big impact on Friday. He played in just seven regular season games in the Dominican, but he exceled in that brief stint posting a slash line of .370/.433./481. The Indians claimed Refsnyder off waivers from Toronto on November 20th. An interesting nugget about him is that he was named most outstanding player at the College World Series back in 2012 when he helped his Arizona Wildcats to the title.

Venezuelan League: (LVBP) Former Indians

Jesus Aguilar (1B, Leones del Caracas) 1-4. Aguilar followed up his breakout 3-hit, 4-RBI game on Wednesday with another hit yesterday to give him a knock in all three playoff games. The Brewers slugger currently has a nine game hitting streak dating back to the Venezuelan regular season.