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JamesMiranda:grabarkewitz:JamesMiranda:grabarkewitz:JamesMiranda:gilmiguel55:Claudio Vargas: Just saw on another thread that we signed Vargas, i was talking to a friend the other day remembering how dominant Vargas used to be in this league, that is not the case anymore, dont know if its injuries (confidential) or lack of confidence, but all the sudden Vargas is hittable. I remember a few years bacl he was a ace in Aguilas rotation, the other day i saw him pitch against Azucareros (Toros) and he managed to record one out in the first inning and was pulled after surrendering five (5) runs on three (3) hits and two (2) walks. My thoughts were, there must be somthing wrong with him cause he used to dominate.
Well, we also have to keep in mind, that we signed this guy for the cheap. We're not losing a lot by signing this guy.
Not gaining a lot, either. If it was all the same, I would hope that Ned would've just dropped the money on Mark Prior - he has a better shot at being fixed than a guy who never was that good.
Whatever happened to Mark Prior?
Doofy blew up his arm.
I know he signed a one-year deal with the Padres, maybe the Dodgers could pick him up on the cheap, like you said. Got nothing to lose but a lot to gain.
The problem comes from what one would consider "cheap". I think the flyer the Putrids took o Prior cost them $1.5M or so to find out if Prior could return to health and form, but he didn't. His price should now be down to like what we offered Vargas, but his name may still have the cachet that could get him over $1M again.
Every silver lining has a cloud.Andruw Jones: Althought i was watching Licey against Gigantes, i switched to Aguilas-Toros once in a while (my wife is Aguilas), i was able to see Andruw Jones look bad (strikeout) against Edinson Volquez and i thought, well this is Volquez, a very good pitcher, then in the 7th i saw him against Luis Valdez (whoever he is!!), Valdez threw him three (3) sliders in a row and Jones swuong at all three striking out. It must be tough for a guy who as recent as 2006 was hitting 40+ in the Big Leagues to fall all the way to hit 7th in the order in a winter ball team just ahead of J. R. Towles and T. J. Peņa, Polonia hits in front of him....
gilmiguel55:Andruw Jones: Althought i was watching Licey against Gigantes, i switched to Aguilas-Toros once in a while (my wife is Aguilas), i was able to see Andruw Jones look bad (strikeout) against Edinson Volquez and i thought, well this is Volquez, a very good pitcher, then in the 7th i saw him against Luis Valdez (whoever he is!!), Valdez threw him three (3) sliders in a row and Jones swuong at all three striking out. It must be tough for a guy who as recent as 2006 was hitting 40+ in the Big Leagues to fall all the way to hit 7th in the order in a winter ball team just ahead of J. R. Towles and T. J. Peņa, Polonia hits in front of him....
There's about 36 million worth of cushion to that fall... I find it hard to sympathize too much.
"It is called being a professional. If you take the money, give the effort. If you are a pro in any sport, you are always supposed to give your best effort." ~Joe Morgan.gilmiguel55:Andruw Jones: Althought i was watching Licey against Gigantes, i switched to Aguilas-Toros once in a while (my wife is Aguilas), i was able to see Andruw Jones look bad (strikeout) against Edinson Volquez and i thought, well this is Volquez, a very good pitcher, then in the 7th i saw him against Luis Valdez (whoever he is!!), Valdez threw him three (3) sliders in a row and Jones swuong at all three striking out. It must be tough for a guy who as recent as 2006 was hitting 40+ in the Big Leagues to fall all the way to hit 7th in the order in a winter ball team just ahead of J. R. Towles and T. J. Peņa, Polonia hits in front of him....
I agree hunterlana, i really do find it hard to feel sorry for this guy. I believe that while some might not be his fault, a lot of his suckitude really is his fault.
I just can't wait to get rid of him to be honest. Let him be someone else's problem.
I wonder how is it that a Big League team will consider having Jones at this moment, he is a "problem" for Aguilas a Winter League team why wouldnt he become a "problem" for any MLB team, i wonder who's going to bite...
gilmiguel55:I wonder how is it that a Big League team will consider having Jones at this moment, he is a "problem" for Aguilas a Winter League team why wouldnt he become a "problem" for any MLB team, i wonder who's going to bite...
As embarrassing as Jones' nosedive has been, it actually could've been worse for the Dodgers. I remember at his press conference last winter, Jones was saying that he was so excited that he wanted to end up signing a long-term extension with the Blue, maybe ending his career here. As it turns out, his career is closer to being done than he imagined at that time.
I see him going back to Atlanta, which will probably welcome him warmly to familiar surroundings. It makes the most sense for him to return there. If he is going to regain his old self and confidence back, he should be in a comfortable place.
Ramon Troncoso: I got to see Troncoso start the game from up close today, he started the game not dominating, he was lucky though and was scored only two runs, then i remembered something i read in this board "the sinker is the only pitch that gets better through the game", he got nasty to a point that i remember one inning in which he only needed 6 pitches to get the three outs. After the second inning he did not surrender a single hit, he was dominant. I was impressed with what i saw. Apparently the Dodgers have him on some kind of pitch count cause he was yanked after five dominant innings. His line was 5ip, 5 h, 2 er, 2 bb, 2 k.
Rafael Furcal: For some reason he is still playing 2b for Aguilas and i would understand it if T. J. Peņa was playing SS but today Luna, whos best position is 2b, is playing SS and Furcal a natural SS is playing 2b. Furcal has decided to play exclusively at 2b for some reason.
Andruw Jones: He did not play yesterday nor today, don't know if he has been benched or left the team.
gilmiguel55:Rafael Furcal: For some reason he is still playing 2b for Aguilas and i would understand it if T. J. Peņa was playing SS but today Luna, whos best position is 2b, is playing SS and Furcal a natural SS is playing 2b. Furcal has decided to play exclusively at 2b for some reason.
Andruw Jones: He did not play yesterday nor today, don't know if he has been benched or left the team.
On Raffy, he may be taking it easy on his arm.
On Hindy, somebody made a statement the last day or so that he returned home to be with his wife as she was sad or something.
Every silver lining has a cloud.His wife was sad????
Or his performance here was affecting his chances of getting a new team????
Anyway, Aguilas are grateful since now they can play Luis Terrero in the OF.
metiquet:How is it possible that Andruw has fallen so far from grace? Even if he was juicing, you would think that he could at least make contact with the ball. I don't get it.
Andruw Jones is about to become to position players what Steve Blass became to pitchers after his rapid and stunning decline. The only difference is that Jones had a much longer track record of success before falling apart than Blass did which makes it all the more remarkable.
They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly little team so much that it hurts.Claudio Vargas: Got to see Vargas from up close again, i know now why he is not as dominant as he used to be, he used to be a 93-95 mph fastball type of pitcher, now he is just 88-90 and his breaking stuff is not extraordinary, that's the reason for his downfall. He was lifted after 4ip after surrendering 6 hits and 4 runs (3 earned). With his 93-96 fastball the only thing that kept him from shining was his control, now that he doesnt have overpowering stuff anymore the problem is a lot bigger.
Felix Rodriguez: I remember this kid coming up in the Dodgers farm system as a catcher. Anyway he has been working out to get his velocity back, at the start of the year he was 91-92 on his fastball with litle breaking action in his other stuff, he was pounded hard, i saw him yesterday hitting 97mph on the radar (same radar that had Vargas at 88) and i was surprised, he has regained his velocity. I would not be surprised to see him get a job or invitation to ST soon.
Carlos Perez: He has become the premiere lefty reliever in the league, he used to have a fastball around 85 now he has got it to 88-89 and is as dominant as ever caused his wicked circle change is more devastating with the velotcity of the fastball. Of course, they make sure no gatorade coolers are around.
There you go. Colletti can sign Perez to compete for a LH reliever job. That will give everyone around here someone to pound on once the season starts.
Gilmiguel,
Do they test for steriods in the Domican League by any chance, because Felix Rodriguez' career numbers took quite a huge spike about the time steriods were likely rampant, and then they went sharply down once testing started.
ceyheyjay:Gilmiguel,
Do they test for steriods in the Domican League by any chance, because Felix Rodriguez' career numbers took quite a huge spike about the time steriods were likely rampant, and then they went sharply down once testing started.
No, they do not test for steroids and that is a mistake, we see guys that are obviously on it, putting up huge numbers and year after year declining invitations to ST cause they know they'll get tested once they get to it. Guys like Luis Polonia, Mendy Lopez, Felix Jose, Henry Rodriguez, Willis Otaņez, etc.
I remember a guy who was in the Reds farm system, he was laid off one year and builded like 50 pounds of pure muscle that year to a point that he barely moved, the following year he was hired by the reds and when he came back he looked like a masculine version of Olive Oil, Alex Fernandez is the name, i mean in this case it was obvious, he gained 40 lbs in a year and lost it in another year.
One note, i did not know that pitchers could gain in velocity with the help of enhancement drugs. Well, if Rodriguez gets invited and accepts we will know cause he'll get tested. I believe he had arm trouble in 2003, not sure though.
The Finals are almost here, my beloved Licey is in and Toros and Gigantes are fighting to see which one faces Licey in the Finals. The most boring month is approaching (for myself) end of Feb and March if it was for me i would erase it from the calendar, why???? the Caribbean WS ends on Feb 9 and there is no baseball until the start of the season in Apr that my friends is what i call "boring month", at least this year we have the World Classic...
Juan Francisco: Since Pedro Guerrero, David Ortiz i havent seen a player make such a big progress like this kid, he was drafted (Here in DR) last year and was an immediate impact on the team, this year he owns the league, very good looking 3b and the best, one of the few 3b that hits Lefthanded. I think is a matter of time before Cinci recognizes that Francisco is way better than Edwin Encarnacion.
Jose Capellan: I think this year he has finally put things together, he is pitching not trying to overpower everybody.
Jorge Sosa: He is back to the form that got him 14 wins with the Mets a few years back, not relying so much on the fastball but using it to make his other pitches better, hard to believe when he does have a 94-96 mph fastball. I wish the Dodgers had invited him instead of Claudio Vargas.
Nelson Cruz: Since the days of Raul Mondesi and Sammy Sosa i havent seen a 5 tool player like Cruz, he hits for power, avg, runs well and has a cannon of an arm. He is impersonating Barry Bonds here in terms that managers do not pitch to him in tight situations. If given the chance he will have a breakout year with the Rangers.
Erick Aybar (Angels), Anderson Hernandez (Nationals) and Emilio Bonifacio (Marlins): They play for Licey and they are called "los tres Temores" somthing like "the three tenors". They have a similar type of game, good speed high avg and with the speed they make things happen, they are the reason why Licey is on the Finals. Only thing i complain about them is their inability for looking at pitches and taking BB, they simply dont believe in that and without power that is a big defect, something like Pierre.
Thanks Miguel. It's like I'm there to see it all. Good stuff.
Alexis Casilla had to fly to Minnesotta to attend some marketing event that the Twins were holding, Felix Martinez took his place but was suspended (yet again!!!) for almost hitting an umpire, Antonio Perez of all people took his place, he got two hits in last nights game to be the best hitter for the Gigantes. Antonio Perez, thought this guy had dissapeared from baseball, i remember him having one good season with the Dodgers.
gilmiguel55:Alexis Casilla had to fly to Minnesotta to attend some marketing event that the Twins were holding, Felix Martinez took his place but was suspended (yet again!!!) for almost hitting an umpire, Antonio Perez of all people took his place, he got two hits in last nights game to be the best hitter for the Gigantes. Antonio Perez, thought this guy had dissapeared from baseball, i remember him having one good season with the Dodgers.
Casilla was at Twinsfest signing autographs for the kids.
"Good is not good when better is expected." Vin ScullyWell, another Dominican Winter League season comes to an end, my beloved Licey just conquered the champioship for the 20th time, a finals that was clouded by a very stupid decision by the Gigante's manager, Felix Martinez almost hits an umpire and gets suspended for the rest of the season the very next day, Luis Dorante manger of Gigantes at the time of delivering the lineup says he was not informed of the suspension and rejects changing the lineup to swith Martinez, the Gigantes say they will not come onto the field unless Martinez is in the lineup, the umpires call a forfeit and that was it, they played the next day but it was not the same, Licey won in five games (5-0) sweeping the Gigantes.
Notables in the finals:
Anderson Hernandez: Key hitting and very good defense named MVP.
Eric Aybar: Same as Hernandez, very good hitter and his defense at SS was awsome
Jose Bautista: Hit a key HR in the second game to put Licey up front.
Ubaldo Jimenez, Ramon Ortiz, Ervin Santana: Strong outing, just one game,
Alberto Arias: Strong in relief, looked unhittable.
Denny Bautista: A 98mph fastball that he managed to control during the finals, unhittable.
Carlos Marmol: Didnt look as dominating as before, he was a little rusty and it showed in his control.
Nelson Cruz: A super player, threw out runners at will with that cannon of an arm, stole a base when needed and hit the HR when needed. 5 tool player.
Juan Francisco: Its a matter of time before he wins 3b for the Reds.
Brayan Peņa: Best hitting catcher i've seen.
Ronnie Paulino: Best power hitting catcher i've seen in this league.
Caribbean Series: For some reason (marketting) is called world, Licey won in DR and gets to represent Dominican in it, none of the key players from other teams wanted to go claiming different excuses so Licey's lineup is intact, different from other teams who benefited from other teams in their corresponding league. Key names like Nelson Cruz, Juan Francisco, Victor Diaz, etc declined the invitation and other members of Licey did not make the trip.
Ramon Ortiz: In the first game threw a gem and exited leaving the game 2-2, eventually Licey (DR) lost the game to Aragua (Ven), when Victor Marte could not hold Aragua scoreless in the 8th.
Alfredo Simon (Orioles): Yet again a Gem by a DR pitcher, 7 ip 7 k only 1 er, Fernando Martinez (Mets) hit a 2 run HR as a PH in the 7th to give Licey the victory 2-1.
Players have been complaining because the Mexicali stadium was not designed to play in brad daylight, the first game is starting at 2:00pm and the sun gets reflected everywhere making it impossible for them to see the ball. Licey did hit 3hits in the first game and 4 in the second, both starting at 2:00pm.
On the first game between Licey (DOM) and Aragua (Ven) Luis Maza was the hero recording four (4) hits. Maza was on the 1000 players to play SS for the Dodgers while Furcal was out, i'm i correct?
gilmiguel55:On the first game between Licey (DOM) and Aragua (Ven) Luis Maza was the hero recording four (4) hits. Maza was on the 1000 players to play SS for the Dodgers while Furcal was out, i'm i correct?
He certainly was!
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness - the blog! For Dodger analysis, reviews, and hilarity.[quote][cite] gilmiguel55:[/cite]On the first game between Licey (DOM) and Aragua (Ven) Luis Maza was the hero recording four (4) hits. Maza was on the 1000 players to play SS for the Dodgers while Furcal was out, i'm i correct?[/quote]
From what I can remember, Maza can hit, it's his defense that's in question. How's he look defensively.
And who was that other guy we signed in the off-season that you got me all excited about? Hector Luna? How's he doing?
ceyheyjay:gilmiguel55:On the first game between Licey (DOM) and Aragua (Ven) Luis Maza was the hero recording four (4) hits. Maza was on the 1000 players to play SS for the Dodgers while Furcal was out, i'm i correct?
From what I can remember, Maza can hit, it's his defense that's in question. How's he look defensively.
And who was that other guy we signed in the off-season that you got me all excited about? Hector Luna? How's he doing?
Remember maza's first game at SS? I think it was against the Reds - one of the worst arms I've ever seen from a big league shortstop.
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness - the blog! For Dodger analysis, reviews, and hilarity.[quote][cite] Mike Scioscias tragic illness:[/cite][quote][cite] ceyheyjay:[/cite][quote][cite] gilmiguel55:[/cite]On the first game between Licey (DOM) and Aragua (Ven) Luis Maza was the hero recording four (4) hits. Maza was on the 1000 players to play SS for the Dodgers while Furcal was out, i'm i correct?[/quote]
From what I can remember, Maza can hit, it's his defense that's in question. How's he look defensively.
And who was that other guy we signed in the off-season that you got me all excited about? Hector Luna? How's he doing?[/quote]
Remember maza's first game at SS? I think it was against the Reds - one of the worst arms I've ever seen from a big league shortstop.[/quote]
Yeah, but if he's decent defensively at 2B and can pinch-hit, he could have value. I don't know that he has those 2 skills. Miguel?
ceyheyjay:And who was that other guy we signed in the off-season that you got me all excited about? Hector Luna? How's he doing?
Luna plays for Aguilas and unfortunately that team was eliminated very early in the Roud Robin so all of its stars were let go, they finished playing their rookies. Luna played exceptionally well in the times i saw him, Aguilas was always finding a spot for him, he was their 3rd baseman until Johnny Peralta started playing then switched to SS when Furcal entered the scene with a game at 2b every once in a while. He showed the bat we've been missing here in DR. The Luna i saw is capable of 280-20-80 in the bigs, he is big for a middle infielder and plays defense adequately.
ceyheyjay:Yeah, but if he's decent defensively at 2B and can pinch-hit, he could have value. I don't know that he has those 2 skills. Miguel?
Maza plays in Venezuela, i only got a chance to see him on tv on the first game of the CWS against Dominican. They dont have very good coverage, camera's wise, to cover plays they have that camera high behind home plate, i saw a grounder coming off the bat in a direction that i thought "ok routine ground ball", the SS missed it by a mile, it was surprising and i thought that SS has big problems with his range.