Cuban Players Defectors [Archive] - Page 2

Cubano100%

04-19-2006, 04:08 PM

UM BASEBALL
Hurricanes forge a Cuban connection
Eddy Rodriguez and Yonder Alonso, two of UM's best hitters, fled Cuba as children and have since bonded as baseball brothers.
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
sdegnan@MiamiHerald.com

JOHN VANBEEKUM / MIAMI HERALD STAFF
BEST OF FRIENDS: UM first baseman Yonder Alonso, left, and catcher Eddy Rodriguez.When Eddy Rodriguez and Yonder Alonso were little guys growing up in Cuba -- Eddy the son of a farmer in the province of Las Villas and Yonder the son of a well-known baseball coach in Havana -- they had no idea the other existed.

They had no idea their lives would intertwine, brought together by baseball, first at Coral Gables High and then at the University of Miami.

''We both left Cuba for a better world, so we both appreciate our great friendship and the opportunities we were given,'' said Rodriguez, 20, UM's junior catcher and top hitter with a .354 average and .625 slugging percentage. ``We always joke how I came here on an old wooden boat when I was 7 and he came on an airplane when he was 7. But it's not really funny. Those were huge events in our lives.''

Alonso is a freshman first baseman whose father, Luis, was head coach of the minor-league affiliate of Industriales, often called the New York Yankees of Cuba. He has at least twice as many RBI (46) as any other Hurricane and leads all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen. He is hitting .331, with a team-high 43 hits and six home runs.

''The last guy who did that for us as a freshman with any consistency was Pat Burrell,'' said UM coach Jim Morris, whose Hurricanes (24-12, 9-6 ACC) travel to Tallahassee on Friday to play fourth-ranked Florida State (31-4, 12-3) in a three-game series. ``You normally don't have freshmen batting third or fourth. Yonder is a clutch hitter, and Eddy is more of a defensive guy.

``They basically had to start here from scratch with their families, so there's a strong bond. We have a lot of Cuban-Americans on this team. It's an ideal place for them to play.''

COMING TO AMERICA

Rodriguez's saga began on August 29, 1993, when he and mother Ylya, father Edilio, older sister Yanisbet and cousin Carlos packed into a small wooden fishing boat off the Cuban coast, said Ylya. They had hidden containers of fuel over several months. The kids thought they were going to a great place to fish, but realized by the next day, when they hit a storm, their father had lied to protect them.

''I was scared,'' Rodriguez said, ``and hardly understood how close we were to dying. The waves were huge swells, 20 feet high, and the water was navy blue.

'I cried that I wanted to go back home to be with my grandparents. That's when my dad told me, `We're not going back. We're going to the United States.' ''

Ylya, who works at Publix, cried when she relived the story in Spanish, saying they got lost for five days, the last three only with sugar water. ``When we hit the storm, I thought I was going to lose my children. I had a little statue of Regla, the virgin of the ocean, and prayed. Suddenly there was a space for us to go through. You wouldn't believe it, but ask Eddy.''

An American ship en route to Chile found the Rodriguezes and delivered them to a Puerto Rican Coast Guard boat on its way to Miami.

''I thank God every day,'' Ylya said. ``We had food in Cuba, but no freedom.''

ALONSO'S JOURNEY

Alonso's family got permission to leave from the Cuban government, but kept it a secret until they left on Feb. 6, 1995. Luis Alonso and his wife, Damaris, received their degrees at the University of Havana, he in sports management and she in accounting administration. Her father came to Miami in 1980 as part of the Mariel boat lift, started a company and saved enough money to help his daughter's family emigrate from Cuba.

Yonder Alonso has a 3.2 grade-point average, loves English and is majoring in criminal justice. He turned down a contract by the Twins after being drafted last June in the 15th round.

''The money wasn't there,'' he said. ``I felt very young. I knew the opportunity for me to get older, bigger and stronger was at UM.''

Today, Damaris works as an accountant by day and cleans offices at night with Luis, who also works in a paint factory.

''It was very hard for my dad to leave, but he did it for us,'' said Alonso, 19, who has a 16-year-old sister, Yainee, and returned to Cuba in 2000 when their grandmother died. ``It was rough, because everyone was poor. I gave them everything I brought except the clothes I wore. You can only imagine. That's why I appreciate everything I get.''

At the airport to bid farewell to the Alonsos in 1995 was Orlando ''El Duque'' Hernandez, a close family friend and one of Luis' former players who eventually defected to the States and now pitches for the Diamondbacks.

Among Luis' other former players: former Marlins pitcher Miguel Tejera, in March reassigned to a Giants minor-league camp; and outfielder Alex Sanchez, who signed a minor-league contract with the Reds in March.

''I was a bit sad to leave Cuba,'' said Luis, who gave his wife a baseball and bat when he found out she was pregnant with Yonder -- ''I would have preferred flowers or chocolates,'' she mused.

''But I'm very happy it happened,'' Luis said. ``I left behind a family, but it gave an opportunity for my kids to lead a better life.''

The mothers of Rodriguez and Alonso have since become close friends.

''We feel so grateful our sons are in America and found each other,'' Ylya said.

http://www.miami.com/images/miami/miamiherald/14329/205332376663.jpg
BEST OF FRIENDS: UM first baseman Yonder Alonso, left, and catcher Eddy Rodriguez.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/14330239.htm

bppb266

04-19-2006, 04:12 PM

Hi everybody

More or less the same info but with some updates. Minor League Info

remarcable, Francisley Bueno debut in AA Mississippi (same team with Escobar) and Canizares en A Myrtle Beach.
Almost all pitchers are having a great begining - Raul Valdez, Miguel Perez, Michael Tejera, Alay Soler, Hansel Izquierdo and Gary Galvez
nothing yet about Muniz, Jova and Beltran

KENDRY MORALES SALT LAKE AAA PACIFIC
MICHEL HERNANDEZ MEMPHIS AAA PACIFIC
JUAN DIAZ MEMPHIS AAA PACIFIC
RAUL VALDEZ IOWA AAA PACIFIC
MICHAEL TEJERA FRESNO AAA PACIFIC
BRAYAN PENA RICHMOND AAA INTERNATIONAL
YOBAL DUENAS SAN LUIS AAA MEXICAN
HANSEL IZQUIERDO POZA RICA AAA MEXICAN

ALEX SANCHEZ CHATANOOGA AA SOUTHERN
YUNEL ESCOBAR MISSISSIPPI AA SOUTHERN
FRANCISLEY BUENO MISSISSIPPI AA SOUTHERN
MIGUEL PEREZ BINGHAMTON AA EASTERN

ALAY SOLER ST. LUCIE A+ FLORIDA STATE
GARY GALVEZ WILMINGTON A+ CAROLINA
BARBARO CANIZARES MYRTLE BEACH A+
ROBERTO SOTOLONGO PEORIA A MIDWEST
RAFAEL GALBIZO GREENSBORO A SOUTH ATLANTIC

Cubano100%

04-19-2006, 04:17 PM

LHP Francisley Bueno made his debut yesterday with Braves AA. He also had a hit.
Yunel Escobar had 3 hits helping his Industriales Lions teammate.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_18_msbaax_wtdaax_2

Barbaro Canizares has played 3 or 4 games for Braves Myrtle Beach A. He is the cleanup hitter.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_18_wswafa_myrafa_1

Raul Valdez has pitched well so far in 3 starts.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2006_04_18_iowaaa_albaaa_1&did=t451&sid=t451

C Michel Hernandez is hitting 400 for Cardinals AAA. 1B Juan Diaz is also there.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2006_04_18_orhaaa_mrbaaa_1&did=t235&sid=t235

C Brayan Pena is playing with Braves AAA. He has not hit well yet.

Kendry Morales hit very well in the Spring Training but somehow did not make the team. He started slow in AAA. Maybe he is dissapointed.

SS Yuniesky Betancourt (Mariners) is among the American League leader in doubles.

RHP Jose Contreras is number 2 in ERA in MLB.

bppb266

04-20-2006, 06:14 PM

Hi everybody

Barbaro Canizares has been promoted to AA Mississippi Braves. He will join Yunel Escobar and Francisley Bueno. Could be the most-cubans in roster for a team in years...

Nothing else...good day

B.

Cubano100%

04-20-2006, 08:46 PM

http://www.mississippibraves.com/bueno.jpg

LHP Francisley Bueno Braves AA.

Cubano100%

04-25-2006, 01:08 PM

Betancourt delivers in 11th
RBI single helps Mariners end four-game slide

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2006/04/25/lxl6Duc3.jpg
Former Villa Clara Orange Growers 2B Yuniesky Betancourt singled home the game-winning run with two outs. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Betancourt has not made an error this season. Will the voters vote for him as a possible gold glove winner?

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060424&content_id=1416504&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

bppb266

04-25-2006, 02:56 PM

Hello everybody

some updates

Maikel Jova start to play with New Hampshire in AA
Juan Carlos Muniz start to play with Jupiter in A+

and

Julio Villalon is in the roster of Sarasota Reds in A+ but not pitched yet

thats all

regards,

B.

jon7jmets

04-26-2006, 12:33 PM

Michel Abreu made his debut today with Alay Soler on the Mound for A ball.

Agente Libre

04-26-2006, 12:51 PM

Any update on Hassan Pena at Palm Beach College? Haven't seen a word about him online or in the various baseball publications.

baseball2002

04-26-2006, 02:13 PM

how about cubans in independent leagues, can anyone bring some info?

Cubano100%

04-26-2006, 02:20 PM

Another Cuban pitcher: Camilo Vazquez

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Camilo%20Vazquez&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=446859

Agente Libre

04-26-2006, 02:37 PM

He's a defector? I thought he lived in So. Fla. for almost his whole life.

Cubano100%

04-26-2006, 06:36 PM

Well, he was born in Cuba. Therefore, he can pass as a defector. ;)

jon7jmets

04-26-2006, 08:51 PM

SOLER and ABREU

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_04_26_jupafa_sluafa_1

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2006/04/26/Q54i9iZH.jpg

baseball2002

04-27-2006, 12:12 AM

i have found 2 cuban players playing in the CANAM league of independent baseball:
LHP Rolando Viera, Brockton Rox
LHP Saul Gonzalez, New Haven Cutters

dont know if u guys care about indy baseball but i think its still pro ball and some of those leagues r considered A/AA, dont really know about that CANAM league

Cubano100%

04-27-2006, 06:38 AM

Yes, we do. Thank you for the info.

Cubano100%

04-27-2006, 08:23 AM

Notes: Big strides for Betancourt
Shortstop's improvement at plate not hard to see
By Corey Brock / MLB.com

A much-improved Yuniesky Betancourt is hitting .269 this season. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/images/2005/09/14/ZNxFzkeV.jpg

SEATTLE -- It's funny for Dan Rohn to sit and watch Yuniesky Betancourt swing the bat these days, if for no other reason than he doesn't have to think far back to remember Betancourt's humble beginnings.
Rohn -- who is an administrative coach on the Mariners staff -- managed Betancourt for 49 games last season at Triple-A Tacoma before the Cuban shortstop was promoted to Seattle for good on June 2.

How did Betancourt look at the plate when Rohn first saw him?

"Sometimes trying to find yourself is a lot like swimming upstream," Rohn said. "I don't think that he had a whole lot of a plan of attack when he first got up there."

Betancourt jumped at pitches, swung through breaking balls and lacked patience and confidence at the plate. He walked just six times in 183 at-bats.

Part of this, of course, had to do with the collected rust that Betancourt's game had accumulated. Betancourt didn't play for two seasons after he escaped Cuba to Mexico before signing with Seattle in January of 2005.

A year later, Betancourt -- who is known first for his defensive prowess, not his bat -- is hitting .269 through his first 21 games with seven RBIs.

He delivered the game-winning hit in Seattle's 4-3 victory in 11 innings over Chicago on Monday when manager Mike Hargrove decided to let him hit instead of opting for a pinch-hitter, as he's done occasionally this season late in games.

"I think the biggest thing is his pitch selection," Rohn said. "He's starting to recognize the breaking ball a little sooner. He's got tremendous hand-eye coordination. The more that he gets comfortable, the better hitter he's going to become."

Betancourt is quick to credit Seattle hitting coach Jeff Pentland for helping refine his swing as well as his approach to hitting.

"My better hitting is really a credit to my work in the offseason, really much more so in Spring Training because I was able to work closely with him [Pentland]," Betancourt said through an interpreter. "I directly attribute my better hitting to my work with him."

So what's changed?

"It's more of a technical thing," Betancourt said. "Now I know how to hit a breaking ball much better because of my work with the hitting coach. Before, I was swinging straight through those. I had no chance at it at all."

Pentland had Betancourt looking to use more of the field instead of being pull-conscious like many young hitters are.

"I'm trying to hit the ball to center field and right field more," Betancourt said. "That's what I'm working on so I have better chances and more chances for hits."

Betancourt said he's also benefited from hitting lower in the order, typically ninth. He's able to see more pitches and have a better understanding of what an opposing pitcher is trying to do when he gets to the plate.

"I think batting ninth really gives me a chance to see everything that the pitches has," said Betancourt, who has also seen a fair share of fastballs hitting in front of leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki. "I've probably seen him throw all his pitches to the first eight hitters."

Lineup shuffle: Don't read too much into Hargrove's decision to move Jose Lopez from his No. 2 spot in the lineup to No. 8 for Wednesday's game.

Hargrove is perfectly content with Lopez -- who is hitting .264 and trails only Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez for hits on the team with 24 -- batting second.

Hargrove wanted to get Willie Bloomquist playing time against White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle.

"Willie has good numbers against Buehrle," Hargrove said, noting Bloomquist's .571 career average against the Chicago left-hander in 14 at-bats. "... Willie's an exciting player, he's a base stealer and he makes things happen when he gets on base.

"We're looking to jump-start our offense so I decided to give him a shot to see if he could do something."

Hargrove swapped third baseman Adrian Beltre and catcher Kenji Johjima in the lineup, with Johjima hitting sixth and Beltre -- who has all four of his RBIs this season on this homestand -- to seventh.

"I don't think moving Adrian from sixth to seventh is that big a deal."

Throwing strikes: Seattle's pitchers went into Wednesday's game against the White Sox with the most strikeouts (165) in the Major Leagues, a number buoyed by Felix Hernandez's 26 Ks.

But don't let the numbers fool you. Hargrove doesn't think he has a power staff on his hands by any means.

"I don't know that we really are a strikeout staff," Hargrove said. "It's a good indication we're throwing strikes. It's a good indication we're getting ahead in the count, which is good. This staff should be able to do that.

"I don't think our starting rotation or our bullpen are throwing over our heads right now at all. I think this is something we can continue throughout the season."

Mariners log: The Mariners have stolen an American League-best 19 bases in their first 22 games. Ichiro and Beltre are tied for second in the league with six steals. ... Seattle hitters were plunked four times by White Sox pitchers on Tuesday, which tied the franchise record, which was first set in 1990. ... Betancourt is one of three shortstops in the Major Leagues who have not made an error. The others are Houston's Adam Everett and Juan Uribe of the White Sox.

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060426&content_id=1420255&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Cubano100%

04-27-2006, 10:30 AM

Saidel Beltran finally debuted this season with the Tampa Bay Yankees.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Saydel%20Beltran&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=466473

bppb266

04-27-2006, 06:21 PM

Hi

Villalon also debuted with the Sarasota Reds in A+

best regards

B.

bppb266

04-28-2006, 08:28 PM

Roberto sotolongo has been send to Extended Spring training after bad results. Even worst for Juan Diaz who has been released.

here are the numbers

Roberto Sotolongo Peoria Chiefs A

DATE IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
07/04 2.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0.00
10/04 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 (S, 1)
12/04 1.0 2 3 3 2 1 1 6.75 (BS, 1)(L, 0-1)
15/04 2.0 3 2 2 0 1 1 7.50 (BS, 2)(L, 0-2)
18/04 0.1 1 1 0 1 0 0 7.11 (L, 0-3)
20/04 0.0 4 4 4 0 0 1 12.79

Send to Extended Spring Training 25/04

Juan Diaz Memphis Redbirds AAA

POS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
06/04 DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
07/04 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .125
08/04 DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .083
09/04 1B 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
10/04 1B 7 1 3 1 0 1 2 0 2 .217
11/04 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
12/04 1B 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 1 2 .200
13/04 1B 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .219
15/04 DH 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .216
16/04 DH 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244
17/04 DH 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .227
18/04 PH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .227
19/04 DH 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 .229

Released by Cardinals organization 22/04

jon7jmets

04-29-2006, 10:08 AM

Mets send Michel Abreu to AA from A ball.

Agente Libre

04-29-2006, 04:20 PM

It's no wonder Sotolongo is struggling. He hasn't played competitive baseball in at least 3 years. Another great Joe Cubas story.

Kiefer

04-29-2006, 11:08 PM

Righty notches 12th straight as White Sox top Angels.:cool:

Jose Contreras won his 12th straight regular-season game and Jim Thome hit his 10th home run as the White Sox beat the Angels, 2-1, Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 44,065 at Angel Stadium.
Contreras, who is 4-0 on the season, hasn't lost a regular-season game since Aug. 15, 2005, when he was beat by the Twins.

Contreras gave up four hits while striking out four and walking one. The one walk, to Chone Figgins, figured in the Angels' run in the sixth inning. Figgins stole second and scored on a double by Orlando Cabrera.

Contreras's winning streak of 12 is the fourth longest in White Sox history, matching Jim Kaat, who won 12 from Sept. 4, 1974 through May 9, 1975.

Thome, who went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts on Friday, hit a towering home run to straightaway center field in the top of the sixth off Angels reliever Brendan Donnelly.

Donnelly had come on to relieve starter Kelvim Escobar, who left the game after five innings due to a blood blister on the middle finger of his right hand.

Escobar (3-2), who took the loss, pitched five solid innings, giving up one run on three hits, walking one and striking out three. Escobar is 0-7 in nine career starts against the White Sox.

The White Sox (16-7), who lead the AL Central by 1 1/2 games over the Tigers, have won 11 of their last 13 and 15 of their last 18.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060429&content_id=1424969&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

jon7jmets

04-30-2006, 03:16 PM

Mets send Alay Soler and Abreu to AA.

bppb266

05-03-2006, 05:47 AM

Mets send Miguel Perez to AAA Norfolk Tides. It was not good the first outing.

Agente Libre

05-03-2006, 10:01 AM

Are you sure that's the Cuban Miguel Perez? His bio says he's from San Jose, California.

(Last I knew, the Cuban Miguel Perez had been back in Costa Rica, and out of baseball, for several years.)

Mattingly

05-03-2006, 12:04 PM

Great updates and articles, guys/gals. Keep 'em comin'! :D

bppb266

05-03-2006, 06:07 PM

Well, here .....

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060406/SPORTS/604160321&template=themeart&theme=BMETS

you will find very valuable info about him... There is a picture too.

I am sure we are talking about Miguel Perez from Holguin.

Agente Libre

05-04-2006, 12:45 AM

Interesting; thanks. Didn't know he had signed with Mets. It's fairly unusual for a released Cuban player, especially one needing a visa, to get a second or third chance after being released. Hope he does well.

Cubano100%

05-04-2006, 01:03 AM

He did well in the Mexican Summer League and Nicaragua Winter League. Every team needs extra pitching.

Cubano100%

05-05-2006, 01:09 AM

Total Domination for the former ace of Pinar del Rio, one of the Cuban National League teams

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2006/05/04/ixeBJOAF.jpg

The victory before 27,569 at U.S. Cellular Field gave Contreras the fourth-longest winning streak by a White Sox pitcher since 1970 and the longest active run in the Majors. Contreras is 13-0 with a 1.80 ERA over his last 14 regular-season starts and 16-1 over his last 18 starts, including the postseason.

Sifting through the myriad arm angles employed by Contreras, along with one of the nastiest split-fingers in all of baseball, it's very easy to pinpoint why Contreras has not lost a game since Aug. 15, 2005, at home against Minnesota. He's trusting his 95-mph fastball and throwing strikes.

"With the way he's pitching, if he makes them hit it, they won't hit it too often," said catcher A.J. Pierzynski of Contreras, who threw 110 pitches over 7 1/3 innings. "He gets in trouble when he gets behind and walks guys.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060504&content_id=1437094&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

Agente Libre

05-06-2006, 03:13 PM

Baseball America announced their Top 15 junior college prospects for the 2006 Draft yesterday. Hassan Pena is not included in their Top 15. (There were no Cubans included.)

I wonder if Pena just had a bad year or if he's hurt. I haven't heard anything about him in about 2 months.

jon7jmets

05-06-2006, 03:43 PM

Alay Soler AA debut 6.2IP 7H 1ER 1BB 9K Win.
Michel Abreu 2-4 HR his first Pro Career HR.

http://www.bmets.com/multimedia/2006%20-%20Alay%20Soler/soler04.jpg

FlashGordon

05-07-2006, 10:09 AM

I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but Jose Contreras was AL Pitcher of the Month for April (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060502&content_id=1429741&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws). As much as it irks me as a Red Sox fan that he chose NY, I'm also very glad that he has prospered somewhere other than Nueva York. Congrats.

bppb266

05-08-2006, 04:48 PM

Alex Sanchez recalled in Louisville Bats AAA
Vladimir Nunez in roster Charlotte Nights AAA

Agente Libre

05-10-2006, 04:22 PM

Braves signed Cuban outfielder Roberto Alvarez. No word on signing bonus, etc. Alvarez set a single-season strikeout record in Cuba before defecting; doesn't seem like a big prospect.

CameronCrazies

05-10-2006, 04:24 PM

Long time lurker, first time poster...Yunel Escobar in a Mississippi Braves uni.

CameronCrazies

05-10-2006, 08:45 PM

I would love to hear his story...31 in AA?

CameronCrazies

05-10-2006, 08:49 PM

And the third Cubano on the Mississippi Braves...

Agente Libre

05-10-2006, 10:49 PM

Escobar defected in late 2004. He was not a good player in Cuba but he's had some success in U.S. so far, although his numbers this year are not as good as last year.

Bueno defected in summer 2004 but got caught up in paperwork problems in D.R. According to Cuban media, he was kicked out of Cuban baseball after failing a drug test in summer 2004 (before 2004 Olympics). Not sure if it's true.

Canizares defected in late 2003 and had massive paperwork problems in Mexico, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He wasn't able to sign a contract until early 2006. He was a real good player in Cuba but needs to have fast success in U.S. if he's going to reach the majors.

CameronCrazies

05-11-2006, 08:40 AM

Escobar has looked shaky at short and he is not quite as athletic as I thought. His arm is above average though. He has a great time playing the game.

Bueno has looked great so far and he struck out 10 in his first start.

Canizares has looked old. He has a quick bat, but he needs more AB's to get his timing down. He took a nasty fall in left field earlier this season (but madde the catch) and he's been at 1st base/DH since.

Agente Libre

05-11-2006, 02:07 PM

I wouldn't expect much more out of Escobar. The fact is, he was a .270 hitter in Cuba who averaged about 1 home run per year and made a lot of errors. Now, in Double A, he's hitting .280 with 0 HR and he's on pace to make 50 errors. Players don't tend to change much and Escobar is the perfect example. It's not like he's some 19-year-old kid ... he turns 24 in the fall.

Cubano100%

05-12-2006, 01:33 AM

Braves signed Cuban outfielder Roberto Alvarez. No word on signing bonus, etc. Alvarez set a single-season strikeout record in Cuba before defecting; doesn't seem like a big prospect.

Some friends wrote me that Roberto Alvarez is a very strong kid. He has the same age as Kendry Morales and played along side him for the Cuban Junior team in the Panamerican games in Camaguey, Cuba. Yuli Gourriel, William Luis, Alexei Bell, Yaibel Tamayo were also members of this team. Roberto Alvarez was the home run leader in this tournament with 5. He has lost 2-3 years without playing competitive baseball but I think he is still young.

Agente Libre

05-12-2006, 04:58 AM

Some friends wrote me that Roberto Alvarez is a very strong kid. He has the same age as Kendry Morales and played along side him for the Cuban Junior team in the Panamerican games in Camaguey, Cuba. Yuli Gourriel, William Luis, Alexei Bell, Yaibel Tamayo were also members of this team. Roberto Alvarez was the home run leader in this tournament with 5. He has lost 2-3 years without playing competitive baseball but I think he is still young.

Sounds about right. The info I have is that he was once a top prospect in Cuba but then his performance decreased every year after he arrived in National Series. He ended up with the single-season strikeout record a couple years ago, then got suspended for trying to leave. I'm guessing 2003 was his last year in the Nat Series.

Cubano100%

05-12-2006, 10:56 PM

Was he (Alvarez) in D. R. ?

I hope Osbeck Castillo, Yamel Guevara, Juan Miguel Miranda and Ayalen Ortiz who are all in D. R. get a chance to compete for somebody soon.

Michel Abreu is killing the ball so far. Too bad he signed with the Mets! He hit the ball against the wall today for a double in the first game. In the second he homered. He is hitting close to 400 with 3 HR and 4 2B in 14 games in AA.

jon7jmets

05-13-2006, 11:03 AM

http://www.nyfuturestars.com/profile_pics/miguel_perez.jpgmiguel_perezhttp://www.nyfuturestars.com/profile_pics/alay_soler.jpgalay_solerhttp://www.nyfuturestars.com/profile_pics/michel_abreu.jpgmichel_abreu

Agente Libre

05-13-2006, 11:12 AM

Cubano100% -- Yes, Alvarez was in D.R.

The others are in a bad situation. It seems impossible that they will be able to get visas for 2006, so they will be missing their second full season of baseball. In July it will be 2 years for Osbeck Castillo; in October 2 years for Guevara; and it's almost 18 months for Miranda and Ortiz.

Cubano100%

05-13-2006, 07:22 PM

I hope some teams are interested in them so at least they can use their facilities.

Agente Libre

05-15-2006, 01:45 AM

Yunel Escobar hasn't played in 3 or 4 days for Mississippi. Anyone know why?

Cubano100%

05-15-2006, 06:30 PM

He is playing tonight.

jon7jmets

05-18-2006, 11:18 PM

Mayque Quintero pitch for Mets a Team, he was a Cuabn defeactor in 2000. Anyone have info on him?

Mattingly

05-19-2006, 04:51 AM

Mayque Quintero pitch for Mets a Team, he was a Cuabn defeactor in 2000. Anyone have info on him?
The link I have lists him as being born in Miami, FL.

http://thebaseballcube.com/players/Q/mayque-quintero.shtml

Here's some pictures, including him: http://www.potomacnationalsboosterclub.com/page0004.html

Just use google, yahoo or other search engines.

Agente Libre

05-19-2006, 08:24 AM

Quintero defected from Cuba in late 2000 after having a great season for Industriales. He left with infielder Evel Bastida.

Quintero apparently suffered an arm injury in 2001, because he ended up signing for nothing in 2002 and his career has largely been a bust.

bppb266

05-19-2006, 08:28 AM

Hi

You can't trust in birthplace from baseball cube. there is a lot of mistakes
Here you will see everything i have from Mayque Quintero

Mayque Quintero

1995, 1996------Member of Junior Cuban NAtional Team

1996-2000------Member of Industriales team 4 seasons from 1996 to 2000.

1997------------Rookie of the year in Cuban National Serie

April 1999-------He was in the initial list of 48 players for Games vs Baltimore Orioles

December 2000--RHP Mayque Quintero defected

July 2001--------Sign with the Sonoma County Crushers of the Western Baseball League.

Winter 01/02-----Played for Algodoneros de Guasave in Mexican Pacific League

June 2002--------Selected by Cincinnati Reds in 31st round (915th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft (June Regular Phase)

March 2003-------Released by Cincinnati Reds

2004-------------Washington Nationals Signed as a free agent

November 2005---Played with Pastora de los Llanos in Venezuelan Summer League

Febrero 2006-----Training camp with Sultanes de Monterrey. Mexican League

April 2006--------Released by Washington Nationals.

Stats, Cuba. Industriales Team

S G GS CG W L INN PCL SO BB
4 82 74 14 30 28 467.2 2.85 275 164

Stats, Minor Leagues

Org. Lev. W L ERA G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO
Cin Rk 2 1 4.11 7 6 0 0 0 0 30.2 33 17 14 1 8 25
Mtl A+ 3 2 2.75 21 1 0 0 6 0 36.0 29 12 11 1 15 32
Wan A+ 2 2 4.67 32 3 0 0 0 2 69.1 71 40 36 12 23 67

Minor League Totals: 3 years
7 5 4.04 60 10 0 0 6 2 136.0 133 69 61 14 46 124

Stats, Pastora de los Llanos. 2005-2006

G GS W L S IP H HR CP CL BB SO ERA
12 10 0 2 0 53.0 51 5 29 26 22 29 4.42

Stats, Algodoneros de Guasave. 2001-2002

W L IP BB ERA
1 3 22 17 6.14

jon7jmets

05-21-2006, 12:00 AM

The New York Mets announced today that Binghamton Mets RHP Alay Soler has been called up to the parent club. He is expected to Major League debut with New York as a starter in the coming week.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060521&content_id=80235&vkey=pr_milb&fext=.jsp

bppb266

05-21-2006, 03:50 AM

Great news.....Another cuban in the majors.

Cubano100%

05-21-2006, 05:46 AM

Good news because El Duke and Livan are having horrible seasons so far. El Duke should become a long reliever or say Adios at this point.

Agente Libre

05-21-2006, 08:12 AM

Good news because El Duke and Livan are having horrible seasons so far. El Duke should become a long reliever or say Adios at this point.

Come on, he's only 56 years old. He has plenty of good baseball left in him.

bppb266

05-21-2006, 11:38 AM

Batting Statistics (May, 21)

Player Team Lea Lev Pos AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SLG
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _
Michel Abreu Binghamton EAS AA 1B .333 21 78 6 26 4 0 3 11 6 19 0 0 .500
St. Lucie FSL A+ 1B .333 2 9 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .444
TOTALS .333 23 87 8 29 5 0 3 11 6 21 0 0 .494
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brayan Pena Richmond INT AAA C .226 32 115 11 26 7 0 0 7 9 17 2 1 .287
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barbaro Canizares Mississippi SOU AA OF .325 20 77 12 25 3 0 3 9 7 9 0 0 .481
Myrtle Beach CAR A+ OF .381 6 21 3 8 0 0 1 1 1 3 1 0 .524
TOTALS .337 26 98 15 33 3 0 4 10 8 12 1 0 .490
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juan Diaz Memphis PCL AAA IF .229 13 48 5 11 3 0 3 8 5 11 0 0 .479
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yobal Duenas San Luis MEX AAA 2B .286 15 63 13 18 4 1 2 7 1 4 1 1 .476
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yunel Escobar Mississippi SOU AA SS .285 39 144 18 41 7 2 1 15 21 32 3 1 .382
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michel Hernandez Memphis PCL AAA C .306 37 134 18 41 5 1 1 14 14 17 2 1 .381
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maikel Jova New Hampshire EAS AA RF .198 22 81 5 16 7 0 0 10 1 16 0 0 .284
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kendry Morales Salt Lake PCL AAA 1B .307 39 153 22 47 6 1 5 27 11 25 0 2 .458
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juan Carlos Muniz Jupiter FSL A+ OF .250 20 64 5 16 1 0 3 8 6 16 1 3 .406
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex Sanchez Louisville INT AAA CF .153 17 59 2 9 1 0 0 2 0 11 0 1 .169
Chattanooga SOU AA CF .297 20 74 9 22 2 2 2 11 2 7 1 0 .459
TOTALS .233 37 133 11 31 3 2 2 13 2 18 1 1 .331
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitching Statistics (May, 21)

Player Team Lea Lev W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP AVG TPA BK WP
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________
Saydel Beltran Tampa FSL A+ 0 0 10.50 4 0 0 6.0 7 7 7 3 4 7 0 .304 27 1 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Francisley Bueno Mississippi SOU AA 0 2 3.95 3 3 0 13.2 14 6 6 3 6 14 0 .264 60 0 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rafael Galbizo Greensboro SAL A 3 1 3.04 17 0 0 23.2 15 9 8 2 13 13 1 .181 98 0 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Galvez Wilmington CAR A+ 2 1 3.06 7 7 0 35.1 31 14 12 4 12 19 0 .246 142 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hansel Izquierdo Poza Rica MEX AAA 3 3 2.47 8 8 0 58.1 48 19 16 2 17 38
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miguel Perez Binghamton EAS AA 1 1 3.86 4 4 0 21.0 15 9 9 0 7 17 1 .192 86 1 0
Norfolk INT AAA 0 2 4.50 4 4 0 22.0 27 13 11 1 12 14 2 .318 103 1 3
TOTALS 1 3 4.09 8 8 0 43.0 42 22 20 1 19 31 3 .258 189 2 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayque Quintero St. Lucie FSL A+ 0 0 0.00 1 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 3 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alay Soler Binghamton EAS AA 1 0 2.75 3 3 0 19.2 16 6 6 0 3 22 0 .222 77 0 0
St. Lucie FSL A+ 2 0 0.64 5 5 0 28.0 12 2 2 0 8 32 0 .128 102 0 1
TOTALS 3 0 1.51 8 8 0 47.2 28 8 8 0 11 54 0 .169 179 0 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roberto Sotolongo Peoria MID A 0 3 12.79 6 0 1 6.1 11 10 9 3 4 5 1 .355 38 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Tejera Fresno PCL AAA 3 1 2.95 13 4 0 36.2 33 14 12 5 14 28 1 .241 153 0 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raul Valdes Iowa PCL AAA 1 3 7.59 7 7 0 32.0 44 27 27 5 11 20 2 .341 148 0 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julio Villalon Sarasota FSL A+ 0 0 0.00 2 0 0 4.0 2 0 0 0 1 4 0 .154 14 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cubano100%

05-21-2006, 09:58 PM

Good job bppb266!

I believe the following players have been released:

Juan Diaz
Zaidel Beltran
Yobal Duenas has not played since long time ago.

These are the players that are doing well. You may also add Gary Galvez, Miguel Perez, Tejera and Rafael Galvizo. The others except Yunel Escobar who is doing so so are not doing that well.

Michel Abreu is hitting 346 and homer today. He is mad because his buddy Alain Soler was promoted and he was not. He has Carlos Delgado in front of him so he needs to get traded somehow.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_05_21_altaax_binaax_1

1B, C, OF Barbaro Canizares is hitting 333 with 4 dobles and 3 homers.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_05_21_msbaax_jaxaax_1

Kendry Morales should be in the majors this week. He is hitting 318 with 5 homers and 8 doubles. No errors at 1B.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_05_21_orhaaa_slcaaa_1

P Eduardo Morlan is having an excellent season at A ball.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Eduardo%20Morlan&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=461851

C Michel Hernandez is hitting 304.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_05_21_poraaa_mrbaaa_1

Agente Libre

05-21-2006, 11:47 PM

Did Abreu actually say he's angry?

Also, who is Eduardo Morlan? Never heard of him.

Cubano100%

05-22-2006, 01:16 AM

No, man. It is me BS.

He is probably an American baseball product. If he becomes a bust, it is because of that. Ja Ja Ja.

http://www.minorleaguenews.com/baseball/features/articles2005/08/15/46.html

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/eduardo-morlan.shtml

Cubano100%

05-22-2006, 01:18 AM

Alain Soler

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060521&content_id=1465426&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

Mattingly

05-22-2006, 12:13 PM

Alain Soler

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060521&content_id=1465426&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym
Here's another one on him:

From Cuba to Shea for Soler (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/sports/baseball/22shea.html)

Cubano100%

05-22-2006, 12:24 PM

Two former Industriales Lions putting big numbers in the minors.

Super Kendry and Cañizares, Offensive Players of the Week:

Pacific Coast League
Kendry Morales, Salt Lake
.500 (11-22), 3 R, 5 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 0 SO, 0 SB, .864 SLG
The Oklahoma RedHawks took the brunt of Morales' scorching week in their series with the Bees this week. The first baseman, who leads Salt Lake with 50 hits and 29 RBIs, went 9-for-16 with four doubles and six RBIs in four games against the RedHawks. However, Morales' effort only resulted in a split for the Bees as they lost 2-0 and 14-8 on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Southern League
Barbaro Canizares, Mississippi
.480 (12-25), 5 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SO, 0 SB, .960 SLG
Canizares highlighted the Braves' week with his two-out, ninth-inning, game-tying home run against Jacksonville on Friday. Mississippi went on to win the game in the 11th on a home run by Yunel Escobar. Canizares had four multi-hit games this week, including a perfect 3-for-3 against the Suns on Saturday.
_________________

Cubano100%

05-22-2006, 06:51 PM

Outfielder Matt Padgett and left handed pitcher Raul Valdes were released on Wednesday, May 17 to make room for Jae-Kuk Ryu and Tony Womack.
Padgett signed with Iowa on April 21 and homered in his first at-bat as an Iowa Cub, but he quickly cooled off and was hitting just .164 with one homer and four RBI in 64 at-bats.

Raul Valdes was 1-3 with a 7.59 ERA in seven starts for Iowa in 2006. He gave up 27 runs, 44 hits and struck out 20 in 32 innings of work.

This guy has been a mistery. For the last three years, he has been the best pitcher in the Dominican Winter League.

jon7jmets

05-22-2006, 10:56 PM

Mets signed Raul Valdes 2 days ago.

jon7jmets

05-23-2006, 12:07 AM

Angels recalled first baseman Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Morales wasn't any good for the first six weeks of the season, but he's been on a tear lately and the Angels might as well seek to capitalize. Overall, he was hitting .318/.363/.478 in 157 at-bats. Expect him to play over Robb Quinlan at first base for now. Both he and Dallas McPherson can start fairly regularly until Darin Erstad returns and Chone Figgins heads back to third base. He should have some value in AL-only leagues. May. 23 - 12:09 am et:clapping :clapping

bppb266

05-23-2006, 02:16 AM

Hi

A lot of movements in the last days !!!!!!!!

Florida moves Juan Carlos Muniz to Carolina AA

and

Braves recalled Brayan Pena for a short period while MacCann is in disabled list

Cubano100%

05-23-2006, 08:57 AM

Agente, Agente, the Cubans from the Cuban A Ball National Series are coming! Ja Ja JaJaJa.

Due to some good performances by some defectors, let me ask you this Agente.

Do you think the value of Cuban players have risen a little bit or not?

Next in line will be Barbaro Canizares because the Braves do not have a 1B.

Can someone get Abreu out?

I am sure Boston regrets voiding his contract. No 1B in Boston either!

Agente Libre

05-23-2006, 09:05 AM

It's hard to say, but it can't hurt. Contreras is probably MLB's best pitcher since last All-Star break; Yuniesky made it to majors in 3 months last year; Kendry took less than a year of minors; Soler needed only 6 weeks; etc.

It will be interesting to see how MLB teams react if/when more Cubans defect.

Cubano100%

05-23-2006, 09:05 AM

More about El Toro Soler. (The Bull)

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060522&content_id=1466284&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

Cubano100%

05-23-2006, 09:06 AM

Morales should have made the team out of Spring Training.

bppb266

05-23-2006, 06:45 PM

Waooooo

Morales : A single and a two rbi home run !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SuperKendry

Amazing

Cubano100%

05-23-2006, 08:28 PM

3 hits in 4 AB! More importantly, he has sparked the team and the Halos nation.

Cubano100%

05-23-2006, 09:09 PM

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/images/2006/05/23/QdskjyM9.jpg

Notes: Morales begins with a bang
Angels summon power hitter, who responds with power
By Mike Scarr / MLB.com

With the Angels' offense slumping, Kendry Morales' bat is a welcome addition. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Angels Headlines

ARLINGTON -- The Kendry Morales era began Tuesday in the latest attempt to inject some life into the Angels offense.
Signed on Dec. 1, 2004, to a six-year, $6 million deal, the former Cuban phenom has been highly touted for his ability to swing a bat. He didn't have to wait to prove his mettle, either, when he started at first base for the Angels on Tuesday night.

"Kendry is swinging the bat well right now and we're a little limited on some of our options," manager Mike Scioscia said of Morales, who singled in his first Major League at-bat and then drilled a two-run homer in his second.

Entering Tuesday, the Angels trailed in the wake of a six-game losing streak and were 11 games under the .500 mark. They had scored three runs or fewer in 12 of their previous 20 games and had been hit by injuries. Starting center fielder Darin Erstad has been out since May 1, first baseman Casey Kotchman is recovering from mononucleosis and Garret Anderson has been slowed by a left hamstring strain and strained left arch.

Those in the lineup have also struggled, leading to an on-base percentage that ranks last in the American League and slugging percentage, batting average and runs scored just a tick better at 13th.

Morales joins Howie Kendrick, Mike Napoli, Tommy Murphy and Dallas McPherson as 2006 callups who might be able to impact the lineup, although Kendrick has since returned to Triple-A Salt Lake. Morales, who started his pro career last year at Class A Rancho Cucamonga, has started out slowly at each level as he adjusts to superior pitching.

"Before I got to the Dominican [Republic after defecting from Cuba], I hadn't played in a year and a half. That really affected me playing winter ball," Morales said through an interpreter. "Then when I got to Rancho I hadn't played a whole lot in order to get my groove and everything. When I went to Double-A, it was an adjustment. In Triple-A, it was the same thing. I don't know what to attribute that to."

Morales established his credentials by hitting .330 during his career in Cuba. During the 2002-03 season, Morales hit .391 with nine homers and 42 RBIs for Industriales and then starred in the Baseball World Cup by hitting a grand slam as Cuba claimed the gold medal with a victory in the final over Taiwan.

Possibly more impressive is that Morales needed nine attempts to defect from Cuba. When Morales finally got out, he had to establish residency in the Dominican and become a citizen there before gaining legal entrance to the U.S.

Morales's mom lives in Miami, but the rest of his family is still in Cuba. Morales said he calls there frequently to speak to his grandparents and is occasionally sad that he's been unable to return.

"I wouldn't say it's more difficult, only because I got an opportunity in this country. I appreciate it very much," Morales said. "I do feel like I have a home. I go train in the Dominican Republic in the winter time. To me that's going home right now. I'm pleased about how things worked out."

Guiding hands: Morales played as many as eight sports while growing up in Cuba but concentrated on baseball at the urging of his father.

"I give all the credit to my father because he actually forced me to play baseball. He made me play baseball," Morales said of Rafael Morales, a catcher who died when Kendry was 8 years old. "Then a coach named Luis Suarez, who for the last eight years has been teaching me how to hit, how to run the bases and overall the guy who has spent more time on any field than anybody else."

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060523&content_id=1468274&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana

Kiefer

05-23-2006, 09:48 PM

What a debut!

Amazing!:clapping :clapping

jon7jmets

05-23-2006, 10:00 PM

Miguel Perez went 6IP 1ER 1BB 4K today in AAA.

Cubano100%

05-23-2006, 10:23 PM

More on Alain Soler:

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060523&content_id=1468458&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

Mattingly

05-24-2006, 10:16 AM

Soler makes his debut today, after 8 minor league starts:

Randolph's eager for Soler cycle to start (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/420614p-355107c.html)
Willie Randolph watched Orlando Hernandez thrive from the moment he joined the Yankees after arriving from Cuba in 1998. He also watched Jose Contreras crumble under the weight of pinstriped expectations, only to develop into a dominant starter after a trade to the White Sox.

About 30 months after defecting from Cuba by boat in November 2003, Alay Soler finally arrived in the Met clubhouse last night. And Randolph will hand him the ball tonight against the Phillies for his major-league debut, as the latest fill-in to get a chance in the Mets' patchwork rotation.

"I look forward to seeing what he's got," Randolph said before last night's game. "He might throw a gem for us and give us a big shot, and he might be around for awhile. I like the fact that he's pitched in big games before... and it would be a nice surprise if he can step up for us here."

The Mets signed Soler, a teammate of Contreras with the Cuban national team, nearly two years ago, but he didn't join their system until this winter because visa issues stranded him in the Dominican Republic. He went 3-0 with a 1.51 ERA over eight starts in two minor-league stops, Class-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. The 26-year-old righty will oppose righthander Jon Lieber.

"Anytime you go from the minor leagues and come to the big leagues, there's always the butterflies and you always have a little bit of pressure, but as soon as you take the mound, that pressure I'm going to forget about it," Soler said, with instructor Juan Lopez serving as his translator. "Every time I go out on the day I have to pitch, I'm always excited, especially pitching against a team like Philadelphia that is right behind us (in the standings)."

jon7jmets

05-24-2006, 04:18 PM

Mets trade Jorge Julio for El Duque.

bppb266

05-24-2006, 05:00 PM

The mets are building a team Cuba in a few days

Duke Hernandez
Alay Soler
Raul Valdes
Miguel Perez
Michel Abreu
Mayque Quintero

Mattingly

05-24-2006, 05:11 PM

Here's the debut game for Alay Soler which just started:

http://sportsline.com/mlb/gamecenter/live/MLB_20060524_PHI@NYM

bppb266

05-24-2006, 06:34 PM

He was (Soler) a little bit nervous at the beggining but its pitching really well now

jon7jmets

05-24-2006, 07:30 PM

6IP 5H 3ER 2ER 4BB 5K

Alay Soler After 1st inng 5IP 4H 0ER 1BB 3k. El Dukie will join Mets Friday.

Cubano100%

05-24-2006, 10:07 PM

Soler was nervous at the beginning. He is a control pitcher and gave up 3 walks in the first. 2B Woodward made an error that could have been a doble play. After that Soler showed some heart and minimized the damage. He needs to lose some weight. Even though he pitched in Puerto Rico this winter and pitched in 8 games between A and AA, he is still trying to find his form.

I like his repertoire and he is a competitor and I also think the Mets management took notice.

Cubano100%

05-24-2006, 10:15 PM

Mattingly:

What are the Mets going to do with Michel Abreu?

In 25 games at AA, he is hitting 376 with 5 doubles and 5 homers with SLP around to 600. I know the Mets have Delgado but it is a crime having a guy putting big numbers and not having the chance of proving himself at the ML level.

Cubano100%

05-24-2006, 10:17 PM

The mets are building a team Cuba in a few days

Duke Hernandez
Alay Soler
Raul Valdes
Miguel Perez
Michel Abreu
Mayque Quintero

Alejandro Zuaznabar
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=s_pla&q=zuaznabar

He is young.

jon7jmets

05-24-2006, 11:29 PM

Michel Abreu future with Mets would be a AAA/ Bench player.

Martin Dihigo

05-25-2006, 05:30 AM

From the NY Times this morning. When will El Duque make his first start?

May 25, 2006
Mets 5, Phillies 4
Second Chance Becomes a First Impression
By BEN SHPIGEL
Alay Soler's new teammates know more about his life history than about his reputation as a pitcher. And what they know consists mainly of this: Soler is from Cuba, he wears No. 59 and he is right-handed.

"We're all anxious to see him," Pedro Martínez said before Soler made his major league debut last night against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium.

After the first three batters, the Mets realized that Soler was nervous. After the first inning, they learned that he trusted his stuff and had adjusted to a precarious situation. And when he departed after the sixth inning, they discovered that, perhaps, they might have found a starting pitcher.

Soler overcame a shaky first inning to deliver the most encouraging performance so far by anyone vying for a slot at the back end of the Mets' rotation. He allowed three runs — two earned — in the Mets' 5-4 victory against the Phillies before a crowd of 32,094. Soler left with a lead, but he did not get the victory because Pat Burrell hit a game-tying homer with two outs in the seventh.

Still, he rejoiced in the dugout in the bottom of the inning when David Wright hit the third consecutive single off reliever Rheal Cormier to score Carlos Beltrán and provide the margin of victory. The Mets' lead over Philadelphia and Atlanta, who are tied for second place in the National League East, is five games.

"The job tonight, that's all I'm looking for," Soler said through an interpreter.

Soler's successful debut came a few hours after the Mets acquired the right-hander Orlando Hernández from the Arizona Diamondbacks for reliever Jorge Julio. The Mets are counting on two Cuban defectors — one young, one old; who knows how old, but at least a decade older than the 26-year-old Soler — to stabilize a fragile rotation.

Injuries to Brian Bannister, Víctor Zambrano and John Maine wrecked the Mets' starting pitching, and their replacements have been less than impressive. José Lima was ineffective, and Jeremi González, the scheduled starter today, has allowed nine runs in eight innings.

In Soler, who struck out five and allowed five hits, the Mets have found a more attractive candidate. Unlike Lima and González, he is young and could have a lasting future with the organization.

General Manager Omar Minaya said that he traded for Hernández partly because of his reputation as a mentor for younger pitchers, particularly Cubans. He noticed how José Contreras, a former Yankee, improved last season while playing with Hernández on the Chicago White Sox, and he anticipates Hernández's assuming a similar role with Soler. "That definitely played into my thinking," Minaya said.

Soler said of Hernández, "I can't wait to learn from him."

After defecting from Cuba to the Dominican Republic in a terrifying boat ride in November 2003, Soler endured passport and visa problems, which delayed his arrival in the United States. He participated in his first professional spring training this season and made only three starts for Class AA Binghamton.

Soler said Tuesday that he had been waiting too long to pitch in the major leagues, but he might wish to forget his opening moments. Soler's fastball traveled every direction but over the plate, and he walked the first three hitters. Soler then threw three consecutive balls to the next hitter, Burrell, who took two called strikes before hitting a run-scoring single.

Ryan Howard hit what seemed a possible double-play grounder toward second baseman Chris Woodward, but the ball skimmed between Woodward's legs, allowing Chase Utley and Bobby Abreu to score. Soler had faced five batters, made 27 pitches and had not recorded an out.

But he regained his composure and figured out how he would pitch the rest of the game. With his fastball still erratic, Soler used two sliders and a changeup to calm the Phillies' potent offense. He moved the ball around the strike zone and varied the speed of his pitches so much that they were clocked at every mile an hour between 74 and 91. The Phillies could not make solid contact.

"He took the sting out of their bats," the pitching coach Rick Peterson said. "He pitched excellent."

With runners on first and third in the first, Soler retired the next three hitters, including an inning-ending strikeout of Sal Fasano on a vicious slider. Martínez sat near Soler, calming him and offering pitching tips, which, Soler said, helped him become more comfortable.

Over the next five innings, Soler allowed only two runners to reach second, and he rebounded after the 37-pitch first inning to throw with efficiency. He would up throwing fewer pitches (85) through five innings than Phillies starter Jon Lieber did through four (89), and finished with 102 over all.

Beltrán, whose homer in the 16th inning won Tuesday's game, answered the Phillies' first-inning eruption by hitting his second homer in 19 hours, cutting the lead to 3-1. Then, after Wright ripped a two-out solo homer off Lieber in the third, Cliff Floyd singled, Ramón Castro walked, and Woodward drove in Floyd with a sharp single up the middle, tying the score at 3-3. José Valentín hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth to give Soler his first lead, 4-3.

Even if that lead did not last, the Mets had already taken away something that will. That Alay Soler, the Cuban right-hander who wears No. 59, can handle the pressure of pitching at this level.

Martin Dihigo

05-25-2006, 05:57 AM

ANGELS REPORT
Morales Enjoys Grand Stage
By Mike DiGiovanna, Times Staff Writer
May 24, 2006

ARLINGTON, Texas — Kendry Morales batted cleanup for the storied Cuban National Team when he was 19. How much more pressure could it be batting fifth for the Angels in his major league debut Tuesday night?

"It's kind of hard to explain, because I haven't faced the pressure here yet," Morales said through an interpreter before the game. "I know I'll have a bat in my hands and someone will throw the ball from the mound. That's about it."

That simple approach served Morales well. The 22-year-old Cuban defector had three hits, including a two-run home run in the third inning, in five at-bats against the Rangers.

Morales, who signed a six-year, $6-million deal with the Angels in the winter of 2004, had struggled in his first few weeks at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and double-A Arkansas in 2005 and triple-A Salt Lake this season.

But the switch-hitter, after batting .235 in April, went on a tear in May, hitting .413 in 19 games. Running out of in-house options to bolster their offense, the Angels had little choice but to call Morales up Monday night and essentially hand him the first-base job for as long as he proves he can handle it.

"It's a lot to ask of a youngster to come up and hit in the middle of the lineup, but that's where we are right now," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll give him a good look."

Cubano100%

05-25-2006, 11:34 AM

Michel Abreu future with Mets would be a AAA/ Bench player.

I know he has no future with the Mets as long as Delgado is healthy. I hope he can get an opportunity with another team next year or even this year if the Mets trade him to another team needing a 1B.

I just want to create some buzz around him.

Agente Libre

05-25-2006, 02:53 PM

Abreu can't be traded until next year. Players can't be traded until at least one year after they signed their first contract.

Cubano100%

05-27-2006, 10:35 PM

Kendry Morales is just killing the Meatballs the pitchers are throwing at him. He homered and doubled today vs the Orioles.

Mattingly

05-28-2006, 04:50 AM

I'm curious, how often have two Cuban defectors faced one another as starting pitchers? How about as pitcher and batter? I would be interested in knowing about this.

Thx. :)

Quicksilv3r

05-28-2006, 04:54 AM

Kendry is proving that he doesn't belong anywhere else than the big leagues. With his 400+ average, two taters and five RBI's in 19 at bats, he could be establishing his place in the Angels' lineup. I really hope they don't screw things up again like they did after Spring Training by sending him back to the minors when their first basemen start coming back from the DL...

Go Kendry!

And what comes to Soler, he did a very good job in his debut. I'm anxiously vaiting for his next start.

Also, keep an eye on El Duque who is making his Mets debut soon :clapping

Cubano100%

05-28-2006, 07:43 AM

Mattingly

05-28-2006, 12:34 PM

Yuniesky Betancourt did not fare well last year against Contreras and El Duque.

I like to see Contreras vs Morales matchup.

Did anybody see that Kendry's blast from the right side into right center field?

If you missed, you can see in the Angels web site.
Thanks for the info. Do you know if relievers like Danys Baez has ever faced any Cuban batters who were also defectors? Perhaps even a pitcher in Interleague at an NL park.

Hey, if two relievers work the top and bottom of an inning, I'd love to hear about that also. :)

You folks are doing a great job here keeping this thread updated and all! :D

Cubano100%

05-28-2006, 01:42 PM

During Spring Training Kendry hit a home run of one of El Duque's meatballs.

Most of the good Cuban defectors have been pitchers. There are many positions players that either were not that good or were past their prime. Kendry and Betancourt are young. Abreu and Canizares are a little bit old but are putting good numbers in AA. Escobar is a question mark due to his stats in Cuba. Roberto Alvarez, recently signed by the Braves, has good power but strikeout to much.

Kendry and Betancourt here to stay. So you will se more matchups between defectors.

Cubano100%

05-28-2006, 02:50 PM

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_430910.jpg

Switch hitting C Brayan Pena is hitting 500 since being called up. He connected for his first ML home run today against the Cubs.

What is T. Pratt doing in the big leagues ahead of him at this point in his career?

No misrespect against Pratt but he probably is older than el Duque. For the record, el Duque is 40 years old.

Kiefer

05-28-2006, 10:50 PM

...I like to see Contreras vs Morales matchup....

Yeah, I would like to see that as well. I hope it happens soon.:D

Bronxbombers

05-29-2006, 10:03 AM

Is Danny Graves on the original list, wasnt he a defector

Kiefer

05-29-2006, 11:25 AM

Is Danny Graves on the original list, wasnt he a defector

Nah, Danny Graves is from Vietnam. He is the first and only Vietnam-born player in the history of the major leagues. :lookitup

jon7jmets

05-29-2006, 12:29 PM

el Duque is 40? :confused:
How old is Alay Soler?

Agente Libre

05-29-2006, 07:14 PM

Soler turns 27 later this year.

jon7jmets

05-29-2006, 11:56 PM

Is that Soler real age?

Is el dukie really 40?

Agente Libre

05-30-2006, 09:34 AM

Yes, that's Soler's age, as far as anyone can tell. Seems to match his baseball experience in Cuba.

Duque is at least 40 and could be even older.

Cubano100%

06-04-2006, 09:15 PM

LHP Francisley Bueno had some shoulder discomfort earlier in the season. He should be back in the Braves AA rotation soon.

Recently signed Roberto Alvarez is still waiting to come to the USA. He was signed by the Braves.

jon7jmets

06-06-2006, 10:56 AM

Alay Soler got his 1st MLB win and Basehit 7IP 6H 1ER 1BB 7K, Baez pitch in the game too.

Cubanball

06-06-2006, 11:56 AM

Hansel Izquierdo, pitching for the Petroleros de Poza Rica, is leading the Mexican League in ERA (2.12) and Complete Games (4).

Agente Libre

06-06-2006, 01:27 PM

Baseball America says RHP Hassan Pena was hurt for most of the spring and is not expected to be drafted in the top 10 rounds this year.

Agente Libre

06-06-2006, 07:25 PM

RHP Hassan Pena was drafted in Round #13 by Washington Nationals and OF Amaury Casanas was drafted in Round #18 by the St. Louis Cardinals.

I believe they were the only Cubans drafted today.

Cubano100%

06-07-2006, 12:20 PM

There is a rumor in Miami that Pinar del Rio outfielder/infielder Alexei Ramirez defected. He was in the WBC.

Agente Libre

06-07-2006, 12:32 PM

There's a new defection rumor in Miami every week. Seems odd a guy would spend over 2 weeks in U.S. in March and then take a boat out of Cuba less than 3 months later. (Stranger things have happened, I guess.)

Let us know if you hear anything else. I'm in Miami right now and haven't heard anything about this.

Brandon

06-07-2006, 12:46 PM

The Diamondbacks picked two Cubans in a row.

With pick 957, they pick SS Osmany Masso (6'0/195, 11/3/1980). I found stats putting Masso on Industriales with Kendry Morales.

With pick 987, they pick RHP Osbek Castillo (6'3/195, 1/29/1981). He's listed as being on the 2004 Cuban Olympic Team and he was mentioned numerous times on this thread.

I don't know the procedure used that got Castillo listed as a California resident, as opposed to being a free agent in the Dominican Republic.

Agente Libre

06-07-2006, 01:21 PM

Cubano100% -- Where did you hear the Alexei Ramirez rumor? I checked real quick and didn't see it on any of the Miami-area web sites. A lot of these rumors seem to start on Cuban talk radio down here. (There were 2 false ones during the WBC.)

I've never heard of Osmany Masso in the post above, and Osbeck Castillo defected 2 months before the 2004 Olympics, so that's false. (Castillo was probably listed as a member of Cuba's 50-man "pre-selection" for the '04 Olympics.) Castillo probably got sick of waiting for free agency and came back to the U.S. He arrived in U.S. in summer 2004 and then went to D.R. to get papers. Obviously backfired for him.

Brandon

06-07-2006, 01:24 PM

Ok, maybe the Wikipedia-ish thing I read mentioned Castillo on the 2004 team. So maybe lines got crossed when it comes to posting which players actually played in Athens.

Cubano100%

06-09-2006, 11:54 AM

In another forum. The guy is from Miami. Let me see if I can get the info from him. Remember, it is just a rumor so far.

Agente Libre

06-09-2006, 02:32 PM

I think the rumor is false. If Ramirez was out of Cuba, and particularly if he was now in Miami, it would have been big news by now.

jon7jmets

06-10-2006, 09:49 PM

Alay Soler with a 2 hit shutout. :clapping :clapping

jon7jmets

06-10-2006, 11:11 PM

Also, Mets traded for Eil Marrero.

Cubano100%

06-11-2006, 06:55 AM

Mariners SS Yuniesky Betancourt is hitting close to 300. This is his first full year in the big leagues.

Cubano100%

06-13-2006, 02:13 AM

Players Series # AB H AVE 2B 3B HR SLU RBI BB K Fielding AVE

1B Johan Limonta 42 28 6 214 1 0 0 250 3 4 9 939

3B/SS Osmany Masso 40 277 83 300 11 4 6 433 42 25 40 954
41 91 21 231 3 0 1 297 7 10 17 924

bppb266

06-14-2006, 03:35 PM

Jorge Toca is playing with Tabasco Olmecas and is batting very well

Cubano100%

06-16-2006, 07:07 PM

Good old story about El Duque and Livan.

Livan pitched for la Isla de la Juventud not Villa Clara though.

http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/arnalduque.html

Cubano100%

06-18-2006, 11:06 PM

I just found out this:

Cuban companion : The Mariners have signed a left-handed pitcher who played with and departed with Betancourt in Cuba.

Saydel Beltran, once signed and released by the Yankees, was given a tryout and signed by the Mariners. He will be assigned to Class A Everett.

Beltran was on the small boat with Betancourt three years ago that escaped the island.

Rivera praised: Backup catcher Rene Rivera, who is batting .121 and has played just 12 games behind starter Kenji Johjima, was given his kudos by Hargrove.

"Right now he's not swinging bat well. A lot of that has to do with the fact that he's not getting a lot of regular at-bats," Hargrove said. "But he hasn't let that take away from his job of calling and catching the game."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060618&content_id=1512379&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

anglada

06-22-2006, 10:12 PM

Anyone knows any thing about a young player Alejandro Zuaznabar???

CameronCrazies

06-23-2006, 10:24 AM

Cubanball

06-23-2006, 11:58 AM

Yunel Escobar (Mississippi Braves AA) was named to the World Team for the All-Star Futures Game. The 2006 Futures Game will be held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on July 9 and will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN. :clapping

Martin Dihigo

06-24-2006, 04:09 AM

from Baseball America, June 7 . . .

Five Defectors Picked
5:46 p.m.: Five Cuban defectors were selected in the draft, starting with the Nationals taking righthander Hassan Pena in the 13th round. BA has had reports in the past of Pena touching the low 90s with his fastball. Pena, who is listed as a 21-year-old, attended Palm Beach (Fla.) CC. The Cardinals' final pick of the 18th round at the end of day one, outfielder Amaury Casanas (Marti), has a Sept. 1974 birthday according to cocobeisbol.com, a Cuban baseball website. He has power but obviously is advanced in age. The Mariners drafted outfielder Johan Limonta, who defected in 2004 with Braves infielder Yunel Escobar, in the 20th round. And the Diamondbacks took two Cuban defectors, shortstop Osmany Masso and righthander Osbeck Castillo, with consecutive picks in rounds 32 and 33.
-- John Manuel

Cubano100%

06-24-2006, 07:13 AM

Anyone knows any thing about a young player Alejandro Zuaznabar???

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Zuaznabar%20%203B&pos=&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=462111

Cubano100%

06-24-2006, 07:16 AM

I'd rather not scroll back through all of the previous posts to find the latest on Maels...anybody have any info?

Did he have surgery? Is he currently playing somewhere? Will he ever throw in the high 90's again?

No, I have not found any new info on him. He used to throw 100 MPH 4 years ago and he was worth 100 millions but now he is not worth even a penny.

Hopefully, the D-Backs are working with him. They selected 2 defectors in this year Draft so somebody had to give them some info on this players.

jon7jmets

06-25-2006, 02:51 AM

Maels name has disappear from MILB.com. If you E mail BA you should find some news on him...

Quicksilv3r

06-25-2006, 04:45 PM

The latest article on him I found goes over a year back, so no idea where Maels has gone, but since there hasn't been any update on him I'm not very optimistic...

Cubano100%

06-26-2006, 12:15 AM

Jose Contreras

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers_phil&id=2496571

Cubano100%

06-27-2006, 01:57 AM

SS Yuniesky Betancourt

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060626&content_id=1524448&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Cubano100%

06-28-2006, 12:03 AM

Active Cuban players as of 06/27/2006

MLB

1B Kendry Morales Angels
RHP Alay Soler Mets
RHP Orlando Hernandez Mets
RHP Livan Hernandez Nationals
RHP Danys Baez Dodgers
RHP Jose Contreras White Sox
SS Yuniesky Betancourt Mariners

AAA

C Brayan Pena Richmond Braves
C Michel Hernandez Memphis Redbirds
LHP Michael Tejera Fresno Grizzlies

AA

RHP Miguel Perez Binghamton Mets
1B Michel Abreu Binghamton Mets
OF/1B Barbaro Canizares Mississippi Braves
LHP Francisley Bueno Mississippi Braves
SS/3B Yunel Escobar Mississippi Braves

A

RHP Roberto Sotolongo Daytona Cubs
C Juan Gutierrez Delmarva Shorebirds
OF Juan Muniz Jupiter Hammerheads
LHP Eduardo Morlan Beloit Snappers
RHP Jose Cordero Beloit Snappers
RHP Gary Galvez Wilmington Blue Rocks
RHP Rafael Galbizo Greensboro Grasshoppers
3B Alejandro Zuaznabar Kingsport Met
OF Amaury Casanas Marti Palm Beach Cardinals
LHP Saydel Beltran Everett AquaSox
1b/OF Johan Limonta Mariners

Mexico

1B Jorge Toca Olmecas de Tabasco
RHP Hansel Izquierdo Cafeteros de Cordoba/Poza Rica

jon7jmets

06-28-2006, 01:24 AM

Mets sent LHP Raul Valdes to the New Jersey Jackals.

Agente Libre

06-28-2006, 01:48 AM

Thanks for the list. Are Juan Gutierrez, Eduardo Morlan and Alexander Zuaznabar defectors or did they grow up in U.S.?

jon7jmets

06-28-2006, 03:08 PM

I know this is Alejandro Zuaznabar first season in U.S, he was playing in the Venezuela Summer league last year.

Cubano100%

06-28-2006, 04:21 PM

Zuaznabar played in the junior tournament in Cuba with Kendry and Gourriel. I think he only played one season with Metros.

Gutierrez played probably in ESPA. There is a guy in the Cuban forum that knows him.

Morlan probably came to the USA very young.

http://www.inder.co.cu/indernet/Provincias/stg/lideres_beisbol_juvenil_final.htm

Cubano100%

06-28-2006, 04:28 PM

Rolando Viera is also playing at Can-Am League. Is this league considered an Indy league?

http://brocktonrox.com/team/?id=1858

Agente Libre

06-29-2006, 02:20 PM

Yes, the Can-Am League is indy.

Also, Zuaznabar retired from Mets minor leagues in the last 7-10 days.

Cubano100%

06-29-2006, 06:01 PM

Yes, the Can-Am League is indy.

Also, Zuaznabar retired from Mets minor leagues in the last 7-10 days.

Was he released or injured?

Agente Libre

06-29-2006, 06:10 PM

It said he voluntarily retired.

jon7jmets

06-30-2006, 12:42 AM

he played with Mets 2 days ago.

Cubano100%

06-30-2006, 09:46 AM

Can you publish the link?

I know he left the Nicaraguan Winter League this season due to some family issues in Venezuela. I do not know what is the deal with this guy. Hopefully, Jon7mets is right.

Cubano100%

06-30-2006, 08:58 PM

Michel Abreu (Mets AA) is leading the Eastern League in batting average and he is also third in OPS.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_bat&lid=113

Barbaro Canizares (Braves AA) is 5th in batting average in the Southern League.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_bat&lid=111

Yunel Escobar (Braves AA) is 9th in doubles in the Southern League.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_bat&lid=111

Cubano100%

06-30-2006, 08:59 PM

Zuaznabar played today.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_06_30_pulrok_kptrok_1

Agente Libre

07-01-2006, 03:12 AM

Baseball America's transactions said he voluntarily retired last week. Must have been a mistake, or maybe he changed his mind. (Those transactions come straight from the teams.)

Cubano100%

07-02-2006, 11:11 PM

Michel Abreu has been selected to the 2006 EASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/events/allstargames.jsp?mc=_eas_06

Cubano100%

07-05-2006, 05:34 AM

Jose Contreras

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060704&content_id=1539297&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

Cubanball

07-06-2006, 08:27 AM

I ran into the following story on a few news sites:

Jose Canseco was traded from the San Diego Surf Dawgs to the Long Beach Armada, both Golden Baseball League teams, for Cuban defector Yoankis Turino. Turino is a 27-year-old pitcher who defected to Los Angeles via the Dominican Republic last month. He has played for the Cuban national team, but was kept out of international competition in recent years due to fear from Cuban officals that he would defect. Turino will join the team as the Dawgs return to Tony Gwynn Stadium on Friday.

Agente Libre

07-06-2006, 10:02 AM

Who the hell is Yoankis Turino? If he played for the Cuban National Team, then so did I.

Cubano100%

07-06-2006, 01:14 PM

Turino, 27, escaped to the Dominican Republic and reached Los Angeles over the course of last month. A left-hander, he didn't pitch for Long Beach but could work in relief for the Surf Dawgs as soon as tomorrow, according to Kennedy.

“I'm happy to have him,” Kennedy said, “but I have to see him further to determine his role.”

Turino pitched for three Cuban national championship teams with the Havana Industriales. He was reportedly left off international teams because of concerns that he would defect.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20060706-9999-1s6dawgs.html

Agente Libre

07-06-2006, 03:19 PM

This guy is the second or third Cuban to sign with an indy league team this year and claim to have played in the Cuban National Series or on the National Team.

Agente Libre

07-06-2006, 07:43 PM

Did a little digging ... this Torino guy was actually listed on the Industriales roster for the 2001-2002 season before being suspended sometime around 2002. It looks like he's been away from baseball for a while.

Cubano100%

07-06-2006, 10:53 PM

He played in 3 seasons and saw little action. If he can get Canseco out at this point, he may be worth something. This is assuming Canseco is not on Roids. :laugh

Cubano100%

07-07-2006, 02:08 PM

I found this in another forum about Eduardo Morlan.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.freewebs.com/gcltwins/pictures/morlan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freewebs.com/gcltwins/news/2005/morlan_062005.html&h=450&w=250&sz=30&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=JDfqTP5-WUNqRM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=68&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deduardo%2Bmorlan%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3D en%26lr%3D

Kiefer

07-08-2006, 09:56 PM

"Contreras a changed man in Chicago": http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spcont0709,0,4840142.story?page=1&track=rss

Cubano100%

07-10-2006, 01:27 AM

Amaury Casanas Marti

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/07/07/a1b_PBP_DEFECTOR07_0707.html

Marti wowed the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter and was invited back several times. He played a simulated game with the Class AA players. The Cardinals were ready to offer Marti a contract when they received an unexpected ruling from Major League Baseball.

Unlike previous Cuban defectors Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras, who established residency in countries other than the United States, Marti applied for residency in America. Because he was now considered an American, baseball required that he go through the draft in June.

The whole world knows he is Cuban. He does not have American citizenship nor a US green card. Still, MLB required him to go to the Draft.

Agente Libre

07-10-2006, 01:52 AM

Typical MLB. Bud Selig cares more about Fidel Castro than he does about Cuban defectors.

I guess it's not too surprising since they're both communists.

Quicksilv3r

07-10-2006, 02:43 AM

Interesting article about Marti. Looking forward to see him in the big leages soon!

Oh and by the way, what happened to Soler? He's out of the Mets rotation as far as I know, but where he was assigned?

Cubano100%

07-10-2006, 11:34 AM

Soler was sent to AAA after 6 starts. If he belongs to another team, he would still be fighting in MLB with the big boys. There are many pitchers that have done worst than him so far. He also said he was feeling some discomfort in one of his leg's muscle. If this is true, he had to tell his manager instead of pitching through it.

He will be back for more in the future. I hope he gets traded to a bad team.

Marti is getting old. He strikes out to much. He is running out of time and must put big numbers in AA if he wants to have any chance at the Big Leagues.

Cubano100%

07-10-2006, 10:50 PM

Amaury Casanas Marti

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060626/SPORTS02/606260358/1096

Agente Libre

07-11-2006, 08:52 PM

The Orioles have a 24-year-old Cuban named Juan Gutierrez in Class A. Anyone know his background -- e.g., is he a defector or did he grow up in the U.S. and get drafted?

Cubano100%

07-13-2006, 08:41 PM

http://mississippibraves.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/537.jpeg.300.jpeg

Barbaro Canizares ranks seventh in the Southern League with a batting average of .308. He’s got 16 doubles, four homers and 25 RBI through 61 games in Mississippi. The Cuba native is only the fourth Mississippi Brave to hit two homers in a game and he was the first Brave to do it this year.

http://mississippibraves.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/539.jpeg.300.jpeg

Yunel Escobar got his 21st infield hit of the year in the ninth inning of the Braves 11-0 loss at Huntsville on Tuesday.

Courtesy of the Mississippi Braves

Cubano100%

07-13-2006, 08:57 PM

P Camilo Vazquez was promoted to AA by the Reds.

Outta Here

07-14-2006, 11:54 AM

Hey Cubano,

just wanted to know what you think of Escobar in the Braves org.

I read an article about him the other day (cant remember wer :crazy), he sounds like a really good prospect.

Again, what r ur thoughts???

Cubano100%

07-14-2006, 07:55 PM

Escobar is young. He was not good defensively in Cuba and in the USA he is going the same route. He plays SS and 3B. If he plays SS, his offensive numbers are going to be good. If he plays 3B, he needs to hit more HR. Right now, he is among the leaders in doubles in his league. I like him at SS if he somehow can reduce his errors. He is strong and has speed.

In Cuba, he did not play to much until his final year there. He replaced a legend at 3B for his Havana Industriales. He also had some problems with his manager. Probably, he is another year away from reaching the big leagues.

Outta Here

07-15-2006, 05:04 AM

^^ Thanks, good to hear from someone who really knows!! :D

Should be interesting to see what happens with him...

Quicksilv3r

07-16-2006, 06:44 AM

Any updates on Marti?

Agente Libre

07-16-2006, 10:16 AM

The Cardinals promoted him to Double-A about 10 days ago but he isn't playing very much. He seems to be their fourth outfielder/pinch-hitter. He was hitting about .330 the last time I checked.

Cubano100%

07-16-2006, 10:15 PM

I saw this article somewhere else.

Braves Prospect Yunel Escobar

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060709&content_id=1549438&vkey=allstar2006&fext=.jsp

http://mississippibraves.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/543.jpeg

Cubano100%

07-16-2006, 10:41 PM

What Bill Shanks wrote about Braves prospects Francisley Bueno of the Havana Industriales and outfielder Roberto Alvarez of the Matanzas Crocodiles:

You have to give me my monthly update on my boy Francisley Bueno (who pitched a CG Shutout the other day). He's been blowing away AA competition, but has had injury problems. Think he'll be in AAA right after the break?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He's doing okay. For his first year over here, I think everyone is pleased with what he's doing. I would expect the Braves to invite Francisley to big league camp next spring as a non-roster player. He's a very interesting prospect. No doubt he can pitch. You just want him to get accustomed to pitching over here. But in another 12 months, he could be interesting. I think when we mention potential lefty relievers, we should put him right up there with Startup.

Is recently signed Cuban Roberto Alvarez in the USA?
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I'm not sure if he's in the US yet or not. The holdup was the same thing we went through with Barbaro and Bueno back in the spring - visa problems. Last time I asked, he was still slated for Rome when all of that got cleared up. I'll try to ask about him again soon.

Cubano100%

07-16-2006, 11:14 PM

The Orioles have a 24-year-old Cuban named Juan Gutierrez in Class A. Anyone know his background -- e.g., is he a defector or did he grow up in the U.S. and get drafted?

Orioles (Advanced A) Juan Gutierrez went 5-for-5 with two home runs, three doubles and four RBIs as host Frederick rallied to defeat Lynchburg, 8-7, on Monday.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060711&content_id=104341&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

Cubano100%

07-17-2006, 12:34 AM

What a shot from SS Yuniesky Betancourt to tie the game in ninth!

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060716&content_id=1559524&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Cubano100%

07-17-2006, 12:42 AM

In Mexico, former Florida Marlins RHP Hansel Izquierdo is leading the league in ERA and completed games.

ERA: 1-Hansel Izquierdo (CUBA-Córdoba), 2.90, 2-Hugo Castellanos (Tijuana), 2.95, 3-Alejandro Ríos (Saltillo), 2.9.

1-Hansel Izquierdo (CUBA-Córdoba), 6, 2-Alfredo Aceves (Monterrey) y Emil Kamar (Puebla), 3.

Hansel Izquierdo is still young and his performance in the Mexican Summer League may allow him to have another shot at the Majors.

Cubano100%

07-17-2006, 01:14 AM

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/qbanboy82/181438938_6718e364e4.jpg

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Mariners A) Johan Limonta had an inside-the-park homer on 07/12/2006. Limonta went 3-for-6 with three RBIs on July 16, 2006.

Outta Here

07-17-2006, 08:03 AM

I saw this article somewhere else.

Braves Prospect Yunel Escobar

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060709&content_id=1549438&vkey=allstar2006&fext=.jsp

Thanks for that.

Also, Limonta.. Inside the Park Homer, v. impressive! :clapping

Cubano100%

07-17-2006, 11:24 PM

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2006/07/11/4HKbjENz.jpg

Juan Gutierrez, Offensive Player of the Week.

Carolina League
Juan Gutierrez, Frederick
.571 (8-14), 3 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 SB, 1.214 SLG
Gutierrez made his debut with the Keys on July 8, after spending most of the season with the South Atlantic League's Delmarva Shorebirds. All he has done since his debut is hit .500 (9-for-1 -- not bad for a guy who had been hitting under the Mendoza line with his previous team. On Monday, Gutierrez turned in a monster of a game. The Cuban catcher went 5-for-5 with two home runs, three doubles and four RBIs as Frederick edged Lynchburg, 8-7.

Agente Libre

07-18-2006, 12:22 PM

Did Gutierrez defect or grow up in the U.S.?

CameronCrazies

07-18-2006, 03:53 PM

Cubano100%

07-18-2006, 08:00 PM

Did Gutierrez defect or grow up in the U.S.?

There is a guy in the other forum who studied with him in H-School. According to him, Gutierrez came when he was in the 12th grade and enrolled at Coral Park in Miami. He only played one year in High School in the USA and did very well. He was the school MVP that year. He was Drafted high by the White Sox and he decided not to sign with them. He went to play at St Thomas University. He is a switch hitter and began to catch to enhance his MLB chances. In Cuba, he played for the Havana Province Junior team.

Agente Libre

07-18-2006, 08:16 PM

Okay, thanks.

I just read that Yunel Escobar was placed on the Disabled List. Anyone know the injury?

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 05:06 AM

Notes: Betancourt goes homer happy
Light-hitting shortstop finds homers coming in bunches

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060718&content_id=1562892&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 05:20 AM

The Mets released P Mayque Quintero.

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 05:33 AM

http://mississippibraves.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/548.jpeg.300.jpeg

Former Havana Industriales Francisley Bueno pitched seven strong innings in a loss. Bueno is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.05.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_18_tenaax_msbaax_1

Francisely Bueno has thrown at least five innings in each of his last five outings dating back to 6/16 ... He also has at least five Ks in four of those five outings ... The Braves are now 3-5 overall when Bueno starts.

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 10:16 AM

I just found out that there is another Cuban trying to make it.

Yahmed Yema (Boston A)

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/Y/Yahmed-Yema.shtml

Agente Libre

07-19-2006, 01:00 PM

Answering my own question from above, Escobar has a fractured heel. It's unclear how long he will be out.

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 01:41 PM

Cubano 100%

I would like to know which legend Escober replaced at third in Cuba and what issues he may have had with his coach for the Industriales?

He seems to have an issue with his coach in Mississippi, but so do many of the players, especially Latino players.

Can you shed any light on the subject for me?

He came when Lazaro Vargas, who was one of the best 3B in Cuba in the 90's, was about to retire. He was benched by his manager Rey Anglada when his production decreased. He was also competing with Diolsis Linares for playing time.

CameronCrazies

07-19-2006, 07:45 PM

He came when Lazaro Vargas, who was one of the best 3B in Cuba in the 90's, was about to retire. He was benched by his manager Rey Anglada when his production decreased. He was also competing with Diolsis Linares for playing time.

Thanks...Linares, as in Omar? Another question if you don't mind me bugging you. I have visited many websites for a glimpse into the life Cubans since our trio of Cubano's have arrived in Mississippi. I have seen all the site similar to Cubanball.com, and message boards like this one. Any websites you would recommend? I've Googled until I can't Google any more.

Betancourt with a Web Gem on BBTN!

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 09:19 PM

Thanks...Linares, as in Omar? Another question if you don't mind me bugging you. I have visited many websites for a glimpse into the life Cubans since our trio of Cubano's have arrived in Mississippi. I have seen all the site similar to Cubanball.com, and message boards like this one. Any websites you would recommend? I've Googled until I can't Google any more.

Betancourt with a Web Gem on BBTN!

Actually, the Braves have signed 4 Cubans. There is another one waiting for his paperwork to enter the USA. His name is Roberto Alvarez and he plays the outfield. He has power but he also strikesout a lot. He is an outfielder from the Matanzas Crocodiles. He was the cleanup hitter for a Cuban Junior team that included Angels 1b Kendry Morales and 3B/2B Yuliesky Gourriel who is the best player in Cuba now. He has not played baseball for a while so he needs time. I like the Braves because they know how to handle their players.

Can you handle Spanish?
There are several sites from Cuba.

This one is in English.
http://www.cubancards.com/

Cubanball.com is good too.

Cubano100%

07-19-2006, 09:25 PM

Actually, I think I misspelled Dioelsis Linares. This guy is not Omar Linares nor he is related to him. There are some names now in Cuba that I can barely say or write. We have had the influence of USA, ex Easter European Communist countries and probably China soon. :confused:

Quicksilv3r

07-20-2006, 08:52 AM

Anybody knows who is this guy?

http://stats.baseball-softball.de/1bln/?file=gl534.inc

He is simply untouchable in the German Bundesliga. 0.24 ERA in 37.0 IP:eek: Any backround info on him? Has he played in Cuban National Series for some team?

Cubano100%

07-20-2006, 01:24 PM

Enorbel Ramirez never played in the Cuban National Series. I can not find any record of him. Maybe he played in the Junior National Series.

CameronCrazies

07-20-2006, 03:30 PM

Agente Libre

07-20-2006, 05:04 PM

Last anyone knew, Alvarez was stuck outside U.S. due to visa problems. With his high strikeout rate, he'll be lucky to reach Double-A at all, let alone this year.

Cubano100%

07-20-2006, 05:20 PM

Alvarez is young and has power. The Braves can work with him and teach him to have a better plate selection. Most power hitters strike out a lot.

The Braves will assign him to A ball. Probably, he will go to the Rome Braves.

Agente Libre

07-20-2006, 07:28 PM

Alvarez is at least 22 to 24 years old, which might be young generally but is old in baseball years, at least for a player heading to Class A. After a real good rookie year, he was a worse player in Cuba than Yunel Escobar, and now he will have missed two full seasons. I hope he does well, but it's unrealistic to expect him to have much of a U.S. career based on his age and history.

Cubano100%

07-20-2006, 09:29 PM

Can you handle Spanish?
There are several sites from Cuba.

I'm not fluent, but close enough. Let me know of a few. I bet Roberto will joining us in AA to be with Bueno, Canizares, and Escobar. Is Alvarez in Miami?

This is the official site for Cuban baseball.

http://home.inder.co.cu/beisbolcubano/home/default.asp

Cubano100%

07-20-2006, 10:55 PM

Amaury Casanas played today. He went 2-5 with 2 doubles and 3 SO. He is hitting 333.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_20_spraax_wicaax_1

Cubano100%

07-21-2006, 11:02 AM

PLAYER TO WATCH: P Osbek Castillo has been sitting batters down often, striking out seven in 4 1/3 innings, while allowing just one hit without walking a batter.

Yes, Agente I know what you are going to say. He is older than the competition. However, he has not played baseball for a while so he needs to get into shape at a lower level. He will be promoted soon hopefully.

Agente Libre

07-21-2006, 11:49 AM

Cubano100%

07-21-2006, 01:21 PM

Hey, you know I'm pro-Cubans but I just try to call them like I see them.

A big reason a lot of people in M.L.B. and the baseball media do not take Cubans seriously is because every single defector is hyped up to be the next Martin Dihigo. The high expectations do a lot more harm than good.

(I'm not saying you over-hype players, Cubano. There are just some cold, hard truths in the baseball business, and when a player is approaching 26 years old in a rookie league, he's a long way from being on the prospect radar.)

I know Agente I was just teasing you. If I had not included my reference to Castillo's age, I am sure you would have done it. So I decided to do it before you did.

Anyway, pitchers have a better chance because every team needs pitching.

I just write about what these players have done in Cuba. Not always the best players are in MLB. If you are young, strong and has some talent you are given a fast track. This does not necessarily mean you are going to be good. In many instances, there are veteran players in AAA that are better than these so called prospects. But teams will give the prospect the chance to play at MLB level before the veteran gets another chance if any at all.

By the way, what is Michel Abreu doing in AA?

He has been leading the league in Ave and OPS for a while. He is also walking a lot. He has nothing to prove at AA anymore. The Mets have Offerman, who plays 2b but I have seen him playing 1B for Mets AAA, another Latin guy named Juan Tejada and Tagg Bozzied. Last time I checked, neither of these three were playing well. Abreu can also play the LF and 3B.

Is there anyway he could have signed a one year contract like I read somewhere? I am sure the Mets did not offered him a lot or a MLB contract. I see players in the minors going from one team to another every year like a Ping Pong ball.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=568

Agente Libre

07-21-2006, 02:32 PM

No, Abreu did not sign a 1-year contract. There is no such thing. Every player who signs with an M.L.B. team (for the first time) signs for at least 6 years. Obviously, a player can get traded or released before 6 years, but he cannot just decide to go play for a different team.

I expect Abreu to receive strong consideration for an M.L.B. call-up after rosters expand on Sept. 1. He might not get a lot of playing time as the Mets approach the playoff, but he could be a great bench player for them.

As for Osbeck Castillo, I never understood why Arizona sent him to the Rookie league to begin with. I figured he'd at least go to Class A. At his age, I'm sure they will be aggressive moving him through the system.

Quicksilv3r

07-21-2006, 02:54 PM

Mets have indicated that they have no intentions to use Abreu in any way.

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060717&content_id=1560907&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

Agente Libre

07-21-2006, 03:24 PM

No, that's just one writer's opinion, and he obviously doesn't know much about Abreu or his background. The writer seems to think Abreu is some six-year minor leaguer and not a guy in his first year of pro ball.

Cubano100%

07-21-2006, 09:07 PM

Agente, I got some questions for you.

What are the differences if any between a major league contract vs a minor league contract?

Don't these team reporters have an inside track with team official? Don't they get inside info about the organization and players?

Cubano100%

07-21-2006, 09:43 PM

Do you think there is any chance of the Mets calling up Cuban defector Michel Abreu from their Double-A Binghamton affiliate? I understand he is only signed for a one-year Minor League deal, and he's playing pretty well -- second on the team in hits and homers and third in RBIs and runs scored -- and he has only 239 at-bats. What are your thoughts?
-- Mark T., Jackson, N.J.

Next to no chance exists until after the roster limit increases from 25 to 40 Sept. 1. And even then, it's not likely. Julio Franco is scraping for at-bats. And come September, Willie Randolph will use his lineups and make his in-game moves in an effort to keep players sharp for postseason, not to audition a 26-year-old, right-handed-hitting Double-A first baseman who probably has reached his plateau.

I want somebody to explain me what I have highlighted in bold. I began to watch MLB since I came from Cuba a few years ago. Why does it matter wether or not a player has reached his plateau? My God, the guy is hitting period. He has proven he can hit AA pitching. Every year there are many players that jump from AA to MLB so the level is good at AA. EX: Matt Kemp (Dodgers) was leading his league in hitting and is now in the Majors. Everything is around potential even though it may never realized.

I thought the key to be in the majors was to produce.

Haven't Julio Franco, Roger Clemens and Jimmie Moyer to name just a few reached their plateau long time ago?

Who cares about this plateau nonsense?

If you produce, you are proving you deserve a chance wether you are 10 years old or 80 years old.

I need to win the Power Ball and buy a baseball team. I promise that if you produce you will get a shot.

:grouchy

CameronCrazies

07-21-2006, 09:50 PM

The difference is that a player with a Major league deal must be placed in the Majors by a certain point, say, after two full season in the minors. This is structured into the contract by the agent. I don't think many guys are offered Major League deals unless they are in the class of Mark Prior, Justin Upton, or Alex Gordon. I could be way off on those examples.

Although there have been drastic moves for some minor leaguers being thrown to the wolves in the Majors because of budget issues. Take for example the Atlanta Braves...they have the sixth lowest median payroll. Meaning they have a bunch of players around the league minimum. They are behind Kansas City!

Link: http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/default.aspx

Another: http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/

Cubano100%

07-21-2006, 09:56 PM

Thank you for those great sites.

Cubano100%

07-21-2006, 11:19 PM

Amaury Casanas 2-1. Ave 348.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_21_spraax_wicaax_1

Barbaro Canizares 4-1 (double). Ave 300.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_21_tenaax_msbaax_1

M. Abreu 5-1. Ave 330.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_21_binaax_prtaax_1

Johan Limonta 5-3 2 HR, 1 Double and 4 RBI. Ave 256.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2006_07_21_wisafx_burafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

A. Zuaznabar 6-2 ( HR). Ave 185
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_21_kptrok_brlrok_1
_________________

Quicksilv3r

07-22-2006, 03:55 AM

To answer Cubano's post about reaching the plateau.

Well firstly, yes, Clemens and Franco and many other have reached their plateau, but they reached it in the Majors and they're still doing good. And the Mets having Franco and Delgado for the 1B, I agree that Abreu's not going to get even the chance to prove himself.
Abreu's curse is that, even if he is productive in the AA, he's relatively old already and in contract with a team that in the Majors have no need at all for a 1B or DH. All in all, would you have the balls to stip a legend like Franco from at-bats just to get an unknown Class-AA Cuban defector to try out for the Majors?

Cubano100%

07-22-2006, 01:38 PM

We are talking about a 50 years old player. Abreu can also play LF and 3b. When Floyd went into the DL, the Mets brought L. Milledges who did not do that great. He miss played 2 fly balls badly and did not hit that much. Who is a better player now?

Milledges or Abreu.
Franco or Abreu.

I am sorry but I take Abreu now. The Mets do not know his history. I would say the same if Abreu was not Cuban.

Quicksilv3r

07-23-2006, 11:59 AM

Well that's the point, the Mets know Franco and not Abreu. Franco is a legend of his own anyway, so that's why I don't see Abreu getting any playing time.

The second point is that Franco has proven to handle the Majors, what Abreu hasn't. Yes, I know, he hasn't been given even a chance, but nobody is going to take that risk now that we're getting closer to the playoffs.

And about Milledge vs. Abreu, well, I guess they have their reasons to use Milledge. Mainly I guess it's because Milledge is a pure outfielder, and Abreu's listed as 1B, and playing in the AA, while Milledge is playing in AAA already.

What I'd do is definetly give Abreu a chance to try out for the AAA :) Wondering why they haven't done that...

Agente Libre

07-23-2006, 12:39 PM

I certainly hope Abreu gets a chance but it's only his first year in U.S. and the Mets are pushing for the playoffs. I'm sure he'll have a better chance going into 2007 spring training.

(Plus, he's lucky the Mets even gave him a chance after the Red Sox voided his contract, etc.)

Cubano100%

07-24-2006, 09:34 AM

Oh, my God. What am I doing in the AA? :confused:

Michel Abreu (double header)
3-8 with 2 HR and a Double and 5 RBI Ave 335

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&gid=2006_07_23_binaax_prtaax_1&cid=505&t=g_box

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&gid=2006_07_23_binaax_prtaax_2&cid=505&t=g_box

Amaury Casanas hit his first homer in AA. Ave 323
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_23_arkaax_spraax_1

Cubano100%

07-24-2006, 09:31 PM

Michel Abreu went 3-5 with a double.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_24_nhmaax_binaax_1

Francisley Bueno pitched 7 strong innings.
Barbaro Canizares needs to hit more.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_24_msbaax_mobaax_1

Amaury Casanas went 3-5 with a HR.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_24_arkaax_spraax_1

Cubano100%

07-24-2006, 09:42 PM

Hey, Agente.

What do you think about Mr. Kendry Morales so far?

He has been a disappointment in some respect. He started very well but finish the month (April) 257. He only played a handfull of games.

Then, he did badly in May. Ave 223

In July, he was hitting close to 300 but in the last game did not get a hit in 3 AB. His ave for July is 259.

The Angels were using him lately against RH pitchers. But he is a better hitter from the right side. I hope he is traded to a non contender.

He was a much better hitter than Yuniesky Betancourt by far in Cuba, AA and AAA. It is true that Betancourt debuted last year and he is more used to MLB.

What is your take on this if any?

Agente Libre

07-24-2006, 09:58 PM

I think he'll be fine. He reached the majors after less than a year and he just needs time. Last time I checked, his strikeout numbers were low, which is generally a good sign. I doubt the Angels are down on him; that whole team has underachieved this year.

Cubano100%

07-24-2006, 10:07 PM

That is exactly what I have written in another forum. His SO total is low. Give him a lot of playing time and he will produce.

Cubano100%

07-25-2006, 08:26 AM

Coming and going: The Angels sent Kendry Morales down to Triple-A Salt Lake and selected the contract of outfielder Curtis Pride after Monday's 8-4 win over the Devil Rays.

Morales got off to a hot start by hitting .409 with two homers and six RBIs in his first five Major League games but hit just .217 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 161 at-bats after that point. The rookie, who has played a little more than one year of professional baseball in the United States, took the move in stride.

"I'm not disappointed. I am not swinging the bat well so that is my main problem," Morales said through an interpreter.

Morales said the biggest difference was seeing breaking balls in hitters' counts, but he vowed to go down to the Minors and work on his swing.

In Cuba pitchers throw breaking balls at any count just remember the WBC. What is he talking about?

Atlanta Braves Freak

07-25-2006, 09:35 AM

He'll be back in no time, he has showed he can hit major league pitching. They are bringing up Curtis Pride one of the only deaf baseball players in MLB history, I had no idea he was still playing.

Quicksilv3r

07-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Even tho I'm a Kendry fan, I agree, he wasn't productible. Lets see next year, maybe he gets traded or promoted after he starts hitting the ball.

Cubano100%

07-25-2006, 07:32 PM

I wish he would have seen the pitchers for a second time around. The Angels also used him against right handed pitchers lately. He is a better hitter from the right side. I hope he gets traded to the Washington Nationals.

He should be back soon. He has produced in Cuba, A, AA and AAA.

Quicksilv3r

07-25-2006, 07:43 PM

Yes, completely true. But can the step from AAA to the Majors really be that big?:noidea

Cubano100%

07-25-2006, 09:17 PM

Michel Abreu (Mets AA) who played for the Matanzas Crocodiles in Cuban National League went 3-3 including a double, BB and 3 RBI. Ave 346.
Former Holguin Hounds RHP Miguel Perez (Mets AA) of the Cuban National League won his 5th game.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_25_nhmaax_binaax_1

Alejandro Zuaznabar (Mets A) went 2-4 with a double. Ave 208. He needs a lot of playing time because he has missed a lot of baseball since defecting. He played in the Cuban junior tournament with Kendry Morales and Roberto Alvarez (Braves).
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_25_brirok_kptrok_1

Brayan Pena (Braves AAA) went 2-3 with 2 doubles. Ave 280.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_25_ricaaa_swbaaa_1

Quicksilv3r

07-26-2006, 04:19 AM

Shall those Mets be damned :grouchy
I mean, thay're holding the guy down WAY too much!
I'm not very familiar with their AAA team, but could it possibly be that they have a very solid 1B there? Better than Abreu? :noidea

Cubano100%

07-26-2006, 10:11 AM

The Mets have Juan Tejada and Tagg Bozzied.

Quicksilv3r

07-26-2006, 03:14 PM

Anyone agree that statistically Abreu should be playing instead of those two guys?

Cubano100%

07-26-2006, 10:15 PM

Maybe those guys are 15 years old and have a lot of potential. :noidea

Agente Libre

07-26-2006, 10:16 PM

RHP Kenny Rodriguez defected in Ecuador on July 21. He was in Ecuador for a series of exhibition games in preparation for the upcoming World University Games.

Rodriguez, 21, was considered a great prospect when he entered the National Series in 2003 but his statistics have been poor. It will be interesting to see how he is received by MLB scouts.

It is unclear if he left with an agent or a family member or girlfriend. News reports simply said he left "with a woman."

Cubano100%

07-26-2006, 10:17 PM

Kiefer found this article about former Red Sox pitching prospect Rolando Viera.

It' s been a long baseball journey for Rox pitcher Rolando Viera
http://www.enterprisenews.com/articles/2006/07/25/news/sports/sports03.txt

Cubano100%

07-26-2006, 10:49 PM

You can call him the former Havana Cowboys RHP Kenny Rodriguez because he just said Bye Bye to the Snake during exhibition matches in Ecuador. :waving :clapping

Kenny Rodriguez played in the 2002 World Junior Championship in Canada and in the 2003 Junior Panamerican Championship in Curacao (Curazao). He is 20 or 21 years old.

According to a Cuban Baseball Site, Rodriguez is a talented young hurdler with good velocity. He is a strike out pitcher.

In the most recent Cuban season, Kenny won 6 and lost 4 games. His ERA was 4.18. The opponents batting ave against him was 227. He had 72 SO in 75.1 IP. He was used as a reliever. The Cowboys pitching is strong having Yuliesky Gonzalez, Jonder Martinez and Yadier Pedroso all members of the WBC Cuban team.

This is the link where the info is found. It is at the end because at the beginning the article talks about three Handball (Balonmano) players that just defected in the D.R. Sorry, it is in Spanish. I have been trying to get an article in English.
http://www.cubaencuentro.com/es/encuentro_en_la_red/deportes/noticias/tres_jugadores_de_balonmano_se_quedan_en_republica _dominicana

El fin de semana el pitcher cubano Keny Rodríguez desertó en Quito, Ecuador, a donde viajó la novena de la Isla para participar en un partido de exhibición.
Dirigentes deportivos ecuatorianos dijeron que Rodríguez estuvo presuntamente motivado por ofertas que le hizo un cazatalentos.

Cubano100%

07-26-2006, 10:54 PM

More on Kenny Rodriguez!

Relief Appearances

PEREZ S,, VLADIMIR CMG 41
BERMUDEZ LEON, MANUEL GRA 36
GARCIA SANCHEZ, JOSE ANGEL HAB 35
RODRIGUEZ M,, KENNY HAB 35
ESPINOSA GARCIA, SERGIO IJV 35
SOCARRAS SUAREZ, YOEN (N) SSP 32
GONZALEZ B,, DAMICHEL LTU 31
GONZALEZ G,, LUIS ALBERTO MET 30
AGUILAR CRESPO, YOUSEL MTZ 30
RIVERA DUARTE, FELIX SCU 30

He also saved 4 games.

Cubano100%

07-26-2006, 11:04 PM

I am sorry guys but the info is in Spanish. You may want to try this translator. Good luck!

http://babelfish.altavista.com/

Escapó jugador Cubano
Keny Rodríguez fue el desertor
Mientras la selección cubana ganaba el oro en Cartagena, un jugador aprovechó su visita a Ecuador para buscar fortuna.

25 de Julio de 2006

QUITO - El beisbolista cubano Keny Rodríguez desertó de la novena que viajó a Ecuador para disputar un partido de exhibición el fin de semana, al parecer seducido por un cazatalentos, confirmó la delegación caribeña.
'Se fue y es su propia decisión'
Rodríguez se fugó de la concentración el pasado viernes tras arribar al puerto de Guayaquil (suroeste), donde tenía previsto participar en un juego de exhibición ante beisbolistas ecuatorianos, señaló Lourdes Gurriel, manager del equipo.
"El atleta se fue y es su propia decisión, y no va a generar ninguna molestia ni va afectar la relación deportiva entre los dos países", declaró Gurriel al canal Telecentro.
Según dirigentes ecuatorianos, el beisbolista desertó motivado al parecer por la oferta de un cazatalentos que le ofreció un contrato en el extranjero.
"El chico ya venía con sus contactos desde La Habana y en Guayaquil se le vio conversando varias veces con una mujer", afirmó Julio Ramírez, presidente de la Federación Deportiva Nacional de Ecuador (Fedenador).
La delegación isleña insistió en que el caso no va impedir futuras presentaciones del equipo en Ecuador.
"La decisión de una persona no puede determinar en la relación de amistad enrte dos pueblos. Esta es una cosa mínima, secundaria", agregó Gourriel.