The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger: Cuba

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Sunday, February 10, 2019

Serie del Caribe Championship Game: Panama vs. Cuba

2018 ~ 2019

ROD CAREW STADIUM
Panama City, Panama

SERIE del CARIBE

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

CUBA

vs.

PANAMA

Round Robin Standings:

Panama 3-1
Dominican Republic 3-1
Cuba 2-2
Mexico 2-2
Venezuela 2-2
Puerto Rico 0-4

Felicidades a Panama ...

Panama, a charter member of the original (1949-1960) Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball, on Sunday will host their first Serie Del Caribe championship in 59 years. Los Torros de Herrera - first time champions of the Panamanian Professional Baseball League - will likewise bid to become the country's first Caribbean champion since Panama's 1950 title culmination at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Panama was already on schedule for inclusion as an invited guest in next year's Serie del Caribe. However, ongoing political turmoil and a sudden outbreak of violence in Venezuela hastened Panama's invitation when the Confederation for a second straight year was forced to retreat from the city of Barquisimeto. Faced with the cancellation of the Serie del Caribe itself, the Confederation and Panama were able to facilitate a last minute resolution.

Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, are charter members of the original Confederation formed in 1949, which continued through the 1960 season. After which, the Confederation ceased operations when baseball in Cuba became nationalized as part of Fidel Castro's revolution.

Panama's former professional baseball league was founded in 1946, then folded in 1972. Today's Panamanian Professional Baseball League (PROBEIS) was founded in 2001, but was again suspended shortly thereafter. Not until 2011 did the four team circuit stabilize and embark on continuous seasons.

The Caribbean Confederation was reformed in 1970 with original members Puerto Rico and Venezuela joined by Dominican Republic. Mexico joined in 1971 to round out the present day four nation membership.

Like Panama, Cuba since 2014 participates as an invited guest. In 1949, they hosted and won the first ever Serie del Caribe, and went on to win six more - including five in a row - before ceasing professional operations after the 1960 season. In only their second season of modern participation, Cuba captured the 2014-2015 Serie del Caribe; their eighth overall. Cuba has won all three Serie del Caribe previously hosted by Panama.

Cuban representatives, los Lenadores de Las Tuna, are first time Serie Nacional de Cuba champions, and thus making their first ever appearance in Serie del Caribe.

FINAL

CUBA 1

PANAMA 3

Congratulations, Panama! It's been 59-years since they last participated in the annual winter tournament. In defeating heavily favored and fellow invitee Cuba on Sunday, los Torros de Herrera clinch Panama's second ever Serie del Caribe championship, and their first since 1950, nearly seven decades ago.

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Serie del Caribe 2018: Cuba Takes the High Ground

From the desk of: BEISBOL INVIERNO

Pool Play

CUBA 2-0

P.R. 1-0

VEN 1-1

D.R. 0-1

MEX 0-2

Winter Leagues Tournament Preview

Round Robin: Day One

CUBA 6; VENEZUELA 4

In the tournament's opening game, Venezuela was forced into playing from behind throughout. Cuba's Alazanes de Granma jumped out to an immediate 2-0 lead in the first. But los Caribes de Anzoategui struck back with a run in the third, then tied the game on a solo home run from DH Luis Jimenez in the fourth. Cuba reclaimed the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, then added two insurance runs in the seventh. The teams then traded runs in the eighth, and Venezuela scored a run in the top of the ninth, but no more. Granma took the game's opening contest by a 6-4 final.

PUERTO RICO 7; MEXICO 4

Puerto Rico's Criollos de Caguas began defense of their Serie del Caribe title with an opening victory over Mexico's Tomateros de Ciliacan. Los Criollos jumped out to an early 3-1 lead through the top of the third. However, Mexico answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, then took a 4-3 lead in the home fourth inning. With two out in the top of the fifth, Criollos right fielder Anthony Garcia singled home the game's tying run. Caguas then pulled away with three runs in the eighth.

Round Robin: Day Two

VENEZUELA 15; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 4

The Dominican Republic endured a rather forgetful debut in their tournament opener against Venezuela, as los Caribes de Anzoategui took out their opening game frustrations against los Aguilas Cibaenas in a romp. Venezuela bats exploded for seven doubles, four home runs, and twenty hits overall, against lanzadores Dominicana.

CUBA 5; MEXICO 4

Make that two wins for Cuba, and two losses for Mexico. Looking to bounce back after their opening day loss against Puerto Rico, Mexico jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead. Not unexpectedly, Cuba responded with a pair of runs in the third. But Mexico stormed back to regain the lead with a trio of runs in the top of the fourth. However, the game would ultimately change on the arm of Cuban reliever Alain Sanchez. In relief of Granma starter Yoanni Yera, Sanchez limited Mexico to just one earned run on four hits and no walks over five innings pitched. As such, Cuba's Alazanes tied the game at four in the seventh, then scored what proved to be the winning run in the eighth.

Friday, February 02, 2018

Serie del Caribe 2018: Winter Leagues Tournament Preview

From the desk of: BEISBOL INVIERNO

Winter League Baseball

MEXICO * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC * PUERTO RICO * VENEZUELA * CUBA

This year's Serie del Caribe was originally scheduled for play in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. During the summer, however, the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation voted in favor of relocating the winter league tournament, due to instability in the region, back to Mexico for a second consecutive year. Therefore, Jalisco Stadium, home of Los Charros de Jalisco, Guadalajara, will host this year's field of five. Culiacan, Mexico, was the site of last year's games. Barquisimento is still tentatively in line to host next year's series.

SerieDelCaribe.net

Estadio Charro, Guadalajara

Mexico

Stadium photos: SABRhornsby.org

Site offers a comprehensive overview of

entire 2017-2018 Winter League season.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

Round Robin, Feb. 2-6
Semi-Finals, Feb. 7
Final, Feb. 8

Liga Mexicana del Pacifico

CHAMPION: Tomateros de Culiacan (def. Mayos de Navojoa)

A member of the confederation since 1971, Mexico is third among the field with nine Serie del Caribe championships. More recently, they've won four titles in the last seven years, and seven titles since 2001. Los Venados de Mazatlan captured Mexico's last Caribbean title in 2016.

Los Tomateros de Culiacan won their second Pacific League championship in the last four years. Their eleven league titles are second most in LMP history behind los Naranjeros del Hermosillo.

Culiacan is vying for a third Serie del Caribe championship, having previously captured Caribbean titles back in 1996 and 2002.

Liga Beisbol Profesional Republico Dominicana

CHAMPION: Aguilas Cibaenas (def. Tigres de Licey)

A member of the confederation since 1970, Dominican Republic leads the field with nineteen Serie del Caribe championships. Like Mexico, they have won seven championships since 2001. Los Leones de Escogido are the last Dominican member club to win a Caribbean title back in 2012. Los Tigres de Licey hold the Serie del Caribe record with ten championships.

Licey defeated Aguilas Cibaenas last year to win their league leading 22nd championship. This year, Aguilas exacted their revenge, defeating Licey to capture their 21st Dominican league title.

Aguilas returns to the Serie del Caribe for the first time since 2008. Their five Serie del Caribe championships are tied with Puerto Rico's Cangrejeros de Santurce for second most among all winter league member clubs. They are also one of only nine teams to ever sweep the field, posting a perfect 6-0 record in 1998.

Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

CHAMPION: Criollos de Caguas (def. Cangrejeros de Santurce)

In the aftermath of both Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, and the conditions brought to bear upon the island, Puerto Rico's professional baseball league still managed an abbreviated season (under amended rules) whereby four participating teams faced each other six times each.

An original member of the confederation since 1949, Puerto Rico is the defending Caribbean champion. Their fifteen Serie del Caribe titles are second most in tournament history. However, their last two titles came seventeen years apart. Los Cangrejeros de Santurce won the tournament back in 2000; Puerto Rico did not win another until last year.

Los Criollos de Caguas are back-to-back LBPRC champions. They turned away Santurce to capture their eighteenth league championship, tying them with los Indios de Mayaguez for most titles in Puerto Rican league history.

Caguas is also the defending Serie del Caribe champion. They edged host Mexico 1-0 in 10-innings last year to win their fourth Caribbean title in Criollos history. That ties them with los Leones de Escogido (D.R.) for the third most Caribbean championships among all winter league member clubs.

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional

CHAMPION: Caribes de Anzoategui (def. Cardenales de Lara)

The first ever Serie del Caribe tournament played in 1949 was the brainchild of two Venezuelan business partners, Oscar Prieto Ortiz, and Pablo Morales, according to Wikipedia.

An original member of the confederation since 1949, Venezuela has won seven Serie del Caribe championships. Los Tigres de Aragua are the last Venezuelan club to win the tournament back in 2009.

Established in 1987, los Caribes de Anzoategui claimed their third LVBP title, and thus will be making their third Serie del Caribe appearance since 2011.

Serie Nacional de Cuba

CHAMPION: Alazanes de Granma (def. Caneros de Las Tunas)

The first ever Serie del Caribe tournament played in 1949 was held at Havana, and won by host Cuba. In fact, they dominated the field through the tournament's first twelve years, winning seven titles and reeling off five in a row from 1956 through 1960.

Then along came Fidel Castro. As part of his greater revolution, Fidel disbanded Cuba's professional league and nationalized the game. The Serie del Caribe, as a result, was suspended from 1961 through 1969. While baseball in Cuba has remained an amateur endeavor ever since, the winter league tournament reconvened in 1970 without them. Returning members Puerto Rico and Venezuela were joined by the Dominican Republic in 1970, then by Mexico in 1971.

After 54-years of Cold War and thaw, Cuba was invited back into the fold. By 2015, they were winning their eighth Serie del Caribe championship.

Established in 1977, los Alazanes de Granma are back-to-back Serie Nacional de Cuba champions, and therefore are making their second straight Serie del Caribe appearance.

Winter Leagues: Hank Aaron in 1953 playing for Caguas Criollos.

EXTRA INNINGS:

Panama (1949-1960) was the fourth member of the original confederation. In 1950, they captured their first, and only Serie del Caribe championship. Panama did not return when the confederation reconvened in 1970. Last year, the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation announced in March that Panama will be rejoining the tournament in 2019.

Serie del Caribe alumni: Roberto Clemente; Roberto Alomar; Willie Mays; Tony Perez; Ken Griffey Jr.; Mike Schmidt; Vladimir Guerrero; Rod Carew; Luis Aparicio; Gary Carter; Pedro Martinez; Ivan Rodriguez; Manny Mota; Edgar Martinez; Carlos Beltran; Bartolo Colon; Carlos Delgado; David Ortiz; Vinny Castilla; George Bell; Miguel Tejada; Steve Garvey; Juan Gonzalez; Terry Francona; Magglio Ordonez; Dave Concepcion; Carlos Baerga; Joaquin Andujar; Vic Power; Bernie Williams.

This is the 60th anniversary of the Serie del Caribe.

Caribbean Series Baseball Reference

Live Streaming ESPN Deportes

ESPN Scoreboard

MLB.com Gameday

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

2017 World Baseball Classic: Cuba Exits With a Whimper

From the desk of: PLANET BASEBALL

POOL - E

JAPAN (3-0)

NETHERLANDS (2-1)

ISRAEL (1-2)

CUBA (0-3)

JAPAN; NETHERLANDS

ADVANCE to SEMI-FINALS

!Adios Cuba! They'll have lots of explaining to do...

They exit with what I'll call a nationally disappointing 2-4 record, punctuated by a dismal 0-3 performance in Round Two, and leave behind many unanswered questions.

Chief among them: what happened?

Netherlands ended Cuba's participation in the WBC in a 14-1 rout, in which Cuba was limited to just five hits.

Talk about going out with a whimper ...

This was easily there poorest showing in four Classics. Cuba played fundamentally poor in the field, particularly behind the plate. Their pitching was not up to snuff. And they failed to distinguish themselves at the plate. In fact, Cuba matched their opponents with 55 hits both for and against, but were outscored by a considerable 23-40 margin through six games. Their last game against Netherlands may have skewed the numbers somewhat, but Team Cuba as a whole nevertheless appeared flat throughout the tournament.

Next World Baseball Classic can't come soon enough for gamely Team Israel.

In a must win situation, Israel finally bows out of the World Baseball Classic after an 8-3 defeat against Japan.

However, advancing into Round Two should not go under spoken. This was a huge step forward for Israeli baseball. They certainly enjoyed an impressive run. I'm yet to hear one person call them a fluke, which indeed would be farthest from the truth. Israel registered legitimate victories over such favorites as Korea, Cuba, and Netherlands, and over a much improved Taiwan. Only after winning four straight did they fall to Netherlands in a rematch, then lose their second straight against still undefeated Japan.

I also previously watched them win all three of their WBC Qualifier games played last September in Brooklyn.

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Preview: Serie del Caribe 2017

From the desk of: Winter League Baseball

SERIE del CARIBE
2017
CULIACAN, MEXICO

THE FIELD of FIVE

LIGA de BEISBOL PROFESIONAL DOMINICANA

The Dominican Republic leads all winter baseball circuits with 19 Serie del Caribe championships.

2016-17 LIDOM Title: Tigres del Licey defeat Aguilas Cibaenis.

Founded in 1907, Licey is a titan of international competition. They lead all Dominican professional baseball clubs with 24 league titles. Their 10 Serie del Caribe titles are the most by any Winter League organization, their last coming in 2008. Licey has also run the table on three occasions, going undefeated in 1971, 1977, 1991 ... another Serie del Caribe record.

LIGA MEXICANA del PACIFICO

Mexico is the defending Caribbean champion (Venados de Mazatlan). The LMP has emerged into a winter league power in recent years, winning four of the last six Serie del Caribe titles, and nine overall.

2016-17 LMP Title: Aguilas de Mexicali defeat Caneros de los Mochis.

Culiacan, Mexico, home of los Tomateros de Culiacan, will serve as this year's host. All games will be played in new Tomateros Stadium opened in 2015. Click link for virtual view.

Founded in 1976, the Eagles of Mexicali have won four LMP titles, and earned their only Series del Caribe title in 1986.

LIGA de BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

Puerto Rico is second behind the Dominican Republic with 14 Serie del Caribe titles. They have gone 16 years (2000), however, since capturing their last.

2016-17 LBPRC Title: Criollos de Caguas defeat Cangrejeros de Santurce.

ICYMI: LBPRC Serie Final Review, Criollos retire Ivan Rodriguez #7, and more

Founded in 1938, los Criollos de Caguas have won 17 league pennants, and three Serie del Caribe titles (1954, 1974, 1987), ranking them fifth among winter league clubs.

LIGA VENEZOLANA de BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Next year's scheduled host, Venezuela has won seven Serie del Caribe titles, their last coming in 2009.

2016-17 LVBP Title: Aguilas de Zulia defeat Cardenales de Lara.

Founded in 1969, the Eagles of Zulia have won six LVBP titles, and earned a pair of Serie del Caribe victories in 1984 and 1989.

SERIE NACIONAL de CUBA

The original Confederation of Caribbean Baseball was comprised of Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. Cuba won the inaugural Serie del Caribe of 1949, then a second in 1952. Between 1956 through 1960, Cuba reeled off another five straight Caribbean titles. After more than a half-century of non-participation, Cuba won the 2015 Serie del Caribe.

2016-17 SNC Title: Alazanes de Granma defeat Ciego de Avila.

Founded in 1977, this season marked los Alazanes de Granma first ever Serie Nacional title. Granma is the former team of NYM outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

* * *

As part of the revolution in Cuba, Fidel Castro disbanded the county's professional baseball circuits. At the same time, Panama's professional league ceased operations as well. As a result, the Serie del Caribe was suspended between the years 1961 through 1969.

Since 1961, all Cuban players remain amateurs within their nationalized baseball structure.

The years prior to 1961 are referred to as Stage One Serie del Caribe.

The four team Caribbean tournament resumed when the Dominican Republic joined the confederation in 1970 along with returning Venezuela and Puerto Rico, and when Mexico joined in 1971.

The era since 1970 through the present time is referred to as Stage Two.

Generally speaking, the United States trade embargo against Cuba has long prevented direct competition between nations, and impacted all winter league rosters where it concerned American players under contract with MLB.

Aside from perhaps the Pan-American Games and Olympics, the process of reintegrating Cuba into the greater baseball community of the Americas began in earnest with the 2006 World Baseball Classic. After which, having Cuba rejoin Caribbean competition seemed just a matter of time. In 2014 Cuba participated in their first Serie del Caribe since 1960, and a short year later captured their first Serie del Caribe title in 55 years, the country's eighth overall.

Despite the loosening of several restrictions, and suggestions of further attempts at normalizing relations, the embargo against Cuba still remains largely in place.

Now making their fourth straight reappearance in the Serie del Caribe, Cuba continues participating on an invitation basis extended by the four member confederation.

Despite the loosening of several restrictions, and suggestions of further attempts at normalizing relations, the embargo against Cuba still remains largely in place.