Winter League Baseball Playoff Preview 2020-2021

From the desk: FANÁTICO DEL BÉISBOL DE INVIERNO

!FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

Liga Profesional de Beisbol Roberto Clemente

Congratulations are in order for even completing an abbreviated regular season.  Puerto Rico's four participating league members are now seeded and set for the first round of playoffs scheduled to begin on Saturday.  Just so you know, I root for Caguas.

• Caguas; Live Audio and Streaming 

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FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS:

1. Criollos de Caguas        14-4
2. Indios de Mayaguez      13-5
3. Ateniensas de Manatí    7-11
4. Roberto Alomar/RA12   2-16

PLAYOFFS (TEAM & LEAGUE FACEBOOK PAGES)

• Indios de Mayaguez vs. Atenienses de Manatí

• Roberto Alomar/RA12 vs. Criollos de Caguas

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional

The most recent games between Los Magallanes versus Los Cardenales was postponed due to COVID.  Otherwise, all teams compete in a round-robin format.  Teams play against one another six times.  The top six team advance to the first round of playoffs.

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CENTRAL STANDINGS

1. Caribes de Anzoategui        16-14
2. Leones de Caracas             14-16
3. Tigres de Aragua                13-15
4. Tiburones de la Guaira         9-20

WEST STANDINGS

1. Bravos de Margarita            18-13
2. Navegantes de Magallanes   16-12
3. Cardenales de Lara             17-13
4. Aguilas de Zulia                  15-15

ROUND ROBIN GAMES of the DAY

• Bravos de Margarita vs. Cardenales de Lara

• Caribes de Anzoategui vs. Tiburones de la Guaira

• Leones de Caracas vs. Tigres de Aragua

• Aguilas de Zulia vs. Navegantes de Megallanes

Liga de Beisbol República Dominicana

LIDOM's regular season concluded just before Christmas.  After which, Los Estrellas (Stars) swept a best of three series against Los Leones (Lions) to earn the fourth playoff position.  The league's top four finishers now enter the best of seven semifinals.

• Los Estrellas feature Robinson Cano and Fernando Tatis Jr.; both players were signed by Orientales earlier this week.  Also representing the New York Mets is pitcher Oscar de la Cruz.
• Playing for Los Toros representing the New York Yankees are pitcher Domingo German, infielder  Miguel Andujar, and catcher Gary Sanchez.
• Los Aguilas feature former New York Yankee Melky Cabrera and former New York Met Juan Lagares.
• Representing the Mets on Los Gigantes is pitcher Jesus Reyes.

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FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

1. Gigantes del Cibao    16-14
2. Toros del Este          16-14
3. Aguilas Cibaeñas      16-14
4. Estrellas Orientales   15-15
5. Leones Escogido       14-16
6. Tigres del Licey        13-17

PLAYOFFS

• Gigantes del Cibao vs. Estrellas Orientales

• Toros del Este vs. Aguilas Cibaenas

Liga Mexicana del Pacifico

The ten-team league regular season is split into two halves.  Los Yaquis de Obregon captured the first half-title; Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo captured the second half-title and the number one seed.  The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs, which commence on Saturday.  By the way, through the years, I just gravitated towards the Naranjeros and became a fan.

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FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

1. Yaquis de Obregón              37-22
2. Naranjeros de Hermosillo     33-23
3. Algodoneros de Guasave      31-26
4. Sultanes de Monterrey         29-27
5. Aguilas de Mexicali              30-28
6. Charros de Jalisco               30-29
7. Tomateros de Culiacán        29-29
8. Venados de Mazatlán           28-30
9. Mayos de Navojoa               23-36
10. Cañeros de Mochis              19-39

PLAYOFFS

• Venados de Mazatlan vs. Naranjeros de Hermosillo

• Yaquis de Obregon vs. Charros de Jalisco

• Tomateros de Culiacan vs. Algodoneros de Guasave

• Aguilas de Mexicali vs. Sultanes de Monterrey 

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Winter League Baseball: Venezuela Opens First Round Playoffs

WINTER LEAGUE BEISBOL

2018~2019

VENEZUELA

Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional

est. 1945

ROUND ONE

(through Jan. 11)

Magallanes lead series 2-0

Caribes de Anzoategui

vs.

Navegantes de Magallanes

Series tied 1-1

Bravos de Margarita

vs.

Cardenales de Lara

Leones lead series 2-0

Tigres de Aragua

vs.

Leones de Caracas

Scoreboard, Boxscores, Gameday

ICYMI:

• Puerto Rico 
• Mexico 
• Dominican Republic

Criollos de Caguas to Meet Aguilas de Mexicali in Serie del Caribe Final

From the desk of: La Yeguita

SERIE del CARIBE

2017

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

*            *            *            *            *

PUERTO RICO (2-3)

Criollos de Caguas

vs.

MEXICO (4-1)

Aguilas de Mexicali

FROM

Tomateros Stadium

CULIACAN, MEXICO

!Patea Yeguita Patea!

After losing their first three opening round games, los Criollos de Caguas miraculously find themselves within one victory from capturing their fourth ever Caribbean title.

Caguas avenged their opening round loss to los Aguilas de Zulia, and in doing so eliminated Venezuela from this year's Serie del Caribe with a 9-6 victory in Monday's semi-final.

But ... not before putting themselves in harm's way first.

Caguas jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first; added a pair in the third inning; scored one more in the fourth; and still one more run in the top of the fifth inning for a commanding 8-0 lead.

Venezuela finally got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fifth.  Puerto Rico promptly added another run for a 9-1 lead, but los Aguilas plated their second run in the bottom of the sixth.

Zulia then put a scare into all Puerto Rico with a four run outburst in the home eighth to close within 6-9 of Caguas.

Los Criollos went down quietly in the top of the ninth.

However, the same could not be said of los Aguilas in the bottom half of the frame.  Zulia reeled off three straight singles to load the bases off Criollos closer Ricardo Gomez.  With no outs, manager Luis Matos left his reliever in the game to sink or swim.  Gomez rewarded his confidence by striking out second baseman Ali Castillo, retiring shortstop Freddie Galvis on a shallow fly to center, then by fanning third baseman Ronny Cedeno to end the game.

Now winners of two straight, los Criollos de Caguas will face los Aguilas de Mexicali for the Serie del Caribe 2017 championship Tuesday evening at Tomateros Stadium, in Culiacan, Mexico.

SERIE del CARIBE

 VS.

In Monday evening's semi-final nightcap, three Aguilas de Mexicali lancadores combined on a nine inning whitewashing of Alazanes de Granma while limiting them to just two walks and a pair of hits, and fanning ten.

Cuba mounted their only threat in the top of the first when they put runners on second and third with one out.  But their clean-up, five and six hitters stranded them all.

Aguilas third baseman Augustin Murillo's RBI single in the 5th was all Mexico would muster, but all they would need.  Their pitching ensured it held up.

Cuban starter Lazaro Blanco was the hard luck loser, throwing 103 pitches in a seven inning effort, in which he allowed just a run on four hits and three walks, with five strikeouts.

In the recent years Cuba has been invited back to participate in the Serie del Caribe, they have quickly developed a spirited rivalry with Mexico.  To date, Mexico's lone loss of the tourney came against Cuba, but it was Mexico whom prevailed in the semis.  It was also Mexico whom eliminated the (then) defending champion Cubans in last year's tourney.

Mexico enters the final game against Puerto Rico with a tourney best 4-1 record.

*         *         *

Even the Serie Final does not come without its controversies.  Loud whispers are meant to be heard, aren't they?  People with microphones are murmuring about only the best teams should face off for the Caribbean championship.

That is obviously a shot at Caguas, who enter Tuesday's title game with just two victories in five tries.  Meanwhile, Venezuela and Cuba have been shown the door despite posting 3-2 records respectively.

Nothing but sour grapes gone international, I say ... more typical knee jerk reactions.  This is the 59th Serie del Caribe, in operation since 1949 (with two exceptions).  Point is, there's nothing wrong with the system.  If people would just take things at face value, they'd realize this is what happens when Republico Dominicana ponderously goes 0-4 and tilts the bracket.

• Round Robin
• 1)  VEN  3-1
• 2)  MEX  3-1
• 3)  CUB  3-1

• 4)  P.R.    1-3  advanced with win over D.R. on Saturday
• 5)  D.R.   0-4  eliminated with loss to P.R. on Saturday

• Semi-Finals
• P.R. def. VEN
• MEX def. CUB

This is all another way of saying ... Criollos happen.  Deal with it, and just play the game.

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.