The provisional rosters for the World Baseball Classic were released this afternoon and there are quite a few current and former KC Royals on those rosters.

I wrote earlier about lefty reliever Tim Collins being a member of Team USA.

It was rumored that lefty starter Bruce Chen might join Team China. Well, it looks as though the crafty veteran will be anchoring the Chinese staff in the WBC. I am surprised that he is going to be leaving the Royals early in spring training when he is going to be in a tight battle for the final rotation spot. Their pool, Pool A, begins play on March 2nd, but China starts play on the third against host Japan.

Pitchers are only allowed to throw 65 pitches in the first round of pool play, so if Chen can be economical, he could realistically go five or six innings (unless he gets ripped).

Joining Chen in Pool A is Royals minor leaguer Paulo Orlando. The outfielder was a member of the surprise Brazilian team that upset Panama in the WBC Qualifier. He will be with Brazil in their first WBC when they begin play on March 2nd against host Japan. As of right now, Brazil’s lone big leaguer, catcher Yan Gomes, who played in the qualifier, is not on the roster (but they only have one catcher listed on their roster).

The Netherlands shocked the world in 2009 and look to do the same in 2013 in Pool B with some players with a little more name recognition (like Jair Jurrjens, Andruw Jones, Andrelton Simmons, and Jurickson Profar). Pitcher JC Sulbaran, who the Royals received from Cincinnati for Jonathan Broxton, is a member of the Netherlands pitching staff.

I am most looking forward to seeing some of the veteran Netherlands players, like Robbie Cordemans and Yurendell de Caster, along with some of the prospect guys like Jonathan Schoop, Xander Bogaerts, and Spencer Kieboom.

The Netherlands begin pool play on March 2nd against Korea in Taiwan.

Former Royal Justin Huber is yet again a member of the Australian team that is looking to use some of that explosive offensive (over .300 average in 2009) to make it out of the pool.

Huber will be joined with other veterans Luke Hughes, Peter Moylan, and Brad Harman. They also have some young prospects like Stefan Welch, James Beresford, and Clayton Tanner.

» Continue reading “WBC Rosters Full of Royals”

The host Dominican Republic didn’t even need to play on Monday night to clinch the Caribbean Series title. Already with a 4-0 record, they had clinched a share of the title on Sunday. What they needed to celebrate was a loss by Mexico.

The DR got some help from Puerto Rico, who trailed 3-0 early to Mexico even with veteran Nelson Figueroa on the mound. They still trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Then things changed.

Veteran closer Luis Ayala entered the game for Mexico with nobody out and two men on base. After a sac bunt, he intentionally walked the next batter. Jorge Padilla drove in the tying run via a ground out.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Ayala walked the first batter, pinch hitter Johnny Monell (SF Giants). KC Royals spring training invitee Irving Falu sacrificed him to second base. After another intentional walk, Luis Figueroa delivered the game-winning hit, a single to center field to set off the celebration.

Falu went 0-for-4 in the game, as he grounded out three times. He also committed an error (though no runs scored). His sac bunt though, led to the Puerto Rican victory.

The win improved Puerto Rico’s record to 2-3, but dropped Mexico’s to 2-3 with one game remaining. Thus the title to the Dominicans.

Despite clinching the title, there was still a game to be played at night. Venezuela continued their winning ways, as they beat the DR, 7-0. The Venezuelans’ big inning came in the 5th, when they scored four runs. The inning was capped by a two out, three-run homerun by Luis Jimenez.

There are still two games to be played today, mainly with pride on the line. Mexico will face Venezuela and the DR will face Puerto Rico at night. Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico have identical 2-3 records.

*It is the DR’s 13th title since 1990 and 19th overall.

Sunday was a day of pitching as Day 4 wrapped up in the Caribbean Series.

Venezuela, who had not won a game yet, used pitching and two big innings to defeat Puerto Rico, 7-0. Venezuela scored one run in the first inning, before scoring six runs over the 7th and 8th innings to win their first game.

It was a pitcher’s duel between Venezuela’s Yohan Pino and Puerto Rico’s Hiram Burgos over the first six innings. Venezuela and Puerto Rico are both 1-3 with two games to go before the championship.

KC Royals spring training invitee Irving Falu went 1-for-4 for Puerto Rico. He again led off the game with a single, but was thrown out at third base on a bad bunt. He did commit an error in the 7th inning that led to two runs scoring (two errors were made on the same play).

In the nightcap, the Dominican Republic clinched a spot in the championship, as they improved to 4-0 with a win over Mexico. Mexico dropped to 2-2 with two games left before the championship.

This game was also a pitcher’s duel between the DR’s Francisco Liriano (Minnesota Twins) and Mexico’s Edgar Gonzalez. The Dominicans won 2-0, as they scored a run in the first inning and a run in the 9th inning. Mexico collected just one hit after the 4th inning.

However Mexico had plenty of chances to score early against Liriano, as he walked three in the first inning before a double play ended the inning. In the second and third innings, they had runners at first and second with just one out but did not score.

Today, Mexico plays Puerto Rico in the first game and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela follow. If Mexico wins and Venezuela loses, Mexico will clinch the final spot in the championship.

Check out an article on the DR manager Ken Oberkfell.

After two days of pitching domination in the Caribbean Series, sloppy play emerged on Day 3.

Mexico defeated Venezuela, 4-2, as they scored three runs in the 6th inning on a Carlos Valencia two run double to take the lead in a game marred by errors (five total). Mexico improved to 2-1 in the tournament, while Venezuela dropped to 0-3.

Veteran Luis Ayala picked up the save despite an eventful 9th inning. He allowed a leadoff single, but induced a double-play grounder from veteran Edgardo Alfonzo to record two quick outs. Ayala then allowed a single, but Karim Garcia threw the runner out at second base trying to stretch the single into a double. That ended the game on a thrilling note.

After a delay to start the nightcap, host Dominican Republic beat Puerto Rico, 6-1. Philadelphia Phillies spring training invitee Raul Valdes allowed just an unearned run over six innings to pick up the victory. The DR has improved to 3-0, while Puerto Rico dropped to 1-2.

Irving Falu again led off for Puerto Rico while also playing shortstop (he went 1-for-4). He flied out in the first inning. He reached on a Julio Lugo error at second base in the 3rd inning. In the 5th inning, he singled but was stranded at third base. In his final at-bat, Falu grounded out in the 7th inning.

Today, it is a matchup of Day 1′s games. Mexico will try to avenge its loss to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will try to get back on the winning track against Venezuela (who is just trying to win a game).

Would you be concerned if your starting shortstop, the leader of your team’s defense, went and played winter ball in the offseason? After collecting 548 at-bats over a span of 158 games during the Major League Baseball season?

Well, that is what KC Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar did this winter. Even after manager Ned Yost stated he planned on playing Escobar in 150-160 games again this season.

I don’t have a problem with guys going back home to play some winter ball in front of their home fans. But Escobar didn’t just play in some games. He played in 34 of them. Those games came just about every day. I also don’t have a problem with guys getting a few at-bats to get them ready for spring training. Escobar didn’t just get a few at-bats. He got 136 of them.

He didn’t start the winter ball season in Venezuela, but played in his first game with Lara on November 23rd. When Lara was eliminated from postseason play, he joined Zulia to continue playing. His final game came on January 15th, about a month before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Surprise.

Sure he hit over .300 in the VWL but he still struck out alot and made some errors.

I am sure the Royals signed off on him playing winter ball and the amount of games/at-bats he should get, but I would have to be concerned. Escobar is a skinny kid (his bio says he weighs 185lbs. at 6’1), playing a very demanding position. If the Royals are to contend in 2012, he CANNOT break down and he needs to be better than a .230 hitter. He hit .254 in 2011, as he got hot in September (but he hit just .224 in August).

Maybe Yuniesky Betancourt will play more shortstop than initially thought in 2012?

Rain delayed the start of the Mexico-Puerto Rico game to start Day 2 of the Caribbean Series. Once the tarp was removed, it was a beautiful day for baseball.

With Puerto Rico as the road team, KC Royals minor leaguer (and spring training invite) Irving Falu led off the  game with a double. However he was left stranded. Falu popped up in the 3rd inning, struck out in the 6th, and grounded out to end the 8th inning.

Puerto Rico recorded just four hits in the game against Mexico’s starter Randy Keisler. Mexico held on for the 2-0 victory as veteran Luis Ayala (who is auditioning for a big league job) earned the save with 1.2 hitless innings. He induced five ground outs in his effort.

Both teams are now 1-1 in the series.

In the nightcap, the Dominican Republic went up 2-0 in the series as they beat Venezuela, 5-2 in 13 innings. Venezuela dropped to 0-2.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks drove in the go ahead run in the top of the 13th with a single. Two batters later, Erick Almonte drove in two runs with a double. Venezuela went down in order in the bottom of the 13th.

Today, Venezuela and Mexico face off in the first game, with Puerto Rico and the DR playing the later game. ESPN3.com will be airing the games, though it is broadcast with their Spanish announcers.

The Caribbean Series in the Dominican Republic is underway, as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have taken the first games of the series. Both games were controlled by the pitchers, as hitters only collected a total of 27 hits over two games. The losing teams each scored just one run.

If you are interested, ESPN3.com (or Watch ESPN) will be televising the series (though it is through their Spanish speaking broadcasters). I will be trying to tweet throughout the series, especially when it concerns the KC Royals players.

In the first game of the day (Game 1 of the series), Puerto Rico defeated Venezuela, 3-1 behind the pitching of veteran Nelson Figueroa. He allowed one run on seven hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out eight. Figueroa allowed that run in the first inning.

Irving Falu led off in the Puerto Rican lineup and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. He also played shortstop.

In the night cap, the host Dominicans beat Mexico, 2-1. Luis Mendoza started for Mexico and took the loss. He threw a lot of offspeed pitches and was in trouble most of the game. It didn’t help that his offense did not record a hit (or a base runner) after the third inning.

» Continue reading “Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic Take First Games of Caribbean Series”

It came down to Monday’s off-day, but Team USA advanced to the second round of baseball’s World Cup. It took a 5-0 win over Panama for the Americans to advance. Team USA had lost to Canada on Sunday for the first time since the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Former KC Royal minor leaguer Damaso Espino went 0-for-2 in Panama’s loss. Overall in the past week, Espino has gone 5-for-13 with three runs scored and an RBI.

The World Cup’s second round will again feature a round robin format with games beginning on Tuesday and continuing thru Friday.  The standings of the second round will be determined based on the results between all eight advancing teams, including the first round results.

An example: Canada will start the second round with a 2-1 record, having defeated the Netherlands and the USA (their loss came to Panama). Based on the seven results for each team, the classification games and the finals will be played on Saturday October 15th.

Team USA begins action on Tuesday against Cuba, while Canada will try to stop the suddenly hot Australians. The Netherlands will face Korea, while Panama faces Venezuela.

*Here are the current standings:

Cuba 3-0
Canada 2-1
Netherlands 2-1
Australia 1-2
Korea 1-2
Panama 1-2
Venezuela 1-2
USA 1-2

Current or former Royals that are still playing in the World Cup are: Justin Huber and Paul Mildren (Australia), Espino (Panama), and Tim Smith and Jamie Romak (Canada).

Despite being outsted from the international tournament, former Royals outfielder Alexis Gomez played well for his home country of the Dominican Republic this past week. Over the DR’s final four games, Gomez went 8-for-17 with four runs scored and two RBIs. His best game was a 4-for-4 performance against Nicaragua.

In Australia’s sudden burst of offense, former Royal Justin Huber also heated up. Over the Aussie’s final four games, he was 6-for-15 with eight RBIs and four runs scored.

Canada has advanced and Tim Smith and Jamie Romak have been a part of the offense. Smith has gone 3-for-16 with five RBIs and three runs scored. He hit a two-run homerun in Canada’s 4-0 win over Chinese Taipei. Smith scored the winning run against the Netherlands on Saturday in extra innings (it was the Netherlands only loss). Romak has gone 1-for-12 with a homerun.

Italy was eliminated on Sunday after losing to Venezuela in 10 innings. Current Royals minor leaguer Andrea Pizziconi pitched in their Friday loss to Cuba (1.2 IP, 1H, 2R, 2BB, 1K, 3WP, 2HBP).

**Bruce Chen threw out the first pitch prior to his home country Panama’s game versus the Netherlands on Sunday. Unfortunately he was a bit of bad luck, as Panama lost their first game of the tournament.