The Venezuelan Winter League round robin playoffs have ended with Aragua and La Guaira meeting in the championship. The best-of-seven championship series began last night.

However this winter league update will focus on the KC Royals players and their games prior to the championship series and since my last update.

Starting with January 12th, Mario Lisson played third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Magallanes’ 6-0 loss to Aragua.

The next day, he went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI as Magallanes beat Zulia, 11-2. Shortstop Alcides Escobar went 0-for-2 with a walk, while also committing an error in the loss.

On January 14th, Zulia again lost to Magallanes, this time 11-10. This was after Zulia scored nine runs in the top of the 9th inning to take a 10-6 lead. Escobar went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in the loss. Lisson went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs while playing both third and first base.

The next day, Zulia lost again, this time at the hands of La Guaira, 16-5. Escobar went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. He also committed an error. That was Escobar’s last game with Zulia, who did end up winning a game before the winter league round robin playoffs ended.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update: Venezuelan Playoffs”

The Venezuelan Winter League playoffs are in full swing, as first round, round-robin action is still underway. Here are what the standings currently look like:

Caribes 7-1, La Guaira 5-3, Aragua 5-3, Magallanes 3-5, and Zulia 0-8.

The KC Royals have a few players still participating in the VWL playoffs.

On January 6th, Mario Lisson went 0-for-3 with a walk in Magallanes’ 1-0 loss to La Guaira. Former Royal (and Atlanta Brave) Gregor Blanco drove in the lone run with a single in the third inning.

Shortstop Alcides Escobar went 2-for-3 with a run scored while leading off for Zulia. They lost 5-3 to Aragua. Newly signed lefty reliever, Jose Mijares, pitched for Aragua. He allowed one hit over one inning while striking out two. Mijares picked up the save.

The next day, Lisson went 0-for-1 with two walks, but was taken out in the 8th inning. Magalles lost to Caribes 15-3.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update: Venezuelan Playoffs”

The Venezuelan Winter League playoffs began on January 2nd and I’ll delve into those games in a bit. But first, how did the KC Royals players in the league fair in December?

Well, La Guaira finished the season in first place ahead of the four team pile up behind them with a 37-26 record. They were four games up on both Caribes and Magallanes and 4.5 games up on Zulia and Aragua.

Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar had a very good winter ball season for Lara. Since December 6th, he was 20-for-66 (.303) with five doubles, one homerun, and five RBIs. He also walked four times, scored 17 runs, and stole a base. Overall, he hit .313 in 27 games.

Since Lara did not make the playoffs, Escobar has switched teams and is now playing for Zulia (who is 0-2 so far in the round robin format). In Zulia’s 11-5 loss to La Guaira on January 3rd, he went 1-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. In their loss to Caribes on January 4th, he went 0-for-4 and was taken out on defense in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Mario Lisson has been playing both first and third base for Magallanes. In December, he was 14-for-48 (.292) with two doubles, four homeruns, and nine RBIs. He also walked five times, scored nine runs, and stole a base.

Magallanes is 1-2 in the playoffs so far, and Lisson has played in all three games. In their loss to Caribes on January 2nd, he went 1-for-4 while playing third base. In a loss the next day (also to Caribes), he went 0-for-3 with a walk while playing first base. In their lone win so far against Aragua, Lisson went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base while playing first base.

Newly signed Max Ramirez can both catch and play first base. Since joining the Royals, he was 1-for-9 with a walk for Margarita. Overall in the VWL, he was 34-of-156 (.218) with seven doubles, three homeruns, and 13 RBIs. He also walked 17 times and scored 13 runs, but struck out 41 times.

Lefty reliever Jose Mijares was pitching for Aragua. In his one appearance since signing with the Royals, he pitched a perfect inning of relief while striking out two. Overall in the VWL, he was 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 games (ten innings). He allowed 11 hits and three runs while striking out 12 (he did not walk a batter). Opponents hit .282 against him though. He has yet to make an appearance in the playoffs.