Dominican player Starlin Castro to sign huge contract extension

Dominican baseball player Starlin Castro is close to signing a long-term extension with the Cubs. The Cubs have reportedly signed Castro for at least seven years with a deal worth $60 million, according to ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com, plus a $16 million option for 2020.

Castro is just 22, but he has been in the majors for three years. He was the first MLB player to be born in the 1990s. He has made two All-Star teams already, and he was the NL batting champion last season. He was also the youngest player to lead the NL in hits ever.

His first contract made him and his family a little bit of money. “It changed me my first year in the big leagues,” Castro said. “It changed me and my family."

But this contract will make his family financial secure for the rest of his life. Castro knows that he must focus on baseball and not slow down just because he got the big contract. Cubs teammate and fellow Dominican baseball player Alfonso Soriano has mentored him in that regard, telling him to not let the money change him or his approach to the game.

For some reason 'Starlin' is a very popular surname in the Dominican Republic. I have traveled all over Latin America and grew up in a predominetly hispanic area in Texas. And I had never heard this name before, until my first trip to the Dominican Republic in 2009. One of the first people I met in the Dominican was an assistant in the Gigantes del Cibao office and his name is Starlin. Then I started meeting and seeing Dominicans named Starlin all over.

Not sure the history of how it became to be a popular Dominican name, but it is. And the Cubs brass and fans are happy to have him locked up for seven years. He is certainly a grade A building block type of players, so they have a base to build a championship. He is from Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.

Dominican player Starlin Castro with the Cubs, by Gamefreak777

Dominican baseball player of the week: Aramis Ramirez

The Dominican baseball player of the week goes to Aramis Ramirez, who edged out Robinson Cano by a vote of 1-0. Cano had a good week for the Yankees (.286, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R), but Ramirez had a better week for the Brewers.

Aramis Ramirez had eleven hits last week and hit for a .500 average. He also added two home runs and seven RBI.

The Dominican Baseball Guy was surprised to see that Ramirez is in his 14th season. He played for the Pirates? What? And he actually had a couple good years for them? What?

For as maligned a player he has been in Chicago at times, his career numbers are great.  He has hit 20 home runs nine times and had 100 RBI six times.  Ramirez has probably deserved more than the two All-Star games that he has made. May be due to the fact that he has been a late starter many years. More evidence of late starting? He got his first Silver Slugger last year in his 13th season in the big leagues.  

Sure he will put up big numbers this year for the Brewers. But, let's face the facts Brewers fans.  Your team is bad, almost as bad as the last place Houston Astros.  Well, not that bad.

Dominican baseball player Aramis Ramirez es de Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player of the week Aramis Ramirez plays third base for the Cubs,
photo by terren in Virginia on Flickr

Dominican baseball player of the week: Alfonso Soriano

And the much anticipated Dominican baseball player of the week for the week of June 4th-10th goes to Dominican Alfonso Soriano.  He has been featured many times on the Dominican Baseball Guy blog.  Alfonso Soriano honored his late mother last May and he was featured as the best paid Dominican athlete last April.

Soriano has been one of the top Dominican baseball players of his generation.  He is a seven time all-star and four time Silver Slugger.  He is a three time player of the month and five times player of the week.  So, the Dominican Baseball Guy's Dominican Player of the Week award is another feather in his cap.

Too bad the Cubs are not having a better year, as they are the worst team in baseball, and they even have a worse record than the Dominican Baseball Guy's lowly Houston Astros.  Take it from the DBG, that is bad.

As a cultural anthropologist the Dominican Baseball Guy was interested to note that Alfonso Soriano began his professional career in Japan.  He signed with the Hiroshima Toro Carp as a teen and first appeared as a professional for their senior side team in Japan.  After one year he left to the MLB and was signed by the Yankees in 1998.  And the rest is history.

Dominican baseball player Alfonso Soriano is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Alfonso Soriano bats for the Cubs, by Michael Myers on Flickr

Dominican pitcher Marmol continues erratic play

Dominican pitcher Carlos Marmol has had an up and down career. He started as a young kid out of the Dominican Republic that was a promising hitter. The Cubs finally convinced him to try pitching, and he turned into a top notch closer. In 2010 he set a record for strikeouts per nine innings and saving 38 out of 43 games.

Last year, he had 10 blown saves. And this season his ERA has ballooned over 5.00 and he lost his closer job. The conditions are there for Dominican pitcher Marmol to regain his closer job.

Kerry Wood has a bad elbow, and the other options in the Cubs bull pen are young and inexperienced. If Marmol can put together a few good outings, the Cubs may just give him a shot to close again.

Dominican pitcher Carlos Marmol, photo by Phil Roeder on Flickr

Cubs Dominican prospect Lake hopes to join Dominican baseball player Starlin Castro on Cubs roster

Starlin Castro has progressed faster than pretty much any prospect ever.  He was an everyday player at age 20.  This is a few times in a generation anomaly in baseball.  Ken Griffey, Jr. and Barry Bonds were able to do it, but only one or two players every year make an impact like Castro has made at the age of 20.

Junior Lake hopes to join his long time friend in the big leagues soon.  The Dominican Baseball Guy has been hearing about Lake for several years.  Castro and Lake grew up together, both playing in the Cubs Dominican baseball academy in 2007.  They then made the move to the states and played for the Cubs rookie ball team together.

But Castro matured faster and caught on with the big league club in just his second year with the organization.  He has hit .300 both years, and is a plus defender.  Lake remains in the Cubs minor league system, and had a good year at AA last year.  Junior Lake is one of the top prospects in all of minor league baseball.

Lake hopes to play with Castro in the majors some day soon.  They have a mutual respect for each other, and both feel that Lake can play on the major league level.  Most in the Cubs organization and in the rest of major league baseball seem to agree.  The only question is when Junior Lake will become a Cub.

Lake says he hopes to make the jump from AA to the majors this season.  Junior Lake is from San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.  Castro is from Monte Cristi.

Dominican baseball player Junior Lake hopes to join the Cubs this year, photo by  Tom Haggerty for LakelandLocal.com

Cubs top minor leaguers features 5 Dominican prospects

A recent article listed the top 30 Cubs prospects going into the 2012 season.  Five of the Cubs top 30 minor leaguers are Dominican players.

The highest rated Dominican prospect in the Cubs system is Junior Lake .  Lake is close with fellow Cubs Dominican player Starlin Castro and hopes to join Castro with the Cubs this year.  He has hit .300 in both of his two years in the Cubs system, and hopes to make the jump from AA to the big leagues this year.  According to the list, Lake is the number nine overall prospect in the Cubs system.  Lake is from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

The other top Dominican prospects in the Cubs system were Jeimer Candelario, Marco Hernandez, Wellington Castillo, Rafael Dollis.

Dominican baseball player Junior Lake is the Cubs top Dominican prospect, photo by  Tom Hagerty for LakelandLocal.com

Dominican baseball player Carlos Marmol looks for bounce back year, and farms in the Dominican Republic

Carlos Marmol had an off year last season.  After a huge 2010, when he averaged 15.99 K/9 innings, the Dominican Baseball anointed Carlos Marmol best closer in baseball.  But last season he led the MLB in blown saves with 10.

Marmol is looking to rebound, and spent the off-season working on his farms in the Dominican Republic.  Marmol has been around farms his whole life, and went into the business professionally with his brother a few years ago.  Together they own three farms in the Dominican Republic, 700 head of cattle, as well as horses and chickens.  They sell beef and milk, chicken and eggs, and horses throughout the Dominican Republic.

Farming and ranching is perhaps one of the biggest industries in the Dominican Republic.  Virtually all the beef, milk, chicken and eggs, as well as most of the produce, consumed in the country is sourced locally.  This is due, like most of the problems in the country, to lack of infrastructure and an underdeveloped economy.  It is easier to bring the goods to market if they close.  The roads and ports make it difficult to import large amounts of food items, and if international companies cannot import large amounts of goods, it is not worth it to them.

The new age struggle of processed and prepared foods versus locally sourced foods is not even an issue in the Dominican Republic, because the infrastructure is not there to import large amounts of cheap goods.  The Dominican consumer get hurts because they have have almost no options in regards to fresh food.  Non-nonperishable items are imported in large scale and are readily available, especially in the capital and Santiago.

And so it goes.  The process of growing an economy is a complex process.  I am just the Dominican Baseball Guy, and I am not schooled in macro-economics.  But what I know is that developing countries lack basic infrastructure like electricity and roads, and businesses and schools cannot develop without these infrastructural elements.

The Dominican Baseball Guy is also, not in any way, blaming Carlos Marmol or other Dominican farmers for anything.  The people need these food items, and the local farmers are the ones that must provide them at this point.  So saludos to Carlos Marmol and his brother.  The Dominican Baseball Guy wishes them all the best with their three farms in the Dominican Republic.  Carlos is from Bonao, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball player Carlos Marmol owns several farms in the Dominican Republic,
photo by Phil Roeder on Flickr

Chicago Cubs to build training academy in Dominican Republic, Cubs va a contsruye academia en la Republica Dominicana

The Dominican Baseball Guy is always scouring the news to learn about the happenings with all the Dominican Baseball Academies of the MLB teams.  Every team now has a facility and Dominican Summer League team.  The Indians just opened a brand new Dominican baseball training academy last year.

Well, the Cubs are the latest team to revamp their Dominican baseball academy.  Their new facility will feature four fields, four covered batting cages, eight bullpens, a weight room, a cafeteria, two locker rooms, two meeting rooms, a large classroom, a video room, and an on-site dormitory.  Whew, that was a mouthful.

The team released some pics of what the new facility will look like.  Here is one of them:

Like most Dominican baseball academies, the Cubs facility will serve as a baseball classroom, but players will also have the chance to get their GED and learn English.  The Cubs estimate the project will take 12-18 months to complete, at a price tag of $6-8 million.  It is located in La Gina, outside the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Dominigo.

Cubs' Aramis Ramirez: Dominican baseball players do not like to walk, Dominicanos no les gustan pasaportes

This according to Chicago Cub and Dominican Aramis Ramirez, who recently hit his major league leading 12th first pitch home run.  He dropped this classic quote to explain why he swings at a lot of first pitches:

“I don’t know, I’m Dominican -- we go out there swinging, we don’t work a lot on it,” Ramirez said. “[Starlin] Castro’s got like 450 at bats and like 20 walks. What do I got, like 25? We don’t walk, we like swinging the bat. So I don’t have an explanation for you. I’ve always been aggressive. I just happen to hit more homers this year.”

The classic part comes when he says "we don't work a lot."  Something probably lost in the translation there...  Think it should say "we don't work the count a lot," but hey I am just the Dominican Baseball Guy.  What do I know?

Ramirez is the latest free swinging Dominican, of which there have been a number like Vladimir Guerrero and Starlin Castro.  But it is probably a stereotype, because other Dominicans like Moises Alou and Manny Ramirez have had very sharp eyes and taken many walks.

In any case the strategy seems to be working for Aramis Ramirez this year.  He has had a bounce back year and been able to stay healthy.  Right now he is 12th in the NL in home runs and 6th RBI.  The Dominican Baseball Guy thinks this final quote from Aramis pretty much describes the whole shabang of being a hitter:  “If I see a pitch I like I’m going to swing at it,” Ramirez said.  He is from Santo Domingo, DR.

Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez with RBI in 2007, by Guano on Flickr

Dominican Alfonso Soriano goes on disabled list, Dominicano Alfonso Soriano va a DL

The Dominican Baseball Guy loves Alfonso Soriano.  He was great with the Dominican Baseball Guy's home state Rangers.  And he has been great since moving over to the NL.

The Dominican Baseball Guy last mentioned him in April as the best paid Dominican athlete.  And the Dominican Baseball Guy mentioned him earlier this month: Alfonso Soriano honors mother on mother's day.

Well, unfortunately the Dominican Baseball Guy has to report bad news about a Dominicano player.  Soriano has gone to the 15-day disabled list.  He had been having another productive year for the Cubs, leading the team with 12 home runs and 29 RBI before he got hurt Monday.

Here's hoping he makes a quick recovery.  Soriano is from San Pedro de Macoris, the town with the most MLB players per capita in the world.

Cool custom shot of Alfosno Soriano with the Cubs, by Guano on Flickr

Happy Mother's Day, feliz Dia del Madre, Alfonso Soriano honors mother

The Dominican Baseball Guy wants to wish his mother, Lorry Winters, a happy Mother's Day.  The Dominican Baseball Guy had a great lunch in Austin, Texas with his mother and family.

Alfonso Soriano honored his mother by wearing pink shoes on Mother's Day.  His mother Andrea died last year, but she remains a major influence on his life:

“She’s everything for me,” Soriano said. “I think of my mom every day. What she did for me, I can never forget.”

Soriano created a benefit foundation in honor of his mother after she died.  The Alfonso Soriano Family Foundation provides donations to families of children with disabilities and special health needs in both the Dominican Republic and the United States.

A number of other Cubs honored their mothers on this day as well.

Alfonso is from San Pedro de Macoris.  Please visit the website of his foundation and provide a donation if possible:

Dominican Republic baseball player Alfonso Soriano to honor late mother on Mother's Day, Dominicano Alfonso Soriano va a dar honor a su madre

Alfonso Soriano was very close to his mother who recently passed away, and he plans to honor her on Sunday, Mother's Day. The Alfonso Soriano Family Foundation is teaming with the Cubs to have a day of honor in her memory at the Mirqueya's Day Care in the Dominican Republic.

Soriano and his family have donated presents to the daycare for the past five years, and his mother was very close to the project, so it is a great way to honor her on Mother's Day.  Soriano has been active with his
foundation and in charitable contributions in recent years. According to Alfonso Soriano:

"God blessed me with my talent, so why not give something back to the kids?" Soriano said Tuesday. "They need it. I grew up in that town and it makes me sad to see those kids. They don't have anything to play with, they don't have anything to eat."

The Dominican Baseball Guy can not find an active link to The Alfonso Soriano Family Foundation.  The previous link was here, but it is no longer active.  You can find the company profile and address here if you care to donate there is an address at the profile.

Alfonso Soriano es de San Pedro de Macoris, a famous baseball city of the Dominican Republic.

Alfonso Soriano is best paid Dominican athlete

According to a report to be released on May 2 by ESPN, Alfonso Soriano is the highest paid Dominican athlete.  He has been one of the top players in all of baseball for the last ten years, though his play has dropped off some in recent years.  Soriano is a seven time all-star with four different teams, has four Silver Slugger awards, and is one of only four players to ever record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season.

He signed an eight year $136 million dollar contract in 2007 with the Cubs that made him one of the best paid players in MLB.  It will be interesting to see which other Dominican players make the ESPN list.

Soriano is one of the unending stream of players from San Pedro de Macoris, DR.

Alfonso Soriano bats for the Cubs, by Michael Myers on Flickr

Carlos Marmol, best closer in Major League Baseball?

Carlos Marmol grew up on a ranch outside Bonao, DR.  His work ethic perhaps comes from this upbringing.

This will be his first year in which he does not face competition for the closer job with the Cubs.  Carlos made the all-star team in 2008 as a middle reliever, and first had the full time closer job last year.  He excelled greatly in the role saving 38 out of 43.  He also had 138 strikeouts in 77 innings.  That strikeout ratio (15.99 per nine innings) set a new MLB record and helped him win the delivery man of the month award for September 2010.

Carlos was recently featured as one of six Dominicans scheduled to close for their teams in 2011.  His stuff is probably the most electric in the league.  Carlos is from Bonao, DR.

Carlos Marmol in 2010 with the Cubs, by Phil Roeder on Flickr

Dominican Baseball Card #23: Jose Vizcaino

A Topps 1993 (#237) Jose Vizcaino card is the latest Dominican Baseball Card.  It is a pretty standard and boring card, coming just after the late 1980's wild cards and just before the more polished later 1990's-2000's cards.  Buy the card on Amazon if you want it.

Jose was a journeyman big leaguer.  The Dominican Baseball Guy is always impressed with players that are able to stick around for ten plus years, with only mediocre statistics.  An 18 year Major League Baseball career is impressive, no matter how many games Jose played or what statistics he put up.

Jose hit a walk off hit in game one of the 2000 World Series for the Yankees.  The Yankees went on to win the series.  He also played in the 2005 World Series with the Houston Astros and had a game tying home run in the top of the ninth of game 2.  The Astros would go on to lose the game and the series.

Other than these highlights, Jose never made an all-star team or had any Gold Gloves, but it is an impressive career nonetheless.  He played in 1800 games for eight teams, and had a career average of .270.

Jose is currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball operations department.  He is from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

Several Dominican pitchers scheduled to close for their teams

Six Major League Baseball teams have already penciled in Dominican pitchers to close for their team.  Additionally, their are two other Dominicans that will probably see time in the closer role for their team at some point this season.

Among them are Neftali Feliz (Azua, Dominican Republic), Carlos Marmol (Bonao), and Jose Valverde (San Pedro de Macoris).

See the rest of the Dominican closers and the full article at the Dominican Baseball Examiner

Neftali Feliz pitches, by RWH on Flickr