Dominican baseball players in ALCS and NLCS, Peloteros Dominicanos en los finales de MLB

Time to announce the list of Dominicans baseball players in the league championship series this year.  Last round, The Dominican Baseball Guy's Dominican Baseball Index proved accurate once again.  The teams with the greater number of Dominican baseball players won in three out of four series in the 2011 divisional round of the Major League Baseball playoffs.

We will see if it proves accurate for the league championship series.  Here is the list of Dominican baseball players in the second round of the playoffs:

Texas Rangers: Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando, Adrian Beltre, Esteban German, Nelson Cruz
Detroit Tigers: Jose Valverde, Al Alburquerque, Alex Avila, Wilson Betemit, Jhonny Peralta, Ramon Santiago
Saint Louis Cardinals: Octavio Dotel, Rafael Furcal...and o yea, some guy named Albert Pujols
Milwaukee Brewers: Carlos Gomez

The Brewers were the only team to overcome the huge odds of the Dominican Baseball Index in the first round, and they will have to do it again this round, as they have only one beisbolista Dominicano on their roster. The Tigers lead the way this round with six Dominicans on their roster.

Overall there were no changes involving the Dominican baseball players. There will be 15 Dominicanos playing in the league championship series, 15% of the 100 total players.

Dominican baseball players on playoff rosters, Dominicanos en los finales de MLB

Every year, the Dominican Baseball Guy puts out a list of Dominican players on playoff rosters for each round.  So, here is the 2011 list of Dominican players on active MLB 25-man rosters for the Divisional round of the playoffs:

Texas Rangers: Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando, Adrian Beltre, Esteban German, Nelson Cruz

Tampa Bay Rays: Joel Peralta, Juan Cruz 

Detroit Tigers: Jose Valverde, Al Alburquerque, Alex Avila, Wilson Betemit, Jhonny Peralta, Ramon Santiago 

New York Yankees: Ivan Nova, Rafael Soriano, Robinson Cano, Eduardo Nunez

Milwaukee Brewers: Carlos Gomez

Saint Louis Cardinals: Octavio Dotel, Rafael Furcal...and o yea, some guy named Albert Pujols

Arizona Diamondbacks: NOT A SINGLE DOMINICAN...they are definitely going to lose

Philadelphia Phillies: Placido Polanco, Michael Martinez, Wilson Valdez, Antonio Bastardo

This is 26 of the 200 players on active rosters for the first round of the playoffs.  This is the exact same number that were on Divisional playoff rosters last season.  It comes out to 13% of the 200 active players, which is slightly ahead of the 10% represented on opening day rosters.  The Tigers lead the way with 7 Dominican players on their playoff rosters and the Rangers have 6.

Interesting that the Dominican Baseball Guy has seen several of these players pop up in the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM), and they are now playing at the highest level of baseball.  See the tags for Esteban German, Nelson Cruz, Wilson Betemit, Ramon Santiago, Wilson Valdez...all players that the Dominican Baseball Guy has seen in LIDOM action in recent years.

Dominican Winter Baseball League Round Robin Results 2011

The Round Robin portion of the Dominican Winter Baseball League ended yesterday, and there was a tie for second.  After the 4 team, 18 game round robin in which the top four teams in the LIDOM play each other 6 times, the Toros came out on top with a record of 12-6, so they are on to the finals.  The Toros and their fans are preparing to host the championship series.

The Gigantes and the Estrellas ended up tied for second, both with a record of 9-9.  It was a very exciting race, as both teams won on the final day of the round robin to set up a one game sudden death playoff, which takes place tonight in San Pedro de Macoris.  The Gigantes feature Alexi Casilla (who just signed a new deal with the Twins), Wilson Betemit (Royals), and Wilson Valdez (Phillies, who is on fire and hit .400 in the round robin).  The Estrellas feature pitcher Radhames Liz (former Oriole) and Nationals farmhand Alex Valdez.  These are of course among many other players with MLB experience and minor leaguers.

The winner of the Gigantes versus Estrellas will take on the Toros in a 9 game final series.  The winner of the LIDOM championship will go on to face the champion of the winter leagues in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela in the Caribbean Series.  The Caribbean Series takes place in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico this year, from February 2-7, 2011.

Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) Players of the Week 2010

Here is the list of the players of the week for the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) 2010:

October 25-31: Radhames Liz

Nov. 1-7: Matt McBride

Nov. 8-14: Juan Francisco

Nov. 15-21: Juan Francisco

Nov. 22-29: Joel Guzman and P Fabio Castro

Nov. 29-Dec.5: Wilson Betemit and P John Halama

Dec. 6-12: Omar Luna and P Yunesky Maya

Dec 13-19: Alexi Casilla and P Edward Valdez

Apparently the LIDOM started naming both a player and a pitcher of the week for the last four weeks of the season.  Notice, favorite of the Dominican Baseball Guy, Juan Francisco is the only repeat winner.  He also won two Player of the Weeks last season, and repeated as the MVP of the LIDOM this year.  The Dominican Baseball Guy will get up a post about all the post season awards soon.

LIDOM is currently in the playoffs, which starts on December 26 and will be going on through the end of January.  Escogido, Estrellas, Bulls, and Gigantes are the four teams that are competing in the playoffs.

Wilson Betemit, John Halama, Omar Luna, Yunesky Maya Players of Week

For the week of November 29-December 5, Wilson Betemit won the Player of the Week Award in the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) and John Halama won the Pitcher of the Week.  Here is the press release.

Betemit won the award one time last year.  He has been an MLB player for six years, splitting time between the minors and majors for most of these.  He has had some good years for the Yankees, White Sox, and most recently the Royals.  He even won the Royals player of the month award last year for July, so not sure he how he started out in the minors for them last year.  He has 24 RBI in 22 games for the Gigantes in the LIDOM this year.  Betemit is from Santo Domingo, DR.

John Halama is from Brooklyn and has been at the AAA level since 2005 with various organizations and AAA teams.  He played in 262 games in the majors with 5 teams from 1998-2006.  Another interesting sight in the LIDOM: a journeyman American pitcher seeing extended playing time.  It is more evidence that teams in the LIDOM are concerned about one thing, winning.  There is no effort to develop players or play local talent, the teams just want to win the league and go to the Caribbean Series.

For December 6-12, Omar Luna and Yunesky Maya won the awards.  Here is the press release.
Luna hit .500 for the week and had a home run and 4 RBI.  He has been in the minors since 2007 and reached AAA last year with the Durham Bulls, the Tampa Bays Rays affiliate.  He is from Monte Cristi, DR.

Maya is a legit major leaguer in the prime of his career.  He was signed by the Nationals last summer, after defecting from Cuba.  He won the Cuban equivalent of the Cy Young for the 2008-2009 season.  He spent just five games in the Nationals minor league system before being called up and starting 5 games last year.  This article from the Federal Baseball blog, tells his story and the story of him signing.  He is from Pinar del Rio, Cuba.  So many good Cubans, sad we can't see them all play in MLB.  They could give Dominicans competition for the most foreign players.

Dominican MLB July 2010 Players of the Month

The Dominican Baseball Guy's Dominican Player of the Month for July 2010 was not a very hard choice.  Jose Bautista shared the AL Player of the month with Delmon Young, so Jose Bautista is the Dominican Baseball Guy Dominican Player of the Month for July 2010.   

Here is the MLB.com press release for the AL July player of the month.  Bautista has had a breakout year for the Blue Jays.  According to another article from the Blue Jays official website: 

In July, Bautista hit .347 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs. His 11 homers were the most in the Major Leagues for the month and his 19 extra-base hits were tied for the most in baseball. Bautista led the American League with a .765 slugging percentage as well.

This is the second time Bautista has led Majors in home runs (12 in May).  He is currently leading the Majors in home runs with 36, and is third in RBI with 88.  Looks like he is on his way to a coveted spot on the Dominican Baseball Guy's all-Dominican Team at the end of the year.  Jose is from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Baseball Guy Dominican Pitcher of the Month for July 2010 goes to Rafael Soriano.  Soriano has a 1.77 ERA with 33 saves on the season as the Tampa Bay Rays everyday closer.  He had 11 saves in July and received some votes for the July 2010 AL Pitcher of the month.  Rafael is from San Jose, DR.

On a side note, Wilson Betemit, who won a Dominican Winter League player of the week award last season (as the Dominican Baseball Guy blogged), won the Kansas City Royals player of the Month Award.  Wilson is from Santo Dominigo as well.

Wilson Betemit Player of Week

Another member of Gigantes, Wilson Betemit received the player of the week honor for the week of November 30-December 6. Juan Francisco was voted second for this week, after winning the honor for each of the last two weeks.

So, the Gigantes have won the award three weeks in a row, and it has shown in the overall team play. The Gigantes have been on a winning streak and are in 4th place, with a two game lead on fifth. This would get them into the playoffs.

Wilson Betemit has spent several seasons in the majors, including 87 games with the Yankees in 2008. He spent last season with the White Sox, and recently signed a minor league deal with the Royals. He has had a very good winter league season, and the Gigantes really started to play better when he came aboard through a trade from Escogido.

Juan Franciso and Wilson Betemit Homer, Jose Capellan get win

11/10/09 Game
Juan Francisco and Wilson Betemit both homered and the Gigantes improved their home record to 9-2. Jose Capellan got the win for Gigantes over Estrellas from San Pedro. After playing in just 20 games with the White Sox lst year, Betemit has played well. In 9 games with the Gigantes he has 3 HRs, 2 doubles and 6 RBI.

Dario Veras got his 4th save on the year.

Dario Veras, by Dominican Baseball Guy

Mark Hamilton HR, Alexi Casilla debuts, Lots of big leaguers playing

11/7/09 Game
There were two really good games over the weekend in San Fransisco de Macoris. On Saturday, Mark Hamilton hit a two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. The Gigantes won in the 10th over Aguilas. Hamilton hit .308 last year in the Pacific Coast League with the Cardinals affiliate. He has 2 HRs in the Dominican Winter Baseball League so far. Alexi Casilla (Twins) also debuted on Saturday.  Here are some photos from the game from the Julian Javier Stadium in San Francisco de Macoris, all courtesy of the Dominican Baseball Guy:

Erick Almonte

Erick Almonte

Lucas Montero

Joel Peralta

11/8/09 Game
The Gigantes won another game in extra innings at home on Sunday. Alexi Casilla singled, then came home on a double from Wilson Betemit in the 10th.

The level of play is really starting to pick up as the season continues. Sunday's game featured 11 players with big league experience: Eric Young Jr., Conor Jackson, Argenis Reyes (Mets), Jaime Hoffman (Dodgers), Diory Hernandez (Braves), and Willis Otanez for Escogido, and Alexi Casilla, Wilson Valdez, Juan Francisco, Wilson Betemit, and Dario Veras for Gigantes.

Jose Capellan gets win, Tobi Stoner hard luck loss

11/4/09 Game
The Gigantes improved to 6-1 at home (0-8 on road). Luckily, this was the first of 4 strait home games.

For Gigantes, Juan Francisco had 2 RBI, Wilson Betemit had a solo home run, and big leaguer Wilson Valdez (Mets in 2009) scored 2 runs. Jose Capellan (Astros, AAA Round Rock Express last year) got his first win after 6 shutout innings, and Dario Veras (who is going for the all time saves record) got his 3rd save. Dario is know as el flaco de oro (the golden skinny guy).

Wilson Valdez with the Mets in 2009, by Keith Allison on Flickr

Conor Jackson had 2 more hits for Escogido, and Tobi Stoner (2-1) got the loss, though he pitched 7 innings and gave up only 1 earned run. His ERA is 1.13 in 24 innings. He could be starting for the Mets soon.

Mark Wagner Injury, Manuel Mayorson 4-5; Jacob Cruz and Wilson Betemitt debut

10/30/09 Game
The Gigantes lost another road game, and fell to 0-7 on the road.

Mark Wagner got hurt on a play at the plate, and left the game. He was 1-1 at the plate and is near the top of the league with a .346 average, along with 6 walks and 2 HRs.

Manuel Mayorson went 4-5 in the win for Toros de La Romana. He is batting .395 and has been starting daily for the Toros at SS and 3B. He is in the Marlins organization and saw action in 97 games with the New Orleans Zephers of the Pacific Coast League.

10/31/09 Game
The Gigantes won a thrilling game at home, coming back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 4-3.

Jacob Cruz debuted for the Gigantes. Another imported American, he is a very interesting player. He played parts of 9 seasons in the big leagues, and has played in Korea and Mexico. He had huge numbers last summer in the AAA Mexican League (which has unaffiliated players). He went 2-4 in this game and seemed to be a crowd favorite.

The Gigantes also traded for Wilson Betemit (earlier in the week) and he debuted last night. He had a pinch hit RBI that helped the Gigantes come back in the 9th. He has spent time in the big leagues the last 8 seasons, and played 20 games with the White Sox last year.

Wilson Betemit with the White Sox in 2009, by shgmom56 on Flickr