Dominican Baseball Books

Being that I am an anthropologist, I have read a number of "academic" studies on Dominican baseball, as well as tons of popular stuff. It is kind of funny when Dominicans try to tell me about the history of the league or the team. I just act interested and let them tell me what they know (usually the most basic information). As an anthropologist, I am particularly interested in the culture of baseball, and how it affects the lives of people. I have created a list of these books on the right.

Alan Klein has been publishing on international baseball and culture for over 20 years. He is a professor of sociology-anthropology at Northeastern University. His book Sugarball: The American Game, The Dominican Dream, was one of the first academic studies of baseball that I read. He recently published Growing the Game: The Globalization of Major League Baseball, which has one chapter devoted to baseball in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, he has published many other books and articles on international aspects of baseball. They are listed on his curriculum vitae. His book Baseball on the Border: A Tale of Two Laredos, was also interesting to me, especially since I am from South Texas.

Rob Ruck is a history professor at the University of Pittsburgh. He wrote The Topic of Baseball: Baseball in the Dominican Republic, a comprehensive history of baseball in the country. He has also published on black sports in Pittsburgh, and helped write the documentary The Republic of Baseball: The Dominican Giants of the American Game. A list of his publications is also listed on his curriculum vitae.

George Gmelch is also an anthropology professor at Union College in New York. His publications are listed at his website, and cover many aspects of baseball. He was actually a minor league player before gaining his PhD. in anthropology. He edited Baseball without Borders: The International Pastime, which has a chapter devoted to Dominican Baseball.

George Gedda just published Dominican Connection: Talents From Tropics Changes Face of National Pastime. He is a diplomatic journalist from the DC area, so it is interesting tht he published this. I have not read this, so will not be listing it with my other books.

Dominican Nicknames

Nicknames are very common in this country, everyone has them, and generally goes by their nickname. With that said, the commentators on TV and the announcers at games end up giving out lots of nicknames to players.

All baseball fans know Dominicans David Ortiz (Big Papi), Manny Ramirez (Man Ram), Alex Rodriguez (ARod), and Pedro Martinez (Petey).

Thus far the Dominican Baseball Guy has said that Juan Francisco is known a ¨El Diamante¨ (The Diamond) and Dario Veras is known as ¨El Flaco de Oro¨(The Golden Skinny Guy). Of course Dario´s nickname makes a lot more sense in Spanish.

I spent last night in the press box with the announcer for los Gigantes and learned a knew nickname. Israel Paredes (the Announcer for Gigantes) has been calling Luis Durango La Maquina (The Machine). All these nicknames fit the players really well. Durango is leading the league in steals, and when he runs he does it like a machine. He plays center field really well and has a pretty good average. The Dominican Baseball Guy earlier guaranteed that we will see him in the Majors within 2 years, and he has done nothing to make me doubt this. Interestingly, Durango is Panamanian, and counts as an import in the Dominican Winter League. Durango was with the Padres AA team last year, check out the labels to see other posts on him.











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More nicknames to come, just check out the nicknames tag.

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 Francisco Players of the Week

For the week of November 16-22, one of the Gigantes finally won the award. Juan Francisco was given the player of the week after hitting .423 with 3 homers, 2 doubles, and 6 RBI. The Dominican Baseball Guy has posted on Juan previously (check the tabs to see all posts), and I actually tabbed him the preseason MVP. He spent some time with the Reds last season and will surely be with the big league club more this year. He has great power, very fun to watch, and has come to be known as El Diamante (the Diamond) during this winter league season. Here is the official press release photo from the league-

I didn't realize that Juan actually won the award two weeks in a row. He won it for the week of Nov. 23-29 as well. He is also leading the league in home runs and RBI. Looks like he's gonna be the MVP of the Gigantes, and possibly the league, as the Dominican Baseball Guy predicted.

Dominican Albert Pujols Wins National League MVP

I am sure everyone knows Albert Pujols won the National League MVP, recieving all 32 first place votes. This was the top sports story on pretty much every broadcast down in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans follow all baseball, but they follow their native sons more closely than anything.

Here is a clip of Albert talking about the MVP award. And here is the espn.com article.

Another Dominican, Hanley Ramirez got second.

George Bell, Vladamir Guerrero, Miguel Tejada, Sammy Sosa, and ugh Alex Rodriguez are other Dominicans that have won MVPs. The Dominican Baseball Guy thinks Alex Rodriguez is about as Dominican as he is. Many Dominicans call him a traitor, and the Dominican Baseball Guy thinks he is a traitor to America. So basically, Alex flip flopping on which country he wants to represent makes him a traitor to people from both countries.

But the Dominican Baseball Guy digresses. Congrats Albert Pujols, best player in the game.

Pujols bats in the 2009 Home Run Derby, by shgmom56 on Flickr

Typical Streetball Game in Dominican Republic

In the states someone says street ball and people automatically think of basketball. There is lots of basketball played in the streets of the Dominican Republic, but a lot more baseball. Baseball does not require a basket, and bats, balls, and bases can be made out of anything. I have seen games being played with one, two, and three bases, one-on-one, two-on-two, and five-on-five, with bats made of metal, tree branches, and people's hands.

There is almost always a lot of things going on during the games (kids coming and going, changing teams, dancing for a bit, stoppages in games for passing cars). Here is a common scene of a baseball game being played in the street (see more photos at the Dominican Baseball Guy Facebook page):

And here is a video (see the other Dominican Baseball Guy video's on his youtube channel):

Kevin Barker Player of the Week

Kevin Barker had a pretty amazing week. In 5 games and 17 at bats he had 6 runs, 8 hits, 3 home runs, 9 RBI, and 6 walks. I have posted a couple times about Barker in the Dominican Winter Baseball League this as he is having a good year (follow the tags to see other posts about him).

He is a member of the Louisville Bats (Reds) contigent, of which there are at least 5 players and their manager participating in the league this winter. The Reds farm system looks pretty stocked, as all these players are playing well.

Kevin led the bats in average and home runs last year, so we should see him with the Reds soon. Here is the official press release photo from the league:

Dominican Winter Baseball League teams play to win

One thing that the Dominican Baseball Guy came to realize during the game last night is that the teams in the Dominican Winter Baseball League play to win...period. Even though it features mainly players trying to make their way to the big leagues, there is no thought given to "developing" players. The players that give the teams the best chance to win play on any given night.

So, the Gigantes (and other teams) play guys that are at the end of their careers just as often as they play younger players. That is why we see Jacob Cruz (37 years old) starting and Dario Veras (37 years old) closing games.

After watching lots of minor league games, this is refreshing to see. When games (at any level) are played just to win it makes the action much more enjoyable. No thoughts are given to what this guy will do in 3 years, we need to sit this guy so this other guy can play, etc. I also think this is a better atmosphere for players to get experience, if they can get on the field. And it is surely a better situation for managers to gain experience.

Rain delay, then lights delay, then Gigantes loss

11/18/09 Game
Yes thats right. Wednesday night was an interesting game. The Gigantes lost 8-1 at home to Aguilas. There was a rain delay, then the lights went out. Another thing you don't see in stateside baseball. Electricity is shotty throughout this city, but the electricity company usually makes sure the stadium has lights. Last night they went out and took 45 minutes or so to come back on.

A number of import players (ie Americans and Japanese) have come and gone. So many that I can not keep up with it, much less explain it in a blog post. Vince Sinisi has arrived with los Gigantes though, and I remember him from his time with Rice. He played AAA ball last season in the Pacific Coast League and I got a nice clip of him making a diving catch last night-

During the light delay, a few players gathered in the bullpen and played a game, which I think is unique to Dominican baseball. I know the Dominicans are the ones always playing it. Obviously Americans play it now, but not sure where it originated. It is basically a version of hacky sack mixed with hot potato, using gloves and a ball. Here is a clip of Alexi Casilla and some others playing-

I posted some other videos of this little side game on the Dominican Baseball Guy Facebook page, as well as some photos.  Here are some of the photos, all by the Dominican Baseball Guy:

The Dominican Baseball Guy in the right field bleachers of Julian Javier Stadium

The Dominican Baseball Guy with Gigantes fans

The Dominican Baseball Guy with a vendor/friend

Dominican Baseball Movies

There have been a number of movies and documentaries about Dominican Baseball in recent years.

First off, many of you may have heard of the feature film "Sugar," which is a fictional account of a Dominican pitcher playing in the minor leagues and hoping to make it to the big leagues. It is available on itunes.























Next, The Republic of Baseall: The Dominican Giants of the American Game is a documentary featuring Felipe Alou, Orlando Cepeda and many of the first generation of Dominicans to play in the big leagues. Not sure where to find this movie. There is also commentary by Vladimir Guerrero, Alfonso Soriano, and other current big leaguers. Road to the Big Leagues is another documentary that first aired on ESPN deportes, but is now available on DVD. It features Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, as well as some younger Dominican ballplayers. Here is a link to the official website for this movie where you can buy the movie. These two movies are more of the made for TV variety that briefly showcase stars along with a short story.

Two other documentaries are in depth stories of up and coming prospects. Change Up (2002) follows two Dominican pitching prospects through the Dominican academies and minor leagues. It has been compared to Hoop Dreams. Looks like a good movie and got good reviews, but not sure where to get it. Lastly, Pelotero:A Domincian Baseball Story, features uber prospect Migual Angel Sanos, along with several other prospects. Sanos was recently signed to a multimillion dollar bonus by the Twins, and the movie shows this process. This one just came out and I am not sure where to get it either. Pretty frustrating because I would really like to see these two.

I will try to find out if they are available.