Raul Gonzalez interview: assistant general manager of the Estrellas Orientales

The Dominican Baseball Guy recently had the chance to interview Raul Gonzalez, assistant general manager of the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter Baseball League.  The Estrellas had a great year this year, making it to the final series of the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) before being eliminated.

The Estrellas are located in San Pedro de Macoris, the town that many consider to have the best baseball talent in the world.  It has been called the Mecca of Baseball and the Craddle of shortstops, due to all the shortstops that come from the city.  Alfredo Griffin, Alfonso Soriano, and Robinson Cano are some of the most famous players to come out of the city recently.

Raul is a great addition to the Estrellas staff.  He is highly knowledgeable and has experience working in the Major League Baseball office in the Dominican Republic, as well as in the Nationals organization in Washington D.C.   Raul has also worked with Licey Baseball Club in Santo Domingo.  He will be in the States for several weeks during spring training.  

See the full interview at the Dominican Baseball Examiner and at Baseball de World, where the Dominican Baseball Guy is a contributor.

Raul Gonzalez in his Estrellas gear, by Raul Gonzalez

Jhon Florentino interview, Dominican player from Azua, DR

Jhon Florentino has played with the Astros AA the Corpus Christi Hooks for the last two seasons, and has been in the Astros organization since being signed by them in 2003.  Jhon made the 2009 mid-season all-star team in the Texas League and was named player of the week one time in the Texas League in 2010.  Unfortunetly the Astros released him at the end of last season, but I am sure they will resign him or he will get picked up by another team.  He is a quality player that has produced well at the AA level, and a quality individual.

We first met in Corpus Christi during the 2009 season, and later met several times in San Francisco de Macoris during the 2009 Dominican Winter Baseball League Season when he was playing for the Gigantes.   I interviewed him during our first meeting and he gave me some insight into the drafting process and free agency for the Dominican League, and the players on Gigantes. We also talked about differences between the leagues and fans, and about his travel schedule.

See the full article at the Dominican Baseball Examiner

Jhon Florentino and the Dominican Baseball Guy at a 2010 Corpus Christi Hooks Game

Mark Trumbo looking to make Angels roster, talks about his experience in Dominican Winter League in 2009

Mark Trumbo has been one of the most productive minor leaguers in the Angels system for the last several years.  The southern California native led all the minor leagues in home runs last season.  According to the Los Angeles Times he is having a good spring and making a push for a big league roster spot (see the Times article here and here).

So, what does this have to do with Dominican baseball you ask?  Well, Trumbo played several games with the Gigantes in the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) in 2009.  Last winter league he played in the Venezuelan Winter Baseball League (LVPB).

The Dominican Baseball got a chance to talk to Mark on a team bus to the airport, as he was leaving the country on November 11, 2009.  See the full interview at the Dominican Baseball Examiner

Mark Trumbo bats in 2006, by Joel Dinda on Flickr