What The Dominican Republic Proved In The World Baseball Classic

Dominican player Jose Reyes led team Dominican 

to World Baseball Classic championship. 

Photo by james_in_to'

Another World Baseball Classic has come and gone, and once again, overall fan interest was hit and miss. In the United States, even the games including the home country were dismissed as nothing more than exhibitions. However, starting with the Dominican Republic’s win over the United States of America, those watching the event could tell how much this competition meant to the small island.

After beating Puerto Rico in the final 3-0, the Dominican Republic capped off the tournament with an 8-0 record. Head coach Tony Pena knew going in he had a strong team, but winning eight games in a row in baseball against the best players in the world is no easy task.

When the United States and the Dominican Republic got together in Miami, the crowd was pro-Dominican. The team played with passion, celebrating runs and strikeouts like Little Leaguers. While some old school baseball fans frowned at this, the team continued to play with passion for their country.

The team played the game, and the tournament for that matter, the way organizers wanted it to be played when it was first developed. Baseball is no longer in the Olympics, so this is the premier international event. The Dominican Republic did not send all of their stars, but fantasy baseball favorites Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, and more definitely made sure the team had talent.

After dominating the tournament, the Dominican Republic can officially say that the best baseball is played on their island. People can obviously debate that claim in a number of ways, but they proved it at this moment on the field. If more countries can follow their methods, the World Baseball Classic could rival that of the World Cup in soccer or the Olympics in basketball. It just takes getting the best players to play with pride for their home country.

Can the Dominican Republic Win the World Baseball Classic?

After a semi final loss in the first World Baseball Classic, and a national catastrophe first-round exit in 2009, the Dominican Republic has the pressure of the nation on them to win their first world title in the unilateral national sport. Even Dominican President Danilo Medina recently implored the Dominican team to 'lift up the country' with their World Baseball Classic performance.

Anything less than winning the whole thing will be a disappointment in the country with more MLB players per capita than any country in the world. There were 95 Dominican Baseball Players on MLB Rosters 2012, which was 11% of the league. Virtually everyone in the country has an opinion about baseball, known as 'pelota' or simply 'ball' in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican short stop Jose Reyes talked with USA Today. "The first two Classics were a bit disappointing for us. We had great teams and didn't do much," said Reyes. "This time we want to bring the crown back to the Dominican people."

Dominican native and MLB veteran Moises Alou has been a successful General Manager for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, and he is heading up the World Baseball Classic team as well. He has replaced the power laden lineup from 2009 with a lineup based on speed and contact. Dominican players like Reyes, Erick Aybar and Alejandro De Aza fit that mold. Even the power heavy players like Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez, Edwin Encarnacion, Carlos Santana and Nelson Cruz are more rounded than power players like Jose Bautista and David Ortiz in previous years.

The bookies tend to agree with Alou and the Dominican public. The Dominican Republic is a 3-1 co-favorite to win the World Baseball Classic. The team has backed up this confidence from the public in their two exhibition games, beating the Phillies with 30 hits Tuesday and downing the Yankees 8-2 on Wedensday.

Dominican Republic World Baseball
Classic manager, Tony Pena, is currently
bench coach for the Yankees.

The Dominicans, led by Yankee bench coach and former big league Dominican native Tony Pena, look to build on this chemistry. Their first game is Thursday evening in Pool C in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Team Dominican Republic could even add Adrian Beltre to the All-Star heavy lineup in the second round. "We take a lot of pride in trying to be the best we can. We have a lot of players that play in the big leagues, so we have quite a list of players," Beltre told ESPN. "Coming into the Classic the first time, we thought we'd do a better job than we did as a team. After that, we didn't meet our expectations, and I think the fans and the players were more into it because they know we can do better."

"Every three or four years, they expect us to do well. They look forward to it."

Tony Pena is a legend in the Dominican Republic. Expect him to bring together all the high priced talent and lead them to the final round. On paper they are certainly one of the top two teams, along with the USA. They should see Asian bracket winners Japan and Cuba in the final round.

Pool: C — San Juan, Puerto Rico
First Dominican Republic game: Thursday, March 7 — vs. Venezuela

Infield: Robinson Cano, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Leury Garcia, Miguel Tejada
Outfield: Nelson Cruz, Alejandro de Aza, Eury Perez, Ricardo Nanita, Moises Sierra

Starters: Edinson Volquez, Wandy Rodriguez, Sam Deduno
Bullpen: Fernando Rodney, Santiago Casilla, Octavio Dotel, Jose Veras, Jose Valverde
Catchers: Francisco Pena, Carlos Santana

For more information on the tournament see the official World Baseball Classic site.

Dominican baseball player Jordany Valdespin makes debut for Mets

Ranked as the number six prospect in the Mets system at the start of the year, Dominican baseball player Jordany Valdespin made his debut with the big league club this week.  He is a career infielder, but the Mets brought him up to play some outfield and serve as an all-around utility player, a la Martin Prado in Atlanta or Emilio Bonifacio in Miami.

The Dominican baseball player Valdespin made his first appearance on Monday and also played on Thursday for the Mets.  He is yet to get on base in four at bats in those two games.  But people around the Mets organization have no doubts about his potential as a big league starter:

• “From a physical ability standpoint, he’s the closest thing to Jose Reyes,” said ex-Mets general manager Omar Minaya.
• “His skills? Off the charts,” said Mets manager Terry Collins. 

Valdespin is from San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.  His Dominican background led him to befriend fellow Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes.  The two met when Valdespin came to Mets spring training in 2010.  Reyes has counseled Valdespin about on-field issues, but also encouraged him to grow and mature off the field.

In this mentor role, Jose Reyes is continuing a tradition of established Dominican baseball players counseling young and up and coming Dominican players.  David Ortiz has been known as a mentor for young Dominicans for many years, and others have done the same.  It is a major transition for Dominican baseball players new to the big league game, and the country more generally.

Dominican baseball players like Jose Reyes and David Ortiz are doing a great service for their countrymen by helping to ease the transition for young players such as Jordany Valdespin.

Dominican baseball player Jordany Valdespin in the minor leagues in 2011, photo by Paul Hadsall on Flickr

Dominican baseball players in Opening Day game, Peloteros Dominicanos juegan en el primer dia de la temporada MLB

It is finally opening day and the Reds and Marlins have just kicked off the first day of the MLB season, well not counting that opening game or two played in Japan.

So...you ask...how many Dominican baseball players will be playing in this Opening Day game?

Well the Cardinals start Rafael Furcal, and...crickets.  That is the only Dominican player the Cardinals have on the roster.  That has to be some kind of record, only one Dominican baseball player on the entire roster.  But it is so.  Furcal is from Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic.

The Marlins on the other hand, have a few Dominican players on their roster.  They have Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, and Emilio Bonificio all starting.  And that is it.  Reyes is from Villa Gonzalez, Ramirez is from Samana, and Bonificio is from the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo.

This is a pretty small number of Dominican baseball players represented on these two teams.  It is just below the ten percent mark of last season for Dominican players on MLB rosters to start the year.  We should see the total number of Dominican baseball players on opening day rosters for this season in the next couple days.

Hanley Ramirez is one of several Dominican baseball players to start on opening day,
photo by afagen on Flickr

Dominican baseball player Hanley Ramirez takes his first action at third base for the Marlins, Hanley Ramirez juega tercer base por Marlins

Spring training is getting under way, and apparently the thing to do down around the Marlins campl in Jupiter, Florida was to write about Hanley Ramirez and his move to third base.  Granted, it is by far the most intriguing story for the Miami Marlins thus far.

The Boston Harold put out an article (Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez gets going at third base), as did the the Sun Sentinel (Hanley Ramirez acquaints himself with third base), and even Sports Illustrated covered the story (Ramirez's move to third base may be smoother than expected).

Of course, the reason that this is a story is because the Marlins signed Jose Reyes this past off-season.  Jose Reyes is clearly the better fielding short stop, so Hanley has been tasked with moving to third.

At first, reports were that Ramirez was unhappy and wanted to stay at short stop.  But he has rebuked these claims and Hanley Ramirez says he is happy to play third base for the Miami Marlins.  He made this clear through his twitter account in the last few days too: http://twitter.com/hanleyramirez.

By all accounts he is happily making the transition, and just wants to win.  Manager Ozzie Guillen is probably making the move easier too, by downplaying the severity of such a move and deflecting any possible problems. He is basically coming up with all the reasons the move is great, and hoping that the media (and Hanley) will latch on to one of those positives motives/outcomes.

The Dominican Baseball Guy thinks the move will be great, and Hanley will return to MVP form after a slump and injuries last season.  Hanley is from Samana, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player Hanley Ramirez, by SD Dirk on Flick

Dominican player Hanley Ramirez OK with switch to 3B, Dominicano Hanley Ramirez esta bien con cambio a tercer base

Everyone knows that Jose Reyes just signed with the Marlins because the Dominican Baseball Guy just blogged about it: Pelotero Dominicano Jose Reyes firma con Miami Marlins, Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes signs with Marlins.

Well, that signing means that the Marlins have two quality short stops.  Early reports were that Marlins incumbent all-star short stop Hanley Ramirez did not want to switch to third base.  That could have been a big problem for the Marlins.

But in the end, all is well in Marlin land.  Hanley hashed it out with new coach Ozzie Guillen and now endorses the switch to third base.  He says all he wants to do is win, even if it is at third base.

So, the Dominican Baseball Guy is excited to see the new all-Dominican left side of the Marlins infield.  From the recollection of the Dominican Baseball Guy, this could be the best all-Dominican half infield of all-time.

Hanley Ramirez es de Samana, Republica Dominicana, and Jose Reyes es de Villa Gonzalez, Republica Dominicana.

Hanley Ramirez, by SD Dirk on Flickr 

Pelotero Dominicano Jose Reyes firma con Miami Marlins, Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes signs with Marlins

Jose Reyes has been a favorite of the Dominican Baseball Guy in recent months.  See all the Dominican Baseball Guy's post on Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes.  The Dominican Baseball Guy predicted that he would end up a Marlin just last month.  And of course the Dominican Baseball covered the release of his regaaeton album in August.

So, the latest is that Reyes signed a six year $106 million dollar contract with the Miami Marlins.  Wowza!  The Dominican Baseball Guy remembers back in the day when those were ARod or Pujols numbers.  But Jose Reyes?  The Dominican Baseball Guy loves Reyes, but this seems a little much.  O well, he is going to team with Hanley Ramirez to make one of the greatest all-Dominican half infields of all-time.

And the Marlins are also pursuing the great Dominican baseball player a.k.a "The Machine" a.k.a. Albert Pujols.  That would give them perhaps the best three Dominicans to ever share the infield together.  Needless to say, the Dominican Baseball Guy is intrigued with this possibility.

Reyes is from Villa Gonzalez, Republica Dominicana and Pujols is from Santo Domingo, DR.

Jose Reyes' last hit with the Mets, by slgckgc on Flickr

Dominicano Jose Reyes could be a Marlin, Dominicano Jose Reyes va a Marlins de Florida?

Jose Reyes had a resurgence the last two years, after some down years.  So, that is how the New York media portrayed it.  In the eyes of the Dominican Baseball Guy it looks like he only had one off year, an injury-riddled campaign in which he only played 36 games in 2009.

Other than that he has been one of the most exciting players in the game.  Reyes has made four all-star teams, led the NL in stolen bases and triples three times each, and won a batting title last year.  All while playing a well above average shortstop.  His all-time WAR is pretty good too.  Right with guys like Hanley Ramirez and Torii Hunter.

AND he is a free agent this off season.  Apparently he is one of the top free agents on the market this off season, and the Marlins are interested in his services.  The Dominican Baseball Guy can hardly contain himself with this possibility.  Signing Reyes would probably push Hanley Ramirez to third base, and create one of the best all-Dominican half infield of all-time.  And they would have crazy old Ozzie Guillen on the bench.

Reyes is also one of the most renowned baseball playing reggaeton artists in the world!  He is from Villa Gonzalez, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes with the Mets, by Mr. Littlehand on Flickr

Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes proves once again...Dominicanos love Reggaeton

Jose Reyes is on a tear this year for the New York Mets, after a few down seasons (He was rumored to be on the way out of New York after this year).  However, he turned it around and is leading the NL in batting average, hits, runs, and triples, and his glove has of course always been a strong part of his game.  Here he is in 2009:

Jose Reyes with the New York Mets in 2009

Well, he is having such a good year, he decided to put out his own reggaeton record that was released in July.  It is called "No hay amigo" or "There is no friend."  The song is not bad, if you like Dominican reggaeton, and features a Ferrari and lots of bling on Reyes's wrists!  But Reyes at least has his head in the right place:

“The song is a message for the children that when I was younger I didn’t have anything, but I kept working, and now I have what I have,” said Reyes, who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic.

Really!?  The Dominican Baseball Guy speaks pretty good Spanish and all he got out of this song was "never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut!"  But the Dominican Baseball Guy is not all knowing and it obviously has a deeper meaning according to Reyes.

All sarcasm aside these Dominican players are not exaggerating about the poverty they grow up in.  It is real, no running water or electricity or trash service, poverty down there in much of the country.  Reyes is a success in a country of young boys hoping to make it out of that poverty and make the big leagues.

Jose is from Villa Gonzalez, DR.  Here is the video:

Jose Reyes-David Wright partnership could end after this year

Jose Reyes was signed by the Mets in 1999 as an international free agent at the age of 16.  Two years later he was sent to the Mets instructional camp in Florida and met David Wright.  The two became quick friends and have traveled through the Mets organization together.

Reyes made the big league club in 2003 and Wright followed him one year later.  The two made their first all-star team together in 2006, and also made the playoffs for the first time with the Mets that year.  The two seem to be opposites: one a speedy, dread locked Dominican, and the other a power hitting, clean cut American.

But the common path they have taken and the fact that they have shared one half of the infield for close to ten years has made them great friends.  The contract of Reyes could end this years if the Mets decide not to pick up an option, so the two could have just one more year together.  They hope to make the most of what could be their final year together with the Mets.

Jose is from Villa Gonzalez, DR.

UPDATE: Jose Reyes has played his last game as a Met: Pelotero Dominicano Jose Reyes firma con Miami Marlins, Dominican baseball player Jose Reyes signs with Marlins

Jose Reyes, by Wknight94

All Star Game

The Dominican Baseball Guy hoped to blog about the All Star game, but there really is not much to say.  Most of the Dominicans were shut out.  Here is the yahoo sports recap if anyone is interested.

Hanley Ramirez, Rafael Furcal, Albert Pujols, Jose Bautista, Vladimir Guerrero, Adrian Beltre, and Robinson Cano were all hitless.  David Ortiz had 1 hit.  Jose Reyes did not play because he was injured.  So, the Dominicans were 1-12 on the night.

The Dominican pitchers fared a little better.  Ubaldo Jimenez pitched two scoreless innings to start the game for the NL.  Rafael Soriano and Jose Valverde each pitched a scoreless inning for the AL.  Neftali Feliz, and Fausto Carmona did not get to pitch.

So the Dominican Baseball Guy is sad to report that not much happened with the Dominicans in the All Star game this year.  But they did have 14 Dominicans selected to the game and David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez put on a great show the night before in the Home Run Derby, as the Dominican Baseball Guy says in his previous post.