Caribbean Series Starts Today ... Follow The Braves In The Tourney

by gondeee on Feb 2, 2011 2:40 PM EST in Open Threads

Consider this an open thread for general discussion and updates about today's Caribbean Series games. At 3pm the tournament kicks off with The Dominican Republic taking on Mexico.

That game will see current Braves 40-man roster pitcher Jairo Asencio and his newly minted real name compete alongside non-roster invitee outfielder Jose Constanza for the Dominican team. They'll face last year's International League batting champ Barbaro Canizares, who is continuing his great all-around hitting this winter. Also on the Mexican team is former Braves pitcher Francisley Bueno, affectionately called Frank Good (though he's not very).

There are no Braves-related players on either team in the later game that pits Venezuela against Puerto Rico.

It looks like neither MLB Network nor ESPN are showing today's games -- what gives? One is a network dedicated to baseball, the other is a network with 15 channels to broadcast crap on. Weak. Hopefully we'll get some televised games later in the series.

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Barbado’s winter numbers: 56 G 6 2B12 HR 46 RBI .320/.421/ .533.

by fandave on Feb 2, 2011 2:53 PM EST reply actions

I’d like to see him at least get a shot to pinch-hit. Only problem is he’s probably worse at 1B than Troy Glaus.

"That guy mvhsbball is really an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel

by Scott Coleman on Feb 2, 2011 2:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

at least let the man come to spring training!

guy has been the best hitter in the minors for some time now.

by willlinn on Feb 2, 2011 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

A blocked DH for a national league club.

Sandy Alderson: "There's 'no market' for Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez, even if we wanted to trade them." (All you need to know about the Mets).

by carpengui on Feb 2, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

right--my hope for the guy would be

to rake in spring training, then get signed by an AL team weak on a DH

I mean, how is there no one that wants his bat anywhere ever?

by willlinn on Feb 2, 2011 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

No power. Why waste the DH spot on a high average hitter with no speed?

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2011 1:41 AM EST up reply actions

Because that's better than

what low average hitters, with no power and no speed that some teams put out there as DH?

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 3, 2011 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Ok, but which teams could use him. Which team would be upgraded by a DH with a .750-.780 OPS and 10 HR, 65 RBI?

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2011 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

The WHite Sox had Mark Kotsay getting most of their DH at bats...

Barbaro would have been better. The Rays used mostly Wily Aybar, and again Canizares would be an upgrade. If I’m the Royals, unless Billy Butler and Ka’aihue (sp?) handle 1B/DH could use him. The Mariners may or may not have resigned Branyan, but he’d have been an upgrade for them before obtaining their old DH.

I’m not sure how teams have played that market this year, they may do a better job of having solid DHs all around, but I’d bet there’s a Mariners or Roayls with a huge hole there.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 3, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

Chicago plugged their DH spot with Dunn, and Tampa with some combo of Damon and Ramirez. They had those holes last year, but they’ve filled them going forward.

I don’t know much about the Mariners’ thought process, but I think if we have so much as a prayer of getting anything back for him, it’s got to be because GMDM is willing to take him off our hands.

"Life is a lot like a baseball game- you want your team to win, you want it to be a thriller, you don't want it to be called short on account of nature, and you wouldn't mind if it went into extra innings." -Dante Shepherd, survivingtheworld.net

by J-Freak on Feb 3, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

So then who's there for the Tigers without Damon?

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 3, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

Depth chart says they’ll use Martinez there primarily, as well as Carlos Guillen. Guillen may not be a stud, but I doubt they view Barbaro as enough of an upgrade to warrant giving up anything of consequence.

by J-Freak on Feb 3, 2011 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

No NRI

for Barbaro.

Sorry.

by parish on Feb 2, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

to ESPN……

Why broadcast a baseball game when you can have extended football analyses?

to MLB Network…….

Why broadcast a baseball game when you have extended analyses of the 1969 season?

fail

…..facepalm.

"It looks like The Hound of the Baskervilles out there." - Steve Stone
"...I'm reminded of Wuthering Heights." - Harry Caray
~
Swing and a drive...Belted right! Welcome to the Show!!!

by Chief Noc-A-Homa on Feb 2, 2011 3:04 PM EST reply actions

ESPNU: Why broadcast a baseball game when you can go wall-to-wall about a national signing day for high school players that nobody has heard of outside of their own family and who the general public won’t see in a game for a year-and-a-half?

Sandy Alderson: "There's 'no market' for Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez, even if we wanted to trade them." (All you need to know about the Mets).

by carpengui on Feb 2, 2011 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

Because football wins the ratings

The pro bowl almost had higher ratings than the world series. I would think national signing day would beat the pants off the Caribbean world series.

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

"You look like you should be married to one of the San Diego Padres."

by Doghnut on Feb 2, 2011 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

The game is on here:

"I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party." ~ Ron White

by AndiRose on Feb 2, 2011 3:28 PM EST reply actions

lets try this again...

http://espn.go.com/espn3/

"I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party." ~ Ron White

by AndiRose on Feb 2, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

This is awesome. Baseball again. And its only a 15 inning nail biter so far.

The artist formerly known as someguy917.

by tcstew on Feb 2, 2011 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

ESPN is too busy putting on spelling bees and poker. Cause somehow those are sports. Also Nascar. Somehow that’s a sport.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 2, 2011 7:17 PM EST reply actions

NASCAR...

isn’t a sport, it’s a racing association. Stock car racing is a sport.

by CMassey on Feb 2, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

Racing isn’t a sport. The equipment is more important than the person using it. The best driver in the world can’t win if his car is crap.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2011 1:42 AM EST up reply actions

And conversely

The fastest car in the world is useless without a good driver to push it to it’s limits. I’m not saying drivers are athletes, because some are fat and outta shape, but it’s much more difficult than most people realize. It’s much more mental than physical. You need the endurance to survive a race where you’re on the brink of spinning out in each turn, while in a firesuit inside a car at temperatures of around 150 degrees. It’s not your average Sunday drive on the freeway. If golf and bowling are sports then racing is absolutely a sport..

by CMassey on Feb 3, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

I could easily see arguments that would make golf and bowling not sports. In fact, I’d call them all fine activities, but not sports.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

I agree that golf and bowling should not be viewed as sports, but the public considers golf a sport for whatever reason. Racing, however, is a unique sport unlike anything else. I grew up around the short tracks of North Carolina and Virginia in a family with deep roots in racing, so I’m biased and defend it when people speak negatively about it. It’s more than just rednecks going in circles. Most people that (not saying you do) have this ignorant view would actually have a good time going to a local dirt track on a Saturday night. The big NASCAR events are long and overpriced and you don’t get your money’s worth. Not sure where you’re from but the Southeast is a hotbed for weekly short track action during the summer. I’d recommend it to anyone that’s never been to take in a night of racing this summer. (after a Saturday Braves day game, of course)

I haven’t bought your book but I enjoy your posts here. Keep up the good work.

by CMassey on Feb 3, 2011 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

I’m from Virginia Beach and lived in Charlotte, right down the road from the speedway, for six years. I’ve been to Nascar races and the dirt track races there. I just don’t see it. Entertainment? Certainly? Skill? Without a doubt. At every level. From the engineers who design the cars to the guys who work on them to the drivers. But a sport? I just don’t see it. There’s really no way for kids to play racing around the neighborhood, which, at least to me, is kind of an essential aspect of sport.

Appreciate the compliment. It’s Ok that you haven’t bought my book, many more people haven’t than have.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Feb 3, 2011 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

Difficult =/= athletic

Lots of things require skill. Writing a thoroughbred antivirus program takes skill, but no one’s calling that a sport.

That said, driving a car is not a sport, not even at high velocity on looped tracks. It’s driving a car fast on a looped track.

by J-Freak on Feb 3, 2011 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

I think both you and CB underestimate the physicality involved

It’s more than just cruising around a track. The conditions inside the racecar they have to endure for four hours is both mentally and physically torturing. We could argue this back and forth for days without budging on our respective stances. I was born into a racing family and love it. We’ll agree to disagree.

by CMassey on Feb 3, 2011 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

I mean, if that’s your criteria, why don’t we have a National Coal Miners League? The exact argument could be made in favor of that being a sport.

Again, just because it requires skill and is physically demanding does not make it a sport.

by J-Freak on Feb 3, 2011 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

If the coal miners are competing for something then a sport can be made of it, I guess. Make a trophy to compete for and a points system then call it a sport. If there are cheerleaders then it definitely qualifies as a sport. Also, if beer and overpriced food is sold to spectators, it’s in consideration to be a sport.

by CMassey on Feb 4, 2011 2:59 AM EST up reply actions