Caribbean Series Championship Comes Back HOME To DR!

First, let me apologize to any of you who were looking forward to my updates on the Winter Baseball League, which I promised you and never delivered on...my bad! You see, what had happened was...I must confess to not owning a TV; I watch everything via the internet. And well, it's really hard to find baseball games from Latin and South America streaming online unless it's a big match-up. Like the Caribbean Series for example, which I did watch like a big old nerd girl.

Let me not keep you in suspense- the Dominican Republic kicked major Caribbean ASS, you hear me? Los Leones del Escogido went in there and dominated for the entire series, winning with a 5-1 record (damn you, Puerto Rico!!) and whooping their Venezuelan hosts twice during the series to get the big prize.



In second place, not that anybody cares, is Puerto Rico. They put up a good fight, a valiant effort, if you will, seeing as they started the series dead last. Los Indios de Mayagüez almost forced a tie-breaker with DR, but in the end the mighty peloteros of Santo Domingo showed them what's what. That team has a history of strong (and sex-AY) ball players so really, those Indios had their work cut out for them. Mexico came in 3d and poor, poor Venezuela? Yeah, they were dead last with a record of 1-5. OUCH. Did I mention they were hosting?

One of the highlights of the series was watching Mets prospect Fernando Martinez win MVP of the Caribbean Series. This Dominicano is desperate for another chance at the big leagues, but with Minaya and company bringing in Gary Matthews, Jr. to cover for the always-ailing Carlos Beltran, Martinez's 2010 season might begin in Triple-A instead.

His powerful performance during the Caribbean Series (he hit .348 with four RBI and two home runs in six tournament games) gives Fernandez hope that the Mets will put him on the opening day roster this spring. He told MLB.COM reporters, "I know I'm a big league player, and I can perform at a high level. It's in my hands, so I have to keep working hard and maybe earn a spot."

I will definitely be watching out for this hard-hitting pelotero; here's hoping the Mets don't let him slip away!

So here's a huge Brugal y Presidente toast to my Dominicanos: Felicidades!!! Now, how can I get an exclusive interview with Julio Manon? Anyone? Please?



I like me some him!!!

Sugar: The Realest Baseball Movie You Will Ever See

Last year, after being stood up for a date (I know- it's hard to believe that any man would be foolish enough to leave me hanging but YES, it's true) I decided not to waste the night and took myself to the Angelika on Mercer to see a movie. And good thing, too, because I got there right in time for the next showing of a film I'd heard about online, Sugar, about a Dominican baseball player (what else? lol) recruited to play in the minors in the US.

Introducing The Dominican Winter Baseball League

You puny Americans!

There you are, sitting around going nuts because April can't get here soon enough. Meanwhile, I'm over here enjoying the Dominican Winter Baseball Leagues, trying to decide which team I want to root for!

The Dominican Winter Baseball League is one of four that participates in the Caribbean Series along with Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico (Cuba & Panama used to be down, but Cuba's league disbanded[thanks a lot, Castro!] and Panama shut down shop in 1972). One guess as to which country has the most championships under their belts... mhmm... don't hate! Since 1971 the championship has come home to DR 17 out of 35 times. OWWWWW!

The series itself began as a way to garner more interest in the winter teams after the American MLB began to recruit and snatch up the best Caribbean players. You can all thank Oscar Prieto and Pablo Morales for this cold weather escape from American basketball and football blues, and while you're at it, thank god that you know me and that I came over here to tell you about the leagues!

But ok, back to the Dominican teams... there are six: Las Águilas Cibaeñas, Las Estrellas Orientales, Los Gigantes del Cibao, Los Leones del Escogido, Los Tigres de Licey and Los Toros (formerly Los Azucareros) del Este Get to know those names, because from here on out, until spring training starts up and The Amazin' Mets come back into my life or one of my kids tak up a sport, this is what will be consuming my life.

You've been warned.