Caribbean Series
The Caribbean Series (''Spanish'': ''Serie del Caribe''), also called Caribbean World Series, is the highest tournament for professional baseball teams in Latin America. The tournament location is rotated annually among the countries and is norma ...
(''Serie del Caribe'') was played in . It was held from February 2 through February 7 with the champions teams from
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
(
Tigres del Licey
Tigres del Licey (English: Licey Tigers) is a professional baseball team in the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). The team was founded in 1907 and based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is one of two LIDOM franchises based in ...
Venados de Mazatlán
Venados de Mazatlán ( en, Mazatlán Deer) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican Pacific League based in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.
In 2016, the team won the Mexican Pacific League Championship and went on to win their second Caribbean Series ...
),
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at
Estadio Casas GEO
A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...
in
Mexicali
Mexicali (; ) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California. The city, seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali metropolitan area is home to 1,000, ...
,
Baja California
Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...
Tigres de Aragua of Venezuela clinched its first team Caribbean Series title and seventh as a country with a 5–1 record. Guided by
Buddy Bailey
Welby Sheldon "Buddy" Bailey (born March 28, 1957) is an American professional baseball manager and former Major League coach with 40 years of experience in the game, 30 as a minor league manager. Bailey is currently manager for the Myrtle Beach P ...
, the Venezuelan club took the top spot much more easily than expected, especially considering the absence of big-name stars, which was mitigated by playing small ball. In addition, the opportune hitting and sharp defense were bolstered by above-average running speed and strong
bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief pitchers warm up before entering a game. A team's roster of relief pitchers is also metonymically referred to as "the bullpen". These pitchers usually wait in the bullpen if t ...
support. Venezuela clinched the title with a 5–3 win over host Mexico before an overflow crowd at Mexicali's stadium. Closer Francisco Buttó set records with more saves in a series (4) and most saves in series history (6, including
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
and
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
editions), which was enough to be named the Most Valuable Player of the series. Also providing offensive support were SS
Luis Maza
Luis Alberto Maza Mayorca (born June 22, 1980 in Cumaná, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2008. Listed at 5'9", 180 lb., he bat ...
Selwin Langaigne Ray Sparenberg was a host of early horror movies from 1958 to 1963 as a character called Selwin, on WISH-TV in Indianapolis, Indiana.
One of the earliest hosts of the new rash of B-movies flooding the U.S. in the 1950s and 60s, Sparenberg later hos ...
(.280, three runs, three RBI) and 2B Ramón Castro (.286 BA, four RBI). The team only committed three errors and the pitching staff posted a collective 2.41
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
. Venezuela blasted only one
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in the series, but it was a good one as
first baseman
A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s in innings of work). Other members of the team included starter
Tim Harikkala
Timothy Allan Harikkala (born July 15, 1971) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He is an alumnus of Florida Atlantic University, where he played baseball for the Owls under head coach Kevin Cooney.
Career
Drafted by the Seattle Mariners ...
(0.00 ERA in six innings) and relievers
Ronald Belisario
Ronald J. Belisario (last name sometimes spelled Belizario) (born December 31, 1982) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. ...
Andrew Lorraine
Andrew Jason Lorraine (born August 11, 1972) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1994 to 2002 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Chicag ...
and
VÃctor Moreno
VÃctor Hugo Moreno (born June 10, 1979 in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo) is a Venezuela former professional baseball player. He was a set-up relief pitcher who bats and throws right-handed. He was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a non-drafted fr ...
; catching tandem of
Alex Delgado
Alexander Delgado (born January 11, 1971) is a former Venezuelan catcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston Red Sox in their 1996 Boston Red Sox season, 1996 season. Listed at 6' 0", 160 lb., Delgado batted and threw right-handed ...
and
Wilson Ramos
Wilson Abraham Ramos Campos (born August 10, 1987), nicknamed "The Buffalo", is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals ...
Luis Ugueto
Luis Enrique Ugueto o-geh-to(born February 15, 1979 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter who played for the Seattle Mariners in 2002 and 2003.
Originally signed by the Florida Marlins as an ...
, and
outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to cat ...
Jackson Melián
Jackson Melián (born January 7, 1980) is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder. Considered a top prospect, Melián received a record signing bonus for a Latin American player from the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) when ...
.
The experienced
Lorenzo Bundy
Charles Lorenzo Bundy (born November 6, 1959) is a former Minor League Baseball player and current manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the High-A Chicago White Sox affiliate. He has held Major League Baseball coaching positions with the Colorado ...
managed the Mexican club, represented by the Venados de Mazatlán, and finished in second place with a modest 3–3 mark. A strong
offense
Offense or offence may refer to:
Common meanings
* Offense or crime, a violation of penal law
* An insult, or negative feeling in response to a perceived insult
* An attack, a proactive offensive engagement
* Sin, an act that violates a known m ...
and solid
defense
Defense or defence may refer to:
Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups
* Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare
* Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks
* Defense industr ...
(only three errors) were not enough to compensate for poor pitching and a lack of speed on the basepaths. Leading the offensive charge were Edgar Gonzalez, who had the series' highest batting average at .423 (.454 OBP, .577 SLG), though his brother
Adrián González
Adrián González SavÃn (born May 8, 1982), also known by his nicknames "A-Gon" and "Titán", is a Mexican-American former professional baseball first baseman He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, ...
Walter Silva
Walter Silva (born January 4, 1977) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres.
Career Mexican League/San Diego Padres
Silva played in the Mexican League fro ...
, who posted a 1–1 record with 12 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA in two starts. The roster also included veteran pitchers Francisco Córdova and Pablo Ortega; catcher
Miguel Ojeda
Miguel Arturo Ojeda (born January 29, 1975) is a Mexican former professional baseball catcher. He has also served as a manager for both the Mexican Baseball League and Minor League Baseball.
Playing career
Minor League Career
Ojeda was signed ...
Freddy Sandoval
Freddy Carol Sandoval Herrera (born August 16, 1982) is a Mexican former professional baseball third baseman.
Sandoval played his collegiate baseball for the San Diego Toreros from 2002–2004, and was part of two conference championship teams du ...
Óscar Robles
Oscar Manuel Robles Arenas (born April 9, 1976) is a Mexican former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Currently he is the manager for the Generales de Duran ...
.
The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico finished tied in third place with a 2–4 record.
The defending champion Tigres del Licey, of the Dominican Republic, was a pale shadow of the glorious franchise that won 10 series titles (three undefeated) and posted a 65–24 record (.730 percentage) in 15 appearances between 1971 and 2008. Managed by
, the offense mustered little punch (.220 BA) and led the series with seven errors. The most prominent players were starters
Alfredo Simón
Alfredo Simón Cabrera, also known as The Big Pasta, (born May 8, 1981) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds. From 2001 thr ...
(1–0, five hits, seven SO in 7.0 innings) and
Ramón Ortiz
Ramón Diógenes Ortiz (born May 23, 1973) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Anaheim Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Los Angele ...
(1.42 ERA, five SO, innings); reliever Julio Mañón (two saves), and DH
Ronny Paulino
Ronny Leonel Paulino (born April 21, 1981) is a Dominican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles.
Career
Pittsburgh Pirate ...
(.381 BA, .762 SLG, five RBI). Also in the roster were pitchers Wilton Chávez,
Valerio de los Santos
Valerio Lorenzo de los Santos (born October 6, 1972) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher.
Milwaukee Brewers
De los Santos was originally signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent in 1993. He started his profession ...
,
Julio Mateo
Julio Cesar Mateo (born August 2, 1977) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher. The 6’0 tall 220 lb Mateo bats and throws right-handed. He was signed by the Seattle Mariners as a non-drafted free agent on May 15, .
Professional car ...
Jailen Peguero
Jailen Lorenzo Peguero (born January 4, 1981) is a Dominican professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His uncle, Leo Peguero, was a minor league player in the Yankee ...
Jorge Sosa
Jorge Bolivar Sosa (born April 28, 1977) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Washington Nationals, and ...
Erick Aybar
Erick Johan Aybar (born January 14, 1984) is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres. ...
,
Willy Aybar
Willy Del Jesus Aybar Marquez (born March 9, 1983) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is the older brother ...
,
Ronnie Belliard
Ronald Belliard (born April 7, 1975) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1998 to 2010 for the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardin ...
,
Anderson Hernández
Anderson Hernández Mejia (born October 30, 1982) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians, and Houston Astros as well as for ...
Ricardo Nanita
Ricardo Michael Nanita (born June 12, 1981) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and for the Dominican Republic national baseball team.
Amateur career
Na ...
, former big leaguer and ''ESPN'' Baseball Tonight broadcaster. The '' Boricuas'' team outscored their rivals, 18–16, despite a negative record of 2–4. The pitching staff was led by
Giancarlo Alvarado
Giancarlo Carlos (Martinez) Alvarado (born January 24, 1978) is a professional baseball pitcher. He was raised in Camuy, Puerto Rico. He has played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League and Nippon Professional Baseball as well as in intern ...
(1–0, 16 SO and a 2.32 ERA in innings), and posted one of the two shutouts in the series, while the offense was paced by SS Luis Figueroa (.389 BA, 4 RBI), 1B Carlos Rivera (.360 BA, 4 RBI) and 2B Andy González (.333 BA, 4 RBI). The rest of the roster was filled with starters
Bill Pulsipher
William Thomas Pulsipher (born October 9, 1973) is an American former professional baseball player. Pulsipher, a left-handed pitcher, played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and ...
(1.42 ERA, seven SO, innings); relievers
Iván Maldonado
Iván Maldonado Oquendo (born June 7, 1980) is a Puerto Rican-American baseball pitcher who is free agent.
Career
Maldonado was drafted by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 2002 MLB draft.
Maldonado was signed by the Long Island Ducks, ...
Eli Marrero
Elieser Marrero (born November 17, 1973), is a former Major League Baseball player. Marrero started his career as a catcher, but spent time at first base, third base and in the outfield.
Playing career
Marrero was selected in the third round of ...
,
Robinson Cancel
Robinson Cancel Castro (born May 4, 1976) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He made his Major League Baseball debut for the Milwaukee Brewers on September 3, 1999. He would not appear at the major league level again until J ...
and
Raúl Casanova
Raúl Casanova (born August 23, 1972) is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball player who was a catcher from 1996 to 2008 with the exception of 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2006.
Early life
Casanova attended Ponce High School in Puerto Rico.
Ba ...
; infielders
Fernando Cortez
Fernando Cortez (born October 29, 1981 in Stockton, California) is a former Major League Baseball infielder. His last MLB team was the Kansas City Royals.
Career Tampa Bay Rays
Cortez was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 9th round ...
Raúl González
Raul, Raúl and Raül are the Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Galician, Asturian, Basque, Aragonese, and Catalan forms of the Anglo-Germanic given name Ralph or Rudolph. They are cognates of the French Raoul.
Raul, Raúl or Raül may re ...
, among others. To fill the void last winter, Perez, who took over as Ponce's manager just one day before the start of the regular season, created the Winter Training Program for professional and amateur players on the island, and expressed cautious optimism that winter baseball in Puerto Rico was back to stay.
Final standings
Scoreboards
Game 1, February 2
Game 2, February 2
Game 3, February 3
Game 4, February 3
Game 5, February 4
Game 6, February 4
Game 7, February 5
Game 8, February 5
Game 9, February 6
Game 10, February 6
Game 11, February 7
Game 12, February 7
Television
*
MLB Network
The MLB Network is an American television sports channel dedicated to baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball, with Warner Bros. Discovery through its sports unit, Comcast's NBC Sports Group, Charter Communications, and Cox Com ...
Tom McCarthy Thomas McCarthy (also Tom and Tommy) may refer to:
Academia
* Thomas A. McCarthy (born 1940), American professor of philosophy
* Thomas J. McCarthy (born 1956), American professor of polymer chemistry at the University of Massachusetts
* J. Thomas ...
were the English play-by-play announcers, while Cookie Rojas and
Uri Berenguer
Uri Berenguer-Ramos (born 1982 in Panama) is a play-by-play announcer for the Boston Red Sox Spanish Beisbol Network.
Berenguer joined the Spanish Beisbol Network in 2000 as a statistician, engineer, pregame and postgame host, and play-by-play ann ...
were the color commentators based in the network's studios in
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus ( ) is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town's population was 16,264,Dan Plesac filled in on color as Berenguer took over play-by-play.
Caribbean Series
The Caribbean Series (''Spanish'': ''Serie del Caribe''), also called Caribbean World Series, is the highest tournament for professional baseball teams in Latin America. The tournament location is rotated annually among the countries and is norma ...