My LoDuca Bubble Head

Dodgers Stadium was my first visited baseball stadium in the US, it was my Honeymoon and I drove from San Francisco to LA just to attend a Dodger game.

I went to the gift shop to look for some Dodgers stuff, 2002 was the season we all began to knew Paul LoDuca, so instead of buying a Shawn Green bubble head or a Eric Gagne T-shirt I bought a LoDuca Bubble head, he was the player I admired in that roster, the little guy that gave everything for his team, the one who got hit very bad and stayed in the game, that was the kind of player the Dodgers needed, I still have the bubble head in my house, today rumors are sending Paul to an other team, no matter team LoDuca is headed he will stay in my Family Room.

Welcome to the Jungle

This is not about Eric Gagne when entering the game for another save, this is about the current situation of my country.

In the national Zoo a man tells a little black kid who is in a field trip to the zoo.

Hey kid, where is your father? He should be here with the monkeys (The kid is poor and Black), so the kid answers "you know what, you should be a comedian", this was a dialogue between our President Hipolito Mejia and a Little kid.

That was only one of his sarcastic and racist remarks, for four years Mr. Mejia had given us bad jokes after bad jokes, we got tired of his jokes so in May 16 we voted him out of the presidency.

His government is due next August 16, but of course they are not doing nothing for the country except stealing everything they can, give pensions to people that never attended work, anyway the country is in the middle of a energy crisis, the hospitals are not working at nights, they are not doing any surgeries, and the Health Minister is saying that there's nothing wrong with our public hospitals.

Thanks god that me or my Family does not need to attend a public hospital.

So please Mr. Mejia, stop the stupids jokes, everytime you open your mouth is to say something really stupid.

Once again forgive me for posting this in a blog that is supposed to post news about baseball, but I had to get this out of my mind.

 

Dodgers prospects maybe will play in the Dominican Winter League

The Escogido Lions will have as an special assistant Mr. Rene Francisco who is Director of International Baseball Operations, that means that any available prospect or minor leaguer will play here with Escogido, that's good because they'll play in Santo Domingo.
 
Last year a couple of Dodgers minor leaguers played with Estrellas, none was productive.
 
Let's see if the Dodgers are willing to send prospects to play here or to the Arizona instructional league, in 1988 the last World series won by the Dodgers was the year the LA team broke relations with Licey, since that both Dodgers and Escogido are into loosing seasons, will this be the year of Dodgers and Escogido? Let's see...

Jason over Juan, Random Thoughts

When Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta traded for Jason Werth many people questioned the move, now Werth in the 19 games he had started is batting 365, 6hr and 17 rbi, but the most important thing is the intesity he shows in the field, in yesterday game he robbed Alex Cintron a double by charging the ball and making a strong throw, he's the kind the player the Dodgers needs not a Mediocre player with an superstar attituded like Juan Encarnación, some times the DL can benefit a team, I say give Jason the opportunity to play every day and bench Encarnación, every time Werth is in the game he gives a 100%, not like Juan.
 
A whole different season for the Dodgers
 
Last season the Dodgers went thru a season that no one wants to remember, this year this far it looks different, I know is early and the Dodgers swept the worst team in the NL but let's look at some issues that are a whole different from last season.
 

1. In Fridays game we won after a terrific outing by Randy Johnson, yes the Dodgers made the runs after he left the game, but last year could be a 3-2 result in favor of the Diamondbacks, but Shawn Green hit a grand slam that no one exprected.
2. In Saturday game Guillermo Mota blew up a lead, last year was a guaranteed loss, but thios year was a HR by the bench in the name of Robin Ventura. Remember last year bench?
3. In Sunday's game the Dodgers had a career game by Cesar Izturis and Jason Werth, Cesar hit a 3 run HR, last year in the same situation he likely would have hitted a groudball or something similar.

The upcoming trades for the Dodgers

So far the Jason's trades have worked for the Dodgers, so when the GM says that he's talking to several team and is waiting for the right deal I believe him if we consider the results of the Jason's deals, of course the Milton Bradley is not what we expected but he's young and will get better, is not like the Dodgers gave Franklin Gutierrez for this year version of Jeremy Burnitz.

So my expectations on this year trade deadline are high, I think this year the Dodgers will get an impact player.

So the Dodgers have a bright future, at least I see it that way.

 

The Mondesi dilema continues

Mario Guerrero who warned the Anaheim Angels not to pay Raul Mondesi because of the lawsuit the he won against Mondesi.
 
This according to Diario Libre in this Saturday edition, let's see if the Angels will do the same the Pirates did and Raul reaction if they retain his salary.
  
 

Dominican winter league update

Here's a little update on the next winter league here.
 
Miguel Tejada said will no play with Aguilas. Too bad and good in the other hand, the fans will miss him, but the other teams will not.
 
The league reduce to 5 imported players, well, that's too bad, in recent years we only get rejects or prospects that are to way low to play in this league.
 
Escogido Lions changed owners, the owner for the last ten or more years handed the team to Mr. Julio Hazim, that's not bad except that Mr. Hazim owns the company that do comercialization for the tournament, he said he resign and handed the company to his son, yeah right!
 

The season will began october 22...

Dominican players Conquered the All Star show

I've been distant from blogging since last week, lots of work and trying to sell our apartment has held me from posting, but great things are happening for Dominicans.

First 11 Dominicans were in the All Star game (I'm counting out A-Rod) and the most voted player was Alfonso Soriano.

The Home run derby was won by Miguel Tejada, who broke a record of 15 HR in a round held by another Dominican Albert Pujols.

The MVP was Alfonso Soriano.

7 out of 9 of the AL runs were produced by Dominicans, Manny Ramirez (2), David Ortiz (2) and Alfonso Soriano (3).

3 out of 4 of the NL runs were also produced by fellow Dominicans Sammy Sosa (1) and Albert Pujols (2).

In the pitching department no Dominican Player was involved in the game.


In other news Dominican Republic defeat Puerto Rico and won the Gold medal in CentroBasket, a tournament of the Caribbean and Central America, so we beat them in Baseball in the Caribbean Series and in their Best Sport too.

Beating Puerto Rico is better than sweeping the Giants!

It's over. let's move on...

Gagne race to inmortality is over, today a blown save to the same team that started, in one point there will not be any more distractions for Gagne, let's start over again, after all, he's human.

American or Dominican League?

If you take a look at the offensive stats in the American League you may think that you are looking at a Winter League stat sheet, only that David Ortiz and Miguel Tejada play here at the Dominican Winter League.

Every day more Dominicans are into the leaders of the American League, here's a look:

AL Avg

Ivan Rodriguez TEX 381
Melvin Mora BAL 357
Vladimir Guerrero ANA 344
Manny Ramirez BOS 333

AL HR

David Ortiz BOS 21 (Tied with H.Blalock TEX)
Manny Ramirez BOS 20 (Tied with Paul Konerko CHI)
Vladimir Guerrero ANA 19

AL RBI

David Ortiz BOS 75
Vladimir Guerrero ANA 68
Miguel Tejada BAL 65
Manny Ramirez BOS 59

Hasta Cuando?!

Hasta cuando will be Nomo in the rotation, or even in the team, Hasta cuando will Green in the Line up? Hasta cuando the Dodgers will be loosing against the Giants?

When Dodgers manager Jim Tracy will be a man and admit thet Nomo can't be in the rotation? when he'll realized that Green should not be playing every day, he needs to be go to the Bench, Play Werth at 1B, Olmedo, or even the Strikeout king.

Dodgers fans deserve better, specially those in LA who are paying to see the Dodgers play, those who pay MLB.COM or DirecTV to watch them on TV, I deserve better, we all deserve better, stop playing with us, we suffer to much last year waiting for the help that never came, stop the bleeding or the patient will die.

Get rid of Nomo, Bench Green until he learns how to hit again...

Hasta cuando Coño!!!

Dominicans get relieve from the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox organization raised more than the $200,000 in a relief effort started by David Ortiz, the owner himself put down $100,000. Story.

It's good to know that an organization that many people loves here is making so a big contribution to the relief of the town of Jimani.

Good for them!!!

The Trade, Jose Guillen is traded

I'll use Rob headline to talk about a trade involving Jose Guillen, the trade involved Dominican Winter League teams, Guillen was traded to Licey current national and caribbean champion from Los toros del Este, Los Toros received Julio Mañon and Dodgers minor league player Jose Rojas.

This trade was made last year, but the Dominican League rejected because Guillen was selected in a draft when he was not protected by the Escogido Lions.

But this was good for licey because mañon was a key player for Licey in the regular season, becoming the closer until Francis Beltan came into play, Mañon is now pitching in Korea.

Beltran is an Astro

Carlos Beltran was dealt to the Astros, the A's got Octavio Dotel, the Royals got 3 prospects, everybody's happy now. story

DePodesta denies Mota Rumor

Dodgers GM Paul Depodesta denies the rumor of Carlos Beltran to the Dodgers.

"All along, anything involving us was a long shot because I know for sure we don't have what they're looking for," said DePodesta. "They're just about ready to go in the next day or two. From Day One when the rumors started, they told me we didn't have what they were looking for. For us to be involved would have taken three or probably four teams."

He said he will dealt, but not to the Dodgers.

Is that time of the year again

This time of the year means hope for us fans who's team are needing a extra bat or arm, this time of the year we hear any kind of rumors, this time of the years teams became buyers or sellers, is in this time of the season where fans get frustrated for the deal or the deal that your GM did not made.

Every morning I tried not to read Dodgers related news, every moment I'm expecting the big news about a big trade that will help the team, but every day I go to bed and now deal has been made.

Rumors already had Beltran with the Dodgers, but Paul Depodesta did not want to part with Guillermo Mota, they said Mota could be our next closer if an agreement is not reach with Gagne.

This year I think the trading market will different for the Dodgers, at least that's our GM has told us.

Good timing... Bad timing

Sometimes the best deal that you make is the one you did not make.

On Sunday after a day in the beach and a 2 hour drive and the stress of driving in Santo Domingo I took a long shower and prepared my self to watch the Dodgers-Yankees game, the original plan was to go with a friend to a Sport bar, but he was to drunk and I was too tired, sO I decided to stay home.

So the game started and I saw the Dodgers rally and the back-to-back HR by Matsui and Cairo, but then I was too tired and fall sleep, but then I woke up and decided to turn on the TV and there was Guillermo Mota leaving the box, Eric Gagne entering to face Alex Rodriguez, I got the chance to saw A-rod striking out against the great Gagne, that was Good timing.

Bad timing. On Monday I wanted so bad to watch the Dodgers-Giants game that I decided to try MLB.TV, so I signed up for 1 day, to see if my so called high speed cable connection works fine and could see a decent game. So I payed almost 3.00, you can say that's not too much, is a fair price if you can see the game, to my good luck there was a problem with cable so I could not saw the game, that's bad timing.

Bad timing again, at the beginning of this season I made the promise to myself to not loose sleep time because of the Dodgers, but last night I stayed very late just to see or read the Dodgers loose to the Giants, and to see a Deivi Cruz had the game of his life. That's bad timing.

Who's the racist? In defense of the people of Boston

Mr. Barry Bonds in recent declarations accuses the people of Boston of being racist.

People in Boston don't need my defense, but getting to know some of them and sharing public transportation with them for two weeks makes me feel to write in favor of them, and being grateful to them for such well treatment to all Dominicans who plays and live in Boston.

Bonds admitted in the Boston Globe article he has no firsthand experience, but said he has heard enough stories to form an opinion.

"Only what guys have said," Bonds said, "but that's been going on ever since my dad (Bobby) was playing baseball. I can't play like that. That's not for me, brother."

When the Globe reporter suggested the racial climate has changed in Boston, Bonds said, "It ain't changing. It ain't changing nowhere."

I've been to both San Francisco and Boston, both are great cities with great people, of course there's racism in both cities, but Bonds is the less indicated person to talk about it.

In Boston people love Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz, they both are black and from the poor third world country named Dominican Republic, they even love the speechless Manny Ramirez.

Bonds is the one who's having a war against the world, against the media, against himself and baseball, he's the one who's arrogant as any can be.

He's the one who got involved in a fight with white team mate Jeff Kent, he's the one making racial remarks.

One has to wonder if Bonds counts the 46 percent of nonwhites in Boston and 17.4 percent in the Boston metro area (according to the 2000 census) as "too racist" also?

Those are the kinds of things you should think about before making a declaration as damning as Bonds did.

Four years ago, Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker was suspended by baseball commissioner Bud Selig for making racial and ethnic remarks about foreigners, homosexuals and minorities in a magazine interview that, as Selig said, "offended practically every element of society."

link

Blue night

The Dodgers Won! this was not any victory, it was against the most hated team in MLB, but I'm not going to write about the game, if you want to feel what I felt read
Rob at 6-4-2 recap of the game, it's better than ESPN recap because it has feelings, and for the preview and great stat pay a visit to Jon at Dodger Thoughts.

Last night vicory was special for several reasons, the most obvious is the we beat the Yankees, but it was very special for Weaver, he got the win against the team who trated him, maybe this will be the boost he needs to regain confidence and be the pitcher avery Dodger fan expects.

For Juan was a good night as well, his RBI was for the go ahead run, he's been a little better in the last seven days.

But it was better for Dodgers fans who really deserved that win, specially those in Dodger Stadium.

The life of Pedro and Manny

You are what you eat, that’s what people said, but this is not the case of Dominican Players.

Since the day the first Dominican played in MLB teams are worried about the nutritional habits of the players, first when a player arrived to the United States because of the language barrier he had to eat fast food or the same thing for a long time.

Today with the academies in the Dominican Republic they teach young prospects English and how to behave in the American Society, they feed them well and teach them the right nutrition, but for some players to give up to some kind of foods is too hard, a recent report on Listin Diario shows a picture of Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez eating “Frituras|”, fried parts of chicken, pork and cows in Pedro’s town.

Here a part of the story on what Dominican Players do and eat in the off-season.

Pedro and Manny

Two cars arrived at Fenway Park players’ parking lot, both with different kind of music, from those cars you can see Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez, it’s 4:30, they have a game against the Yankees at 7:05 and Pedro will get the start.

Pedro Martinez just like many Latin players refuses to buy a house and lives in a hotel suite. He does not have any bizarre taste, just regular stuff like beer, sodas and Dominican food made by him. He stays in when there’s no game watching TV or reading. His vehicles are normal too, Mercedes, Lincoln and some sports cars, he dresses casual, when he’s going to pitch he stays in his room listening to instrumental music.

Manny Ramirez life you could say is a little messy, but is not, he’s married with two kids, he lives in the Ritz-Carlton of Boston, 4 blocks from Fenway, he also have an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, FL, well equipped, of course.

He likes rap, hip hop and Tekno, he drives a Maisto Premiere Mercedes S Class, a yellow TVR speed, a XJ220 Jaguar and Honda motorcycle, he hangs out with his wife and friends from his childhood.

He preffers any kind of rice, meat, beer, before games he plays Nintendo in his room.

Well, that’s in the U.S. but what about when they come to the Dominican Republic in the winter, Pedro is quiet, he stays home, he goes to some pubs, but he’s a family man, Manny do some partying too.

Life is different in the Dominican Republic, people is kind, there’s a lot of stuff to do, but for those players, specially Pedro the off season is a time to be with his family and friends, away from the media and opportunists.

Me against the world

All the people that surrounds me follows a different team, me, I follow the Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox, Toronto and sometimes the Cubs, my wife likes the Braves just because she went to Turner Field a couple of year ago, in the Dominican Winter Leagues I follow Licey, the Follows Escogido, it's like the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

My best friend loves the Yankees, I hate the Yankees and every NY sport team, he likes the Lakers and I hate the Lakers since the Larry Bird era, he also follows Escogido here.

In last year AL series we were in a sport bar watching the 7th game of the Yankees-Red Sox series, you all know the story, so I had to pay the tab...

We never rooted for the same team until this February that we were rooting for the Dominican team in the Caribbean Series.

Well, tomorrow at 8:00pm ET we will root for the same team again, for different reasons of course, me because I like the Dodgers, he, because he hates Pedro.

Tomorrow and Mondays newspapers will cover a lot of Sunday night game, the game will be watched by half the country, and me and my friend will be the only two rooting against Pedro, It will be fun to root against him.