Astros claim Dominican baseball player Fernando Martinez off waivers, Astros firma pelotero Dominicano Fernando Martinez

The Astros were horrible last year.  They are the Dominican Baseball Guy's hometown team, and the Dominican Baseball Guy was forced to see the brutally bad team up close all last year.  But silver lining right?

So, the worst record in MLB landed the Astros first on the off-season waiver wire and allowed them to claim highly heralded Fernando Martinez off the waiver wire.

Fernando Martinez was a top-5 prospect in the Mets system from 2006-2010.  Most Mets fans saw him as a cornerstone outfield player, and left-handed bat to boot.  Some Mets bloggers think he still could be that cornerstone left-handed hitter the Mets have sorely needed in recent years.  But there are only a certain number of spots available at Spring Training, and the Mets chose to finally let him go.

He will be competing for an outfield spot with the Astros, and it will be a highly competitive competition to make the Astros opening day roster as an outfielder.  Martinez has played in 82 big league games with the Mets, but never lived up to the potential.  This has been at least partially due to injuries.  He should get the chance to at least test that potential with the Astros, though he does have a minor league option remaining, so the club could send him to the minors to start the season.

In any case, this is at least some hope for an Astros team looking to rebuild.  He adds to the plethora of young talent in on the Astros big league club.

Fernando Martinez is from Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Fernando Martinez with the Mets in  2009, by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dodgers Tommy Lasorda gets a statue at the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame, Tommy Lasorda tiene estatua in Salon de Fama de Beisbol Latino

Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda recently got a statue at the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame in La Romana, Dominican Republic.  See the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame website here: http://www.salondelafamadelbeisbollatino.com/.

Lasorda is well known in baseball circles as being friendly to Latin players and a huge fan of Latin baseball.  He was a founding member of the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame, so it is natural that they gave him a statue.  Lasorda's  most significant contribution to Latin baseball is probably the 1973 Caribbean Series, in which he led Tigres del Licey to the title.  The team set a mark for the best record ever in the series at 5-1.

He now serves as the Latino Hall of Fame's Goodwill Abasodor and is a Special Advisor to the Chairman of the Dodgers.  He has been with the Dodgers for six decades.

Tommy Lasorda in 2010 Spring Training appearance with the Dodgers, by SD Dirk on Flickr

Braves minor leaguer Jairo Asencio Most Valuable Player in Caribbean Series, Jugador Mas Valioso de la Serie Caribe

Atlanta braves minor league player and Dominican Republic native Jairo Ascencio was named the most valuable player of the 2012 version of the Caribbean Series, or Serie del Caribe for the Dominican Baseball Guy's Spanish speaking friends.  He actually played in six games with the big league club last season, but spent most of the year Gwinnet Braves, the AAA affiliate of the Braves.  See the recap from ESPN Deportes or from Diario Libre a Dominican daily.

He has been a closer for the last three years in the minors and served that role for the Dominican team in the Caribbean Series.  In a twist only seen in winter baseball, Asencio actually played for the Toros in the regular season this year in the Dominican Winter Baseball League.  He was called in as a "reinforcement" for the Dominican team represented by LIDOM champion Escogido.  

The teams from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela all do the same thing: stck their domestic league champion with "reinforcements" of the top players from the losing teams.

So, Jairo Asencio was picked up as a "reinforcement" and stepped right into the closer's role for Escogido and the Dominican Republic team.  He was 3-3 in save chances and didn't allow a hit in three innings.  For that he was the Jugador mas Valioso de la Serie Caribe 2012, or MVP of the Caribbean Series.  The Dominican Baseball Guy knows it is not much of a sample, but hey it's the Caribbean Series they only play six games.

It is a touching story for the young pitcher.  Asencio's mother died last year, so he was happy, but disappointed that she could not see it.  Said the closer:

“Estoy feliz por la distinción, pero hay un espacio que estuviera lleno si mi madre estuviera viva”, expuso el joven jugador.

And for the Dominican Baseball Guy's English speaking friends that is, "I am happy for the distinction, but the is always an empty space in my heart where my mother was."

Jairo Ascencio is from Sabana Grande de Palenque, Dominican Republic.  From his statistics and this performance it looks like he could be pushing for a spot on the big league roster next year.

But the Dominican Baseball Guy knows little to nothing about the Braves farm system.  Any Atlanta Braves fans out there to comment?

Jairo Ascencio receives the Caribbean Series MVP trophy, photo by Victor Perez 

LIDOM Champions Escogido has victory parade, Campeones LIDOM Escogido tiene desfile de victoria

As all the followers of the Dominican Baseball Guy well know, Escogido won the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) championship last week.  And like any major sports franchise, they had a parade to celebrate the accomplishment with their fans.

Players and management made their way through the capital of the Dominican Republic and the home city of Escogido, Santo Domingo.  The team started the parade at the famous Quisqueya Studium, the home stadium of both Escogido and Licey, and the parade traveled throughout the capital city.  They ended the parade at the Palacio de los Deportes Virgilio Travieso Soto where entertainment featured reggaeton singer Secret and the Los Hermanos Rosarios merengue group.

The desfile de Escogido certainly looked like a great time.  See Escogido General Manager Moises Alou celebrating and the best photo roll of the Escogido parade.  But the Dominican Baseball Guy's favorite image of the parade comes from one of the Dominican Republic's major dailies, the Diario Libre:

Escogido wins Dominican Winter Baseball League title and goes to Caribbean Series, Escogido gana LIDOM y va a Serie del Caribe

American Andy Dirks hit a walk off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning of the final game of the LIDOM nine game final series to send Escogido to the Caribbean Series.  Basically this was like hitting a walk of hit in game seven of the World Series.  See the Dominican Baseball Guy post on the very cool and interesting LIDOM playoff format.

Pablo Ozuna, Mauro Gomez, Wilkin Castillo, Julio Borbon and Jose Constanza, also starred for Escogido at the plate. Aneury Rodriguez and Nelson Figueroa provided releif pitching to hold off the Aguilas Cibaneas after they got off to a 4-0 lead.

Miguel Tejada made an appearance and hit a home run for the Aguilas.  He is one of the most beloved players in Aguilas history, and in the history of the LIDOM for that matter.

What a game!  The Aguilas got up 4-0, then the Leones came back and were up 5-4 in the top of the ninth.  MLBer Fernando Rodney blew the save and the Aguilas tied it up 5-5 in the ninth.  Then Dirks became the hero in the bottom of the ninth.  See the highlights of this great game and amazing atmosphere:

This is the 14th LIDOM title for the Leones de Escogido.  They have three Caribbean Series titles.  The Leones go on to face the winners of the winter baseball leagues in Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.  The Serie del Caribe will take place in the Leones home stadium this year, the Quisqueya Studium in Santo Domingo.

See the Dominican Baseball Guy post on the very cool and interesting LIDOM playoff format.

MLB team to sign Dominican baseball player Manny Ramirez? Pelotero Dominicano va a jugar en MLB este año?

So, I am the Dominican Baseball Guy (DBG), not the "Manny Ramirez Guy," even though we have seen tons of Manny Ramirez posts recently.  With that said, any news on Manny Ramirez is news to the Dominican Baseball Guy.  Manny is, after all, one of the most beloved Dominican Baseball players of all-time.

ESPN first reported and the Big Lague Stew blogged that Manny Ramirez wants to return to MLB this year.  Well bloggers are coming out of the woodworks saying they want him on their team.  One article makes a convincing case that there is no downside to signing Manny Ramirez.  Basically he will have to serve a 50 game suspension in the minor leagues, so any team that signs him can send him to the minors and if he does not perform well in triple A then he will not get the call up to the big league squad.  And in the case that he stays in the minors, he will also earn a minor league salary.  So, the article seems to be right on point, not much risk for a big league club in signing him.

Indians bloggers are calling for Manny to return to the Indians.  Mets bloggers want him for their team.   And how about Manny Ramirez with the Yankees?  The Pinstripe Alley bloggers say bring Manny Ramirez to the Yankees.

As the Mets blogger says in a final point, "If nothing else, Manny will provide daily news."  Not exactly an argument a GM wants to hear.  But for a blogger such as the Dominican Baseball Guy, that is a great reason to have him on your team!

Manny Ramirez es de Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana.  Here's hoping he lands somewhere for the upcoming season.

Manny Ramirez rounding the bases with the Red Sox, by Keith Allison  on Flickr

Brewers re-sign Dominican baseball player Carlos Gomez, Dominicano firma con Brewers

The Brewers re-signed Carlos Gomez, and in so doing they avoided arbitration with the player, who will be in his sixth big league season this year, all with the Brewers.  The Brew Crew has six other arbitration eligible players yet to resign.

Gomez has been a successful major leaguer over five seasons.  He was the youngest player in the NL when he made his debut with the Mets in 2007.  He was traded to the Twins in the Johan Santana deal and was the Twins everyday center fielder for two seasons.  For the last two years he has been a utility outfielder and pinch hitter for the Brewers.  He was an important part of their playoff run last year, even as a bench player.

He should fight for an everyday outfield spot this year, and should see the 90-plus games he saw the last two years.  Gomez is from Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Carlos Gomez with the Brewers, photo by Steve Paluch on Flickr

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 

Profit from your fantasy baseball skills

The Dominican Baseball Guy is a huge fan of fantasy baseball and he runs several fantasy teams each season.

Fantasy baseball is a perfect way for LIDOM fans to put their baseball knowledge to the test, as it takes tons of baseball knowledge to draft and manage your team successfully. Not only do you need to know a lot about baseball, but you also have to be willing to keep tabs on fantasy baseball stats on a daily basis, filling any gaps or soft spots in your roster through trades or free agent additions.

If that sounds like a lot of work, it can be, but it's also great training for a potentially profitable way to put all that baseball knowledge to work. More and more fantasy baseball fans are cashing in each year as they put their skills to the test at sportsbetting sites, competing both in fantasy contests as well as betting on the outcome of baseball games. It may seem intimidating and risky at first glance but the same skills that help you succeed in fantasy sports also translate to sportsbetting success.

Preparation is key to both, as well as being able to analyze historical stats and find favorable match-ups. Knowing that a certain team plays well against the pitcher they're about to face gives you an edge when fielding your fantasy team just as it does when you place a wager on an online casino. While your predictions don't always pan out you can be successful in both by simply being right more often than wrong a majority of the time, so you don't need to be psychic to succeed.

In addition to betting on sports you, can use your same account to play roulette online, compete in poker tournaments, and enjoy tons of other betting games. Most successful bettors stick to sports and poker (as they're the only games you don't face a house advantage at) but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun from time to time and enjoy gambling it up at games like blackjack, craps, or online slots.

BYU baseball team goes 4-0 against Major League Baseball Dominican academy teams, and make huge charitable donation to Republica Dominicana

As the Dominican Baseball Guy (DBM) recently blogged, the BYU baseball team planned to play a series of games and do some charitable work over Thanksgiving in the Dominican Republic.  Well, they just completed their trip.

The BYU baseball team went 4-0 against the Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, and Yankees Dominican academy teams.  See the official press release here: BYU baseball team returns home from Dominican Republic trip.

The baseball games were surely a great workout, but the entire team agrees that is was there work and donations with local schools and baseball programs that was the most fulfilling part of the trip.  According to BYU head baseball coach Vance Law:

Initially, our players felt they were going to be helping people in need and now in hindsight it was they who benefited the most from these experiences.

The team and coaches coordinated with 5 Star Legacy to make the donations.  They donated 1300 hygiene kits, 11 pallets of baseball equipment, and nutritional supplies to schools, orphanages, and private homes.  Spending as much time as the Dominican Baseball Guy has spent in the country, the DBG can attest that all these things are sorely needed.  Americans take things like toothbrushes and soap for granted, but these things are luxury items in poorer parts of the Dominican Republic.  Many of the DBG contacts did not brush their teeth or bath regularly.  And a great number of children are malnourished, so nutritional items are also needed.  And of course the baseball equipment is needed and appreciated.

Great work by BYU and the 5 Star Legacy Foundation.  Visit the 5 Star Legacy Foundation and make a donation: