Outside Guatamare Stadium in Porlamar at Margarita Island, Venezuela
For those dying to see some live baseball, your wait is over. Beginning today the round robin tournament better known as the Caribbean Series begins.
If you’re not fortunate enough to be in Margarita Island, Venezuela to see the games in person but you have the MLB Network you can catch games daily at 3:30pm and 7:30pm eastern time (today’s first game is listed on mlb.com as starting at 2:30pm so check your local listings). Those of you without the MLB Network check at mlb.com for coverage via MLB.com’s Gameday. The Caribbean Series will be broadcast on radio at: Dallas–Fort Worth (KFLC 1270 AM); Miami (ESPN Deportes 1450 AM); New York (WNSW 1430 AM); Philadelphia (WUBA 1480 AM); and Washington, DC (WMET 1160 AM).
The four nations represented are Puerto Rico (Indios de Mayaguez) and the Dominican Republic (Leones de Escogido) who meet in today’s matinee game, and Mexico (Naranjeros de Hermosillo) and Venezuela (Leones de Caracas) who are scheduled for the nightcap.
According to Lou Di Falco’s blog, the New York Mets organization will have one representative on each of the four teams, with pitcher Elmer Dessens on the Mexico roster, pitcher Tobi Stoner on the Dominican Republic roster, pitcher Roy Merritt on the Puerto Rico roster and outfielder Alejandro Machado on the Venezuela roster.
59 comments
Kingman 26
2/2/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Margarita Island? I like!
Is that near Whiskey Sour Inlet or Pomegranate Martini Cove?
fongy2
2/2/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
I have been there my friend(2002) and it is beautiful!
stickguy
2/2/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Funny, I never figured Stoner fro being form the DR or Merrit from PR.
unless there aren’t residency requirements, of course!
At least if these 2 go down for the season, no one is likely to notice.
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
I would’ve figured a Stoner to be from Columbia, Panama, California or Hawaii myself.
saltygary
2/2/2010-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Acapulco Gold!
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t care what it’s called as long as it’s sticky and you can smell it from miles away. Uh oh I’ve said too much.
fongy2
2/2/2010-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
And always, always follow instuctions….Clean the screen
before packin’ the green!
saltygary
2/2/2010-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
Heb liking the sticky icky is now officially google’able
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Also likey the funky skunky!
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Gracias a Dios por pseudonyms.
Kingman 26
2/2/2010-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Y para las plantas verdes.
CaseStreet
2/2/2010-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
Sweet!
There’s no residency requirements.
I was hoping Fernando and Figgy would make it.
Gotta keep a lookout on LHP Roy, he had a pretty good year as the AA closer and may join the BP soon.
fongy2
2/2/2010-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
Its baseball at last!…You guys might want to keep an eye on Merritt who kinda reminds me of Feliciano. Extreme side-armer
who may one day help in the Pen as a Lefty specialist.
I saw him, I think three times last season but always in
sort of mop-up type situations. He did however, come in and
just get outs…So….I think though Case, he’s a couple yrs
away. Kinda looks like Dontrelle Willis.
trs86
2/2/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
I thought that Fmart was going to make it according to reports. Hmmm. Wonder what happen. I know he was lights out in the playoffs. Must be a different league.
fongy2
2/2/2010-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
I thought he was shut down b/c he was hurt?
trs86
2/2/2010-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
I think that was early and then he returned right?
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
He and Nelson Figueroa were both on the Leones de Escogido roster prior to this round, in fact he batted 3rd and went 1-4 in the game that clinched their appearance in the Series (which was started and lost by Victor Zambrano), but he’s not listed on their current roster and neither is Nelson, just Stoner.
trs86
2/2/2010-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmm, do you have that current roster? When I click on the espn link he is listed.
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
The first link is the Leones de Caracas which shows Thole but not someone named Maldanado who actually caught most of the series prior to this for them.
http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l135&t=t_ros&cid=695
The second link is the Leones de Escogido not showing FMart but showing Stoner.
http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l131&t=t_ros&cid=671
trs86
2/2/2010-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
Odd, the same roster reports has Tatis playing for Estrellas de Oriente
trs86
2/2/2010-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
After reading these rosters I am more confused than I was. I wonder if the Mets would do us a favor and actually make a post on it on their blog. Or perhaps the unoffical official Mets blog?
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
Tatis may very well have been on that team, but that team is not in “The Series.”
I couldn’t find anyone other than the guy I reference in the post that had even written anything about the Caribbean Series except for mlb.com or wikipedia.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, you are right. I just assumed those were the teams on the pull down menu with the roster you sent me.
Perhaps we can finally find out once the games are played? Would be nice for the Mets to get some good PR here and mention it.
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Thole still is listed on the Leones de Caracas roster according to mlb.com but I recall he was pulled out of Venezuela a while back. He does not appear in any of the box scores for the 7 game series that they won to get to this point.
trs86
2/2/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
Thole was sent back to get ready for ST. I remember that.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
According to Cerrone for what it’s worth:
Today at 2:30 pm, on the MLB Network, Puerto Rico will take on Fernando Martinez and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean World Series.
…thanks to JR for the heads up…
Martinez is batting .191 with one extra base hit in 14 games for Escogido.
Meanwhile, Tobi Stoner is 4–2 with a 3.10 ERA in nine starts.
trs86
2/2/2010-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=1191
fongy2
2/2/2010-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for that. If FMart is 6’1″ 200lbs, he nust
have grown and filled out alot in the past year.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
Agree. Muscle weighs more than fat right?
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
Thats what they say BUT in my 40s I seemed
to have gained alot more fat weight than musle weight.
Seriously though,last I saw this kid up close and I mean up close( afew feet away)
he was no more than 5’10″/5’11″&180ibs
and that wasin ’08.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
It’s not unusual in sports for a guy to fudge that much on stats. However, also remember the kid is still most likely growing. One thing, however, you sure he’s not at least 6 ft? He looks tall to me.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
I will say this pick looks like he has filled out some.
http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Martinez_Escogido_headshot_cropped.jpg
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, no dout!
Hey, maybe good fortune stikes us for a change and
this kids becomes all hes been hyped up to be.
That would be nice!
trs86
2/2/2010-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
I actually think he will turn out to be a productive MLB player. I know you like this guy but to me he screams DeJesus.
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Thats what I’ve been saying my friend for some time now.
I just hope we dont have to wait until hes 24
like The Royals did w/DeJesus.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
Hyde had him at 6’1â€, 190 lbs to start last season.
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
No I’m not “sure”.
BUT like i said this was ayr and a half ago.
I’m a little over 6’3” and
was looking down at him though.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
Year and a half ago is a long time for a kid.
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
True dat!
I hadn’t seen
by 16y/o nephew in a
a few months
and he went from being about an inch shorter
than me to being an inch
taller.
Ahh, Da utes!
trs86
2/2/2010-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Besides Fongy, you look down on about all players or FO on the Mets. Oh, that is not what you meant. Sorry.
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
I thought it but didn’t type it.
fongy2
2/2/2010-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Thats alright!…
I thought too
as I was typing that post……
Kingman 26
2/2/2010-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
I think that weight includes leg braces, crutches, and maybe a cast or two…..
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
Timmy!
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
those who are watching may have already noticed the information I had to make this post is not accurate. FMart is starting in RF for the Dominican and batting 6th, and Jesus Feliciano is starting in CF and batting lead off for Puerto Rico.
Also, Ken Oberkfell is managing the Dominican entrant.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
WHOOOOOO! Go Famrt. Do you have a link to the Gameday?
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
I’m watching on TV but I’ll see if I can find one and post it here.
trs86
2/2/2010-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
I got it. Thanks:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2010_02_02_purwin_domwin_1&mode=gameday
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
Can you look up how many HR Willie Stargell hit in 1977? Nevermind, I got it.
I hyperlinked the gameday info to the phrase “MLB.com’s Gameday” in the original post as well.
metsfan4decades
2/2/2010-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
And thanks for this heads up. I’ve been tuned in all day as I’m working.
wannybackstra
2/2/2010-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
I hope Fongy doesn’t blame this series for F-Mart’s next injuries.
Kingman 26
2/2/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
No, FMart’s next injuries will CLEARLY be due to last year’s WBC…or maybe the 2006 WBC….
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
FMart grounded out to SS, 0-1. Didn’t exactly appear to be “busting it” down the line but to be fair maybe that’s similar to Beltran never looking like he’s running fast.
Mr North Jersey
2/2/2010-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
If you are not at home and would like to watch game.
http://www.justin.tv/elpizzero5#r=Afp7Xp4
fongy2
2/2/2010-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you for that !
I love the IMing on the site during the game….
especially the discussions about venezuelan woman!
metsfan4decades
2/2/2010-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
And for those watching on MLB network let me just say that the music at the stadium is very cool….
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
For anyone who cares the announcers just said that Nelson Figueroa will be starting tomorrow for the DR team (managed by Ken Oberkfell).
metsfan4decades
2/2/2010-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
Does that game start the same time this one did today?
GravediggerHebner
2/2/2010-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
MLB.com says DR versus Mexico at 3:30pm tomorrow so Nelson will be in the day game. Today’s first game is listed as 2:30pm but all subsequent day games say 3:30pm.
One hint is if you know who is playing who you’ll always know if it’s the day game or the night game because as host nation Venezuela always gets the night game.