While age, injuries and federal investigations have taken their toll on the later stages of Bond’s career, the home run record holder’s recent hip surgery serves as proof he’s not giving up.

Bonds hasn’t played since September 2007 and may miss spring training but should be ready to return by Opening Day.

Full Article:

http://www.afro.com/tabid/456/itemid/2546/Bonds-May-Return-to-Baseball.aspx

Photo courtesy of wikio.com

Second place Industriales, is one and a half games ahead of Pinar del Rio (13-14), which lost their series closer to Metropolitanos (11-16). In the Sunday opener, Pinar’s Yunieski Maya pitched nine scoreless innings for a six-hits shutout, with Osniel Madera going 2-for-4 with two doubles and pinch hitter Raidel Hernandez knocking in the winning runs.

The Isla de la Juventud (11-14) exchanged mercy rule wins with Matanzas (9-18) and is now tied with Pinar del Rio. Matanzas managed to knock out Wilber Perez (4-1) in 1 2/3 innings, in his first loss of the season, hitting him for five runs, four unearned. In that game, shortstop Yadil Mujica homered and had 5 RBIs with only one hit in two official at-bats.

And speaking of homeruns, the sole leader on the year, Santiago’s Rolando Meriño, had four blasts over the weekend and now has nine in the tournament. Sancti Spiritus catcher Yenier Bello follows him with eight and Cienfuegos first baseman Jose Dariel Abreu with seven. Both Bello and Abreu homered in the third and final series game between Sancti Spiritus (11-14) and Cienfuegos (7-18) that was called in the eighth inning with the score 15-9 in Cienfuegos favor. Frederich Cepeda and Osvaldo Arias also homered in the game.

Meriño led his team, Santiago (13-13), to a double header win over Granma (8-19), 10-8 and 19-8 after losing Saturday. In all, he went 5-for-10 with seven RBIs. The defending champions are now in fifth place, eight games behind Villa Clara. Holguin (18-9) split on Sunday with Guantanamo (10-15) with Holguin’s Luis M. Rodriguez picking up his fifth win in the second game.

Villa Clara (20-4) became the first team to reach 20 victories after their two wins on Sunday over Camaguey (17-10). Closer Yolexis Ulacia picked up his eighth save and shares the league lead with Vladimir Garcia of Ciego de Avila, who picked up two saves to complete the Ciego sweep over Las Tunas, which lacked the offensive contribution of Osmani Urrutia.

This article was written by Cuban sports writer Ariel B. Coya.

Courtesy of BaseballdeCuba.com

The fields are being manicured and the canteen stocked full ready for the largest gathering in the three years the Macleay has hosted this tournament.

The stage has been extended to include two teams from New Zealand and a team from Western Australia Country including players from Kalgoorlie and Port Hedland.

Two Northern Territory teams will be returning for their third appearance.

Also included in the seven day tournament are teams from Newcastle, the Central Coast, Coffs Harbour and two Macleay teams.

Full Article:

http://kempsey.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/other/fields-set-for-regional-baseball-championships/1400535.aspx

The 15,000-seat Wukesong Sports Center baseball field, listed by Olympic organisers as a temporary venue even before the Games were held in August, had become the first venue slated for the wrecking ball, the Beijing News said today.

Full Article:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0105/olympics.html

Walker slugged his way past a talented group of long ball hitters in the Championship Round which included Ryan Gunhouse, (TX); Dante Bichette (FL); Bryce Harper (NV); and Randal Grichuk (TX). Harper (NV) Set a new International record with a monster 502′ Home Run and was presented the award for the longest homer by Babe Ruth’s granddaughter, Linda Tosetti.

Created in 2004 by Brian Domenico, the Power Showcase strives to celebrate one of the most exciting moments in sports, the home run, while providing a platform for top high school players to showcase their power-hitting skills.

The Home Run Derby has evolved from a regional competition in southern Florida to an international event with at least one representative from each of the fifty states as well as competitors from Europe and South America.

Power Showcase Home Run Derby Champions:

2009 Home Run Derby Award Winner
Christian Walker
Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic H.S. - PA

2008 Home Run Derby Award Winner
Zack Helgeson
Hidden Valley High School - Roanoke, VA

2006 Home Run Derby Award Winner
Kevin Patterson
Oak Mountain High School - Birmington, AL

Source: Power Showcase

Even after he left.

He’d sweep into the Rogers Centre press box, grab dinner, scoop up a bag of popcorn for dessert and head down the hall to watch the Jays play, sitting beside his lifelong pal Howard Starkman.

The team used to be his baby.

He helped lure four million fans into the SkyDome back in his day.

He brought in free agents Dave Winfield, Jack Morris and Roger Clemens.

Then, he was off to New York to run Major League Baseball, but he was always around when in town.

Paul Beeston was never more around than in 2008.

He helped the Jays find a new manager — even if it was a former manager — in Cito Gaston.

He brought back a minor-league co-ordinator — even if he was an ex-minor league co-ordinator — in Mel Queen to monitor the Jays farm teams and prospects.

And now, as interim CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, he will be responsible for hiring a new team president to replace Paul Godfrey.

All of which makes Paul McGill Beeston, who attended the University of Western Ontario, Sun Media’s choice as the most influential Canadian in baseball for 2008 in our second annual poll.

Our top-to-bottom list, with 2007 rankings in brackets:

Full Article:

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/baseball/2009/01/02/7904221.html

The camps will focus on the fundamentals of hitting, fielding and throwing mechanics in order to provide youngsters with the basic techniques that will help them develop and improve their baseball skills.

Four Angels’ Baseball free agent scouts - Arnold Brathwaite (a native of the Virgin Islands), Ron Marigny, Kevin Ham and Leo Perez - will supervise and provide instruction at the Angels Youth Baseball Camps for children (ages 9-13) and also conduct tryouts for baseball players, ages 14 and up. Further information on the camps/tryouts is listed to the right:

CAMPS/TRYOUTS SCHEDULE
Jan. 9: Tryout Camp (ages 14 & up), Lionel Roberts Stadium, St. Thomas
Jan. 10: Youth Camp (ages 9-13), Emile Griffith Stadium, St. Thomas
Jan. 10: Youth Camp (ages 9-13), DC Canegata Park, St. Croix
Jan. 11: Tryout Camp (ages 14 & up), DC Canegata Park , St. Croix

The Angels Youth Baseball Camps are free to all children between the ages of 9 - 13. In order for any child to participate, a liability waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian. Youngsters should bring their own baseball cap, glove and cleats.

Media Release: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Wooten, once a player and manager with the team, and Lucas, a friend and executive director of the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency, appreciate that Smalls is taking another stab at immortality for the Clowns and himself in the process.

Full Article:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/01/02/black_baseball_history_stays_alive_on_web

Villa Clara is without any discussion the best team in the beginning of the season. The team presents a record of 18-3 along with three suspended games. The manager Eduardo Martín Saura has filled great expectations in their fans toward the 2009 postseason. The Villa Clara Orangemen should probe that they can win in the Play Offs and their performance now is showing it.

Leonys Martín (.344) and Ariel Borrero (.317) are leading the Orangemen but young players like shortstop Aledmis Díaz (.295) and Yorkis La Rosa (.286) are also helping the team.

Their pitching staff is second in the Cuban League with an excellent 2.92 ERA, only behind the Holguín Dogs (2.91). Individually Yuliet López (3-0-3.08 ERA) and Yolexis Ulacia (2-0, 7 saves, 2.41 ERA) are commanding the team.

Villa Clara is two games in front of Holguín Dogs (in the East). The Dogs have been one of the few greatly surprises since the beginning of the Cuban Series. Holguín presents a record of 17-7 and has in its pitching staff two of the best pitchers in Cuba nowadays, lefthander Aroldis Chapman and righthander Luis M. Rodríguez.

Chapman is leading in victories with five and has 34 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings pitched. While, veteran Luis M. Rodríguez, who was part of the Cuban National Team during the Beijing Olympic Games, is 4-1 and a 2.20 ERA.

Team Camagüey Potters, has emerged as a surprisingly rival for teams like Santiago de Cuba Wasps, Ciego de Avila Tigers and Las Tunas Magicians. All of them, contending for a 2009 Postseason spot in the Eastern League.

The Potters, under a new manager, the legendary shortstop and outfielder Luis Ulacia, also presents two pitchers that are having a great season. Right-handers Vicyoandry Odelín and veteran Luis Campillo, both pitchers are compiling a total of 6 victories without a loss in the series.

The team is also having an excellent season at bat with youngsters Dariel Alvarez (.380), Idalberto Ibarra (.333), Alexei Palmero (.302) and Dary Bartolomé (.300) hitting .300 or more, and veteran Leslie Anderson (.361) also over that mark.

Defending champion, Santiago de Cuba Wasps, is having problems with its offense. After a successful 47 National Series, the Wasps offense has turned from an asset into a major problem.

The troubling part to manager Antonio Pacheco is Bell startling lack of power in this season, only 1 homer in 76 appearances at bat. After averaging 7.63 runs a game last season, the Wasps are down to 5.35 a game. After the 2008 final game last Sunday, manager Antonio Pacheco will consult with his assistants on how to retool the lineup.

Two players are a mystery, slugger outfielder Alexei Bell and third-basemen Ronnier Mustelier. These players were part of the 2007-2008 almost unbeatable Santiago de Cuba team, compiling 46 homers and 181 RBIs during the season and batting .355 (Bell) and .301 (Mustelier). Their numbers are reduced to only 3 home runs and 19 RBIs total this season with Bell batting only .206 and Mustelier .266.

The Wasps can even win the division without Bell having a great performance, but if they expect to repeat as champs, they need Bell to start htting in the postseason.

As bad as the batting has been, that is not the only one reason the Wasps have fallen. The pitching is markedly worst in the division this season, and the Wasps manager knows it.

Right-handers Norge L. Vera (2-3) and Alberto Bicet (2-2), have only 4 wins and 5 losses this season, with the exception of starter Reinier Roibal, who is 4-0, the rest of the staff is struggling to win games. Even when the team ERA is not bad, showing a 3.93 number, the Wasps are playing below .500 with 11 wins and 12 losses.

Meantime in the West, La Habana Cowboys are showing why their pitching staff is one of the best in the Cuban League. The team is two games ahead of Industriales Lions. La Habana presents a 3.00 ERA and a record of 14-7 in the division. The lineup is also batting enough to get victories. The team average is .301, classifying third in the season.

Other favorite team the Industriales Lions is in the second position of the League thanks to a slow start of other two powerful clubs, the Pinar del Río Tobacco Growers and the Sancti Spíritus Roosters.

The Lions have one of the worst pitching ERA of the Cuban League with a 6.31, only in front of the Guantánamo Indians with 6.80. But the team is second in slugging percentage (.456) and is leading the stolen bases with 15.

Pinar del Río and Sancti Spíritus are the teams that should offer some competition in the league. These teams will be also battling face to face with the Isla de la Juventud Pine Cutters and perhaps the Matanzas Reds for one of the tickets to the 2009 playoffs.

After Sunday Games the tournament’s leaders are as follows:

BATTING:

Batting Average: Yulieski Gourriel (SSP)-.424 (36-85); Runs: Yoelvis Fiss (CAV)-26; Hits: Yoelvis Fiss (CAV), Irait Chirino (MET), Yordanis Hernández (CAV) and Yulieski Gourriel (SSP)-36; RBIs: Yoelvis Fiss (CAV)-24; Doubles: Rudy Reyes (IND) and Yeral Sánchez (HOL)-10; Triples: Román Hernández (MTZ)-4; Homeruns: Yulieski Gourriel (SSP), Yenier Bello (SSP), Alfredo Despaigne (GRM), José D. Abreu (CFG) and Yosvani Peraza (PRI)-6; Slugging Percentage: José D. Abreu (CFG)-.800; SB: Leonys Martín (VCL)-6; SO: William Luis (CMG)-26; Base on Balls: Ernesto Molinet (HAB)-24.

PITCHING:

ERA: Wilber Pérez (IJV)-0.73 (3-37.0); Games: Yasmani Socarrás (CAM), Julio Torres (GRA) and Yolexis Ulacia (VCL)-12; Games Relief: Yasmani Socarrás (CAM), Julio Torres (GRA) and Yolexis Ulacia (VCL)-12; Wins: Aroldis Chapman (HOL)-5; Lossess: Yunier González (GRM) and Carlos Yánes (IJV)-4; Games Started: Yoelkis Cruz (LTU) and Yosvani Fonseca (MTZ)-6; Complete Games: Norge L. Vera (SCU)-3; Shutouts: 8 tied with 1; Saves: Yolexis Ulacia (VCL)-7; Innings Pitched: Yoelkis Cruz (LTU)-44 1/3; SO: Norberto González (CFG)-40; BB: Ian Rendón (IND)-22.

NEXT SERIES:

New series will begin on January 3rd after the New Year break.

Cristóbal Labra Stadium: IJV-MTZ; Capitán San Luis Stadium, PRI-MET; Latinoamericano Stadium, IND-HAB; 5 de Septiembre Stadium, CFG-SSP; Augusto C. Sandino Stadium, VCL-CAM; José R. Cepero Stadium, CAV-LTU; Calixto García Stadium, HOL-GTM and Mártires de Barbados Stadium, GRM-SCU.

Ray Otero is the Chief Writer at BaseballdeCuba.com and can be reached at: elistas@baseballdecuba.com.

Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez have left Cuba and are in a place unknown before trying to arrive in the Dominican Republic to begin their journey towards the major leagues, sources told ESPNdeportes.com.

Relatives and friends of the players on the tiny Caribbean island confirmed their exit of the country, although without revealing details of planned route.

Both players were kicked off Havana’s popular Industriales team prior to the start of the 2008-09 Cuban League after being caught with others trying to board a boat and illegally leave the country.

Martí, 29, was the leader of the Cuban pitching staff in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and was selected as one of the star-studded gala’s top two hurlers. The right-hander posted a 1-0 record and two saves while sporting a perfect 0.00 ERA in 12.2 innings.

Gomez, 28, is a quick and artistic outfielder who was the Cuban League 1997 Rookie of Year. He batted .394 with 51 RBIs and 41 runs scored in 66 games in the 2007-08 season.