Saturday Morning in The Caribbean, Vol. 1
by Jesse Behr | @jj_behr | jjbehr@fieldofignorance.com
Stats as of December 10; league leaders in italics
Liga de Beisbol Dominicano
OF Brian Bogusevic, Astros: 33 G, 120 AB, 38 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 26 R, 12 RBI, .317/.446/.500
Bogusevic spent half of 2011 in Houston, finishing the season with 4 HR, 25 wRC, and 2.4 WAR in 87 games (182 PA). Bogusevic could be a combo threat of power and speed (13 HR, 23 SB at Triple-A Round Rock in 2010) if he reaches his full potential.
OF Ricardo Nanita, Blue Jays: 30 G, 103 AB, 35 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 15 R, 20 RBI, .340/.425/.583
OF Carlos Peguero, Mariners: 37 G, 140 AB, 38 H, 9 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 24 R, 26 RBI, .271/.346/.550
LHP Shane Youman, Free Agent: 4-1. 0.77 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 35.0 IP, 6.42 K/9, 2.31 BB/9, .207 AVG
RHP Manauris Baez, Royals: 1-1, 1.96 ERA, 9 G, 8 GS, 36.2 IP, 6.37 K/9, 4.90 BB/9, .176 AVG
Liga Mexicana del Pacifico
1B Sandy Mandera, Free Agent: 42 G, 157 AB, 60 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 31 R, 37 RBI, .382/.452/.669
1B Jorge Vazquez, Yankees: 46 G, 178 AB, 63 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 17 HR, 30 R, 55 RBI, .354/.417/.680
Vazquez, 29, did not receive a September call-up this past season even after posting a .839 OPS with 32 home runs at Triple-A Scranton. Since coming over from the Mexican League in 2009, Vazquez has hit 63 homers in 800 games (3,013 plate appearances) between Scranton and Double-A Trenton.
SS Luis Cruz, Dodgers: 49 G, 197 AB, 72 H, 15 2B, 0 3B, 13 HR, 34 R, 39 RBI, .365/.385/.640
Cruz is raking on Culiacan, tied for third in the Mexican League with a .640 SLG. He’s struggled to stay afloat in the majors, hitting a measly .221/.275.260 in just 56 games (156 plate appearances) with the Pirates and the Brewers. Cruz could find work in 2012 if he continues to produce with the Tomateros.
RHP Andres Meza, Free Agent: 5-1, 2.44 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 66.1 IP, 6.67 K/9, 2.72 BB/9, .268 AVG
Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico
OF Jorge Padilla, Free Agent: 23 G, 75 AB, 34 H, 10 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 11 R, 15 RBI, .453/.559/.667
RHP Travis Schlighting, Free Agent: 2-0, 1.08 ERA, 7 G, 6 GS, 33.1 IP, 7.06 K/9, 1.63 BB/9, .210
Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional
C Hector Sanchez, Giants: 40 G, 142 AB, 54 H, 9 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 25 R, 33 RBI, .380/.427/.613
OF Gregor Blanco, Giants: 45 G, 156 AB, 55 H, 12 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 42 R, 22 RBI, .353/.498/.545
RHP Renyel Pinto, Free Agent: 6-0, 1.41 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 64.0 IP, 8.29 K/9, 3.23 BB/9, .175 AVG
Pinto’s still searching for a new MLB home after being released by the Marlins in June 2010 and then the Cardinals in August 2010. Something must have been going on with Pinto that season; his value (0.0 WAR with a 2.10 ERA/4.28 FIP) in 16.2 IP was more than enough to retain a spot in Florida’s bullpen that year. Maybe it was a identification issue, as the case was with Leo Núñez/Juan Carlos Oviedo.
