Posts Tagged ‘Caribbean Winter Leagues’

A photo I took of Kyle this past May at Pawtucket

It’s 2am (well 3am when I’ve finished writing this) and I’m wide awake and watching the MLB Network.  On October 29, 2009, Bob Costas had a sit-down interview with Bud Selig and the MLBN is re-airing it right now.  The only thing compelling me to watch this is that I can’t sleep and with 1000 channels there really isn’t anything better on at 2am.

Selig is one of those people I can’t stand to look at.  That isn’t to say I think he’s repulsive looking, it’s to say when I look at him my first thoughts go to something along the lines of my being glad I wasn’t next to him because I’d want to punch him in the face.  I’m not proud; I genuinely despise him.

When Bob Costas had the nerve to ask him about Mark McGwire coming back to baseball, all Selig could do was bang his own drum about all the wonderful things he’s done to get steroids out of baseball.  When Costas pointed out there is no test for HGH, Selig sidestepped the question and kept talking about how few players tested positive for steroids this year.  No acknowledgment that HGH exists and is most likely being used by plenty of players.  Until Selig is willing to answer to that, he can go fry his ass.   I’m unimpressed with his supposed desire to keep baseball clean.  As long as the money is coming in, he’s just happy no one is getting caught.  (Incidentally, I’m against Mark McGwire coming back to baseball.  His whole “I’m not here to talk about the past” crap in front of Congress has put him in a spot where I don’t think he deserves to be rewarded with a job in MLB.)   Given Tony LaRussa is one of his pals, Bud doesn’t see the problem.  Don’t ask him about Rafael Palmeiro or Barry Bonds, though, by his own admission, he only wants to deal with McGwire.  This entire interview is a waste of Bob Costas’ time – unless his desire was to make those of us who despise Selig despise him just a little bit more.  Christ on a cracker he’s now defending why the Yankees needed a new stadium.  He’s the person for which the phrase “makes me stabby” was coined.  He also said that the owners of the Pirates have done a great job with the team.  I think for that statement alone he should be stripped of his commissionerdom.  The only thing keeping me watching now is Bob Costas teasing me by saying the show will end with Selig talking about “his plans for riding into the sunset”.

On a more cheerful note, Kyle Snyder started for the Lobos de Arecibo on Saturday night and he pitched quite well – getting the win, striking out 7 out of 19, giving up 2 walks and 1 earned run on 3 hits in five innings.  Special thanks to friend of the blog Andy for making sure I’m getting the updates on Kyle’s time with the Wolves.  It’s been interesting trying to get any info past box scores from MLB.com – but I’m working on it.  Here’s hoping Kyle has more success this winter.

I was remiss in not congratulating Jason Bay on his Silver Slugger.   I’m very pleased for him because he definitely earned it (unlike a shortstop who won a Gold Glove this year)…and I hope the Jason Bay contract saga is over soon – regardless of how that goes.

Okay, Selig claims when he’s 78 (three more years!!!) he’s done so he can go write a book and teach.   I’m never one to wish away time but, damn, I’m throwing a party in 2012!!!!

Welcome to Boston, Jeremy. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images and used with NO permissions)

It’s beautiful Sunday day and I’ve not written anything here for two days…time to get off my butt and back to writing.  So in order to jump start my brain, I turn to Google where I find more about the Yankees, of course, than any other baseball team right now.  So I’m out of luck there; I’m done writing about the Yankees.  But there isn’t much to write about in regard to the Red Sox.  I was hopeful when I read the title of an article on NESN “Jon Lester Ready to Take Over as Red Sox Ace in 2010″.   Hopeful that the writer had spoken with Crabby and we were going to get some insight into what he was doing for the new season.  Instead it was a blog entry rehashing how good Lester was in ‘09 and suggesting that he’ll carry that into 2010 as the “Ace” of the team.  Disappointing, to say the least.  I need fresh news, people, not your rehashes.  (The NESN site confuses me.  Do they have a load of bloggers over there and no one to write actual news stories?  That’s what it seems like to me.)

There is the news of the trade with the Marlins for Jeremy Hermida.  The Sox sent Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez to Florida in the deal and Theo says:

“Jeremy is a player who hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet. We were able to acquire him at a reasonable cost to see if he can fulfill that potential with us.”

Okay. I’m good with that (although I’ll miss Hunter and wish him and Jose luck!) but it isn’t exactly exciting, hot stove action. I will say this, though, we’ve had lots of luck with players formerly on the Marlins, so I’m holing out hope that Hermida will be that addition to the club that folks think won’t make that big an impact but who eventually does.  Keeping my eye on you, Jeremy!

With Kyle Snyder playing in the Puerto Rico Baseball League this year, I’ve given myself sort of an assignment in trying to follow him.  Not speaking Spanish and having to rely on Google Translate and Babel Fish will make it interesting but I’m looking forward to putting in the work.  It’s nice to have something baseball-related to focus on when MLB’s season is over.  While there isn’t much news yet (the official pages for the league don’t even have rosters up) I did find an article saying that some players have already reported and the rest will be showing up tomorrow and the games start on Thursday.  I feel like I have my work cut out for me to try and keep up with the team but I’m looking forward to it.

Given the major changes in my work schedule, I have much more time to sit here and write about baseball and the Red Sox.  It figures the timing would be all off there, huh?  Here’s hoping we get some excitement soon!

Kyle at Spring Training in 2008 (Photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor/sittingstill.net and used with permission). Winter ball is like 3 months of extra innings!

So in my quest to find things to read and write about that don’t include rehashing the ALDS, I stumbled upon news about Kyle Snyder (go figure, when I’m not really looking, I find it…I guess the universe isn’t as pissed at me as I thought).  He’ll be playing winter ball in the Puerto Rico Baseball League starting in November!

Keeping in mind that I don’t speak or read Spanish at ALL and have to rely on Babel Fish and/or Google Translate, I found the announcement of Kyle playing here:

The Wolves of Arecibo announced yesterday the hiring of other three players concerned for the campaign that initiates the next November.

Todd Frazier, antesalista of Cincinnati; Bobby Wilson, receiver of the Angelinos of Los Angeles, and the skilful gunner Kyle Snyder, of the Mets de New York, is the three new reinforcements of concerned Arecibo to lift their quota of to eight, still reducing two places for throwers.

“The skillful gunner”.   I love it. LOVE it.    I haven’t been able to find much else out except that the games begin on November 12th and the Caribbean World Series runs February 2-10 in Venezuela on the Isle of Margarita.  Kyle’s team name is officially Los Lobos de Arecibo (The Arecibo Wolves – See?  I’m already learning Spanish!).

I have my work cut out for me.  I already have a couple of friends who have offered to translate what I find…we’ll see how this works.  If there is anyone out there who follows the Caribbean Winter Leagues I’d be greatly appreciative of any information you find and can share!

Hey, following winter baseball, especially with Kyle playing, is a good way to get over the loss of Red Sox baseball and gear up for the new season!