RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

LOS TIGRES ENJOY CARIBBEAN WORLD SERIES ATMOSPHERE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Los Tigres. Caribbean Stars. Call them what you will. This group of players, largely from the Caribbean, has not only been one of our best for many seasons now——winning three Palm Beach league championships—–but also may be the NABA’s best baseball ambassadors. They’ve played in numerous NABA tournaments, finishing runnerup twice in the Las Vegas Tournament and advancing to the semifinals of the World Championship Tournament in Phoenix last October. Last week, manager Santos Adames and his coach-son Nick took their team to a “fun” and rewarding series of games in the Dominican Republic, the tiny Caribbean country that has produced so many superstar major leaguers and pros. And, their visit was a crowning success as they won three of the five games they played there while giving some players from the states the experience of a lifetime. This “fantasy trip” started with a three game series against a team from the Atlanta Braves’ academy on pristine fields of major league quality, a stark contrast to the rugged town fields that more accurately typify baseball in the Dominican. The academy team consisted of young pro prospects in their teens, most of them unsigned, along with some veterans with previous pro experience. The games were televised locally with public address systems to keep the crowds informed. It must have sent chills up and down the spine of Santos Adames as he walked to center field to raise the flag of his adopted United States, flanked by the Braves’ director who raised the Dominican flag. One of the hundreds of Dominican players who starred in the big leagues, Julian Javier, threw out the first pitch. If you follow baseball closely you might remember that it was Julian who got the only hit off Red Sox’ ace Jim Lonborg, a double off the green monster wall in the 1967 World Series at Fenway Park in Boston. Julian is also the father of another big league star Stan Javier who played for several teams, including the Dodgers, Cards and Giants. The crowds at the Braves’ complex at San Francisco de Macoris (not to be confused with the more famous San Pedro de Macors) were very loud and very parochial, waving Dominican flags and displaying the zeal that typifies Caribbean World Series play. Nick Adames said “they wanted to see us get our butts kicked”. On the Braves’ team was second sacker Pedro Liriano, a Seattle Mariners’ prospect who made the Sporting News’ 2001 All Prospect team with the likes of present major leaguers Josh Beckett and Blaine Neal of the Marlins, Adam Dunn, Carlos Pena, and Carlos Zambrano. Liriano had a banner 2000 campaign in Class A ball where he hit .326 with four homers, 47 RBIs and SIXTY-FIVE stolen bases. Problem is, that Pedro’s real age is in dispute. Major league scouts are convinced that he’s seven years older than he’s reported, although he maintains, at 22, he’s only two years older. Liriano was to wind up playing some games with Los Tigres, who didn’t really care about his age, but stood in awe of his talents. Some of the Dominicans’ pitchers threw as high as 94 miles per hour, but Los Tigres was not intimidated taking the series two games to one. After dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker in the opener, they bounced back to win 9-8 on a walkoff homer by Francisco Dinzey. And, the series finale went to Los Tigres 9 to 5. Los Tigres’ lefty Jeremy Dooley did not reach the 90’s, topping off at 89 MPH, but he struck out eleven in seven innings, while giving up only one run in the final game. He also pitched in the first game and was not involved in the decision. The former Northwood University star would go on to post some great numbers, giving up only two earned runs, six hits in 12 1/3 innings (1.46 ERA), fanning 17. Dooley impressed the major league scouts there with his movement and sharp curveball. While the series was great, Nick Adames was disappointed about the umpiring. He was amazed at how little they knew about baseball rules considering they umpired for pro organizations in the Dominican. “NABA umpires are of major league quality compared to those guys”, added the Tigres’ catcher. Following the games, the Los Tigres’ contingent was treated to lots of food, music and trophies. Lots of women were on hand, too—”for the single guys of course”, added the younger Adames). Los Tigres played two more games in the Dominican in the home towns of Tigres’ outfielder Juan Perez (Castillo) and the Adames family (Jarabocoa). Both are small towns, but characteristically rich in baseball talent producing several professional players. In Castillo, the team encountered a “horrible” field which was considered the town’s best. The result was horrible too as they lost a slugfest 17 to 12. In Jarabocoa (La Vega), the field was a little better and there was local television and a public address system and the result was better too. The Tigres won the game 3-1, shortened by rain but declared “official” by the town in the fourth inning. Los Tigres picked up seven Dominican players, including Liriano, but to the locals, they were all from the states. With airport security being what it is nowadays, Nick lost most of the team statistics which he keeps in his “palm pilot” portable minicomputer. The security staff actually reset the machine and detailed stats disappeared. However, Nick reports some very impressive numbers. Dinzey, who spent two years at Florida CC in Jacksonville and will play with a South Florida university team, pounded three homers and hit .519. Ariel Rodriguez, the stepson of Santos Adames, batted .429 and cracked the first homer of his life. Antuan Bunkley, who joined Los Tigres this season after several pro and Independent League seasons, hit a pair of homers and batted .412. Nick wound up at ..340, Lisandro “Lee” Luna .290. Steve Thomas played only one game, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Liriano hit three homers, two triples and three doubles while batting .469 as an “adopted” member of Los Tigres. Nick compares his skills to that of Roberto Alomar of the Mets. If the age discrepancy can be cleared up, the Adames’ feel he is a future major leaguer. If he doesn’t make it, they like the chances of his 16 year old brother who recently signed a contract with the Oakland A’s. The Los Tigres’ trip not only provided a great experience for the Palm Beach players, but it may open the way to an NABA tournament and maybe a league there in the future. We will be pursuing that. In the meantime “Mucho, Los Tigres”. Well done.