Monclova Doubles up Dos Laredos 8-4

LATE SCORING BY ACEREROS DO IN THE TECOLOTES

The Acereros de Monclova scored 3 times in the 5th, once more in the 6th and added 2 runs in the 7th inning to pull away from and double up the Tecolotes 8-4.

Domonic Brown

Dos Laredos took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Juan Apodaca and Enrique Osorio led off with back-to-back singles. Johnny Davis then laid down a sacrifice bunt for a force out, but, after a challenge by the Tecolotes the runner was ruled safe and Dos Laredos had loaded the bases. Juan Martinez followed with a sac fly to right that scored Apodaca. Domonic Brown then hit a 3 run home run to right to give Dos Laredos the lead.

Monclova's Juan Castillo launched a 3 run home run to right in the 5th inning to bring home Cade Gotta and Erick Aybar and the Acereros had regained the lead 5-4.

Cade Gotta homered in the top of the 6th to increase Monclova's lead to 6-4.

After a Jesus Castillo single and a pop fly out from Francisco Peguero, Danny Espinoza hit his 3rd  home run of the series to right center to add the last 2 runs and make the score 8-4.

Castillo was 3 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored, Cade Gotta 3 for 5 with a home run and 3 runs scored and Danny Espinoza 1 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs for Monclova.

Domonic Brown went 1 for 4 with the home run and 3 RBIs for Dos Laredos.

Zack Segovia (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Rolando Valdez. Alex Sanabia (0-1) allowed 5 runs on 7 hits over 4 innings to take the loss for the Tecolotes.

Monclova leads the best of 7 1st round Zona Norte playoffs 3 games to 1 with the win.

Monterrey Evens Zona Norte 1st Round with Tijuana at 2 Games Apiece

Monterrey 4     Tijuana 3

Agustin Murillo

Augustin Murillo launched a 2 out, 2 run home run to left in the bottom of the 9th inning to overcome a 1 run deficit and help the Acereros de Monclova defeat the Toros de Tijuana. Ramiro Pena had tripled to right just before Murillo's home run.

Tijuana had taken the lead in the top of the 8th on 2 singles, a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly to center by Isaac Rodriguez.

Frederich Cepeda was 2 for 4 with his 3rd home run of the series, 2 RBIs and a run scored for the Toros.

Murillo raised his batting average for the series to .462 with a 3 for 5 night including the game winning, walk off home run.

Wirfin Obispo (1-0) was the beneficiary of Murillo's heroics holding the Toros hitless over the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up the win.

Wirfin Obispo

Daniel Moskos (0-1) was charged with a blown save and took the loss for Tijuana.

13,423 fans filled Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey to watch the local team win in exciting fashion and pull even with the Toros, at 2 game apiece, in their Zona Norte 1st round series battle.

Puebla Tops Diablos Rojos in Zona Sur Playoff Clash

WIN DECREASES DIABLOS LEAD TO 2-1

The Pericos de Puebla overcame a 2 run deficit with 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning and went on to defeat the Diablos Rojos del Mexico 7-6. Although the Diablos out hit the Pericos 15 to 6, Mexico managed only 2 extra base hits and were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Peubla on, on the other hand, went 3 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Jesus Fabela

Mexico scored 4 times in the top of the 5th inning. Carlos Figueroa got things going with a lead off walk and came around to score on a double by Juan Carlos Gamboa. Two outs later David Vidal walked. Michael Choice followed with a single to right that scored Gamboa. Emmanuel Avila was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ricardo Valenzuela waited out a walk to force in Vidal and Jesus Fabela drew a walk to bring home Choice. The Diablos led 6-4.

Puebla answered in the bottom of the 6th. Delmon Young walked. Ricky Rodriguez singled to right and when the Diablos right fielder misplayed the ball, Young scored and Rodriguez wound up on third. Michael Crouse drove in Rodriguez with a sac fly to right. Bernardo Heras followed with a home run to right and the Pericos had the lead and the game.

Juan Ramon Noriega (1-0) picked up the win in relief and Jeff Johnson notched his 1st save of the series. Patrick Johnson (0-1) gave up 7 runs in 5 1/3 innings on the mound, walking 1 and striking out 7 in the loss.

Ricky Rodriguez was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and Bernardo Heras had the home run in his 4 trips to the plate for the Pericos.

Juan Carlos Gamboa and Yeison Ascencio were both 3 for 5 for Mexico.

Mexico now leads the best of 7 Zona Norte 1st round with the games continuing with 2 more in Puebla and a return to Mexico City if necessary.

Leones de Yucatan Top Guerreros de Oaxaca 3-1 in LMB Zona Sur Playoff Matchup

AN EARLY GAME CAUSED BY RAINOUT ON THURSDAY

Yucatan 3     Oaxaca 1

The Leones took game 3 of their Zona Sur 1st round playoff series against the Guerreros de Oaxaca with a 3-1 victory in front of 3,000 fans in Oaxaca. The Guerreros now lead the best-of-7 series 2 games to 1,

Cesar Valdez

Cesar Valdez (1-0) went 7 innings on the hill for Yucatan, surrendering 1 run on 6 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts. Chad Gaudin pitched a perfect 9th inning to record his 1st save of the playoffs.

Ruddy Acosta (0-1) gave up 2 runs on 6 hits over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss for Oaxaca.

Yucatan scored in the 3rd inning on a walk to Jose Aguilar, a single by Hector Hernandez one out later and a run scoring single by Walter Ibarra with 2 outs.

The Leones added a run in the 5th on a single by Aguilar and a double by Sebastian Valle for the 2-0 lead.

Oaxaca scored their lone run in the bottom of the 6th inning on a single by Yordanys Linares, a ground ball out that moved Linares to second, a single by Yuniesky Betancourt and a ground ball out by Dustin Geiger that scored Linares from third.

An error by the Guerreros 3rd baseman allowed Jonathan Jones to score from third with an insurance run for the Leones in the 8th inning. That was all that was needed as Gaudin set the Guerreros down in order in the 9th to preserve the win.

Jonathan Jones

Dos Laredos and Toros de Tijuana Win 1st Round Playoff Games

ONLY 2 GAMES PLAYED ON THURSDAY AS RAIN POSTPONES LEONES V. GUERREROS

Dos Laredos 7     Monclova 2

Josh Rodriguez

Josh Rodriguez, the Tecolotes shortstop, launched a long 3 run home run ti right center in the bottom of the 1st inning to put Dos Laredos on top and Jose Oyervides pitched 4 hit ball over 6 innings as the Tecolotes took the win over the Acereros 7-2. Every starter in the Dos Laredos lineup had at least 1 hit in the 13 hit attack. Jose Felix went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs for Monclova. Oyervides (1-0) walked 3 and struck out 1 in the win while Wilmer Rios (0-1) gave up 4 earned runs on 7 hits in 2 2/3 innings on the mound in taking the loss, 4,876 fans crowded Estadio Nuevo Laredo to see the home team win and pull within 1 game of the Acereros in this Zona Norte 1st round playoff series.

Jose Oyervides

Tijuana 6     Monterrey 3

Frederich Cepeda and Jorge Cantu each hit 2 run home runs for Tijuana as the visiting Toros doubled up the Sultanes and take a 2 games to 1 lead in the best-of-7 Zona Norte playoff series. Junior Lake and Xorge Carrillo added RBIs for Tijuana in the win. Jose Amador homered with Ali Solis and Felix Perez driving in the 3 runs for Monterrey. Cesilio Pimental (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Toro's starter Horacio Ramirez. Jose De Paula (0-1) allowed 4 runs on 5 hits in his 4 2/3 innings on the mound in the loss. 10,327 fans came to Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey only to see their home town heros lose.

Tijuana's Frederich Cepeda

Yucatan at Oaxaca (postponed due to weather)

The 1st round playoff battle between the Leones de Yucatan and the Guerreros de Oaxaca has been postponed due to weather. There has been no notification as to when the game will be made up.

Diablos Rojos del Mexico Take Suspended Game From Pericos 12-4

DIABLOS GO UP 2 GAMES TO ONE IN ZONA SUR 1st ROUND PLAYOFFS

What a difference a day makes. When the game between the Pericos de Puebla and the Diablos Rojos del Mexico was suspended on Tuesday, the Pericos had a 3-0 lead with 1 out. Ricky Rodriguez and Michael Crouse had hit home runs and Wirkin Estevez seemed to be in charge.

Upon resuming the game, the Diablos scored twice in the 3rd inning, once in the 5th, which was the end of Estevez, and then exploded for 9 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to secure the win and go up 2 games to none in the 1st round of the LMB Zona Sur playoffs.

Michael Crouse had launched his second home run of the game in the top of the 7th to put the Pericos up 4-3 before the roof caved in and the Diablos decimated the Perico's pitching staff in the bottom of the inning.

David Reyes (1-0) was the recipient of the offensive output, pitching 1 2/3 innings to get the win.

David Reyes

Fernando Cruz (0-1) lasted just 2/3 of an inning for the Pericos, walking 2, surrendering 5 hits and being tagged for 5 runs in taking the loss. Jeff Johnson, who relieved Cruz, didn't fare any better against the Diablo's bats, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits in 1/3 of an inning on the mound.

Luis Jimenez went 4 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored and Carlos Figueroa was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored for the Diablos.

Michael Homers in an LMB Game

Michael Crouse was 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored for the Pericos.

The playoffs now shifts to Oaxaca, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo and Puebla for game 3. The Guerreros, Acereros and Diablos all boast a 2 games to one advantage with the Sultanes and Toros tied at 1 game apiece.

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NFL Week 2 Picks with Odds

I did pretty well picking the NFL on the 1st week of real competition. I went 10-5-1. The Seahawks/Broncos were a push.

On an interesting not, all 7 new Head Coaches in the NFL lost. That has never happened before.

The Steelers were either very disappointing or the Browns are much better than we think. A tie could come back to haunt the Steelers come playoff time.

The Saints were favored by a large margin and lost outright to the Buccaneers, without Jamies Winston.

The Bears came close to beating the Packers. It took another Aaron Rodgers effort to hold them off. With a stellar defense and a no mistakes defense, the Bears could threaten the Packers and the Vikes this year.

What can you say about the Lions. They looked pathetic on Monday night, losing 48-17 to a Jets team with a rookie QB. The OL was terrible in protecting Safford.

So...let's get on with the picks for Week 2:

Thursday

(LOSS) RAVENS (-1) @ Bengals     Maybe too early to tell but Flacco has competition this year

Sunday

(WIN) PANTHERS @ Falcons (-6)    Falcons come back with a renewed offensive strategy
(WIN) CHARGERS (-9) @ Bills    The Bills are bad and it's not early enough for cold weather
(PUSH) VIKINGS (even) @ Packers    Rodgers injured? Vikes better offensively than Bears
(WIN) Texans (-1) @ TITANS     Just a guess but Titans at home should win
(WIN) BROWNS @ Saints (-10)     Early but these odds seem high for a team that lost to the Bucs
(LOSS) Dolphins @ JETS (-2.5)     J E T S Jets. Hope springs eternal
(WIN) CHIEFS @ Steelers (-4)     Chiefs are better than the Browns
(LOSS) EAGLES (-3) @ Buccaneers     Eagles defense is better that the Saints
(LOSS) Colts @ REDSKINS (-6)     A lot of points to give but the 'Skins are in the NFC East
(WIN) Cardinals @RAMS (-14)     Very large odds but Cardinals are bad
(LOSS) Lions @ 49ERS (-7)     Lions bad...49ers average. When was the last time 49ers by 7
(LOSS) Raiders @ BRONCOS (-6)     Broncos let me down last week...one more shot
(LOSS) PATRIOTS (even) @ Jaguars     Could be the upset of the week...but Brady
(WIN) Giants @ COWBOYS (-3)     Toss up OBJ better be at his best

Monday

(WIN) Seahawks @ BEARS (-3)     The "Mack Attack" does in the "Legion of Gloom|

Liga Mexicana de Beisbol 1st Round Summary

FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE SECOND GAMES OF THE PLAYOFFS

MONCLOVA 7     DOS LAREDOS 4

The Tecolotes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning on a 2 run double from Daniel Mayora, but a 5 run outburst, in the 5th, by the Acereros gave Monclova the lead for good as the Acereros won the game 7-4 increasing their lead in the 1st round series to 2-0. Jesus Castillo and Danny Espinosa hit 2 run home runs in the explosive 5th inning. The Tecolotes scored twice in the top of the 9th inning but it was a case of "too little, too late". Juan Martinez and Domonic Brown were both 3 for 5 for Dos Laredos. Andre Rienzo (1-0) got the win and Josh Lueke picked up the save. Alexis Candelario (0-1) took the loss for the Tecolotes.

Andre Rienzo

OAXACA 6     YUCATAN 3

Oaxaca took the lead for good in the top of the 8th inning and doubled up the Leones 6-3 to go up 2 games to none in the best of 7 first round of the playoffs. 7,292 fans crowded Parque Kukulkan but were not enough to help Yucatan. Dustin Geiger went deep for the Guerreros while Jose Aguilar and Walter Ibarra did the same for the Leones. Although charges with a blown save, Samuel Zazueta (1-0) earned the win and Carlos Felix recorded his 2nd save in as many tries. Maikel Cleto (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Jose Guadalupe Chavez

TIJUANA 6     MONTERREY 3

The Toros de Tijuana had 13 hits, 7 for extra bases, in their 6-3 defeat of the Sultanes. Fernando Perez was 3 for 4 with a home run, Jose Chavez 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and Junior Lake 2 for 4 with a triple for Tijuana. The Sultanes had a 3-0 lead after 4 innings but couldn'thold off the Toros offense in the loss. Ramon Rios was 3 for 3 for the Sultanes. Jeff Ibarra (1-0) earned the win and Daniel Moskos notched his 1st save of the series. Marco Tovar (0-1) gave up 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning of relief to take the loss.

PUEBLA 3     MEXICO 0  (game suspended-rain)

The Pericos de Puebla jumped on top of the Diablos in the top of the 2nd, following home runs by Ricky Rodriguez and Michael Crouse. The rains fell hard with no respite in sight when the Umpires, and the League, suspended the game. The contest will resume at 1 PM (CDT) on the 12th of September with 1 out in the top of the 2nd and Alberto Carreon at the plate.

Aguilas de Mexicali to Compete in 2018 Mexican Baseball Fiesta

1ª de una serie de 4 partes sobre los equipos que compiten

Cuatro equipos de la Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP) competirán en la Fiesta de Béisbol Mexicana de este año en Tucson, junto con el equipo de béisbol salvaje de Arizona y las jóvenes estrellas de los Royals de Kansas City. Esta serie de artículos se centrará en los equipos de la LMP.

En primer lugar están las Aguilas de Mexicali. Con una población de 689.000, Mexicali, la ciudad capital de baja California, se encuentra a unos 60 kilómetros al oeste de Yuma, AZ y a pocos kilómetros al sur de Calexico, CA. La ciudad ha sido un semillero de la tradición del béisbol desde su fundación en 1976. El equipo ha ganado el Campeonato LMP cuatro veces y ha competido en la serie del Caribe cada vez, ganando todo en 1986.

Enterestingly, el equipo es propiedad del gobierno del estado de baja California. Aunque la mayoría de los equipos mexicanos son apoyados por los gobiernos locales, las Aguilas son propiedad de lock, stock y barril por el gobierno del estado. La obra de Aguilas es estadio B'Air, sede de 17.000 asientos en el centro de Mexicali. Para la temporada de invierno 2017-18, las Aguilas dibujaron un promedio de 13.242 ventiladores por noche. Compare eso con el expreso de Round Rock de la Liga de la costa pacífica que tenía 8.809 aficionados aparecen cada noche.

Ha habido unas cuantas futuras ligas mayores juegan a la pelota de invierno en México. Algunos de los que jugaron para las Aguilas fueron, Mike Piazza, John Kruk, Fernando Valenzuela, Sergio Romo y Jeff Samardzija.

El equipo de este año tendrá algunos extranjeros jugando para ellos. 

CJ Retherford

CJ Retherford, nacido en Homestead, FL, asistió al estado de Arizona y ha jugado para las Aguilas durante 3 temporadas, bateando 31 jonrones, conduciendo en 112 carreras mientras bate. 282.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit. 261, acumuló 80 jonrones y condujo en 477 mientras jugaba para 4 equipos en la MLB.

Chris Roberson, de 39 años de edad, apareció en 157 juegos para los Philos de Filadelfia y ha jugado durante 13 temporadas en las ligas mexicanas. Roberson ha alcanzado 146 jonrones y conducido en 668 carreras mientras compilando un. 280 promedio.

Las Aguilas son un equipo ofensivo explosivo y debe ser divertido para ver en la fiesta de este año de béisbol mexicano. 

Usted puede comprar los boletos en www.mexicanbaseballfiesta.com  

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Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Championship Series

SLATE OF GAMES FEATURE 8 LMB TEAMS

The 1st round of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) playoffs began last night, September 10th, with the Sultanes de Monterrey taking on the Toros de Tijuana and the Acereros del Norte de Monclova facing the Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos in the Zona Norte. The Diablos Rojos del Mexico square off against the Pericos de Puebla and the Leones de Yucatan meet the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Zona Sur. Each is a best of 7 series.

Here is an encapsulated review of last night's games.

MEXICO 8     PUEBLA 4

Michael Choice

The Diablos tied the game at 4 all in the 4th and went on to beat the Pericos 8-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Michael Choice, the Diablos DH, was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a home run and 5 RBIs for Mexico.Puebla managed 12 hits but a double by Antonio Lamas was their only extra base hit. Octavio Acosta (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Luis Mendoza, while Josh Outman (0-1) was charged with the loss.

OAXACA 4     YUCATAN 1

The Guerreros scored 4 times in the op of the 8th inning and cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Leones. Oaxaca leads this 1st round series 1 game to none. Yuniesky Betancourt went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Guerreros while Leo Heras was 2 for 4 for Yucatan in a losing effort. Alex Delgado (1-0) got the win and Carlos Felix was credited with a save. Arcenio Leon (0-1) took the loss for the Leones.

MONTERREY 7     TIJUANA 4 

Ramiro Pena was 2 for 5 with a home run and 3 RBIs for the Sultanes as they took a 1-0 lead in the Zona Norte playoff battle. Chris Roberson, Augustin Murillo and Jose Amador also went deep for Monterrey. Frederich Cepeda went 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 RBIs for the Toros. Rafael Ordaz (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Anthony Vasquez and Wirfin Obispo garnered a save. Carlos Hernandez (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Rafael  Ordaz

MONCLOVA 11     DOS LAREDOS 10 (10 innings)

The visiting Tecolotes scored 8 runs in the top of the 7th inning but couldn't hold on and fell to the Acereros 11-10 in 10 innings.Francisco Peguero hit the 1st pitch he saw with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Monclova the walk off win. Peguero was 3 for 5 with the home run and 4 RBIs. Josh Rodriguez, the Tecolotes shortstop, homered in the 9th inning to force extra innings. Rodriguez went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs in a losing cause. Mario Morales (1-0) earned the win while Tyson Perez (0-1) was charged with a blown save and took the loss. Monclova takes a 1-0 lead in the Zona Norte playoff series.

Aguilas de Mexicali to Compete in 2018 Mexican Baseball Fiesta

1st OF A 4 PART SERIES ON THE TEAMS COMPETING

Four teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (LMP) will be competing at this year's Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Tucson, along with the Arizona Wildcats baseball team and the young stars of the Kansas City Royals. This series of articles will focus on the teams from the LMP

First up are the Aguilas de Mexicali. With a population of 689,000, Mexicali, the capital city of Baja California, is located about 60 miles west of Yuma, Az and just a few miles south of Calexico, CA. The city has been a hotbed of baseball tradition since it's founding in 1976. The team has won the LMP Championship four times and competed in the Serie del Caribe each time, winning it all in 1986.

Interestingly, the team is owned by the State Government of Baja California. Although most Mexican teams are supported by the local governments, The Aguilas are owned lock, stock and barrel by the state government. The Aguilas play is Estadio B'Air, a 17,000 seat venue in downtown Mexicali. For the 2017-18 winter season, the Aguilas drew an average of 13,242 fans per night. Compare that to the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League who had 8,809 fans show up each night.

There have been quite a few future major leaguers play winter ball in Mexico. Some of those who played for the Aguilas were, Mike Piazza, John Kruk, Fernando Valenzuela, Sergio Romo and Jeff Samardzija.

Luis Sojo, who played in the MLB for several seasons, will pilot the Aguilas for the 2018-19 season.

This year's team will have some "extranjeros", or foreigners, playing for them.

Retherford at the plate

CJ Retherford, born in Homestead, FL, attended Arizona State and has played for the Aguilas for 3 seasons, hitting 31 home runs, driving in 112 runs while batting .282.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit .261, accumulated 80 home runs and drove in 477 while playing for 4 teams in the MLB.

39 year old Chris Roberson appeared in 157 games for the Philadelphia Phillies and has played for 13 seasons in the Mexican leagues. Roberson has hit 146 home runs and driven in 668 runs while compiling a .280 average.

Roberson safe at home on a close play

The Aguilas are an explosive offensive team and should be fun to watch at this year's Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

You can buy tickets at www.mexicanbaseballfiesta.com

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Vamos aTucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta

Mexican Baseball returns to Tucson in October with the 8th Annual Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

There are 3 other sites in Arizona and Mexico that will be hosting games, Mesa and Douglas Arizona and Nogales, Mexico.

Four teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifica (LMP) will be participating in this year's event along with the Arizona Wildcats baseball team and the Young Stars of the Kansas City Royals. The Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Yaquis de Obregon, Caneros de Los Mochis and the Aguilas de Mexicali will represent the LMP.

The games kick off in Nogales the 22nd, 23rd and 28th of September, move to Mesa, AZ for games from the 28th through the 30th, switch ton Douglas, AZ on the 3rd and 4th of October and wind up in Tucson, at Kino Stadium, for games from the 4th through the 7th of October.

Rated as a Triple A baseball league by Major League Baseball, the teams from the LMP play exciting baseball. Having covered the league in Guadalajara, Mexico, I can attest to the fact that Mexicanos love their baseball. The 8 teams of the LMP averaged 7,722 fans per game. Pick any Triple A league in the US and see how their top 8 teams compare to that figure. Mascots on the field during play, hexes placed on opposing players by the fans, cheerleaders, crazy between innings games and no arguing with the umpires! If you love baseball, you have to love this pure baseball entertainment.

On Thursday, October 4th, the double header begins at 5 PM with the Aguilas taking on the YSKC. There is a $1 dollar beer promotion during this game. The 2nd game features the Arizona Wildcats taking on the Naranjeros.

Friday's double header, starting at 5:30 features the Aguilas against the Caneros in the 1st game and the Naranjeros facing off against the Yaquis in the nightcap. This is eegee's Kids Night with free tickets at eegees locations.

The Aguilas face the Caneros again in game 1 on Saturday the 6th at 5:30 with a repeat of the Narajeros versus the Yaquis in the 2nd game.

Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta winds up on Sunday the 7th of October with a double header on Family Day. There are $10 dollar Family Vouchers available at Vantage West locations throughout Tucson. The Yaquis face the Caneros in the opener while the Naranjeros take on the Aguilas in the nightcap.

t

I would recommend this series of games to all of those who love baseball. You will not be disappointed.

There will be updates on the individual teams playing in the series  as the 4th of October arrives.

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When is a Catch not a Legal Catch

Todd Frazier

As I watched the video of the Met’s Todd Frazier catching/dropping the foul

ball against the Dodgers
on Monday night, two things came to mind. 1) How was Frazier so quick to
switch balls and, 2) How did the umpire not realize the ball Frazier showed
himwas fake?
Watch the video here:

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/icymi-mets-frazier-fooled-umpire-on-diving-
catch-monday-night/293426932

I also thought back on all the amazing catches made where the fielder winds
up in the stands, or the bullpen and the umpire had no way of knowing
whether or not the fielder actually held onto the ball.

The thought of a missed call, that is possibly a rules infraction, led me to
check out the rule.

I read the 2018 MLB Official Rules and this.came to my attention.

Under section 5.09: Making an Out, subparagraph (a) Retiring a Batter,
the rule book states... “A batter is out when:

1. His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder.

The rule book adds a comment as follows:

   Rule 5.09(a)(1) Comment: A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a
dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed.
A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other
out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over
the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the
ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area. Ball is in play,
unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, steps or falls into a dugout or
other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead. Status of runners shall be as described in Rule 5.06(b)(3)(C) Comment.

Now, it seems to me that every player who makes one of these exciting,
amazing catches should have caused the ball to be ruled a “dead ball”

I have included a link to the rule book so that you, the reader, can read and
interpret for yourself.

http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_
Rules.pdf

Here are the catches in the past that seem to have been called incorrectly:  

Derek Jeter's catch in 2001:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGmWv57klQ

Derek Jeter

Austin Jackson's amazing home run robbery in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGmWv57klQ

Collection of great catches. Of the 29 on the video, 6 of them seem to have been called incorrectly. If you care to count, #s 2, 6, 10, 11, 26 and 27 should have been called a "dead ball"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qb6TCXOXO8

NFL Week 1 Picks with Odds

Here we are again entering another NFL season. There are some interesting matchups with some interesting betting odds.

For example: Last years Superbowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles are only a 2 point favorite playing the Falcons at home. It used to be that the home team enjoyed a 3 point advantage. Nick Foles, who engineered the SB win will start because Carson Wentz hasn't been cleared to play.

The odds makers are putting a lot of faith in Andrew Luck's return with the Colts a prohibitive favorite over the visiting Bengals.

The Saints are a 10 1/2 point favorite playing at home against the Jamies Winston less Buccaneers. Good pick here but 10 1/2 points in the 1st game of the season is tricky.

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings with the Vikes a 7 point favorite.

And last, but not least, Jon Gruden and the Raiders are a 4 point dog to the visiting LA Rams. How much will the loss of Kalil Mack hurt Gruden's spread offense?

Here are my picks for Week 1. Remember...if you bet, legally this year, based on my picks...you're crazy! My picks are in CAPITOL letters.

Thursday

(WIN)Falcons @ EAGLES -2     The run in 2018 continues...Fly Eagles Fly.

Sunday

(LOSS) STEELERS (-4) @ Browns     The Browns will win, just not this week.
(WIN) BENGALS @ Colts (-3)     Colts need more than "Luck" to win this one.
(LOSS) TITANS (-1.5) @ Dolphins     This really is a "pick'em"
(WIN) 49ers @ VIKINGS (-6)     Honeymoon over for Garoppolo.
(WIN) Texans @ PATRIOTS (-6.5)     Going against a 40 year old Brady is crazy!
(LOSS) Buccaneers @ SAINTS (-9.5)     Brees breezes...Get it?
(WIN) JAGUARS @ Giants (-3)     Jags win despite Bortles.
(WIN) Bills @ RAVENS (-7)     We might even see RGIII in this rout.
(WIN) CHIEFS @ Chargers (-3)     Chiefs win...it's the regular season.
(PUSH) Seahawks @ BRONCOS (-3)     Legion of Boom becomes Legion on Gloom.
(WIN) REDSKINS @ Cardinals (even)     Steady Alex Smiths guides the 'Skins.
(WIN) Cowboys @ PANTHERS (-3)     Take the Panthers at home.
(LOSS) Bears @ PACKERS(-7.5)     The 'Pack is back!

Monday

(LOSS) Jets @ LIONS (-7)     J-E-T-S...Forget it Jet Fans...Rookie QB
(WIN) RAMS (-6) @ Raiders     As much as I am rooting for Gruden...I don't see it!

So there you have it...Week 1 is a lock...I see a 16-0 week...What do you think?

The experts and I disagree on 8 of the 16 games this week. The so-called experts prefer
the Falcons, Texans, Browns, Chargers, Cardinals, Seahawks, bears and Jets. We'll just see!

Japhet Amador Suspended 6 Months by the Nippon Professional Baseball League

DRUG TEST IN JUNE FOUND 2 BANNED SUBSTANCES

Japhet Amador, the power hitting 1st baseman of the Charros de Jalisco and
current player for the Rakuten Eagles, has been suspended by the Nippon
Professional Baseball League.

Amador underwent a drug test on the 13th of June following a game against
the Chunichi Dragons. He tested positive for the drugs chlorthalidone and
furosemide. These two substances are included under diuretics and masking
agents on a list of prohibited drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s website.

Japhet was informed of the test results on the 23rd of June and given a chance
to defend himself. He denied knowingly or intentionally taking any banned
substance. The league retested his sample, at Amador’s request, on the 1st of
August. The results were the same.

“I have never committed an act of doping in my baseball life up to this point,”
Amador said in a statement released by the Eagles. “I have never intentionally
taken any banned drugs.

“I haven’t used stimulants or anything to increase muscle, or thought about
using diuretics or masking agents. I’ve been given many doping tests in the
past and they’ve all been negative.”

On a tweet at noon Guadalajara time on Thursday the 9th of
August, Amador announced the results of the test saying that
he “assumes responsibility” and that he would “announce his
retirement”.

Amador with the Rakuten Eagles

In an 11 year career, Japhet has hit 312 homeruns and driven
in 1057 runs while hitting for a .296 average. In 3 years with the
Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon League, Amador hit .250 with 52
homers.

In 4 years with the Charros, Amador drive in 145 runs while
hitting 40 home runs.

The one-time product of the Houston Astros organization,
“El Gigante” from Mulege Mexico, played in Oklahoma City of
the Pacific Coast League and Peoria of the Arizona fall League.

NFL Anthem Protest: Right, Wrong or Wrongly Perpetuated?

WOULD THIS PROTEST CONTINUE IF NO ONE KNEW IT WAS GOING ON?

With the start of a new NFL season, thoughts of Super Bowl games dance in the heads of all football fans. This could be the year the Browns win their division and go all the way. Can the Eagles repeat? Will a 40 year old Brady get that last ring and ride off into the sunset as the GOAT?

Despite all the hopes of a new season, the elephant in the room is the anthem protest. First, the NFL decrees that the players must either stand for the National Anthem or remain in the locker room. Then the NFLPA cries foul and the NFL walks back the rule and says "let's talk". So, no change and no solution. Is there really a solution?

To be fair to both sides we must remember that the NFL had no "anthem stand" requirement until 2009 when they signed a lucrative contract with the Pentagon to "promote patriotic displays".

Sally Jenkins, sports reporter for the Washington Post, in a column on the 22nd of July, wrote that the "anthem debate is a case of misplaced emphasis". She goes on to say the "enforced patriotism, is not patriotism at all".

But sports in America is indeed rooted in patriotism, as it is in all the countries of the world. Soccer matches in Mexico begin with the their Himno Nacional. The people in the bleachers stand, remove their hats and proudly sing along. The players are all standing, with their hands on their hearts, singing along.

Jenkins asks the question, "How can a mild protest by at most 12 % of the league cause such a stir"?

To answer this, we must agree on two things.
     1. The average NFL fan, whether at the game, or at home is very patriotic.
     2. A player seen kneeling is perceived as being unpatriotic.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos, medalists at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, were loudly and roundly booed for their raised fists on the medalists podium. This action was widely seen as anti-American and unpatriotic. Colin Kaepernick's "pig socks" were similarly seen as divisive and unamerican by the average NFL fan.

When NFL players, in the UK and Mexico stood for the host nation's anthem yet knelt for the Anthem of the United States of America, this too was viewed as unamerican, unpatriotic and a slap in the face to all Americans.

The average American sports fan agree with Tim Suttle, a Pastor and writer from Olathe, Kansas who penned: "The liturgies of sport teach us that America is a singular beacon in a world of hackneyed imposters...The game embodies the belief that this nation stands above all other nations as more powerful, virtuous, righteous and more justified in our actions...".

We, as fans are proud of our nation! All other nations are too. As a group, we desire our athletes to be like us. We don't say, so and so the black football player, or so and so the ballplayer from the Dominican republic. No...we say my teams pro bowl Safety or our All Star shortstop. Sports fans everywhere want an escape. We turn to sports.

So..what is my solution to this morass the NFL has created? Let the protests continue. Do nothing. What can it hurt if just 12%, a figure attributed to Jenkins, of the league protest a perceived injustice.

But, the league needs cooperation from the media. Are the protests worthy of attention? Without the television constantly covering the sidelines during the anthem, there would be no attention brought to the subject. Censorship you say...during the 2017 season the networks, and even local coverage, deliberately avoided showing the empty stands. The league "suggested" coverage of this was detrimental to the ratings. Constant badgering of the players by the print media on how they "felt" about the kneeling served no purpose but to inflame an already agitated fan base.

The owners should press Goodell to minimize the effect on ratings and league attendance. The Green Bay Packers reported in their annual report to stockholders that revenue was up year-to-year and that 99% of the season ticket holders had renewed with a waiting list of 137,000.

The league is in fine shape!

So...can the Eagles repeat or what?

 

Josh Hader 1st All Star Game Marred by Twitter Police

HADER GIVES UP GAME TYING 3 RUN HOME RUN IN ALL STAR GAME

Josh Hader, of the Milwaukee Brewers, spent the week basking in the glow of selection to his 1st All Star game! During the first half of the 2108 season, Hader struck out 89 batters in 48 innings of work while recording 7 saves. The Brewers reliever has struck out 157 batters in 95 and 2/3 innings on the mound in his MLB career. Quite the accomplishment you say...we need him on our team you think. Well think again!

On in relief in the 8th inning, Hader gave up a 3 run home run home run to the Mariner's shortstop, Jean Segura. Bad enough you thought but the twitter crazies wanted to find out more about Hader. They checked his Twitter account and found tweets from 2011 where Hader, at age 17, posted things that are deemed Racist, homophobic, derogatory to women and supported (in the minds of the mob) the white power movement.

While neither condoning nor condemning Josh, I would like to add my comments to the seemingly demonic Tweets.

Mr. Hader was 17 at the time of his tweets. Excuse...no, but a reasonable explanation. He was a very young man whose views at the time were very malleable. Merriam-Webster defines "malleable" in the following way. "Capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences".

Lets take a look at a few of the songs that topped the Billboard top 100 list in 2011.

     "F-you, forget you" by Cee Lo Green
     "Tonight (I'm F-ing you" by Enrique Iglesias (with Ludacris and DJ Frank E)
     "F-ing Perfect" by Pink

Influence, peer pressure, pop culture?

Why do people feel the need to check through 7 years of a person's Tweets? Because he gave up a home run? Didn't anyone in the MLB look through his Tweets?

Hader was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in June of 2012. Why didn't they check his social media pages? Traded to the Astros in 2013 and again no look into his past. Finally in July of 2015 Josh was traded to the Brewers. By 2015 there were numerous stories of sports figures in trouble for Tweets by them or about them. And yet, one can only assume that the Brewers organization doesn't bother to check every player's social media account.

I can hear the keyboards of every MLB, NBA and NFL in every office clattering away under the finger tips of the newly hired social media account researcher. What a racket...both figuratively and literally.

Josh has apologised to his team mate, Lorenzo Cain, to MLB and to his fans. There is nothing more he can do.

He can go back and delete the Tweets and tell all his team mates to check their accounts for anything that the thought police may find objectionable. Other than that?

If the fans in Milwaukee, or any other MLB city boo him when he takes the field or protests him with harassment, they should be ashamed of themselves.