JEANMAR GOMEZ

Jeanmar Gómez cancels trip to the Classic

Gomez was on the list of 28 players registered for the event to be held in March

CARACAS.-

After being recognized as the official closer of the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2017 Major League season , Jeanmar Gomez will focus on his preparations on American ball during spring training.

This Thursday, it was made public by the American journalist Todd Zolecki that Gomez will not perform in the World Baseball Classic .

[Another ex-Clevelander performing very well in greener pastures - I did not know he would be closing games for the Phillies

Tigres de Aragua confirms interest in Jesús Aguilar

The Lions of Caracas pointed out that Jesus Aguilar was a player that they were willing to negotiate for and the Tigers of Aragua did not hide the fact that they are interested in acquiring the power hitting first baseman.

Carlos Guillén, president of the Aragua Tigers, explained on the radio program El Infield, that he is in negotiations to make the trade concrete. "We are interested in Aguilar and we are working to have him on the team," said the manager. "But we have to negotiate and see if we can reach an agreement."

This is not the first time that the Lions of Caracas and Tigres de Aragua entered into talks for Jesús Aguilar . Even in the past they were close to finalizing the trade, but final details ended the negotiations.

Jesus Aguilar , who is only 26 years old, has 43 homers and 125 RBIs in his career in the LVBP who can add to his statistics for the Aragua Tigers . "We are very interested and we will work hard to make that happen," added Carlos Guillén .

The general manager, also reported that they hope to add an "experienced" catcher to the team and that they are looking for players that can help early in the season. "We have to strengthen the team with players who can help us from the beginning of the season."

ADRIAN BELTRE

Beltre out for start of Classic with calf strain
Rangers slugger expected to miss about three weeks

Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has been ruled out for the start of the World Baseball Classic because of a strained left calf muscle, the club announced Friday. An MRI confirmed the diagnosis of a Grade 1 strain, and he is expected to be sidelined about three weeks. Beltre, who reported to camp on Friday, said he injured the calf muscle working out on Valentine's Day at his home in California. He was hoping to play for the Dominican Republic in the Classic, but that is not looking likely, he said.

[Maybe The Injury Opens The Door For Jose Ramirez ]

"Bebo" Pérez is excited about his participation in the Classic

Although he will not be the starting for Cleveland, the athlete will not miss out on the opportunity to play in the World Cup.

The decision by the Cleveland Indians on who will be the starting receiver for 2017 was decided, and the Puerto Rican Robert "Bebo" Perez will return to his role as Yan Gomes ' substitute after finishing 2016 as a regular.

This does not bother or annoy the Mayaguez catcher, who left anonymity in the postseason of 2016 thanks to his execution behind the plate that helped his team reach the World Series. Perez says he is prepared to put on the implements when the Indians' leadership decides this, but above all he has put a lot more passion into training because of the important commitment he has with his country in the upcoming World Baseball Classic .

That is the challenge that now faces the 28-year-old receiver who was selected to join the team in Puerto Rico along with fellow receivers Yadier Molina and René Rivera. "There are things I can not control. I know that I prepared for this 2017 season. I know it will be a great year for me, "said Perez, flatly rejecting the notion that the Indians put pressure on him to stay at the Indians' training camp in Arizona instead of leaving to play in the World Classic.

"I can not control those things, what the organization can do. I'm going to represent Puerto Rico in the Classic and I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity, "he said.

In the past, major league organizations have lobbied, either directly or indirectly, for their players to give up playing in the World Classic. It has happened with Puerto Ricans and other players in the past, when they are promised spots on the roster, therefore, do their conditioning at spring training and maintain their roster positions.

But Perez sounded firm in his approach. He acknowledges that he has a commitment to his organization, but at the same time he does not want to miss his first opportunity to wear his country uniform in an event of this caliber.

"I received permission from the organization. They know how important it is for me to represent my country. I feel pretty proud of that. I'm going to play for my country, "he said.

A few days ago, the leader of the Indians, Terry Francona, said that despite the valuable performance of Pérez during the past postseason, the position will be in the hands of Gomes, born in Brazil.

In fact, it was Gomes himself that the Puerto Rican snatched the position away from after the Brazilian gave signs of not being recovered from several injuries he suffered.

"That does not create additional pressure. I have prepared myself mentally for these situations. Regardless of whether they make any decision, I am prepared to play 150 games as I do every year. I am ready to help the team in whatever capacity they need me. That's what this is about, "Perez said.

The Puerto Rican recognizes that Gomes is under contract until 2019, and that, after all, he is a valuable asset for his offense.

"It does not bother me. If that is the decision that they took (that he is the alternate). I understand that he is signed to a long term contract. But as I said, these are things I can not control. I am not upset. I know that someday I will have the opportunity to play every day. For that I am preparing every year. I know the opportunity is coming, "he shared.

Perez participated in 61 games in 2016. He just averaged .183 with three homers and 17 RBIs.

However, in the postseason he proved to be key to the offense. He hit just .186 in all three playoff series, but hit three homers and drove in seven runs. But it was his work behind the plate and in the handling of the pitchers which brought on the compliment.

Perez said that the fact that he has not been promised the position for this year, will serve as a motivation for the season to come.

"Of course. That will serve as a motivation to get up every day and continue working harder. That will give me more eagerness to keep fighting, "he said.

At the moment, Perez counts the days before he joins Team Puerto Rico that will participate in the World-wide Classic next March. The Puerto Ricans will meet for the first time on March 6 in Scottsdale, Arizona, for their first practice. They debut in the Classic on March 10 against Venezuela.

"Crazy to wear that uniform of Puerto Rico and give my best, of course. There are very few opportunities to represent your country, but since last year what I have been receiving are blessings. More than an honor, this is a blessing, "he concluded.

Gomes better keep looking over his shoulder. Perez handles pitchers better than Gomes. Now all he has to do if figure out how to hit his way out of that wet paper bag.

Perez needs to spend next winter in Mexico. If he wants to learn how to hit finesse pitchers, that's the place to be. Perez seems to handle fastballs well enough.

CARIBBEAN CONFEDERATION GRANTS ANOTHER YEAR OF CUBA AS GUESTS TO THE CARIBBEAN SERIES IN VENEZUELA

Cuba will play for the fifth consecutive year as a special guest in the Caribbean Series of 2018, scheduled to be held in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. On Tuesday, it was agreed between the island's baseball and the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (CBPC) on the last day of the 2017 classic in Culiacan, Mexico.

Before the start of the championship series in the Stadium Tomateros had been warned about the possibility that 2017 was the last of Cuba as a special guest. In the Caribbean Series, competing are the championship teams of the winter baseball tournaments of Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba.
"Cuba has agreed to continue for another year as a special guest as we work to complete the process to become a permanent member of the confederation, with the same duties and rights as all the other countries that play in the Caribbean Series," said president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, Higinio Vélez, to ESPN Digital.

"It's no secret that Cuba is an attractive entry. We bring box office appea. We have decided to participate in Barquisimeto next year." Vélez said. "From now until then we have a year of work, talks, and analysis. Perhaps we will achieve what we want, to be approved at some point to be a full member with all rights and duties," he added.

Cuba dominated the first years of the Caribbean Series (between 1949 and 1960), winning seven of 12 versions - including the last five - but abandoned the CBPC when the government banned professional sports, including baseball, after the triumph of the revolution in 1959.
The island returned to the annual championship in 2013, but as a special guest for a period of four years, which ended in Culiacan. The CBPC and the Major Leagues of the United States, which have a cooperation agreement, approved the return of Cuba as a permanent member to the Caribbean Series, but any agreement in this regard must also be approved by the US State Department, which Is responsible for overseeing the economic blockade of the world power against the Caribbean country.

For Cuba to get their re-entry to the CBPC, then the next step would be to reform the order of assembly of the Caribbean Series from 2019 onwards. Vélez reiterated that Cuba is ready host the series in 2020 if they are approved in the new order.

"We have already requested in writing to be a member and assemble the series in 2020," Vélez said. "It would be a great, great joy, for the Cubans. A great joy for the players, the fans and the rest of the world," he added.

Cabrera hit .365/.429/.609 with 10 home runs and 97 hits over 69 games with the Mudcats in 2003

Six former Mudcats set to play in 2017 WBC

Rosters for the 2017 World Baseball Classic were announced recently and a total of six former Carolina Mudcats players will represent their home countries in the fourth annual 16 team international baseball tournament.

The list of former Mudcats greats participating the 2017 WBC includes Venezuela's Miguel Cabrera (played for 2003 Mudcats), Puerto Rico's Francisco Lindor (2013 Mudcats), Mexico's Adrian Gonzalez (2003 Mudcats), Colombia's Giovanny Urshela (2012 Mudcats), the Netherlands' Didi Gregorius (2011 Mudcats) and team USA's Andrew Miller (2008 Mudcats).

IF Miguel Cabrera. WBC Team: Venezuela. MLB Team: Detroit Tigers. Born: Maracay, Venezuela.

Miguel Cabrera, the 2012 Triple Crown Award winner and two-time American League MVP, began the 2003 season with the Mudcats before going up to the bigs later that same year. He hit .365/.429/.609 with 10 home runs and 97 hits over 69 games with the Mudcats in 2003. He then finished that same season batting .268/.325/.468 with 84 hits in 87 MLB games with the 2003 World Series champion Marlins.

IF Francisco Lindor. WBC Team: Puerto Rico. MLB Team: Cleveland Indians. Born: Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Francisco Lindor hit .306/.373/.410 with 100 hits including 19 doubles, six triples, one home run, 27 RBI and a team high 20 stolen bases over 83 games with the Mudcats in 2013. The then 19 year-old Lindor was both a mid-season and post-season Carolina League All-Star for the Mudcats in 2013. He also represented the Indians and Mudcats in the 2013 MLB Futures game.

IF Adrian Gonzalez. WBC Team: Mexico. MLB Team: LA Dodgers. Born: San Diego, California.

Adrián González hit .307/.368/.409 with nine doubles and 16 RBI over 36 games for the then Florida Marlins affiliate Mudcats in 2003. He originally began the 2003 season with Triple-A Albuquerque before the Marlins transferred him to Double-A Carolina in early May. Florida later traded him that same season to the Texas Rangers, where he was then assigned to Double-A lot.

IF Giovanny Urshela. WBC Team: Colombia. MLB Team: Cleveland Indians. Born: Cartagena, Colombia.

Giovanny Urshela totaled 122 hits over 114 games for the Mudcats during the club's first year as the Advanced-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 2012. He finished the 2012 season batting .309/.446/755 with 14 home runs, 30 doubles and 59 RBI.

IF Didi Gregorius. WBC Team: Netherlands. MLB Team: New York Yankees. Born: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Didi Gregorius played for the Mudcats during the club's final season season a Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Gregorius was promoted in late July from Advanced-A Bakersfield in 2011 and played in 38 games with the Mudcats where he totaled 40 hits, including six doubles, three triples and two home runs. He hit .312/.392/.704 during his time with the Mudcats.

P Andrew Miller. WBC Team: USA. MLB Team: Cleveland Indians. Born: Gainesville, Florida

Andrew Miller appeared in just one game for the Mudcats in 2008 while rehabbing his way through the Florida Marlins system. His lone rehab appearance with the Mudcats came on 8/21/08 when he pitched through five and 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and two runs allowed against the Mississippi Braves at Five County Stadium.

The 2017 World Baseball Classic begins on March 6 and runs through March 22. The tournament features the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories.

Chinatrust Brothers Name Cory Snyder as Head Coach

The Chinatrust Brothers have named former MLB player Cory Snyder as the team's new head coach.

Snyder has most recently been coaching Pericos de Puebla in the Mexican League, leading the team to the championship in 2016. He has also coached the Tacoma Rainiers, Seattle's Triple-A affiliate.

Snyder had a nine-year career in the MLB in the late 1980s and early 1990s, five of those seasons with the Cleveland Indians. He hit .247 for his career with 149 home runs in 3,656 at-bats.

The team noted that Snyder is expected to arrive in Taiwan in the middle of January, in time for the club's spring training which starts on Jan. 18.

The Brothers have been searching for a new bench boss after demoting Wu Fu Lien in late November, despite the fact that he led them to back-to-back Taiwan Series appearances.
Catching Up With Cory Snyder

On 22, Jan 2014

Everything about former Indians outfielder Cory Snyder was big. Standing at 6’4”, Snyder was a big player, with big power and a big throwing arm. When he came to Cleveland as the fourth overall pick in the 1984 Draft, however, the expectations for Snyder were enormous.

“I didn’t know I was going to be drafted so high,” Snyder said. “I knew I was going to be drafted; I just didn’t know where it was going to be. I was just happy to be drafted and whoever took me, took me. It was a good time.”

The hype for the newest Indian prospect was so big, in fact, that the Tribe started the former infield prospect all the way up at the AA level.

“Yeah, that was real nice,” Snyder said with a smile.

While the Tribe was expecting good things from Snyder, he had a little bit of business to take care of first and would take a little longer than normal to start his professional career. Snyder was a member of the first United States Olympic baseball team that same summer that he was drafted, and he helped the US team take the silver medal for the 1984 Summer Games held in Los Angeles.

“When I was drafted, I was going to play on the Olympic team,” the American’s third baseman said. “So they came out, I signed, played on the Olympic team, and then I went to the instructional league that year.”

Being drafted fourth overall and making the Olympic team was not a shock to anybody familiar with his game, as Snyder was coming off of a tremendous career at Brigham Young University. As the son of a former professional baseball player, his talent was obvious to all. His father, Jim Snyder, was a minor league infielder for the Milwaukee Braves from 1961-62.

“If you ask my dad, he probably would have known early on,” Snyder remarked of his obvious talent. “I just loved playing the game and I just went out and played every day—and played hard. He taught me the game and I just got better and better. It was just one of those things where I was like…just play ball. He’d throw me batting practice, hit me fly balls, hit me ground balls…it just came natural so it was real easy. If you ask him, he could probably see early on that I was a little bit better than the rest of the guys and that I had something special.”

While at BYU, Snyder had an outstanding collegiate career that included being an All-American multiple times. He was an instant success as a Cougar as well, slamming homeruns in his first three college at bats during his freshman year.

“I was the NCAA Freshman of the Year,” Snyder said. “I was a two year, All-American shortstop and was drafted as a shortstop, but I played third for the Olympics. In the minor leagues I played third base too, but when I was called up I went straight to right field.”

While it didn’t take long for Snyder to get the call-up to the Major Leagues, he was not in any rush to get there.

“These days, it seems, everybody is up on, ‘When are you going to move? If you have a good game, they are going to move you,’” Snyder said of today’s players. “I was never caught up in moving. I went to AA and I just figured that I would stay in AA all year. These days, it seems they want to move guys quicker. I don’t know if it’s because they were drafted higher and are making more money, but back then when you’d go somewhere you go somewhere. I just thought, go play. See what happens.”

The patient Snyder only had to wait until June 13, 1986 to get his call to the Indians, as the Tribe was ready to defeat the Minnesota Twins 11-2 in his first game in The Show. Snyder went 1-4 with a triple off of future Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven during his first game at Municipal Stadium, as 61,411 fans looked on.

“I remember that there was a lot of people there,” Snyder said of his first game that happened to be on the same night that Marathon Oil purchased 40,000 tickets. “When you go from the minor leagues, where a packed house is 2,500, and then you come here and there’s 61,000…it was exciting. Just to be here, your dream as an eight or nine-year-old kid is to make the big leagues. It was fun. I was excited to be there, I think you’re in shock and numb for the first couple weeks when you’re there, just thinking ‘Wow, I’m really here.’ It’s a pretty neat thing.”

What else was neat was how Snyder took the Indians fans by storm with his big bat and powerful arm. Snyder became an instant fan favorite as he batted .272 and blasted 24 homeruns for what was thought to be the “up-and-coming” Indians team.

“I took pride in both my offense and my defense,” Snyder recalled. “I just felt like if the ball was hit to right field, I was going to catch it and when I do, I’m going to throw somebody out.”

He certainly did it a lot, too. From 1987-1990, Snyder led the American League with 61 outfield assists. He was an exceptional fielder as well, making only one error in 310 chances in 1989.

“I had a pretty good arm growing up,” Snyder said. “I threw pretty hard as a pitcher in high school. It was pretty fun in college to have the radar guns behind first base, not behind the mound. I just had a God-given arm, and I took care of it growing up. It was just one of those things that I liked and I liked showing off.”
Snyder helped the Indians to a surprisingly good 84-78 record in his first year and hopes were high entering the 1987 season. The Tribe had shown so much improvement, in fact, that Sports Illustrated picked the Indians to win the American League pennant for the 1987 season. Donning the cover of their baseball preview issue was Tribe slugger Joe Carter and the second year sensation, Snyder.

“In spring-training they came up to me and Joe Carter and told us they wanted to put us on the cover,” Snyder remembered. “We did the shot out there in a studio somewhere. It was a fun time.”

What didn’t turn out so fun, however, was the Indians play on the field that season. The Tribe floundered to a dismal 61-101 record that summer, due in large part to a woeful pitching staff.

“Always when you leave spring-training, hopes are high,” Snyder said of the ’87 team. “You feel good, you’re coming out, and we always had a good spring. We felt good. We felt like we had a chance to do some things. But in the end, I think it came down to pitching and defense. We had some good pitching – starting pitching – but we were a couple of guys short there. In the bullpen, we just couldn’t get it to Doug Jones. It’s baseball. It’s just the way it goes. You never think that you’re not in it. You just have to go out and play hard every day.”

Snyder continued to play hard for the Indians through the 1990 season until he was traded that December. The Tribe dealt their slugging outfielder to the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Shawn Hillegas and Eric King. The pair of pitchers never made any real impact on the Indians team, and Snyder struggled during his tenure with the ChiSox.

His tenure in Chicago did not last long, as Snyder was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays by July. He then spent the 1992 season in San Francisco with the Giants and then signed his final contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers before 1993. During his final season while in LA, Snyder had a career day on April 17, 1994 when he slugged three homeruns and drove in seven in a 19-2 Dodger victory in Pittsburgh.

Since retiring, Snyder has found a place back in baseball as he currently works as a minor league hitting instructor for the Seattle Mariners.

“I’m coaching now,” Snyder said. “One of the coaches early on told me, ‘You have to remember, they are never going to play as hard as you did.’ That’s the hard part. It’s hard because-just the way the players are brought up these days-we didn’t expect anything. We figured we were going to have to work hard, and if you make the big leagues, you’re going to have to work harder to stay there.”

Despite having a bit of a generational-gap with his young players, Snyder enjoys what he is doing and has his eyes on an even bigger prize.

“It’s good. I like it. I really enjoy giving back,” Snyder said. “It’s kind of like, you’ve been there, done that, so you get that instant respect. You’ve been in the big leagues so you know what it takes. The key these days is getting players to understand that. They have to understand that they need to make adjustments.

“I’d like to be a hitting coach in the big leagues. I really would. I believe that I could do that job, helping players. When you get to the AA, AAA and big-league levels, it’s all the mental part of the game. As we say, if we knew then what we know now, we would have had a lot more success. It’s amazing because back then they never really talked about the mental part of the game. It was just, ‘Get the bat head from here to here and drive the ball.’ Pitchers are better now. It’s all about getting ahead and getting an idea of what they are going to throw in a count or a certain situation in a game. It’s fun. I enjoy it.”

In his free time, Snyder enjoys spending time with his family and his children, who have grown up to be athletes just like their father.

“I follow my kids around. I play a little golf still,” Snyder said. “Both of my boys are in college now playing baseball. JC, he’s my oldest, he plays at BYU. Both of my boys wanted to do the junior college route. So, JC went two years at Salt Lake Community and my other son, Taylor, he’s a freshman there now. So, I get to follow them around in the fall and watch them play. Then, my youngest daughter is a rodeo girl, so I get to follow her around and watch her run barrels a little bit. It’s good. It’s a good time.”

Snyder continues to work hard and have fun doing so. It is the same qualities that he had when he was a young ballplayer—the qualities that drew the fans to him in droves.

“It was probably my style of play,” Snyder said of his popularity in Cleveland. “I played hard every single day. I didn’t take anything for granted, I was just happy to be there. I gave it all every time I took the field.”

Say it ain't so...... Wu Fu Lien demoted for Cory Snyder.

Netherlands will Feature Stacked Infield for 2017 World Baseball Classic

The Netherlands will feature some of the best young talent in Major League Baseball when they suit up during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

The Red Sox Xander Bogaerts, the Rangers’ Jurickson Profar, the Orioles’ Jonathan Schoop, the Yankees’ Didi Gregorius, and the elder statesman at just 27 the Angels’ Andrelton Simmons will all play for the Netherlands. All but Gregorius played with the team in 2013, but now they are established major league talent.
Simmons has ranked as one of the best defensive players in the game over the past four seasons. He has led the MLB in Defensive Runs Saved with 112 since his first full season in 2013.
Bogaerts had a break out season in 2015 when he hit .320 for the Red Sox. He then turned himself into an offensive force in 2016 hitting .294 and slugging 34 doubles and 21 home runs.
Gregorius had his best season at the plate in 2016, his second in New York taking over for Derek Jeter. In 2016 he clubbed 20 home runs, 32 doubles, and hit .276.
Schoop stayed healthy last year and had his first complete season playing all 162 games for the Orioles. He hit .267 with 25 home runs, 38 doubles, and drove in 82.
Profar played in 90 games for the Rangers. He played every infield position and left field over the course of the year. He batted .239 with 5 home runs and 3 triples.

Curt Smith is back again for Team Netherlands. He has a lot of international experience and even hit .321 in the 2013 WBC as the Dutch ran off to a semifinal appearance. Also back from 2013 is Yurendell de Caster who hit .400 in limited action. He provides experience off the bench with a quality right handed bat that can play multiple positions.

Bringing power to the outfield is Wladimir Balentien. While he might not be a household name in the USA, he did play parts of 3 seasons with the Mariners and Reds, he is a star in Japan in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. After leaving the USA for the 2011 season, Balentien has gone on to hit 30+ home runs 5 times, including 60 in 2014 which broke the all-time record in Japan.

On the bump the Dutch have some talent as sell. Diegomar Markwell is back after a stellar 2013 WBC where he went 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA in 3 starts. While he is inching up in age (36) he still has a quality arm that should be able to get the Dutch some good starts. Also back is Orlando Yntema who had a good 2013 WBC pitching twice and making one start. In the bullpen they will return Loek Van Mil (0.00 ERA in 2013).

The most intriguing player for the Netherlands this go around is Jair Jurrjens. The former MLB starter with Atlanta, Baltimore, and Colorado pitched the 2016 season in Taiwan. Still only 31, but far past his prime, he could still give the Dutch some solid innings either out of the bullpen or perhaps in a spot start.

In 2013 the Netherlands made it to the semifinals eventually losing to the eventual champion Dominican Republic. This year they will begin in Pool A in Seoul, South Korea. There they will battle the host country, Chinese Taipei, and Israel for a spot in Round 2.

Miggy motivated to win for Venezuela, Ilitch
Cabrera arrives at Tigers camp with heavy heart

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera added boxing to his training routine this offseason on the advice of Venezuelan boxer Jorge Linares. As Cabrera begins his 10th season with the Tigers, he has two motivations to fight for victories this year.

This spring, he wants to help Venezuela win a World Baseball Classic title for his troubled homeland.

"We need to give something to our country," Cabrera said Saturday, "because our country's in bad shape right now. There's a lot of problems in Venezuela. It's like two sides. Politics is hard. I think sports can help any country get together. I think sports can bring a lot of happiness to people."

When the MLB season opens, he wants to win in memory of Mike Ilitch, the late Tigers owner who pushed to bring Cabrera to Detroit and then signed him to two long-term deals.

"We come into Spring Training a little sad," Cabrera said. "But at the same time, we come in like we need to keep going and need this for him. He always dreamed about a World Series champion. We never gave him the chance. We have extra motivation, so we need to be here and do extra and try to be our best this season."
Arguably no one shows as much pure joy on a baseball field as Cabrera. That enthusiasm showed Saturday as he worked around the back fields at Tigertown during the first full-squad workout of camp.

As Cabrera talked following the workout, though, his tone was somber. His home country's turmoil and his team's mourning weigh on him.

Cabrera's arrival to Detroit is one of the defining moments of Ilitch's legacy. It wasn't simply about winning. Cabrera was the chance to add a young superstar and future Hall of Famer, like Ilitch had done with the NHL's Red Wings. He authorized then-GM Dave Dombrowski to make a run when the Marlins put Cabrera on the market.

"He gave me this opportunity to be in Detroit," Cabrera said. "He signed me for a lot of years, and every time I'd see him, I'd always say, 'Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be in Detroit.' Detroit is part of my family and part of my life, my home.

"He was always great to me. Every time he went to the stadium, he'd come down to my locker and we'd talk."
Cabrera was just 24 at the time of the trade, an incredible talent still growing into his game and his status as one of Venezuela's great players. He returned to Venezuela in the offseason back then to play winter ball. His accomplishments since have made him a superstar, the face of the Tigers and the face of baseball in his home country, even as he found a home in South Florida.
He works hard to give back to Venezuela through his foundation, but political turmoil makes it hard to visit.

"It's hard to leave your country," he said. "It's hard to go back and stay over there. I mean, when I went back to Venezuela, I went for one week. I used to live there. Now I live here in the United States. When you leave your country, it's hard to leave your family over there. My whole family is in Venezuela.

"I don't want to think about it, because it's hard. People living in Venezuela, they're in hard times right now. I worry about them."

No practicing For Carlos Correa ... extraction of his chords
The stellar shortstop of the Astros must rest several days because of the operation

It's easy to see that Carlos Correa does not feel well away from the Houston Astros dressing room.

His face is partially hidden by an orange hoody but what is seen under the hood is not the normal look for the charismatic shortstop of 22 years.

"It is well inflamed," Correa murmured.

He referred to his mouth. They pulled four harnesses two days ago, a process that had to be done because of a toothache he developed last week. Correa remained swollen and with drugs against pain today as the Astros prepared for their first practice with the complete team.

Correa reported to spring training on Friday and took the field with the rest of the team the following day. But while his teammates wore uniforms, the San Telmo dressed in shorts. He is under the doctor's orders not to engage in baseball-related activities or sunbathing for the next 3 to 5 days.

It is not the best scenario for a man eager to return to work in preparation for the season.

"You want to get back on the field with your team mates, practice and start getting into a rhythm. So this was not what I wanted, but I prefer to have this now than during the season," he said.

Correa comes from his first full season in the majors, where he finished with a batting average of .274, 20 home runs, 36 doubles and 96 RBIs. Although many people consider these numbers as good, the first selection of the 2012 draft was disappointed that he could not do more last year to help the Astros reach the postseason.

It's a feeling that stayed with him during the offseason and led him to have a simple personal goal this year.

"I want my play to be much better than last season to help the team reach the playoffs. I did not do it last year, so I'm sorry, but I have to do it this year," he said.

His expectations may come from what he did during his season when he batted .279 with 22 homers, 22 doubles and 68 RBIs in just 99 games to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award and lead the Astros to their first appearance in October in a decade.

"I think that when you're as remarkable as Carlos Correa was when he came to the majors, the expectations that you put on him are incredible. I have to ask a lot of questions like, 'Was it a disappointment, did he take a step back?' I think when you take a step back and see the numbers and how productive he was, while it was not a perfect year, it was a very productive year, "said Astros leader AJ Hinch.

But "very productive" is not enough for the demanding Correa, who implored his parents to enroll him in a bilingual school as a child in Puerto Rico because he wanted to speak on his own when he became a big leagues.

Now that he's entering his third year in the Major Leagues, Correa believes Houston finally has the team to claim the title.

UCV Foundation claims debt of Leones and Tiburones
Both clubs left Estadio Universitario de Caracas Without paying 38 million bolivars to the UCV

CARACAS.-

Leones del Caracas and Tiburones de La Guaira left University Stadium in Caracas without having paid approximately 38 million bolivars that remain pending with the Estadio Universitario de Caracas (UCV) Foundation for the lease and maintenance of the facilities, a dispute that forced the agency To rescind the contracts with both teams.

"The UCV Foundation is obliged to preserve the heritage of the UCV, so we require the teams to comply with their obligation to maintain the Stadium in accordance with the agreement in the Space Lease Agreement, in order to ensure that the sport activity is played in the best possible conditions for the players and the great fanatics attending baseball games in the Venezuelan Baseball League, "explained Alexis Rivas General Manager of the UCV Foundation.

"Our interest is that both teams regularize their situation as soon as possible, so that the next agreements are signed and guarantee these conditions," he added.

UCV Foundation points out that before the repeated breach, the teams decided to terminate the contractual agreements, according to the provisions in the contract that the teams decided not to honor more than four months ago despite the multiple claims presented.

A report prepared by the UCV Foundation reveals how, at the time of formally leaving the stadium, the Leones and Tiburones owed more than 21 million bolivars for leasing plus interest and penalties that were generated by default and indexation for default.

In addition, the teams stopped paying surveillance personnel for 4 months, which has compromised the integrity of security at the facilities at the time there were thefts of materials and equipment inside the facilities.

The electrical services were not cancelled , which is why the debt accumulated since September 2016, in addition to other amounts previously agreed for the Maintenance Fund. Also, the team Tiburones de La Guaira vacated the stadium without having paid for the lease of two games during the postseason.

"We are open to dialogue on all defaults necessary to compensate for the damages caused and to sign favorable future agreements for all, especially for baseball, the favorite sport of Venezuelans, but we can not allow these defaults to cause deteriation to facilities such as the stadium University of Caracas, " said Alexis Rivas.

How much is 38 million Bolivars.....$1.98?