Astros Winter League Recaps: An Intro to Panamanian Baseball

The major winter leagues in the Caribbean were largely off on Monday, but another league in Panama, the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Panamá, or Probeis, kicked off play on Monday. The Astros have players on all 4 teams in the league, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Here is the official website of the league: http://probeispanama.com/

One note: the entire site is in Spanish.

Indios de Urracá

Urracá was an indigenous freedom fighter, taking on the conquistadors of Spain in the territory that we now consider modern-day Panama. He was captured by the Spanish after falling into a trap and was about to be sent to Spain, but he escaped captivity and continued his resistance for several more years. 

This team represents the province of Veraguas, located in the west-central part of the country. Veraguas borders the Pacific Ocean on its southern coast.

The Astros are represented by 3 pitchers: RHPs Jose Montero and Juan Delis, and LHP Cris Santamaria (I got tired of typing Cristhopher). Carlos Gonzalez, a coach in the Astros organization, is on the coaching staff for Indios. I do not know if he really is an Astros coach because I don't see his name listed under the coaching staffs of the minor league affiliates, or if he is, then he's probably a DSL coach.

Caballos de Coclé

Coclé, on the central coast, shares a border with Veraguas to its west. The city of Aguadulce, in the southwestern part of the province, is best known as the hometown of El Caballo, Carlos Lee. 

The Astros have 5 players on the roster: RHPs Blaine Sims and Travis Ballew, SS/2B Jack Mayfield, 1B/DH Telvin Nash, and 3B Tyler White. Along with Jose Montero, they are the non-Panamanian contingent representing the Astros on the isthmus.

Industriales de Herrera

Nestled into the south-central coast of Panama, Herrera Province shares borders with Coclé and Veraguas. 

RHP Agapito Barrios is on the active roster, while utilityman Rodrigo Ayarza is on the "active reserve" list. RHP Edgardo Sandoval and SS Ozziel Sanchez, who is a member of the Astros' 2014 international free agent class, are on the "inactive reserve" list. 

Águilas Metropolitanas

Representing Panama City, this is Panama's capital club. RHP Harold Arauz is the Astros' lone representative on the team.

Panama uses Eastern Time. There were supposed to be 2 games, but I believe one of them was rained out because the box score isn't available.

Caballos 12, Industriales 2

The hosts, Caballos, romped as they scored in all but the first 2 innings. Telvin Nash finished 2-4 with a 2-run homer, Jack Mayfield went 1-5 with a run scored, and Tyler White went 0-2 with 2 walks and a run scored. 

Agapito Barrios got the start for Industriales and threw 1.1 scoreless, walking 3 and striking out 2.

These two teams will play again at 7:00 Eastern.

Astros Fall and Winter League Recaps

Results for Saturday, January 25

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Perth 4, Adelaide 3 in 10 innings

The Bite rallied late to tie the game at 3, but they wound up walking off with a loss.

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 2-5, 2B, RBI

The Bite saw their season end today, as they were swept out of the playoff race by the Heat. They lost all 4 games by a total of 5 runs, and in 3 of those games, they had a late lead. Simply the most agonizing way to be eliminated from a playoff race.

Perth 7, Adelaide 5

Adelaide scored 4 in the top of the 7th to take a 5-3 lead, but Perth retook the lead after stretch time with 4 of their own. Seriously.

Perth Heat
RHP Cameron Lamb: Save (4), IP, BB, K

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 0-1; left game in 2nd

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

The box scores from Thursday's finales are still unavailable, but: 

Ganan los Indios de Urraca la temporada 2014 de @ProbeisPanama ... Y representarán a #Panama en la #SerieLatinoamericana en Colombia!
— Probeis Panama (@ProbeisPanama) January 26, 2014

Indios has emerged as the winner of the 2014 LPBP championship. They topped Caballos 3-2 in game 2, after shutting them down 6-0 in the opener. They will represent Panama in the Latin American Series in Colombia, which begins on Tuesday. This 4-team tournament features teams from Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Mexico. Mexico's representative comes from the Veracruz Winter League, which, judging by its name, is based in the state of Veracruz.

Astros Fall and Winter League Recaps

Results for Friday, January 24

Neither of these leagues are in the playoffs yet.

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Perth 5, Adelaide 4

The Heat's 5 runs were unanswered, and their rally culminated with a 3-run bottom of the 8th. They've already clinched a spot in the ABL Championship, but it doesn't seem like they're going to be taking the final series off.

Perth Heat
RHP Cameron Lamb: Save (3), IP, 2 H, BB, K

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 3-4, 2B, R, BB

Also, here's a result from Wednesday in Panama that I overlooked:

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

Indios 8, Industriales 7

Industriales put up a touchdown in the 3rd... yet they were unable to hold that lead and wound up walking off with a loss.

Industriales de Herrera
RHP Agapito Barrios: IP (final out of the 7th, first 2 outs of the 8th), H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K

The Panamanian season ended on Thursday, but the box scores from those games are not yet available.

Astros Fall and Winter League Playoff Recaps

Results for Sunday, January 19

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Zulia 11, Caracas 1

An extremely costly loss for Caracas, as it results in them dropping back into a tie for 2nd with Caribes. The end came when Zulia put up 8 runs in the 7th to blow this game wide open. They were leading 2-1 at the time of the outburst. Gregorio Petit was responsible for Caracas' lone run, as he hit an RBI infield single in the 4th.

Leones del Caracas
1B Jesus Guzman: 1-3, BB
SS Gregorio Petit: 1-4, RBI infield single in 4th

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Adelaide 7, Sydney 2

With the split, the Bite and the Blue Sox will enter the final weekend of the regular season tied for 2nd, at 21-21. Canberra and Melbourne are still right behind them with 20-22 records. Next weekend, Adelaide will travel to the west coast of Australia to take on Perth, while Sydney will host Melbourne, and Canberra will be in Brisbane.

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 0-5

LIGA MEXICANA DEL PACIFICO

Hermosillo 4, Los Mochis 2 (Hermosillo wins series 4-3)

Hermosillo will advance to the LMP championship series against Navojoa. They countered Los Mochis' 2 runs (1 each in the 2nd and 3rd) with a pair of 2-run (4th and 5th) innings.

Naranjeros de Hermosillo
RHP Edgar Gonzalez: 3.2 IP, 6 H (solo HR allowed), 2 ER, BB

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

Licey and Escogido will face off in the championship series beginning tonight. 

LIGA DE BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE (PUERTO RICO)

Caguas drew first blood in the LBPRC championship as they topped Mayagüez 5-1 in game 1.

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

Caballos 6, Industriales 4

Caballos scored 3 in the 7th to take the lead, and scored a vital insurance run in the 9th as they emerged on top. The pitching matchup featured a pair of Astros farmhands in Tyson Perez and Agapito Barrios.

Caballos de Coclé
RHP Tyson Perez: 5 IP, 5 H (HR allowed), 3 ER, BB

Industriales de Herrera
RHP Agapito Barrios: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K

Astros Fall and Winter League Playoff Recaps

Results for Tuesday, January 14

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Caracas 5, Magallanes 3

The capital club topped the round-robin leaders and they've now opened up a 2.5 game lead over La Guaira for 2nd place.

Leones del Caracas
1B Jesus Guzman: 0-4
SS Gregorio Petit: 1-3, R

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

Escogido clinched a spot in the championship series with a 6-0 win over Licey, a game in which 4 Escogido pitchers combined on a no-hitter.

Gigantes 6, Águilas 2

Gigantes moved into a tie for 2nd with Licey by knocking off their bitter rivals. 

Águilas Cibaeñas
SS Jonathan Villar: 0-3

LIGA DE BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE (PUERTO RICO)

Carolina 2, Mayagüez 0

Carolina shut down the leaders, but they just found themselves in too deep a hole in this year's round-robin.

Gigantes de Carolina
2B Enrique Hernandez: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R, K
DH Carlos Corporan: 0-4, 2 K
C Rene Garcia: 0-3, K

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

Industriales 11, Indios 10 

Wait, where's that 10th run for Indios (box score only adds up to 9 runs)? And where's Agapito Barrios' line (zeros across the board)? 

Indios de Urracá
RHP Juan Delis: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R (1 earned), K

Industriales de Herrera
RHP Agapito Barrios: ????? 

Astros Fall and Winter League Playoff Recaps

Results for Saturday, January 11

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Caracas 2, Anzoátegui 1

Correction: Caracas took sole possession of 2nd place in the round-robin from their hosts as they got a run in the 9th to break a 1-1 tie.

Leones del Caracas
1B Jesus Guzman: 0-4, K

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Adelaide 8, Melbourne 2

The Bite opened this game with 2 in the bottom of the 1st, then saw that lead vanish as Melbourne scored 1 in the 4th and 1 more in the 5th to tie. However, Adelaide ran away with this one, thanks to 6 unanswered runs.

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 2-4, 2B, 3 R

Perth 2, Brisbane 1

The Heat are on a roll, winning their 6th straight contest.

Perth Heat
RHP Cameron Lamb: Save (1), IP, H, K

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

Escogido 1, Gigantes 0

In a pitchers' duel, Escogido maintained its grip on the round-robin lead.

Gigantes del Cibao
RHP Rhiner Cruz: 0.2 IP (final 2 outs of the 8th)

Águilas 10, Licey 1

A 4-run 6th opened up the floodgates for Águilas, who went on to score the game's first 10 runs.

Águilas Cibaeñas 
SS Jonathan Villar: 2-4, 3B, RBI, R

LIGA DE BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE (PUERTO RICO)

Caguas 2, Carolina 1

Caguas put up 2 in the top of the 7th to pull ahead, and now Carolina is up against it in the round-robin.

Gigantes de Carolina
2B Enrique Hernandez: 1-3, BB, K
1B Carlos Corporan: 1-3, BB
C Rene Garcia: Grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the 7th, then stayed in the game at catcher.
1B Jobduan Morales: Grounded out pinch-hitting for Garcia in the 9th.

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

Caballos 5, Indios 4

The box score says that Indios lost 5-0 to Carlos Lee's team.

Indios de Urracá
RHP Juan Delis: IP, H, BB

Astros Fall and Winter League Playoff Recaps

Results for Friday, January 10

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Caracas 7, Anzoátegui 6

The capital club moved into a tie at the top of the round-robin with their opponents by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the 9th. Jesus Guzman sparked the rally by hitting a single to lead off the inning.

Leones del Caracas
1B Jesus Guzman: 2-4, sac fly in 5th, 2 R

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Melbourne 7, Adelaide 3

The Aces ran away with a 4-run 8th that extended their lead to 5-0. Adelaide couldn't quite recover from that.

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 0-4, K

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

Águilas 4, Escogido 3

Águilas kept themselves in the thick of things with a win over the leaders.

Águilas Cibaeñas
SS Jonathan Villar: 1-2, 3B, R, BB, K

Leones del Escogido
RHP Jorge De Leon: 1.2 IP, H, BB, K

LIGA DE BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE (PUERTO RICO)

Mayagüez 4, Ponce 3 in 12 innings

At 5-1, Mayagüez tops the round-robin in Puerto Rico with less than a week to go. Austin Wates came on as a defensive replacement in the 11th and did not appear at the plate.

Caguas 4, Carolina 3

Carolina scored a run in the top of the 9th to go ahead 3-2, but Caguas responded by walking off with the victory.

Gigantes de Carolina
2B Enrique Hernandez: 1-1, HBP; left game after being hit by pitch in 3rd
DH Carlos Corporan: 1-2, 2B
1B Jobduan Morales: 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K
C Rene Garcia: 0-3, BB

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

Indios 4, Roneros 1

A fine pitching performance for Indios, as 4 pitchers combined on a 3-hitter.

Indios de Urracá
RHP Juan Delis: IP, 2 BB, K

There is no Diablos Rojos de Panama. It appears they moved. Urracá, according to Wikipedia, was an indigenous leader in the area that is now western Panama who waged a rebel campaign against the conquistadores.

Astros Fall and Winter League Playoff Recaps

Results for Thursday, January 9

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Caracas 8, Zulia 4

The capital club moved into 2nd place in the round-robin as they doubled up their visitors.

Leones del Caracas
1B Jesus Guzman: 1-5, K

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Adelaide 2, Melbourne 0

Joe Sclafani's 7-game hitting streak was snapped, as the Bite opened up the latest round of play with a shutout.

Adelaide Bite
SS Joe Sclafani: 0-4

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

Gigantes 8, Águilas 7

While Escogido is enjoying their view from the top, the other 3 teams are blugdeoning each other. Gigantes moved into a tie for 2nd with Licey after walking off with the win against their bitter rivals.

Águilas Cibaeñas
SS Jonathan Villar: 1-4, 2B, RBI, R

LIGA PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL DE PANAMA

This league is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, but some of the native Panamanians in the Astros system have come home to play. The LPBP (or "Probeis") kicked off play yesterday, and before I jump in to recaps, here's where the Astros players are playing in Panama: 

Industriales de Herrera
RHP Agapito Barrios

Herrera is one of the provinces of Panama, located in south-central Panama, where the land juts out to the south.

Caballos de Coclé
RHP Tyson Perez (listed as "Jaison Perez")

Coclé is a province located in the center of the country. This is where Carlos Lee makes his home; Aguadulce, his hometown, is located in the southwestern portion of the province. I wonder where they got their team name from.

Roneros de Chiriquí
LHP Cristhopher Santamaria- listed as a reserve, although the listed roster is from 2012.

Chiriquí is located in Western Panama.

Diablos Rojos de Panamá
RHP Juan Delis

The Red Devils of Panamá ply their trade in the capital, Panama City.

1/8 Game

Caballos 4, Industriales 3

In the first game of the 2014 Probeis season, Caballos walked off with the victory with 2 in the 9th.

Industriales de Herrera
RHP Agapito Barrios: 3 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 K

Caballos de Coclé
RHP Tyson Perez: 1.1 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 2 K

No one made an apperarance in Thursday's action.