Ramirez looks quite a bit like VW in that pic, with the brim pulled down and all.

According to the always-entertaining literal translations of babelfish.altavista.com, here's what the story says:

CARACAS. - Five solid entrances of Ismael Ramirez and torrid - although little the productive today - batting of Caribbean of East, allowed to maintain the Eastern leadership them after overcoming Sharks of Guided It, 4 races by 2, in game where it made his debut, in the present campaign, Francisco Rodriguez and Liu Rodriguez hit connected his number 400 of by life in the LVBP, celebrated in the enclosure for bullfighting of the Chaguaramos. The tribe broke the cellophane in third I capitulate thanks to pair of errors of the defensive escuala. After two out, Randall Simon embasa by error of Liu Rodriguez and anchor in intermediate by wild pitch. Juan Creek connects simple to the left garden, impelling to Simon, but White Gregor loses the connection between the legs which allows Creek to arrive until third. The Guaira ties in the closing of the chapter after out. White Gregor is struck and Liu Rodriguez places it in the hollow of the right garden to credit an impelling triple that would become its unquestionable 400 in the Venezuelan professional baseball. Caribbean one goes away above in the villa and it would not lose plus the end. Double of Randall Simon and triple of Juan Creek they break the tie. Lunar Fernando would impel third in the eighth section. Rum Calloway would remove it in solitaire by left, in the entrance to gather the bats. Double of Keith Reed in the closing, guaireña impels the second race. The victory was for Eastern opener, that puts its record in three triumphs without defeats. Jacobo Sequea scored his third rescue of the season, while Luimar Rock loaded with his first defeat, in three exits, without knowing the victory. K-ROD MADE DEBUT After afternoon closing of Thursday its economic agreement with the litoralense director, the new lock of Angelinos de Anaheim, Francisco Rodriguez, I do not hope much to jump to the engramado one of the university stage. Two imposing entrances made be delirious to the fanaticada one of the right. K-Rod faced eight natives, and although it allowed pair of simple and I strike to one, abanicó to four opposites, exhibiting an impressive speed, making clear that this ready one to form dupla with Jorge Julio to close the litoralenses games.

Ramirez earned strong reviews from the Baseball America people recently. He's definitely earned a place on the Pitchers to Watch list, though I think his eventual big-league contributions would be in the bullpen.

He is the Chacin of winter 2004, I wonder if he has leanred a new pitch or if he is doing anything differently down there.

Ramirez probably developed physically somewhat but his location also got a lot better. He ironed out his delivery and got a lot more consistent.

In 2003 he had 31 walks in 119.1 innings with 5.3 K/9 in low-A.

In 2004 he had 25 walks in 165.1 innings with 7.1 K/9 in high-A.

He also lowered his WHIP from 1.18 to 1.06 which is significant.

He'll be 24 in AA this year so he has to keep it up. It looks like he's managing well in the winter league so far. His low-90s fastball should be enough to keep batters honest so I like his potential as a #4 type starter. Chacin is a good comparison.

It seems somewhat ironic 5yrs later that four of the fives additions to the 40 man roster for the Jays came from the Tim Wilken scouting regime ( Perkins, Negron, Tablado and Ramirez)!!

JP was hired just about 3 years ago not 5 Frank. Also the only players drafted by JP that would have to be protected would be from the 2002 draft (his first) of which Adams, Bush and Peterson are already on the 40 man. The players from the 2003 and 2004 drafts are exempt. There is a very good reason why Wilken players are being protected, they've accumulated more minor league service time since they were drafted or signed earlier.

Would Adam Peterson, be eligible for the rule 5 draft, if he was not called up this year?

Yes, last year was Peterson's 3rd pro season so he would have been eligible anyway.

It seems somewhat ironic 5yrs later that four of the fives additions to the 40 man roster for the Jays came from the Tim Wilken scouting regime ( Perkins, Negron, Tablado and Ramirez)!!

Not really that surprising. Most of those players have been in the minor leagues at least 4 or 5 years and they've been mediocore/inconsistent before this season.

The first draft under the new system has already seen three players added to the 40-man. If you count the trade for Arnold/Griffin that's another two. Adams, Bush, and Peterson would have had to have been added at the same time as the 'Wilken era' players above unless the Jays wanted to risk losing them.

Depending on what happens in 2005, the following players from the 2003 draft might be added during the season and will have to be added by next November unless the Jays want to expose their rights:

Aaron Hill, Josh Banks, Shaun Marcum, Jamie Vermilyea, Vito Chiaravolotti

All pretty decent prospects, especially the first three. That's assuming nobody else steps up in 2005 and surprises. The Jays' system is as productive as ever. Time will tell if the quality is up to par with the quantity.

Quiroz is batting only .255 down in VZ.

How are his power numbers looking??

I can't find them on the net.

Caino. I'm pretty sure that Theo Epstein can find simple information on the computer.

Annon. You're a jerk.

Quiroz has 14 hits, 5 doubles and two homers.
He is noted to use winter ball to practice his uppercut. Something that Rios should be doing too...

That's not too bad. Half his hits for extra bases. That said, I don't know the level of pitching down there.

hey ANNON ! ...I still got a chuckle out of your view of Theo Epstein...thanks

hey ANNON ! ...I still got a chuckle out of your view of Theo Epstein...thanks

obviously Caino the next Epstein isn't the only one who has problems finding his way around his computer...

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/Stats/stats_PRL_cag.shtml
Rob Cosby returned to action in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and is off to a nice start in 20 ABs. COMN.

I don't see Alexis Rios playing anywhere in P.R. A little odd especially given his breakout their last year. Perhaps the team feels he had too long of a season, and their was some talk his quest for homeruns in the winter league last year screwed up his swing.

Rios will probably arrive later with the other major leaguers. That is fine. He had a heavy load last winter between the EL playoffs, the Olympic tournament and the full PR Winter League schedule.

Rob Cosby hit his first homer for Caguas yesterday in the Puerto Rican League. GQ is hitting a sweet .270/.373/.509 for Zulia in the Venezuelan League.

Miguel Negron went 3-5 with a homer for Caguas yesterday in the Puerto Rican League. Rob Cosby went 0-3, but both Negron and Cosby are overall holding their own nicely. Ismael Ramirez went to 4-0 in the Venezuelan League despite his first pedestrian outing on November 26. He went 5 innings and allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.

Thanks for the updates Mike. It's nice to be able to check up on the prospects results. Hopefully guys like Negron and Ramirez can use successes in the winter leagues to propel them forward next season.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/Stats/stats_VWL_ara.shtml
Alex Romero continues to hit as he usually has in the Venezuelan League. COMN.

Mike, I missed the connection Alex Romero-Blue Jays ?

http://www.battersbox.ca/archives/00002633.shtml#comments_42
Jabonoso, Romero is a candidate for the rule 5 draft and there was some expressed interest in him in Marc's rule 5 pinch hit (COMN). I think that's probably what motivated the reference.

Thank you Ryan, it makes a lot of sense!

Thanks, Ryan. Always one step ahead of me!