'(A. Rios in the boxscores is Armando).'

I don't think Baseball America realizes that, I'm 99% sure it showed A. Rios as Toronto in my prospect email today....

Same here -- it had "TOR A. Rios" in the e-mail. I've deleted it already, but I'm sure of that.

I dug it up, it says Toronto.

Just to make sure- the A. Rios who plays for Carolina is Armando. Alex will be playing for Caguas when he arrives.

I knew you had it nailed Mike, I assumed that the 'experts' were wrong.

Is Alexis actually going to play in Puerto Rico? He told me the Jays wanted him to show up early in Dunedin to begin weight training and such. When I asked him about winter ball, he said the Jays didn't want him to play.

Kevin, that's very interesting. We assumed that he'd be coming down to Puerto Rico with the major leaguers later, but an early trip to Dunedin to work on weight training and such would make perfect sense. Bueno.

I'd be glad to see Alex skip the Puerto Rico League and show up early at Dunedin. He's a major-leaguer now, and he oughtn't to be playing against Double-A and Triple-A competition. Weight training is definitely on his to-do list, but imparting some lift to his swing is just as important.

He told me he'd be playing Winter League, and that he had the go-ahead from people high up in the front office. He won't play the whole season, but he'll definitely suit up for Caguas at some point. It's not really a choice for him -- he feels like it's an obligation.

I chatted with him shortly after the end of the season. Perhaps something has changed since then.

There is a "Luis Sojo" playing on Lara.. it couldn't be... could it???

I still laugh at the day near the tradedeadline when the Yankees made some moves on the waiver wire and picked up Jose Conseco by accident and Luis Sojo on purpose!

Why couldn't it be the Luis Sojo we know and love? He won't turn 40 until January.

Thanks SF and Kevin. I seem to recall that the Puerto Rican winter league season and then the Caribbean Series carry on until pretty close to the opening of spring training. Jabonoso, you wouldn't have the dates by any chance?

The Caribbean series will be held in Mazatlan, Mexico from the 1st to the sixth of February.
Most teams look to reinforce themselves with major leaguears after Christmas.
Almost every month is different in quality. In November you have mostly the local summer leagues guys, low minors and players wanting to have extra playing time.
In December you get the hardcore winter guys ( Tejeda in Dominicana, K Rod in Venezuela ) and the rest of AAA-AAAA guys.
In January some extra major leaguers that want to play The caribbean series and get hot for the spring games.
All in all, BP published some studies that show the leagues ( most of the data came from Puerto Rican league ) level is pretty much triple A.
Dominican league is the most dominant as is the one that have more major leaguers and more stars involved ( in the Dominican representative team always show up Tejada and Ortiz as reinforcements )

Thanks, Jabonoso. I'll bet that the baseball in the Caribbean Series is of very high quality, and the atmosphere surrounding the games reflects that. Hmm, Mazatlan in early February...you could do worse!

Hmm, Mazatlan in early February...you could do worse!

No kidding. After walking in that blizzard this morning, it sure doesn't help knowing that the forecast calls for 30 degrees in the other scale in Mazatlan tomorrow.

yes it is a great atmosphere. There will be around 200 hardcore cheer club from each of the three visitors and the house packed for the locals. Salsa music played very loud, the funniest mascots from each country, players very much at hand and 60 cents beer...
and yes baseball is great, there is a lot of country pride going on.

Sounds great, Jabonoso. I've got to go one of these years.