2007 Caribbean Series

The forty-ninth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played held from February 2 through February 7 of 2008, featuring the champion teams from Dominican Republic (Aguilas Cibaeñas), Mexico (Naranjeros de Hermosillo), Puerto Rico (Gigantes de Carolina) and Venezuela (Tigres de Aragua). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Roberto Clemente Stadium in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Summary

Dominican Republic clinched the Series with a 5-1 record and was managed by Félix Fermín, who became the first manager in series history to win three titles. In their only defeat, the Dominicans were shut out, by Puerto Rico, 1–0, on three hits. Series MVP Tony Batista led the team with three home runs and eight RBIs. Also helping out were Miguel Tejada (.304, one HR, five RBI) and Anderson Hernández (.310, six runs, two doubles). The offense led the tournament with 37 runs, while the pitching staff provided a strong support by limiting opponents to eight runs (two unearned) in 62 ⅓ innings pitched for a .087 ERA. José Acevedo (1-0, six strikeouts, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 IP), Fabio Castro (1-0, four SO, 0.00, 5.0 IP), Julián Tavárez (1-0, six SO, 1.69, 5 ⅓ IP), Héctor Almonte (1-0, .214, five SO, 3 ⅔ IP), Julio De Paula (1-0, 0.00, three SO, 4 ⅓), José Capellán (.217 ERA, five SO, 6 ⅓ IP), José Vargas (one save, .267, two SO), and José Lima (0-1, 10 SO, 1.32 ERA, 13 ⅓ IP) headed the staff. Also on the roster were Alberto Castillo, Bernie Castro, Nelson Cruz, Pablo Ozuna and Luis Polonia. Overall, the Dominican Republic won the Series for the 16th time, one more than Puerto Rico. This was the fifth time that the Águilas Cibaeñas (Cibao Eagles) represented the Dominicans and took the title.

The Puerto Rican team, managed by Lino Rivera, finished second with a 4-2 mark. The offense was clearly guided by Armando Ríos, who led the Series hitters in batting average (.545), hits (12), stolen bases (2), SLG (.682), OBS (.667) and OPS (1.349). Other contributions came from Juan González (.385, three runs, two RBI), Javier Valentín (.368) and Alex Cora (.364, two doubles, two runs, four RBI). Other than starters Giancarlo Alvarado (1-0, 0.73, 10 SO, 12 ⅓ IP) and Brian Edwards (1-0, 4.50, 6.0 IP), the pitching rotation proved ineffective. Relievers Pedro Feliciano (2-0, 0.00, 5.0 IP, four SO), Bubbie Buzachero (1.80, one save, five SO, five IP) and Fernando Cabrera (0.00 ERA, 0.00 OBA, two SO, three IP) provided some support. Other players in the roster included Hiram Bocachica, Rubén Gotay, Luis Matos, José Santiago, and the brothers José and Yadier Molina.

Venezuela was guided by Buddy Bailey and finished 2-4 in third place. The two victories came at the expense of Mexico and Puerto Rico. The offense was guided by Oscar Salazar, who led the series batters with nine RBI, while hitting .346 (9-for-26) with two home runs and a .654 SLG. Two other hitters carried much of the offensive weight: José Castillo (.321, six doubles, four runs, three RBI) and Ronny Cedeño (.440, 11 hits, .481 OBP). Despite a 2.18 collective ERA, the pitching staff was victim of a lousy defense that committed 11 errors. Starters Josmir Romero (1-0, 0.00), Tim McClaskey (1-0, 3.60, five SO, five IP) and Horacio Estrada (0-0, 2.25, 12 IP) each turned in fine efforts, while Yohan Pino (0.00, 10 SO, 7 ⅓ IP) and Kevin Tolar (0.00, five SO, 3 ⅓ IP) did the job out of the bullpen. The Venezuelan team also featured players such as Cory Bailey, Alex Delgado, Ramón Hernández, Luis Rodríguez, Randall Simon and Steve Torrealba.

Piloted by Lorenzo Bundy, Mexico was outscored by their opponents 45-13 and finished in last place with a 1-5 record, getting its only victory against Venezuela. A one-man offensive performance was led by Luis Alfonso García, who finished second in the batting race with a .458 average (11-for-24) and hit four doubles with four RBI; Juan Cañizalez batted .333 (6-for-18), Alfredo Amézaga hit the team's only home run, and Pablo Ortega was the only pitcher to lose two games in the Series that year. The team also included veterans such as Vinny Castilla, Elmer Dessens, Erubiel Durazo, Karim García, Gerónimo Gil and Derrick White.

Final standings

CountryClubWLW/L %GBManagers
  Dominican RepublicAguilas Cibaeñas51.833   Félix Fermín
  Puerto RicoGigantes de Carolina42.6671.0  Lino Rivera
  VenezuelaTigres de Aragua24.3333.0  Buddy Bailey
  MexicoNaranjeros de Hermosillo15.1674.0  Lorenzo Bundy
Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Armando Ríos/PURBatting average.545
Tony Batista/DOMHome runs     3
Oscar Salazar/VENRuns batted in   11
Anderson Hernández/DOM
Miguel Tejada/DOM
Runs     6
Armando Ríos/PURHits   12
José Castillo/VENDoubles     6
Gregor Blanco/VEN
José Fernández/DOM
Luis Polonia/DOM
Armando Ríos/PUR
Oscar Salazar/VEN
Triples     1
José Fernández/DOM
Armando Ríos/PUR
Stolen bases     2
Pedro Feliciano/PURWins     2
Giancarlo Alvarado/PUR
José Lima/DOM
Yohan Pino/VEN
Strikeouts   10
Giancarlo Alvarado/PUREarned run average0.73
José Lima/DOMInnings pitched13⅓
Jorge Sosa/DOMSaves     2
Kevin Tolar/VENGames pitched     4
Awards
Tony Batista/DOMMost Valuable Player
Félix Fermín/DOMManager
All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Alberto Castillo/DOMcatcher
Javier Valentín/PURfirst baseman
Anderson Hernández/PURsecond baseman
Tony Batista/DOMthird baseman
Miguel Tejada/DOMshortstop
Oscar Salazar/VENleft fielder
Alex Fernández/DOMcenter fielder
Armando Ríos/PURright fielder
Juan González/PURdesignated hitter
José Acevedo/DOMright-handed pitcher
Fabio Castro/DOMleft-handed pitcher
Félix Fermín/DOMmanager

Game 1, February 2

Team123456789101112131415161718RHE
Venezuela0001010000000000013154
Dominican Republic0001010000000000024  92
WP: Héctor Almonte (1-0)   LP: Francisco Butto (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
DOM: Miguel Tejada (1), Tony Batista (1)

Game 2, February 2

Team123456789RHE
Mexico000100000  1  41
Puerto Rico02043020x11160
WP: Giancarlo Alvarado (1-0)   LP: Elmer Dessens (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: Alfredo Amézaga (1)
PRI: Víctor Rodríguez (1)

Game 3, February 3

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0040320009140
Mexico0000300000  50
WP: José Acevedo (1-0)   LP: Pablo Ortega (0-1)
Home runs:
DOM: Tony Batista 2 (3), Nelson Cruz (1)
MEX: None

Game 4, February 3

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0002003016130
Venezuela0110001003  82
WP: Brian Edwards (1-0)   LP: Rosman García (0-1)   Sv: Bubbie Buzachero (1)
Home runs:
PRI: None
VEN: Gregor Blanco (1)

Game 5, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Mexico000111000  3102
Venezuela70001500x13171
WP: Tim McClaskey (1-0)   LP: Justin Lehr (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: None
VEN: Oscar Salazar (1)

Game 6, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000000000  0  31
Dominican Republic42030030x12141
WP: Fabián Castro (1-0)   LP: Jonathan Albadalejo (0-1)

Game 7, February 5

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0200002307110
Venezuela0000100001  62
WP: Julián Tavárez (1-0)   LP: Vladimir Núñez (0-1)

Game 8, February 5

Team12345678910RHE
Puerto Rico00020000024100
Mexico10100000002  93
WP: Pedro Feliciano (1-0)   LP: Luther Hackman (0-1)

Game 9, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Mexico010001010360
Dominican Republic10100021x591
WP: Julio De Paula (1-0)   LP: Pablo Ortega (0-2)   Sv: José Vargas (1)
Home runs:
MEX: None
DOM: José Fernández (1)

Game 10, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0000011013  81
Puerto Rico0000000101111
WP: Josmir Romero (1-0)   LP: Willie Collazo (0-1)   Sv: Francisco Butto (1)
Home runs:
VEN: Oscar Salazar (2)
PRI: None

Game 11, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0000101103111
Mexico0001001114  70
WP: Mauricio Tequida (1-0)   LP: Juan Ovalles (0-1)

Game 12, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic000000000031
Puerto Rico000000001150
WP: Pedro Feliciano (1-0)   LP: José Lima (0-1)

 

See also

Sources

  • Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Jefferson, Caracas, Venezuela: Impresos Urbina, C.A., 1987.
  • Gutiérrez, Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela – 1895–2006 . Caracas, Venezuela: Impresión Arte, C.A., 2007.

   

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