Tag: Adonis Terry

TWIWBL 64.2: Spotlight on the Miami Cuban Giants

On August 5, 2024

For our second team spotlight, we head down to Florida to check in on the Miami Cuban Giants. As a reminder, the Cuban Giants have rights to players from the Marlins, the Devil Rays, and the Brewers, along with players born in Cuba.

HOME PAGE | ROSTER | POSITIONAL STRENGTH | LEADERS

This is a young team building towards the future. They’ve clearly improved since last year, but still sit 3 games behind .500 at .462, 5 games behind San Francisco in the Cum Posey Division.

A .500 record would be an excellent result from the season and it feels, like it often does, like that depends on a pretty significant improvement on the mound.

THE OFFENSE

The lineup is a bit weird–there’s no clear leadoff batter, there’s not a lot of OBP to build around, etc. But top-to-bottom, they can pretty much rake, and that counts more than specific lineup construction. The Cuban Giants are 3rd in the AL in homers, 4th in runs scored, and 5th in OPS while being 9th in OBP.

#What’s Going Right

The OF has been spectacular, with José Canseco and the surprising Ryan Braun combining for 29 homeruns, each with an OPS over 1.000. And in CF, while rookie Julio Rodríguez started hot, it was sort of assumed that he would have a hard time in his return from injury. Not so much: Rodríguez is slashing 361/361/778. It’s still fewer than 10 games for the youngster, so a long way to go, but for now he looks legit.

Add Jim Thome‘s 11 to Canseco and Braun and Miami has 3 players in double digit longballs.

That trio has forced Yasiel Puig, with an OPS near .900 and Alejandro Oms into accepting reduced playing time, although Oms’ glove finds a way.

And that’s not mentioning the red hot Gary Sheffield whose recent streak has pushed his OPS over .970 or the steady production from Robin Yount at SS. Or Martín Dihigo, who continues to be among the most promising defensive talents the game has ever see, and is now showing at least something at the plate.

#What’s Not Going Right

Prize off-season acquisition Iván Rodríguez hasn’t gotten his OPS over .600 and his backup, Smoky Burgess–a stalwart bat last year–has hit even worse.

But essentially, the offense has gone very, very right.

THE PITCHING

There is talent here … but very little production.

#What’s Going Right

Hmm. José Méndez (3-1, 4.53) looks like he’s growing into his role at the front of the rotation. Sandy Consuegra was pretty much unhittable until a recent rough outing brought him back to earth. Still, Consuegra is 1-2 on the year with 3 saves, 2 holds, and a 3.38 ERA, leading the Cuban Giants’ bullpen. Kenshin Kawakami has been surprisingly brilliant since his recall, with a 1.02 ERA over 17+ innings.

Then things start to get a little bumpy. Cole Hamels has been solid, but they need more from him and Ricky Nolasco, while firmly set as the closer, isn’t as solidly dependable as you might like.

#What’s Not Going Right

Everything else, but perhaps most of all Ramón Martínez, who was expected to be at the very front of Miami’s rotation and instead is now 0-6 with an ERA over 7. And in the bullpen, both Adonis Terry and Barry Latman are in danger of heading to AAA if their performances don’t improve.

Overshadowing everything else, there is the loss of Camilo Pascual, whose knee injury will keep him out for most, if not all, of the season. Pascual was doing fine before injury, but not living up to his ace billing. Still, for a pitching starved team, it’s a big loss.

THE FARM SYSTEM

TOP PROSPECTS | MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM

At 20 years old, Julio Rodríguez certainly seems to be coming good. Behind him, there is some decent talent here, it’s just all a ways away with only perhaps U Bert Campeneris or 1B Richie Sexson showing the potential to help out this year. (But, it must be said, Campaneris and Sexson are really lower ceiling versions of players already in Miami–Dihigo and Thome, respectively.)

But Miami isn’t really planning for this year, and the trio of Josh Beckett, Jon Matlack, and Luis Tiant Sr. seem likely to help at some point. The problem is there is a lack of truly high end talent here. Miami is likely to regret the Vladimir Guerrero trade at some point, especially if Pudge fails to turn it around offensively.

WHAT’S NEEDED

The pitching just needs to improve to adequacy for the Cuban Giants to have a successful season. And, of course, they have to be smart in their dealings as likely sellers at both trade deadlines, with Consuegra, Kawakami, and Nolsaco being the most attractive veterans on the team).

Storylines to Watch

Key Questions from Spring Training

How does the rest of the staff fill out? This has morphed into how does all of the staff fill out? Pascual is out and Freddie Fitzsimmons–who was so promising last year–is at AAA. Méndez and Hamels are fine, but yet to live up to their potential (remember, Hamels is 25 and Méndez only 23), and Martínez–even younger at 22–looks more like a project than a finished product.
Can the continued development of Eustaquio Pedroso and Martín Dihigo as two way players bear enough fruit to warrant continuing the experiment? In a word … maybe. Pedroso is pitching alright, but hitting very poorly (although he has shown an ability to get on base, always a plus), while Dihigo has yet to take the mound. So the jury is still very much out.

FEATURED SERIES

The Cuban Giants play 6 games against the Chicago American Giants this week–3 at home and 3 in the Windy City. We’ll focus on the home games that open the week.

Projected Starters

Chicago starter listed first.

David Price (2-2, 4.38) @ José Méndez (3-1, 4.53)
Ben Sheets (0-3, 5.59) @ Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.25)
Tricky Nichols (3-3, 5.19) @ Ramón Martínez (0-6, 7.03)

Game One

The Cuban Giants seem intent on proving that last year was a fluke and they belong in the WBL. Games like this go a long way. José Méndez was solid through 7 innings, allowing only 2 runs and improving to 4-1, but the story was really the offense, which pounded out 20 hits in the 19-7 win. The Cuban Giants were led by Ryan Braun‘s 3 homeruns (tying the WBL record) and Eustaquio Pedroso‘s 2, as well as solo shots from Julio Rodríguez, Iván Rodríguez, Robin Yount, and Gary Sheffield. Braun drove in 5, and Pedroso and Pudge 3 each while Braun and Julio Rodríguez scored 3 times each.

Pedroso’s 2 dingers were his first 2 of the year, while Braun’s 3 gave him 17 on the season, moving him into 2nd place in the league.

CAG 7 (Price 2-3) @ MCG 19 (Méndez 4-1)
HRs: CAG – Fiore (6), Fisk (6); MCG – Pedroso 2 (2), Braun 3 (17), J. Rodríguez (6), I. Rodríguez (5), Yount (8), Sheffield (9).
Box Score

Game Two

With Cole Hamels needing a day of rest, the Cuban Giants turned to the surprising Kenshin Kawakami for the start against Chicago’s Ben Sheets.

Kawakami was good for 4 innings, then clearly began to be bothered by a foot injury which eventually drove him out of the game. But the damage was done, as the American Giants scored 5 in the 5th and 5 in the 6th en route to a 12-7 win.

For Miami, Julio Rodríguez continued his torrid streak with another 2 homeruns while raising his batting average to .404.

CAG 12 (Sheets 1-3) @ MCG 7 (Kawakami 2-1)
HRs: CAG – Thomas (7), Fisk (7), Fiore (7); MCG – Canseco (16), Thome (12), J. Rodríguez 2 (8).
Box Score

Game Three

It looked like the Cuban Giants would run away with this one, as they roughed up Tricky Nichols for 6 runs in the first 3 innings while Cole Hamels sailed along. Then came the 4th, and Hamels gave up homeruns to Mike Fiore, Paul Konerko, and Vernon Wells, seeing the lead close to 6-5.

But that was it, as the Cuban Giants bullpen trio of Bob Gillespie, Sandy Consuegra, and Ricky Nolasco shut out Chicago the rest of the way. Miami added another 4 homeruns, with Jim Thome, José Canseco, Robin Yount, and Ryan Braun all going deep.

Hamels’ performance reflected Miami’s challenges with last-season’s star in-season acquisition: a perfect 3 innings and 9 strikeouts in 5 plus, but also 5 runs allowed. Not bad, but not exactly good either. Still, if the bullpen can shut the other team down, Miami will do well.

CAG 5 (Nichols 3-4) @ MCG 10 (Hamels 5-2; Consuegra 3 H)
HRs: CAG – Fiore (8), Konerko (8), Wells (3); MCG – Thome (13), Canseco (17), Yount (9), Braun (18).
Box Score

This series gives great insight into how Miami has surprised so far this year (12 runs a game and 16 homeruns over 3 games is pretty strong) and how they have struggled (allowing 8 runs a game). Improved pitching continues to be the key to their march to a .500 record.

TWIWBL 59.3: Cum Posey Division

By mknn

On May 17, 2024

In TWIWBL

#Chicago American Giants

Eddie Collins had 4 hits and scored 3 times as Chicago topped Detroit 9-2. David Price improved to 2-0 with 5+ scoreless innings, and Ed Walsh closed it out for the rare 3-inning save for the American Giants.

Joe Jackson had 4 hits and 3 doubles helping the American Giants to a 6-4 victory over Detroit. Frank Thomas had 3 hits and Mark Buehrle threw 6 strong innings, improving to 2-0.

Needing a starter, the American Giants moved Ted Lilly to the minors, bringing up veteran Jamie Moyer. Moyer delivered a solid 5 innings, and Thomas had 4 hits as Chicago beat Miami 8-3. Moyer’s performance–and his left-handedness–will keep him in the WBL for a little while longer.

Mike Fiore had struggled quite a bit in the early going for Chicago, but given some at-bats in a blowout, he delivered with his first 2 homeruns of the season. That was about all the good news as the American Giants fell to Miami, 13-5.

#Los Angeles Angels

Elmer “Mike” Smith went to the DL with a dead arm with Ross Reynolds being recalled from AAA.

Don Buford went deep twice to give the Angels an early lead, and then they piled it on in a 12-2 thrashing of Portland. Steve Garvey drove in 4 and Bobby Grich 3 in support of a nice start from Doc Gooden, who allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 7 innings.

#Miami Cuban Giants

Back to back homeruns in the bottom of the 9th by Robin Yount and Ryan Braun rescued the Cuban Giants against the Sea Lions. Leading 10-5 at the start of the 9th, Miami saw Adonis Terry get hammered for 7 runs before Yount tied the game and Braun provided the walkoff in the bottom of the frame.

Jim Thome had 3 hits, including 2 homeruns, but it wasn’t enough as the Cuban Giants fell to the American Giants, 7-5. Thome went deep twice again in a game against Chicago, and this time it was enough, as every starter had at least 1 hit and José Canseco, Yount, and Gary Sheffield also went deep in a 13-5 walkover for the Cuban Giants.

#Portland Sea Dogs

After the opening game of their series against Cleveland, Johan Santana has now pitched in 4 games, giving up 7 hits in 1.1 IP, including 5 homeruns. His record is 0-4 with 4 blown saves and an ERA of 60.75: that’s right, he threw 2/3 of an inning, gave up 2 runs, and saw his ERA go down.

Ken Griffy, Jr. is still finding his footing in Portland, but hitting 2 homeruns in a 9-2 win over Cleveland is a good sign. As important for the Sea Dogs, Pascual Pérez improved his record to 2-0 with 6 shutout innings and has yet to allow a run over his 2 starts.

#San Francisco Sea Lions

Jack Clark hit 2 homeruns and Rickey Henderson, Jimmie Foxx, and Mickey Cochrane also went deep as the Sea Lions defeated the Cuban Giants 10-8.

The Sea Lions scored 7 runs in the 9th to take a 12-10 lead over Miami, but lost when Rod Beck blew his first save of the year in the bottom of the frame. Turkey Stearnes had 4 hits and Jimmy Bloodworth drove in 3 in the loss.

Tim Hudson will be out about 4 months with a forearm injury that has to put the 37 year old’s career in jeopardy as well. Watty Clark will complete his transition to starter by taking Hudson’s spot in the rotation initially, with Bobby Seay being recalled to take Clark’s spot in the bullpen.

The Sea Lions lost a 6-1 lead before scoring 5 times in the top of the 9th to top the Black Yankees 11-9. San Francisco hit 6 homeruns in the game, with Stearnes going yard twice and Reggie Jackson, Henderson, Foxx, and Cochrane each going deep as well. Beck pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save of the year.

Year II Season Preview: Miami Cuban Giants

By mknn

On March 27, 2024

In Team News

Expectations

To no longer be considered one of the absolute worst teams in the league would be a nice start.

Best Case

Camilo Pascual, Freddie Fitzsimmons, and José Méndez form a strong front of the rotation and Cole Hamels joins them, fulfilling the promise he showed early in the season with the Black Yankees. Offensively, José Canseco repeats, but is joined by … someone–~~Paul Molitor~~ or Gary Sheffield or Alejandro Oms or even Yasiel Puig–as a formidable offensive force, with Cookie Rojas recovering the form he showed with the Gothams, and and and … you get the idea. Everyone improves in every way.

Worst Case

Ouch. Everyone with high expectations becomes Martín Dihigo from last year, a continual disappointment showing just enough promise to keep from being jettisoned. One issue here is that a significant amount of the talent on the roster is very, very young and therefore several years away from really showing their true potential (for example, Dihigo is 18, Oms 20)

Key Questions

How does the rest of the staff fill out?
Can the continued development of Eustaquio Pedroso and Dihigo as two way players bear enough fruit to warrant continuing the experiment?

Trade Bait

I mean … maybe? The problem is that a team building for the future whose best assets are its young talent will often find it difficult to locate a good trading partner.

Yeah … so … that happened. It’s hard to boil the trade down: the Cuban Giants gave up Molitor, top draft pick Vladimir Guerrero, and some stuff, getting back Iván Rodríguez and a few useful possibilities (Al Oliver, Jon Matlack, Adolis García). So, this year, it’s Molitor for Pudge. But losing Guerrero is a potential big deal.

Roster Evaluation

POS	Elite	Strong	Solid	Meh	Weak	Unknown
C		Rodríguez				Burgess
1B				Thome		Miñoso
2B					Dihigo Rojas
3B					Sheffield
SS			Yount
LF/ RF		Canseco	Puig	Braun		Oliver Rodríguez
CF					Oms
SP		Pascual	~~Smith~~	Hamels Martínez Méndez		Fitzsimmons
End					Consuegra	Nolasco Terry
RP					Looper Pedroso	Latman

New Addition | ~~Injured~~

Doesn’t look like a playoff contender to me. Pudge really does help, though, and .500 might–might–be within reach.

Talent Ratings

	WBL	Minors
Raw Power	IF Jim Thome	1B Willie McCovey
Batting Eye	IF Jim Thome	U Carlos Morán
Contact	U Cookie Rojas	2B Nellie Fox
Running Speed	OF Alejandro Oms	IF Charlie Briggs OF Bert Campaneris IF Luis Castillo OF Marquis Grissom OF Eddie Milner
Base Stealing	OF Alejandro Oms	IF Jiggs Donahue OF Marquis Grissom
IF Defense	U Martín Dihigo	3B Willie Kamm
OF Defense	OF Yasiel Puig	OF Tony González
Stuff	P Adonis Terry	P Gary Gentry
Control	P Freddie Fitzsimmons	P Dale Murray
Velocity	SP Cole Hamels	P Brad Brach

Best In The Minors

Rank	Age	POS	Name
1 (22)	20	P	Josh Beckett
2 (103)	20	CF	Julio Rodríguez
3 (111)	18	P	Jon Matlack
4 (142)	24	P	Freddie Fitzsimmons
5 (159)	23	C	Smoky Burgess
6 (184)	23	U	Bert Campaneris

Others: None

On the one hand, the cupboard is pretty bare; on the other hand, the Cuban Giants are among the youngest teams in the league, so many of their “prospects” are already in Miami, joined this year by Rodríguez, Burgess, and Fitzsimmons.

	Most	Least
Age	C Clyde Sukeforth, 37	P Ed Seward, 17
Height	1B Richie Sexson, 6’8″	P Phenomenal Smith, 5’6″ U Carlos Morán, 5’6″
OPS	OF Carlos Quentin, 1.381 (—)	1B Julio Becquer, .504 (AA)
HR	OF Carlos Quentin, 81 (—)	OF José Tartabull, 0 (AAA/AA) OF Carlos Morán, 0 (WBL) IF Luis Castillo, 0 (AA)
SB	OF José Canseco, 29 (WBL) OF Marquis Grissom, 29 (—)	Many with 0
WAR	OF Carlos Quentin, 6.7 (—)	IF Russell Branyan, -2.2 (—)
W	Camilo Pascual, 12 (WBL) Ed Brandt, 12 (—-) Denny Lemaster, 12 (—-) Marcus Stroman, 12 (—-)	Johnny Murphy, 3 (AAA/AA)
SV	Bob Gillespie, 19 (—) Jim Roland, 19 (—)
ERA	John Boozer, 2.26 (—)	Mike Morgan, 6.67 (AAA/AA)
WAR	Marcus Stroman, 5.1 (—)	Nick Strincevich, -0.6 (AAA/AA)

Stats are across all levels. 200 PA / 75 IP min. Non WBL leagues indicated by —.

TWIWBL 56.14: Spring Training Notes – Miami Cuban Giants

By mknn

On March 2, 2024

In TWIWBL

Spring Training Questions

There are a lot of open competitions this Spring: will Alan Ashby or Smoky Burgess seize the C position? Where, if anywhere, will Minnie Miñoso play? How does the OF resolve, without a true CF on the roster at the moment.

Speaking of CF … last year’s primary starter, Carlos Morán, has been working out at 3B, clearing the way for 3rd round pick, Roy Thomas, to have a shot at the starting job out there.

First Cuts

Marcus Stroman, Gary Gentry, and Scott Linebrink all exited camp while Barry Latman, Sandy Consuegra, Ed Brandt, and Josh Beckett all improved their chances of making the opening day roster.

Behind the plate, Alan Ashby‘s performance last season keeps him in camp while Joe Oliver heads back to the minors. Oliver is the only departure, as Harry Danning, and especially Clyde Sukeforth, are hitting too well so far to be sent down.

The Cuban Giants are going to wait before making decisions at 1B, as they still hope that either Richie Sexson or veteran Willie McCovey can provide some much-needed power. But right now, the only 1B who is hitting is the one nobody expected, Ramón Webster. 3B Joe Dugan was sent down.

Miami is ecstatic over what Cookie Rojas and Martín Dihigo have shown so far, especially Dihigo who may have been the worst hitting regular in the WBL last season. Luis Castillo has done enough to warrant some more opportunities, but Nellie Fox will head back to minor league camp along with SS Zoilo Versalles and Alexei Ramírez. Bert Campaneris has hit worse than either of those two, but will be given a few more shots to make the roster.

In the OF, neither Vladimir Guerrero nor Julio Rodríguez were given much chance to make the team, and while Guerrero will head back to the minors, Rodríguez has shown more than enough to stick around for a little while. Jason Bay, José Tartabull, Mike Brown, Tommie Agee, Hideki Matsui, and Marquis Grissom join Guerrero in minor league camp, but that still leaves Miami with over a dozen OFers in camp, with the pressure especially high on José Cardenal and Roy Thomas to show more than they have so far.

Tony González, Sandy Amorós, and Bob Loane join Rodríguez as early surprises.

Second Cuts

Adonis Terry is the only arm sent to minor league camp as the Cuban Giants hope the quartet of Chris Resop, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Eustaquio Pedroso, and Camilo Pascual can recapture their form from last season.

Alan Ashby and Chris Hoiles were assumed to be set for roster spots, but both need to step up their game, especially Ashby, who has started Spring Training hitless in 12 at-bats.

Richie Sexson was the odd man out at 1B, heading to minor league camp. He was joined by Bert Campaneris and Eddie Milner, but the Cuban Giants really need some of their offensive talent to sort itself out, with a dozen OFers and 10 IFers still in camp.

Third Cuts

Chris Resop and Marcelino López were sent to AAA as the staff starts to round into shape for Miami. Adonis Terry, who was sent to minor league camp, hid in a locker for a couple days, and is still around.

Harry Danning‘s departure still leaves four catchers in camp (five if you count Eustaquio Pedroso, who can fill in there as well). Smoky Burgess has clearly claimed the starting spot, but last year’s contributors–Chris Hoiles and Alan Ashby–are struggling to hit while dark horse Clyde Sukeforth is doing OK with the stick.

Nellie Fox, Sandy Amorós, Tony González, and Bob Loane were all sent to AAA.

This pattern repeats throughout the roster: Willie McCovey and Ramón Webster are knocking the cover off the ball while the more established players at 1B (Jim Thome and Minnie Miñoso) continue to struggle, although Thome’s clear moon-shot power does give him a leg up.

On the IF, both Robin Yount and Paul Molitor are struggling mightily, while Martín Dihigo is absolutely ripping the cover off the ball. With Cookie Rojas, Gary Sheffield, and Ryan Braun also in the mix, something needs to give for Miami.

In the OF, Miami had anticipated coming out of camp with a new starting CF, but they thought it would be Roy Thomas, whose eye is impressive, but has shown little else. With Julio Rodríguez hitting everything in sight, the CF competition remains fierce.

Final Cuts

Newly acquired Adolis Garcia was the first to be sent down and the acquisition of Pudge allowed the Cuban Giants to move Clyde Sukeforth to the minors.

Carlos Morán is learning a new position at 3B, a spot quite crowded for Miami. Morán will start the season at AAA learning the hot corner. Likewise, Ramón Webster, despite a nice showing this Spring, heads to AAA, leaving only 5 players in camp capable of playing first.

The Cuban Giants demoted three players to get to 30: C Chris Hoiles, 1B Willie McCovey, and 2B Luis Castillo. Pudge and Al Oliver‘s arrival allows the first two moves, Castillo’s poor Spring the final one.

The Cuban Giants are desperate for pitching so Spring performances may be more impactful than they should. Ps Ed Brandt and Roenis Elías were easy choices, along with OF José Cardenal.

Roy Thomas was drafted with the hope he could potentially take over in CF, providing a high OBP option at the top of Miami’s lineup. Julio Rodríguez was brought to Spring Training as a way to give the 20 year old a taste of big league pitching. Instead, Thomas heads to AAA and Rodríguez is breaking camp with the team.

That leaves one, and the choice is between Yasiel Puig and his horrible Spring after an electric debut with Miami last fall and the wildness and potential of young Josh Beckett. The Cuban Giants think Beckett will benefit from regular starts, and send him to AAA, keeping Puig.