News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Baseball’

Ruben Amaro, Jr. has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, David Montgomery, President, CEO and General Partner, announced today. Amaro, who signed a three-year contract, succeeds Pat Gillick, who fulfilled his three-year contract on October 31, 2008.
Amaro, 43, who has served for the last 10 years as the club’s Assistant GM, was hired by former Phillies General Manager Ed Wade in 1998. Since 2005, he has worked with Gillick in helping the Phillies become the two-time National League East Division Champions and 2008 World Champions.
“I am honored that David has given me the opportunity to serve as General Manager,” said Amaro. “I will work hard to continue to build on the world class foundation provided by our previous GMs.”
As Assistant General Manager, Amaro was involved in 40-man roster and major league free agent contract negotiations, including those players eligible for salary arbitration. He also assisted Gillick in the decision- making process of major league players and staff, which included trades, player movements and hirings.
Amaro becomes the fourth minority General Manager currently working in Major League Baseball and the second current Hispanic GM. Prior to joining the Phillies’ front office, Amaro spent parts of eight seasons in the major leagues, five with Philadelphia. He appeared in 485 major league games and batted .235 with 16 home runs and 100 RBI. Amaro played for the 1993 NL Champion Phillies and 1995 AL Champion Indians.
“Ruben has been an integral part of our organization since joining the front office in 1998,” said Montgomery. “We look forward to him continuing the momentum created with our 2008 championship season.”
“Over the past three years I have had the opportunity to work closely with and mentor Ruben,” said Gillick. “I am confident in his ability to lead our world championship team.”
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Amaro was a batboy for the Phillies from 1980-83 when his father, Ruben Sr., a former shortstop with the club, was first base coach. He is a 1983 graduate of the William Penn Charter School, where he played both baseball and soccer. In 1987, he earned a BS degree in human biology from Stanford University and was a member of the 1987 NCAA Baseball Championship team. Ruben Sr. and Ruben Jr. are the only father-son combination to ever play for the Phillies.
Amaro is actively involved in the community. He is co-founder of the Richie Ashburn Foundation, which provides free baseball camps for 1,100 underprivileged children in the Delaware Valley and awards grants for area schools and colleges. He also serves on the board for the Philadelphia chapter of the YMCA. “

As the 2008 Major League Baseball season comes to an end, ESPN Deportes will present the most extensive coverage of winter baseball from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico. ESPN Deportes will televise more than 60 winter league baseball games, including each league’s championship series. In addition to its extensive coverage of each league, ESPN Deportes will for the first time air Beisbol Esta Noche every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Winter baseball-related content will be featured across various platforms: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN Deportes La Revista. ESPN Deportes will feature more than 200 hours of winter baseball-related programming — the most ever televised by any network in the U.S. — with a group of at least 12 commentators, including hosts, analysts, reporters and contributors. Coverage of Winter Baseball will culminate with the Exclusive coverage of the 2009 Caribbean Series LIVE from Mexicali, Mexico.

Live coverage begins Wednesday, Oct. 15, with the Venezuelan League featuring name=”OLE_LINK1″> name=”OLE_LINK2″>Navegantes del Magallanes and Cardenales de Lara at 8:00 p.m. ET. Coverage of winter baseball from the Dominican Republic begins Sunday, November 2 with the battle between Leones del Escogido vs. Las Aguilas del Licey. ESPN Deportes will also air the finals of the Mexican Pacific League in January.

VENEZUELAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

This season, ESPN Deportes will televise one regular-season game per week, every Wednesday, plus exclusive select playoff games and the entire championship series. The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League consists of eight teams in two divisions (East Division: Navegantes del Magallanes, Leones de Caracas, Tiburones de la Guaira, Caribes de Anzoategui; and West Division: Tigres de Aragua, Aguilas de Zulia, Cardenales de Lara, Bravos de Margarita). The league’s elimination (opening) round includes 62 games from October to December. The top two teams from each division, as well as the best third place team, will move on to the 16-game round robin semifinals in January. The top two teams from the semifinals advance to a best-of-seven series in a 2-3-2 home field format at the end of January. The Venezuelan champion moves on to the Caribbean Series. Venezuela has won the Caribbean Series six times, most recently in 2006, when the Leones del Caracas took the title. Notable player’s that have played in Venezuela include: Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepcion, Francisco Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera and Johan Santana.

Commentator Lineup

Luis Alfredo Alvarez, play-by-play

Alvarez joined ESPN in 1995 and continues to handle play-by-play for a variety of sports. His assignments have included baseball, golf and tennis. He also serves as host for Beisbol Esta Noche, the company’s Spanish-language original production of Baseball Tonight, and Cronometro, modeled after Pardon the Interruption. He has covered high-profile events such as tennis’ Australian Open and French Open, golf’s PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA, and both the Summer and Winter X Games. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Alvarez began his broadcasting career at Omnivision, where he served as a play-by-play commentator for baseball and basketball.

Francisco Blavia, analyst

Blavia joins the ESPN Deportes team this year as an analyst for the 2008/2009 Venezuelan Baseball League. Blavia has more than 10 years of experience covering sports; has worked for some of the most recognized TV and radio networks in Venezuela including Venevision, RCTV, SportPlus and Deportes Union Radio covering Venezuelan baseball, MLB, soccer and Venezuelan basketball. Blavia also had the opportunity to work as a commentator for the Cardenales de Lara baseball team for 4 years and currently covers Leones del Caracas. A native of Barquisimeto; Blavia obtained his degree in Communications at the Universidad Catolica Cecilio Acosta de Maracaibo. Blavia currently resides in Caracas, Venezuela.

DOMINICAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

Exclusive coverage begins Sunday, November 2, at 4 p.m. ET with a live telecast of the Leones del Escogido vs. Tigres del Licey. This season, ESPN Deportes plans to telecast 26 Dominican Baseball League games, mainly on Fridays nights and Sunday afternoons. The Dominican Baseball League consists of six teams: Aguilas Cibaenas; Azucareros del Este; Estrellas Orientales; Gigantes del Cibao; Leones del Escogido; and Tigres del Licey. Each team plays a 50-game schedule, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs. The titleholder then goes on to represent the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series. Notable player’s include: Juan Marichal, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Jose Reyes.

Commentator Lineup

Kevin Cabral, play-by-play commentator

One of the most respected sportscasters in the Dominican Republic, Cabral returns for his third consecutive season of Dominican Baseball League. Cabral started his broadcasting career in 1983 as the host of the radio program Frente al Deporte. In 1986, he began what would become an 18-year stint as a television commentator and announcer for Major League Baseball games on the regional channel Circuito del Cibao.

Ernesto Jerez, play-by-play commentator

A native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Jerez joined ESPN in 1995 as a baseball announcer and has become the signature voice for the company’s Spanish-language Major League Baseball games. He primarily serves as game announcer during ESPN’s Spanish-language Sunday Night Baseball telecasts. Known to viewers for his famous home run call, he also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPNdeportes.com.

Carlos Jose Lugo, sideline reporter

Lugo brings vast baseball knowledge and more than 17 years of broadcasting experience in radio, television and print media to his role as field reporter for ESPN Deportes’ telecasts of the Dominican Baseball League. Lugo launched his broadcasting career in 1987 as an MLB analyst on Radio Dial in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. He is a familiar voice on radio, known for his work as a sports commentator and MLB analyst for FM-103, Radio Continental and Radio Clarin, and Rumba FM (98.5).

Juan Marichal, analyst

San Francisco Giants great and Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal returns for his third consecutive season. Marichal, the only Dominican-born player in the Hall of Fame, started his career with Dominican League’s Leones del Escogido. The high-kicking right-hander made his Major League Baseball debut against the Phillies in 1960, finishing his first game with a one-hitter, striking out 12 in a 2-0 victory. Marichal won 243 games, was named to nine All-Star teams and was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player in 1965.

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

ESPN Deportes will air the finals of the best baseball Mexico has to offer; the Mexican Pacific League in January. The Mexican Pacific League (Spanish: Liga Mexicana del Pacifico, LMP), also known as MexPac, has been running for over five decades as a winter league. It has long been recognized as one of the big four winter leagues and features a mix of major league players, top prospects and Mexican League players. The champion team has played in the Caribbean Series since 1971. The season is from the middle of October to the end of December with playoffs and final series in January. Notable players include: Fernando Valenzuela, Vinny Castilla, Jorge Cantu, Oliver Perez and Esteban Loiza.

Commentator Lineup

Jorge Eduardo Sanchez

Sanchez currently serves as anchor for ESPN Deportes’ SportsCenter. He first joined ESPN in 2000 as a commentator and play-by-play announcer for ESPN 2 in Mexico, serving as a play-by-play announcer for Mexican Pacific League, the Caribbean Series, Tennis Masters Series, and NCAA Basketball.

Oscar Soria, analyst

Longtime Spanish-language voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oscar Soria returns for his third consecutive season as Mexican Pacific League analyst on ESPN Deportes. Soria is a veteran of 18 seasons as a broadcaster with Mexican Pacific League’s Hermosillo Naranjeros and also covers the Diamondbacks for Spanish-language paper El Imparcial, writing a daily column. The native of Tijuana, Mexico graduated from Universidad del Noroeste.

Eitan Benezra, sideline reporter

A native of Queretaro, Mexico, Benezra brings vast knowledge in Mexican baseball to ESPN Deportes’ telecasts. Benezra hosts show “3 y 2 Cuenta Maxima” Estadio W in Mexico and serves as baseball commentator for Estadio W 730 AM in Mexico.

Beisbol esta Noche

Carolina Guillen, host

Now host of Beisbol esta Noche, Guillen joined ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor for ESPN+ (serving the Southern Cone) in May 2004. Her work outside of SportsCenter has included a variety of assignments. She served as co-host for ESPN’s Spanish-language coverage of the Summer X Games and has served as sideline reporter for the MLB All-Star Games, Little League World Series and Caribbean Series. Guillen began her career in her native Venezuela with Meridiano Television as a reporter for Winter Baseball.

2008 WINTER BASEBALL SCHEDULE ON ESPN DEPORTES

(All times ET; Schedule Subject to Change)

(* denotes delayed games; all other games live)

Venezuela Baseball League Schedule

Date Time (ET) Teams

Wednesday, Oct. 15 8:00 p.m. Lara @Valencia

*Wednesday, Oct. 22 4:00 a.m. Bravos @ Aragua

*Wednesday, Nov. 5 4:00 a.m. Bravos@ Caracas

*Wednesday, Nov. 12 4:00 a.m. Zulia @ La Guaira

Wednesday, Nov. 19 8:00 a.m. Aragua @ Magallanes

*Wednesday, Nov. 26 4:00 a.m. Magallanes @ La Guaira

Wednesday, Dec. 3 8:00 p.m. Caracas @ La Guaira

*Wednesday, Dec. 10 4:00 a.m. La Guaira @ Caracas

Wednesday, Dec. 17 8:00 p.m. Bravos @ Caracas

Wednesday, Dec. 17 8:00 p.m. Lara @ Aragua

Dominican Baseball League Schedule (Games to be announced at a later date)

Mexican Pacific League (Games to be announced at a later date)

“

DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH), the nation’s third largest pay-TV provider, today announced that residents of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico who subscribe to DISH Network’s America’s Top 100 and higher English language programming package will be able to view the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series on FOX Sports Español (FSE), broadcast in Spanish. FSE is available in preview on DISH Network Ch. 407 through Nov. 5, 2008.

DISH Network customers who subscribe to DishLATINO programming packages already receive FSE and can watch the NLCS and the World Series, as well as future FSE programming. Customers who subscribe to America’s Top 100 and wish to continue viewing FSE after Nov. 5 may add DISH Network’s Latino Bonus Pack for just $13.99 per month.

For more information on DISH Network, visit www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474). To learn more about DishLATINO packages and pricing, residents can call 1-888-599-DISH (3474) or any DISH Network local retailer, or visit www.dishlatino.com .
“

The thrill of baseball continues to live on Fox Sports en Español, as it will broadcast live and exclusive Spanish language coverage of the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason for its eighth consecutive year. The postseason will commence this year with the National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Thursday, October 9th at 8:00 P.M. (ET). The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies will battle in the best-of-seven game series, providing an exciting matchup that will feature a number of Latino superstars, such as Dodgers future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez and Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero.

The half hour pre-game show of the NLCS will feature in-studio commentary and game analysis by former MLB player, Jose Tolentino and the Manager of the Washington Nationals, Manny Acta. Throughout the series, Fox Sports en Español will also include the play-by-play commentary of Adrian García-Márquez with former major leaguer Carlos Hernandez stepping in to provide game analysis.

“It is with a great deal of pride that we transmit the best Major League Baseball has to offer, exclusively in Spanish. We are committed to bringing our audience the most relevant MLB postseason coverage, featuring former Latino players such as Jose Tolentino, as well as Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta, to deliver expert commentary, relevant player information, and exciting game-day action,” stated David Sternberg, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Fox Sports International.

Following the NLCS, Fox Sports en Español will provide coverage of one of the most high profile events in sports - the World Series. The half-hour pregame show will continue to be hosted by Tolentino and Acta while the game coverage team will include the addition of Francisco X. Rivera, who will provide the audience with field coverage throughout the World Series.

Fox Sports en Español’s 2008 MLB Postseason Telecast Schedule**

Date Time (ET) Game

Thursday, October 9 8:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 1

Friday, October 10 4:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 2

Sunday, October 12 8:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 3

Monday, October 13 8:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 4

Wednesday, October 15 8:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 5*

Friday, October 17 8:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 6*

Saturday, October 18 8:00 PM MLB Playoffs NLCS- Game 7*

Wednesday, October 22 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 1

Thursday, October 23 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 2

Saturday, October 25 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 3

Sunday, October 26 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 4

Monday, October 27 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 5*

Wednesday, October 29 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 6*

Thursday, October 30 8:00 PM MLB World Series- Game 7*

* If necessary.

** Programming schedule subject to change.

About Fox Sports en Español

Fox Sports en Español features more than 1,500 hours of live, exclusive sports programming in Spanish and, with few exceptions, English SAP each year, including InterLiga(TM), the Copa Santander Libertadores, the Copa Nissan Sudamericana, and the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournaments; the Major League Baseball regular season, National League Championship Series, All-Star Game and World Series; and premier combat sports including championship boxing from Mexico and the U.S., Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) and kickboxing. The channel reaches more than 14.4 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which 4.7 million are U.S. Hispanic Households.

Fox Sports en Español is distributed by Fox Cable Networks Group and operated by Fox Pan American Sports LLC, an international sports programming and production entity jointly owned by HM Capital Partners, LLC and News Corporation’s (NYSE: NWS) Fox Sports International. For more information, visit Fox Sports en Español online at foxsportsla.msn.com.”

ESPN Deportes will air a special three-part series on Sunday, Sept. 28, Monday, Sept. 29 and Tuesday, Sept. 30 on former Major League Baseball pitcher Ugueth Urbina, currently serving a 14-year sentence in Venezuela for the attempted murder of four workers on his family’s ranch. The segments will air as part of the nightly SportsCenter (11 p.m. and 2 p.m.) and repeat on the morning SportsCenter.

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Baseball expert Ernesto Jerez and a camera crew were allowed exclusive and unprecedented access for two days into the Penitenciaria General de Venezuela, the maximum-security prison in San Juan de los Morros, where Urbina is currently incarcerated.

In part one, Urbina, once considered among the most effective closers in MLB, describes life behinds and his hope for regaining freedom. Part two shows Urbinas’ 10 x 6 cell, fitted with a color television, a small refrigerator and a laptop computer, as well as footage of him playing on a prison basketball league team. In the series final segment Jerez asks Urbina about his family and future plans as he awaits a court date for an appeal his defense lawyer presented in June of 2007.

Preview Urbina’s interview (espnmediazone.com/index.html) on ESPNmediazone.com under Multimedia Video. To download photos please copy and paste the following link: (tinyurl.com/4m2c9w)

Excerpts:

Jerez: How would you describe your life as a player compared to your life now in prison?

Urbina: “Well, the difference is huge. When I played baseball, I had all the comforts and all the success. I was in a completely different world … here in jail, it’s the complete opposite; you begin to see what suffering can be from a young age.”

Urbina: “The days are never the same here. Never. There are days, as we call them here… there are visiting days and routine days where there is this routine you have set up from the minute you wake up. If you want to play sports, you do or maybe you watch a TV show or something… you try, you know, to stay busy all day long.”

Urbina on why he has never permitted visits from his children: “Everyone has their ideology. Mine was never to have my children see me in a situation such as this. I know I’m in their hearts and that’s what is important to me.”

Ernesto Jerez will appear on ESPN Deportes Radio’s baseball show “Decima Entrada” to talk about his experience Sunday, Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. ET. The radio interview will be streamed on ESPNdeportes.com the same day, along with behind-the-scenes photos from the interview. A behind the scenes look at this production will also appear in the November issue of ESPN La Revista. The three-part series was produced by the ESPN Deportes Feature Unit, winner earlier this year of a coveted Edward Murrow Award for “Outstanding News Series.” “

Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes will step up to the plate Friday, as the commonwealth’s chief election official, to raise voter education awareness during the third inning of the Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. The event is part of Latino Family Day, sponsored by Goya Foods and the Phillies.

Game attendees can receive a voting machine demonstration at the first base entrance of Citizens Bank Park.

Cortes will also be a guest on the Spanish Beisbol Network to discuss the importance of voter education for Pennsylvania’s Latino citizens. The live interview can be heard on WDAS-AM 1480, WRAW-AM 1340, and WNJC-AM 1360.

Additional interviews with credentialed press would be by appointment.

EVENT: Secretary Pedro Cortes at Goya Latino Family Day.

DATE: Friday, Sept. 12

TIME: 7:05 p.m.

LOCATION: Citizens Bank Park
1 Citizens Bank WayPhiladelphia

CONTACT: Leslie Amoros, or Rebecca Halton, both of the PA Department of State, +1-717-783-1621; or Addys Diaz of Mendoza Group, +1-610-627-1000″

Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, will once again join the Phillies in hosting the “Goya Latino Family Celebration” on Friday, September 12, at Citizens Bank Park. The event — which pays tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month with musical performances, foods with Latin flavor, and a special ticket discount — will take place before and during the 7:05 p.m. Phillies-Brewers game. This is the 7th year the Phillies will host the celebration.

HIGHLIGHTS:
– Fans are asked to donate food to Philabundance to help needy families
in the Latino community. Goya Foods has pledged to donate a minimum of
5,000 pounds of food. Toyota will also aid in the collection, and
provide vehicles to deliver the food to Philabundance.

– Latin Grammy nominee Kevin Ceballo, who has sold millions of albums,
will sing the National Anthem and perform on-field.

– Music and dancing by Goya’s K Company Dancers (who have performed
around the country), Fuego Dance Company (which won “Entertainer of the
Year” at the 2008 Hispanic Choice Awards and are the first Latin dance
company to open an independent dance studio in North Philadelphia),
Jimmy Jorge & The Latin Express, La Familia Rojas Dance Team and Band
(the oldest folkloric dance company in Philadelphia), and S.T.E.P. &
Caliente Dancers.

– Tribute of 21 flags of Latino countries.

– The presentation of the Phillies 2008 Latino Legend award to Mariano
Duncan.

– Food with Latin flavor will be available at concession stands,
including Goya food products.

– Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro Cortes will be recognized pre-game.

SPECIAL TICKET DISCOUNT: For info go to philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/phi/ticketing/latino_night.jsp.

ABOUT GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is not only America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, but has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages and distributes over 1,500 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table. For more info on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com. “

In celebration of National Citizenship Day, Wednesday, September 17th, legendary slugger David Ortiz is joining forces with State Farm to assist legally documented Latinos who want to become U.S. Citizens. Born in the Dominican Republic, the five-time All Star took the Oath of Citizenship on June 11, 2008 in Dorchester, Mass.

“The United States is a great country and I’m proud to be a citizen,” said David Ortiz. “My family cheered me on every step of the way. Now it is my turn to help others who share the dream of becoming a citizen.”

Ortiz spoke about his personal citizenship story during a satellite media tour yesterday targeted toward Hispanic media. “As a new citizen, I appreciate what it means to be an American — the freedom we enjoy, the opportunity we have, and representative government,” said Ortiz

“In baseball you need courage, confidence and perseverance and the same is true with becoming a citizen,” said Aymee Ruiz, corporate public affairs at State Farm. “David is a great role model for Latinos and National Citizenship Day is a way for all of us to honor those who have become citizens through the naturalization process.”

State Farm is one of the lead sponsors of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) Ya Es Hora (It’s Time) national civic engagement campaign to inform, educate and motivate Latinos to participate in America’s democracy. NALEO’s efforts include providing eligible permanent residents with information about applying for U.S. citizenship, assisting U.S. citizens in registering to vote and encouraging people to vote and be active in the civic affairs of their community.

State Farm’s extensive relationships with and outreach to the Latino community also includes a new public affairs campaign, State Farm Es Para Mi(TM). In addition to supporting the Ya Es Hora campaign, State Farm is using the offices of its agents with bilingual (Spanish and English) capability to serve as clearinghouses for citizenship and voter registration information, as well as information about scholarship and internship opportunities for Latino students.

“The State Farm Es Para Mi(TM) campaign underscores the importance of culture, education, and citizenship in the Latino community,” says Ruiz. “Through this campaign State Farm’s participating bilingual agencies serve as a trusted resource, helping to meet the needs of the fast-growing Latino community in the United States.” To find a participating agent, call
1-877- 564-3119.

About State Farm:
State Farm(R) insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 77 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com(R) or in Canada statefarm.ca(R). “