Escobar Named a Starter for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alcides Escobar is having a season to remember…

The 28-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop is one of four Kansas City Royals players named American League starters for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game being hosted by the Cincinnati Reds.

Escobar, a first year pick, will be joined by his teammates Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain (outfielders) and Salvador Perez (catcher) as Royals reps for this year’s All-Star Game.

Much was said of the potential ballot-stuffing being done by Kansas City fans, but ultimately only four players from the AL Central leaders made it to the starting lineup. Long a doormat in the AL, the Royals have more starters this season than in the previous 25 years combined.

“It’s just been the support of our fans, really, over the last two years,” said Gordon, making his third straight All-Star appearance. “Winning brings attention and that’s what we’ve been doing. I think we play with a lot of energy, a lot of fun. People have noticed it.”

While the Royals may have led the way with the most players per team, the leading vote-getter came from north of the border.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson set a new record for all-time single-season voting with over 14 million total votes cast. Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper led all National League selections by garnering 13.9 million votes.

Only two teams placed multiple players on the All-Star rosters, the Royals, who won the AL pennant last season, and the Miami Marlins, who entered Sunday eight games under .500 and 11 games back in the NL East.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton were both voted to the NL squad, though Stanton won’t play in the Midsummer Classic.

Stanton, who signed a $325 million contract this offseason to stay in Miami, is on the disabled list with a broken bone in his hand. He’ll join Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (calf) and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday (quad) as All-Star starters who are on the DL.

The Reds will host the All-Star Game for the first time since 1988 and will be represented by Todd Frazier, who was voted the NL team’s starting third baseman.

“I was really nervous. I was excited. It was a huge comeback,” said Frazier, who went from trailing the Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter by 2.5 million votes in June to winning the starting nod by 2.1 million. “I’m pretty much on Cloud Nine.”

All-Star pitchers, reserves and the finalists for the Final Vote will be announced Monday.

Royals manager Ned Yost and San Francisco Giants skipper Bruce Bochy will helm the AL and NL teams, respectively, when the 2015 All-Star Game is played Tuesday, July 14.

“We’re going to have a blast,” Yost said. “The All-Star Game is an experience you never forget, and to do it with so many of our teammates there is really special.”

In addition to Escobar, Perez and Cabrera, other Latino players selected as All-Star Game starters are Jose Altuve, Nelson Cruz and Jhonny Peralta.

2015 MLB All-Star Game Starters
AL	POS.	NL
Miguel Cabrera, DET	1B	Paul Goldschmidt, ARI
Jose Altuve, HOU	2B	Dee Gordon, MIA
Alcides Escobar, KC	SS	Jhonny Peralta, STL
Josh Donaldson, TOR	3B	Todd Frazier, CIN
Salvador Perez, KC	C	Buster Posey, SF
Mike Trout, LAA	OF	Bryce Harper, WAS
Lorenzo Cain, KC	OF	Giancarlo Stanton, MIA
Alex Gordon, KC	OF	Matt Holliday, STL
Nelson Cruz, SEA	DH	N/A

Bautista to Captain the American League’s Home Run Derby Team

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s batter up for José Bautista…

The 33-year-old Dominican professional baseball player, a right fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, will serve as the American League’s captain for the Home Run Derby.

Bautista, the 2010 and 2011 MLB home run champion and a five-time Major League Baseball All-Star, will have some star power on his team. He’s selected reigning derby champ and Oakland Athletics’ star Yoenis Cespedes, the Minnesota Twins’ Brian Dozierand the Baltimore Orioles’ Adam Jones as the top three picks for his team.

They’ll face off a Nation League team that includes captain and Colorado Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki, and his top three picks: the Cincinnati Reds’ Todd Frazier, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig and the Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton.

An additional fifth member will be named to each team on Thursday.

“Bunch of guys with a lot of power,” Tulowitzki said of his team. “More than that, I think they’re good guys, got to know them throughout the years.”

Stanton is the only player in the National League group that ranks in the top five in the majors in home runs with 21 entering play Tuesday night, but he is the NL-leader in the category.

That means that only one member of the remaining top five home run hitters in the league will be added to Bautista’s side. He has a choice of Baltimore’s Nelson Cruz (28), the Chicago White Sox‘s Jose Abreu (27) and Detroit Tigers‘ Victor Martinez (21).

Bautista’s Toronto teammate Edwin Encarnacion is third in the league with 26 home runs, but is currently on the disabled list. Martinez might also bow out of the running as he’s been held out of recent games due to injury.

Fellow Tiger Miguel Cabrera (14) and Los Angeles Angels phenom Mike Trout (20) have already said they will not participate in the contest, which will be held Monday night on ESPN from Minnesota’s Target Field.

Stanton, Tulowitzki (18) and Frazier (17) are all in the top five in homers in the National League along with the Chicago Cubs‘ Anthony Rizzo (18) and Philadelphia Phillies‘ Marlon Byrd (18).

Also a possibility for the final NL spot is Tulowitzki’s teammate and former Minnesota Twinsplayer Justin Morneau. Morneau is a candidate in the Final Vote to make the All-Star team.

“If he wins that final vote, there’s possibly a chance,” Tulowitzki said. “I think it would make a storyline. Played with the Twins all those years. He’s definitely on the list if he makes the team. There are some other guys as well that have lobbied and would be good choices.”

Cabrera Agrees to Record $292 Million Contract with the Detroit Tigers

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official. Miguel Cabrera is the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball…

The 30-year-old Venezuelan baseball star, a two-time American League MVP, has agreed to terms with the Detroit Tigers on a new 10-year contract that will pay him a whopping $292 million.

The new contract, which covers the two years remaining on Cabrera’s current deal and eight additional years, is expected to become official later this week, the source said.

According to CBSSports.com, which earlier reported Detroit and Cabrera were closing in on an agreement, the new deal also includes two additional vesting options worth $30 million apiece for years 11 and 12 that could bring the total of the deal to $352 million.

Multiple media outlets have reported that Cabrera needs to pass a physical exam before his new deal is complete.

If the new contract is calculated as a single, 10-year entity, it will surpass the 10-year, $275 million deal that Alex Rodriguez signed with the New York Yankees in December 2007, as the largest in MLB history.

Based on a career average of 607 at-bats per season and an average of $30 million annually, Cabrera would earn $49,423 per at-bat.

Cabrera, who turns 31 in April, is an eight-time All-Star in 11 seasons with the Florida Marlins and Tigers. He’s a .321 career hitter with 365 home runs.

He’s the only major league player with 100 or more RBIs in each of the past 10 seasons, and last year he became the first Tiger to win three consecutive batting titles since Ty Cobb achieved the feat from 1917 to 1919.

Cabrera led the majors with a .348 batting average last year and his 44 homers and 137 RBIs were both second to Baltimore’s Chris Davis.

The Venezuelan slugger won the Triple Crown in 2012 — becoming the game’s first player to lead either league in batting average, homers and RBIs since 1967.

Ortiz Earns Sixth Silver Slugger Award of His MLB Career

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Forget golden… David Ortiz is a silver sensation…

The 37-year-old Dominican-American Boston Red Sox star, this year’s World Series MVP, has won the sixth Silver Slugger award of his illustrious career as the top designated hitter in voting by Major League Baseball managers and coaches.

In what turned out to be a showcase of Latino baseball stars, New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera were selected for the fifth time each.

Silver Slugger awards are given to the top offensive player at each position in the American and National Leagues. They were handed out Wednesday night on the MLB Network.

First-time selectee Pedro Alvarez (third base) was joined by Pirates teammate Andrew McCutchen. The star outfielder won his second prize.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Yadier Molina (catcher) received his first Silver Sluggers.

Several players earned bonuses or salary escalators for winning the award:

Cabrera and Ortiz each get $100,000 bonuses, while Molina earns $50,000.

Cabrera Named Player of the Year at Major League Baseball Players Choice Awards

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Cabrera is getting some serious respect from his fellow Major League Baseball players…

The 30-year-old Venezuelan baseball star and Detroit Tigers slugger has won his second consecutive player of the year award in voting by his fellow major leaguers.

Cabrera followed his historic Triple Crown season of 2012 with another impressive year. He led the American League with a .348 average and had 44 homers and 137 RBIs, both second to Baltimore Orioles star Chris Davis. Cabrera edged Davis and the Angels’ Mike Trout for the honor.

Retiring Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was voted Marvin Miller man of the year for excellence on and off the field, and Rivera was also picked as the AL’s comeback player of the year, notching 44 saves after missing most of 2012 with a knee injury. Pittsburgh’s Francisco Liriano was selected the National League‘s comeback player.

For the second consecutive year, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen won NL outstanding player. Cabrera was selected AL outstanding player.

Other awards Monday night went to Detroit’s Max Scherzer (AL outstanding pitcher), the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (NL outstanding pitcher), Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Wil Myers (AL outstanding rookie) and Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (NL outstanding rookie).

Triple Crown Winner Cabrera Earns ESPY Award for Best MLB Player

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He may have lost the ESPY for Best Male Athlete to the Miami Heat’s LeBron James. But Miguel Cabrera didn’t come empty-handed.

The 30-year-old Venezuelan baseball star, a third baseman for the Detroit Tigers, was named for Best MLB Player at the 21st ESPY Awards show on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Cabrera earned the award after becoming the first Triple Crown winner (.330 average, 44 home runs, 139 RBIs) since 1967 and winning the American League MVP title.

Meanwhile, Joel Rosario was named the year’s Best Jockey. The 28-year-old American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey won the award after riding the colt Orb to a win at the Kentucky Derby.

Rosario also won the world’s richest horse race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in March, aboard the US-based stallion Animal Kingdom.

ESPY Award is short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award.

Fan voting, conducted online, was based on performances spanning the past 12 months.

The awards show, which celebrates the year’s best athletes and moments in sports, was hosted by Mad Men star Jon Hamm.

Rios Ties an AL Record with Six Hits Against the Detroit Tigers

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Chicago White Sox outfielder Alex Rios has batted his way into the annals of Major League Baseball history…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican baseball pro tied an American League record by going 6-for-6 on Tuesday to help the White Sox defeat Detroit Tigers 11-4.

The last-place White Sox, who had lost four straight, finished with season high in hits (23) and runs.

Rios became the 32nd AL player to have six hits in a nine-inning game and the first in franchise history since Lance Johnson pulled off the feat in 1995 at Minnesota.

Rios singled in the first, tripled in the third and also singled twice in the eighth inning. He also singled in the fifth and ninth innings.

“He’s as good as anybody in this league,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Tonight is indicative of that. He’s hitting and running the bases great.”

“It’s been the most fun we’ve had in a quite a while,” Rios said. “We’ve had some tough times, but it shows we haven’t quit.”

Cuban player Dayan Viciedo‘s second homer of the game helped the White Sox score seven runs in the eighth inning, and they scored three more runs in the ninth to surpass a season high for scoring.

Meanwhile, Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera hit his 29th homer during the game, an impressive blast to left-center, in the eighth inning to give him a major league high 92 RBIs and .363 batting average.

He broke the franchise record for homers before the All-Star Game, surpassing the total Cecil Fielder had at the break in 1990 during his 51-homer season.

Cabrera Leads the Tigers Past the Astros in Dramatic Fashion

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Cabrera plays Superman in leading his Detroit Tigers past the Houston Astros.

The 30-year-old Venezuelan ballplayer hit two home runs, finished 4-for-4, and tied a career high with six RBIs to help lead the Tigers’ to a 17-2 mauling of the Astros on Saturday night.

Cabrera drove in six runs for the fifth time in his career. The last time was against Oakland on September 18, 2012. Cabrera has 10 hits in his last 20 at-bats over his past five games.

“I was feeling good out there today,” said Cabrera. “I was swinging the bat good, and when you swing the bat good, good things happen.”

Meanwhile, Torii Hunter had four hits and drove in two runs as every Tigers starter had a hit. Victor Martinez drove in four and had a two-run homer in the ninth. The 17 runs are the most scored by the Tigers since Sept. 4, 2011, when they had 18 against the White Sox.

“He’s awful good; that’s in the books,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said of Cabrera. “Obviously, he’s a special player, but a lot of guys did well tonight. … We had a lot of guys that did some good things tonight. It’s one of those where you play a game every now and then where you hit it hard it falls in, you hit it soft it falls in. It’s one of those games.”

San Francisco Giants’ Romo Declares: ‘I Just Look Illegal’

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s already garnered acclaim for his pitch perfect play in this year’s World Series… But now Sergio Romo is getting attention for his political attire.

During the San Francisco Giants‘ victory parade on Wednesday, the team’s 29-year-old Mexican American relief pitcher – the closer last seen striking out Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers on Sunday to end the World Series – donned a t-shirt that read, “I just look illegal.”

Romo, the son of Mexican immigrants, just miles from the Mexican border, set the social media world on fire in response to the provocative message he sported while parading through the streets of San Francisco.

“Giant hero indeed: Sergio Romo’s t-shirt at World Series parade proclaims ‘I JUST LOOK ILLEGAL,’” tweeted one fan.

“@SergioRomo54 Props to the shirt you wore! Big ups to you for blasting a solid message!!!!” tweeted another.

Immigrant activists around the country interpreted it as a satirical message about a term that many say dehumanizes immigrants in the country illegally — as well as American-born Latinos like Romo.

“You cannot tell who looks ‘illegal,'” tweeted Bay Area activist and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who thanked Romo for taking a stand. “No human being is illegal.”

Romo, who was raised in the small Southern California city of Brawley, said nothing publicly Wednesday about the shirt and partially concealed its message with a zip-up hoodie when he held the World Series trophy behind crooner Tony Bennett.   He did, however, thank fans in a speech celebrating the Bay Area’s diversity and its “different folks with different strokes” and “different faces from different places,” then flashed the message on his way back from the stand.

Cabrera Gets His “Crown” & Wins the AL’s Hank Aaron Award

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Cabrera made history by becoming the first Latino Triple Crown winner… And, now he’s got the hardware to prove it.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig presented the 29-year-old Venezuelan third baseman with an actual crown on Saturday for becoming only the fifteenth player to win the coveted Triple Crown, and announced that the Detroit Tigers slugger won the American League‘s Hank Aaron Award.

For the first time, both winners of the award that recognizes the top offensive players in each league were getting ready to play in the same World Series.

After Cabrera received his crown, he went to get ready for Game 3. Moments later, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey was honored for being the National League‘s Hank Aaron Award winner.

“Miguel joined historic company this year by winning the game’s first Triple Crown in 45 years,” Selig said. “And, Buster was a consistent force in returning to the field triumphantly this year.”

Cabrera is the first player to lead baseball in batting average, home runs and RBIs since 1967 when Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski pulled off the feat.

“I am very nervous right now,” Cabrera said after waiting for more than 10 minutes for Selig to arrive at the pregame news conference. “But I want to thank you very much. It’s an honor to be sitting here with a Hall of Famer and commissioner.”

Posey hit .336 and became the first catcher in the league to win the batting title since Ernie Lombardi of the Boston Braves in 1942.

“I’m humbled that Hank Aaron knows who I am,” Posey said. “Growing up in Georgia, he’s a legend.”

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