Cardinals Winter League Notebook 1-31-13

Venezuelan League Championship

Cesar Izturis (former St. Louis-Lara) started at shortstop and batted leadoff.  2-for-5 with one RBI, one run, one fielding error, and assisted in one double play.
Richard Castillo (Springfield-Lara) entered in the third and pitched 1.1 innings.  He allowed four hits, three earned runs, two home runs, and struck one out. (g/f:2-2)(ir-s:1-0)

Magallanes beat Lara 11-9
LVBP Official Site Post Game

Notes:
Magallanes took the championship over Lara four games to three and will represent Venezuela in the Caribbean Series.

Caribbean Series @ Hermosillo, Mexico

Notes:
Joe Thurston (former St. Louis-Lara) is listed on the Magallanes roster: Lider

Moises Alou ( Escogido GM) is considering stepping down for some time off: Listin Diario

Julio Lugo (former St. Louis-Escogido) would like to return to the majors or play in Japan: Listin Diario

Friday's Games:
Magallanes (Venezuela) visits Escogido (Dominican) @ 5:00 PM ET
Caguas (Puerto Rico) visits Obregon (Mexican Pacific) @ 9:30 PM ET

Latin American Series @ Beo Avila University

Notes:
Javier Brito (former Memphis-Margarita/Cartagena) was included on the Barranquilla roster: Barranquilla Official Site

Curt Smith (former Springfield-Chinandega) will not be with the team, but Jem Argenal (GCL-Chinandega) will: La Prensa

Friday's Games:
Cocle (Panama) visits Barranquilla (Colombia)
Chinandega (Nicaragua) visits San Andres (Veracruz)

Australian League Playoffs

Fridays' Game:
Perth (0-0) visits Sydney (0-0) @ 7:30 PM ET

World Baseball Classic

Curt Smith (former Springfield-Chinandega) will be joining Netherlands to begin training for the WBC: El Nuevo Diario

Triple-A Mexican League (March 23, 2013)

Jesse English (Bridgeport) has signed with Reynosa: MiLB Official Site

Eder Llamas (Minatitlan-Mochis) has signed with Aguascalientes: MiLB Official Site

Japan League

Brian Falkenborg (former St. Louis) will be in Softbank camp: Yakyubaka

European League

Atlanta signed 18-year old infielder Mattia Mercuri (Nettuno): Mister Baseball

Edwin Bellorin (La Guaira) signed with Nettuno (Italy): Mister Baseball

Former Cardinals

Nick Derba (former Memphis) was hired as a volunteer assistant coach at Manhattan College: Manhattan Official Site

Los Angeles, Toronto, Anaheim, Detroit, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Oakland had scouts checking out Kip Wells (former St. Louis): Jerry Crasnick Twitter

Introducing (Potential) Red Sox Mark Hamilton (former St. Louis-Guasave): Over The Monster