Seabass hitting well in Venezuela

[reds44]

Newly acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez has been toiling in the Venezuelan Winter League and, judging by the results, his hard work is paying off.
Playing for the Leones del Caracas, the 29-year-old Major League veteran is hitting .333 with two doubles and a home run in 24 playoff at-bats. That follows 11 regular-season appearances in which he batted .293.

Gonzalez is one of several Reds participating in various Winter Leagues. Here's how the others fared this week as the playoffs continued:

Venezuelan Winter League:

INF Luis Bolivar -- Bolivar is hitting .240 with four runs scored in 25 playoff at-bats for the Aguilas del Zulia. The 25-year-old has struggled defensively, committing six errors in 10 games. He batted .294 in 187 regular-season at-bats.

RHP Carlos Bohorquez -- After sporting a sparkling 1.31 ERA in 18 regular-season appearances, Bohorquez has allowed three runs on eight hits and six walks over 4 2/3 innings in the playoffs for the Leones del Caracas.

RHP Ruben Medina -- Medina was1-0 with a 5.00 ERA in nine innings during the regular season for the Tiburones de La Guaira, who did not qualify for the playoffs.

INF Javier Colina -- Colina hit .204 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 30 regular-season games with the Aguilas del Zulia. He has not appeared in the postseason.

INF Anderson Machado -- Machado hit .197 with three RBIs in 34 games for the Pastora de los Llanos, who did not qualify for the postseason.

Dominican Winter League:

3B Edwin Encarnacion -- Encarnarcion is batting .294 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 13 playoff games for the Aguilas Cibaenas. In 20 regular-season contests, he hit .286 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

RHP Edward Valdez -- Valdez has surrendered four runs over 5 1/3 innings in the playoffs for the Aguilas Cibaenas. He went 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 27 regular-season frames.

OF Chris Denorfia -- The 26-year-old outfielder batted .258 with 12 RBIs in 26 regular-season games for the Leones del Escogido, who did not reach the playoffs.

C Chad Moeller -- The Major League veteran hit just .069 in 10 games for the Estrellas de Oriente, who did not qualify for the postseason.

1B Joey Votto -- Votto hit .275 with one home run and nine RBIs during the regular season for the Leones del Escogido, who did not make the postseason.

RHP Johnny Cueto -- After surrendering seven runs in 7 1/3 innings during the regular season, Cueto has not pitched in the playoffs for the Aguilas Cibaenas.

Mexican Winter League:

INF Juan Castro -- Castro batted .182 in six regular-season games for the Caneros de los Mochis. He has not played in the postseason.

1B Jesse Gutierrez -- Gutierrez is 6-for-21 through five playoff games with the Mayos de Navojoa. The 28-year-old hit .260 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs in 66 regular-season contests.

OF Norris Hopper -- Hopper batted .296 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 32 regular-season games for the Mayos. He has not appeared in the playoffs.

RHP Thomas Shearn -- Shearn was one of the most effective starting pitchers in the Mexican Pacific League during the regular season, going 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 71 2/3 innings. The right-hander has not pitched since Dec. 16.

Ryan McConnell is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASAp...=.jsp&c_id=cin

[TOBTTReds]

where'd the knickname seabass come from? I've heard you refer to him with that lately.

[reds44]

Originally Posted by AvesIce51

where'd the knickname seabass come from? I've heard you refer to him with that lately.

Kevin Millar gave it to him when they played in Florida together. What does it mean? Your guess is as good as mine.

[camisadelgolf]

[Ravenlord]

Originally Posted by reds44

Kevin Millar gave it to him when they played in Florida together. What does it mean? Your guess is as good as mine.

Gonzalez doesn't show much emotion and rarely smiles. for whatever reason, that clicked in Millar's head to start calling him "Seabass" due to his expressionlesness.

[edabbs44]

Chad Moeller had an exciting season for the Estrellas de Oriente.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by Ravenlord

Gonzalez doesn't show much emotion and rarely smiles. for whatever reason, that clicked in Millar's head to start calling him "Seabass" due to his expressionlesness.

There are few, if any coaches in the business with more respect than Marlins infield instructor Perry Hill, and his crowning achievement may have been his help developing Alex Gonzalez. No one has ever questioned Gonzalez's ability, but he earned the nickname "Sea Bass" because he constantly looked so unhappy and often played with disinterest. But Gonzalez this season has played hard and played brilliantly, both offensively and defensively.

http://espn.go.com/gammons/s/2003/0505/1549326.html

[redsmetz]

You be the judge

[Tom Servo]

C Chad Moeller -- The Major League veteran hit just .069 in 10 games for the Estrellas de Oriente, who did not qualify for the postseason.

Hmm...

And Moeller's .184 average in 29 games with the Brewers last year?

"He's better than that," said Krivsky.

No Wayne, he's not.

[Yachtzee]

On a side note, some day I would like to vacation down in the Dominican or Puerto Rico and catch a few games during the Winter League season. From what I've seen on TV, games down there have their own unique atmosphere.

Also, I really do enjoy how team names sound en Espanol. I know other teams do it, but I wonder if the Reds have any plans to play a game as los Rojos del Cincinnati? (Sorry for any poor grammar on my part. No hablo.). Of course I think it would be cool if, during home games at Oktoberfest time, they played as "Die Zinzinnati Rotbeinen."

[HalMorrisRules]

Friday night, when ESPN did their Top 10 Plays, one of the plays was from the Dominican Winter League. One of the teams hit back-to-back-to back home runs. The first of the three was a three run HR that was hit by our very own Edwin Encarnacion. It was nice seeing him.

[Heath]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

Chad Moeller had an exciting season for the Estrellas de Oriente.

Does Juan Castro own a Winter League Team?