Dominican Dominance

[USA DOC]

It was thirty years ago, that one Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos...aka James George Snyder Sr....aka Jimmy the Greek was fired from his sports commentator position for verbalizing similar thoughts.

....so was Howard Cosell............

 

[Fulano2]

I agree on the genes having a great influence. Look at chess. Almost al good chess-players are from russia, Europe or sometimes USA (exception is Cuba once).,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_top_chess_players_throughout_history

 

[KyleMackey]

One advantage for DR (or Cuba/PR) is baseball can be played year round. Youth teams in Florida do can this also. In seasonal locations in the US, as an example High School ball starts in Mid March and ends in early June, depending how far a team advances. Then you play in a Summer league through August. Fall leagues have become common in seasonal states in recent years to keep pace with Florida and other warm weather states.

 

[cobraboy]

One advantage for DR (or Cuba/PR) is baseball can be played year round. Youth teams in Florida do can this also. In seasonal locations in the US, as an example High School ball starts in Mid March and ends in early June, depending how far a team advances. Then you play in a Summer league through August. Fall leagues have become common in seasonal states in recent years to keep pace with Florida and other warm weather states.

CA used to be a hotbed, but many youts no longer gravitate toward sports.

 

[KyleMackey]

CA used to be a hotbed, but many youts no longer gravitate toward sports.

Guessing it still produces a lot of talent, but per capita not as much as it used to. Same for football. All of the PAC 12, MWC, BYU etc recruits Cali and yeah their is still talent but not as much at the elite level along the O line and D line. Soccer is more popular also. People might assume that EPL or MLS is the most watched Soccer in the USA, it isn't it is Liga MX (Mexico).

I was talking to retired HS Baseball coach a couple of years ago. He coached for 32 years at an all boys Catholic school. He told me that in the prime era about 100 kids would try out for the Freshman baseball team. By the early 90's 40-50 would try out for the team. I said what happened, he said Michael Jordan happened. Anyways the baseball is still top shelf, but per capita less kids play as they specialize in only 1 sport.

 

[Tom0910]

Pedro Martinez attributed a lot of his success to his long Dominican fingers,he could wrap them around the ball giving him great control and spin rate.

 

[KyleMackey]

Pedro Martinez attributed a lot of his success to his long Dominican fingers,he could wrap them around the ball giving him great control and spin rate.

Most pitchers have larger hands, it certainly helps with pitching and batting. NFL QBs have giant hands also.

Johnny Bench 7 balls 1 hand.

Al Leiter the same

JR Richards did 8

 

[KyleMackey]

Will look for an update when the final 2019 Rosters are set. 2018 opened with 84 DR players are opening day rosters.

 

[cobraboy]

Pedro Martinez attributed a lot of his success to his long Dominican fingers,he could wrap them around the ball giving him great control and spin rate.

Rico Carty did a commercial for Dad CB in the 60's, and as a 13 y.o. I got to shake his hand. It was as big as a Pony League catcher's mitt. Massive.

 

[windeguy]

Good article. They give credit to where credit is due. Genetics! At that level you can train all you want but without the blessings of mother nature you are spinning your wheels. All professional athletes are freaks of nature. The mental component is good but it won't come close to good genes

I know too many athletes, musicians, etc who would beg to differ. They have always told me it's based on practice, practice, practice and when their done, more practice and a love for what they do. When you see baseball or any other path as your only vehicle out of poverty, you will take it. You can be naturally skilled to anything but without practicing your craft, fuggetaboutit.

As someone who both played baseball as a kid and plays music to this day, I completely agree that for the top level of talent in both music and sports, it is the innate ability of the athlete and the musician. All the practice in the world does not make up for incredible reaction time, great eye hand coordination and body style for strength and agility in sports. All of the training in the world will not provide you with perfect pitch, a photographic memory and amazing technique if you don't have the physical gifts for those talents.

Of course practice helps, but a modicum of practice for one physically blessed with the appropriate talents will outperform all of the practice in the world for someone only moderately gifted. The athletes and musicians at the highest gifted levels are competing with others with those same gifts, so I can understand why they speak of practice. Just a slight edge can make a difference and that is where their practice helps them fine tune their superior abilities.

 

[KyleMackey]

MLB Players By Country - Dominican Republic
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MLB Players By Country - Dominican Republic
PLAYER POSITION TEAM LOCATION
Adames, Willy Shortstop Tampa Bay Rays Santiago
Alberto, Hanser Shortstop Baltimore Orioles San Francisco de Macoris
Alcantara, Victor Relief Pitcher Detroit Tigers Santo Domingo
Alcantara, Sandy Starting Pitcher Miami Marlins San Juan de la Maguana
Andujar, Miguel Third Base New York Yankees San Cristobal
Araujo, Pedro Relief Pitcher Baltimore Orioles San Cristobal
Baez, Pedro Relief Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers Bani
Brito, Socrates Center Field San Diego Padres Azua Province
Cano, Robinson Second Base New York Mets San Pedro de Macoris
Castillo, Welington Catcher Chicago White Sox San Isidro
Castillo, Luis Starting Pitcher Cincinnati Reds Bani
Castillo, Diego Relief Pitcher Tampa Bay Rays Cabrera
Castro, Starlin Second Base Miami Marlins Monte Cristi Province
Castro, Miguel Relief Pitcher Baltimore Orioles La Romana
Colome, Alex Relief Pitcher Chicago White Sox Santo Domingo
Cordero, Franchy Center Field San Diego Padres Azua Province
Cruz, Nelson Designated Hitter Minnesota Twins Monte Cristi Province
Devers, Rafael Third Base Boston Red Sox Sanchez
Diaz, Miguel Relief Pitcher San Diego Padres San Cristobal
Difo, Wilmer Shortstop Washington Nationals Santiago de los Caballeros
Dominguez, Seranthony Relief Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies Esperanza
Encarnacion, Edwin Designated Hitter Seattle Mariners La Romana
Familia, Jeurys Relief Pitcher New York Mets Santo Domingo
Franco, Maikel Third Base Philadelphia Phillies Azua Province
Garcia, Luis Relief Pitcher Los Angeles Angels Santo Domingo
Garcia, Leury Center Field Chicago White Sox Santiago
Garcia, Yimi Relief Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers Moca
German, Domingo Relief Pitcher New York Yankees San Pedro de Macoris
Gonzalez, Erik Second Base Pittsburgh Pirates Puerto Plata
Guzman, Ronald First Base Texas Rangers La Vega
Hernandez, Teoscar Right Field Toronto Blue Jays Cotui
Herrera, Kelvin Relief Pitcher Chicago White Sox Tenares
Herrera, Rosell Right Field Miami Marlins Santo Domingo
Jimenez, Eloy Left Field Chicago White Sox Santo Domingo
Lagares, Juan Center Field New York Mets Constanza
Laureano, Ramon Center Field Oakland Athletics Santo Domingo, FL
Leclerc, Jose Relief Pitcher Texas Rangers Esperanza
Lopez, Reynaldo Starting Pitcher Chicago White Sox San Pedro de Macoris
Luciano, Elvis Relief Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays Boca Chica
Margot, Manuel Center Field San Diego Padres San Cristobal
Marte, Starling Center Field Pittsburgh Pirates Santo Domingo
Marte, Ketel Shortstop Arizona Diamondbacks Nizao
Mazara, Nomar Right Field Texas Rangers Santo Domingo
Mejia, Adalberto Relief Pitcher Minnesota Twins Bonao
Mejia, Francisco Catcher San Diego Padres Bani
Montas, Frankie Starting Pitcher Oakland Athletics Sainagua
Moronta, Reyes Relief Pitcher San Francisco Giants Santiago
Munoz, Yairo Shortstop St. Louis Cardinals Nagua
Neris, Hector Relief Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies Villa Altagracia
Nicasio, Juan Relief Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies San Francisco de Macoris
Nova, Ivan Starting Pitcher Chicago White Sox Sabana Grande de Palenque
Nunez, Eduardo Third Base Boston Red Sox Santo Domingo
Ozuna, Marcell Left Field St. Louis Cardinals Santo Domingo
Pena, Felix Relief Pitcher Los Angeles Angels San Pedro de Macoris
Peralta, Wily Relief Pitcher Kansas City Royals Santa Barbara de Samana
Peralta, Wandy Relief Pitcher Cincinnati Reds San Francisco de Macoris
Peralta, Freddy Starting Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers Moca
Pineda, Michael Starting Pitcher Minnesota Twins Yaguate
Polanco, Jorge Shortstop Minnesota Twins San Pedro de Macoris
Polanco, Gregory Right Field Pittsburgh Pirates Santo Domingo
Pujols, Albert First Base Los Angeles Angels Santo Domingo
Ramirez, Jose Second Base Cleveland Indians Bani
Reyes, Franmil Center Field San Diego Padres Sabana Grande de Palenque
Reyes, Pablo Left Field Pittsburgh Pirates Santo Domingo
Robles, Hansel Relief Pitcher Los Angeles Angels Bonao
Robles, Victor Center Field Washington Nationals Santo Domingo
Rodney, Fernando Relief Pitcher Oakland Athletics Santa Barbara de Samana
Rodriguez, Richard Relief Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates Santiago
Rosario, Amed Shortstop New York Mets Santo Domingo
Rosario, Randy Relief Pitcher Chicago Cubs Nagua
Sanchez, Gary Catcher New York Yankees Santo Domingo
Santana, Domingo Right Field Seattle Mariners Santo Domingo
Santana, Carlos First Base Cleveland Indians Santo Domingo
Santana, Edgar Relief Pitcher Pittsburgh Pirates Puerto Plata
Segura, Jean Shortstop Philadelphia Phillies San Juan
Severino, Pedro Catcher Baltimore Orioles Bonao
Severino, Luis Starting Pitcher New York Yankees Sabana de la Mar
Soto, Juan Left Field Washington Nationals Santo Domingo
Strop, Pedro Relief Pitcher Chicago Cubs San Cristobal
Suero, Wander Relief Pitcher Washington Nationals San Jose de Ocoa
Tapia, Raimel Center Field Colorado Rockies San Pedro de Macoris
Urena, Jose Starting Pitcher Miami Marlins Santo Domingo
Urena, Richard Shortstop Toronto Blue Jays San Francisco de Macoris
Valdez, Framber Starting Pitcher Houston Astros Sabana Grande de Palenque
Villar, Jonathan Second Base Baltimore Orioles La Vega
Vizcaino, Arodys Relief Pitcher Atlanta Braves Yaguate
Volquez, Edinson Starting Pitcher Texas Rangers Barahona

http://www.espn.com/mlb/players?country=19

 

[KyleMackey]

About 100 Dominicans made MLB rosters opening day.

 

[Wishing you well]

108 to be exact.