DODGERS NOTEBOOK: CUBAN PLAYERS GET FREEDOM.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Even though a pair of Dodgers minor-leaguers got their wish and were granted free agency after saying the organization aided with their escape from Cuba, there will be no changes at the Dodgers' Campo Las Palmas Las Palmas: see Palmas, Las, Spain. Las Palmas or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Seaport city (pop., 2001: 354,863), northeastern Grand Canary Island, Spain. academy in the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (dəmĭn`ĭkən), republic (2005 est. pop. 8,950,000), 18,700 sq mi (48,442 sq km), West Indies, on the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The capital and largest city is Santo Domingo. . Dodgers president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Bob Graziano Bob Graziano is a former president of the Los Angeles Dodgers of American Major League Baseball. He is currently Managing Director for the Western Region of Northern Trust, an investment management company. said the status of Campo Las Palmas director Ralph Avila, a vice president with the Dodgers, and complex general manager Pablo Peguero would remain the same despite the commissioner's ruling against the Dodgers. ``That hasn't been impacted,'' Graziano said. The commissioner's office advised the Dodgers to grant free agency to minor-leaguers Juan Carlos Juan Car·los Born 1938. King of Spain (since 1975) who acceded to the throne on the death of Francisco Franco and helped restore parliamentary democracy. Noun 1. Diaz and Josue Perez. The Dodgers were also levied what is believed to be a large fine for scouting in Cuba, which is against major-league rules. The players asked for the fine because they said Avila and Peguero helped them defect from Cuba and then forced them to sign for bonuses lower than market price. Perez, an outfielder at Single-A Vero Beach Vero Beach (vēr`o), city (1990 pop. 17,350), seat of Indian River co., E Fla., on Indian River (a lagoon and part of the Intracoastal Waterway); founded c.1888, inc. 1919. , signed for $40,000. Diaz, a first baseman at Double-A San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. , signed for $65,000. ``We're very happy,'' said Gus Dominguez, the agent for both players. ``We can negotiate with any team except the Dodgers.'' The players can begin negotiating with other teams beginning Friday. However, there might not be a huge market for the players, both of whom flew to Los Angeles for a press conference today. Diaz was hitting .303 with nine homers, 52 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in and 77 strikeouts in 66 games. He hit 30 homers between Vero Beach and San Antonio last season, but still wasn't selected in the Rule V draft. Perez, in his first year playing baseball in the U.S., hit .279 with two homers, 22 RBI and 14 stolen bases at Vero Beach. ``The only thing we're commenting on is we've been advised by the commissioner's office to release the players, and we're releasing the players,'' Graziano said. A spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury U.S. Treasury Created in 1798, the United States Department of the Treasury is the government (Cabinet) department responsible for issuing all Treasury bonds, notes and bills. Some of the government branches operating under the U.S. Treasury umbrella include the IRS, U.S. Department's Office of Foreign Assets and Control said she hadn't heard of an investigation into the Dodgers' possible violation of the Trade Embargo Act Embargo Act Legislation by the U.S. Congress in December 1807 that closed U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain. The act was Pres. Thomas Jefferson's response to British and French interference with neutral U.S. against Cuba. Peguero, reached at his home in the Dominican Republic, wouldn't comment on the decision, but said he looks forward to remaining at Campo Las Palmas. ``Everything is OK here,'' Peguero said. ``We've had a great group of guys in here and I think in the future you're going to see a lot of these players. Everything here is OK.'' During spring training, Avila announced he would go into semi-retirement after this season. Balks, walks and chalk: Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone said injured shortstop Mark Grudzielanek (broken hand) probably wouldn't return until after the All-Star break. . . Devon White, who missed Sunday's game with stiffness in his neck, said he would be ready to return today as the Dodgers open a three-game series at San Diego. DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO Time: 7:05 p.m., at Qualcomm Stadium. TV/Radio: Channel 5; KXTA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish). Matchup: The winner of this three-game series will be ahead of the other in the standings and the Padres definitely have the momentum. They had won nine straight, including a three-game sweep of the Dodgers, heading into Monday's game at Colorado. Righty right·y Informal n. pl. right·ies 1. A right-handed person. 2. An advocate or member of the political right. adv. Ismael Valdes (5-7, 3.71 ERA) starts for the Dodgers and will try to break a career-worst five-game losing streak. Valdes last won May 27 though he's given up four earned runs or less in each of those five starts. The Padres open the series with righty Andy Ashby (7-4, 3.49), who came off the disabled list to pitch six-plus innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 win last Thursday at Dodger Stadium. Wednesday: Dodgers RH Kevin Brown (9-4, 2.89) vs. Padres RH Brian Boehringer (4-1, 2.77); Thursday: Dodgers RH Darren Dreifort (6-6, 5.67) vs. Padres RH Matt Clement (4-7, 4.76). - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1) WHITE (2) GRUDZIELANEK BOX: DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO (see text) |
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