DODGERS NOTEBOOK: REPORT: L.A. ACCUSED OF TRYOUTS IN CUBA.Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer Two players in the Dodgers' minor-league system told the Boston Globe the club held secret tryouts in Cuba, arranged escapes from the communist country and were told to lie about it. The newspaper reported 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 asked the commissioner's office of Major League Baseball "MLB" and "Major Leagues" redirect here. For other uses, see MLB (disambiguation) and Major Leagues (disambiguation). Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. to declare them free agents on grounds they signed illegally. Baseball rules Baseball Rules are the rules for baseball played under three major rules codes, which differ only slightly. The North American professional leagues and many amateur leagues use the Official Baseball Rules, which are published to the public by The Sporting News; U.S. prohibit teams from scouting in Cuba, and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. has a trade embargo against communist nations. The players said they were first contacted by Pablo Peguero, who is the general manager for 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. baseball complex 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. , while in Cuba. Perez, 21, an outfielder with 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. , was signed by Peguero in March 1998. Diaz, 23, 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. , was signed by Peguero and Ralph Avila, vice president of Campo Las Palmas. ``They said I brought them to the Dodgers from Cuba, but that's not true,'' Peguero said via telephone from his home in the Dominican Republic. ``After they got here, they got their (provisional) release papers. After that, they signed. ``I don't have nothing to do with it. Ralph Avila signed them. I know he signed them in his office. I was there the day they signed.'' Diaz told the Globe that Peguero was at a game in 1995 and saw him play in Havana, Cuba, and soon after staged a tryout for Diaz. A few months later Peguero brought a lady to Cuba and Diaz was invited to the Dominican Republic on the premise it was in return for Diaz's help in finding a Cuban surgeon for the women, the player said. Diaz signed with the Dodgers and was given a $65,000 bonus. Perez told a similar story about Peguero coming to Cuba with a woman in 1996. Peguero said he hasn't been to Cuba in more than a decade. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if they paid off people or not, but I got my provisional release papers, which enabled me to sign,'' Diaz told the Boston newspaper. Dodgers officials wouldn't comment on the situation, saying they haven't heard from Major League Baseball. ``We have not received anything from the commissioner's office,'' said Dodgers assistant to the general manager/minor league director Bill Geivett. ``Until we receive word from them, if we receive word from them, it's tough to tell what we're dealing with, if anything.'' Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. echoed Geivett's comments. If the Dodgers are found in violation of the rule there could be fines, suspensions or the loss of picks in the amateur draft. Hansen's hit parade: Pinch-hitter extraordinaire ex·tra·or·di·naire adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire. [French, from Old French, from Latin extra Dave Hansen made his first start of the season, a move designed to give first baseman Eric Karros the day off. The Dodgers wanted to take advantage of Hansen's left-handed bat against Phillies righty right·y Informal n. pl. right·ies 1. A right-handed person. 2. An advocate or member of the political right. adv. Curt Schilling,, and Hansen responded by continuing his awesome start. Hansen went 2 for 3 with a walk to raise his average to .625 (10 for 16). ``Sshhhh, I make a conscious effort not to know what I'm hitting,'' Hansen said at the mere suggestion of his success. ``I have to go at-bat to at-bat. That's the way it is.'' Extra bases: The Dodgers will keep an eye on right-hander Heathcliff Slocumb, recently released by the Orioles, in case things don't work out with Antonio Osuna's elbow or Mike Maddux. DODGERS vs. MONTREAL Time: 4:05 p.m., at Olympic Stadium TV/Radio: Fox Sports West 2; KXTA-AM (1150), KAVL-AM (610), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish) Matchup: The final leg of a three-city, nine-game road trip begins with Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park (2-2, 6.15 ERA) facing Montreal righty Dustin Hermanson (2-2, 2.34). Park is coming off a solid outing in which he allowed two runs in 6-2/3 innings in a win at Milwaukee, but the Expos create a different challenge for Park. Montreal is the only National League team Park hasn't defeated; he's 0-2 with a 3.82 ERA against the Expos in his career. Hermanson, in his third year, is the Expos' ace. At 26, he's the second oldest member of the starting rotation and his 2.132 years of service time is tops among the starters. Tuesday: Dodgers right-hander Ismael Valdes (3-0, 3.53) vs. Montreal right-hander Carl Pavano (0-4, 7.83); Wednesday: Dodgers lefty Carlos Perez (1-3, 5.65) vs. Montreal right-hander Javier Vazquez (1-1, 5.32). - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): Box BOX: DODGERS vs. MONTREAL (see text) |
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