(Kevin Moscatel holding the Venezuelan Parallel League Championship Trophy, picture courtesy of Kevin himself)The final installment of the wrap-up will cover the final players that played in the Venezuelan Parallel League for Caribes de Anzoategui, Leones de Caracas, the only two players that played in the Venezuelan Parallel Western League.
Caribes finished 34-13, in second place, and a half game behind Caracas in the standings. Caribes went on to sweep the Parallel League Championship, between them and Caracas. Marineros-Lara finished 19-17 and Zulia was 14-23 in the Parallel Western League. Lara was only three game out of first and two shy of making the playoffs.
Venezuelan Parallel League
Caribes Players:
Kevin Moscatel (GCL) played in 31 games batting .139 (11-for-79) with a .207 OBP and .190 SLG. The 17-year old right-handed swinger had one double, one home run, seven RBIs, 15 total bases, scored three runs, and walked five times. He was 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts, struck out 25% (20) of the time, and committed three errors. He played 14 games behind the plate, six as designated hitter, four at first base, one as pinch hitter, and split time amongst the rest including a stop in left field.
The first-year Cardinals affiliate alternated with various other players mainly at catcher and designated hitter throughout the winter season. Moscatel picked up his first hit, first double, and first RBI on October 16. He had two multi-hit games and one multi-RBI game. On October 31, Moscatel had one of his better games going 3-for-5 and drove in a season-high three runs. He went 2-for-4, clubbing his first and only home run on November 6. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 8-1, 2 RBIs)
Moscatel will most likely be assigned to the Gulf Coast Cardinals for a second year and will be in competition with 2008 DSL All-Star Audris (Audry) Perez and possibly anybody else that is placed in Jupiter, FL. He's still young and has time to find his place with the team.
Fernando Cedeno (VSL) made nine appearances (three starts) posting an 0-1 record and 8.64 ERA. The 19-year old right-hander allowed 28 hits, 19 runs (16 earned), one home run, 13 walks, and struck out six over 16.2 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 23-to-13.
The second-year VSL pitcher began the winter season as a middle reliever and was moved into the rotation in late-November. As a reliever, Cedeno had an 0-1 record and gave up 16 hits, 11 earned runs, one home run, six walks, and struck out only four over eight innings. In each of his three starts he only made it into the fourth inning once. Cedeno had three appearances without a run, one without a hit, and walked two or more in his final four games. His best outing came on October 16, pitching two innings giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out one.
Cedeno should be making a return to the Venezuelan Summer League Cardinals in 2009. He pitched alright at times in 2008 as a long-reliever and could very well be used the same way this coming season. Another possibility is maybe exploring him in the starting rotation or closer role, somewhat like Yonathan Gonzalez last season.
Orlando Munoz (GCL) made five relief appearances posting a 1-1 record and 5.40 ERA. The 18-year old right-hander allowed six hits, five runs (three earned), one home run, two walks, and struck out three over five innings. His ground out-to-fly out ratio was 3-to-2 and he let one of four inherited runners score.
The second-year Cardinals affiliate only pitched in October and made one relief appearance in December. Munoz didn't give up a run in two outings and no hits in one game. He was roughed up in his final two games for four hits, four runs, and one home run in two innings. Munoz picked up his only win on October 21 and struck out a season-high two on December 10.
Munoz will probably be another name you will catch on the Gulf Coast Cardinals roster when the season opens in 2009. Like Kevin Moscatel, he's still young and still has time to prove were he belongs on the team.
Caracas Players:
Julio Castellano (GCL?) made 15 appearances (four starts) posting an 0-2 record, 3.63 ERA, and three saves. The 21-year old left-hander allowed 34 hits, 19 runs (14 earned), one home run, 13 walks, and struck out 23 over 34.2 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 56-to-17 and let two of six inherited runners score. Castellano also made two relief appearances (December 10 and 12) for the Cardinals, pitching two innings and giving up two hits, no runs, and striking out two, while picking up a save.
The four-year Cardinals free agent signing began the season in the back end of the bullpen and was moved to starter in mid-November. Castellano had nine games with no runs and six with no hits. In his first five outings he did not allow a run, spanning 6.2 innings. Castellano picked up his first two saves on back-to-back appearances on October 19 and 20. As a starter he pitched 17.2 innings giving up 24 hits, 14 runs (ten earned), one home run, six walks, and striking out 14. Castellano's best game came on November 4, pitching 4.2 innings of relief and only allowing two hits and no runs. He pitched a seven-inning complete game on November 25, giving up seven hits, three runs (one earned), four walks, and striking out a season-high six over six innings. Castellano only had three really bad outings and two of those came as a starter.
Castellano, who's VSL eligibility ran out after 2008, will begin the 2009 season in the Gulf Coast League. In 2008 the VSL Astros used him mainly as a reliever, but in 2007 he started seven of eight games. There's a possible chance that you could see him in the tandem rotation for the Redbirds this coming season.
Venezuelan Parallel Western League
Playing for Marineros-Lara:
Richard Castillo (Quad Cities) made ten appearances (five starts) posting a 3-0 record, 2.57 ERA, and one save. The 19-year old right-hander allowed 26 hits, 13 runs (12 earned), three home runs, 14 walks, hit six batters, threw two wild pitches, and struck out 42 over 42 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 30-to-39, opponents batted .186 off of him, and committed one error. Castillo was promoted to Cardenales de Lara late in the winter season.
The second-year Cardinals pitcher alternated between starting and the bullpen throughout the year for Marineros-Lara. As a starter, Castillo compiled 32.1 innings giving up 19 hits, nine runs (eight earned), nine walks, and struck out 30. He had three appearances without a run scored and one without a hit. His best game came on October 27 as a starter, pitching seven innings and allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out seven. Castillo had four games with four or more strikeouts including sitting 11 down on November 10. And he gave up two or more runs in only three appearances.
Castillo was just as good as he was during the 2008 season. He'll probably make a return to Single-A Quad Cities to start the 2009 season out and I'm sure if he pitches as well as he did last season he will be getting a promotion or two during the year. But don't rule a return trip to A-Advanced Palm Beach to begin the season, as he is projected by some to make his MLB debut sometime in 2011.
Playing for Zulia del Aguilas:
Jose Penaloza (GCL) made 13 relief appearances posting a 1-2 record, 5.11 ERA, and one save. The 21-year old right-hander allowed 30 hits, 16 runs (14 earned), eight walks, hit six batters, threw five wild pitches, and struck out 29 over 24.2 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 23-to-18, opponents batted .297 off of him, he committed one error, and had one balk.
The second-year Cardinals affiliate was a full-time bullpen arm for Zulia mainly working in the back end of the game. Penaloza had six games with no runs and two with no hits allowed. He was extended beyond two innings four games and went three plus innings three times. Penaloza's best game came on December 9, when he gave up five hits, no runs, and struck out four over 3.2 innings for his first and only win. He struck out two or more seven times, including his season-high of six on October 31 and also struck out five on November 6. Penaloza had a good winter season but when it came to the month of November he struggled, allowing 13 hits, 13 runs, five walks, and striking out nine over seven innings (14.14 ERA).
Penaloza, again, may see time in the Gulf Coast League for the Cardinals in 2009. I figure he may spend the whole season in Jupiter, FL to see if he can turn it around considering his walks out number his strikeouts all throughout his pro career.
Cardinals Hitters Part One
Cardinals Hitters Part Two
Cardinals Hitters Part Three
Cardinals Starting Rotation
Cardinals Bullpen
Cardinals Aragua Hitters
Cardinals Aragua Pitchers
jrocke says: Special thanks to Kevin Moscatel for giving permission to use one of his photos from his winter season, can't thank you enough.
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