The Division de Honor in Spain is the first league in Europe to open its doors for the 2009 season on Saturday, March 14. The MARLINS PUERTO CRUZ enter the competition as the reigning champion, having won the title for four straight years. There will be ten teams in the league after nine in 2008. HALCONES DE VIGO won the second division and received the promotion. No team got relegated. They will use a round robin format with a total of 18 game days without playoffs, each with nine-inning doubleheaders or two-game series.
A rule change in Italy could have an effect on the league, as several of their best players signed with Italian Baseball League clubs this winter. The Spanish Baseball Federation followed last week, allowing European Union players to play in Spain without any restrictions. However the teams probably didn’t have enough time to react to the rule adjustment.
First Game Day March 14/15
{mrb-schedule:2009-03-14|2009-03-15|ES}
Final Standings 2008
{mrb-standing:spain-2008}
Past Champions
2008 Marlins Puerto Cruz
2007 Marlins Puerto Cruz
2006 Marlins Puerto Cruz
2005 Marlins Puerto Cruz
2004 Rojos de Tenerife
2003 CB Sant Boi
2002 CB Viladecans
2001 CB Viladecans
2000 CB Viladecans
Marlins Puerto Cruz
The MARLINS won the Spanish championship for the fourth straight time, but had to worry until the last weekend of the season, before securing the trophy. Besides catcher Dewis Navarro, who leaves for DANESI NETTUNO in Italy, the team from Tenerife was able to retain most of their roster. Ivan Granados and Leslie Nacar will be their starters. The offense, led by Richard Montiel, Nestor Perez, Daniel Martinez and Daniel Sanchez gets help from Lesther Galvan, who played the past two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers organization in Rookie leagues. With their strong pitching staff, PUERTO CRUZ once again is favored to win the championship.
FC Barcelona
The FC BARCELONA had the chance to deny another title by the MARLINS, but lost the decisive game on the last game day. This winter they needed to do some changes on the pitching staff, as Remigio Leal and Jorge Balboa left for Italy, and Andoni Ortiz for BILBAO. They replaced the three mostly through Pedro Belmonte (SAN INAZIO) and Jason Friedman (BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany). Belmonte will form the starting rotation together with Homer Baez. They also added outfielder Jehan Machado and catcher Orlando Diaz. Besides everybody returns, including their three best batters Jesus Golindano, Oscar Roman and Felix Isasi. BARCA will stay in the hunt for the championship, but their pitching doesn’t seem deep enough to go toe-to-toe with the PUERTO CRUZ.
CB Sant Boi
The Baseball club in Sant Boi was in the headlines this winter, but for the wrong reason. The tragedy with four dead children following the collapse of a facility building of CB SANT BOI left deep scars and it is probably still difficult to think about a new Division de Honor season. SANT BOI finished in third place last year. They added pitchers Oscar Alvarez and Carlos Fente to replace Yoel Hernandez (Italy), Fernando Quijada and Albert Vargas. Yaeko Vazquez and Jose Cruz will support the newcomers on the pitching side of the game. Catcher William Domero switched places with Orlando Diaz, coming from BARCELONA. Marc Carrillo and Milko Jaramillo will continue to lead the offense.
El Llano
EL LLANO was right in the middle of the pack of teams, which chased the three top teams MARLINS, FCB and SANT BOI, finishing in fourth place. They lost pitchers Carlos Fente and Fidel Mane during the winter. Their third-best hitter Javier Flores left for SANT BOI. Team MVP Roberto Noriega stays with club. The Gijon-based club added two more Argentine players to accompany Gabriel Sanso. Without Fente, Mane and the still suspended Miguel Rizo the pitching seems not too strong, which could lead to a drop in the standings in 2009.
San Inazio Bilbao
SAN INAZIO secured fifth place in the 2008 final standings, a single game in front of BASEBALL NAVARRA. BILBAO lost Pedro Belmonte to BARCA, but was able to obtain Alberto Magallon, Fidel Mane and Andoni Ortiz to improve the pitching staff. Additionally three of their four best batters, Dirimo Chavez, Juan Manuel Nieves and Franklin Tua extended their contracts with the club. They know it is difficult to defend their fifth-place finish, but they hope to anger the favored teams a little bit.
Baseball Navarra
A flood destroyed their ballpark in Burlada a few weeks ago and until the damages are repaired they will play their home games at the field of CD AMAYA. The club was founded last winter due to a fusion of three local teams and finished in sixth place in their inaugural season. Juan Jose Lopez and Hector Perozo return to lead the team on offense. Lopez is also the number one option out of the bullpen. His role even could increase this year, as pitcher German Arroyo led a group of players, who said goodbye, including .300-hitters Raul Aristu and Juan Latienda. Sergio Sousa might step into the rotation besides Alberto Espanol after Arroyo’s departure.
CB Viladecans
The record champion, which had won 21 straight Spanish titles between 1982 and 2002, finished in seventh place last year, 16 games out of first place. And there is little hope that they will be better in 2009. They lost their two main starters with Alberto Magallon and Yulman Ribeiro and complementary outfielder Jehan Machado. They went to Venezuela for replacement players. Shortstop Oscar Angulo (from EL LLANO) and pitcher Delio Martinez are supposed to strengthen the roster. They also were on the verge of adding former Minor League catcher Rotsen Gil, but he wasn’t licensed for the new season.
CD Pamplona
As well as their local rival BASEBALL NAVARRA, CD has to start the season in Amaya due to the unavailable Burlada ballpark. PAMPLONA finished in eighth place last year with big gaps to the top and the bottom. Alexis Fumero and Patrice Briones will continue to lead the pitching staff every weekend. The 24-year-old American Chris Iverson is new on the team. Luis Carlos Leon, their best batter, is gone. They will probably remain in the bottom third of the standings.
Astros Valencia
2008 was a horrible season for the ASTROS, finishing in last place with a 0-32 record. We haven’t heard anything about VALENCIA all winter long. Norman and Eric Cowes return of another season with the ASTROS. Elvis Polanco, a former minor leaguer and Dutch Hoofdklasse player, joins the team from EL LLANO and definitely will improve their starting rotation. We are not sure if fellow newcomer Jose Morban is the former Major Leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles as the dates of birth are different, but if he is the Dominican infielder that would help too.
Halcones de Vigo
VIGO is the new and tenth team in the league, after winning the Primera Division (second division in Spain) last year. Franklin Tavarez, MVP of the 2008 European Under-21 Championship, decided to join the promoted club and will lead their offense. We don’t anything about their other players, but we think that they will battle with PAMPLONA and VALENCIA in the bottom third of the standings.
Photos: © Diego Lazaro (top) and San Inazio Bilbao