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2004 - Leones del Caracas Baseball Club

Caracas, Venezuela

While soccer reigns supreme in most Latin American countries,
baseball is Venezuela's national sport
The season begins in October, the southern hemisphere's spring
Eight teams make up the Venezuelan league
The Caracas Lions have a devoted following, so join local fans for a home game
and scout for up-and-coming talent as you take in the game
Food and souvenir concessions abound,
and while you may not find peanuts and crackerjacks,
you'll certainly come across plenty of cerveza and perros callientes (hot dogs)

Saturday 23rd October 2004
Jardinero zurdo de poder
Brett Roneberg nuevo refuerzo del Caracas
Leones del Caracas, uno de los equipos con mejor ofensiva en lo que va de campaña,
añadirá mayor poder a su alineación con la contratación del jardinero Brett Roneberg
La información fue suministrada por Amador Montes Bolet, gerente de medios de los melenudos,
quien dijo que la próxima incorporación del toletero obedece a que no se obtuvo respuesta
del también guardabosque Marlon Byrd, refuerzo que había sido anunciado con anterioridad
"La gerencia del club se cansó de esperar. No hubo manera de ubicarlo,
tanto para saber si había descartado el viaje o si tenía algún problema", añadió el vocero
Roneberg es un zurdo de origen australiano que pertenece a los Medias Rojas de Boston,
en Grandes Ligas
Con el Sea Dogs, sucursal doble A, el outfielder exhibió promedio de .278,
producto de 132 indiscutibles en 474 viajes al plato, con 30 dobletes,
3 triples y 17 cuadrangulares, además de 77 carreras remolcadas
Thursday 28th October 2004
Roneberg se reporta al Caracas este lunes
El jardinero australiano Brett Roneberg tiene previsto arribar al país el próximo lunes,
según un reporte de los Leones del Caracas
Roneberg actuó con el Portland Sea Dogs, sucursal Doble A de los Medias Rojas de Boston,
y en 124 partidos bateó para .278 de promedio, con 30 dobles, tres triples,
17 jonrones y 77 empujadas
Roneberg, quien es bateador zurdo y puede actuar ocasionalmente en la inicial,
sustituirá en el roster del Caracas a Marlon Byrd, quien declinó reforzar al equipo

General Information - Brett's Accommodation

Location
Click here for two maps showing Venezuela and Caracas

"The Needles"
Click here for the list of vaccinations Brett was required to have

Accommodation
Click here for the details of where Brett will be staying - six photos

League and Season Details

Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Click here for the League's web site (in Spanish)

Season Details
Opening date of the season is Saturday 16th October, and games continue until Monday 27th December 2004
The Round Robin for the teams that advance commences on Wednesday 29th December
The Championship Series begins in the third week of January 2005
The Caribbean Series is to be held in Mexico during the second week of February 2005

Brett's Team - "Leones del Caracas"

Translation - Spanish to English
Naturally, the web sites associated with this League and Team are in Spanish, but I will be trying to gather as much information as possible as the season progresses - for example, game reports, newspaper articles, etc
Fortunately, all Box Scores, Statistics, League Leaders, and Division Tables are all listed in English on the 'Baseball America' web site and these will be added on a daily basis

Brett's Start Date
As mentioned above, the season commences on Saturday 16th October
Due to vaccinations, flights and other travel arrangements, Brett will be joining the team later in the month
Friday 15th October - Brett received the following advice - "You are scheduled to depart on Monday 1st November 2004"

-----"From Cairns to the US, Athens and now Venezuela" - CLICK HERE to read this article
-----It was published in the Cairns Post on Thursday 28th October 2004,
-----and it details the move to play in South America and the "opportunities" that may come as a result

Team Web Sites
Official Site - looks to be very comprehensive, but wriiten in Spanish
Non-Official Site #01 - put together by a "one-eyed" Leones supporter!!! - it is written in Spanish, but there is an English version link available - however, the site may not have been updated for a season or two so will check it as the games get underway
Non-Official Site #02 - again, this site is in Spanish

The Stadium - El Parque de los Chaguaramos
Click here for a computer-generated picture of the Stadium - shows the field dimensions, which are very interesting - and challenging!!!

The Spectators
Click here for shots of some of the fans (???!!!) - and one photo includes the Stadium at night - four photos

Team Travel
Brett has been advised that "the team travels by top-class buses with licensed drivers"

Team Roster
Click here for details of the "Leones del Caracas" players

Uniform Number
Brett wrote - "I have #50, a little high but that's okay"

Play-by-Play
Click here to see three screen shots and a full explanation of the play-by-play action during the game on Tuesday 21st December 2004

Game-by-Game Reports
Click here for the details on the games in which Brett participated

Statistics
Click here for Brett's season-to-date statistics

"My time in Venezuela"
Click here for a few notes from Brett sent during the season

News and Notes
Click here for miscellaneous reports on Brett and the "Leones del Caracas"
Click here for a newspaper article published on Saturday 6th November 2004 - includes a photo of Brett

INJURY
Tuesday 21st December 2004
Click here for all the details

PHOTOS

Brett during the Games ---(44 photos)

"The Girls of Caracas" ---(106 photos)

Photos - Miscellaneous ---(10 photos)