Caribbean Series Watch: A Set of Rules Which Makes the Baseball’s Winter Affair an Interesting Affair

The 67th Caribbean Series (January 31 to February 7) is finally here, and fans cannot keep calm anymore. This El Nido de las Aguilas de Mexicali event marks the return of winter baseball to Mexico City since 2021 when it was last played in Mazatlan. However, this series comes with a new set of rules and regulations – might be more interesting to watch.

The Caribbean Series will have 14 games played over eight days. Five countries will now participate in the series, compared to seven in the past. These include four rival nations of the host, Mexico, the championship series winner, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. But what are the rules that have changed in this Caribbean series?

A new set of guidelines in the Caribbean Series

Now, the Caribbean series will be led by Cuba and Curacao who joined the 2023 edition. On January 30, top MLB insider Jon Morosi, said, “The Caribbean Series has unique rules. The champion is allowed to pick players from other teams in the league as reinforcements prior to the tournament.” He cited an example of Escogido bringing the Licey’s Gustavo Nunez, who was challenged by Albert Pujols earlier. Now, he will be playing for Pujol’s team. But does it end there! 

Every player in the tournament will fetch $850 each month, and all the games will have nine innings. Also, every pitcher must bat, and every team should ensure that they field a maximum of 26 players. There have been some changes in the season’s structure too. All the teams need to play 70 games, with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico divisions to play 14 games against five teams, and the Mexican & Venezuelan divisions to play against seven. Additionally, the league would host the postseason in the four-year rotating cycle involving the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela across three stadiums. 

Given that the tournament follows a round-robin approach, when two teams are at the top, the team winning the first-round match would automatically become the winner. If three teams are in first place, the winner will be decided in terms of the team quality balance – calculated by dividing the total runs by the offensive innings played and then deducting the runs and dividing by the innings played defensively. However, if there is a tie, the position will be judged on batting percentage and even by drawing lots.

Would you like to walk down memory lane to reflect on the beginning of the series? 

Origin of the Caribbean Series and its champion player

Baseball as a sport was founded in Cuba in 1864. The game quickly became popular throughout the Caribbean thanks to the natives’ efforts to spread it. Gradually, some major professional leagues emerged in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. The tournament used to start in October and end in January. However, since 1949, the winners emerging from the four leagues have competed in the Caribbean Series every year in February. One player that made the Caribbean Series a favorite among many is Manny Ramirez.

Manny Ramirez, the former 52-year-old baseball outfielder, has been a major Dominican-American professional baseball player who played in the MLB occasionally across his 19 seasons. Ever since his departure from the Dominican Republic in 1985, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in June 1991 and made his first professional appearance while playing for Cleveland’s Burlington, North Carolina. Manny was the one who turned around the fate of the Boston Red Sox in 2004, leading them to win the first World Series title in 86 years. Manny’s seven hits in 17 at-bats, one home run, four RBIs, and a .412 average in the series made him the Most Valuable Player.

His injury claims and reserved nature finally landed him with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. Despite that, he made 17 home runs and 53 RBIs with a .396 batting average, bringing a major right-handed boost that the team was looking for.

Given that the Caribbean Series is starting soon, are you excited to watch the tournament? Tell us what are you looking forward to the most!