PHOENIX -- Right-handed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez and catcher Joel Galarraga have known each other for two days, but the fast friends already share a common goal: Neither can imagine going home right now.

Gonzalez is in A's camp looking to extend his career. Galarraga is here in search of a better life.

"This is incredible," Galarraga said. "I never thought this would happen, but it is."

Galarraga escaped from Cuba on a boat on March 18, 2007, two days before his 25th birthday, and landed in Cancun, Mexico. He made his way to Veracruz and spent two seasons playing for the Peloteros de Minatitlan in the Mexican Summer League. He eventually became a citizen of the country.

"I was tired of the baseball situation in Cuba, and I didn't have that many options," Galarraga said. "There are so many players there and so much training that it doesn't allow you to have a life to survive. My parents were living day-to-day and doing the best they could for me, but I just didn't think it was logical to keep living that way. I knew I could play, but I was not getting the opportunity."

Galarraga shined in Mexico, signed a Minor League deal with Oakland last month and joined the team this month a few days late because of visa issues. Gonzalez also missed a few days of camp with a similar issue.

"[Galarraga's] a real agile guy," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "Strong arm, good hands. He uses the whole field well. What I have seen so far is that he is very athletic. In popup drills, he made a couple of incredibly athletic plays."

The Cuban catcher still has challenges ahead of him. He has Kurt Suzuki, Rob Bowen and Landon Powell ahead of him on the depth chart.

As for Gonzalez, he signed a Minor League contract with the A's on Feb. 9 and is competing against Gio Gonzalez, Josh Outman and Jerome Williams for the fifth spot in the rotation. He also has extensive experience as a reliever.

"First of all, I know they are giving me an opportunity to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation, and it's up to me to take an advantage of it," Gonzalez said. "They want me to be a starter, and that has always been my goal, to be a starter. I am a starter. At the same time, I will help in any way I can."

Signed by Arizona in 2000 out of Mexico, Gonzalez made his big league debut with club in '03. He bounced to and from the bullpen starting in '05, going 14-21 with a 5.97 ERA in 80 career games. Last year, he went 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA with the Diamondbacks and was released. He spent the second half of the season on the disabled list with a right elbow sprain.

Technically, Gonzalez is from Monterrey, Mexico, but he still calls Phoenix home. He has fond memories of Chase Field and says lifelong friends were made while wearing Arizona's red, sand and black.

"I grew up with the Diamondbacks, and you can say they raised me," he said. "You spend seven years with one team, the first team to give me the opportunity in the United States, and you don't forget that. But that is over. I'm with a new team, and I will do what I can."

After his release, the right-hander went 4-1 for Hermosillo in seven starts with a 4.46 ERA in Mexico. Earlier this month, he gave up two hits in seven scoreless runs against Venezuela for the Mexican team in the Caribbean Series.

"My focus is winning a job here," Gonzalez said. "Being with a new team is a little strange, but you get over that when you get on the mound."

On Tuesday, Gonzalez threw three innings to Galarraga in an intrasquad game against a group of A's hitters that included Jason Giambi, Matt Holliday, Travis Buck, Ryan Sweeney and Bobby Crosby. He's not sure when he is pitching again.

"I'm really happy to be here, and I'm 100-percent ready to make this team, all my pitches are working," Gonzalez said. "I worked hard to be here."

He's not the only one.

"Everybody in the world knows what is gong on in Cuba politically," Galarraga said. "There's not money to do anything. When I began playing professionally in Mexico, it was the first time my family has been able to buy new clothes or what they needed. They dedicated their lives to me, and now it is time for me to do the same for them."

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Sean Gallagher watch is underway.

On Thursday against the Angels, the 23-year old right-hander allowed three hits in two scoreless innings in a 3-1 loss at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Gallagher struck out two hitters and issued one walk in his first game appearance of Spring Training.

"I like the way he pounded the zone," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "I like the way he kept throwing strikes. It was impressive. I like the way he worked and threw the ball around with good location."

Acquired from the Cubs last season as part of the Rich Harden deal, Gallagher's spot in the rotation is to be determined. He went 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA for the A's last season. Overall, he is 5-7 with a 5.54 ERA in 31 career games, 21 starts.

"It was good to get the adrenaline going and get back on the mound again, facing hitters," he said.

Gallagher retired Angels center fielder Reggie Willits on a fly ball to start the bottom of the first and struck out Bobby Abreu on 11 pitches for the second out of the inning. Angels first baseman Kendry Morales hit a single, and third baseman Brandon Wood followed with a double, but Gallagher recovered to retire Jeff Mathis on a ground ball.

In the second, Gallagher walked Angels right fielder Chris Pettit to lead off the frame, but was helped when the next hitter, shortstop Hainley Statia, hit into a double play. Kevin Ramos followed with a triple. Gallagher responded by striking out Flint Wipke to end the inning.

"The first time out, it's spring, you want to go out and have really quick 1-2-3 innings," Gallagher said. "But what it came down to is that at the times I really needed to make a pitch, I was able to, and I got out of situations that I put myself in."

Michael Wuertz replaced Gallagher to start the third.

"I wouldn't say I got lackadaisical, but I had a lapse in memory," Gallagher said. "You know, it's the things you look to get out of the way now."

Gallagher said he threw his fastball, changeup and curveball during the 30-pitch outing. He is staying away from his slider for now.

"It's a pitch I can pick up pretty quick," he said. "Right now, I'd rather just focus on fastball command, the changeup and locating that, and getting my curveball back to what I can do with it."

A group of players, including Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady and Mike Pelfrey, who have a link to a company affiliated with financier Robert Allen Stanford, should have access to their money in the near future, the players' agent Scott Boras told the New York Times.

The players are among those who have had their assets frozen by the government as part of an investigation into the Stanford Financial Group and its alleged $8 billion fraud scheme.

As reported last week, the players did not invest directly with Stanford, but have investments with broker dealers whose accounts were with a Stanford company. They can access their personal checking accounts but cannot use credit cards.

"There's no risk of loss in their funds, but the government, in an attempt to protect everyone involved, put a wide net over the funds," Boras told the newspaper. "Then, of course, in a short period of time that net will shrink."

The newspaper report indicated that Boras is helping his clients with "any cash flow" issues because of the frozen accounts and his company did not invest any of his clients' money. He added that one of the company's subsidiaries, Personal Management Consultants, audits the investment advisors chosen by the players and assists with other financial matters.

Additionally, Damon was told he has not lost any money because of his association with Stanford and said he will direct his paychecks to a new account in order to have access to his money.

On Monday, a statement was released by the receiver appointed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas to sort through the Stanford companies' accounts saying he understood the inconvenience and hardship caused by the freeze and he is making his best effort to identify which accounts could be released.

Thirty-six umpires, from a total of nine countries, have been assigned to officiate the World Baseball Classic.

A crew of four umpires will work each game in the first two rounds of the tournament, and six-man crews will work the semifinals and finals. Each crew will include an equal number of Major League and international umpires.

It's a diverse group.

Of the 36 World Baseball Classic umpires, 21 come from the Major Leagues. There are also four umps from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and two from the Korean Baseball Organization.

The umpires from the United States are Lance Barksdale, Ted Barrett, Eric Cooper, Derryl Cousins, Dana DeMuth, Laz Diaz, Bruce Dreckman, Paul Emmel, Andy Fletcher, Greg Gibson, Ed Hickox, Marvin Hudson, Dan Iassogna, Ron Kulpa, Jerry Meals, Bill Miller, Ed Rapuano, Larry Vanover, Mark Wegner, Hunter Wendelstedt and Joe West.

Canada will be represented by umpires Corrie Davis and Stephane DuPont. Seong Hoon Moon and Seok Hwan Oh will represent Korea. The Japanese umpires are Minoru Nakamura, Masato Tomoyose, Hitoshi Watarida and Masami Yoshikawa. Latin America will be represented by Mexico's Luis Ramirez and Dan Toledo, Panama's Edgar Estivison, Cuba's Jorge Perez, along with Puerto Rico's Carlos Rey and Willie Rodriguez.

Australia will send umpire Paul Hyham.

Free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez is staying busy.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw a simulated game on Tuesday in the Dominican Republic and is on track to start for the country's World Baseball Classic squad in the team's first exhibition game on March 3, according to the Dominican newspaper Hoy.

According to the report, Martinez's velocity ranged from 88-92 mph in the 43-pitch outing at Baseball City, a sports complex near Boca Chica.

"Pedro was working really well, he threw the ball like normal and he showed good physical condition," Dominican team staff member Rafael Mateo told the paper.

The report also stated that Martinez, 37, plans to throw Friday before traveling to Florida on Sunday to join the Dominican Republic squad. Two days later, he will pitch against the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

"Pedro finds himself in good physical condition, and it's evident that he has been working hard in his preparation for the upcoming season," Mateo told Hoy.

The Dodgers, Pirates and Indians are interested in signing Martinez, but the right-hander has not received an official offer, according to the newspaper.

 

TEMPE, Ariz. - The uniform is different but the person wearing it remains the same.

 

From Philadelphia to New York to Anaheim, outfielder Bobby Abreu doesn't change. He says he never will.

 

"I am going to do my job wherever I am and it doesn't matter what team it is for," Abreu said. "New York was fun. I did my job there. I made a lot of good friends over there but I think I'm going to like it over here."

 

Abreu, 34, signed a one-year $5 million contract with the Angels for 2009, after hitting .296 with 100 RBIs and 20 homers for the New York Yankees last season. For his career, Abreu has a .300 batting average with 1084 RBIs and 241 home runs.

 

"This a team full of winners and there's good chemistry," he said. "This is a great outfield. We have a lot of good players that know how to play this game. The talent here is extremely high and that can only help your time win."

 

 

Abreu will play left field alongside center fielder Torii Hunter and right fielder Vladimir Guerrero on a regular basis for the first time in his career but said he is looking forward to the challenge. He will hit second in the lineup for the Angels behind leadoff man Chone Figgins and Guerrero.

 

"Bobby has been very comfortable coming over here and his interaction with the team, in drills on the field," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's working very hard. On field chemistry is only going to develop in playing next to Torii, seeing the lineup and how the groupings fall in. That's going to take some time."

 

 

Abreu won't be in Angels' camp long. He is schedule to join team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic next month for his second stint with the national team. In 2006, Venezuela finished in seventh place in the tournament.

 

He expects different results this time around.

 

"We want to win the cup," Abreu said. "That's why you go there. I think we have the team to do it. Last time, we were not able to do it, but this is a new year."

 

 

"I don't think we were prepared for the event," he continued. "This time it's different. We have more preparation and have been practicing. That's what is going to help us."

Abreu added that he is looking forward to playing home games in Anaheim and enjoying the atmosphere in southern California.

 

"Things are little more tranquil on this side of the country," he said. "In New York, there was always something, some report, some commentary on whatever topic. There's more media but you get used to it and you play the game. It's the same."

 

 

 

 

 

A revival of baseball in Puerto Rico began last fall when the island resumed its Winter League after a one-year hiatus. It continues next month when the Enchanted Island, its favorite baseball sons and San Juan's historic Hiram Bithorn Stadium play host to games in the first round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.<p>

"There is not one experience in baseball, in the big leagues, that is bigger than playing for your country," said Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran, who joined teammate Alex Cora and Cubs catcher Geovany Soto on a conference call Monday. "We had a good time and we hope to have a same results or a better experience."<p>

In 2006, Puerto Rico finished with a 4-2 record in the World Baseball Classic but did not advance out of the second round, also held Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Since then, there has been some concern about the level of interest in the sport on the island. In 2007, Puerto Rico shut down its Winter League play because of financial reasons, snapping a streak of 69 consecutive seasons with Winter League action on the island.<p>

Additionally, there are also some that wonder why a team from Puerto Rico has not won the annual Caribbean Series since 2000. The island also currently ranks third behind the Dominican Republic and Venezuela in the number of players in the big leagues born outside of the United States.<p>

A World Baseball Classic title could provide a much-needed boost to the island's baseball-hungry community.<p>

"If we end up winning this tournament, we can only dream how people will react to it," Cora said. "Baseball is still the no. 1 sport in Puerto Rico. With Winter League back, attendance is going up, people are into and hopefully we can put on a good show. Our main goal is to put on a good show."

Beltran agreed.<p>

"Fans are looking forward to seeing what we will do," he said. "Because we lost the game against Cuba (in 2006), this year there will be a lot of expectations from the fans. Baseball is big in Puerto Rico. People love to play and I feel happy to represent them."<p>

The first round of the World Baseball Classic opens March 5 in Tokyo, with defending 2006 champion Japan facing China. Mexico City, Toronto and San Juan, host the other three first-round brackets, as follows: <p>

Tokyo (March 5-9): Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Korea. <p>
Toronto (March 7-11): USA, Canada, Venezuela, Italy. <p>
San Juan, PR (March 7-11): Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama.
Mexico City (March 8-12): Mexico, Cuba, South Africa, Australia. <p>

"It's great opportunity for me," Soto said. "It's a great experience. Beltran, Cora, (Carlos) Delgado are players I saw growing up, players that have played a long time. Every player on this team has talent to play good baseball."<p>

It's a double-elimination format in the first two rounds. The winners from Toronto will meet the winners from Puerto Rico in the second round at Miami's Dolphin Stadium, while the winners from Tokyo will face the winners from Mexico City in San Diego's PETCO Park. <p>

The semifinals and finals are on March 21 and 23 at Dodger Stadium. Puerto Rico begins play on March 7 against Panama.<p>

"I think we have a complete team," Cora said. "Pitching is a plus but obviously with the guys we have, the rules (used), we can do the job. We have pretty good arms in our bullpen. With defense, we are more than ok. We have a pretty good lineup. Good baseball teams win championship and we have one."<p>

"We expect to be in Los Angeles," he added. "There is not a weak team in the tournament. If you play good for two weeks, you have a chance to win it."<p>

But the question remains, what will a World Baseball Classic title mean to Puerto Rico and the baseball population?

"It will mean a lot for them and it will mean a lot for us," Beltran said. "We are giving the opportunity to Puerto Rican fans to see all the Puerto Ricans playing in big leagues play on one team. There's going to be a lot of excitement."<p>

 

 

Players across Latin America used to dream of being the next Alex Rodriguez or Miguel Tejada.

 

It is time for a new dream.

 

The lives of two of the game's biggest stars were changed this week when they admitted their association with steroids, but they also changed the face of baseball in Latin America. Who can our children look up to? What message are they sending? It's time for two new baseball heroes take the place of the newly fallen because everything we were led to believe about these two has become unbelievable.

 

 

It's a sad day in baseball. It's a sad day in Latin America. Reality and sports collided this week.

Reality won.

 

Once upon a time, Tejada was revered as a patriot. He played in play every winter in the Dominican Republic and was a mainstay at the Caribbean Series. He represented the country with pride, and even if you were not Dominican, you had pride that a Latino was doing so well. You cheered him on because of his work ethic and his ability to play. And his honor. Maybe you even bought an Oakland A's hat because of him.

 

Maybe you throw that hat away today. Or at least you put it up in the closet. Rooting for Tejada doesn't mean what it used to. Times have changed and they will never be the same. If you cheer for Tejada now, what are you cheering for?

 

Rodriguez's case could be worse. He was supposed to be Mr. Clean. He was the best player in baseball and the next all-time home run king. He was everything you wanted your kid to be: handsome, bilingual, wealthy, successful, a family man and a little unique. Now, everybody has an opinion of what he is and very few of those opinions are positive. Everybody is bashing him and it's hard to blame them for doing so.  It's his own fault and he knows it. He let people down. Yankee people, baseball people, his people and your people. You know that. We all know that. We also know that no matter what he does from now on, everyone will always think back to what happened in 2003 when he reportedly tested positive for steroids. It was the end of A-Rod era and the beginning of the less dignified A-Roid era.

 

It's a shame. I don't think anybody saw it coming.

 

It didn't have to be this way. Rodriguez was already on his way to the Hall of Fame. He was an 18-year old phenom and a Major Leaguer about a month after graduating high school. Today, he is the source of ridicule and his Hall of Fame chances are miniscule  - at best. But Rodriguez did it to himself, just like Tejada did when he lied to Congress about steroids.

 

We are all seeing the same thing on television.

 

Tejada is sorry.

 

"I apologize," Tejada said. "I know it was a mistake. I take responsibility. I am very sorry this happened. I'm sorry to my family, to Congress, to the Houston Astros and to the Major Leagues."

"I apologize to the fans of baseball. I apologize to the whole United States, because this country gave me the opportunity to be who I am.

"I am sorry for what just happened."

Rodriguez is sorry.

 

"I did take a banned substance, and for that I'm very sorry. I'm deeply regretful," he said. "I'm sorry for that time, I'm sorry to my fans, I'm sorry to my fans in Texas. It wasn't until then that I ever thought about substances of any kind. Since then, I've proved to myself and to everyone that I don't need any of that."

 

People feel sorry. Everywhere. We are sorry two great Latin American heroes went down this way and chose this path. We are sorry we lost two role models. We are sorry we believed you A-Rod and Miguel.

 

But I wonder if people really feel sorry for Rodriguez and Tejada? There are some out there that wonder what Rodriguez and Tejada are really feeling guilty about, using steroids or getting caught? Are the players sorry about being dishonest or are they sorry about being humiliated and having their reputation tarnished forever?

 

It's a valid point. We will never know for sure. The same people wonder if Tejada and Rodriguez should really be commended for coming clean. Because did they really come clean or did they simply learn that the best way to put this episode behind them is to admit guilt, say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness? Is that really coming clean?

 

In the end, we will forgive Tejada and Rodriguez. We are human being and human beings make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. In some ways, these baseball heroes became just like the rest of us this week.

 

But that's the thing, we don't want them to be like the rest of the population, not for us and not for our kids. We wanted baseball heroes, clean sports role models future generations can look up to for guidance.

 

Now it's time to look for two more.

 

 

Eduardo Perez's voicemail is full. His inbox is so loaded it sometimes kicks back e-mails, and his cell phone battery is barely hanging on.

When the former Major League player says he is keeping busy in the days since his playing days ended in 2006, he is being humble.

Because sandwiched between his daughter's morning bake sales, lunches with his lawyer wife, designing his winter baseball program, television appearances and preparing for an upcoming coaching gig, Perez not only found time to manage the Leones de Ponce, he led them to a Puerto Rican Winter League title.

"Here in Puerto Rico, my motivation is simple, and that is to raise the quality of baseball," Perez, 39, said. "There is so much talent here, and it has not even been tapped. If I'm here and I can help, I will. That is my drive."

Perez and Ponce will join Mexico's Mazatlan Venados, the Dominican Republic's Tigres de Licey and Venezuela's Tigres de Aragua in the 2009 Caribbean Series starting Monday in Mexicali, Mexico. Using a round-robin format, every team will play each other twice, and the team at the top of the standings after six games will be the champion.

The Caribbean Series dates back to 1949.

"If you are a baseball aficionado, there is nothing like seeing the first week of February and watching guys that have been playing since October," said Lou Melendez, Major League Baseball's vice president of international baseball operations. "These guys are in good, competitive shape, and that makes for exciting games. You add the international element, and the appeal is there. It's a feeling you only get by being there, but since it will be televised by the MLB Network this year, people watching will get a feel for what it is all about."

The Dominican Republic is the reigning champion and has won 11 Caribbean Series titles since 1990 and 17 championships overall. Venezuela, winner of six Caribbean Series titles, last won the tournament in 2006, while Mexico, a five-time winner, earned the trophy in '05. A team from Puerto Rico has won the Caribbean Series 14 times, most recently in 2000, when Perez was a member of the squad.

"For me, growing up in Puerto Rico and sweeping all six games in the Caribbean Series, there was a lot of pride," he said. "It's about competing and going in there and having that sense of pride. When you play winter ball and win here, people don't forget championship teams."

You don't forget your first managerial job in Puerto Rico, either. Perez was named the manager of Ponce one day before the club's first game, not long after longtime manager Jose Cruz Sr. backed out for personal reasons. Perez ended the season as the league's manager of the year.

Under Perez's guidance, Ponce finished 27-15 and topped Arecibo, four games to one, in the Puerto Rican Winter League series final. Crowing a champion, any champion, is an accomplishment in itself for the league. Last season, Puerto Rico did not have a winter league because of financial problems and did not participate in the Caribbean Series. As a result, the field at the 2008 Caribbean Series was made up of Mexico, Venezuela and two teams from the Dominican Republic.

"Early on, the league had its bumps and bruises. It started off a little sluggish," Perez said. "It was November and nobody knew what kind of league we would have here. But the players showed up and the big league players came, too. There was a sense of unity in getting this league back to where it was."

Ponce's team featured Ivan Rodriguez, Javier Vazquez, Luis Matos and Pedro Feliciano. Mike Aviles, Ruben Gotay, Jose Valentin and Ramon Vazquez also participated in the league alongside young players from the island and Minor League players imported from the United States.

"In the Minor Leagues, each player has one goal, and that's to make the big leagues," Perez said. "In winter ball, players have different priorities. Some are coming back from injury. Some are trying to find jobs and show scouts they still have ability to play at a Major League level. Some play because they love to play. Some play because they owe it to the fans. That's why our leagues and the Caribbean Series are important."

Perez, the son of Hall of Fame first baseman Tony Perez, has two young daughters and is quickly developing into a paternal figure to players on the island. He created the annual Winter Training Program (WTP) in 2007 to bring professional players into the community with clinics and provide a central workout facility and program for the island's players. He also will be a coach for team Puerto Rico in this year's World Baseball Classic. Perez's other job is as a baseball analyst on ESPN.

"I really think we can surprise a lot of people," the Ponce manager said. "If we keep playing the game we have been playing all year, I don't see why we can't compete in every game."