Indianszone.com | Cleveland Indians News, indians Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Even in a time of austerity, the appeal of destinations such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will prove irresistible for some travelers, with the promise of warm weather and sunny beaches. For the insatiable Baseball fan, those countries also offer winter ball. </div>Some of the local favorites return to their winter league roots as a way to give back to the fans who supported them on the way up or perhaps to tune up for spring training. For other players, though, this could serve as either a crucial step in their development or a final chance to catch a scout's eye. A look at some winter ball participants: In Puerto Rico A curve in the road Escaping cold weather wasn't much of an incentive for Ian Kennedy to play winter ball in the tropics. He lives in Los Angeles and longed to spend the offseason with his wife, Allison. But the past season had thrown Kennedy a curve, and now the New York Yankees wanted him to do the same. The 23-year-old made an impressive debut in three September starts in 2007, raising expectations that he would join Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the rotation. Instead, Kennedy fell on his face, going 0-4 with an 8.17 ERA, spending part of the season on the disabled list and also getting demoted to the minors. Kennedy thinks the lack of a third pitch to complement his fastball and changeup led to his downfall, so he has focused on improving his curveball while pitching for the Indios de Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican league. Kennedy is 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in four starts, with 18 strikeouts in 19?..." innings, and feels he can throw the curveball on any count. "I think right now I probably have my best curveball command ever," Kennedy says. "I think that third pitch is really going to help." Also in Puerto Rico: *Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina, who had expressed reluctance to play winter ball after the unexpected death of his father, Benjamin, plans to join the Gigantes de Carolina today. *Brothers Jose and Javier Valentin are together again, playing for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, a team owned by Jose, a 15-year major leaguer. In the Dominican Republic Carmona goes home After Dominican Baseball officials honored Fausto Carmona for his 2007 pitching exploits during a ceremony at the Caribbean Series in February, the Cleveland Indians right-hander lamented not being able to play back home any longer. Carmona had finished second in the American League in ERA (3.06) and wins (tied, with 19) while throwing 215 innings, and he said the Indians did not grant him permission to pitch in the Dominican winter league. This year he has not only their permission but also their encouragement. After a strong start to the 2008 season, Carmona missed two months with a hip strain and finished with an 8-7 record and 5.44 ERA. He also pitched nearly 100 fewer innings than in 2007, which is the main reason he's toiling for the Aguilas Cibaenas. "Fausto is pitching to build his innings total this year so that his increase next season is not too dramatic," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said in an e-mail. The Indians could have a formidable 1-2 punch if Carmona bounces back the way Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee did after a dismal 2007. The Indians believe pitching in winter ball will facilitate that process, and they've sent pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez to watch Carmona. Also in the Dominican: *Jhonny Peralta has told the Dominican news media the Indians want him to switch from shortstop to third base next season, so he's playing with the Aguilas Cibaenas for the first time since 2004. *Luis Polonia, 45, broke the Dominican League career record for hits and runs scored in November. In Mexico Jones rekindles joy After enduring a miserable 2008 season, Jacque Jones felt he had to start enjoying the game again. Mexico was just the place for Jones. Playing for the Yaquis of Ciudad Obregon also allowed Jones to remain relatively close to his San Diego home. The experience has been everything Jones was seeking. In 29 games, before returning stateside in mid-November, the veteran outfielder hit .314 with three home runs and a .349 on-base percentage. Just as important, Jones felt good about his game again. "I was having a blast down there," says Jones, 33, who is pondering returning to Obregon after a family vacation. It wasn't much fun last season, by far the worst of Jones' 10-year career. After joining the Detroit Tigers in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs , Jones slumped badly, batting .165 with five RBI in 24 games. The Tigers cut him in early May even though Jones was owed $6 million. The Florida Marlins picked him up, but Jones lasted 18 games, batting .108. He didn't play at all after June 10. Asked whether major league scouts had seen him play for the Yaquis, Jones said that wasn't his concern. "I did this more for my frame of mind than anything," Jones said. "A lot of guys didn't think I could play anymore. I know I can still play." Also in Mexico: *Outfielder Ruben Rivera, whose major league career went downhill after he was caught stealing a glove from Derek Jeter's locker, is hitting .355 in eight games with the Mazatlan Venados. In Venezuela Garcia toils to return Freddy Garcia gave potential suitors a glimpse of his status when he started three games for the Detroit Tigers in September. Now he wants to provide them a longer look. The winner of 118 games in a 10-year career, Garcia is pitching for the Navegantes del Magallanes, trying to re-establish his career after two seasons cut short by 2007 shoulder surgery. Garcia, 33, has a 5.14 ERA in two starts covering seven innings. He left his last start after two innings Nov. 27 because of discomfort in the shoulder, but his agent, Peter Greenberg, said he thought it was not a serious issue. He does plan on pitching every five days the rest of the Venezuelan season, and a healthy Garcia would be an intriguing option for teams. Garcia signed a minor league deal with the Tigers in August and started three games -- posting a 4.20 ERA -- in the last two weeks of September. "There has been interest in Freddy," Greenberg said. "We have been talking to several teams." Also in Venezuela: *Outfielder Jay Gibbons, who was named in the Mitchell Report and cut by the Baltimore Orioles, is playing for Magallanes. *At the Arizona Diamondbacks' urging, catcher Miguel Montero has been playing third base for the Margarita Bravos. * San Francisco Giants prospect Pablo Sandoval has 11 home runs for Magallanes. *For an expanded list of major leaguers who are playing winter ball, go to Baseball.usatoday.com

Even in a time of austerity, the appeal of destinations such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic will prove irresistible for some travelers, with the promise of warm weather and sunny beaches. For the insatiable Baseball fan, those countries also offer winter ball.

Some of the local favorites return to their winter league roots as a way to give back to the fans who supported them on the way up or perhaps to tune up for spring training.

For other players, though, this could serve as either a crucial step in their development or a final chance to catch a scout's eye.

A look at some winter ball participants:

In Puerto Rico

A curve in the road

Escaping cold weather wasn't much of an incentive for Ian Kennedy to play winter ball in the tropics. He lives in Los Angeles and longed to spend the offseason with his wife, Allison.

But the past season had thrown Kennedy a curve, and now the New York Yankees wanted him to do the same.

The 23-year-old made an impressive debut in three September starts in 2007, raising expectations that he would join Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes in the rotation. Instead, Kennedy fell on his face, going 0-4 with an 8.17 ERA, spending part of the season on the disabled list and also getting demoted to the minors.

Kennedy thinks the lack of a third pitch to complement his fastball and changeup led to his downfall, so he has focused on improving his curveball while pitching for the Indios de Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican league.

Kennedy is 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in four starts, with 18 strikeouts in 19?..." innings, and feels he can throw the curveball on any count.

"I think right now I probably have my best curveball command ever," Kennedy says. "I think that third pitch is really going to help."

Also in Puerto Rico:

*Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina, who had expressed reluctance to play winter ball after the unexpected death of his father, Benjamin, plans to join the Gigantes de Carolina today.

*Brothers Jose and Javier Valentin are together again, playing for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, a team owned by Jose, a 15-year major leaguer.

In the Dominican Republic

Carmona goes home

After Dominican Baseball officials honored Fausto Carmona for his 2007 pitching exploits during a ceremony at the Caribbean Series in February, the Cleveland Indians right-hander lamented not being able to play back home any longer.

Carmona had finished second in the American League in ERA (3.06) and wins (tied, with 19) while throwing 215 innings, and he said the Indians did not grant him permission to pitch in the Dominican winter league. This year he has not only their permission but also their encouragement.

After a strong start to the 2008 season, Carmona missed two months with a hip strain and finished with an 8-7 record and 5.44 ERA. He also pitched nearly 100 fewer innings than in 2007, which is the main reason he's toiling for the Aguilas Cibaenas.

"Fausto is pitching to build his innings total this year so that his increase next season is not too dramatic," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said in an e-mail.

The Indians could have a formidable 1-2 punch if Carmona bounces back the way Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee did after a dismal 2007. The Indians believe pitching in winter ball will facilitate that process, and they've sent pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez to watch Carmona. Also in the Dominican:

*Jhonny Peralta has told the Dominican news media the Indians want him to switch from shortstop to third base next season, so he's playing with the Aguilas Cibaenas for the first time since 2004.

*Luis Polonia, 45, broke the Dominican League career record for hits and runs scored in November.

In Mexico

Jones rekindles joy

After enduring a miserable 2008 season, Jacque Jones felt he had to start enjoying the game again.

Mexico was just the place for Jones. Playing for the Yaquis of Ciudad Obregon also allowed Jones to remain relatively close to his San Diego home.

The experience has been everything Jones was seeking. In 29 games, before returning stateside in mid-November, the veteran outfielder hit .314 with three home runs and a .349 on-base percentage. Just as important, Jones felt good about his game again.

"I was having a blast down there," says Jones, 33, who is pondering returning to Obregon after a family vacation.

It wasn't much fun last season, by far the worst of Jones' 10-year career. After joining the Detroit Tigers in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs , Jones slumped badly, batting .165 with five RBI in 24 games. The Tigers cut him in early May even though Jones was owed $6 million.

The Florida Marlins picked him up, but Jones lasted 18 games, batting .108. He didn't play at all after June 10.

Asked whether major league scouts had seen him play for the Yaquis, Jones said that wasn't his concern. "I did this more for my frame of mind than anything," Jones said. "A lot of guys didn't think I could play anymore. I know I can still play."

Also in Mexico:

*Outfielder Ruben Rivera, whose major league career went downhill after he was caught stealing a glove from Derek Jeter's locker, is hitting .355 in eight games with the Mazatlan Venados.

In Venezuela

Garcia toils to return

Freddy Garcia gave potential suitors a glimpse of his status when he started three games for the Detroit Tigers in September.

Now he wants to provide them a longer look.

The winner of 118 games in a 10-year career, Garcia is pitching for the Navegantes del Magallanes, trying to re-establish his career after two seasons cut short by 2007 shoulder surgery.

Garcia, 33, has a 5.14 ERA in two starts covering seven innings. He left his last start after two innings Nov. 27 because of discomfort in the shoulder, but his agent, Peter Greenberg, said he thought it was not a serious issue.

He does plan on pitching every five days the rest of the Venezuelan season, and a healthy Garcia would be an intriguing option for teams.

Garcia signed a minor league deal with the Tigers in August and started three games -- posting a 4.20 ERA -- in the last two weeks of September.

"There has been interest in Freddy," Greenberg said. "We have been talking to several teams."

Also in Venezuela:

*Outfielder Jay Gibbons, who was named in the Mitchell Report and cut by the Baltimore Orioles, is playing for Magallanes.

*At the Arizona Diamondbacks' urging, catcher Miguel Montero has been playing third base for the Margarita Bravos.

* San Francisco Giants prospect Pablo Sandoval has 11 home runs for Magallanes.

*For an expanded list of major leaguers who are playing winter ball, go to Baseball.usatoday.com