MEXICALI, Mexico -- The biggest name on Puerto Rico's mostly unheralded roster is a catcher named Molina. But this guy is primarily a right fielder and a first baseman, and is in no way related to Bengie, Yadier or Jose.

Angel Molina did play on the same team with one of the big league Molinas at some point. He thinks.

Welcome to the Leones de Ponce roster, a place once reserved for Ivan Rodriguez, Javier Vazquez and Luis Matos. All three are absent from the Caribbean Series, but they might not be missed.

Even in defeat.

Puerto Rico is 0-2 after the first two games of the round robin.

"This is the team that played all year long and went 27-15," manager Eduardo Perez said. "Our biggest losses were [outfielders] Joe Thurston and Reggie Abercrombie. Besides that, we are a very talented team. We play very good defense, and we run the bases well."

It is not uncommon for such veteran players as Rodriguez, Matos and Vazquez to play in a only a few winter league games, skip the Caribbean Series or take the entire winter off.

That could be part of the problem, and it's definitely one of the reasons why the league did not have games in 2007, said Perez, who wants to see more Puerto Rican Major Leaguers return home for Winter League play.

"The fans relate to the big leaguers, and it's tough to relate to players they don't know," he said. "They are the ones that draw the fans, and it's their responsibility to show their face, to go out there and play with passion.

"People see when you play with a passion and you play for the love of it. You come home and play to win. That brings people out."

In the meantime, Perez is content with his anonymous squad, which will face Venezuela in Wednesday's matinee.

"We have good solid players, and I'm very proud of these guys," he said. "I believe in this squad. ... If I had to pick a team all over, I would pick the same 28 players that I have now."