The Caribbean Series, which dates back to 1949, is set to begin on Monday in Mexico. "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.