After the WBC, I was invited to go to Cuba as a guest of the FCBA (Federación Cubana de Béisbol Aficionado) during the Olympic Qualifier. I was excited to visit another baseball hotbed. I arrived there on a Wednesday and was met by INDER (INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE DEPORTES, EDUCACION FÍSICA Y RECREACIÓN) officials. We went to a conference room located at the airport where we had a quick bite to eat. A few hours later I was dropped off at the Hotel Nacional, a hotel so beautiful that it rivals 5-star hotels in the States. After minutes of being in my room, I received a call from Tony Castro to be ready and downstairs in fifteen minutes. We went to the Estadio LatinoAmericano to where the team was having a scrimmage game against Panama. The players were just as happy to see me as I was to see them. As each approached the on deck circle they would walk over to greet me.
I was able to see them in their home field and see how things were done. I attended one practice while I was there, but I was present at ALL of their games from the first pitch to the last pitch. There were a couple of mercy rule games on behalf of the Cubans. I recall having to sit through the game against the Dominican Republic where the Cubans pounded their opposition and the score was 17-3 by the third inning. The best games that they had were against Panama, Mexico and not surprisingly the United States.
In the Panama game, the Cuban pitchers were struggling to get any easy outs. The Panamanians took the early lead and held it for most of the game. The Cubans came roaring back with the help of Guantanamo's Giorvis Duvergel whose homerun served as the catalyst in the 7-6 victory. There is a popular saying about Cuba-Panama games in regards to the Panamanians' performance, "jugaron como nunca, pero perdieron como siempre." (they played like never before, but lost like always)
In the game against undefeated Mexico, it was known that the Mexicans had flown in southpaw Oscar Rivera from Mexico to face the Cubans who countered with Frank Montieth who was the ERA leader in the tournament. Rivera pitched well, but the Cubans won 4-0 on four hits in what proved to be an impressive game.
In their final game against the United States which really meant nothing more than bragging rights since they both had already earned their olympic berths proved to be a dandy. The game was very reminiscent of their championship game against Japan in the World Baseball Classic. The Americans took the early lead and the Cubans had to come from behind and the pitching changes continued for the Cubans. They managed to tie it 5-5, but the Americans would not be held down for long as they powered back hitting a total of five homeruns in the game. The final score was 8-5 and it managed to halt the party in the stadium.
I was able to see them in their home field and see how things were done. I attended one practice while I was there, but I was present at ALL of their games from the first pitch to the last pitch. There were a couple of mercy rule games on behalf of the Cubans. I recall having to sit through the game against the Dominican Republic where the Cubans pounded their opposition and the score was 17-3 by the third inning. The best games that they had were against Panama, Mexico and not surprisingly the United States.
In the Panama game, the Cuban pitchers were struggling to get any easy outs. The Panamanians took the early lead and held it for most of the game. The Cubans came roaring back with the help of Guantanamo's Giorvis Duvergel whose homerun served as the catalyst in the 7-6 victory. There is a popular saying about Cuba-Panama games in regards to the Panamanians' performance, "jugaron como nunca, pero perdieron como siempre." (they played like never before, but lost like always)
In the game against undefeated Mexico, it was known that the Mexicans had flown in southpaw Oscar Rivera from Mexico to face the Cubans who countered with Frank Montieth who was the ERA leader in the tournament. Rivera pitched well, but the Cubans won 4-0 on four hits in what proved to be an impressive game.
In their final game against the United States which really meant nothing more than bragging rights since they both had already earned their olympic berths proved to be a dandy. The game was very reminiscent of their championship game against Japan in the World Baseball Classic. The Americans took the early lead and the Cubans had to come from behind and the pitching changes continued for the Cubans. They managed to tie it 5-5, but the Americans would not be held down for long as they powered back hitting a total of five homeruns in the game. The final score was 8-5 and it managed to halt the party in the stadium.
