Cuba has passed immune the qualifying phase of the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2014 in Veracruz. They have rolled down the ramp at full speed under its own weight without breaking a sweat. Three smiles in a row anchor ashore and ticket to the semifinals. Not a thorny at all as we had anticipated in advance: the contest is far from being a gauge for this selection of players, no doubt, a bargain for those directed by Victor Mesa.
The three wins by Cubans and what has been seen in the rest of the contestants from the other group in dispute, reaffirmed it. A lid that his body on the packaging and the cache of the players who have jumped to Mexico to participate in the tournament, externalizes no surprises, at least for us. No one doubts our obtaining the scepter, to say otherwise would be naive.
The national team, which for some time now has had to learn that the sweet taste of victory is temporary and may disappear suddenly, now in Veracruz, goes easily to make it clear that the bar for these Central games is too low.
First, they shutout Puerto Rico, then they crushed the Aztecs to mute the local cold bleachers of the Beto Ávila Stadium, and finally, at half speed, they ran over the modest Guatemalan team. For the semifinals Dominic Republic awaits them, a squad that although it has shown more level than previous rivals of the Cubans, nor has stood for outstanding talent to disturb for a moment the disciples of Mesa.
The manager of Cubans has not had a lot of headaches to move his pieces on the board; the games have played according to his readings. The bullpen has been perfect, no emergency calls, only has lifted the phone to preserve the good shape the arms to face the coming challenges for the title. The three starters he used, Norge L. Ruiz, Freddy A. Alvarez and Yosvani Torres have pitched immaculately and also closer Hector M. Mendoza has also excelled from the mound.
However, the lineup, despite their notorious adjustment at the plate it has left some smudges. The most obvious is the gap in front of the plate of Frederich Cepeda, despite his two homers; he is beside himself, without his usual restraint to discriminate pitches outside the zone. It has extended the slump suffered in the Japanese league and anxiety at home plate reveals his trance. No need to take him to the bench, only two games remaining and trust of keep him can help him out the bad offensive, although in some people in the bench are asking to play.
The fast Roel Santos is one of them, relegated to stay in the dugout in a controversial decision. In case Victor wants to give Cepeda a break, Santos play as centerfielder, Yadier Hernandez would move to the left, Bell to the right and Despaigne as designated hitter. A move to restructure completely the top of the lineup, as Moreira will cede the position as leadoff batter to Santos to move to the ninth spot, and thus Alarcón would move down couple of positions too.
The rest would remain the same, enhanced by the excellent sports form Yulieski Gourriel and Alfredo Despaigne who are on top of the game, batting in any one that reaches a base ahead of them. Hopefully if there’s finally some other movement in the lineup to face the Dominicans in sudden death, so far, the only certain move is Norge L. Ruiz as the starter.
