According to the Dominican Republic’s ambassador to Cuba, José Manuel Castillo, several players and coaches from his country have suggested they would come to Cuba to teach batting clinics. Such a possibility would have offended me a while ago, but as things stand, I only managed to say as Silvio, “I wish …”
Shortly before a lecture by Roberto Cassa, director of the National Archives of the Dominican Republic, the diplomat told OnCuba that there is a good field and interest of his countrymen in helping us, and I quote, “to adapt to the use of modern techniques to which Cuba has not have access for having been left out. “
Castillo acknowledged that Cuba is a quarry of premier sporting talent, with commendable Olympic history, but warned that we need to adapt to modern baseball. “Cuba already returned to the Caribbean Series, and will go slowly adapting, no doubt to regain its usual place,” the ambassador said.
He added that at governmental level they are negotiating with the Cuban Sports Institute ( INDER) the renewing of their agreements in sports. It should be recalled that under such agreements, the Dominicans have raised their level in volleyball thanks to Cuban coaches like Felipe Calderon and Osiel Velazquez.
The idea is good, inclusive if you like, but some would consider the heresy, and it will cost us dearly to acknowledge that we need also to update baseball.
However, it does not seem unreasonable that a seasoned and external look evaluate us, cold , how’s the biomechanics of our players, the technical feat of tactical thinking , to refresh them the ABC of this game, and what should be corrected . Couple of photos taken with a cell were enough for Ken Griffey Jr. to detect technical defects in Yuliesky Gourriell . “And this is your best player?” They say the Natural said. More for astonishment than disdain, I’m sure.
I cannot believe no one in Cuba will be able to know what problems our players have with the technique, but either they do not speak, or they do not listen, or the talented ballplayers are not interested, if what they have is enough for them…
Years ago I read that Miguel Cuevas, the first great Cuban baseball slugger after 1959, had a notebook which he wrote down certain keys to improving as a player: he studied pitchers, their habits, customs, trends, resources, and to face them and had an idea of how they could work on him. He had it clear then what some still have not gotten into their heads: without forgetting the natural talent and physical fitness, baseball every day is a more scientific sport.
And some clinics will not solve the underlying problems of Cuban baseball, but they won’t hurt either…
