In these times of baseball tempest Cuba has no alternative, will have to win the scepter of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, or the tide will continue to rise, and it will become even worse. The 24 selected names betray the intention. Aside from the noose, that even a hypothetical win in the event will not relieve encysted nicks, it is necessary for the good of baseball, that possible palliative.
Reasons abound, I will not stop to enumerate, it is enough to take a look at the roster to realize again that the Cuban team attends a minor tournament with the pressure of knowing they are, at least in paper, better than rest of its contenders. Here’s part and part, because although the quality level of the competition is far below-not even remotely reach the rank of Triple A-, the international calendar no longer demand events abundantly as before and the national team does not have another than to go with his heavy artillery to fight in any event available.
True, it also serves to keep trying men, formulas and strategies for the distant WBC IV, the bleeding of the Cuban baseball-I am talking of the accelerated defections increase has meant that no longer has more than solid grounds on the island and they start to run low on names on whose shoulders may be deposited the responsibilities of a starting spot with the tricolor.
But no one is forcing them that much, the quality of Central American Games allows it. Was it really needed the quartet of players from Japan to go to the event without a break? Was not it more beneficial to give the chance to other players that deserved it? To what extent the structural imbalance in Cuban baseball tournament excessively conditions the games? To what extent the chosen players respond to a requirement, the urgent need to win a title in international arenas?
You may find the answers in Victor Mesa wanting to shed his “San Benito” and with these players, right now the best that can be collected from the National Series; he may leave behind the second place chasing him. But we are not certain of this; we will try to assess the team from beginning to end.
Catchers:
This is the only position on the field where there is real consensus on the election of three members. No doubt about it, La Rosa, Frank Camilo and Alarcon deserve no discussion. The debate comes in who plays reguraly, according to statements by Victor Mesa, the man to play will be Alarcon. Decision anything outlandish, his offensive is much higher than the other two contenders and while at the defense he does not provide the peace of la Rosa or Morejon, he has a strong arm and an acceptable defense.
But beware; both Frank Camilo and La Rosa are defensive stalwarts and excellent guides for pitchers, in case Alarcón doesn’t produce offensively it will not surprise me that he will be send to the bench. Situation that since Pestano is gone, has continued to recur in international events-remember the last Classic with Eriel Sanchez, the crossroads on who would then jump to the diamond. ¿Morejon or Yulexis?
Infielders:
The first base has a name: Alexander Malleta. There were no one else called for the position anyway in the hypothetical case that the Mayeta is really bad at bat, only then, Alarcon or Lourdes Gourriel Jr can jump in. The latter was included in the selection as the utility man, the man called to take on any variation on the field, is framed as infield, but it is not known if he performs better in the outfield or in the infield.
The uncertainty of the picture falls on the second base, in the team there is no natural player in that position. The more experienced is Yulieski Gourriel, hence Victor has been given him the responsibility of playing there, then placing Santiago Yander La O in third base. The shortstop will be either Manduley or Moreira as the reserve for emergencies, let´s say as pinch runner or to bunt, I do not think in the defense, since he is is not greater than the regular ones.
Outfielders:
According to Mesa, the regulars are: Despaigne in left, Roel Santos in the center and Yadiel Hernandez in the right, leaving the dispute to designated hitter for Alexei Bell and Frederich Cepeda. The decision has its intricacies; with the Granma players there is no controversy, the debate comes in right field. One assumes that Yadiel Hernandez plays before Bell given by the alleged problems in the throwing arm of the Santiago player, since he covers much more area.
That happens to Cepeda since he is not in good shape after Japan unlike which Alexei has been shown in Serie -comparison of pitching leagues apart-but the condition of standing on both sides of the plate gives Frederich a slight edge, let´s wait for the final decision.
Pitchers:
Rotation will depend on the rivals to face, though Norge L. Ruiz, Freddy A. Álvarez, Yosvani Torres and Julio A. Martínez must be the starters. As mid-game relievers Cuba can have Jonder Martínez, Cionel Pérez and Yoanni Year, while closers are Vladimir Gutiérrez and speedy Hector Mendoza
