Just a week from the opening of the 53rd National Baseball Series, OnCuba knocked at Lazaro Vargas’ home (the manager of Industriales baseball team) to talk about the training of the team for this event.
There, we commented on the ups and downs of its players, on their weaknesses and strengths and on the main goals of the blue team for this season.
How has the team´s training developed?
Industriales is well prepared, they have had excellent training and the boys are in perfect condition, fortunately, none of them has had any injuries and their arms are strong. I am happy with their training from the tactical and the technical viewpoints, we are ready and looking forward for the Series to begin.
Industriales has managed to have an extremely offensive lineup; however, pitching is not so good, which is probably their Achilles’ heels. What can you say about that?
People will have to wait to see the blue pitching; we have very young but very talented boys. Of course they lack competitive experience, but they pitch hard and they have good speed; they just need to develop their technical and tactical thinking. They pitch a change up when they shouldn’t, and they do not fully control the strike zone, but that is solved during matches. My pitchers will raise lots of comments; they will assure us the final victory.
Much has been speculated on outfielder Irait Chirino’s going away from the team. What was the real situation?
Irait Chirino’s letter was made public already. There he requested his leave from the team. He decided to go to Brazil, to find a new course for his life, to see new things, to look for a different future and new horizons. The team or the management had nothing to do with his decision. He never had issues with us or with any player of the team.
Juan Carlos Torriente is out of Industriales initial list of players for his lack of discipline. Can you tell us what he did wrong?
He didn’t have any serious indiscipline issues; he has not attempted to leave from Cuba (laughs). He is not in the list because he missed practices without authorization. For us that is not something to let go, he had done the same in a previous occasion, that is tactical indiscipline. He didn’t run fast, he didn’t slide so we had to punish him so that he can reflect on the importance of playing hard and be disciplined. We have to eradicate this kind of behavior so that they don’t spread. Therefore, we decided to keep him as reserve but he can be chosen to make up the first team if we take that decision.
Do you think his behavior is somehow connected to the arrival of the Gourriel brothers to the team?
I don’t think so. Torriente had been a regular shortstop until he misbehaved; he was the head shortstop until that moment. I don’t think that the presence of the Gourriel brothers had negatively affected Torriente´s behavior or any other player´s in the team. Yet, if the entrance of a player makes someone react negatively, that player will never be a good one, because he will never be able to make it to the National Team. If a new good player gets into the team one just have to work harder so he cannot be left aside.
In general terms, how has Industriales assumed the inclusion of the Gourriel brothers?
The team has assumed them perfectly well, the boys are much disciplined and they get along and communicate with the rest of the team just fine. Contrary to what many people think, they are friendly, they have perfectly fit in with the rest of the players. It seems they have always been part of the team.
What are the expectations for the 53rd National Series?
Our only choice is to win the championship, and we are working hard to achieve it.
*Shortly OnCuba will publish an article on Lazaro Vargas’ family environment, with statements by his youngest son, one of the greatest prospects in Cuban child´s baseball leagues.
