Just a few hours ago Cuba broke with many ties in baseball. What seemed impossible to many was done quietly, without much fanfare and with enough political pressures. This is not a unified or perfect selection, but a competitive team that is better able to face the challenge that lies ahead.
We will go to the V World Baseball Classic with Cuban players active in Major League Baseball (MLB) or other Caribbean leagues without being under the umbrella of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB). This is the unprecedented, brave and bold. They will share the bench with our best players in other international leagues (yes covered by the FCB), as well as with the most outstanding in the home competitions: National Series and Elite League.
As in all baseball roster there are incredible absences for the fans and the press specialized in this preselection (Yasmani Tomás, Yunior Ibarra, Dennis Laza, Yamichel Pérez, among others). The technical explanations that were given about some cases did not convince because there is an accumulated learning and the arguments were not convincing (Yasmani vs. Luis Robert Moirán is the most sounded and with all reason we must admit that the explanation was not happy). It was also not convincing to ignore the seniority of some players who are still performing or the inclusion of Ariel Martínez as a possible starter.
The objectives of the management of the team must be respected because this is always the case in all parts of the world and in all sports. Each mentor adjusts his players to what he then wants to show in the championship. It is the price of decisions and these calls, which can go well or end in bankruptcies or defeats. Only there can this initial step be judged, where each "teacher carries his little book".
The 50 names released this January 6 seemed to definitively bury a generation of players that many technicians have been calling old for a while: Yordanis Samón, Alexander Ayala, Freddy Asiel Álvarez and the most paradigmatic of all for a legend-story in 20 years of member of our national team: Frederich Cepeda, the only Cuban player with the endorsement of all the World Classics since 2006 and the only one in the active world who could have attended its fifth edition, because the other 20 are already retired.
I would like to stop here because your exclusion may have technical, tactical and even personal reasons. But history and the present cannot forget the Espirituano, who carries on his shoulders, among other great facts, the home run that placed us at the gates of the tie against Japan in the 2006 final; five historical leaders in World Classics (hit, scored, RBIs, doubles and walks), being the most valuable player of the Caribbean Series of 2015 (last high-level tournament won by Cuba) and as if it were little and contradictory the batting lead of the last National Series. These are just three examples of the dozens that could be put on.
If it was determined that Cepeda does not fit now even among the 50, it would be necessary to think from now on about an invitation as part of the delegation to that V Classic because from the stands or with a timely advice he would contribute as much or more than any coach of those who is on that team. That would be recognizing one of the most complete hitters in our national series and international tournaments. I ask for 50 or more applause for this idea and that we do not put shadows for who has also been a faithful defender of every uniform he has worn.
Not all opinions on social networks carry certainty and respect. The majority always brings with it fanaticism that does not let the lights see and at times exudes obstinacy and even visceral hatred. Disagreeing on a decision made means giving a vote of confidence to the decision makers right there. Only at the end of the road, hopefully on March 21st, will we be able to assess this first step of integration and how right we were or not with these observations.
Nor can I ignore that many already take accounts from the pre-payroll, because if there are 12 summoned from MLB or professional Caribbean leagues and 14 hired by the FCB (undoubtedly the most experienced when playing in higher quality leagues) there are few gaps to be filled within the final 28. We asked the question with all intention to mentor Armando Johnson yes everyone would be on an equal footing. "No one is seeded to play here or there, we will value each player in the preparation." The intention seems transparent, but unless there are last-minute injuries or obstacles with the legal permission, at least the 12 summoned seem to have safe seats.
When looking inside the preselection I agree that the outfield and the pitching staff are the most solid areas, while the catcher is the weakest point, especially because of what it takes to develop a good catcher. The caps planned before the Classic, the final payroll that Cuba committed to deliver on February 7 and the confidence again in what we have formed (wherever they play) opens up for many the hope of advancing at least to the quarterfinals.
About the real possibilities, the sudden death calendar that the event will have for the first time and some interiorities we will return soon.
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