Cuba makes its much-awaited WBC debut against the 0-1 Panamanian squad. Cuba's starting pitcher was unknown as I wrote this. Panamá was going to start Bruce Chen in a must-win game in Pool C.
Panamá got some excellent pitching against Puerto Rico, but their bats failed them with Olmedo Saenz and Carlos Lee combining to go 1 for 8.
Cuba's team is younger than most they have sent out to international tournaments so they are very much the X-factor in the whole tournament.
Orestes Destrade has said two things that are untrue:
1. Byung-hyun Kim pitched against Japan.
2. Olmedo Saenz signed a multi-year deal to play in Japan.
Kim pitched earlier in the series (I think it was against Taiwan)
Saenz hasn't been signed by any Japanese team, unless I missed something. Also, Japanese teams are generally no longer interested in 35 year olds like Saenz. So the multi-year thing, that just isn't going to happen. Saenz may be pulling Orestes' leg.
I just turned on the game to see Gourriel's nice defensive play, then his go ahead home run. This guy seems really good, just as advertised. How easy would it be for him to defect? Considering the money he could get would be quite nice (and the numerous other reasons), I don't see why he wouldn't want to
While I was at home for lunch watching the game on TV Orestes insisted on referring to a "hit by pitch" as a "dead ball". But aren't there other kinds of dead balls in baseball?
Still 2-1 Cuba after 5.
1. Byung-hyun Kim pitched against Japan.
2. Olmedo Saenz signed a multi-year deal to play in Japan.
Kim pitched earlier in the series (I think it was against Taiwan)
Saenz hasn't been signed by any Japanese team, unless I missed something. Also, Japanese teams are generally no longer interested in 35 year olds like Saenz. So the multi-year thing, that just isn't going to happen. Saenz may be pulling Orestes' leg.
8-6 Cuba in the 11th but Orlando Miller led off with a double.
Yadel (don't call me Jose) Marti in to pitch.
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