Havana Cuba.- Industrialists It is the most successful team in Cuban baseball, as proven by the twelve National Series titles that are in its showcases. Its exploits on the playing fields have cemented a kind of pride that admits no consolation prize for its demanding fans. In the capital, only the crowns won count, especially when the championship drought extends to 14 years.
Between injuries and pieces that left to fulfill contracts abroad, the pack had spent the season licking their wounds, but despite the setbacks they managed to sneak into the party of the play off and gave them an epic quarter-final, where they staged a historic comeback against the Santiago de Cuba Wasps.
Defeating the easterners in the land of the hive created a certain euphoria. The path to the Olympus of local baseball seemed clear, even though around the next bend awaited the Tsunami of Pinar del Río, who by far and wide had been the best team in the qualifying stage. Finally, the vueltabajeros took six games to bury, another year, the Azul dream.
As soon as the out fell that consummated the capital’s elimination from the 63rd National Series, memes and criticisms of the performance of some players and the management of the team exploded on social media. “To say the motto: next year the championship is ours,” read one of the messages that best depicted the frustration of the team’s fans.
More than a decade, too long without winning
Since the last title won, under the aegis of Germán Mesa in 2010, the Nave Azul has played two finals without success. National Series (2015-16, 2018-19) and one in the Elite League (I). Of that championship where they were winners, only Juan Carlos Torriente participated, briefly, in the recent campaign.
“After Malleta, Urgellés, Rudy Reyes, Frank Camilo and company, the next generation of baseball players has not been the same. And not for lack of commitment, what they have lacked is that winning gene that Industriales players always had,” he commented to CubaNet Léster Emilio Saldívar, member of a sports club that supports the capital city’s citizens.
The feeling of the Industrialist followers is that the new generation cannot sustain the weight of the Blue legend, in addition to the proven individual quality of multiple exponents that throughout the drought have integrated the so-called flagship team of the baseball Cuban, such as the “little bull” Barcelán, Wilfredo Aroche, Alomá, Lisbán Correa, Tomás, Peñalver or Frank Camilo, among others.
“It’s not just ours, but also those imported from other provinces. The Gourriel brothers, Frederich Cepeda, Samón, Vladimir Baños, Noelvis Entenza and several other pitchers from Las Tunas who later became champions with their team have all played for Industriales. And nothing, we’re still the same, waiting for a miracle. The uniform has weighed on everyone,” argued fan Giraldo Barrios Liriano.
There is much talk about whether it was right or not to keep one more season. Guillermo Carmonaa manager who had already lost two finals with the felines and was suffering from health problems. However, before the current management, several of the most beloved figures in the capital paraded through that position, appointed by the Provincial Commission to break the curse.
After Germán Mesa, for the next four seasons, Lázaro Vargas was in charge of leading the team. It cannot be said that the once star third baseman did badly, because during his tenure the Leones amassed a runner-up position, a third place and two sixth places. Next in line was one of the names most praised by the blue fans: Javier Méndez.
With the eternal number 17 of Industriales it was demonstrated that there is no guarantee that a great player can fly at the same height as a manager. In two seasons the left-hander from Playa did not manage to reach the podium, finishing in fourth and tenth place, respectively. Soon the fans stopped supporting him and began to ask for his dismissal, which together with personal situations decreed his farewell.
Javier was replaced by another emblematic 17, but this time born in Villa Clara. Controversial and with a reputation for putting things in order, it seemed that Victor Mesa He was a perfect fit for Industriales, which could have caused the same revolution in the capital that he introduced in Matanzas. However, he did not fare better than his predecessor, whom he emulated by finishing fourth.
Then came the return of the Lion King. “Everyone was asking for Anglada, they thought he was the guy who could lift the ball in Havana. The fans didn’t even talk about the team anymore, and when they did say something, it wasn’t good. There were a lot of expectations again, but that’s old news. The championship hasn’t even arrived yet,” said Carlos Manuel Herrera Pérez, a fan interviewed by our newspaper.
In the first decade of the century, Rey Vicente Anglada made history with Industriales by winning three crowns in seven seasons. This time he came to the rescue for two seasons, in which he was unable to improve on the fourth place of Javier Méndez and Víctor Mesa. The new Guillermo Carmona era began in the 60th Series, in a season where the capital team was clamoring for a change of command.
“Carmona’s performance this year was a real disaster. He himself wanted to retire, but he didn’t have the courage to keep his word and they left him for another season. The Commission didn’t want to give the responsibility to (Lázaro) de la Torre, who was asking for the position and had the support of all the fans. Carmona has been the least liked manager in the history of Industriales,” concluded Herrera.
Previously, from 1998 to 2001, the blue manager had spent three National Series leading the pack, with a balance of one runner-up, one third and one eighth place.
If anything can be saved…
Although they are the minority, among so much gloom some fans say that Industriales’ campaign left nuances that allow them to maintain the hope of winning the longed-for title in future contests. The most important thing – they point out – is the consolidation of a new generation called to pull the cart, together with figures that must be maintained and the young talents that are added every year.
“The boys are learning to play in the postseason. They are young players and they did well. For example, Roberto Álvarez came from Matanzas, the suit was too big for him and he said he would stay in the capital. There are the cases of Acevedo, the Echevarrías; of Dayron Miranda who showed a tremendous class and phlegm as a hitter at the right time,” said Alfonso Oñate Pozo, fan.
He also mentioned the commitment of Pavel Hernández, who decided to join the team at a crucial stage.
“Perdomo showed quality again after his rookie year. The same with Maykel Taylor, he was immense against Santiago. Andy Vargas returned very well from his injury. We Industrialistas truly know that good things are yet to come,” he concluded.
OPINION ARTICLE
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