The ball has been rolling in Cuba for a long time. It is inevitable to remove it from the hearts of millions of Cubans. In fact, this Saturday, in the bread line, two fans asked me if broadcasting the inaugural challenge of the 61st National Baseball Series would prevent the long-awaited broadcast of Sunday football.
I am of the opinion that in Cuba baseball and soccer can cohabit without one excluding the other, regardless of the quality of our classic of balls and strikes, and that of the matches of the most universal of various leagues that we televise, fundamentally the Spanish one, and under an elementary principle of sports consumption as entertainment.
With this initial caveat, it’s time to delve into our baseball classic, when many are already making predictions about which ninths could emerge among the eight winners. An ambition that each of the 16 competing teams possesses, but which, from an objective point of view, will be exclusive to solid ninths, especially when the teams will face the regular schedule of 75 games with no previous history of national competitions in the youth categories and under-23, scenario extended for two years as a result of the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
hazing
To this situation of lack of follow-up and spiral of development of young players, and the consequent absence of team work, fundamentally in defense, with greater weight in the battery, the so-called central line and the combinations around the box. In addition to, in the case of the offense, the so-called laboratory plays, associated with base stealing, running and hitting, bunt… which must be adapted on the fly and after what the first subseries throw up.
To such an extent that, taking into account statistical data provided by Arnelio Álvarez de la Uz, this campaign will have on the roster of the 40 of the 16 casts involved, the juicy figure of 147 rookies, with some ninths that will exceed ten of them in your template.
Therefore, as a dressing to the ceiling that the campaign can exhibit, it will be necessary to add the inexperience of a good number of players.
And of that total, 71 will be in the area of pitching, medullary, if it is about advancing aspirations, because, as it is not a secret, our tournaments have offense as the predominant game indicator, to which the pitchers contribute precisely, novices and others not so much, with their lack of control.
Continuing with the breakdown, and relying on Arnelio’s numbers, there will be 21 debuting receivers, which will further complicate the work of the battery and other issues related to the vision of the game and concentration of the catcher in his “field quarterback” condition. and pitchers guide.
Rounding out this list of starters for the 61 Series, are some 28 infielders and 27 outfielders. It should be noted that this flow of debutantes will not necessarily see action or have a leading role in their respective groups.
In any case, Guantánamo stands out in this section (15 rookies), divided into eight pitchers, two receivers, two infielders and three outfielders; Isla de la Juventud (14), at the rate of eight pitchers and three receivers, so their battery will be under pressure from the very beginning of the tournament.
Below are Artemisa (13), Cienfuegos (12), Mayabeque and Granma (10).
This does not mean that these armies have diminished their aspirations, but they will have to redouble their efforts to achieve that first objective longed for by all, including Granma in its condition of current national champion and which very few rule out for occupying that list of eight best.
Looking at the last decade
To try to be a little more accurate in terms of predictions, we take several references: the first of them, the behavior of the teams in the last ten seasons, especially those that occupied the award podium.
Thus we find that Matanzas is the most stable army of the last decade, and by the way, one of the deepest cast in all its lines for the current championship. Although they have tasted the taste of victory only once in that period, they have two second places and five third places, for a total of eight appearances among the top three positions.
Next is Ciego de Ávila, with three titles and one runner-up, although it should be noted that the Tigres have not won a medal for five years, when they fell to the Alazanes from Granma.
Precisely those commanded by Carlos Martí emerge as another bone facing the decisive instance, protected by their three fleeces in the last five classics, an effectiveness and honor only previously reserved for our legendary teams.
Another that is well supported is Las Tunas, with a crown, a second place and two bronzes. The Lumberjacks have become a compact team in all its lines, with players who have quality and skill, and are rocky to break.
Pinar del Río, Villa Clara and Industriales are the remaining teams that have savored the podium on more than one occasion, so it could be thought that now they would be in a position to repeat said privilege.
It is noteworthy that Santiago de Cuba, one of the so-called four greats of our baseball, and which is supported by 16 award podiums in the history of our National Series, in the last decade has not been able to sneak in among the three avant-garde .
By the way, if it’s about history and podiums, it’s precisely Pinar del Río (21 including Vegueros and without the third place achieved by Forestales); Industriales and Villa Clara (19), and the Yumurino Crocodiles (16) round out the quintet with the greatest stability, history and results of our baseball.
Series 61 started. The ball is so rich, that there will always be a topic to discuss, share criteria.
Personally, and until the first 3-5 subseries advance, I would not dare to say the eight winners with a higher level of certainty.
For now, I say goodbye with a tentative prediction: Granma, Matanzas, Las Tunas, Industriales, Pinar del Río, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey and Villa Clara.
