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WBC IGT: Cuba v. Panama (3/8/06, 1:00 p.m. EST)

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 09:57 AM

"Scouting the Cubans," from [url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/060202cuba.html]BA:[/url] ]World Baseball Classic: Scouting The Cubans By Matt Meyers February 2, 2006 As the World Baseball Classic approaches and Cuba's presence appears more and more assured, the mystery surrounding its team diminishes. Though fans of international baseball will be familiar with many of the players, Cuba's provisional roster, revealed Tuesday, is geared towards youth, with the average age of the 60 names being 24. Much of this youth is concentrated in pitching, where 24-year-olds Dany Betancourt and Yunesky Maya provide the team with two of its most promising young arms. Maya is a power righthander who operates in the low 90s but can touch 96 mph with his fastball. At the World Cup in September, he had a 1.23 ERA in seven innings while Betancourt had a 1.84 ERA in 15 innings. Betancourt rose to prominence on the international stage when he closed out the gold-medal game at the 2004 Olympics in Athens against Australia. Betancourt will most likely not be doing the closing for Cuba at the WBC, as that role will fall to veteran Pedro Luis Lazo. Though he is a starter in Cuba's Serie Nacional, Lazo has long been Cuba's primary closer and is probably most equipped to step in and contend with a major league lineup late in a game. At the World Cup, he posted a 0.54 ERA in 17 innings with a 27-1 strikeout-walk ratio. Armed with a mid-90s fastball, the righthander attacks the strike zone and is very efficient with his pitches. As a result, it would not be a surprise to see him pitch in every game, as long as he does not surpass any of the pitch count regulations. Beyond Lazo closing, it is unclear how Cuba will use most of its remaining pitchers, as they are all adept at starting or relieving. Adiel Palma, 35, is a lefthander in the Al Leiter mold. Relying more on movement and location than velocity, Palma has been known to throw a lot of pitches and is a very slow worker. Lefty Yulieski Gonzalez appeared in three games at the World Cup and was 3-0, 1.62, while righthander Ormari Romero threw eight shutout innings. One intriguing name on the roster is righthander Vicyohandri Odelin, a staple of Cuba’s national teams from 2001-2003 but who failed to make the Olympic ’04 roster or the ’05 World Cup team. He is back in the mix, however, after a strong season in Serie Nacional. The most notable exception on the roster is righthander Norge Vera, who started an exhibition game Cuba played against the Orioles in 1999. In the 2003 World Cup in Havana, he got the victory in the semifinals in a 6-3 victory over Taiwan and came out of relief the next day to get the win as Cuba defeated Panama 4-2 to win gold. The 34-year-old, second to Orlando Hernandez in career winning percentage in Serie Nacional, has been hampered by arm problems, which likely led to him being left off of the provisional roster. The youth of the team is apparent on the offensive side, with 21-year-old Yuliesky Gourriel and 26-year-old Michel Enriquez leading the way. This tandem terrorized the opposition at the World Cup, as Gourriel hit .319-8-19 in 47 at-bats while Enriquez hit .500-1-20 in 46 at-bats. Tall and wiry, Gourriel is a third baseman with lighting quick wrists and boasts the best power on the team. Enriquez, typically the DH, is their most consistent hitter who rarely strikes out and sprays line drives across the field. Another key hitter is outfielder Osmani Urrutia, who has won five straight batting titles in Serie Nacional. The most intriguing youngster is 16-year-old Dayan Viciedo, MVP of the World Junior Championships last fall. In Serie Nacional, the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder made the all-star team while playing for Villa Clara. While Viciedo is far from a lock to make the team, his appearance on the provisional roster stamps him as one of Cuba’s brightest young talents. The Villa Clara manager, former national team star Victor Mesa, told Cuba’s Granma news that Viciedo has “as good arm and tremendous power. He’s got excellent technique, but at the same time is surprisingly calm for his young age and very secure in defense.” Cuba's offense also includes a couple of veterans who will be key contributors in 33-year-old shortstop Eduardo Paret, who reached base 19 times in 26 plate appearance in September's World Cup before getting hurt and missing the rest of the tournament, and 30-year-old Eriel Sanchez, a catcher/first baseman who rivals Gourriel for best power on the team. Cuba will shut down its top league, Serie Nacional, from Feb. 12-March 24, a sign of the importance it has placed on the World Baseball Classic. Once the season shuts down, the 60 players on the provisional roster will be invited to a camp where they will vie for the 30 spots on the roster that will play in the Classic. To help prepare, Cuba has invited the teams from Puerto Rico, Panama and Venezuela to come to Cuba in late February for a small exhibition tournament. Because Cuba does not have much in the way of international scouting, this will provide them with a chance to size up the competition. None of these countries, however, has yet to accept the invitation. Cuba’s Provisional World Baseball Classic Roster: Catchers: Ariel Pestano; Eriel Sánchez; Yulexis La Rosa; Vladimir García; Roger Machado. Infield; Joan Pedroso; Danny Miranda; Loidel Chapellí; Ariel Borrero; Leslie Anderson; Yorelvis Charles; Rudy Reyes; Héctor Olivera; Michel Enríquez; Yulieski Gourriel; Amaury Suárez; Vismay Santos; Eduardo Paret; Yorbis Borroto; Juan Carlos Moreno; Luis Miguel Navas. Outfield: Carlos Tabares; Osmani Urrutia; Frederich Cepeda; Juan Carlos Linares; Yoandry Urgellés; Alexei Ramírez; Yoennis Céspedes; Yoandy Garlobo; Andy Zamora; Alfredo Despaigne; Dayán Viciedo; Reutilio Hurtado; Serguei Pérez Pitchers: Danny Betancourt; Alberto Bicet; Pedro Luis Lazo; Yunesky Maya; Deinys Suárez; Yadel Martí; Yosvani Fonseca; Jonder Martínez; Yulieski González; José Ángel García; Vicyohandri Odelín; Yadier Pedroso; Luis Borroto; Norberto González; Adiel Palma; Robelio Carrillo; Valeri García; Alien Mora; Ormari Romero; Luis M. Rodríguez; Ubisney Bermúdez; Alberto Soto; Israel Soto; Maikel Folch; Vladimir Baños; Yosvani Pérez.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 08 2006 10:11 AM

I wonder if there will be any defections, and if so, how many.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 08 2006 10:13 AM

Mets born in Cuba (6) Florida Camaguey Ed Bauta Havana Chico Fernandez, Cookie Rojas, Rey Ordóñez Matanzas José Cardenal Villaclara Jorge Toca

Yancy Street Gang Mar 08 2006 10:14 AM

Mets born in Panama (2) Aguadulce Juan Berenguer Panama City Bruce Chen

soupcan Mar 08 2006 10:18 AM

Berenguer had a nickname, no? 'Senor Smoke'?

Edgy DC Mar 08 2006 10:21 AM

Señor Smoke was the late lamented Aurelio Lopez. I don't recall Berenguer having a nickname, but he was the first Met who could throw 100 since Nolan Ryan (and Ryan is presumably).

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 10:37 AM

From [url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4812]Baseball Prospectus[/url] (subscription only), Davenport translations of Serie Nationale League stars (2006 stats only): Pitchers Danny Betancourt (25 YO), RHP, 56 IP, 3.70 DERA, 1.41 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, 1.3 HR/9 Yunieski Maya (24 YO), RHP, 82.3 IP, 5.25 DERA, 1.42 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.7 HR/9 Pedro Lazo (33 YO), SP, 102.7 IP, 4.65 DERA, 1.10 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, 1.2 HR/9 Yadier Pedroso (20 YO), RHP, 70.3 IP, 4.48 DERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, 1.5 HR/9 Best translated K/9: Jose Garcia, RHP, 31.3 IP, 5.74 DERA, 1.57 WHIP, 11.2 K/9, 5.2 BB/9, 1.7 HR/9 Batters (2005 stats used except where indicated--for those slumping in the paused 2006 season, I figured I'd display their full 2005 seasons instead). Viciedo was left off the roster, which is too bad--a 16 year old with those numbers is unbelieveable! Eriel Sanchez (31 YO), C, .248 AVG/.326 OBP/.483 SLG/.809 OPS Joan Pedroso (26 YO), 1B, .206 AVG/.323 OBP/.423 SLG/.746 OPS Yorelvis Charles (?), 2B, .266 AVG/.320 OBP/.461 SLG/.781 OPS, 4 SB, 0 CS Yuliesky Gourriel (22 YO), 3B, .278 AVG/.318 OBP/.537 SLG/.855 OPS Michel Enriquez (27 YO), 3B, 2006: .310 AVG/.424 OBP/.485 SLG/.909 OPS Eduardo Paret (33 YO), SS, 2006: .267 AVG/.430 OBP/.336 SLG/.766 OPS, 5 SB, 1 CS Yohenis Cespedes (?), OF, 2006: .283 AVG/.348 OBP/.512 SLG/.860 OPS Yoandry Urgelles (24 YO), OF, .298 AVG/.373 OBP/.476 SLG/.849 OPS Alexei Ramirez (24 YO), OF, .302 AVG/.348 OBP/.492 SLG/.840 OPS, 8 SB, 2 CS Frederich Cepeda (26 YO), OF, .264 AVG/.399 OBP/.415 SLG/.814 OPS Dayan Viciedo (16 YO), RF, 2006: .301 AVG/.341 OBP/.508 SLG/.849 OPS

soupcan Mar 08 2006 11:10 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Señor Smoke was the late lamented Aurelio Lopez. I don't recall Berenguer having a nickname, but he was the first Met who could throw 100 since Nolan Ryan (and Ryan is presumably). Yeah, I'm stupid. I knew that. How do you type a tilde?

Edgy DC Mar 08 2006 11:16 AM

In Html, you can type "ñ" but that doesn't work on this site, so I type it in a word document and copy/paste it over here. There's also a keyboard shortcut on most computers, but I've never learned it. I think I'll go add ñ to the HTML this place accepts.

Edgy DC Mar 08 2006 11:21 AM

Looks like I already did it, because there it is. Use & # 2 4 1 ; but take out the spaces between the six characters, and the magic internet will return to you an n-tilde.

cooby Mar 08 2006 11:23 AM

ñ

cooby Mar 08 2006 11:23 AM

Cool, bring back Rey Rey, now we can type his name correctly!

Yancy Street Gang Mar 08 2006 11:27 AM

cooby wrote: Cool, bring back Rey Rey, now we can type his name correctly! Now there's a terrible idea!

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 11:33 AM

Panama is definitely the underdog in this contest, but Carlos Lee & Olmedo Saenz won't be their only offensive threats. From the Japan League (translated Davenport stats): Fernando Seguignol (31 YO), OF, .253 AVG/.317 OBP/.419 SLG/.736 OPS Inexplicably left of their roster from the Japan League: Julio Zuleta (31 YO), 1B, .290 AVG/.353 OBP/.517 SLG/.870 OPS from the Mexican League, filling the Honorary Julio Franco Roster Slot for the club: Ricardo Saenz (44 YO), LF, .243 AVG/.314 OBP/.414 SLG/.728 OPS 27-year old Phillie prospect Carlos Ruiz (C) should probably start over Einar Diaz, but won't: .261 AVG/ .313 OBP/.400 SLG/.713 OPS Pitching-wise, there's a sharp drop-off after Chen and a lot of unknowns. Blue Jays prospect Davis Romero (23 YO), LHP, is probably their best bet after Chen & Mendoza. 5.53 DERA, 1.48 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.3 HR/9 Rockies RHP relief prospect Manuel Corpas (23) looks decent as well and certainly kept the ball in the park last year: 5.25 DERA, 1.32 WHIP, 4.0 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 0.4 HR/9 Santos Hernandez of the Mexican League (33 YO), RHP, was good for 73 innings in 2003, missed 2004, then struggled with his control last year. If he's recovered from whatever was ailing him, he might be good--he posted a 2.70 DERA in the Mexican League in 2003 with a fine K/BB ratio. RHP Jorge Cortes (33 YO) hasn't pitched since 2003, but he was pretty decent back then--5.79 DERA, 1.38 WHIP, 4.7 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.9 HR/9. Lenin Picoto of the Puerto Rico League did well last year, but only threw 12.7 innings--3.55 DERA, 1.34 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, 2.1 HR/9

soupcan Mar 08 2006 11:43 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Looks like I already did it, because there it is. Use & # 2 4 1 ; but take out the spaces between the six characters, and the magic internet will return to you an n-tilde. Bueno! Muchas gracias Señor! (looks like I'm cursing at you as I write it.)

cooby Mar 08 2006 11:45 AM

Why didn't you use one for bueno?

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 11:48 AM

cooby wrote: Why didn't you use one for bueno? I don't think there is one for bueno.

cooby Mar 08 2006 11:52 AM

Yeah, you're right. That's a vowel blend. Never mind.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:03 PM

Chen getting the start for Panama. Cuba's reshuffling their lineup and the start for the game's a bit delayed.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:17 PM Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Mar 08 2006 02:00 PM

Lineups Cuba 1. Eduardo Paret, SS 2. Michel Enriquez, 3B 3. Yuliesky Gourriel (21 YO), 2B 4. Osmany Urrutia, DH 5. Frederich Cepeda, LF 6. Ariel Pestano, C 7. Joan Pedroso, 1B 8. Alexei Ramirez, RF 9. Carlos Tabares, CF P: Pedro Luis Lazo Panama 1. Miller, SS 2. Herrera, RF 3. Saenz, 3B 4. Lee, LF 5. Obando, DH 6. Rivera, CF 7. Ruiz, C 8. De Leon, 1B 9. Lasso, 2B P: Bruce Chen

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:17 PM

Quick 1-2-3 inning for Chen.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:20 PM

Lazo breaks Miller's bat in a ground out to third. One down. Lazo has over 200 career wins, according to the announcers.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:21 PM

Base hit up the middle for Herrera, who worked a full count first.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:23 PM

Lazo working in the mid-90's. Apparently a big pitcher who resembles El Duque in appearance. Also has a split finger. Saenez bounces a ball over the short-stop's head. Runners at 1st & 2nd for Carlos Lee.

soupcan Mar 08 2006 01:23 PM

Yuliesky Gourriel (21 YO), 2B This guy's sipposed to be really, really good. Article in the NYTimes yesterday said he could be an impact player in the majors right now. HIs dad is a Cuban baseball legend and his brother is also a very good player.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:26 PM

Lee hit by pitch--bases loaded for Obando.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:28 PM

. . . who grounds into a 6-5-3 double play. Inning over.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:36 PM

Urrutia (.301 AVG/.381 OBP/.473 SLG/.854 OPS) singles off the wall. Cepeda pops up to the right side, but the 2B drops the ball. Urrutia out at second, Cepeda at 1st. Pestano GIDP.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:37 PM

="soupcan"]Yuliesky Gourriel (21 YO), 2B This guy's sipposed to be really, really good. Article in the NYTimes yesterday said he could be an impact player in the majors right now. HIs dad is a Cuban baseball legend and his brother is also a very good player. Cool. His translated stats are certainly amazing for a 21-year old.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:40 PM

Rivera grounds out. Ruiz walks.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:45 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 08 2006 01:50 PM

De Leon works the count full, then lines a hanging breaking ball for a single. Runners at the corners, 1 out. Lasso follows with a long, ground rule double, scoring Ruiz from third.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:49 PM

Lazo gets lifted. New pitcher gets Miller to pop it up on the first pitch. 2 outs.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:51 PM

I think it's Vicyohandry Odelin relieving. on edit: and so it is. Translated 2006 stats: 57.7 IP, 5.62 DERA, 1.32 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0.9 HR/9

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 01:53 PM

Odelin walks Herrera and Saenz is at the plate with the bases loaded and 2 outs.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 02:03 PM

Not sure what happened, but Odelin got out of the inning. Pedroso gets on first somehow, Ramirez bunted him to second. Tabares with a drag bunt down the third base line. Nice fielding by Chen to nab him, but Pedroso advances to third with 2 out. Paret with a ground rule double down the left field line to tie the game at 1.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 02:08 PM

Chen walks Enriquez and Gourriel follows with a stand-up double, scoring Paret from second. Hard-hit line drive.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 02:28 PM

Still 2-1 Cuba. Odelin still in the game. Sounds like he's doing a good job keeping Panama hitters off-balance. Throwing a lot of off-speed stuff. Odelin gets Ruiz, DeLeon & Lasso in order to end the fourth. Odelin, with 2.7 IP, has allowed only 1 baserunner on a walk. Panama with a lot of missed opportunities.

Frayed Knot Mar 08 2006 03:10 PM

The Canal-tenders take a 4-2 lead over the Communist Cigar-makers after 6.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 03:22 PM

And the Cubans come back to score a run.

OlerudOwned Mar 08 2006 03:24 PM

Hit batter, bases loaded, one run game. Panama making a pitching change

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 03:26 PM

Ruben Rivera hit a 3-run home run earlier in the game to give Panama the lead.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 03:33 PM

Gourriel hits a long sac fly to tie the game at 4. Each batter moves up a base--runners at 2nd & 3rd. Urrutia grounds out to end the inning. Pretty good game.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 03:39 PM

Bottom of the seventh, still knotted up at 4.

Edgy DC Mar 08 2006 04:08 PM

Sorry. Ruben Freakin' Rivera?

duan Mar 08 2006 04:14 PM

gourriel's proving to be a bit of a monster with the stick clubbing a 2 run homer (his 3rd hit of the night) to put Cuba 6-4 up.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:15 PM

Wow. On an 0-2 count with 2 out in the bottom of the eighth, the 21-year old Gourriel hits a 2-run home run to give Cuba the lead, 6-4. Unfucking real. I should mention that Gourriel also made an atheletic, heads-up defensive play from second the inning before. I only caught part of it, but the announcers were very impressed. He managed to double up someone. I had read that Gourriel was a third baseman, making his seemingly easy transition to 2B that much more impressive. Anyone with any more details on that play?

seawolf17 Mar 08 2006 04:16 PM

Hey! We need a second baseman! Let's trade Kaz Matsui to Cuba!

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:25 PM

Runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the ninth. Last chance for Panama.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:27 PM

Sac bunt misplayed, everyone's safe. Bases loaded, no outs.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:30 PM

Herrera up, Saenz on deck, Lee in the hole. Herrera goes down swinging. Not sure who's pitching for Cuba.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:31 PM

It's Yunieski Maya.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:33 PM

With the outfield playing deep, Saenz drops a long single into center field. One run scores. Bases full with one out, Carlos Lee up.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:34 PM

3 pitches, and Carlos Lee goes down swinging!

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:35 PM

Whoa. Maya HITS OBANDO WITH A PITCH! The tying run comes home!

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:36 PM

Ruben Rivera at bat with the bases loaded.

metirish Mar 08 2006 04:36 PM

WOW, this seems like a hell of a game, wish it was on later.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:37 PM

2 balls in a row, the first one high and tight--almost hitting him. Now 3-1, with the last pitch again almost hitting him.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:38 PM

3-2, and Rivera just fouled one off.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:39 PM

Another foul ball.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:40 PM

Shallow fly ball to center, and Gourriel makes an over-the-shoulder grab to end the inning.

seawolf17 Mar 08 2006 04:42 PM

="Rotblatt"]Shallow fly ball to center, and Gourriel makes an over-the-shoulder grab to end the inning. That's future Met Gourriel.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:44 PM

="seawolf17"]That's future Met Gourriel. Did I mention that I'm pretty sure he's mostly played 3B? How sick is this kid, that he's able to adjust so well?

metirish Mar 08 2006 04:44 PM

Fred needs to send Omar to Cuba right now and get talking to Fidel.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:52 PM

Bottom of the tenth. Maya still pitching.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 04:58 PM

Enrique makes a diving stop of a shot down the third base line, then fires to first to nail the runner. Not sure who was batting. Javier Castillo is up. Two outs now. Manuel O Rodriguez up. Clearly, there have been some substitutions. Panama down 1-2-3.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:04 PM

Enrique hit for the third time tonight. Runner at first, 2 outs.

seawolf17 Mar 08 2006 05:06 PM

metirish wrote: Fred needs to send Omar to Cuba right now and get talking to Fidel. Just don't let Omar pull any of that "street Spanish" crap with him.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:09 PM

]Just don't let Omar pull any of that "street Spanish" crap with him. Hah! That was a good one. Gourriel draws a walk (good idea to pitch around him). Urrutia with a line drive single to center to give Cuba the lead! And another base hit ripped up the middle by Cepeda and Cuba leads 8-6! Pitching change.

ScarletKnight41 Mar 08 2006 05:18 PM

Of course, Omar will be criticized for using elitist formal Spanish instead of the more acceptable street Spanish in Cuba ;)

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:19 PM

Panama up, runner at second. Maya still in. Herrera up.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:20 PM

Bottom of the 11th with no outs.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:21 PM

Herrera grounds out to third for the first out. Saenz up, Lee on deck.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:21 PM

Another grounder to third for out #2. It's all up to Carlos Lee now.

Rotblatt Mar 08 2006 05:31 PM

Ovah! Cuba wins, 8-6! Heartbreaking loss to Panama, who will not advance to Round 2. Still, a strong showing for Panama--they were in both games they played and displayed some fine pitching. Great game!