Baseball: Raciel Sánchez, Luck or upgrading?

That Pinar del Río is the province of Cuba that has historically had excellent pitching, is unquestionable. José Joaquín Pando is recognized by athletes and sports historians as the father of pitching coaches in the province.

To his relief came his pupil José Manuel Cortina and Román Suárez. Later a group of former athletes has been responsible responsible for maintaining this tradition, among them: Rogelio García, Juan Carlos Oliva, Jesús Guerra, Julio Romero, Maximiliano Gutiérrez Rodovaldo Esquivel, Felix Pino, Jesús Bosmenier, Omar Ajete and Raciel Sánchez.

About the latter, who is representing Cuba in the play area in recent years, not much is known because, unlike other coaches, he never played for a big team in the province of Pinar del Rio to the national series. So the Digital Website Radio Guamá went to meet him to know him better.

Raciel Sánchez Echevarría has a degree in Physical Education and Master in Physical Community Activity. He is from Puerta de Golpe, in Consolación del Sur municipality. About his baseball career he said that he started in the provincial Sports Initiation School (EIDE) in 1985, he played as a catcher and second baseman, then when they saw that he had faculties he started as a pitcher in categories 13-14, 15-16 years old and the youth".

He later played in the first version of the D-League under the command of Alfonso Urquiola. He was in first class provincial championships and had some odd result. However in the second series of Development he presented a shoulder injury and had to leave the active life as an athlete.

It then requires knowing how he has carved his way up to become coach of Cuba in recent years.

What preparation did you receive as pitching coach?

"Look, when I first came to a concentrated preparation of athletes as a coach in the 47 series, there were Juan Carlos Oliva, Bosmenier, Ajete, Costa and other coaches of prestige. I assisted in the training of athletes, but I did not do the national team.

"So Andrés Cañarte Almerich, our team doctor recommended me - if I wanted to be a good coach- I had to go to the Manuel Fajardo Higher Institute of Physical Culture in Havana and become practically an employee of the Department of Biological Sciences. He said, "see everything that happens with the pitcher, the muscles involved, the types of movements they do, write papers and present them in events. Learn pitching truly.

"Then he said,"Later, I'll introduce you to Pedrito Pérez, to Gálvez, to Juan de Dios Peña. And we will also have an interview with José Elosegui ".

"I went to Fajardo Institute, did all the recommended work, I tried to upgrade myself, I tutored thesis from pitchers here in Pinar del Río. To Erlis Casanova, Vladimir Baños, and also tutored master thesis with the help of Cañarte, of course. Then I had the opportunity to consult all the personalities that he had told me. "

How did your insertion occur as the main coach of Pinar del Rio, since this province has such good coaches who played in national series?

"The first team manager who had confidence in me to serve on the selection of Pinar del Río overlooking the national series, in the 48, was Señor Pelotero Luis Giraldo Casanova, whom I have to thank very much because he saw these potentialities in me. I was bullpen coach.

"Later on in the 50 series Alfonso Urquiola trusted in me so that I were head coach of the team, for the first time. In fact we won that series, it was the Gold Series of Cuban baseball.

"In the 51 series, in 2012, I first was called to the national team under the direction of Victor Mesa, he was the first director who took me to Cuba team as coach, bullpen coach."

In how many international events have you represented Cuba?

"I started in 2012, that year I was on three Cuba-US events, two in Havana and one up there. I was in a tournament in the Netherlands, two Cuba-Mexico events, in the 2014 Centralamercan games, Pan Am 2015, Premier 12 2015, 2015 Caribbean Series, an event in Colombia in 2015, now I will be in the 2016 Caribbean Series with Ciego de Avila team."

Whom do you consider right now the best Cuban pitcher?

"I think it is between Freddy Asiel Álvarez and Yosvani Torres, between the two is the pitcher who has had better results in recent years."

From the young pitchers of Pinar del Río team who do you consider with better perspectives?

"The one with more talent at the moment is Raidel Martínez, an athlete of San Juan y Martinez of only 18 years."

How do you rate Moinelo, long reliever, set-up man or closer?

"Look according to the features he has Moinelo is set-up man, he is a pitcher able to throw 40 or 45 pitches. He does that well and especially the role of intermediate reliever. Here in Pinar del Río we use him as a closer. You know the deficit there is of pitchers throughout the country, until last year he did not fulfill the role of closer. We had to take him to that role which is the one he is currently serving on the team, to throw 35 to 40 pitches.

"Moinelo is an athlete who has an excellent physical condition but to do that job, he does not have that great somatic type to be a starter."

In the Premier 12, you were in the bullpen when they called Moinelo and he pitched beyond the limits of what he had always done, how did you feel at that time seeing him throwing so many pitches?

"We're pitching coaches. There is a team manager that ultimately makes determinations, you as a coach give suggestions to the manager ...
"Look I think this athlete must do this work, but then when we're already in the game the manager, together with the other coaches, makes decisions.

"You know that in this case I was in the bullpen, I could not give an opinion because opinions are given before. Of course you think, that kind of throw is not what he is used to doing, there can come ineffectiveness and the exhaustion, injury, many things may come."

Roger Machado recently declared that for him there are 4 classified teams: Ciego de Avila, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and Industriales, but he would rather be in the final with Industriales or Matanzas because they are the teams that draw more public, what do you think of this?

"Look, every manager knows that there are teams that are better suited than others. He could have said that about the public but you must check the statistics. In recent years Ciego de Avila team has won the particular subseries to Industriales, I do not know right now how they are playing against Matanzas, but against Pinar del Rio another has been the story.

"Vs Industriales there was only one team in Cuba who won the series for life and it was Pinar del Rio. Right today we must say that Ciego de Ávila also wins him the particular series and everything happens because of the strong team they have had in recent years, they have practically rushed Industriales team. this is why in case of playoffs they have to prefer playing with Industriales or Matanzas, because really against Pinar del Rio things have not gone right, but it is a team that can play with anyone because it has remained in the first place all the year."

Raciel Sanchez has a deep theoretical and practical knowledge as pitching coach. Juan Antonio Martinez de Osaba, member of the master board examination, calls him smart and with high scientific training. Dr. Cañarte saw a talented coach in him and offered his timely advice; and three Cuban baseball stars like Luis Giraldo Casanova, Alfonso Urquiola and Victor Mesa trusted him and called him, each in different moments.

Other questions were addressed in the interview but for the sake of space they are not reflected here and will be subject to other journalistic works.
Listen to a fragmentof the interview in Spanish  

                                      Raciel Sánchez (right) with Juan Carlos Oliva, pitching coach.
              With two pitchers who will accompany him to the Caribbean Series: Moinelo (left) and Yaifredo (right)
                  Our interviewee attends preheating game session, pitcher Yaifredo Dominguez.

                                                Assisting Isbel Hernández in a physical training session.