Talking about Reinforcements

This is a must-read article after a night dedicated to improve rosters.

History has proven that 50% of the wining chances are brewed here, where managers choose baseball players to fix their rosters´ weaknesses.

Generally speaking, I believe all managers picked very well, but there are always criteria on how much each could have improved even more.

For instance, I do not know why Victor Mesa chose RHP Jose Ramon Rodriguez as his first option (4-4, 2,45 ERA) when he had voiced his priorities were LHPs. Let’s see, Jose Ramon Rodriguez’s record is average at most, and he is not a leading ace other managers would fight for. Regarding the LHPs he did pick, Isle of Youth’s Yunier Gamboa (6-5, 3,76) instead of Santiago’s Ulfrido Garcia (7-4, 3,84) was a mistake, as the latter is regarded the best LHP in Cuba.

To balance his roster, he chose two veteran starters and a young outfielder who played in Japan this season. All of them have proven quality.

Pablo Civil picked what he needed the most. He chose two excellent infielders: Yunior Paumier and Alexander Ayala, but hurlers Yariel Rodriguez (6-3, 2,88) and Carlos Perez (0-3, 9 saves, 3,65) were not the best options.

Victor Figueroa picked wisely. He added key players to his lineup —four players come from the same team and all have played postseason games—. I was surprised though in his last pick, reliever Javier Mirabal (2-1, 1 Saved, 3,35).

Pedro Luis Lazo also picked well and the sole weird pick was Michel Enriquez, especially when he has in his captain Donald Duarte his third baseman. He must be wise then when selecting his DH —Frederich Cepeda was a natural choice— but now that man can be Duarte.

The current champion, Carlos Marti, chose what he needed as well. But I do not know if Guantanamo Luis Castillo (0-0, 5 Saved, 2,25) was the best choice.

Finally, Danny Valdespino chose wisely to improve his offense. If those men play well, his team will cause tongues to wag.

Players like Yoelvis Fiss, Yeniet Perez, Edilse Silva, Danny Betancourt, and Alberto Bicet, to name a few, were not picked.

As I always say, everything is theory. Their performance on the field will tell us the actual result of Saturday’s show.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Diaz / CubaSi Translated Staff