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Venezuela Continues W.B.C. Preparations a Day After Chavez’s Death Venezuelans Recall Leader’s Love of the Game
(about 2 hours later)
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Luis Sojo likes to sleep in, but on mornings after the Venezuelan national team that he managed played, he expected a call from Hugo Chávez, the country’s president, who died on Tuesday. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Luis Sojo, manager of Venezuela’s national team, likes to sleep in. But on mornings after games he expected a call from Hugo Chávez, the country’s president, who died on Tuesday.
Like his hero, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Chávez was an ardent baseball fan who loved to chat about the game, especially with Sojo, a former Yankees infielder. After one World Baseball Classic game, Chávez called to ask why Sojo had not used his closer, Francisco Rodriguez, during the middle innings when Venezuela had given up a lead.Like his hero, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Chávez was an ardent baseball fan who loved to chat about the game, especially with Sojo, a former Yankees infielder. After one World Baseball Classic game, Chávez called to ask why Sojo had not used his closer, Francisco Rodriguez, during the middle innings when Venezuela had given up a lead.
“He loved baseball and he knows everybody on the team,” Sojo said Wednesday before Venezuela beat the Mets, 14-10, the country’s last game before it plays the Dominican Republic in a Pool C first-round game on Thursday in San Juan, P.R. “The country is very sad now, so we said, ‘Let’s win it for him.’ ” “He loved baseball, and he knows everybody on the team,” Sojo said Wednesday before Venezuela beat the Mets, 14-10, in the country’s last game before it plays the Dominican Republic in a Pool C first-round game on Thursday in San Juan, P.R. “The country is very sad now, so we said, ‘Let’s win it for him.’ ”
Chávez used his cultlike following to champion the poor and pump up the country’s pride. But he also left the country’s economy in tatters and its cities plagued by crime.Chávez used his cultlike following to champion the poor and pump up the country’s pride. But he also left the country’s economy in tatters and its cities plagued by crime.
Sojo and his players steered clear of discussing Chávez’s politics and policies, in part because some of them were concerned about the safety of their families back home. Instead, they focused on the president’s love of the game and his death.Sojo and his players steered clear of discussing Chávez’s politics and policies, in part because some of them were concerned about the safety of their families back home. Instead, they focused on the president’s love of the game and his death.
“Everybody knows that there are two sides, but at the same time, we all feel bad about it because he is a human being,” said Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who played right field on Wednesday. “We are dedicating our game to the whole country. I think a lot of people just breathe baseball in our country and expect great things from this team. That’s why we have a lot of responsibility.”“Everybody knows that there are two sides, but at the same time, we all feel bad about it because he is a human being,” said Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who played right field on Wednesday. “We are dedicating our game to the whole country. I think a lot of people just breathe baseball in our country and expect great things from this team. That’s why we have a lot of responsibility.”
The vocal Venezuelan fans who attended the game Wednesday were not as shy. Many had traveled from Venezuela, while others had emigrated to the United States in part because of better opportunities.The vocal Venezuelan fans who attended the game Wednesday were not as shy. Many had traveled from Venezuela, while others had emigrated to the United States in part because of better opportunities.
“I’m not happy he died, but I’m happy we might have a change in our country, and hopefully we’ll go in a different direction,” said Leonardo Solorzano, an electrical engineer from Sarasota, Fla., who moved to the United States 11 years ago. “If there is no Chávez, there is no Chavezism.”“I’m not happy he died, but I’m happy we might have a change in our country, and hopefully we’ll go in a different direction,” said Leonardo Solorzano, an electrical engineer from Sarasota, Fla., who moved to the United States 11 years ago. “If there is no Chávez, there is no Chavezism.”
Chávez’s death produced an awkward moment for Major League Baseball. Before Venezuela played the Miami Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., on Tuesday, representatives of the Venezuelan team asked for their country’s flag to be lowered and a moment of silence for Chávez to be observed before the game. Both requests were denied.Chávez’s death produced an awkward moment for Major League Baseball. Before Venezuela played the Miami Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., on Tuesday, representatives of the Venezuelan team asked for their country’s flag to be lowered and a moment of silence for Chávez to be observed before the game. Both requests were denied.
Major League Baseball, which runs the W.B.C., takes its cue in such matters from the State Department. Chávez was no friend of the United States, and relations with Venezuela were further strained this week when two American military attachés were ordered to leave the country after they were accused of sowing disorder.Major League Baseball, which runs the W.B.C., takes its cue in such matters from the State Department. Chávez was no friend of the United States, and relations with Venezuela were further strained this week when two American military attachés were ordered to leave the country after they were accused of sowing disorder.
Baseball officials want to leave politics out of the ballparks, but they offered to help the Venezuelans with anything they wanted away from the field.Baseball officials want to leave politics out of the ballparks, but they offered to help the Venezuelans with anything they wanted away from the field.
United States and Venezuelan flags were flying at full staff at Tradition Field on Wednesday.United States and Venezuelan flags were flying at full staff at Tradition Field on Wednesday.
The Mets appeared flummoxed by being thrust on an international stage. But Johan Santana, a Venezuelan, broke the ice. Santana wanted to pitch for his national team, but nearing 34 and recovering from injuries, he was asked by the Mets — for the second straight tournament — to focus instead on getting ready for the season.The Mets appeared flummoxed by being thrust on an international stage. But Johan Santana, a Venezuelan, broke the ice. Santana wanted to pitch for his national team, but nearing 34 and recovering from injuries, he was asked by the Mets — for the second straight tournament — to focus instead on getting ready for the season.
After finishing his workout in left field on Wednesday, Santana walked to the Venezuelan team, which was stretching along the first baseline. He hugged and joked with Miguel Cabrera, Rodriguez and several of the team’s other stars. After finishing his workout in left field on Wednesday, Santana visited the Venezuelan team, which was stretching along the first baseline. He hugged and joked with Miguel Cabrera, Rodriguez and several of the team’s other stars.
As Santana passed by, Sojo jokingly yelled in his direction, “You were supposed to pitch for me today; what happened?”As Santana passed by, Sojo jokingly yelled in his direction, “You were supposed to pitch for me today; what happened?”
Santana, who is from the town of Tovar Merida, met Chávez in 2004 after he won the first of two Cy Young Awards. He was honored at the presidential palace in Caracas and addressed the national assembly. Santana, who is from the town of Tovar Merida, met Chávez in 2004 after he won the first of his two Cy Young Awards. He was honored at the presidential palace in Caracas and addressed the national assembly.
He is not the only link between the Mets and Chávez. On an official visit to the United States in 1999, shortly after he was elected president, Chávez threw out the first pitch at Shea Stadium and met with Edgardo Alfonzo, the Mets’ Venezuelan-born second baseman. The game was better remembered for the behavior of Manager Bobby Valentine, who was ejected and returned to the bench wearing a fake mustache.He is not the only link between the Mets and Chávez. On an official visit to the United States in 1999, shortly after he was elected president, Chávez threw out the first pitch at Shea Stadium and met with Edgardo Alfonzo, the Mets’ Venezuelan-born second baseman. The game was better remembered for the behavior of Manager Bobby Valentine, who was ejected and returned to the bench wearing a fake mustache.
In August 2010, Chávez phoned Rodriguez, the Mets’ closer, who had been arraigned on charges that he assaulted the grandfather of his children after blowing a save at Citi Field. Chávez told Rodriguez that Venezuela was proud of him but also said, “Calm your impulses.” In August 2010, Chávez phoned Rodriguez, then the Mets’ closer, who had been arraigned on charges that he assaulted the grandfather of his children after blowing a save at Citi Field. Chávez told Rodriguez that Venezuela was proud of him but also said, “Calm your impulses.”
Santana and Rodriguez are two of the many Venezuelans to play for the Mets. The first was Elio Chacon, who played in the team’s inaugural season in 1962.Santana and Rodriguez are two of the many Venezuelans to play for the Mets. The first was Elio Chacon, who played in the team’s inaugural season in 1962.
More than two dozen of his countrymen have followed, including Alfonzo, who helped the Mets reach the World Series in 2000. The Mets were so impressed with his play that they sent scouts to scour the country looking for other stars. They also expanded their relationship with Magallanes, the team Alfonzo played for in Venezuela.More than two dozen of his countrymen have followed, including Alfonzo, who helped the Mets reach the World Series in 2000. The Mets were so impressed with his play that they sent scouts to scour the country looking for other stars. They also expanded their relationship with Magallanes, the team Alfonzo played for in Venezuela.
More recently, Dave Hudgens, the Mets’ hitting coach, managed in the Venezuelan Winter League, winning a championship in 2010.understands the passion for baseball in Venezuela and the need for the team to play well, a topic that Rodriguez addressed on Wednesday. More recently, Dave Hudgens, the Mets’ hitting coach, managed in the Venezuelan Winter League, winning a championship in 2010. Hudgens understands the passion for baseball in Venezuela and the need for the team to play well, a topic that Rodriguez addressed on Wednesday.
“The best thing we can give them is to be able to put on a good show,” he said. “Not forget what happened, because we’re not going to erase it in two, three days, but at least give us a little serenity, bring some positive energy to them.”“The best thing we can give them is to be able to put on a good show,” he said. “Not forget what happened, because we’re not going to erase it in two, three days, but at least give us a little serenity, bring some positive energy to them.”