This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/sports/baseball/in-cuba-no-embargo-on-hope-as-baseball-players-say-take-me-to-america.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
In Cuba, No Embargo on Hope as Baseball Players Say: ‘Take Me to America’ For Cuban Players, No Embargo on Dreams
(about 9 hours later)
SAN JOSE, Cuba — In November, black clouds towered over this small tropical city, set amid banana plantations and rum factories. With a crash, great sheets of rain tumbled down. SAN JOSÉ, Cuba — In November, black clouds towered over this small tropical city, set amid banana plantations and rum factories. With a crash, great sheets of rain tumbled down.
That day, Granma Alazanes, a fine baseball team from southeast Cuba, was playing the Mayabeque Huracanes, the not so fine local team. The field flooded and umpires postponed the game in the eighth inning, with Granma ahead, 10-9. That day, Granma Alazanes, a fine baseball team from southeast Cuba, was playing the Mayabeque Huracanes, the not-so-fine local team. The field flooded and umpires postponed the game in the eighth inning, with Granma ahead, 10-9.
This past Monday, the Granma team again passed through San José in the midst of the Cuba Winter League season. At 10 a.m. the two teams planned to complete the last inning and a half of that almost forgotten game.This past Monday, the Granma team again passed through San José in the midst of the Cuba Winter League season. At 10 a.m. the two teams planned to complete the last inning and a half of that almost forgotten game.
Earlier that morning, I had walked around the stadium, edged by farms, schools and a running track. I asked some men if the players had arrived.Earlier that morning, I had walked around the stadium, edged by farms, schools and a running track. I asked some men if the players had arrived.
“I’m here,” offered Danger Guerrero, 32. The Mayabeque catcher was dressed in cargo shorts and a T-shirt, and had a classic catcher’s build: Broad shoulders with a penguin’s low center of gravity. He was a 15-year veteran. “I’m here,” offered Danger Guerrero, 32. The Mayabeque catcher, he was dressed in cargo shorts and a T-shirt, and had a classic catcher’s build: Broad shoulders with a penguin’s low center of gravity. He was a 15-year veteran.
How good is your team, I said?How good is your team, I said?
He put out his hands and gave a wiggle-waggle, the international sign for not so hot.He put out his hands and gave a wiggle-waggle, the international sign for not so hot.
Arguably the finest baseball in the world alongside the United States and the Dominican Republic is found on this 780-mile long island nation. Yasiel Puig, José Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, José Fernández, Odrisamer Despaigne, Yoenis Céspedes and so on: It’s as if this island has a baseball minting room. No one knows how many Cubans might be capable of playing in the majors, although major league scouts who figuratively pace around this island like cats around a candle — M.L.B. has officially banned scouting here — place the number in the many dozens. Possibly the finest baseball in the world alongside the United States and the Dominican Republic is found on this 780-mile long island nation. Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, Jose Fernandez, Odrisamer Despaigne, Yoenis Cespedes and so on: It’s as if this island has a baseball minting room. No one knows how many Cubans might be capable of playing in the majors, although major league scouts who figuratively pace around this island like cats around a candle — M.L.B. has officially banned scouting here — place the number in the many dozens.
The Cuban government pays the baseball players, who make, on average, $40 a month. That’s twice as much as the average Cuban, but in no fashion leaves them well off. (Cubans get subsidized rents and free medical care.) Guerrero, who has a 2-year-old son, made extra money last year playing in the Netherlands and Italy. How was that?The Cuban government pays the baseball players, who make, on average, $40 a month. That’s twice as much as the average Cuban, but in no fashion leaves them well off. (Cubans get subsidized rents and free medical care.) Guerrero, who has a 2-year-old son, made extra money last year playing in the Netherlands and Italy. How was that?
“Fantastic facilities, but we’re better players,” he said, matter of fact.“Fantastic facilities, but we’re better players,” he said, matter of fact.
He pointed to his sneaker, which has a dime-size hole. These are my only shoes. (His cleats are property of the team.) “I’d like to have your shoes” he said, pointing at my running sneakers. He pointed to his sneaker, which has a dime-size hole. These are my only shoes. (His cleats are property of the team.) “I’d like to have your shoes,” he said, pointing at my running sneakers.
He wasn’t kidding.He wasn’t kidding.
A loud beep sounded. A battered blue tour bus with a Mickey Mouse emblem on the side pulled in. Strapping young men eased down the steps. This was Granma Alazanes, with a record of 26-16, which is second to the Industriales, the Havana team that dominates Cuba.A loud beep sounded. A battered blue tour bus with a Mickey Mouse emblem on the side pulled in. Strapping young men eased down the steps. This was Granma Alazanes, with a record of 26-16, which is second to the Industriales, the Havana team that dominates Cuba.
The team bus driver wore a T-shirt with photographs of Alex Rodriguez. He smiled broadly at me and announced, “We wait for the Americans to come and now you are here.”The team bus driver wore a T-shirt with photographs of Alex Rodriguez. He smiled broadly at me and announced, “We wait for the Americans to come and now you are here.”
I gently broke the news that I was not a scout.I gently broke the news that I was not a scout.
The players crowded around, joking and talking. There was Yordanis Samon, the hulking first baseman. He has nimble feet and swings a 36-ounce power bat, but as a 15-year vet he was too old to harbor American dreams. Ruben Tamayo and Lazaro Cedeño, however, are sweet fielding infielders who can stroke the baseball. Two towering, broad-shouldered relievers have fastballs that inhabit the mid-90s. These are the men who could dream of a major league call. The players crowded around, joking and talking. There was Yordanis Samon, the hulking first baseman. He has nimble feet and swings a 36-ounce power bat, but as a 15-year vet he was too old to harbor American dreams. Ruben Tamayo and Lazaro Cedeño, however, are sweet-fielding infielders who can stroke the baseball. Two towering, broad-shouldered relievers have fastballs that inhabit the mid-90s. These are the men who could dream of a major league call.
I asked Tamayo if he would consider the major leagues. He grew happily agitated. “Sí! Sí! Sí! Today!”I asked Tamayo if he would consider the major leagues. He grew happily agitated. “Sí! Sí! Sí! Today!”
There is a baroque twist here. In capitalist America, pro baseball is a government protected monopoly. In socialist Cuba, players who make it out of the country can charge whatever the market bears. So Abreu and Puig signed for vast sums. There is a baroque twist here. In capitalist America, pro baseball is a government-protected monopoly. In socialist Cuba, players who make it out of the country can charge whatever the market bears. So Abreu and Puig signed for vast sums.
Nearly every Cuban player and fan can recite their salaries, and the size of the bonuses, down to the last decimal point.Nearly every Cuban player and fan can recite their salaries, and the size of the bonuses, down to the last decimal point.
In the event, however, that the United States fully lifts the embargo and Cuba opens itself, Major League Baseball likely would respond by insisting on drafting players and putting a cap on contracts. In the event, however, that the United States fully lifts the embargo and Cuba opens itself, Major League Baseball most likely would respond by insisting on drafting players and putting a cap on contracts.
So socialism meets socialist capitalism.So socialism meets socialist capitalism.
That’s a worry for another month or year. The players walked onto the field at Estadio Nelson Fernández, where dimensions are pro-size: 370 feet to the power alleys and 410 feet to dead center.That’s a worry for another month or year. The players walked onto the field at Estadio Nelson Fernández, where dimensions are pro-size: 370 feet to the power alleys and 410 feet to dead center.
They practiced rituals found on every baseball diamond from Missoula to Brooklyn to Mobile to Mayabeque. They fielded, bunted, worked on inside-out swings. Others put stings on the ball, in hopes of hitting a “profundo,” a deep and lovely fly ball.They practiced rituals found on every baseball diamond from Missoula to Brooklyn to Mobile to Mayabeque. They fielded, bunted, worked on inside-out swings. Others put stings on the ball, in hopes of hitting a “profundo,” a deep and lovely fly ball.
At game time, shafts of morning sunlight slanted through holes in the swaybacked tin roof of the stadium.At game time, shafts of morning sunlight slanted through holes in the swaybacked tin roof of the stadium.
The first pitches sailed high, and the Granma batter walked.The first pitches sailed high, and the Granma batter walked.
Cedeño was the next batter and he exploded out of his crouch, lining a sinking ball to right-center. The Granma players leapt off wooden benches and cement slabs and craned their necks as the ball landed unmolested by a fielder. Cedeño was the next batter, and he exploded out of his crouch, lining a sinking ball to right-center. The Granma players leapt off wooden benches and cement slabs and craned their necks as the ball landed unmolested by a fielder.
Cedeño slid into second. At the end of the inning, he pumped his fist and made a playful bicep muscle. “I come to America!” he said.Cedeño slid into second. At the end of the inning, he pumped his fist and made a playful bicep muscle. “I come to America!” he said.
The teams have six coaches, and a team psychologist, Heriberto Milances, who told me he helps with “concentration issues,” not to mention “girlfriend issues.” Supplies, though, are wanting. Batting helmets come with thin, worn padding. Chinese-made bats become brittle with age; Cedeño, almost tenderly, ran tape up and down his bat to protect it against splintering.The teams have six coaches, and a team psychologist, Heriberto Milances, who told me he helps with “concentration issues,” not to mention “girlfriend issues.” Supplies, though, are wanting. Batting helmets come with thin, worn padding. Chinese-made bats become brittle with age; Cedeño, almost tenderly, ran tape up and down his bat to protect it against splintering.
Mayabeque scored a run and put a few more on, and the Granma coach, a whit haired fellow, signaled Rodríguez, the 6-foot-4 reliever to warm up. You could hear his fastball thud into a rawhide mitt. Mayabeque scored a run and put a few more on, and the Granma coach, a white-haired fellow, signaled Rodríguez, the 6-foot-4 reliever, to warm up. You could hear his fastball thud into a rawhide mitt.
But the Granma starting pitcher bore down. His fastballs hissed like snakes and a Mayabeque hitter whacked a two-hopper. The shortstop ranged right, made a glove-to-hand-transfer and throw in a blink to Cedeño, who hurled to Samon at first base. But the Granma starting pitcher bore down. His fastballs hissed like snakes and a Mayabeque hitter whacked a two-hopper. The shortstop ranged right, made a glove-to-hand transfer and throw in a blink to Cedeño, who hurled to Samon at first base.
Double play.Double play.
When this game began, a month ago, 15,000 screaming, yelling, horn-tooting fans filled the stadium. Now it was a work day and three or four dozen older Huracanes fans wagged their hands in disgust, and fell to happily arguing about baseball.When this game began, a month ago, 15,000 screaming, yelling, horn-tooting fans filled the stadium. Now it was a work day and three or four dozen older Huracanes fans wagged their hands in disgust, and fell to happily arguing about baseball.
The Granma players were not done. They have a doubleheader in two days and needed practice. Players hauled out rusted old barbells. A coach climbed a light tower in the outfield, to spot batting practice balls knocked over the fence. The Granma players were not done. With a doubleheader in two days, they needed practice. Players hauled out rusted old barbells. A coach climbed a light tower in the outfield to spot batting practice balls knocked over the fence.
The team could not afford to lose those.The team could not afford to lose those.
I wandered over to the Mayabeque team. They were boarding their bus, heading to lunch at a local cafeteria.I wandered over to the Mayabeque team. They were boarding their bus, heading to lunch at a local cafeteria.
A Huracanes trainer tapped me on the shoulder. In his red and white team jump suit and wraparound sunglasses, his thick mane of black hair and his intense energy, he called to mind an over caffeinated Tom Cruise. He assured me four of his pitchers could start in the majors. A Huracanes trainer tapped me on the shoulder. In his red and white team jump suit and wraparound sunglasses, his thick mane of black hair and his intense energy, he called to mind an overcaffeinated Tom Cruise. He assured me four of his pitchers could start in the majors.
What’s your name?What’s your name?
“Creysler,” he replied, “just like the American car.”“Creysler,” he replied, “just like the American car.”
Creysler Querra wrote down four names, along with what he swore was the radar-certified speed of their fastballs: 90, 92, 93, and 96.Creysler Querra wrote down four names, along with what he swore was the radar-certified speed of their fastballs: 90, 92, 93, and 96.
The pitchers smiled at me as he talked.The pitchers smiled at me as he talked.
Take them, Querra told me. Then take me.Take them, Querra told me. Then take me.
He gave a whistle like a plane taking off and slide his two fingers on an upward arc to the sky. “Take me to America.” He gave a whistle like a plane taking off and slid his two fingers on an upward arc to the sky. “Take me to America.”