October 6, 200521 yr A Cuban team will compete in next March's inaugural World Baseball Classic at Puerto Rico but will arrive only 24 hours before their opening game, Cuban officials told state-run media here Thursday. Teodoro Perez, chief of Cuba's delegation to the 16-nation tournament, confirmed the Olympic-level powerhouse will compete against elite Major League Baseball stars who will play for their homelands, most for the first time. Cuban radio also reported that Perez said US officials would not allow the team from the Communist nation, a US political foe, to arrive more than one day in advance of their opening game at San Juan. ??The United States refused permission to visit until the last moment,'' Perez said. Cubans typically need special US government permission to compete in global sports events on US soil or in US territories. Defections have taken place on many visits to US soil by Cuban sports squads. Cuba will join Puerto Rico, Panama and the Netherlands in a first-round group with round-robin games to be played in San Juan starting March 8. Two teams will advance to a second round-robin group also to be played in San Juan. Australia, Italy, Dominican Republic and Venezuela will compete for the other two second-round berths in Puerto Rico. China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan will compete March 3-6 in an Asian group that will send two teams to second-round games at a US site against two qualifiers from a group including Mexico, Canada, South Africa and a US team. Four teams will advance to the semi-finals in San Diego, California, on March 18. The championship game will be played there on March 20.
October 6, 200521 yr Cuban radio also reported that Perez said US officials would not allow the team from the Communist nation, a US political foe, to arrive more than one day in advance of their opening game at San Juan. ??The United States refused permission to visit until the last moment,'' Perez said. What the f*ck? Asses.
October 7, 200520 yr Cuban radio also reported that Perez said US officials would not allow the team from the Communist nation, a US political foe, to arrive more than one day in advance of their opening game at San Juan. ??The United States refused permission to visit until the last moment,'' Perez said. What the f*ck? Asses. By "asses" I assume you mean the Cuban government who doesn't allow its people to travel freely to the rest of the world. riiigghhhtt???
October 7, 200520 yr Why? They'll all say they're 18 but really be 25 and roiders.. napolean jr can you just stfu? if cuba were a free country ud be hearing more than just about pujols,manny and how good the dominican republic is.last time i checked didnt cuba beat the dr? well anyways your just concluding they are on roids because of rafael palmeiro whos cuban and took steroids well like they always say you cant judge a man by his looks.
October 7, 200520 yr Why? They'll all say they're 18 but really be 25 and roiders.. napolean jr can you just stfu? if cuba were a free country ud be hearing more than just about pujols,manny and how good the dominican republic is.last time i checked didnt cuba beat the dr? well anyways your just concluding they are on roids because of rafael palmeiro whos cuban and took steroids well like they always say you cant judge a man by his looks. Actually, I didn't know Raffy was Cuban (Swear to God). I was just referring to like the movie "Mickey" when the Little League WS was being played and the Cuban team had kids that looked like they were 18-25 age area. Don't know if you've seen the movie, but if you have, you would understand it.
October 7, 200520 yr I would think the reason the Cuban team can only show up 24 hours before is to limit the time available for any of them to defect
October 7, 200520 yr Why? They'll all say they're 18 but really be 25 and roiders.. napolean jr can you just stfu? if cuba were a free country ud be hearing more than just about pujols,manny and how good the dominican republic is.last time i checked didnt cuba beat the dr? well anyways your just concluding they are on roids because of rafael palmeiro whos cuban and took steroids well like they always say you cant judge a man by his looks. I think he was making fun of the fact that there is a larger percentage of hispanic players who take Steroids. Especially minor leaguers in prospects.
October 7, 200520 yr I wont lie, part of me wouled want Cuba to win. Although thatd probably make me a commie to you guys. If the US doesnt win(which I believe will and who Ill root for) id rather see Cuba win than Venezuela or Japan or somethhing.
October 7, 200520 yr Why? They'll all say they're 18 but really be 25 and roiders.. napolean jr can you just stfu? if cuba were a free country ud be hearing more than just about pujols,manny and how good the dominican republic is.last time i checked didnt cuba beat the dr? well anyways your just concluding they are on roids because of rafael palmeiro whos cuban and took steroids well like they always say you cant judge a man by his looks. I think he was making fun of the fact that there is a larger percentage of hispanic players who take Steroids. Especially minor leaguers in prospects. Actually I was referring to the movie "Mickey", where the Cuban "Little League" team players were actually age 16+. And if you've seen the movie, you'd know. So, marlinsfan4life25, don't judge me by my posts.
October 7, 200520 yr DR is going to win. DR US Venezuela Cuba I don't know about 2-4, but I'm pretty sure that the DR is going to take it, although the US/Venezuela have better pitching, IMO. It's going to be a heck of a tournament, any of those 4 can surprise anyone.
October 8, 200520 yr Dominican pitching is rather flacid compared to the Cuban one. However, both teams have a hell of an offense.
October 8, 200520 yr Dominican pitching is rather flacid compared to the Cuban one. However, both teams have a hell of an offense. I agree...the thing is that the Cuban National Team is sort of a wild card, if you know what I mean...we know what to expect from Venezuela, DR, USA, but we don't know of Cuba's "secret weapons".
October 8, 200520 yr U-S-A! U-S-A! I hope we get some games here in Fort Myers. You aren't......the games will be played at Cracker Jack Stadium. Venezuela eyes title at first World Baseball Classic Venezuela has vowed to win the inaugural World Baseball Classic, to be launched in March next year, with the coaching of legend Luis Sojo, State-run Bolivarian News Agency reported. Venezuela's goal at the new international event is winning the gold, said Humberto Oropeza, an official at the organizing committee. Sojo, a former player of the US major league and winner of five titles with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Bluejays, will be part of the technical team of the Venezuelan national team, along with David Concepcion and Omar Malave, said a source at the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Details still need to be worked out before Sojo takes up the task, including the approval by the New York Yankees, for which he works following his retirement from the major league. Oropeza said each participating team of the World Baseball Classic will draft an initial list of 60 players that will then be reduced to 30, with 13 pitchers, three catchers and 14 players. According to Oropeza, Venezuela will announce its final roster by March 2, just hours prior to the opening of the competition. So far, 16 teams have confirmed their participation in the March 3-30 event: Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Holland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Korea, United States and Venezuela. The best two teams of each group will meet in a round-robin system in two four-team groups to battle for semifinal slots. The final is scheduled for March 20 at Petco Park of the southwestern US city of San Diego. The Venezuelan team is drawn in Group Four alongside Dominican Republic, Italy and Australia. They will play at Cracker Jack Stadium of Disney World, at the southeastern US city of Orlando. The group of China, Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei will play in Japan. The group of Canada, Mexico, South Africa and United States battle in Arizona state of the United States, and Cuba, Holland, Panama and Puerto Rico compete in Puerto Rico. Source: Xinhua
October 8, 200520 yr Why? They'll all say they're 18 but really be 25 and roiders.. that is an ignorant coment
October 8, 200520 yr I would think the reason the Cuban team can only show up 24 hours before is to limit the time available for any of them to defect Right on broddah. And that being said, CUBA KICK SOME ASS!
October 8, 200520 yr They have a really good chance. I mean, imagine the US team with a staff consisting of Dontrelle, Beckett, Zach Duke, Halladay and Schmidt. That would be crazy! And that is leaving a bunch of other guys out like Oswalt, Pettitte, etc.
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