As this first World Baseball Classic (WBC) comes to a close most of the Cuban players will soon
fade from the U.S. media’s eyes, but fans who watched this tournament
will not soon forget the heroic and passionate play of Eduardo Paret
(captain and SS), Joan Pedrosa (1B), Alexei Ramirez (OF), Ariel Pestano
(C), Michel Enriquez (3B), Yulieski Gourriel (2B), Yadel Marti (P),
Pedro Luis Lazo (P) and the rest of the Cuban National Team. From the get-go, Cuba has had all the odds against them, yet here they are on the cusp of being crowned the first champions of the WBC. Throughout their saga, Cuba has stood tall, but more importantly stood together. Like the Detroit Pistons bearing down on an opponent or the Brazillians dancing their way to a World Cup title, the Cubans have exemplified the concept of teamwork. In the midst of a chorus of controversy, with passion and confidence as their catalysts, this gigantic underdog has leapt to the head of the pack.

Let’s recap some of the Cuban team’s trials and tribulations—First the U.S. Government tries to prevent Cuba from even participating in the WBC under the guise of enforcing its never-ending trade embargo against the carribbean island. Then, Cuba (one of the poorest nations in the Classic) has to commit to being the only team that will donate all of its earnings to a charity (Katrina Hurricane
Victims). The team is finally granted a permit to play only a week before the tournament begins.

So, they come to San Juan having to face the toughest bracket in the tournament. Along the way they beat the best pitcher in the major leagues, Johan Santana, and his heavily favored Venezuelan club.
They also avenge their only two defeats- trouncings at the hands of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Both rematch victories eliminate their more popular carribean counterparts. During almost every game, they endure antagonistic pro-U.S. crowds and the constant heckling of
negative propaganda. Yet, with an ‘us against the world’ type
commraderie they have only grown closer as they continually rise to the occasion.

Not only has Cuba overcome teams chock full of major leaguers, they have also overcome bad umpiring. They have survived at least six horrendous calls so far- the worst being a call on a play at second base against Puerto Rico (quarterfinals) where the umps decided to ignore the internationally accepted ‘neighborhood play’. That blown call cost them their manager, Higinio Velez and his translator- they won the game anyway. They won because of an attitude that never says ‘Quit!’. How about their young second baseman, Yulieski Gourriel’s dramatic ninth inning blast against Panama (in the opening game) or his perfect relay throw with a rain soaked ball that pegged Ivan Rodriquez at the plate to ice the victory against

Puerto Rico. Or Gourriel overcoming his error against the Dominican Republic (that put Dominican ahead) and tying the game up the very next inning with the hustling speed of a man who just won’t accept defeat. How about Yadel Marti and Pedro Luis Lazo pitching with the poise of heroes upon facing elimination- not once, but twice! They made three of the majors’ best sluggers- Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz and Albert Pujols look like the Dominicans’ 7,8 and 9 hitters. Marti hugging Lazo when he was being taken out of a scoreless semifinal game was one of the warmest moments of the Classic. Cuba has played the role of Davey to a tee. With only one Goliath remaining (Japan), Cuba is one step away from completing this truly cinderella story. And to think all of this almost didn’t happen because of a permit. Aren’t you glad they let the Cubans play?

*Neighborhood Play – A force play in which the runner is called out because the defensive player with the ball is close enough to or within the ‘neighborhood’ of the base. This unofficial rule is accepted by most umpires to prevent middle infielders from serious injuries caused by the oncoming baserunner.

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) lives today! Much credit should go to the diplomatic skills of Paul Archey- the Senior VP of Major League Baseball International (MLBI), Gene Orza- the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Chief, and Antonio Munoz- Promoter of the San Juan portion of the WBC. A whole lotta pressure from the rest of the world didn’t hurt either. Early Friday, the U.S. government finally agreed to issue Cuba a permit to play ball.

The original effort to stop Cuba from playing in the WBC sprung from the Cuban-American community in Miami shortly after the Classic’s conception. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (U.S. Rep. to Florida) has been the leader in the fight to exclude Cuba. Over the last several months it has been his top priority. In the end though Balart could not change the will of the world. Upon hearing the news, Balart, a Cuban-American, called the decision "lamentable and unfortunate". He also said that the Cuban National Team should defect once they get to Puerto Rico. "I hope that the Cuban players will use this opportunity to escape totalitarianism and reach freedom in the U.S." 
 

In early December, political pressure from the Miami-Cuban dissident community caused the U.S. Treasury Department’s, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to reject Cuba’s permit to play in the U.S. where much of the WBC is to be hosted. With Florida governor Jeb Bush as a direct ear to the President, Balart was able to raise a major ruckas that turned into an international war of words. In late December, Puerto Rico requested that San Juan be removed as a host site in protest of Cuba’s exclusion. Then Castro began baiting the U.S. government by questioning their machismo, saying that America was scared to play Cuba. Venezuela jumped aboard with harsh criticism of its own, and in early January the International Baseball Federation (IBF) refused to sanction the tournament if Cuba was excluded. Cuba turned up the heat another notch when they agreed to honor the laws of the U.S. embargo, imposed on them over 40 years ago, by donating any proceeds they earned from the Classic to the victims from Hurricane Katrina.

Throughout this whole conflict Major League Baseball (MLB) has had to walk a tight rope. Already suffering from the wrath of the U.S. Congress over their steroid policy, MLB’s new political pickle threatened to turn into an even bigger public relations nightmare. The Cuban permit flap brought MLB into the crossfire in the never-ending battle between Fidel Castro and the U.S. government. With the WBC a little over a month away and a displeasured chorus bellowing throughout the international media, MLB has had to work quickly. Shortly after the first permit was denied, Paul Archey and Gene Orza logically and quietly maneuvered behind the scenes with Antonio Munoz and other Latin-American businessmen and leaders on a final agreement with Cuba. MLB then submitted a new application to the OFAC in late December trying to allay the U.S. government’s concerns about Cuba spying and/or breaking the rules of the U.S embargo. Orza and Archey spent the next three weeks playing peacemakers as the political tension boiled. In a sign that an agreement was close, Archey and an MLBPA lawyer flew to Cuba this week to discuss logistics and clarify legal issues. The diplomacy paid off and helped avert what could have turned into a political disaster.

Though Cuba is in and the WBC will be a lot more competitive now, there
are repercussions—World trust in the U.S. continues to drop. This
week International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques
Rogge said any future U.S. bids to host the Olympics would have to
ensure that a situation like this would not occur again.

So, Cuba’s in, the world wins and baseball fans can look forward to what hopefully will be the best world baseball tournament ever. Now pitching for the Cuban National Team:

       
         Read my previous articles on this subject

                              
                               1/11/06, 12/22/05, 12/14/05

     Pedro Luis Lazo

Good to their word, Major league Baseball (MLB) has reapplied for a permit with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The permit is necessary for Cuba to play in the World Baseball Classic (WBC)scheduled for this March. Baseball spokesman, Paul Courtney spoke on
Thursday and assured that the application would try to allay any
concerns the OFAC has about any monetary proceeds going from U.S. entities to Cuba.

Each team involved in the WBC is scheduled to receive 1 percent of the tournament’s proceeds with the winner receiving up to 5 percent. The conflict between MLB and
the U.S. government has developed because of  strict embargos on Cuba
that do not allow for them to profit from any business venture
involving a U.S. entity.
The international community has not reacted well to the news of Cuba’s
possible exclusion from the WBC.
Puerto Rican baseball officials have threatened to have San Juan
removed as one of the host cities in protest of Cuba’s potential
non-participation. Israel Rolden, president of the Baseball Federation of Puerto Rico sent a letter on Wednesday to the International Baseball Federation (IBF)
stating that the island would decline to be a venue because of the U.S.
government’s decison. On Thursday, he reinforced Puerto Rico’s
intention when he said,

"What we are saying is that we should renounce our position as host if Cuba is not permitted to compete".

On another front, Hector Cardona, president of the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee
has been talking with other Latin American athletic officials trying to
enlist their support. The exclusion of Cuba would actually help Puerto
Rico competitively because Cuba is set to play in a first round bracket
that includes Panama, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. However, Puerto
Rico has a lot of pride in their baseball and only want play the best.

Puerto Rico and Cuba are separated by only 150 miles of water. Historically, Puerto Rico has always been a step-brother
to Cuba. During their long fights for independence- both were colonized
by Spain; both agreed to Charters of Autonomy with Spain in 1897; and
both were invaded by the United States during the Spanish-American War.
A weakened Spain ceded both to the U.S in 1898 (Treaty of Paris) ending
the War. Of course, Cuba eventually did gain it’s independence while
Puerto Rico became a U.S. Commonwealth as well as the launch site for
the U.S. military during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Adding to the building drama is a team of Cuban-born Americans that
Florida congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart is forming as an alternative to
the national team of Cuba. The group is not recognized by the IBF as an official federation. The team already includes former MLB
players, Rene Arocha, Osvaldo Fernandez, and Eddie Oropesa and plans on
trying to lure Jose Contreras, Livan Hernandez and Orlando Hernandez as
well. Through their spokesmen the present group said,

"We would like to represent the team of free Cuba…our lineup is ready"

Baseball spokesman Paul Courtney said MLB is dealing only with groups recognized by the IBF.

Meanwhile,
the Cuban Baseball Federation applied some international pressure of
their own through a statement on Cuban government television,

"Although we have never competed for money,
in order to offer options the Cuban Baseball Federation would be
willing for the money associated with participation in the classic to
go to those displaced by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans."

The OFAC has not said when they will come to a decision as they begin deliberating on the new permit application.

                                  Click On Flags To See Them Wave!
   

Some obscure wing in the Treasury Department of the U.S. government known as the Office Of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has decided that Cuba cannot play in the World Baseball Classic(WBC) this coming March. The permit wagging OFAC has refused to issue permission under its strict rules regarding any commercial transactions with Fidel Castro and his communist regime in Cuba.

Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Chief, Gene Orza, and Paul Archey, the senior vice-president of Major League Baseball International (MLBI) signaled that they were not giving up on Cuba’s participation when they issued a statement following the OFAC’s decision,

"We are very dissapointed with the government’s decision to deny the participation of a team from Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. We will continue to work within appropriate channels in an attempt to address the government’s concerns and will not announce a replacement unless and until that effort fails."

Cuba has been at the apex of international baseball for a long time. Since the International Baseball Federation’ s (IBF) first World Championship in 1938, Cuba has won 10 out of the total 36 World Championships (The U.S. with top college and minor league talent has won once). Even if Orza and Archey do convince the OFAC to grant permission for Cuba to participate in the WBC, they could face another obstacle- Now that they’ve been rejected by the U.S., it would not be out of character for Fidel’s famous pride to flare and for Cuba to refuse its invitation.  If Cuba does eventually join the Classic, it will be a testament to the diplomacy skills of Gene Orza and Paul Archey.

Note

Fidel drawing by John Overmyer