by Pim van Nes
From 1985 till 1995 Rotterdam welcomed baseball selections from Cuban capital Havana thanks to an agreement between the two cities mayors Dr Bram Peper (Rotterdam) and Dr Oscar Ferdinand Mell (Havana). In 1997 Cuban national federation decided to upgrade the delegation to the Netherlands and ever since World Port Tournament received a national selection of Cuban baseball players.
Cuba national team since 1997 always made it to the grand finale of the biannual editions in Rotterdam. The Red Machine won the tournament in 1997, 2001, 2003, (2005 WPT was not organised), 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2015. In the two other years Cuba lost the final game: versus the Netherlands in 1999 and versus Chinese Taipei in 2011. Alike in Rotterdam, their performances in World Championships and Olympic Games made Cuba the most succesful nation in global baseball.
This week Cuba still finished first in WPT round robin with 3 wins in 4 games, however, in the first play-off game Cuba was defeated by Japan 2-5 after two extra innings. In a co-Caribean backdoor semi-finale game, smaller Curacao turned out smarter than Cuba. Wrong fielders choices by Cuban third baseman and catcher delivered Cuba the fatal loss of 3-5 in the game and the first ever missing of WPT finale and WPT podium.
Cuban losing streak in WPT 2017 was extended to four in their last game versus the Netherlands: 3-1, decisive for 4th and 5th place in final ranking. This is the first time Cuba finished last in World Port Tournament, despite of opening with three consucutive wins (3-2 Curacao, 8-4 Japan and 7-6 Chinese Taipei). The last round robin game faced Cuba with hometeam the Netherlands and their first defeat: 1-6. This game result started the losing streak to the historic last place in WPT final ranking.
Is there any published analysis as to why?
At the same time as the Rotterdam tournament, a Cuba team was in North Carolina playing Team USA. (Half of the best US college players are on Team USA, the rest sign with MLB or play in the Cape Cod League.). Team USA won a close series so, perhaps, Cuba sent their best there.
Another theory is that MLB has decimated Cuban baseball by signing a flood of players since US/Cuban relations opened up. In the 2017 WBC, for example, the Cuba roster was almost all players age-20-and-younger, and players over 30. The players in their 20s, who for decades made Cuba the world’s best outside MLB, were no longer there. (I haven’t checked Cuban rosters for the summer.).
But something has put Cuban baseball into a decline — as is European baseball.
It would be a service if the moderator of this site, or extra innings baseball or some other blog or legitimate baseball publication, were to publish research on the decline of Cuban baseball.
Meanwhile, we should all mourn this. It is terrible for our sport.
Since 2008 or so Cuba has suffered from a talent-drain-flight of huge proportions as economic conditions have worsened on the Island and human smugglers have taken full advantage of it. Whereas in the past one or two players left national team overseas (easily replaceable because of the huge talent pool back home) nowadays players leave in bunches, including U18 and U15 prospects that represent the future of the sport. The Regime’s socialist propaganda can no longer compete with MLB’s millions; thus, Cuban sport authorities find themselves between a rock and a hard place. The realize the only way to stop “the exodus” is by getting to some sort of an agreement with MLB like the Japanese Posting System that would keep the Cuban talent on the Island for a longer period of time, but because of the U.S. embargo, MLB cannot negotiate freely with an institution under the Cuban government’s wing. Ironically enough, for the first 30-40 years of the Revolution, Cuban sport authorities used to demonize MLB as the “enslave baseball” because of the economics attached to it vs. Cuba’s “free baseball” style, only to find themselves today depending upon MLB to be able to keep its talent pool within its borders. Best regards!
Thanks, dviera78,
You flesh out the view from here.
MLB’s great weakness is unquestionably it’s shortsightedness. It sees every problem in the game as something to be manipulated for MLB’s short term benefit, regardless of the long-term consequences.
That is the case with Cuba. The long-term health of baseball needs a healthy, vigorous game in Cuba. For Caribbean baseball to remain the vibrant leader of the world game it is today, it needs a strong Cuba in the mix. (And, to be honest, Aruba & Curacao should also participate in Caribbean baseball, rather than being bled off by the Netherlands.)
Your point about the Cuban government is well taken, as is your understanding of the impact of US right-wing politics.
Before the post system, Japan was in a tough spot, too. They were losing players — and fans — in one of the world’s baseball hotspots. This syndrome is awful for baseball.
Since there can be no direct negotiation between Cuba and MLB, one wonders if the WSBC (or whatever it’s called) might offer it’s good offices as an intermediary. Much like the Swiss or Swedes do for nation’s which have no relations? This, of course, would require MLB — a notoriously predatory confederation — to enter such talks in the long-term best interests of the game.
Thanks for your insight. Further thoughts from you — or intelligent posts by others — will certainly be read with interest!