[pbald]

That's a question lurking in the back of my mind since I first new they were coming to WBC. They show a pretty impressive international record, lots of World Cups, 4 out of 5 Olympics, so you have to wonder.
I guess yesterday I found my answer, only one or two of those guys had the classical beeffed up body the steroids give you, most of them are wiry or built, but I failed to see a McGwire type of guy there.
What do you think?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by pbald

That's a question lurking in the back of my mind since I first new they were coming to WBC. They show a pretty impressive international record, lots of World Cups, 4 out of 5 Olympics, so you have to wonder.
I guess yesterday I found my answer, only one or two of those guys had the classical beeffed up body the steroids give you, most of them are wiry or built, but I failed to see a McGwire type of guy there.
What do you think?

Once upon a time...I lived there...and they have a wiry built because even the star athletes don't get that great of a meal...though on the other hand, Cuba has made major advancements in the medical field over the years, so its within their capabilities to churn out an East German style team if they so desired... Though I doubt that's the case.

(Side bar On a side note ESPN magazine recently had an article on Cuban baseball. The writers went across the island looking at various teams...they went to a night game in one of the towns, and when they got out, the taxi's were no longer running...they started to walk back to the hotel and were almost mugged....Interesting place.

[pbald]

Did you really lived there!!, How's their league, how many teams they have and how many games a year do they play?
Rumor has it that they're in the middle of their championship now, and kind of stopped everything to be in the WBC.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by pbald

Did you really lived there!!, How's their league, how many teams they have and how many games a year do they play?
Rumor has it that they're in the middle of their championship now, and kind of stopped everything to be in the WBC.

Yep, but its been a while and I was small, my dad played the equivalent of about A-Ball, so I will ask...at the time he dated my mom, there were only 4 major teams, then a bunch of smaller teams from there, but its changed a bit...some of the fields were not all that great for minor teams...for example the ballfied my dad played his home games at did not have an outfield wall...the fans just lined up way back...there was a grandstand though, cause I remember sitting in it.

Oh, and Castro came to play once...my dad says the pitcher got to close with a pitch once and an arm escort came out and told the pitcher not to do it again...I will ask him for a few more stories...

[pbald]

Please do ask him!, I've always been intrigued by that country. And Castro the president? governor? prime minister? is been there forever. How is that possible?

[Grozny]

Please do ask him!, I've always been intrigued by that country. And Castro the president? governor? prime minister? is been there forever. How is that possible?

It's called Communism. There are no free elections and Castor is the leader until he dies.

[pbald]

How many comunists countries are there left? Is there even any?, is China still considered a communist society, the Soviets have moved past communism a while ago, so Cuba must be kind of lonely.
Well, my apologies since this is sort of off topic, here's my point though, who pays the players, how much does a cuban player makes? Do they have multi-year contracts with their teams?
And still, some unanswered questions, how many games do they play a year? 162?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by pbald

How many comunists countries are there left? Is there even any?, is China still considered a communist society, the Soviets have moved past communism a while ago, so Cuba must be kind of lonely.
Well, my apologies since this is sort of off topic, here's my point though, who pays the players, how much does a cuban player makes? Do they have multi-year contracts with their teams?
And still, some unanswered questions, how many games do they play a year? 162?

No not 162...(and Grozny bro...don't be so harsh or I am telling mom on you )...but to add to Grozny...Its an Island...the waters are shark infested...soooo...its hard to get out or in to affect the government by much…the average player makes close to squat (if that's a number), a person at McDonald's probably makes more...but the government does throw them perks like housing etc…Compare to the rest of Cuba they live okay, compare to the US not even close….

[Grozny]

No not 162...(and Grozny bro...don't be so harsh or I am telling mom on you )...

Mom has no love for the Reds, bro.

Also, dad didn't play the equivalent of A-ball, did he?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Grozny

Mom has no love for the Reds, bro.

Also, dad didn't play the equivalent of A-ball, did he?

Dad played the equivalent of Cuban A-Ball, which is probably not up to par with Minor League A-Ball states side...Dad was a good fielding shortstop, stole a lot of bases, got on a lot with bunts, and hit all of one homerun in his career...he said the homer came against a really hard throwing pitcher...he closed his eyes on the swing of all things and hit one over the centerfielders head...I asked him how far was the wall?...He said there wasn't a wall, the ball kept on rolling...also did you know I got bit by a spider while sitting in the grandstand watching him play one day?...

And while mom doesn't love Reds...she still loves me best bro...