The duel between Carlos Martínez, appetizer of the Dominican Cibaeñas Eagles, and his fellow countryman Luis Medina, letter from the Caguas Criollos of Puerto Rico, falls on the first date of the Caribbean Baseball Series, which opens next Sunday in Mazatlán, Mexico.
The ‘Tsunami’ Martínez, of the San Luis Cardinals of the Major Leagues, looks for the first victory for the Dominicans, the best winners of the tournament with 20 wins, followed by the Puerto Ricans with 16.
The Dominicans present a solid team, with deep pitching, top hitting and safe defense., with numbers that shone in the majors led by infielder Robinson Canó, with 334 home runs in the majors.
The Caguas Criollos of Puerto Rico, led by receiver Yadier Molina, with 160 home runs in the majors, arrive with the aim of winning the Series as they did in 2017 and 2018, the last two times Mexico hosted.
The two countries with the most tradition in the series star in the climax of the first day It starts with the match between the Panamanian Federals of Chiriquí against the Venezuelan Caribes de Anzoátegui and ends with the game between the Mexican champion, which will be decided next Saturday and the Colombian Barranquilla Caimans.
Despite the fact that Mexico has been badly hit by Covid-19, which has killed more than 156,000 people, the authorities of the state of Sinaloa, where Mazatlán is located, have not only have guaranteed the celebration of the match, but They will do that with just over 7,000 fans in the stands at every game.
Mexico, with four title winners from the past 10 years, will try to capitalize on its local status. His representative will be defined next Saturday between the Tomateros de Culiacán and the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, teams with complete, well-balanced rosters.
While whoever remains champion will take the series in rhythm, it remains to be seen if he will arrive with a new throwing staff, although he will always be able to choose between his reinforcements to start pitchers from the rival team in the final or from another.
Led by Cuban Alfonso Urquiola, who led the Vegueros de Pinar del Río to the title in 2015, the Chiriquí Federals will have a hard time not having held a winter tournament and it remains to be seen whether their offense will be adjusted to beat it . Sunday to the Caribes de Anzóategui in the opening game.
The six teams will undergo rigorous isolation measures and medical checks to prevent the spread of covid-19, which will mark the Series with a distinctive mark as there will be less coexistence off the field, which is characteristic of this tournament, which started in 1949..
After the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, Mexico is the country with the most titles, nine, of them six in this century, Cuba has won eight, although it has only competed 18 times, Venezuela seven and Panama two.
This year, the Series will take place with a phase via the free-for-all system, with the top four coming out to play the semi-finals on Friday, February 5 and the final the day after.
In 2020, the Dominican Toros del Este won the final against the Lara Cardinals of Venezuela. EFE