The 64th National Baseball Series continues today with matches in eight parks across the country, as most teams face the final third of the qualifying calendar.
Baseball, Cuba’s emotional compass, ignites once more on a day when every swing, every pitch and every fielding play shakes up the standings.
The fight for the eight tickets to the postseason burns, and this week brings duels that could redefine the competitive map of a tournament marked by contrasts: unleashed offences, erratic defences, agonising arms and the intact passion of a fan base that does not abandon its sport.
The leaders, Cachorros de Holguín, owners of a robust .322 collective average, visit the Gallos de Sancti Spíritus at the José Antonio Huelga with the mission of holding the summit against a rival that needs to add victories to avoid falling from the qualification zone and to improve an attack hampered by its lack of power (only 19 home runs).
In Las Tunas, the Leñadores, second in the table and current champions, host the Cazadores de Artemisa in one of the most attractive duels.
The Tuneros arrive with the pitching staff with the best control (3.23 walks per game), while Artemisa seeks to strike a blow of authority within the privileged zone.
Matanzas, solid defensively (.980, the best in the championship), opens its Palace of the Cocodrilos to face the Toros de Camagüey, who despite occupying 13th place exhibit the surprisingly the best offensive average in the tournament (.330).
In the Latinoamericano, the eternal duel will be revived: Industriales against Santiago de Cuba. The felines, owners of the best pitching (3.84 ERA) and the most strikeouts in the competition, face the Avispas who lead in home runs (84) despite suffering the absences of Yoelquis Guibert and Yoel Yanqui, the latter still the batting average leader with an astounding .466.
The Elefantes de Cienfuegos, the true revelation of the tournament, defend their surprising presence in the privileged zone at the 5 de Septiembre against the Leopardos de Villa Clara who, although they have several suspended games, have scant options of advancing to the next phase.
At the Nelson Fernández, the Huracanes de Mayabeque, owners of the best collective WHIP (1.44), will face the Tigres de Ciego de Ávila seeking to consolidate the good health of their pitchers, while the Avilanians try to stay in the fight.
For their part, in Bayamo, Vegueros de Pinar del Río and Alazanes de Granma will wage a direct duel for the qualification zone, with the Granmenses propelled by the dominant arm of César García (1.71 ERA), the tournament leader.
Finally, at the Nguyen Van Troi, Piratas de La Isla and Indios de Guantánamo will clash in a duel of survival: to avoid the basement. Both suffer from the worst pitching staffs —Guantánamo (6.74) and La Isla (6.49)— and very limited offences.
The Series has shown lights and shadows: abundant hitting (.287 collective), but also a defence that flounders (.967), costly mental lapses, pitchers with limited repertoires, managers sanctioned for improper players, and yet, stadiums that vibrate. Because in Cuba, even amidst errors and shortages, baseball continues to be homeland, ritual and heartbeat.
Today, when the gates of eight stadiums open and the sun sets on the diamond, the ball will once again reclaim its eternal place: the heart of a country that never stops playing.
