From today Cuba is a ball, the playoffs of the 63rd National Series begin, and with nothing less than the classic Santiago de Cuba-Industriales, and with the undisputed leader of the regular calendar: Pinar del Río, facing Sancti Spíritus.
It is true that these games, seven in total to the best in four, are another story, which is a clean slate. However, if something is clear in the duel between Vegueros and Gallos, it is that the Vueltabajeros are the favorites, especially with the news coming from Yayabo.
Colleague Randy Vasconcelos, who rigorously follows the Sancti Spiritus team, posted on his Facebook profile that those led by Lázaro Martínez will not have Yankiel Mauris in their pitching staff, waiting to travel to Canada to play in the Intercounty League. in Ontario; neither with Alex Guerra, unwell due to a virus, nor with José Grandales, due to discomfort in his arm.
They are sensitive losses against a rival that was the biggest hitter in the fight, with a long-range offensive that was not surpassed even by the Granma cavalry itself.
The keys from Pinar del Río are to maintain the attacking power that they have had until now, so that their pitchers work more comfortably. Those from Sancti Spíritus try to avoid opening the scoring early, and that is achieved from the mound, with control and effectiveness.
Regarding the classic, the pre-play off predictions, although they do not point to such a difference, even when it comes to fourth and fifth places in the standings of the qualifying phase, the truth is that the Santiago team finished very high. In our opinion, the Wasps arrive better and with a more compact team, despite the departure of their spark plug, Yoelquis Guibert, to Venezuelan baseball.
The people of Santiago are settled on the mound by two experienced pitchers, Danny Betancourt and Alberto Bicet. If they take the game to the fifth inning, they could cause serious problems for the Lions. If they failed, the sky would open for the Blues, but be careful, they must be made to make mistakes, because, although veterans, they have never given anything away.
Eduardo García, the return of Adriel Labrada, which has been in style; and the participation of Francisco Martínez, are decisive in Santiago’s aspirations. If they work, Guibert would be missed a little less.
Two aspects are vital for Industriales, even in their first two games in Santiago de Cuba: first, that their star pitcher, Andy Vargas, works at the level that made him one of the best in the current season; and second, that Yasmani Tomás and Yasiel Santoya manage to produce in the most responsible turns. If they manage to express those two aspects, then they would have the possibility of taking at least one success in the Hero City.
Tomorrow these duels will be repeated at the venues in Pinar del Río and Santiago, and they will debut in the postseason, in Bayamo, Granma against Matanzas, and in Las Tunas, the Leñadores against the Tigres from Avila.
Tomorrow we will approach those matches, although we don’t have to wait that long to give you our opinion: Granma and Las Tunas advance.
