Matthew Tallarini, Chief Correspondent, World Baseball Network
Dec. 10, 2022
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – It has been a wonderful week of Caribbean baseball down in the Bahamas at the new Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, which opened up this past Sunday. Fans came out to support all five participating nations and enjoyed the pregame ceremonies that took place prior to the Bahamas playing the nightcap against the United States Virgin Islands on Monday. Now with just four games left in the tournament, the teams are playing for berths in El Salvador for the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2023.
—
No. 4 Bahamas (1-4) vs. No. 1 Puerto Rico (3-1), 7 p.m.
Bahamas Manager Geron Sands has had certain work cut out for him in the tournament, as his teamto make Caribbean baseball history on their home soil during the weekend. It would be a major task for Sands to uplift certain scenarios on how he would be using his pitching this weekend against the mighty ball clubs that are left.
Starting pitcher Brandon Russell has done a great job for the Bahamas and willd likely be called upon during the second round as a starting pitcher, but could be used out of the bullpen should the Bahamas make the championship round. During Russell’s first start, a no-decision on Sunday against the United States Virgin Islands, he went five innings, allowing just three hits, one earned run, one walk, and striking out five.
Key offensive players to look out for on the Bahamas include Ellison Hanna, who hit the first home run for the Bahamas in the Caribbean Cup on Wednesday night against Cuba, and is batting .250 at the Caribbean Cup. Adari Grant is another player to look, with four hits and three RBI. Kristin Muneroe is leading the tournament with seven stolen bases going into Saturday’s semifinal game.
Puerto Rico’s manager, Juan Gonzalez, is in familiar territory on the international stage. His pitching staff has a combined 2.00 ERA in the Caribbean Cup after losing the first game to Curacao 7-1. Starting pitchers for Puerto Rico Hector Quinones, Noel Pinto, and Jose Burgos have been impressive during the Caribbean Cup, especially Burgos, who only allowed one hit, walking four batters, and struck out four during his 6 1/3 innings of work on Tuesday night against Cuba.
Hector Quinones started against the United States Virgin Islands on Wednesday night, and went five innings, allowing just two hits, no walks, and striking out four. On Thursday night against the Bahamas, Noel Pinto went six full innings, allowing five hits, with two earned runs, no walks, and eight strikeouts during his performance, and could work out of the bullpen this weekend, as Puerto Rico tries to secure a berth in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean games.
Puerto Rico has three players batting .400 or higher coming into Saturday’s action, with Jeffrey Dominguez and Ruben Castro each hitting .400 and Luis Navarro leading the tournament with a .444 average.
(3) Curacao (2-2) vs (2) Cuba (3-1) Saturday 2:00
Curacao manager Hainley Statia and his team are looking to repeat as champions of the Caribbean Cup after defeating Cuba in the championship game in 2021.
Starting Pitcher Jordan Lucas will likely get the ball for Saturday’s game against Cuba. During Lucas’s first start of the tournament Sunday, he threw a complete game against Puerto Rico, allowing six hits, one earned run, and walking one.
Outfielder Raysheandell Michel is a player to watch for Curacao. He the first home run at the new Andre Rogers Baseball Stadium against the Bahamas Monday night, and had the baseball sent to the Prime Minister’s office. Raywendly Van Gurp is leading the tournament with eight RBI. Closer Risandro Pastor could be used in key situations out of Curacao’s bullpen during the course of the semifinal and final. Pastor pitched a crucial part of the Bahamas’ game on Monday, throwing 1 1/3 innings while allowing two hits, with no earned runs, walking none, and striking out two.
Cuba manager Armando Johnson has a lot to prove, especially with the World Baseball Classic approaching. A 14-time gold medalist in international competitions during his career who also played in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic for Cuba, pitching Coach Pedro Lazo has helped out a lot of his pitching staff during the last few weeks in preparation for the Caribbean Cup. Cuba’s pitching has held up during the course of the week, with the only blemish a 6-0 loss to Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
Starting pitcher Jose Rodriguez went six innings, with two hits allowed, no earned runs, one walk, and two strikeouts during his start against the U.S. Virgin Islands December 5. Leodan Reyes six innings, allowing four hits, no earned runs, walking two batters and striking out seven against the Bahamas on December 8. Cuba’s bullpen is deep, with relief pitchers Yunior Castillo and Yeudi Reyes available as stoppers for the weekend, each having one save during the course of the tournament.
Cuba’s star player, designated hitter Yoelkis Guibert, has one home run and five hits in only two games being played since joining the team late on Wednesday. Luis Mateo will also be a key player to watch out for Cuba, as he ranks second in batting average over the tournament, batting .429. Cuba still has a lot to prove — even though they’ve qualified for the Central American and Caribbean Games, they’d improve their world ranking within the World Baseball Softball Confederation with a Caribbean Cup victory.