(29 July 1996; Day 10)
Cuba wins. Cuba wins. Cuba wins. No, Harry Carey has not defected from his radio job with the beloved Chicago Cubs. The Cuban international team has just continued to win, posting what is needed to put the notch in the win column alot -- 141 times in a row to be exact.
Says USA head coach Skip BERTMAN, "They are just a very good baseball team."
But, as Cuba (7-0) prepares for the upcoming medal round, the team that has posted 141 consecutive wins in international tournaments seems to be vulnerable. While they have not fallen victim yet, they have been challenged in its each of its past two games, as well as in an early game with Japan that resulted in an 8-7 Cuban win.
"I think it reflects the preparation and hard work all the teams have shown in getting ready for the Olympic Games,"said Cuban head coach Jorge FUENTES FLEITAS of the close games his team has faced in the Olympic baseball tournament.
In addition to Japan's early challenge, the United States and Nicaragua both pushed the Cuban squad in tight ball games. The USA brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth and Nicaragua led four different times in a game that Cuba would eventually win on an RBI single in the eighth.
In the end, the only thing that matters is that Cuba won, running through the Olympic field with an unblemished 7-0 mark. And while they have been challenged, they have also done serious damage to opponent pitching staffs, as is evident in the runs that have been produced.
Several Cuban games have not been close. Cuba, which has won three games by the international run-difference rule, has scored almost twice as many runs as its opponents (97 to 50) and it also has scored 30 more runs than the next closest team.
"I think the team has played very well," said FUENTES after a come-from-behind win over Nicaragua that left Cuba 7-0 after the preliminaries. "We are very confident entering the medal round."
Part of the reason for the confidence is the lineup FUENTES sends out on the field in each game. It possesses a long ball threat throughout that is unmatched by any squad, with the exception of maybe the USA lineup, which had five home runs against Cuba.
Individually, Cuba's Orestes KINDELAN, appropriately the designated hitter on the squad, has been the most feared player throughout the preliminary action.
KINDELAN set an Olympic record for the tournament for both home runs (7) and RBI. In fact, two of his blasts have landed more than 500 feet from home plate at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, including a 521-foot shot that reached the luxery box level in deep centerfield.
"I feel real happy for myself and my team for this accomplishment," said KINDELAN.
Despite the win streak, anything but a gold medal for the Cuban squad would be a disappointment for a team whose country calls baseball its national pasttime. And before all is said, three other teams will try to end end both the streak and the dominance.
"Even though Cuba is the best team in the world, I think they have a lot of respect for us when we play them," said Henry ROA of Nicaragua.
By 2 August, the best in the world will be decided. And, based on past history, it probably will be Cuba.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Steven R. Shaff.
Select another day:
Pre | July | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | August | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Post |
| Pin trading was one of the most popular Olympic sports, with more than 1.2 million pins changing hands during the Games in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Center at Centennial Olympic Park. |