Schlossnagle checks in from Cuba
8/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 10, 2006
Havana, Cuba - TCU head baseball coach has spent the summer coaching with the USA National Team and the team has reached its final destination - the FISU World Championships in Havana, Cuba. The team has been in Havana for the last week and is 3-0 in the qualifying rounds leading up to the medal rounds. He took some time out of his busy schedule to catch up on what he's been doing."Well, the pace of things here in Havana has finally picked up. We didn't do a whole lot the first four days. We arrived on the 3rd and were scheduled to play on the 6th but, after some "questionable" moves by the tournament administration, our game that was scheduled for this past Sunday was pushed back to Monday.
I say "questionable," because they rearranged the pools of teams and decided to put an extra team on our side of the bracket. Somehow, our schedule became playing five games in five days followed by one day off before the quarterfinal round (and medal rounds) begin. Cuba, meanwhile, had three games in three days and then three days off before the quarterfinal round. No wonder that no USA National Team, of any age group, has ever won a tournament championship here.
Needless to say, we were excited and anxious to play on Monday. We were scheduled to play immediately following a game between the Virgin Islands and Mexico. In the ninth inning of that game, it began to rain. Long story short, we ended up sitting through a four hour rain delay, when it only rained for about 5 minutes. Why the delay -- because, they have no field tarps....or rakes....or drying agent to put on the field. So, what you end up doing is sitting in the stands with the fans and watching the field dry, hoping that the sun comes out and the wind picks up. In the end, we were sent back to our hotel...still having not played a game.
We finally were able play on Tuesday and won, 4-0, against the Virgin Islands. It wasn't very impressive but we were able to get a win while getting out the cobwebs of sitting around for six days. When you are used to playing almost every day, as we have this summer, it's tough to sit around and fall out of routine.
Today, we were able to play our regularly scheduled game versus Puerto Rico and then our make-up game against the Czech Republic. We won the first game 15-0 and the second, 16-0. Our own Jake Arrieta threw five innings in the second game. He had a no-hitter for 4.1 innings, struck out 9, walked three and surrendered only one hit. He pitched his last two innings in a pretty steady rain...otherwise, he may have gotten the no-hitter. Jake has yet to surrender an earned run this summer....outstanding!!
We are scheduled to play Mexico tomorrow night and then Taiwan on Friday before a day off. Taiwan will be a great challenge. They are playing very well.
Cuba is an interesting (and sometimes sad) place. The country is very poor. There are people everywhere on the streets and highways. It almost reminds me of New Orleans in the days after Hurricane Katrina. You must apply to the government to get permission to buy a car....or have air conditioning....so, you see everyone on the side of the road either walking or trying to get a ride from those with a car. The people are very nice, love baseball and are very interested in Americans.
This country has tremendous potential. It has some great beaches and should really be a great vacation destination for everyone around the world. The money that would create would really help these great people. The Cuban children follow us everywhere and are so bright-eyed and precious....I would love to take two or three back with me....I worry about their future.
Anyway, I hope to be home in a week or so.....with a medal....and ready to see you all in Ft. Worth!!
Go Frogs!!"
